The Wrecking Crew

We are in the middle of an embarrassment of riches when it comes to music documentaries. In the fine tradition of shining the spotlight on the unsung heroes of the music business (think ... Continue Reading →

Don Giovanni – San Diego Opera: Far More Than Fifty Shades

Don Giovanni – San Diego Opera Occasionally the worlds of opera and film overlap, and such is the case this weekend when both Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Fifty Shades of Grey open. ... Continue Reading →

Fleetwood Mac – San Diego 2014

Many decades ago the steady throbbing beat of “Hypnotized” played in a loop in my brain during swim team practice. I knew the British blues band Fleetwood Mac from their mesmerizing ... Continue Reading →

Ian ‘Mac’ McLagan – All The Rage: My Life with the Small Faces, Faces, the Rolling Stones and Many More (Pan Books / Macmillan)

This drink-soaked autobiography can stand tall and proud next to the spate of excellent rock and roll autobiographies, even if the author can’t. McLagan readily admits his shortcomings ... Continue Reading →

Vitello’s supper club brings hot jazz, cabaret & Broadway to Studio City

 Vitello’s Restaurant, near the movie studios and networks in a trendy L.A. Valley neighborhood, was once a hangout for the Rat Pack. Frank Sinatra’s autographed picture still ... Continue Reading →

Long May You Run Indeed: Neil Young and Stephen Stills in 2014

When Canadian Young hooked up with Floridian Stills on the Sunset Strip in the mid-60s, music in Southern California became due for an imminent course correction. Their talents could ... Continue Reading →

Coachella 2014 – Full Coverage

The first weekend of Coachella 2014 was again a three day affair filled with surprises and good fun.  Here are my running notes, consolidated for your pleasure.   FRIDAY The heat ... Continue Reading →

Don Quixote – San Diego Opera and The Windmills of Change

There was little warning that when this opera was scheduled years ago that it would be the poignant final production of the San Diego Opera.  Having become one of the country’s top ... Continue Reading →