Herbie Hancock @ Wang Theatre, Oct 29 2025

Still tearing it up at 85 years old! 

(View from our seats, Orchestra section C)

Ben and I went out for a rare mid-week show to see the legend himself along with an amazing backing band tear up the Wang Center music hall. 

Herbie started the set off with a little improv over something he called "prehistoric predators" (insert his joke about him being prehistoric).  Dude was funny!  They did an improv covering a few more songs (including Chameleon).  It was here that the drummer really shined, keeping pace with Herbie, who was banging on the keys, playing some wild dissonate avant-garde bits.  Herbie's line after that improv set was "I was so cold so I had to keep moving".  

They also did a version of Footprints by Wayne Shorter and an improv on Actual Proof from "Thrust".  The guys behind us had first listen to Thrust on repeat when they were young and that's what hooked them back in the 70s. 

He also talked about his use of a vocoder on the album "Sunlight" and how it was kinda a flop... but he still liked the tech and got into a 20 minute skit/social lecture about AI, large language modules [sic], asking everyone to be good to each other and reminding us that we are all 1 family on this earth.  He went a bit long in this robot spoken word section, with the crowd getting a bit bored, but you know, they should have been patience because then they slayed for the few close out songs of the night. 

(Dancing not included here)

The last song with a full version of Chameleon, with Herbie on the keytar; dancing like he was 45 years old.  AMAZING. 

Pilfers @ Taffeta, Oct 10 2025

OG lineup returns - Elevation! 

(The Steve Foote with Caitlin)

Old friends and new came out to see the best ska/reggae/rock band of the 90s. 

Winner for best T-Shirt goes to Caitlin, with this attention getter, all the way from 1998: 

(2nd annual New England Ska festival tshirt)

Winner of best cross-over music fan goes to my homie with the Dopethrone battle jacket:

Taffeta stage is low and easy to get right up front.  That means I got blasted all night by Vinny's trombone 🤘

(Vinny and Anna)

I realized watching from up front that Anna is the Joe Lally of ska. In the back, near her amp, stoic but rocking the amazing bass lines. 

The set list: 

Punk in the Parking Lot @ Palladium Outdoors, Sep 27 2025

10 hours of punk rock and hot asphalt - Lets Go!!  

Steve and I made the trip out to Worcester for an amazing all day punk rock fest, which should have taken place in Green Hill park but was instead planted in the palladium parking lot. Womp Womp. 

Pro tip - go to Moynaghs before, during and after outdoor shows.  You can hear music and practically see the stage from the bar which is directly across the street from said parking lot.  Bartender was super friendly and showed us the autograph book of bands that have rolled through.  Some heavy hitters are in that book.  No pics though.  You need to visit and see it for yourself.  We ordered "nanners" which is what Steve's bro Kevin calls Naragansett.  HA. 

Here are some great t-shirts from the show:

(👀 zebrahead!?) 

 

(Descendents casual gear)

(Hell yes!) 

The winner of best T-shirt goes to this homie: 

Shout out to homie Joel with the Death shirt.  We talked about Death To All tour (that I missed last year) and Carcass.  Dude is a fan of Swansong, so I took this pic for Sol, who is the second person on earth to love that album. 

Did we actually see any bands? 

The Vandals replaced Propaghandi who bailed on the tour date. 

(Anti-Fascist since 1980, take that Dropkick Murphys!) 

They played an amazing set including this classic: 

Pennywise rocked! 

Bad Religion played for an hour and half.  Did not disappoint.  The pit was super fun and I was super sore the next day. Worth it! 

Terminal Stereo @ HCA, June 21 2025

 Terminal Stereo plays Hopkinton Pride celebration

My fav punk band played a blistering 60 minute set, including two cover songs (Pink Pony Club and Psycho Killer) and some tunes I have not yet heard. It was a scorchah but we had fun anyways. 

Miho Hatori @ Myrtle (Providence), Apr 23 2025

Solo show for the Cibo Matto founder.

The space had an amazing design and aesthetic, the shows are free (although you can pay for seats), the audience size is limited to provide breathing room and space and overall it's the best new club I've been to in 25 years.  Looking forward to seeing more shows there in the future.

Bonus:  the bar tender was the opener

Miho (pic above) covered a lot of lyrical ground - whales, AI, her mom, and her favorite city.

Slomosa @ Paradise, Mar 20 2025

Horse heads unite! 

(I don't understand the photo effects going on here but love the horse heads in the crowd)

It was a midweek show and I don't want to see Helmet made up of just Paige Hamilton so I bailed before they went on.  The middle act was one of my favorite desert/stoner rock bands (along with Domkraft). Slomosa has taken the slightly more mainstream sound on the Kyuss/QOTSA split record and made it their own. 

The full set is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoJyp4msFxs

Set list:
Afghansk rev Cabin fever Rice In my mind's desert Battling Guns There is nothing new under the sun Kevin Horses

Terminal Stereo @ The Worthen, Jan 11 2025

My favorite punk band...

... plays the coolest music spot I've been to in a while.  

In the attic of the oldest bar ever, is a small music space where the bands run the PA and the booking agent has diverse taste. 

TS just released their first proper recording "Cognitive Dissidents" which was recorded and mixed in my basement.  This is the first time I've seen the band after having REALLY listened to their songs.  It was awesome! 

The first band was from CT.  They covered a lot of genres (emo, punk ,ethereal) which was cool but also did a lot of talking, including talking about how they are just going to get right to the music and not talk.  HA.  Drummer was gnarly though.  Lots of open handed grooves.  They also did a Napalm Death "You Suffer"-like song, 3 seconds of grind.  Wasn't actually that song but still cool.

Second band, Bricks of Boston, really needs to give up on the guitar driven rock and just do OI covers and originals.  Bass player had an Orange amp and wore a TS shirt.

Terminal Stereo was awesome.  Super tight playing and it was a blast actually knowing the songs! 

The last band had an insane drummer who got all of his cymbals to jump off their stands during each song.