Video: the Vaccines’ “I Can’t Quit”

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Artist: The Vaccines
Video: “I Can’t Quit”
Why You Want To Watch: The truly great Vaccines have a new album coming out! It’s called Combat Sports, and I really need this band right now. The British band really does stand as a strong example of how awesome pop music can be. The Vaccines also discussed the plan behind this video: “We wanted to make something immediate and direct, and not overly conceptual. We wanted the audience to be involved in the video, to do some of their own investigating and speculating. I like the idea that there could be discussions going on as to what happened in the video long after it is made”. I hope a tour is in the works – they are amazing live too.


The Vaccines

Photos & Review: Brian Setzer Orchestra w/ the Texas Gentlemen @ The Paramount

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Brian Setzer Orchestra w/The Texas Gentlemen @ the Paramount, 12/26/17
Show Review & Photos by John Rudolph


Brian Setzer Orchestra

Sometimes you wait a long time to see an artist and you wish you had kept waiting, but Brian Setzer is one of those artists that you wait for, hoping they’ll be as good as you imagine, and they blow your mind. This show was 90 minutes of pure, musical joy.

Setzer’s stage was an explosion of Christmas cheer with trombones stage left, trumpets stage right, a beautiful piano towards the center and an incredible gold stand up bass holding up the rear.

Setzer started the show with “Pennsylvania 6-5000,” moving into “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and then into “Hoodoo Voodoo Doll.” Of course, he sprinkled the setlist with Stray Cats songs; however right when I thought I knew where the journey was leading us, Setzer broke out with Glenn Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman.” Brian sounded so great, and “Wichita Lineman” showcased how beautiful his voice really is. It was so amazing that I had to sit down.

I thought it was a nice touch when he played “Runnin’ Down A Dream” by Tom Petty. Yes, it’s a great song and given Petty’s death, it just seemed like the right thing to do. Later in the show, the orchestra and backup singers left the stage, leaving Brian Setzer on vocal and lead guitar, Janick Lafreniere on piano, John Hatton on bass, and Daniel Glass on drums. That’s when all hell broke loose, with fast-paced, hard-hitting Rockabilly filling the air.

There was so much Rockabilly, I expected the strings and keys to spontaneously combust!

Thankfully Setzer slowed the pace with the “Nutcracker Suite” in the encore so that we could catch our breath and drive home.


The Texas Gentleman

Photos: Lindsey Stirling @ Paramount Theatre

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Lindsey Stirling brought her holiday-themed Warmer in the Winter Christmas Tour to the Paramount Theatre. The family-oriented, sold-out show featured Lindsey playing the violin, dancing and singing – flanked by four dancers and backed by her band. They played primarily Christmas songs and sprinkled in a few of Lindsey’s. Alexander Jean – married couple Mark Ballas and BC Jean – opened.


Lindsey Stirling


Alexander Jean

Photos: Celebrational Muppetational! @ MoPop

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Celebrational Muppetational @ MoPop, 5/19/17
Photos by Dagmar
Memory Lane Series, part 24


Celebrational Muppetational!

Details: MoPop hosted Muppetational Celebrational!, a very fun opening night party for the The Jim Henson Exhibition. The exhibit, extended through February 28, 2018, features actual Jim Henson puppets and puppet-related activities. The spring kick-off included a costume and fashion parade along with a great version of the Kermit classic “The Rainbow Connection” by Jon Pontrello (the Moondoggies) and Jason Dodson (the Maldives). Thanks to MoPop and Museum of the Moving Image for putting this all together.


Celebrational Muppetational!