Soul Asylum November 17, 2023 Reilly Arts Center Ocala, Florida

So many great bands have come from the Midwest over the years, especially from the early 1980's. A list of those bands would be long and impressive. One fine example is, of course, Soul Asylum, hailing from Minneapolis. Along with Replacements, Husker Du, Suburbs and others, they helped define the sound of mid-America in the 1980's for me. Many of these bands are no more, but Soul Asylum continues to release new music periodically, and tour. The cast of characters has changed many times over the years, but Dave Pirner and whoever may be on stage with him, always put on a great show. I thought it was fitting that they payed homage to another Midwest band from a couple decades earlier with the cover of  MC5's "Looking At You" (Don't get me started on Michigan bands...).

1. Somebody To Shove
2. Bittersweetheart
3. Misery
4. Oxygen
5. Hopped Up Feelin'
6. Never Really Been
7. If I told You
8. Homesick
9. Without a Trace
10. I Will Still Be Laughing
11. Losin' It
12. Summer of Drugs
13. Black Gold
14. Runaway Train
15. Closer To The Stars
16. Made To Be Broken
17. Just Like Anyone
18. encore break
19. Lookin at You
20. April Fool

Download this show HERE.

Check out their social media presence, including Facebook HERE.

Links to video of most of the show (not my source) Here, Here and Here

Los Lobos February 12, 2022 Reilly Arts Center Ocala, FL

I hadn't seen Los Lobos since 1987. That year I saw them twice, touring behind their recently released By The Light Of The Moon- the follow-up to their major label debut How Will The Wolf Survive. That same year, they recorded several Richie Valens' covers for the soundtrack to La Bamba. These early releases were certainly represented in the set list of this show, as were several others from their now vast catalog, including their most recent release, Native Sons. This 2021 release features all cover that in one way or another relate to their native Los Angeles. Covers have always been a large part of their live shows. In fact, half of the songs played this evening were covers. This was a fine evening of entertainment, bringing back memories from my past, and making new ones for the future. 

Download this show HERE.

1. One Time One Night

2. Choco's Cumbia

3. The Valley

4. Shakin' Shakin' Shakes

5. Will The Wolf Survive

6. Come on, Let's Go

7. Love Special Delivery

8. Georgia Slop

9. That Train Don't Stop Here

10. Sabor a mi

11. Teresa

12. Kiko and the Lavender Moon

13. Ay te dejo en San Antonio

14. Volver, Volver

15. Don't Worry Baby

16. Mas y mas

17. Farmer John

18. La Bamba

Newsboys May 6, 2017 First Baptist Church Ocala, Florida

I rarely miss a chance to see Michael Tait, in whatever capacity, whenever I have the opportunity. I'm especially fond of his solo career, from the time dc Talk went on hiatus in 2000, until the time he emerged as the vocalist for this group in 2009.  The Newsboys are collectively the latest vehicle used to spread the Word, which he continues to do without shame and with a vengance. I found it interesting that there are no original member in this band, and that there have been at least sixteen members since its inception, yet they continue to release relavant, high caliber Christian music.  

1. Born Again
2. That's How You Change The World
3. banter\band intro
4. Crazy
5. Live With Abandon
6. Your Love Never Fails
7. banter
8. Guilty
9. banter\news videos
10. Love Riot
11. He Reigns
12. You Hold It All
13. banter\Great Is Thy Faithfulness
14. We Believe
15. The King Is Coming
16. Committed
17. Jesus Freak
18. encore break
19. Hero
20. God's Not Dead (Like A Lion)

Download this show HERE.

Special thanks to Michael Gurczynski for the great pictures.