1. The band Parcels has some fun jams. I randomly crossed paths at the grocery store with the star cross country runner at my high school a couple months ago, and he mentioned these guys and texted me a YouTube link to their show: www.youtube.com/watch Parcel’s live in studio set was pretty fun and funky. I was pretty impressed with the first few songs. I had heard of them a few years ago, as their hit “Tieduprightnow” (last song on this live studio production) came up on the “Greg’s Jem’s” Spotify playlist songs liked by Greg Ormont, who is the frontman for Pigeons Playing Ping Pong.

  2. Matisyahu is an interesting dude. He is a Jewish American rapper, and also a Phish fan, I found out. Goose’s first drummer, Ben Atkind, who’s now a freelance drummer, drummed with him at this show (maybe he is doing more?). Ben Atkind is a cool guy. Saw him with the Alls Eye on my 30th birthday and met him. He was just as cool in person as you’d expect, and bought me a drink and chatted for a min. One of my wife’s former coworkers, who is a jam band fan, texted me a link to this show with Ben at the kit last December for one of Matisyahu’s hit songs “King Without a Crown.” A good vibe indeed: www.youtube.com/watch

  3. Annika Niles. She’s great! Looking forward to seeing her live. I mean, I didn’t think Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson would ever play again, let along with an insanely talented 40-something German woman I hadn’t heard of, who played for the late great guitarist Jeff Beck. This video was pretty cool and showed off her talent: www.youtube.com/watch

  4. Bruce Hornsby, has a new song Indigo Park out last week. www.youtube.com/watch Bruce was my first ever concert at the Oregon Zoo, August 25, 2001 at the age of 6. Started relistening to his older material too, but excited for anything new by him. Amazing rhythm and lead on keys, and vocals. Stoked to see him again this summer in Portland! Met him with my dad in 2017, and his band member J.T. Thomas twice pre-show. Great people.

  5. Pulled this one from the vault, but recently came up again on my YouTube when looking through past music videos I liked. Danny Carey, Tool’s drummer is phenomenal. I don’t listen to much of Tool’s music, but this is among my favorite Tool songs, and this video is great, as it is live and drumming focused video here published by the drumming company Vic Firth. Awesome to listen to rhythmically: www.youtube.com/watch