A brief Reggae Rock history

To date, reggae has had an underrated rap. Out of all categories the Recording Academy credits for their annual GRAMMY Awards, Reggae only gets one slot – which is simply a travesty! Anyone who follows the genre knows that a myriad of subgenres exist that have fractured the larger Reggae umbrella over the years – […]

Between Kings drops surprise ‘Antidote’ EP

Aussie-bred turned LA-based rock band Between Kings has achieved critical acclaim since their formation back in 2013. The band’s debut album, The Escape, instantly started climbing the Alternative Charts in 2018, escalating the emo four-piece to over 1.5 million Spotify streams last year. Now pairing with producer Jimmy Messer (AWOLNATION, Kygo, Kelly Clarkson, Selena Gomez), […]

How Cali Roots wins Earth Day, every day

Memorial Day Weekend simply will not be the same this year in Monterey. For the past decade, one festival has grown to be synonymous with the three-day weekend at the Monterey Fairgrounds, the same setting of the historic Monterey Pop Festival — you know, where Jimi Hendrix set his guitar on fire in between Janis, […]

PAARIS set to release ‘NORA’ EP

Enrique Marquez Paris, aka PAARIS, is a guitarist, composer and producer from Caracas, Venezuela. After playing in bands like Dankrupt and collaborating with multiple artists for more than 18 years, PAARIS celebrates his first solo release entitled NORA, set to be available on all digital streaming platforms on April 17th. “‘NORA’ is a portrait of […]

Top Shelf Music has a Patreon

Top Shelf Music is proud to announce the official launch of the Top Shelf Music Patreon page! Patreon — a growing trend in entrepreneurship, especially in creative industries — is a subscription-based crowdfunding approach to the entities you support, whether that be bands, artists, independent labels or up-and-coming brands. Top Shelf Music, as a brand, […]

WORLD TRACK PREMIERE: Dillinger’s Hired Guns “Witchduck”

Blaine Dillinger, a man of multiple talents, is best known for his reggae rock role in HIRIE and former roles like Clear Conscience, Shrub, among others. What fans of the reggae rock genre don’t know is that Dillinger’s background ranges from reggae to prog rock to funk to his jazz guitar degree he attained from […]

TSM Artist #HotList: April 5th, 2020

Top Shelf Music Artist #HotList with your host Alexia Johnson, April 5th 2020 Edition. Follow Alexia as she outlines hot new music from up-and-coming bands! This week our lineup features “Waves” by AVA, “Michigan Winter” by Sunday Morning, “No Negative Vibes” by Wisdom and Sound ft. Blaine Dillinger (of HIRIE) and “Rock With You” by […]

Escape The Fate at Sacramento’s Ace of Spades

March 2rd was another beautiful night in Sacramento, CA. It was a dry and cold night, but Ace of Spades was ready to rock out to the sold out show! Let’s recap this one. Headliner Falling In Reverse hit the road in celebration of their debut album, The Drug In Me Is You, along with […]

TSM #HotList: March 29th, 2020

We’re proud to present Top Shelf Music Artist #Hotlist with your host Alexia Johnson, March 29th Edition! This time, our lineup features Blarre Bianchi & Iam Christarz, DJ Greenguy and Reime Schemes, Fantan Mojah and Rome (of Sublime With Rome) with Duddy B (of Dirty Heads)! With so much going on in the world right […]

How The Allman Betts Band rocked San Luis Obispo

On Wednesday March 11th, The Fremont theater in San Luis Obispo was blessed with a performance by The Allman Betts Band, fronted by Devon Allman (son of Greg Allman of The Allman Brothers) and Duane Betts (son of Dicky Betts). Opening the show was a band all the way from Saint Louis, Missouri named The […]

Celebrating 311 Day 2020

In what could possibly be the last concert for a long time (with the current COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe and all), diehard 311 fans flocked in hoards to Viva Las Vegas for three full days of 311 performances — complete with pre-parties and after-parties around the casino! An annual tradition, the band has been […]

Donavon Frankenreiter dazzles at Saint Rocke, Hermosa Beach

California native, pro surfer, singer-songwriter and guitar wizard Donavon Frankenreiter gave fans a special two-night performance at Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach on March 6th and 7th. First of all, this venue was the perfect setting for his stylish transitions, intimate lyrics and funky vibes. Hermosa Beach puts a smile on my face every time […]

Top Shelf Music News: Episode 3

Welcome to Top Shelf Music News Episode Three, with your hosts Matt Cook & Kristy Rose. Also making an appearance is field reporters Alexia Johnson, Danny Brophy, a basketball and at least a half dozen Coronas. The current pandemonium with the spreading Coronavirus has led the music industry to be disrupted when it comes to […]

Thrice & mewithoutyou at San Diego’s Observatory North Park

A night of singalongs and nostalgia was in full force as Thrice celebrated the 15 Year Anniversary of their killer album, Vhiessu. What was ultimately a rebrand of sound for Thrice became the biggest staple in their music career and fans from front row to back were there to shout every word at North Park’s […]