Tool rocks San Diego after 13-year hiatus

Friday, January 10th at the Viejas Arena was a night to remember. As the stage dimmed to begin the evening, Author & Punisher appeared onstage. The local San Diegan artist, Tristan Shone, shook the entire venue with heavy, industrial sounds blaring from his custom-engineered machines. Distorted and aggressive, the sounds that came from this unique […]

The Almost at Pittsburgh’s Rex Theater

The Almost returned to the stage full force on January 11th, 2020 at The Rex Theater in Pittsburgh, giving an unforgettable performance. As the tour made its way through the eastern part of the country, many members of the group became sick with the flu, causing a cancellation in Washington D.C. Their first day back […]

Top Shelf Music News: Episode 1

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Top Shelf Music News, with your host Matt Cook & Kristy Rose guiding you on this daring quest. It being right after the holidays, a lot is going on in the music industry, from festival announcements to new music to hot gossip of the bands you love. This episode […]

Sublime With Rome at House of Blues Anaheim

On December 27th, Sublime With Rome headlined a sold out show at the House of Blues Anaheim, directly supported by Tyrone’s Jacket. Walking around the packed House of Blues Anaheim before the show, you could feel the anticipation in the air. Everyone was excited to party hard at the pre-New Year’s show. Sublime came out […]

Coachella 2020 is here!

The moment all mainstream music lovers have all been waiting for is here — Coachella 2020 has been revealed! That magical unveiling always warrants your money well-spent if you secured your passes from festival’s pre-sale, prompting others who haven’t splurged for a ticket yet into a panic for when whatever’s leftover goes public. You never […]

Okeechobee Fest returns to Florida for 2020

Tucked away in the serene grasslands of Sunshine Grove, Florida’s own fun and freak fest is back on for 2020! After hitting its first year out of the park in 2016, Okeechobee Festival and its down-to-earth vibrations grew in 2017 and 2018, before coming to a grinding halt for March 2019… apparently it was due […]

Thievery Corporation at Belly Up Tavern, San Diego

Seeing your favorite bands at smaller venues is always a treat: intimacy abounds as interaction between players and audience members amplifies immensely. Such a venue is San Diego’s Belly Up Tavern along the coast of Solana Beach. A variety of acts cycle through the Belly Up; most returning as an annual or biannual gig. One […]

Thurston Moore at The Empty Bottle, Chicago

On December 13th 2019, The Thurston Moore Group performed at The Empty Bottle in Chicago, with support by Devin Brahja Waldman. The venue was a perfect setting for the show, providing an up close and personal atmosphere, soon to be amplified by the performance. Thurston Moore took the stage and the audience’s attention instantly gravitated […]

M3F Fest returns to Phoenix March 2020

What’s better than splurging on a sample of your favorite bands thrown together in one mega live music event? Knowing the money you’re spending on the weekend is going straight to charity. That’s right: one festival makes its mark on the world by bettering the planet as it goes. M3F Festival knows how to have […]

Wonderfront 2019: Day Three

Still reeling from the previous two days, I was a child at Christmas impatiently waiting to open my presents or, in this case, the festival gates. I knew the festival grounds like the back of my hand by now; I had my sets lined up and now I just needed a beer. Local breweries were […]

Wonderfront 2019: Day Two

Day Two — let’s go! First off, kudos to Wonderfront for their festival companion app! I’ve never seen a more polished festival app that was intuitive, fast, reactive and a must-have for the festival-goer. I started my day with the app and a cup of Joe. Selecting all the acts I wanted to see then […]

WORLD VIDEO PREMIERE: A-Mac & The Height “Where I’m At”

Denver-based hip hop-meets-funk band A-Mac & The Height is gearing up for an album release in February 2020, teasing fans with a funky, fresh sound in the leading single “Where I’m At” a few weeks ago. Not only that, but Top Shelf Music is happy to host the world premiere of the single’s music video […]

Cold War Kids at San Diego’s Observatory North Park

Alt lovers gathered from far and wide the night of Friday, November 15th for an intimate performance by Cold War Kids, supported by Samia, at San Diego’s Observatory North Park. Being a smaller venue (versus big amphitheater performances by CWK), the Observatory filled up real fast as opener Samia took center stage. Cool, complacent, yet […]

KAABOO Del Mar 2019: Day Three

KAABOO Del Mar started Day Three 2019 with a big public announcement — this is the last KAABOO Del Mar day EVER! Never to fear: KAABOO is simply relocating due south to downtown’s Petco Park, rebranding in the process to KAABOO San Diego from here on out. With that in mind, attendees made the most […]

The Black Keys & Modest Mouse rocked San Diego

The Black Keys‘ headlining tour, featuring Modest Mouse with Shannon and the Clams, hit San Diego’s Pechanga Arena on Sunday, November 14th. Shannon and the Clams started the night off right with some upbeat jams that got the crowd going. The quartet, based out of Oakland, consists of Cody Blanchard on vocals/guitar, Shannon Shaw on […]