Kyle Smith & Brendan Clemente chat at Cali Roots X

Top Shelf Music journalist Kristy Rose sits down with two great independent artists at California Roots 10, Kyle Smith and Brendan Clemente! Performing together for the first time, the two chat about their individual efforts in the scene, what’s to come next and how Cali Roots brought the two of them together in the first […]

Aftershock Fest 2019 expands to three days

After selling out the last four years in Sacramento and welcoming a crowd of over 60,000 people, Aftershock Festival has expanded to three days and will include some of the biggest names in metal, punk rock and alternative music. This year’s headliners will feature Slipknot, Stained, Korn, Blink 182, Rob Zombie, Tool, Dropkick Murphys, Lamb […]

Cali Roots 2019: Day Two

Back for more, California Roots 2019 attendees filed once again into the Monterey Fairgrounds early Saturday morning for yoga, coffee and, naturally, the rocking reggae sounds of Roots of a Rebellion kicking off the Cali Roots Stage on Day Two. Jo Mersa Marley followed shortly after on the Bowl, while Casey Sullivan (of Burritos the […]

The Bash Fest 2019: Sacramento

The Bash Fest, a touring family-friendly punk rock music and beer festival presented by Rancid, had brought together some of the most notable bands in the punk rock scene to the stage for fans to enjoy. The musical lineup included favorites such as Sharp Shock, L7, Suicidal Tendencies, Pennywise and, to headline each night, Rancid […]

Rebelution at San Diego’s North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

Chula Vista concerts are a trademark of summertime. The weather is finally warm enough to enjoy an outdoor event, strangers mingle amongst each other with drinks on the lawn, friends bond in every direction by the sheer act of live music. A concert arena that has boasted many names, The North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre […]

Roots of a Rebellion sits down at Cali Roots 10

Top Shelf Music journalist Kristy Rose sits down with Roots of a Rebellion at California Roots 10, all the way from Tennessee! The band opened up Day Two of the festival and with a new album out shortly, Roots of a Rebellion members were stoked to share details on the LP and what’s coming up […]

Cali Roots 2019: Day One

It’s always a cathartic experience, gracing the Monterey Fairgrounds gates for yet another Memorial Day Weekend at California Roots Music & Arts Festival. Unlike any other year, expectations were peaking for the 10th Annual to get underway (the milestone dubbed ‘Cali Roots X’ for good measure). Also unlike any other is the feeling of togetherness, not […]

Being at Bayfest San Diego

There’s nothing like a family reunion. Now imagine one without any family drama, surrounded by endless familiar faces on a beautiful day sprawled across the breathtaking lawns of San Diego’s Embarcadero Marina Park North, with the monumental Coronado Speedway looming in the distance, boats passing by on the water and the palatial highrises of the […]

A chat with The Late Ones at California Roots 2019

Top Shelf Music journalist Kristy Rose sits down with The Late Ones, a hip hop meets island reggae trio out of Hawaii, at California Roots 10 ahead of their late night afterparty performance in Monterey, California. With a new single available as of that day, The Late Ones were excited to share music, upcoming summer plans […]

BeachLife Fest 2019: Day Two

Day Two BeachLife Festival was upon Redondo Beach: one exciting day in the books, capped by Grateful Dead icon Bob Weir, and another yet to come for this first year fest. Saturday on the ocean brought with it perfect weather on May 4th, 2019. Attendees lined the entrance fence as opening band Latchkey Kid serenaded the early birds already inside. […]

HIRIE at Newport Dunes

With the pink and orange sherbet California sun setting on the sparkling bay in Newport Beach, HIRIE took to the stage for a fun-filled family evening of reggae on the beach. Families and groups of friends took to the VIP areas, the picnic benches and sand to grab a spot to enjoy the show. Excited […]

Steel Pulse sits down with Top Shelf Music

Steel Pulse members David Hinds and Selwyn Brown sit down with Top Shelf Music journalist Keela Sweeney following their Day One BeachLife Festival performance in Redondo Beach, California. With their long-awaited Mass Manipulation album out as of May 17th, Steel Pulse chats about the inspiration behind the album that took 15 years in the making […]

Back To The Beach Fest: Day Two

Around Day Two Around Day Two Lowlives Lowlives Lowlives Lowlives Lowlives Lowlives Lowlives Around Day Two Around Day Two Teenage Wrist Teenage Wrist Teenage Wrist Teenage Wrist Teenage Wrist Teenage Wrist Around Day Two Around Day Two Around Day Two Story Of The Year Story Of The Year Story Of The Year Story Of The […]

Lissie at LA’s Largo at The Coronet

A small, quaint theater with crushed red velvet curtains, soft white lights, a rustic upright piano, a mic stand, a stool and a glass of red wine. The intimate venue of Largo at The Coronet in Los Angeles was the perfect place for Lissie to kick off her When I’m Alone: The Piano Retrospective Tour. […]

A talk with BeachLife band Tomorrows Bad Seeds

The turnover rate for bands in the reggae-rock scene is unfortunate. Over the past few decades since the genre got popularized, bands have risen to the tippy top (cough, Stoopid, Reb) as others dissipated faster than vape smoke, rendering themseles a minor blip on the reggae-rock radar. RIP to all those fallen soldiers. You did […]