05/12/09 Chris Barron, John Popper, Mike Gordon & Joe Russo @ National Underground, New York NY

Acting on an tip from Phantasy Tour, I hightailed it to the Lower East Side and walked in just in time to see Joe Russo and Mike Gordon jam with Chris Barron of 1990s downtown jam darlings The Spin Doctors. Later on, John Popper of fellow radio-friendly jammers Blues Traveler sat in on the Doctors' ubiquitous "Two Princes." Not bad for a Tuesday night.

05/03/09 Kid Koala/Adira Amram @ Le Poisson Rouge, New York, NY

Kid Koala, also known as Your Mom's Favorite DJ, is one of the best turntable technicians out there and one of the most exuberant performers to watch on stage. Adira Amram is a spandex-clad diva hilariously spoofing '80s pop.

05/01/09 Future Rock/Shout Out Out Out Out Out @ Le Poisson Rouge, New York, NY

This was a solid night of quality livetronica downtown with both Chicago and Edmonton represented.

04/29/09 The Dead @ IZOD Center, East Rutherford, NJ

With the success of Furthur, this might have been the final run for the remaining members of the Grateful Dead, sparked after a one-off gig for the Obama campaign. After failing to procure a reasonably priced ticket the previous night, I joined my dad for a solid show abetted by Branford Marsalis.

04/29/09 • IZOD Center • East Rutherford , NJ

Set 1: Touch of Grey, Pride of Cucamonga, Crazy Fingers, The Music Never Stopped, Deal, Days Between, Casey Jones

Set 2: Sitting On Top of the World, Doin That Rag, Ramble On Rose > Lady With A Fan > Drums > Space > The Wheel > Terrapin Station > I Know You Rider

Encore: Man Smart Woman Smarter

04/07/09 King Britt/Derek Plaslaiko/Zemi17/etc @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple, Brooklyn, NY

Though slightly past its prime, The Danger still knew how to put on a spectacle. This party brought ice sculptures and banh mi to the cavernous Brooklyn Masonic Temple, along with an eclectic line up. Things got a little weird.

04/13/09 Mission: On Mars @ Zebulon, Brooklyn, NY

I always thought this Indian classical fusion group deserved a little more love. Both the band and two of my favorite Williamsburg spots at which I saw them are now defunct.

04/11/09 Orchard Lounge/The Indobox @ Sullivan Hall, New York, NY

I think this was a Lotus afterparty. The late night was especially sloppy. I was denied admittance to the venue between acts and eventually ejected for the first time in nearly a decade.