Intervals rocks Detroit with instrumental metal madness

A unique night, for sure, happened at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit. Different bands who had a similar sound, yet all sounded so different came together on April 12th, 2024. There was something for everyone to enjoy with this lineup. Makari and Body Thief started the night, warming up the crowd. Makari brought the alternative […]

Saxsquatch brings folklore-filled Bigfoot Rave to San Diego

I’ve always heard of the mystical and elusive character Saxsquatch: a wily upright ape-man, wandering around the Pacific Northwest with instrument in hand. The legend of Saxsquatch actually dates back to the first saxophone ever created by 19th Century musician and outdoorsman Gilhorn Von Bugle Sax, who carelessly left his invention on a tree stump […]

Atmosphere brings Tour de Friends, Pt. Deux to party in St. Louis

For the first stop of the Tour de Friends, Pt. Deux on April 10th, cherished hip hop duo Atmosphere decided to start things off relatively close to home, partying in the Midwest with the city of St. Louis at The Pageant and making their long-awaited return to the 314. They didn’t come alone either, instead […]

Paul Cauthen packs two country AF nights into Paso Robles brewery

Barrel House Brewing Company in Paso Robles had the anticipated return of Paul Cauthen for two nights at its amphitheater and Top Shelf Music got to cover the sold-out Night One! That’s right: Paso Robles fans enjoy Paul’s music so much that they demanded a second show at the home of “Good People, Good Times, […]

Gary Numan sends San Diego’s Music Box into a fanatic frenzy

Trying to find parking around the Music Box in downtown San Diego clearly indicated that there was a notable event taking place: the streets were lined with punkers — mostly of Gen X age, but some Boomers, some Millennials — all dressed in black, leather, and walking in the same direction. Gary Numan was in […]

Boogie T & friends shake St. Louis with bassy dubstep

The Factory was a packed house on a Saturday night in St. Louis, as fans gathered to enjoy a dubstep-filled night courtesy of Boogie T and friends. All four of the deejays from the show are signed to Insomniac Records and brought their own unique take on EDM to the stage. The show started with […]

Good Kid sells out Quartyard in downtown San Diego

On a rare drizzly San Diego evening, the city’s popular outdoor venue Quartyard was packed to capacity for Good Kid’s sold-out show on their This Can’t Be The End tour on April 5th, 2024. Despite the intermittent drizzle, the vibes were anything but dampened as fans came together for singalongs, beyblades (accompanied with beyblades cover […]

Otoboke Beaver obliterates at Nashville’s Eastside Bowl

In my 10+ years of music journalism, I have attended some pretty weird and usual shows, events ranging from soda spraying clowns to bands that have set their instruments on fire. Without trying to sound pretentious, I had honestly thought I had seen everything. That was until this past Thursday evening at Nashville’s Eastside Bowl. […]

Breaking Benjamin & Daughtry deliver thunderous rock to Erie, PA

On March 26th, the Erie Insurance Arena in Pennsylvania became the epicenter of rock music as three powerhouse bands took the stage, igniting the night with raw energy and unforgettable performances. Breaking Benjamin headlined the event, with special guests Daughtry and Catch Your Breath, creating an electrifying atmosphere that left fans buzzing long after the […]

Mac Sabbath makes mouths water at the Observatory OC

On Friday, March 22nd, Mac Sabbath invaded Orange County, California, headlining a show at The Observatory in Santa Ana. The eccentrically garbed, McDonald’s-inspired band was supported by the Venomous Pinks and O.C. veterans of punk, D.I. Venomous Pinks, the all-female punk band from Arizona, kicked things off with their high energy, getting the crowd in […]