California


  • Compton’s Finest: N.W.A.’s Explosive Debut and Its Impact on Music and Society

    When N.W.A. released Straight Outta Compton on August 8, 1988, it marked a seismic shift in music, culture, and the way America viewed hip-hop. The album was a raw and unfiltered portrayal of life in the streets of South Central Los Angeles, delivered with an urgency and authenticity that had never been heard before. Not…

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  • Remembering John Mayall: His Final ‘Room to Move’ Performance

    John Mayallโ€™s last show took place on March 26, 2022, at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, California. This performance marked the end of a remarkable 65-year touring career. During this final concert, Mayall, who was 88 years old, performed with his band, which included Greg Rzab on bass, Jay Davenport on drums, and…

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  • Guitar Flames and Fame: Jimi Hendrixโ€™s Explosive Monterey Debut

    On June 18, 1967, the Monterey Pop Festival bore witness to a performance that would become legendary in the annals of rock history. Jimi Hendrix, a relatively unknown guitarist at the time, took the stage and delivered a performance that catapulted him into superstardom and forever changed the landscape of rock music. This electrifying set,…

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  • Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson’s Unreleased 1983 Recording Sessions

    In the pantheon of rock and pop gods, few names resonate as powerfully as Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson. Now imagine, if you will, the sheer cosmic magnitude of these two titans crossing paths, not on a stage, but in the intimate confines of a recording studio. Yes, it happened. Freddie Mercury, the flamboyant frontman…

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  • Inside the Rolling Stones’ First US Tour

    The Rolling Stonesโ€™ inaugural U.S. tour in 1964 was a wild ride of rock โ€˜nโ€™ roll chaos and cultural clashes. Hereโ€™s a deeper dive into the anecdotes and adventures that marked this historic tour, setting the stage for the bandโ€™s legendary status. The Flight That Almost Didnโ€™t Happen Before the Stones could even set foot…

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  • Observations At T.H.E. Show 2024

    “What Iโ€™m going to say now with 100% certainty is that I had never heard these two recordings sound better than they did in that room.”

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  • June 25: 25 Years Apart – The Legacies of Prince and Michael Jackson

    June 25 holds a special place in music history, marking both the release of an iconic album and the passing of a legendary artist. On this date in 1984, Prince released his groundbreaking album โ€œPurple Rain,โ€ a record that would redefine his career and solidify his place in the pantheon of music greats. Little did…

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  • Treasures from the Vinyl Vault, Part 6: Shelly Manne, Barney Kessel, Curtis Counce, Howard Rumsey, Art Pepper

    Welcome to my series Treasures from the Vinyl Vault. In it, I will feature select gems from my approximately 12,000 ever-growing vinyl collection, accumulated over a 45-year period and counting.

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  • Reviewed: Kamasi Washington’s Fearless Movement

    As an ambitious creator of new musical worlds, visionary saxophonist Kamasi Washington wants to understand and proclaim the power of love. He wants to come to terms with his mortality. He wants to make people dance. And he certainly wants people to stop hating on jazz. Mixing jazz horns with afrofuturist concepts, spiritual transcendence, and…

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  • Seoul International Audio Show 2024

    Impressions of South Korea’s thriving audio show, along with a handful of Best-of-Show rooms.

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  • Please Tell Me Itโ€™s An April Foolโ€™s Day Joke!

    This article presents the authorโ€™s personal perspective and does not necessarily reflect the endorsements or viewpoints of the editorial team. To submit your own opinions, please contact our editor-in-chief. A few days ago, I received a press release announcing that the Los Angeles Orange County Audiophile Society (LAOCAS) and the Chester Group from England are…

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  • Brico’s Baton: A Woman’s Whisper in the Roar of Men

    Early Crescendos: The Formative Years of Antonia Brico In the rich tapestry of classical music history, Antonia Louisa Bricoโ€™s narrative is a compelling saga of tenacity, pioneering spirit, and sublime artistry. Born under the shadow of societal constraints in Rotterdam on June 26, 1902, to an unmarried Dutch Catholic mother, Bricoโ€™s journey from an obscure…

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  • Elvis at Sea: The Day the King Rocked the USS Hancock

    On the third day of April in 1956, a spectacle unfolded that was nothing short of a cultural earthquake, with Elvis Presley at its epicenter. This wasnโ€™t your garden-variety television appearance; it was an event that would ricochet through the annals of music and television history, leaving an indelible mark on the fabric of American…

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  • From Halfway House to Vinyl Powerhouse: The Full Interview With Chad Kassem

    “My goal is to win. That’s why I recut the Steely Dan record, the first one, seven times. I’m going to make sure ours is better.”

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  • MAF 2024: Altitudo Audio, Electrocompaniet, Harmonic Resolution Systems, Tri-Art Audio, Nordost, Audio Note

    Prices listed in CA$ unless otherwise note. When I first heard Audio Physic speakers (the Classic 15) at Audio Element in Pasadena, California, I was immediately impressed. They were featured in PMA Magazineโ€™s โ€œBest Audio Systems For $10,000โ€ series. I couldnโ€™t believe that speakers costing less than US$ 5000/pair could sound so accomplished or have…

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