When Ringo Starr sits behind the drums and shakes his head to the beat, time temporarily turns back to 1964.

If you pull your kid out of school and drive five hours to see Alestorm and Gloryhammer at a club, you may have a metal problem. It was more than worth it.

Jeff Lynne once again demonstrated what makes Electric Light Orchestra special, namely combining various genres to render the music timeless.

The set mirrored Charlie Ballantine’s new album ‘Life is Brief,’ since both included some unexpected Bob Dylan selections.

At the first hint that country legend Bobby Bare was open to requests, this respectful Wisconsin crowd came alive with suggestions.

On this night, the absolutely unflappable Whisperin’ Bill Anderson gave his Wisconsin admirers a clinic on ‘How to Deal with Performance Adversity.’

Respected for his incalculable influence on both jazz and rock, Billy Cobham is an important drummer – and one that I had never seen perform.

I saw body surfing up close at this Motorhead show, almost became an unwilling member in a mosh pit, and escaped unscathed. Who could ask for more?

People come to worship this band, not necessarily to enjoy themselves. A King Crimson concert is serious business.

Katy Perry’s concert was spectacle on the grandest of scales played out on an enormous, ever-changing stage. And the music wasn’t bad, either.