RAGIN' REVIEW: Cabinet at Lafayette's Music Room

Cabinet is gradually making bigger and bigger waves in the bluegrass scene! It was so nice to finally see them make it to Memphis! The quintet invaded Lafayette's Music Room with style, and I was fortunate enough to meet them in person once again. Check out my review and photos from the show at the link below!

Cabinet - Lafayette's Music Room, Memphis, TN (March 22, 2015)

For more concert reviews, please click here, or use the menu on the left hand side of the site for more Ragin' Reviews!

Forever Grateful For Those About To Rock

Over the past 17 months, Ragin' Randy Entertainment has grown exponentially into what it is today. It all started with a friend's simple suggestion. Brandon Gaitor said to me, "Man, you have some of the best stories about music! You should start writing them down. I'd read that!" From there, all it took was a bit of ambition and one person to believe in my writing enough to give me a shot. That is where Grateful Music came into play.

I blindly sent out samples of articles that I had written, and without having ever heard my name before, Grateful Music saw something in my writing and gave me a shot. From there, the sky was the limit, and I was approached by Live Music Daily and asked to start writing for them as well. A couple months after that, I was being asked to manage Agori Tribe, my favorite local band. Today, I've booked shows for Agori Tribe in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas, and I've traveled to Nashville, Chattanooga and Oxford to review and photograph concerts.

Ever since my first published article in November 2013, I have gradually developed a strong network of contacts and support. From asking questions about booking or photography to just telling me how much they enjoy my writing, this web connections, who I consider to be part of my family now, have been there for me in some way or another. I would like to take a moment to thank some of these people.

Sammy Martin & Kevin Long - The founders of Grateful Music, I owe pretty much all of my confidence and success in the music industry to these two guys. I was nervous when I first started writing for them, but if Sammy and Kevin hadn't have given me that first shot, I have no idea where I would be today. I never would have had the confidence to put myself in a place where I could progress without that first step. Sammy and Kevin have both written for Relix, the renowned music magazine, in the past, and their love for music runs deeper than anyone else I have ever met.

Ellis Jones - Ellis is a photographer in Memphis who takes live music photos for Grateful Music. He has followed me on many a musical exploit in town, and his amazing photos have made many of my articles stand out and shine.

Mike Geller, Chason Heins & Joe Schlee - For starters, all three of these guys have told me how much they enjoy my writing from the very beginning. They are all photographers for Grateful Music, all located in the Northeast, and they have all taken their shots at writing as well. Moreover, when I decided to buy a camera and start taking my own photographs, these guys became my resources for all things live music photography. In between working, school and staying up until all hours of the night editing photos of shows, these guys somehow have found time to help me grow and continue to support my writing and my management and booking ventures. You can follow Mike at Mike Geller Photography, Joe at Josiah Schlee Media and Chason via Grateful Music and CSM Promotions. Also, see samples of their work, as well as Ellis', below:

EOTO - Higher Ground (Burlington, VT) by Joe Schlee

Dumpstaphunk w/TAZ - Brooklyn Bowl (Brooklyn, NY) by Chason Heins

Dopapod - Aura Music Festival (Live Oak, FL) by Mike Geller

Widespread Panic - Orpheum Theatre (Memphis, TN) by Ellis Jones

Andrew McConnell - When Andrew requested to be my friend on Facebook over summer of 2014, I had never heard of him before, but within minutes of my acceptance he was asking me to write for Live Music Daily. Andrew has been an asset to my growth in many different ways. Aside from believing in my writing, I feel like we have grown together in a way. When I first started writing for him, Live Music Daily had just passed the 10,000 follower mark on Facebook, and Ragin' Randy was hanging around the 200 mark. Today, Live Music Daily is creeping up on 18,000 and Ragin' Randy Entertainment is above 500. Andrew and I have bounced ideas back and forth, asked each other questions, and asked each other for feedback and suggestions. Andrew has also given me lots of insight into booking shows. Follow Live Music Daily on Facebook here.

Will Nicholls, Sean Naughton, David Collins, Dave Hash & Jeffery Naylor - These guys, aka Agori Tribe, have given me the ultimate shot! I have loved every minute of working with Agori Tribe; the gigs, practices, meetings, brainstorming, and even the stress! Yes, they are a handful, but their music is rockin', and I could not ask for a better start towards my goal of working in music. These boys have welcomed me into the Agori Tribe family with open arms, and we are ready to take on the world together!

All of the people mentioned above have had a dramatic effect on my movement and growth through the music industry, and while I still have a long way to go, I am grateful to be where I am. I love these guys and consider them to be a part of my family, and I've met less than half of them in person! They continue to inspire me through our mutual love of music. It has been an honor to be able to do what I love and to have met and worked with so many amazing people along the way. Here's to many more, and for those about to rock, we salute you!

JUST ANNOUNCED: Agori Tribe at Whatever Grand Opening

RRE artist Agori Tribe is very excited to announce that they will be helping kick off Whatever’s Grand Opening Extravaganza on Saturday, April 18 at 4:00 pm! Can’t wait to see old friends and make some new ones, while helping to support a local business! Check out all of the info, including the many other Memphis artists schedule to play, at the Facebook event here.

RAGIN' REVIEW: Turbo Suit - Out Here

Check out the latest Ragin' Review of Turbo Suit's debut album under their new guise, Out Here. Turbo Suit is the new alias of the jamtronica trio Cosby Sweater, and they have come out strong with their debut effort, featuring members of Umphrey's McGee, Digital Tape Machine and Trey Anastasio Band. Check it out at the link below!

Turbo Suit - Out Here (Mar 3, 2015) - Grateful Music

For more album reviews, click here or use the Menu on the left hand side of the page for concert reviews, festival reviews and other music related articles!

JUST ANNOUNCED: Ozric Tentacles - Technicians of the Sacred

Fans of the UK's psychedelic space rock jam band Ozric Tentacles have anxiously awaited the announcement for he release of their newest album. The record was supposed to be released in 2014, but due to unreleased complications, the band had to postpone the release. But rejoice! For today, we finally have the coveted release dates! Below is the official announcement from the band's website.

"The new DOUBLE CD and vinyl album set, Technicians of The Sacred, will released on Snapper's "Madfish" label on May 11th, 2015 in the UK, one day prior to the first UK performance at the London O2 Academy Islington, and May 26th, 2015 in the US, prior to the first US performance at Infrasound Festival in Black River Falls, WI with Tipper, Ott, Opiuo, Mr. Bill, Benga, and many more...

The supporting tour starts on April 25th with their first perfomance in Warsaw, and is currently confirmed through Europe, UK, and the US, though bookings are still in the works for many more countries. Keep an eye on the Gigs & Tours section for updates."

Ozric Tentacles 2015 Tour Dates

04/25 Serotonina - Progresja - Warsaw, Poland

04/28 Cross Club - Prague, Czech Republic

04/29 Akvarium Klub - Budapest, Hungary

04/30 Club Drugstore, Belgrade, Serbia

05/01 Mochvara, Zagreb, Croatia

05/02 Trainstation Squat - Kranj, Slovenia

05/03 Il Deposito - Pordenone, Italy

05/05 Planet Live Club - Rome, Italy

05/06 Locomotiv Club - Bologna, Italy

05/07 Luxor Live - Arnhem, Netherlands

05/08 Poppodium Romein - Leeuwarden, Netherlands

05/09 Podium Victorie - Alkmaar, Netherlands

05/12 O2 Academy - Islington, London

05/13 Southampton - The Talking Heads

05/15 Bierkeller - Bristol

05/16 The Waterfront - Norwich

05/17 O2 ABC 2 - Glasgow

05/18 O2 Academy 2 - Newcastle

05/19 O2 Academy - Liverpool

05/20 O2 Academy - Birmingham

05/22 Manchester Club Academy - Manchester

05/24 O2 Academy - Oxford

05/29 Infrasound Festival - Black River Falls, WI

05/30 Infrasound Festival - Black River Falls, WI

06/02 Reggies - Chicago, IL

06/04 Family Roots Festival - Glouster, OH

06/05 Family Roots Festival - Glouster, OH

06/13 Ardmore Music Hall - Philadelphia, PA

06/14 Highline Ballroom - New York, NY

PROMO: Agori Tribe - Tiny Tyrant Biggins & The Avant Groove

Agori Tribe

“Tiny Tyrant Biggins & The Avant Groove”

Coming Soon

After a strong debut album in 2014, showcasing the five-piece progressive rock band’s diversity of influence, Agori Tribe starts 2015 off strong with “Tiny Tyrant Biggins & The Avant Groove,” also known as simply “Biggins.” The first single from an upcoming full length album of original material, “Biggins” further demonstrates the Memphis-based band’s need to stretch the boundaries of genre and fittingly incorporate a wide range of styles into a single track. The song was produced and recorded by Patrick Moss, and certain tracking was done at Sansing Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. The combination of jazz, fusion and rock and roll makes “Biggins” the ultimate Agori Tribe track, touching on all ends of their spectrum of influences.

JUST ANNOUNCED: PHISH SUMMER 2015 TOUR DATES

It's finally here! With Trey Anastasio's recruitment as the guitarist for the Grateful Dead's Fare Thee Well run in Chicago, many Phans have wondered what will be in store for Phish in 2015. Well, Summer Tour dates have officially arrived, including the highly anticipated Magnaball (the band's tenth Phish festival), so put in for the lotto, ask off work and start making plans!

2015 SUMMER TOURDATES

7/21 Les Schwab Amphitheatre, Bend, OR

7/22 Les Schwab Amphitheatre, Bend, OR

7/24 Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA

7/25 The Forum, Los Angeles, CA

7/28 Austin360 Amphitheater, Austin, TX

7/29 Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, TX

7/31 Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood, Atlanta, GA

8/01 Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood, Atlanta, GA

8/02 Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, Tuscaloosa, AL

8/04 Riverfront Park Amphitheater, Nashville, TN

8/05 Starlight Theatre, Kansas City, MO

8/07 Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH

8/08 Alpine Valley Music Center, East Troy, WI

8/09 Alpine Valley Music Center, East Troy, WI

8/11 The Mann, Philadelphia, PA

8/12 The Mann, Philadelphia, PA

8/14 Walnut Creek Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC

8/15 Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD

8/16 Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD

8/21 Magnaball at Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, NY

8/22 Magnaball at Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, NY

8/23 Magnaball at Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, NY

9/04 Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO

9/05 Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO

9/06 Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO