Artists and fans of an excellent live music experience have come to know Humphrey’s as a prime destination.  Nestled along the marina, the intimate outdoor setting is easily the most charming music venue between Santa Barbara and the Mexican border. When Richard Bartell bought the Half Moon Inn & Marina in 1984, he was unaware that a concert venue was part of the deal.  Given the lack of stage or seating, his surprise was understandable.

Arriving at the show I was greeted with an interesting mix of fans. The venue was split in half between the non-drinkers and the of-agers. What the venue failed to realize was that a vast majority of Jimmy Eat World’s fan-base is well above the legal drinking limit, and the underage side was grossly under-populated.

The band has been around, in their current form, since 2005, and has been playing together in various groups since the beginning of the millennium. Non-stop touring, medical issues, and a departure couldn’t stop the group as they continued to hone in on what was to become their “sound.”

It’s been 15 long years since saxophonist Kenny G and long-time friend and crooner Michael Bolton shared the same stage. On Valentine’s Day, 94.7 The Wave radio station had these titans of romance perform to enthusiastic fans at the Gibson Theatre. Kenny G was heard, for a few minutes, but not found in the dark.  All anyone can do is hear that familiar ultra soprano saxophone permeate in the cool night air. He played a few fan favorites like “Silhouette,” before diving into more classics like  “Forever in Love,” “Havana” and “Songbird.”

New Mogwai was out on February 15. It’s called Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will, which is, of course, one of the best album titles ever. Mogwai have been around for what seems like forever now, and they’ve cemented their reputation as the godfathers, or kings, or post-rock.