Bruce Springsteen, Phish Fill Up April, More Festivals Coming in May

Last month began (and pretty much ended) with another trip to Las Vegas for a Sphere residency — this time, ILLENIUM’s bass-tastic ODYSSEY.

Like pretty much every stint at the venue to date, ILLENIUM’s three-weekend romp behind The Strip pushed Sphere’s technological and audio-visual storytelling capabilities into new territory.

Where Dead & Company used Sphere’s in-seat haptics to add a physical dimension to Mickey Hart’s nightly “Drums/Space” explorations, ILLENIUM practically treated fans (at least, those who sat down) to full-body rumble massages set to the beat of his bass music. I, for one, spent the whole show planted on my rear end, in large part to take advantage of this EDM-style shiatsu.

That vantage point was also optimal for taking in ILLENIUM’s spectacular visuals. After teaming up to produce Anyma’s awesome android adventure for his 2024-25 New Year’s run, Sphere Studios and Woodblock Studio were back at it in 2026, to lend graphical backing to ILLENIUM’s run. 

The result? The most narratively cohesive and emotionally immersive experience that Sphere has yet paired with a concert in front of its 160,000-square-foot LED wall.

Read more about ILLENIUM’s transcendent Sin City shows here. And if you haven’t caught it yet, take a look at his dates on July 3 and 4.

Admittedly, I only got to see the first few songs of The Boss’s two spring shows in Inglewood. With Springsteen’s tickets still such a hot commodity, I wasn’t surprised to get “only” a photo pass for the occasion and have to leave after the usual shooting period.

Even that small sliver of Bruce’s three-hour show provided an enjoyable glimpse of the high-energy, politically charged event that would follow. The 76-year-old rock legend led a prayer for America’s troops and followed that up with Edwin Starr’s unmistakable classic “War” before charging right into his own staple “Born in the USA.”

The best part? Seeing Tom Morello bring his guitar to bear with The E Street Band. The famed axman from Rage Against The Machine has long been a protest music impresario, so it’s only fitting that he’d take a turn with Bruce during this moment in time.

And, for this RATM fan, it was a treat to see one of the world’s most creative guitar gods put his skills to use for Bruce.

Even if only for a brief glimpse.

Get your tickets to the remaining shows on Bruce’s Land of Hopes and Dreams American Tour here.

Two days after his 86th birthday, Herbie Hancock did his part to prove that, at least in his case, age is just a number.

With Lionel Loueke, Terence Blanchard, James Genus, and Jaylen Petinaud behind him, Herbie guided the crowd at Disney Hall in downtown Los Angeles through a scintillating set that featured modern jazz staples such as “Watermelon Man,” “Chameleon,” and Wayne Shorter’s “Footprints,” among others.

Whether seated at his grand piano, tickling his keyboard, or jamming out on keytar, Herbie more than held his own as the head hunter in this particular pack.

Read more about Herbie’s celebration here, and grab tickets to his upcoming tour dates here.

The very next night brought more music to DTLA, albeit with a decidedly different vibe, to say the least. Afroman took the stage at The Regent Theater alongside a crew of (presumably) friends and family, replete with (what else?) Colt 45s and at least two zig zags.

For the better part of two hours, the 51-year-old LA native ran through favorites old and new like “Because I Got High” and “Lemon Pound Cake,” dipped deep into extensive catalog, and even strummed “Crazy Rap (Colt 45 and 2 Zig Zags) on a guitar shaped like his favorite plant leaf.

All while dancing around in his now-infamous red-white-and-blue suit and consuming the substances for which he’s best known.

Find tickets to Afroman’s upcoming tour dates here.

Rather than follow the rest of the music industry in Indio for weekend 1 of Coachella, Ziggy Marley stayed closer to home in the Los Angeles suburbs — though not idly so. Instead, the nine-time Grammy winner and eldest son of reggae icon Bob Marley popped into Licorice Pizza Records in Studio City to celebrate Record Store Day with the release of his new album, Brightside, on vinyl.

Fans packed the store from wall to wall to witness Ziggy and his band put on a 30-minute acoustic set comprised of six songs from his latest release, including the singles “Racism is a Killer” and “Many Mourn for Bob,” the latter standing as Ziggy’s first foray into writing and singing about his famous father.

For those who haven’t yet copped it, the 57-year-old’s ninth solo album will be available to stream via all major platforms on May 1. And if you want to hear Ziggy’s new material live, check out his upcoming tour dates here.

What better way to bookend a month that’s always known for music in the desert than with another trip to Vegas? In this case, it was Phish that not only brought me back out to Nevada, but made the five-hour drive each way well worth it.

For all that ILLENIUM did to advance the state of the art at Sphere, the beloved jam band from Vermont kicked the frontier even further with their exploration of the building’s every bell and whistle.

At times, Mike Gordon used his bass to manipulate the in-seat haptics, thereby turning the band’s low end into a rhythmic massage. Page McConnell toyed with his synths to explore Sphere’s 360 degrees of sound across 385,000 speakers — including during a 20-minute “Dark Puddle” jam that has already become both canonical lore and a point of controversy among the Phish phaithful.

Throw in Jon Fishman’s skill on drums and marimba, Trey Anastasio’s gripping guitar work (and lyrical tweaks to call out the hot dog odyssey on display during “Axilla, Part II”), and the vibrant visuals provided by long-time lighting director Chris “CK5” Kuroda and French-Canadian production house Moment Factory, and this particular weekend couldn’t have been better spent than it was with Phish in Sin City.

Read all about it here, here, and here, and get your tickets to the phinale of Phish’s 2026 Sphere run here.

Phish’s return to Sphere brought Trey Anastasio back to the fore, certainly in The Charcoal Club.

The famed Vermonter is among a few members of The Club who made their way in without first being captured by my own camera. In his case, I turned to my friend and fellow photographer Brandon Weil, who happened to have Trey in his catalog, including this particularly expressive portrait of the Phish frontman.

As of now, the original is hanging on the main art wall in my apartment while it awaits a forever home. You can find it in my Etsy shop, along with posters, prints, and other merch.

And if you want to see Trey (and other members of The Charcoal Club) in person, come pay us all a visit at the Beverly Hills Art Show on May 16-17. We’ll be at Booth #417 at Beverly Gardens Park, between Crescent Drive and Rexford Drive.

For all the latest updates, follow The Charcoal Club on Instagram, TikTok, X, Threads and Facebook.

(Also, if you’re interested in commissioning me for a custom piece, reach out! A direct reply to this email will do.)

Southern California’s favorite seaside festival returns to King Harbor in Redondo Beach with three distinct days of music. Friday will feature Duran Duran, The Chainsmokers, and Grouplove for a dance-forward mix. Saturday is sure to rock, thanks to The Offspring, Slightly Stoopid, and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. Come Sunday, James Taylor, My Morning Jacket, and Sheryl Crow will have the South Bay ringing with the sounds of Americana.

Get your single-day tickets and three-day passes here.

Live music is coming back to Santa Monica in a big way this year, starting with the Santa Monica International Jazz Festival. Four events spread across nine days will fill the air with much more than just the sound of waves crashing off the Pacific Ocean.

After a pre-festival event featuring Hiromi’s Sonicwonder at The Orpheum Theatre in downtown L.A. on May 1, the festival will return to SaMo for a free Sunday on the Promenade, with Elijah Fox, Genevieve Artadi, Duffy X Uhlmann and Billy Mohler among the participants.

May 8 will see Isaiah Collier, Lakecia Benjamin, Tenor Madness and a slew of guest musicians light up the BroadStage for a Tribute to John Coltrane. For the finale, Kamasi Washington will lead a lineup including Stanley Clarke & Friends featuring Stewart Copeland, Kiefer and Keyon Harrold, Miles Electric Band, KNOWER and Sam Smylie for A Day In The Park at Tongva Park on May 9.

Get your tickets to the Santa Monica Jazz Fest here.

Two years after their Coachella reunion, the Orange County quartet of Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont, and Adrian Young will be together again, this time for an extended run of dates at Sphere in Las Vegas. Expect plenty of spectacular visuals to accompany all the hits, from “Just a Girl” and “Don’t Speak” to “Hella Good,” “Spiderwebs,” and more.

Grab your tickets to No Doubt’s Sphere residency here.

If you, too, have been waiting to hear Waxahatchee and MJ Lenderman perform “Right Back To It” together, you’re in luck: these two rising indie rockers will end their joint tour at Disney Hall in downtown Los Angeles. The night is sure to include solo songs, tandem performances, and pitch-perfect sound inside the winter home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.

Tickets to the show are available here. Not in L.A.? Find your way into more tour dates here.

Netflix Is A Joke returns to venues across L.A. this May, with Lizzo contributing to the festivities at the Greek Theatre. The famed singer and flutist will host a unique night of comedy headlined by the likes of Eric Andre and Nikki Glaser, along with her own comedic debut — and, of course, some songs from her hit-filled catalog.

Tickets are on sale here.

Jelly Roll will keep music and comedy, well, rolling at the Greek when the country superstar hosts the “Beautifully Broken Comedy Night,” with Andrew Schulz on the marquee and surprise guests galore.

Get your tickets to Jelly Roll’s Greek show here, and check out the rest of his tour dates — including his support of Post Malone — here.

Nearly a decade since their last stint at the Greek, the hilarious pair of Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement will be back in Los Feliz to round out Mothers Day Weekend with two nights of musical comedy, Kiwi style.

Tickets to Flight of the Conchords’ Greek Theatre dates, along with their May 7 visit to the Santa Barbara Bowl, are available here.

The beloved Canadian indie rockers, featuring A.C. Newman as front person and Neko Case on vocals, continue their tour in support of their 10th studio album, The Former Site Of, with what’s sure to be a raucous show near downtown L.A. Tickets to their night at Teragram are available here, and go here to see all remaining dates on the band’s current American roadtrip.

May is shaping up to be a busy month at the Greek, thanks in part to RAYE. The British singer-songwriter will bring her blend of pop, jazz, dance, R&B, and soul to the edge of Griffith Park for back-to-back spellbinding shows.

Find tickets to all of RAYE’s tour dates, including her shows at the Greek Theatre, here.

The Paramore frontwoman is stepping out on her own in a big (and long-awaited) way. Six years after the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled what was supposed to be her debut solo tour, Hayley Williams is on the road to support her third album, Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party.

The three-time Grammy winner will play three dates at The Wiltern in mid-May. Like the rest of the tour — officially titled Good Dye Young Presents: Hayley Williams At A Bachelorette Party — proceeds from these shows will benefit The Ally Coalition.

And if you can’t make it to any of these intimate evenings? Never fear, Hayley will be back in L.A. this September, as a headliner at the Hollywood Bowl.

Tickets to all of Hayley’s tour dates are available here.

It isn’t TOOL, but that shouldn’t stop fans of Maynard James Keenan’s signature style from flooding the Greek for a night with Puscifer. Don’t be surprised to see plenty of silly and strange stage theatrics to accompany songs from the band’s latest release, 2026’s Normal Isn’t.

Grab your tickets to Puscifer’s Greek show here, and check out the band’s other tour dates here.

With Honora, Flea finally answered the question that was on peoples’ minds: “What if The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ eccentric bassist was a band-leading trumpeter?” He and his new group will take his debut solo album out for a jazzy spin at The Fonda in mid-May.

Get your tickets to see Flea in L.A. here, and find your way into the rest of the Honora Band’s shows here.

A month of great Greek shows continues apace with an evening dedicated to the staples of Echo and The Bunnymen, one of the most revered British rock bands of the last half century.

Click or tap here for tickets to their show at the Greek, and go here to find the rest of their tour dates.

There is no containing Florence Welch — certainly not with the Forum’s massive stage at her disposal. She and her London-based indie rock band will have everybody in the building screaming along to, well, 2025’s Everybody Scream, in addition to beloved hits like “Dog Days Are Over,” “You’ve Got The Love,” and “Shake It Out.”

Find your way into Florence + The Machine’s Forum show here, and peep tickets to the rest of their tour dates here.

No Memorial Day Weekend festival brings out the heavy hitters quite like BottleRock. This year, the eclectic lineup in Napa Valley will feature Lorde, Teddy Swims, and Lil Wayne on Friday; Foo Fighters, LCD Soundsystem, and Zedd on Saturday; and Backstreet Boys, Sombr, and Ludacris on Sunday.

Not to mention a stacked undercard each day, along with an ample supply of the region’s finest food and wine.

Find your festival passes here.

If a trip to NorCal isn’t in the cards for your Memorial Day Weekend, consider spending an evening with Yungblud. The outspoke (and oft-shirtless) English rocker continues his rocket ride at the Greek, where he may well draw some star-studded support for the occasion.

Get your tickets to Yungblud’s MDW show in L.A. here, and check out all of his tour dates here.

…and if you haven’t yet exhausted yourself of Los Feliz (or taken a place that’s walkable to the Griffith Observatory), you’d do well to check out Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening at the Greek. The son of the late John Bonham puts together the best performance of Zeppelin songs this side of Robert Plant.

Get your tickets to JBLZE in L.A. here and everywhere else here.

Gustavo Dudamel continues his farewell tour as the music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic with two shows alongside the legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Together, they’ll treat the town to performances of Richard Strauss’ classic Ein Heldenblen, as well as the world premier of Angelica Negron’s Mundillo.

Get your tickets to Gustavo and Yo-Yo here and here, and follow the rest of Dudamel’s dates here.

The English art rockers are set to take The Orpheum by storm in support of their latest release, 2025’s From The Pyre. This comes as part of The Last Dinner Party’s second-ever US tour, following five dates across America in the fall of 2023.

Get tickets to see The Last Dinner Party in L.A. here, and find all of their tour dates here.

The 2000s and 2010s are officially making a comeback, with Pitbull and Lil Jon at the vanguard. Many a Millennial will be dancing in the aisles at the Hollywood Bowl for this all-time team-up.

Find your way into Pitbull and Lil Jon’s show at the Bowl here, and look out for their other tandem tour dates here.

Any excuse to visit Denver is a good one, especially when there’s a cracker-of-a-lineup involved. That’s what Outside Days has on offer, with a tightly curated collection of acts — including Death Cab For Cutie, My Morning Jacket, Cage The Elephant, The Flaming Lips, Eggy, Japanese Breakfast, and Tash Sultana — to close out the month of May in the Mile High City.

Get your passes to Outside Days here.