News and Reviews

News and reviews about music, concerts, events, technology and more by Stephen K. Peeples.

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Guitarist Jim Hagen Grooves with Rod Bennett’s Vibes on ‘Jazzical’

For veteran contemporary jazz guitarist Jim Hagen, "Jazzical" is more than the follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2012 eponymous debut. "Jazzical" is also a sublime...
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First Rod Bennett Scholarships Go to Saugus High Seniors

Bennett Scholarships update: Saugus High School graduating seniors James Klipfel and Diego Rumer (pictured at left) received the first two Rod Bennett Memorial Scholarship Trust Fund awards at...

Obituary – Rodger Joseph Miceli, USS Midway Veteran, USPS Retiree

Rodger Joseph Miceli, U.S. Navy and USS Midway veteran, retired United States Postal Service letter carrier, cosmetologist, artist, and longtime resident of Carlsbad, California,...
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Ballad of Eternal Love Brings ‘Hope’ for Mother’s Day 2017

As we prepare to honor women everywhere on Mother’s Day 2017 Sunday, May 14, a beautiful new ballad of eternal love titled “Never Let...
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Walk of Western Stars Honors Andre & Renaud Veluzat, Bo Hopkins

Capping the 2017 Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival, the city of Santa Clarita honored celebrated character actor Bo Hopkins and Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studios...
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Phantom Blues Band Toplines 2017 Ventura County Blues Fest

The 12th Annual Ventura County Blues Festival, headlined by the Grammy-winning Phantom Blues Band, throws down at Studio Channel Islands in Camarillo, California, on Saturday, April...
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Wild Honey Orchestra All-Star Autism Benefit Rocks The Band

The Wild Honey Orchestra and an all-star lineup of guest performers including Jackson Browne, Peter Case and Victoria Williams are set to perform classic...
Jack Mack Rhythm & Blues Revue finale

UPDATED: Jack Mack Rhythm & Blues Revue Rips Up Canyon Club

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Jack Mack Review by Stephen K. Peeples Updated to include exclusive interview with Jack Mack co-founder and guitarist Andrew Kastner The soul-stirring Jack Mack & The...
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Lone Star Beer: Texas Music and Texas Beer Join Forces (1976)

The Backstory: In late 1975, Lone Star Brewing Co. marketing executives Jerry Retzloff and Barry Sullivan spoke with this reporter at length about the...
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Willie Nelson, Lone Star Jerry Retzloff & The Texas Music Conspiracy

Former Lone Star Brewing Co. district sales manager Jerry Retzloff flashed back half a lifetime to Austin and the Texas music scene in the...