Many have called them the first punk band. Others insist they were the first “grunge” act. Regardless of their place in rock’s family tree, The Sonics’ influence has reached as far as Nirvana and The White Stripes. Recently reunited after 40 years apart, New Year’s Eve found The Sonics playing a homecoming show. Steve Stav was there to capture all their furious glory.

Kevin Devine and Manchester Orchestra’s Andy Hull have joined forces as the gorgeously poetic pop group Bad Books, but fill their recent tour setlists with songs from their collective catalogs. Jen Cray enjoys the music, but yearns for an espresso or two.

Watermelon-squashing comedian Gallagher returns to splatter the stage of the Plaza and the first eight or nine rows of seats. Carl F Gauze hides beneath a trash bag outside of the splash zone.

Few things are as Rock ‘n’ Roll as 30-year punk rock veterans Social Distortion, as Jen Cray and a sold-out crowd at Orlando’s House of Blues recently witnessed.

Old school skateboarding thrash punks Suicidal Tendencies stopped by Orlando with Hed PE to wax political. It was a ruckus not to be missed – and Eric Donath did not.

God of rock ‘n’ roll flute and leader of Jethro Tull, Ian Anderson, opens his US tour in Orlando. Carl F Gauze watches from the balcony and tries not to get too distracted by the aging fans and their frail bladders.

A Day to Remember puts on an intense performance for a sold-out venue in Pennsylvania. Kristina Kauffman pushed her way deep into the crowd.

Bad Religion celebrate their 30-year career the only way they know how: by releasing a killer new album and touring the country playing songs off of all 15 of their punk rock defining releases! Jen Cray was at the party without her hot pink wig.

If Phoenix’s debut Orlando performance is any indication of its future, the little French band is finally beginning to see the fruits of its decade-long labor. An enthusiastic sold-out crowd that included Jen Cray greeted the band with open arms.

Cashing in on the current classic albums craze, Styx returned to Melbourne, Florida to recreate two best-selling records in one hit-filled evening that had Chris Long enthralled.

MGMT’s debut Florida appearance may not have been as over-the-top as Jen Cray imagined, but it was a still a party worthy of the inevitable headache the morning after.

British synth-pop pioneer Gary Numan hit the U.S. concert circuit this fall, much to the delight of hundreds of his most ardent Orlando followers, Chris Long among them.

Circa Survive and Dredg put on a pair of performances at Orlando’s House of Blues that should officially release them from their previous emo trappings. Jen Cray reports.

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists wet an Orlando stage with the sweat of their high energy performance, but opening band Screaming Females were just as impressive for Jen Cray.

Three of thrash metal’s infamous Big Four recently teamed up and proved to be the mightiest force to hit South Florida since Hurricane Andrew. Chris Long was on hand for the American Carnage Tour with Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax.

Electric Six set the crowd on fire at Orlando’s best small club. Carl F Gauze was close enough to get singed.

LCD Soundsystem and Sleigh Bells turned Orlando’s Hard Rock Live into the hottest dance club in Central Florida – and did it all before 11pm on a school night! Jen Cray immersed herself in the party.

With the metamorphosis of Brian Fallon from shy guy to confident frontman, The Gaslight Anthem are poised to follow in their hero’s footsteps. Jen Cray observed the band’s ascent at a recent Orlando show.

Singer/Producer Jamie Lidell plays at the EARL in Atlanta along with Twin Shadow.

Phantogram transports an Orlando audience, including Jen Cray , into another dimension with the help of some tribal trance music, a slide show, and a whole lot of strobe lights.