Reviews: Ms. Lauryn Hill, Josh Grobin, Of Montreal, Joe Walsh, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews Band

Ms. Lauryn Hill @ the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles – “The audience reaction to ‘Killing Me Softly’ made it seem like the song everyone had been waiting to hear, as Hill’s clear voice soared. She wound down the performance with a heartfelt and soulful ‘Feeling Good,’ made a standard by Nina Simone. It was a fitting tribute, since Hill’s most substantial work lately has been to record six songs for a recent documentary on the late singer.” – Antonie Boessenkool / OC Register

Josh Groban @ the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh – “Every song was a show-stopper, but Mr. Groban’s command of Sondheim was simply stunning with ‘Finishing the Hat’ (from ‘Sunday in the Park with George’). Parlaying into ‘Anthem’ (from ‘Chess’) he was joined by the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit soaring the song to new heights.” – Rosa Colucci / Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Of Montreal @ Port City Music Hall in Portland, Maine – “By the time the man in the Flash costume and giant Abraham Lincoln head paraded an American flag around dancers in voluptuous, flesh-colored bodysuits and evil-poodle masks, it was clear: Of Montreal is unlike most acts that grace the stage at Port City Music Hall.” – Robert Ker / Portland Press Herald

Joe Walsh @ W.D. Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio – “Walsh wrote plenty of cool riffs in his long career. But the off-kilter tones he gets out of his guitar are what makes them stand out, and it seemed like Walsh used a different guitar for each song at the concert. Seriously, I stopped counting at seven.” Guy D’Astolfo / The Vindicator

Foo Fighters @ Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, Calif. – “Grohl doesn’t just play music — he thoroughly entertains. He might be the funniest guy in rock, who can banter with the best and spin strangely captivating tales. He’s accomplished so much over the years, but he’s still willing to get goofy and play some cheesy cover songs, proudly proclaiming to the crowd that the ‘Foo Fighters are the highest paid bar mitzvah band in the (expletive) world.’ – Jim Harrington / San Jose Mercury News

Dave Matthews Band @ Ak-Chin Pavilion in Phoenix – “There was plenty of nuance, like the R&B-inflected ‘If Only,’ the populist ‘You & Me’ and the easygoing ‘The Song That Jane Likes,’ but the band seemed in an especially aggressive mode. ‘Too Much’ was a barrage of mutant funk, replete with vocal ad-libs, and one of the band’s moodiest numbers, ‘#41,’ closed out with a distorted solo from guitarist Tim Reynolds and punching Tower of Power-style bursts from trumpeter Rashawn Ross, bassist Steffan Lessard, and [saxophonist Jeff] Coffin.” – Jason P. Woodbury / The Arizona Republic