Chris Long goes gaga for a real band that plays real melodic, hook-laden, happy pop/rock songs with real instruments (live). What a concept. Chicago doesn’t disappoint, putting on what is, to this die-hard fan, easily the best show of the year – so far!

Lady Gaga brings her Monster Ball Tour and the songs we all love to pretend we don’t love to a sold-out Orlando crowd. Even Jen Cray can’t help but dance.

A delay in a pair of reissued albums finds Sebadoh touring to promote a t-shirt. The seminal indie rockers could be promoting a paper bag for all it matters to a crowd of loyal Orlando fans, Jen Cray among them.

Dum Dum Girls top a promising indie rock bill that woos Jen Cray into downtown Orlando in the midst of St. Paddy’s Day madness.

Apocalyptica class up heavy metal with their unique triple cello approach, and Jen Cray is awed.

One thousand lucky Orlando fans experienced a virtual 3-D all-star rock and roll event sponsored by Jägermeister! Chris Long could’ve used a little more rock and a little less talk.

The Get Up Kids have, thankfully, outgrown the pop punk emo bands that copped their style 10 years ago, as a recent Orlando date proved to virgin listener Jen Cray.

Get ready for Florida’s three-day music festival featuring Allman Brothers, Widespread Panic, and more!

Flogging Molly’s 7th annual Green 17 Tour brings to Orlando the added bonus of opening act Moneybrother. Jen Cray can’t decide which band she enjoyed more.

Free Energy make their Central Florida debut in front of more than just the bartenders, and Jen Cray thanks her lucky stars that she decided to brave the 60 degree wintry blasts to catch the show.

Sweden’s Little Dragon played at the Electric Pickle for their first visit to Miami, and in spite of bad sound and a ton of cops, they were able to put on a great show with opener Billygoat for a very appreciative crowd. Eric Donath was there to happily soak it all in before a quick, law enforcement-induced exit.

Sub Pop melodic noisemakers No Age kicked off a week-long anniversary celebration for one of Orlando’s best concert promoters at one of the town’s coolest little clubs. Jen Cray dropped in to pay her respects.

Jen Cray discovers that An Evening with Cake, while frought with some forgivable frontman soapboxing, is an evening well spent.

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.

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.