There was much buzz about Girl Talk at the opening night of Harvest of Hope’s three-day weekend of music. Phillip Haire dutifully caught the set, and found a new respect for mixing and mashing.

Having survived near fatal overdoses, porn scandals, reality shows, and twenty five years of a fickle music scene, Mötley Crüe continues to sell out arenas all over the country. Jen Cray tossed on her leather and lace and sprayed her hair upward toward the Gods in preparation for the Orlando show… not really, but she did jam out to their Greatest Hits album on the way to the show.

King Kahn & the Shrines stood out, to Phillip Haire , as a key performer at Florida’s inaugural Harvest of Hope Festival.

While recognized more for their skin-crawling costumes than for their music, Slipknot are a speed metal band worthy of a little respect – as Jen Cray discovered recently at the Orlando date of the band’s current arena tour.

Fujiya & Miyagi brought their unique brand of electronica to Orlando’s BackBooth recently. Phillip Haire got his groove on.

Filling up The Plaza Theatre with their heartbreaking sounds, Cowboy Junkies treat Orlando – and Jen Cray – to an evening of tear-jerking beauty.

Matthew Moyer swoons over the voices inside the heads of The Legendary Pink Dots.

Fallen From the Sky and Static Radio woke up Orlando – and Jen Cray – for an afternoon punk show at the newly relocated Will’s Pub.

The return of anti-folk master Paleface piqued the interest of few in Orlando, but those who did turn out for his intimate, late-night performance on a frigid winter night were treated to a rare moment of musical beauty.

3 Doors Down may have been the headliners for a recent show at Orlando’s Hard Rock Live, but for Christopher Long , Hoobastank owned the stage.

Phosphorescent bathed Jacksonville in a pool of saturated country rock, fairly drenching Matthew Moyer in the glory.

An enthusiastic Hot Water Music set fails to revive a House of Blues audience left in the lurch by a no-show Naked Raygun.

With a stage show more akin to performance art than rock concert, Of Montreal is anything but subtle. Jen Cray did not wear a pink leotard or face paint to the Orlando show, but she enjoyed it all the same.

James McMurtry sings about economic struggle, working class woes, and corrupt governments. Jen Cray was not the only Orlando fan who found his Southern Gothic folk rock soothing this holiday season.

Reunited after a 2001 breakup and toting a new album and tour (alongside People in Planes), The Toadies bring grunge back in a big way. Jen Cray is one of many Orlando fans reveling in the murky merriment.

When it comes to a live show, Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers are a band that has yet to let Jen Cray down.

Ink 19’s Jen Cray trades her low expectations for staunch admiration when she experiences the charm of Coldplay firsthand. Almost as good as U2?

It takes some serious skills to make moody, indie rock sound new and fresh, but Low Vs. Diamond does just that. Jen Cray was wooed by their swagger and elegance at a recent Orlando date.

As part of a pseudo-after-party for Gainesville, Florida’s punk rock weekend (The Fest), Polar Bear Club attempts to make new punk sound classic. Jen Cray is entertained, though not entirely convinced.

Jen Cray is thoroughly rocked by a triple bill of Rise Against, Thrice, and Alkaline Trio. All killer, no filler? The point can be argued…