Devendra Banhart and Gilberto Gil at the Hollywood Bowl, 6/29/08

Devendra Banhart

And from the furthest
Corners of the bowl flowed all
Hippies, young and old!

Gilberto Gil

Brazil's national
Treasure schooled us in how to
Do the summer right

The Fleet Foxes with The Duchess and the Duke and Frankie Fairfield at the Echo, 6/28/08

Frankie Fairfield

So authentic that
We swore he was as blind as
Lemon Jefferson

The Duchess and the Duke

Liam Gallagher
And happy couple jangled
With harmonies rich.

Fleet Foxes

Barbershop quartet
From a woodsy thicket like
Crosby, Stills and Nash!

Hayes Carll and the Old 97's at the Crash Mansion, 6/19/08

Hayes Carll

Sharp, creased jeans bely
The "good-ole-boy-from-AK"
Drinkin' anthem lyrics.

Old 97's

Ashton Kutcher of
Alt-Country howlin' his
Way into my heart.

Erykah Badu at the Greek Theater, 6/12/08

Cornell West suit with
Interludes for each era
Of her heritage.

Beck at the Echo, 6/9/08

Shoe-gazey surf rock?
Indeed, interwoven with
Back-catalog's best.

Abe Vigoda and Mika Miko at the Smell's Vegan Pancake Breakfast, 6/8/08

Abe Vigoda

"Turn Into Something"
The A.C. track that inspired
Their live repertoire.

Mika Miko

Rachel Dratch and co.
Shouting of sandwiches and
Boasting flannel pride.

The Cure at the Hollywood Bowl, 5/31/08

Soaking in the love,
Goth Messiah seemed comfy
In his own thin skin

Subtle at the Knitting Factory, 5/30/08

Clockwork Oranginess
Subdued, it seemed, backseat to
Caustic stage banter.

R.E.M. with The National and Modest Mouse, 5/29/08

The National

Boys first trip to the
Bowl that made this town famous
Their lovely standard

Modest Mouse

"Marred" by a unique
Guitar tone, ex-redneck rock
Glistened with glam sheen

R.E.M.

No band in this world
Contains more soul, more truth,
More life, more wonder

Elvis Costello and the Imposters with Jonathan Rice and Co., 5/28/08

Shrouded in luck, this
Night brought bright glee to the face
Of stoic Elvis.