Top 20 Favorite Shows of 2014

Top 20 Favorite Shows of 2014
Mark E. Ortega
Medium.com
December 27, 2014


Not counting music festivals, I managed to see exactly 100 live concerts in 2014. Previous to this year, I had seen in the ballpark of 25 concerts, I think? I couldn’t have ever expected to see this many shows, but thanks fo relocating to Los Angeles as well as picking up freelance work writing about music, I was able to make it to a shit ton of concerts. In August, I saw live music for seven straight days, something I wanted to do my whole life. I upstaged that by seeing shows 10 straight days in October, and all of a sudden in December, 100 seemed a realistic goal. I hit that mark with the Dec. 20 Saves the Day & Say Anything show at House of Blues on Sunset.

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ZZ Ward funks things up at Coachella

ZZ Ward funks things up at Coachella
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
April 19, 2014


The highest energy set of Coachella weekend two, day one likely belonged to ZZ Ward, the Jewish R&B sensation that has quickly climbed the ladder with a number of hook-driven jams that put Ward’s charisma at the forefront.

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ZZ Ward begins Coachella week on a high note

ZZ Ward begins Coachella week on a high note
Mark E. Ortega
Showbams.com
April 7, 2014

Sunday night, in front of a sold out crowd at The Independent, emerging R&B artist ZZ Ward proved that the old adage “pressure busts pipes” doesn’t always ring true. Ward brought her A-game as she showcased her pipes both vocally and while breaking things down on the harmonica as she is winding down her tour before heading to Coachella this weekend.

Through the first few songs of her set, it was a bit murky as to where the show was headed. The Los Angeles-based Oregon transplant played a version of her hit “Til The Casket Drops” that was a tad understated, perhaps saving her voice for more difficult vocal endeavors later on in the evening.

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