Paul Simon Takes Fan Bribe and Plays "Kodachrome," Billy Strings in Sydney
New Interview with Donald Harrison
Relix Daily
July 18, 2025
July 18, 2025
RECAP
On Wednesday, July 16, Paul Simon took the stage for his fifth and final show at Los Angeles’ Disney Hall. To conclude his triumphant first Southern California series since his 2018 farewell tour, the legendary singer-songwriter presented two sets that paired his powerful 2023 album Seven Psalms with a litany of hits from his six-decade career. While the bulk of his performance was consistent with the carefully crafted setlist he’s brought to theaters across the country with his A Quiet Celebration Tour, which marks his return to the spotlight after seven years away, Simon added a touch of fan service in the form of his first “Kodachrome” since 2019.
RECAP
On Thursday, July 17, Billy Strings took part in its latest Australian escapade, performing at the ICC Sydney Theatre. The concert, which occurred in the nation’s most populous city, wheeled in classics from the bluegrass ether and the band’s catalog. The group carved a nostalgic pathway lined with references to traditional bluegrass themes that evoked spiritual reflections and travel references. The concert was padded with extemporized instrumental extensions that showcased their earned reputation as industry favorites, a statement reflected in the slew of International Bluegrass Music Association nominations received this week.
Phil Lesh & Friends at The Capitol Theatre Poster Drop
Celebrate the enduring legacy of Phil Lesh with official poster art that captures the spirit of the jam. From limited-edition prints to iconic designs pulled from historic shows, these pieces are more than wall art, they’re a tribute to a life in music.
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NEWS
Daniel Donato is keeping busy as ever. Last night, July 17, the ace axeman and his Cosmic Country band cruised into St. Louis’ Atomic by Jamo for the latest performance in their co-headline Summer Tour with Railroad Earth and Yonder Mountain String Band. In keeping with a custom of the run so far, the group capped off their turn in the rotating show-closing set with an encore featuring tourmate sit-ins. Today, as he makes his way to a follow-up in Kansas City, Mo., he’s shared “Better Deal Blues,” the second preview from his upcoming sophomore studio album Horizons.
FEATURE
“I’m working with a quantum physicist on quantum improvisation,” Donald Harrison says of a concept that has long propelled his musical direction. “We were discussing Max Planck and how scientists say that if multiverses exist, each one has the same quantum elements, but they all function differently. That was a light switch for me because music has the same elements—it has a rhythm, it has melody, it has the feeling of the people that created it as a group, and most of it has a dance element.”
NEWS
CBS is canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May 2026. The program’s host shared the news during a Thursday, July 17 taping at the famed Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, where he told his audience, “Next year will be our last season… It’s the end of The Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.” The decision presents an untimely conclusion to a program committed to the First Amendment, while also celebrating arts and culture, especially live music.
LISTEN
Celebrated funk six-piece, Lettuce, has announced the December 3 release of Cook on the group’s own self-titled record label. The forthcoming collection of songs follows the band’s previous full-length studio effort, Unify, released in 2022. As a first preview of the impending arrival, the funk geniuses deliver the album debut single, “Gold Tooth.”
NEWS
The Disco Biscuits have expanded their forthcoming hometown stint at Ardmore Music Hall, outside Philadelphia. Initially billed as four consecutive concerts on August 21-24, 2025, the band has tacked on two more nights of music, August 19 and 20, due to popular demand and hometown loyalty, stemming from the celebratory nature of their 30-year history.
WATCH
Relix and @freshgrassfoundation are thrilled to bring you the next installment of the Tower Bar Sessions at @themomentary, featuring the powerful and genre-defying sounds of La Doña. Blending ancestral Latinx traditions with contemporary diasporic styles like reggaeton, hip-hop, and jazz, La Doña crafts a sound that is both deeply rooted and radically fresh. Her live performances are immersive, ceremonial experiences—where music becomes a space for movement, healing, and social mobilization.