Craig S Semon

In my journalism career, I have covered plenty of hard news (murders, shootings, stabbings, fatal fires, natural disasters, funerals, bombings, planes crashes, car crashes, political scandals, and court cases). You name it and chances are I have covered it.

I have also covered a rich plethora of human-interest stories, feature stories, business stories, health stories, profile stories, sports stories, obituaries and entertainment stories.

If you want proof of the diversity of what I cover, just look at the topics of my three First Place stories at the 2021 New England Newspaper and Press Association _ “‘Wings' Over Westboro” (on Aerosmith's 1974 concert at Westboro Speedway; the first time the “Bad Boys from Boston” played in front of 10,000 people), “In their own words” (a series of profiles on local panhandlers) and “Postcard from 1918 brings Spanish flu account to COVID-19 descendant from Worcester."

In addition to covering hard news on deadline, I had a weekly record review column called “Recordings,” which ran for more than 25 years. And when I say record review column, I do mean reviewing vinyl records. My first column was Debbie Gibson's “Electric Youth” (published on April 21, 1989) and my last was David Bowie's “Blackstar” (published on Jan. 14, 2016).

I have been covering high-profile concerts for 30 years, starting with the Who's guitarist Pete Townshend playing solo (published Aug. 11, 1993). In concert, I have reviewed plenty of major artists from many musical genres, including Aerosmith, Tori Amos, Bauhaus, Pat Benatar, Tony Bennett, Beyonce, Andrea Bocelli, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Sarah Brightman, Jackson Browne, Garth Brooks, Michael Buble, Jimmy Buffett, B.B. King, Glen Campbell, Cher, Eric Clapton, Coldplay, Alice Cooper, Elvis Costello, The Cranberries, Black Crowes, Counting Crows, Sheryl Crow, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Dropkick Murphys, The Eagles, Billie Eilish, Eminem, Evanescence, Foo Fighters, Peter Gabriel, Grateful Dead, Green Day, Don Henley, Iron Maiden, Chris Isaak, Joan Jett, Billy Joel, Elton John, Judas Priest, KISS, Lady Gaga, Metallica, Miranda Lambert, Madonna, Barry Manilow, Sarah McLachlan, Alanis Morissette, Stevie Nicks, Nine Inch Nails, Paul McCartney, Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jam, Tom Petty, Phish, Radiohead, Ringo Starr, The Rolling Stones, Sade, Santana, Bob Seger, Blake Shelton, Soundgarden, Britney Spears, Rick Springfield, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, Sting, Stone Temple Pilots, James Taylor, Tool, Tina Turner, Carrie Underwood, U2, Roger Waters, Weezer, The Who, Neil Young, Rob Zombie, ZZ Top, and, of course, Taylor Swift.

I reviewed Taylor Swift's first stadium concert ever, which was held June 7, 2010 on at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. I've also reviewed Taylor on July 26, 2013, July 24, 2015, July 26, 2018 and May 19, 2023, all at Gillette Stadium, plus I have reviewed several of Taylor's albums.

I am an objective concert reviewer and reporter who has a vast knowledge of music and pop culture.