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So what happened here?

June 10, 2022 by Paul Debraski

For nearly fourteen years I was able to keep up this daily blog of books and music.

About a year ago I got a promotion and that changed everything.  I no longer had the time to post everything I wanted to.  Heck, I didn’t even seem to have the time to read all the short stories I wanted to.  Amusingly (or not), just before this new position, I had gotten a print subscription to the New Yorker.  This now means that I (like many others) have a two-foot stack of New Yorker magazines that I haven’t even looked at yet.

For a few weeks I was limiting myself to only the concerts that I went to because that was a little easier to write about.  Although back in the good old days, I used to include photo and links, and I pretty much have neither now. And I’m several shows behind as well.

So I’m still reading books and I think I may try to post some thoughts about them from time to time.  I’d also like to think I have time to write about my concerts, but even those are proving to be challenging.

So let’s consider the blog on hiatus more or less, with occasional posts about things I’ve read or listened to.

The good thing is that I like the new position and wouldn’t change it for the world. I guess I never realized how much down time my old position gave me!

Posted in Paul Debraski | 3 Comments »

Faetooth / Latter / Bosses (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, August 23, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

August 23, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: August 23, 2026] Faetooth / Latter / Bosses

I didn’t know Faetooth at all, but I saw that they were opening for Die Spitz in October and headlining this show in August.  I didn’t really think about going to this because I figured I’d see them with Die Spitz.  Then my friend Max said that a bunch of them were going to see the show, so I investigated more.  I couldn’t go, but it got me more excited to check out Faetooth, whom they said were really good.  The band describes themselves as a fairy-dOoM trio from los angeles.  The group is composed of Ari May as guitarist and vocalist, Jenna Garcia as bassist and vocalist, and Rah Kanan on drums and have been around since 2019.

Latter was the middle band and Max said they enjoyed them even more than Faetooth.  I’m listening to their (shirt) album now and it’s really cool.  Slow but intense.  Heavy and intense.  LATTER is a Chicago-based experimental noise rock project formed by Jon Alvarado and Meredith Haines, known for dynamic live performances.  Haine’s vocals are screamed in a way that I really like–clear but raw.

Bosses are also from Chicago.  Originally conceived as a solo project by singer and guitarist Harlee Young, Bosses is now a five-piece featuring erstwhile members of Old Coke and Dead Sun.  Their bio says the group takes influence from grunge, shoegaze and early 2000s alt rock. Layering melodic, ambient leads over distorted rhythms, bosses creates a sound that is heavy, atmospheric, and highly emotional.

Sounds like a great night.

Posted in Bosses, Faetooth, Latter, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts | Leave a Comment »

Modest Mouse (Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, August 19, 2026)

August 20, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: August 19, 2026] Modest Mouse 

I saw Modest Mouse open for The Flaming Lips last year.  I was right up front and really enjoyed the intensity of the show.  I asked my wife if she’d like to see them since she never had (this would be my 9th time).  The last 3 times I’d seen them were album tours (Lonesome Crowded West and Good News For People Who Love Bad News) and the opening set with the Lips.  So this would be the first time seeing them in a while when they were just doing new stuff.

And it was a LOT of new stuff.  This makes sense as this was a tour for their new album.  They played 8 songs from the album.

But they played a nice mix of newer and older songs.  In between nearly every song there was an older one.  Some were popular (Fly Trapped in a Jar) and some were deep cuts (Broke, from a 1996 EP).  What was fun about these older songs is that the band dropped from a large 7 piece band to a trio, like on those early albums.

I’m always fascinated by the Modest Mouse crowd because the people around me seemed to know the words to all of the older songs.   And I feel like Modest Mouse is pretty abrasive, so I am always surprised at the amount of fans that they have.  But they do have some really catchy songs (radio friendly ones) like Ocean Breathes Salty–this was only the second time I’ve seen them play it!  And it was the first song of the night that my wife recognized.

There was a dude next to me who seemed to know a lit of the new album as well.  Although I think we all recognized Picking Dragons Pockets since its getting a bunch of airplay.

The crowd went nuts when they played Bury Me With It (as they should) and I was super excited when they played 3rd Planet (the opening track from The Moon and Antarctica–a song I cannot believe I’ve never seen them play live before).

One of the songs my wife wanted to hear was Float On (of course).  I warned her that they may not play it (they did play it the last two times I saw them).  Indeed, the previous show started with 4 “hits.”  But Modest Mouse mixes up their setlists quite a bit, and there were few hits to be had tonight. Continue Reading »

Posted in Califone, Modest Mouse, Philadelphia, PA, The Met Philadelphia | Leave a Comment »

Califone (Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, August 19, 2026) [MODEST MOUSE]

August 19, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: August 19, 2026] Califone

Modest Mouse has very diverse bands opening for them.  Sometimes they’re so odd that I don’t care if I see them.  Other times, its a band I’ve heard of.  Like tonight. I’d heard of Califone–they’ve been around for years.  But I had no idea what they sounded like (or really anything about them).  

Califone is basically the project of Tim Rutili who was a founder of the band Red Red Meat (I also don’t know anything about them either).

For this show, he had a guitarist and bassist and two drummers (one was more percussion).  It’s possible they shared a member of two with Modest Mouse, but I can’t be sure.  Turns out Tim Rutili was part of Isaac Brock’s Ugly Casanova project.

The first two songs were slow and kind of country like.  Tim was seated and on an acoustic guitar.  The first song was a Red Red Meat cover and was quite short.  Before introducing the second song, someone on the crowd shouted Freebird and Tim was so disgusted he said, Did you just shout Freebird, god, anyone who shouts that just shows they are a dick.  They show that they are a cunt–this is Philadelphia I can say that).  Wow, I was so happy to hear it said out loud (Freebird is not funny anymore) and I’m so curious what happened to that guy from his friends.  I also thought it was a massively bold move for an opening band.  But Tim has been doing this since the 90s so he’s heard it all. Continue Reading »

Posted in Califone, Modest Mouse, Philadelphia, PA, The Met Philadelphia | Leave a Comment »

AJR / Ryley Tate / David Wimbish and the Collection (Live at Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza, Bethlehem, PA, August 9, 2026)

August 9, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: August 9, 2026] AJR / Ryley Tate / David Wimbish and the Collection

Three years ago I saw AJR at this very festival.  I vaguely knew them and thought they would be a really fun show (it was).  But it was also massively popular.  The show it self was fun, but not in any way that I imagined.  I was assuming there’d be a huge production–lots of videos or costumes or something goofy.  But it was exactly the opposite.  Extremely minimalist.  Adam was on bass on my right.  Jack was singing in the middle and Ryan was on my left with his keys and samples.  Behind them was a drummer Chris and a trumpeter Arnetta.  And that was it.  The real action was Jack scampering around the stage and dancing and jumping and being generally wild and fun.

But once was enough.  And I realized I hadn’t heard them in quite some time–not on the radio and no word of a new album (they put a new album out in 2023, but I guess not in time for this show?)  So I didn’t even consider getting a ticket.

And now that  I’ve seen who their opening acts were, I’m even more glad. Continue Reading »

Posted in AJR, Bethlehem, PA, David Wimbsih and the Collection, Musikfest, Ryle Tate | Leave a Comment »

Kevin Devine (Revilla Grooves and Gear, Milltown, NJ, August 8, 2026)

August 8, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: August 8, 2026] Kevin Devine

I’ve been a fan of Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band for several years now.  Last December, I went o see him one week after a hip replacement because it was at a brewery fifteen minutes from my house.  Tonight’s show was at a record store in Milltown, NJ.  I had seen Ted Leo there last year and they have a great setup for in-store artists.  And this time, there were seats!

Kevin is a delightful, funny performer.  He jokes with the audience and at his own expense.  He has a great powerful voice, although most of his songs, when solo, are rather soft.

He played an acoustic guitar for the whole set which had several songs from his soon to be released album (next year sometime).

He opened with a song he played last time a new song that may or may not be on the new album.   Then he played one that is definitely on it (they just finished mixing it).  Then, as he said, he’d play some songs from throughout the years and then take Q&A and requests.

It’s not surprising that the set was similar to the solo show at Flounder eight months ago, but he had a few news songs and he took requests which meant a lot of new (to me) stuff.

He basically opened with the same few songs as last time (although we missed the very first few songs, so it was like hearing them for the first time.)

After the newer songs he went really deep for Go Haunt Someone Else (2006) and Yr Damned Ol’ Dad (2005).  After playing a song from Brother’s Blood, he talked about Bad Books and then ran through a quick version of Andy Hull is Garbage.  This is now the second or third time I’ve heard this and it makes me laugh every time.  So Kevin and Andy work together in Bad Books (Andy is in Manchester Orchestra as well) and it’s hard to follow the order, but Kevin says he wrote the “garbage” song but Kevin says that Andy says he wrote it about Kevin first.  So, I gather they each play their own version in their live sets from time to time. Continue Reading »

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“Weird Al” Yankovic / Puddles Pity Party (Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza, Bethlehem, PA, August 4, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

August 4, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: August 4, 2026] “Weird Al” Yankovic / Puddles Pity Party

This show was announced at the same time as the one in Holmdel.  I chose NJ because it was closer and I wasn’t sure how chaotic it would be to see Weird Al during Musikfest (which can be pit of control).  We had to blow off the Holmdel one because both of my kids were away.  But this show happened to be right during our vacation week, so we wouldn’t have been able to go anyhow.

Last year, almost to the day, my wife and I saw this “Weird Al”/Puddles show.  My whole family was supposed to go but my daughter wound up working and my son wound up going to a concert in Wisconsin!   So, when this show was announced at the very handy PNC Bank Arts Center, I grabbed four tickets for us to try again.

Well, once again, my daughter was working and this time, my son went to the shore with his friends.  Since we had seen the show last year and I’m sure it didn’t change from last year, we sold the tickets and got on with our day.

I would have liked to see Al for the 11th time and to have my kids enjoy him once more (I somehow doubt he’s going to tour again), but ten times is pretty good.

I would have genuinely liked to see the entire Puddles Pity Party set.  We walked in during his set last time, and I was looking forward to seeing the whole thing.  But oh well, you can’t have everything.

Posted in "Weird Al" Yankovic, Bethlehem, PA, Puddles Pity Party, Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza | Leave a Comment »

Tori Amos / Bartees Strange (The Met Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, August 1, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

August 1, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: August 1, 2026] Tori Amos / Bartees Strange

Back in the 90s, I was a die-hard Tori Amos fan.  Over the years I’ve moved on.  But I did see her four years ag (I can’t believe it has been that long).

I enjoyed that show, but I complained that she hardly played anything I new (yes, she has a like a dozen albums out but still).  And for my show she only played 17 songs.  For this one it was only 15!  After the last show I said “t was like seeing a friend who I had grown apart from.  We had a few things in common, but there were far more differences.”

So I had no intention of going to this show.  Looking at the setlist, she played these songs that I know

A Sorta Fairytale [really like this one]
Bliss [forgot about this one, but it rocks]
Putting the Damage On [she didn’t play anything from this, my favorite Tori album, last time]
Little Earthquakes [of course]
Spring Haze [she played it last time too]
Pretty Good Year [that would have been great to hear]

Fascinatingly, she didn’t play Precious Things.  And she did play Streets of Philadelphia [like last time]–next time, how about Philadelphia Freedom.  So, that’s 6 out of 15.  Not a great ratio.  

Bartees Strange opened up. I saw him 3 times in 3 and a half years and really didn’t need to see him again.  I really liked his earlier stuff, but the newer stuff I got sick of.  I realize I saw him last just over a year ago, so it’s not like the early stuff was super long ago.

 

Posted in Bartees Strange, Philadelphia, PA, The Met Philadelphia, Tori Amos | Leave a Comment »

Mannequin Pussy / Lip Critic (Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ, August 1, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

August 1, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: August 1, 20262] Mannequin Pussy / Lip Critic

I’ve seen Mannequin Pussy six times.  The first time was when they had just released an EP and now they are opening and headlining around the world.  After the last time I Saw them I felt like I didn’t need to see them again.  I mean, I still love their songs, and the shows are cathartic.  I just didn’t feel the need for it anymore.  The last time I saw them was two years ago.  This tour was announced and I thought, meh.  But, I had recently seen Lip Critic and really wanted to see them again.

They opened for Panic Shack recently in Philly but I didn’t get a ticket in time, so I figured this show would be a great chance to see Lip Critic, and of course, Mannequin Pussy would probably be even better after being all over the world (they apparently even have a couple of new songs).

But then we booked a vacation leaving on this day, so, I sold my ticket and went to the Finger Lakes instead.

Posted in Lip Critic, Mannequin Pussy, Sayreville, NJ, Starland Ballroom | Leave a Comment »

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists / Cult Objects / DJ Major Taylor (Crossroads, Garwood, NJ, July 31, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

July 31, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTENDED: July 31, 2026] Ted Leo and the Pharmacists / Cult Objects / DJ Major Taylor

We were going on vacation the day after this show.  But since I knew we couldn’t leave super early and since Garwood isn’t that far, I figured I’d go to this show and see Ted Leo again.  I had gotten to see him solo back in November, but I haven’t seen his full band in a long time.  About half way to Garwood I suddenly didn’t really feel like going to a show.  Not sure what happened.  I started thinking about how I like Crossroads but it can be a real pain in the ass for parking and other things.  And then when I got there, the parking was a nightmare.  I was already running late and just got fed up with the whole thing, so I never even stopped the car, just turned around and went home. The only other time I’ve done that was at a King Gizzard show in Philly at the Dell, where it was already super late and there was no parking to be had.

So I feel bad for not seeing Ted; however, he is playing in Ardmore later in October and I’m sure the set will be similar enough that I won’t feel like I missed anything major.

Although I will have missed DJ Major Taylor.  I never really know what to expect from a DJ when they are listed on the bill.   I’ve been to shows where the DJ played the music between sets-so it is curated rather than just whatever is on the venue’s playlist.  But I can’t say it’s ever that big a deal. DJ Major Taylor says of himself: 5 decades of sonic offerings from sci-fi cinema & TV (theme songs, scores & deep cuts )  Which I find interesting to be sure.  And listening to some of his Soundcloud, he does mix some fun things together, but surely he wouldn’t have his own set, right?

Cult Objects is a Philly based band (surely they should have opened for someone else I know by now).  About their new album, they wrote “Our mission for this album was to make a scrappy post punk record from 1982 that, if played next to ESG or Bush Tetras, would sound like they were recorded in the same studio weeks apart. Hope you enjoy!”  I actually don’t know Bush Tetras, although I feel like I should.  But I can hear how they are coming from that direction (listen to Too Many Creeps).   Having said that, I prefer Cult Objects’s overall sound.  I hear a bit more 4AD in the overall sound.  The band is Vocals / Guitar : Lauren Leilani Iona; Bass: Larissa Sapko; Guitar / Synth: Ande Ciampa; Drums / Percussion: Charlotte Anne Dole.

If you’re not sure about a band, but Ted Leo has them open for him, you know they’re going to be good.

When I see Ted in October, I wonder if his setlist will be like this:

  1. M¥ Vien iLin
  2. The Sons of Cain
  3. Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone?
  4. The Angels’ Share
  5. Even Heroes Have to Die
  6. Can’t Go Back
  7. Too Bright Window
  8. La Costa Brava
  9. Me and Mia
  10. Heart Problems
  11. The Clearing of the Land
  12. How Can I Tell You It’s Not Fair
  13. Counting Down the Hours
  14. A Bottle of Buckie
  15. January Song
  16. Little Dawn
  17. The Gold Finch and the Red Oak Tree
  18. Walking to Do
  19. Stove by a Whale

Posted in Cult Objects, DJ Major Taylor, Ted Leo, Ted Leo + Pharmacists | Leave a Comment »

Babe Rainbow / Sam and Louise Sullivan / Sam Blasucci (The Foundry, Philadelphia, PA, July 30, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

July 30, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 30, 2026] Babe Rainbow / Sam and Louise Sullivan / Sam Blasucci

I know of The Babe Rainbow because Levitation Records (who put out all kinds of cool psychedelic music) released a Levitation Sessions album and I like to check out any band that plays a session with them.  They played The Foundry three years ago and I wrote:

Babe Rainbow is from Australia.  They do play psychedelic music but it lands squarely on the delicate 60’s folk side of psychedelia.  Meaning it’s fun to have on, but I don’t need to see them live.  I felt the same way, although listening to more of their stuff, they might be more fun live than I realized.

Sam and Louise Sullivan are a family band. They grew up  playing traditional Irish and Old-time music as their parents moved them back  and forth across the country between Brooklyn, NY, and Portland, OR, usually  driving alongside a Ryder truck. Though they never stopped playing music,  Sam and Louise studied literature and visual arts. Louise started her own  ceramics business and Sam became a high school literature teacher to pay the  bills. Later, Louise joined Sam in Philadelphia and ended up working at the same Quaker prep school as an elementary classroom teacher. Louise is the visionary and the talent, holding  Sam accountable, making sure he doesn’t get too corny.  Interestingly, they have such a clean, earnest sound that it seems like it should be really corny and yet it isn’t.  Louise’s voice is wonderful and at least in this recording, I love the sound of their instruments.

Sam Blasucci is an American singer-songwriter based in California.  He’s one of the two members of Mapache, who I also do not know.  It sounds like his music is well suited to Babe Rainbow, with reviewers talking about his “easy Beach Boys-sounding pop”  and songs with “light percussion, a Caribbean feel, and a smooth groove”  as well as “R&B-inspired pop”  as well as “electro pop.”  Sounds like a very pleasant night.  Maybe next time I’ll rethink seeing them.

 

Posted in Babe Rainbow, Mapache, Philadelphia, PA, Sam and Louise Sullivan, Sam Blasucci, The Foundry | Leave a Comment »

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