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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 »

Iron Maiden (Sports Illustrated Stadium, Newark, NJ, September 6, 2026)

September 8, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: September 6, 2026] Iron Maiden

I loved these three bands back in the 1980s.  Not in the above order (Anthrax was always near the top), but I never seen them when I was a huge fan.  I saw Iron Maiden in 2000 but I didn’t know most of the songs they played that night–until the end.

When this tour was announced I didn’t really think about going–I haven’t been enjoying heavy metal shows as much as I used to and I haven’t listened to anything new from Iron Maiden in about 30 years.  But then I saw that this show was going to be an old-school tour with songs from their first decade of music.  Iron Maiden thru Fear of the Dark (I didn’t even know FotD was one of their albums).

I was able to grab a ticket for the second night–the first sold out pretty quickly.  I don’t know if the second night did, too, but Bruce said it did.

The first two bands were great but I decided to move away from the mosh pit that kept forming in front of me, so while we waited for Iron Maiden, I moved to the middle of the GA section.  The people around me were shorter (good) and I patiently waited.  (Oof, after the long fast walk and the fact that as of yet I had not gone to the bathroom I was a but cranky.  I also didn’t want to lose my spot to get a $7 water.  I know the water price because when a dad came back with water for his son and himself, I asked how much it was and he told me.  He then let me have the last inch and a half when he was done–thank you kind stranger!  This guy was really nice and I enjoyed chatting with him until the lights went out and music started.

It was Doctor Doctor by UFO.  I had seen that this was the music they played before the band came on.  But since they had been playing music the whole time, it was weird to have this song start, the lights dim and….nothing.  I don’t know the song and it felt endless and some people were into it and I stood there wondering when I’d have something to look at.

And then the familiar chords of Iron Maiden’s The Ides of March started and the video screen followed a series of streets with ALL KINDS of inside jokes.  I knew about 3 of them.  The image shifted to that of Eddie on the cover of Killers and the band started the quiet intro of Murders in the Rue Morgue and I was ecstatic for about a minute because as soon as the song started properly, the entire right side of the GA erupted into a mosh pit–and we were pretty far back at this point.  WTF.  Do people not know where the pit is supposed to be?  Well, I got elbowed a few times until I was able to get away.

This opening was my heaven, because I love the first two album so much and Bruce sings these songs perfectly, even if they’re not “his.” Continue Reading »

Posted in Anthrax, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Newark, NJ, Set in New Jersey!, Sports Illustrated Stadium | Leave a Comment »

Peter Hook & the Light (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, September 7, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 7, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 7, 2026] Peter Hook & the Light

In 2022, Peter Hook & the Light played Union Transfer and I couldn’t go.  He came back again in 2024 and I grabbed a ticket and had a great time.  They were playing Substance from New Order and Substance from Joy Division, which was pretty damned awesome.

My only complaint (and I don’t deserve it since I knew what was coming) is that I like a lot of newer New Order too.  But that wasn’t on the menu, so nevermind.

So it turns out that this tour was for the Get Ready album, a newer album that I thought I liked–the cover was easily memorable to me.  And yet when I put it on, I didn’t really remember it.  Turns out I really liked Republic, and the ones after that, not so much (turns out he played the Republic album back in 2019).

Initially I had penciled this show in for my wife and I to go, because I assumed we’d really like it.  I never got tickets because it didn’t look like it was going to sell out.  It was also the night before she was going back to work, so when I found out the show was mostly an album she didn’t know, I didn’t even bother getting tickets.

It also turns out I was wiped out from the show the night before, and I would have been miserable had I gone.  Maybe in two years we’ll try again.

Although listening to Get Ready now, it is a good album.

Posted in Joy Division, New Order, Peter Hook & The Light, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »

Megadeth (Sports Illustrated Stadium, Newark, NJ, September 6, 2026) [IRON MAIDEN]

September 7, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: September 6, 2026] Megadeth

As a huge metal fan back in the 80s, I loved Megadeth.  I have their first four albums and probably played them all to deth.  I never had a Meadeth v Metallica problem because they were both great and if Dave Mustaine has stayed in Metallica we wouldn’t have Peace Sell, for instance.

I stopped listening to Megadeth in 1990 and really never went back.  Over the last 30 years or so I have enjoyed laughing at how petty and vindictive Mustaine is. About nearly everything.

I never had any interest in seeing them live.  But since they were playing I did start to look forward to it a bit.  Regardless of my thoughts on Dave, he is an icon and has made some amazing songs over the years.

Dave has had myriad health problems over the years, including throat cancer (he is now cancer free) and recently Dupuytren’s contracture which kind of cramps your hand in locked positions.  He has basically said that this will be his last tour.

I didn’t know what Megadeth was going to play.  And I assumed it would be a whole bunch of stuff that I didn’t know.  But in keeping with the tour’s theme, the songs were all from albums I knew (except for one new song, Tipping Point which I feel like I’ve heard, but how could I have?)

Megadeth has gone through a ton of lineup changes over the years and it is basically just Dave’s band (other’s have complained that there were a few people who have been in the band long enough to be considered proper members, but they are all gone).

They played the new song first and I was really impressed by the guitar playing of both Mustaine and new guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari (who is Finnish).  Dave’s voice sounded terrible.  I don’t know if he was undermic’d or if we were in a bad spot but he was almost inaudible.  I did wonder if it was because of his illnesses or if it was a technical problem.  By the end of the set he was more audible.

I was intrigued by their drummer Dirk Verbeuren (who is Belgian) because he was very flashy and I imagined he was from L.A.  Bassist James LoMenzo is the only other American player (it does make me wonder if he burned bridges with everyone else in the States).

They played the next song, Hangar 18 but I didn’t recognize it.  It’s possible that I don’t know Rust in Peace as well as I thought, but listening to it now, I do remember it pretty well.  It may have been the vocals that threw me off.  I do love that in nearly every song, Dave and Teemu switch off between little guitar solos–much shredding.

They followed it with Take No Prisoners, another song I should have known better.  I was never bored during these songs, so I imagine part of me vaguely recognized them.  Interestingly, it was Seating Bullets, from an album I don’t have, that I recognized more–airplay somewhere?   Actually I just looked at the video and it was entirely familiar.  The opening of the song, Hello me, it’s me again” spoken in Dave’s gritty voice makes me imagine him reading a bedtime story to his grandkids (he has at least one).  If he read Goodnight Moon, you’d assume the moon was going to be blown up.

He then said that they were going to play a song for all of those who were there last night.  Actually it was for all of the New Jersey, New York area.  It was a song that people have been asking them to play for ages.  It was Devil’s Island, which I didn’t recognize  the title of, but as soon as that guitar riff started and the crowd went bananas starting a massive mosh pit, I was pretty psyched to hear it.

I didn’t recognize Symphony of Destruction, but holy crap, with the bass opening of Peace Sells, my childhood came rushing back and I was super psyched to hear this one live.  Whaddya mean I ain’t kind?  I’m just not your kind.

They left the stage, which was kind of weird for an opening act.  So I guess technically this was an encore, but whatever you call it, when they started up Holy Wars, I was super psyched because I’m guessing if I didn’t know all of Rust in Peace, I sure knew this song.  The riffage was great, the soloing was great and Dave even sounded good for this one.  They even did the acoustic guitar middle-eastern riff mid song (Teemu on a propped up acoustic guitar).

First mistake? Last mistake.

I really enjoyed this set and while I don’t wish that I had seen them when they were younger, it was still a great set and scratched an itch I didn’t know I had.

The night before they played She-Wolf instead of Take No Prisoners and The Conjuring instead of Devil’s Island [I got the better deal].

Tipping Point ∉
Hangar 18 ⊗
Take No Prisoners (Tour debut) ⊗
Sweating Bullets √
Devil’s Island (Tour debut) $
Tornado of Souls ⊗
Symphony of Destruction √
Peace Sells $
Encore
Holy Wars… The Punishment Due ⊗


∉ Megadeth (2026)
√ Countdown to Extinction (1992)
⊗ Rust in Peace (1990)
$ Peace Sells … But Who’s Buying? (1986)

Posted in Anthrax, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Newark, NJ, Set in New Jersey!, Sports Illustrated Stadium | Leave a Comment »

Anthrax (Sports Illustrated Stadium, Newark, NJ, September 6, 2026) [IRON MAIDEN]

September 6, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: September 6, 2026] Anthrax

I was a huge Iron Maiden fan starting with Number of the Beast.  But when Anthrax came out, I like them even more–I feel like they invented the word Mosh (probably not but hey certainly used it more than anyone else).  I liked that they were super heavy and also had a good sense of humor.

Amazingly, I had never seen them live.  Not sure how that happened.  Although in fairness, I haven’t really listened to them since the early 1990s.

But I really wanted to see them at least once.  Indeed, I probably wouldn’t have gone to this show if Anthrax weren’t opening (this was the only venue where they played).  So the fact that I almost missed them because of Newark police is insane.

They went on at 6:10 (originally 6:30) and I left my house at 4 for an hour drive.  And I walked onto the floor as the band played their first chord.  Because when I got near the Harrison bridge, the police rerouted my side of the road (if you were in the left lane, you got to cross the bridge.  If you were in the right lane, you had to go straight).  So I followed their detour and looped back around where I Was about to get on the bridge only to see that they closed off the onramp as well.  There were people crossing the bridge, but not us.  So we all had to drive past the bridge and go to one of the parking garages.  I happened to find one that was relatively close (and much cheaper) and then hoofed it back to the venue. Continue Reading »

Posted in Anthrax, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Newark, NJ, Set in New Jersey!, Sports Illustrated Stadium | Leave a Comment »

Iron Maiden / Megadeth / Anthrax (Sports Illustrated Stadium, Newark, NJ, September 5, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 5, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 5, 2026] Iron Maiden / Megadeth / Anthrax

I loved these three bands back in the 1980s.  Not on the above order (Anthrax was always near the top), but the only one of the three I’d seen was Iron Maiden.

When this tour was announced I didn’t really think about going–I haven’t been enjoying heavy metal shows as much as I used to and I haven’t listened to anything new from Iron Maiden in about 30 years.  But then I saw that this show was going to be an old-school tour with songs from their first decade of music.  Of course, I am so unfamiliar with Maiden’s post 1990s output that when it said from Iron Maiden to Fear of the Dark, I didn’t realize Fear of the Dark was even one of their albums(!).

Tickets were expensive, and I think the pit area sold out pretty fast.  If I was going to this show I didn’t want to be far away.  Then my friend Jae said that he was going and I was pretty surprised.  Then they added a second night and even though it would have been fun to go with Jae (he actually wound up being late and missed Anthrax entirely) so I grabbed a pit ticket for Sunday.

 

Posted in Anthrax, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Newark, NJ, Set in New Jersey!, Sports Illustrated Stadium | Leave a Comment »

Nelward / Grocer / Gloorp (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, September 3, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 3, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 3, 2026] Nelward / Grocer / Gloorp 

I saw Nelward open for TWRP a while back.  I hadn’t heard of him, but holy cow a few people in the audience sure did.  So Nick “nelward” Elward is an electronic composer based in Atlanta. His music takes cues from video game soundtracks, jazz fusion, old school hip hop, and classic pop.  His songs are (mostly) short and (mostly) silly.   He came out snazzily dressed and began singing DVD (30 seconds long, although longer live, with the entirety of the lyrics: Have you seen the DVD of me? (repeated).

I found his stuff to be amusing, but just ok.  And yet wow, he had some die-hard fans.

I was interested in this how pretty much only for Grocer.  I thought I’d get to see them open for Blvck Hippie a few weeks ago, but that fell through.  Tonight’s show was the day after we’d returned from a long trip and I knew I wouldn’t have the energy for it.  But Grocer does play a lot, so I hope to see them again soon.  They are a trio from Philly: Cody Nelson – Drums/Vocals, Danielle Lovier – Bass/Vocals and Nicholas Rahn – Guitar/Vocals.  Each member sings and each singer’s musical style is a little different making for a wide ranging musical set all held together by this great band having a lot of fun.  I don’t think I stopped smiling once during there set.  I definitely want to see them again.

I instinctively want to like a band called Gloorp.  Not knowing anything about them, with this line up it’s hard to tell if they are just goofy like nelward or weird but seriously like Grocer.

So Gloorp is from Philly and is the creation of Garrett Burke (with Danny Murillo, and Gabe DeSanto).  Pitchfork sums him up:

Burke is a high school marching band kid with a drumming resume that includes stints with Mothers and of Montreal.  His albums are half-organic/half-electronic MIDI meld of slamming polyrhythms and gonzo sound effects. There’s hardly even any melodies or samples taking up space—just one skull-rattling fill after another, a daisy-chained string of mulching beats that’s casual, light, and fun as hell.   Songs have  bouncing bass throbs, a wispy vocal sample weaving its way between the beats like it’s gasping for air.   Or a phased-out spoken-word passage from that’s similarly abstracted, used more like extra grease to keep Burke’s water slide nice and slippy. His drums speak for themselves.  It’s all very low-key, in that special way an album best heard blasting through beat-up car speakers should be.

So he’s not really like either band.  I imagine this is more fun to see live than to listen through good speakers.

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Arlo Parks / Baird (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, August 31, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

August 31, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: August 31, 2026] Arlo Parks / Baird

Back in 2024, I blew off seeing Arlo Parks because I wasn’t feeling that well. I noted that I had failed to see her several times now and that maybe I should just give up.  But every time that Arlo releases a new song, I just love it.  So this time, I promised myself that I would go to see her.

And then we had to bring my daughter to college and there was literally no way to make it back in time.  Obviously the trip to college was so much more important and quite a lot of fun), but sometimes timing sucks.

I was able t sell my ticket, so that’s cool.  Maybe, indeed, I won’t be able to see her live after all

I think this means I’m not going to be seeing Arlo live.

I hadn’t heard of Baird but he evidently her producer and co-creator.  He has assisted with much of her music.  His own music is kind of lo-fi dancey.  I was unimpressed by the opening of Dogpile, but I like the way it built into something else while retaining the same elements throughout.

Last time, I chose not to go because Arlo played for only an hour.  This time it was 90 minutes.  I did get to see her (sort of) at all things go.  But maybe in a couple years I’ll finally geta proper show.  We’ll see.

Posted in Arlo Parks, Baird, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »

King’s X / Lady White Rat (Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA, August 29, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

August 29, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: August 29, 2023] Kings X / Lady White Rat

I’ve seen King’s X five times.  I’ve enjoyed all of their shows although I started to find them a little samey.  I haven’t been all that interested the last few times they swung by.  But this time–it has been four years after all–I was.  I was going to reach out to my friend who lives near Sellersville to see if he wanted to go.  But I didn’t because we were going to be driving my daughter to college.  And then he contacted me to see if I wanted to go!  I was bummed to say no.

When I first looked at the setlist I was afraid it was exactly the same as the last few times (it always seems to start the same).  But they changed things up quite a bit in the back end of the set which makes me really hope they come back again soon.  I don’t know if dUg can still hit the notes, but it would be fun to see them once more.

Lady White Rat is a crushing hard rock power trio based out of the Lehigh Valley PA region. With captivating song writing, melodic harmonies, and a dynamic range of sounds varying from metal to jazz, Lady White Rat’s music offers a sense of familiarity while incorporating a fresh unique sound uncommon in the scene. With emphasis on the live experience, Lady White Rat performs high energy chaotic live shows with the ability to command a crowd and make your head bang for the entirety of their set.

I listened to a song (from the show) and they were good.  Heavy with good harmonies. Continue Reading »

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Citizen / Hotline TNT / Anxious / Rocket (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, August 29, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

August 29, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: August 29, 2026] Citizen / Hotline TNT / Anxious / Rocket

What’s a person to do when there’s a four-band bill and you like 2 of the bands but neither is headlining?

I’m always intrigued when I’ve never heard of a band who is headlining a tour.  Particularly if there are other bands on the bill that I know and like.  So how have I never heard of Citizen?  They’ve been around since 2009 and have come through Philly several times. Their 2023 album Calling the Dogs is considered essential listening.  Their bio says

With the ability to excel in both quiet ballads and distorted rock anthems, Citizen (which recently expanded to a full quintet with the addition of former touring members drummer Ben Russin and guitarist Mason Mercer) has an incredible knack for channeling raw emotion and energy into singalong songs.

A brief listen confirms the singalong part for sure.  I like them, they’re quite fun, although they’re not especially memorable. This probably would have been a worthwhile night to check out, although we were leaving for Minnesota the following day so that was unlikely.

Hotline TNT plays what I can only describe as classic shoegaze, which is definitely having a moment again.  Unlike a lot of their contemporaries, they don’t really mess with the classic shoegaze vibe all that much–not adding elements at all.  Their music warms my heart and I’d love to see them live.  This is the seventh time I’ve missed them since 2022.

Anxious are an emo band from Connecticut,  They play some lighter stuff, but seem to have a heavier punk edge as well.  They have old school punk singing from time to time–sometimes in background behind some much gentler singing.  But it’s mostly poppy punk stuff.   Pretty fun/

I Saw Rocket open for Ride and then saw them ona headline tour at Warehouse on Watts.  They are great.  I’m surprised they were so low on this bill.  This Rocket (there are several bands named Rocket) is from LA and holy cow, they scratched just about every musical itch I had.  Soft female vocals, shoegaze to heavy crunchy guitars.  It was all there.  I loved every second of their set.

Posted in Anxious, Citizen, Hotline TNT, Philadelphia, PA, Rocket, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »

Swervedriver / Slow Fiction / The Still Out (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, August 28, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

August 28, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: August 28, 2026] Swervedriver / Slow Fiction / The Still Out

There was a time a few years ago when the choice between going to White Eagle Hall or Underground Arts would have fallen squarely on White Eagle Hall.  It’s a gorgeous venue with great sight lines and a bouncy floor.  Not to mention a state of the art sound system.  But the last few times I’ve been there I’ve been dissatisfied.  Primarily with the parking.  But it feel busier and more crowded with less enjoyable people.  SO naturally I picked Underground Arts (which has rapidly become one of my favorite venues).

I was supposed to see Slow Fiction (who are from Chicago) when they were opened for Vundabar.  But I missed the show and therefor missed Slow Fiction.  Which is a shame because seeing them last night was amazing.  It would have been cool to see them at a bigger venue just a few weeks earlier.

I had never heard of The Still Out and, apparently with good reason.  Their bio is pretty interesting

The Still Out was formed by producers Josh Stoddard and Arjun “Arj” Agerwala in the mid 2000s in New York City. They were signed to indie label Hi-Speed Soul (Nada Surf, Afghan Whigs, Swervedriver, The Black Heart Procession) and released their album, Crystallized, which included guests Adam Franklin (Swervedriver), Jody Porter (Fountains of Wayne) and Claude Coleman, Jr (Ween). Veteran rock critic Jack Rabid ranked Crystallized #13 on his top 50 reissues of 2018, declaring of the Still Out, “Who are you and why are you so good?!”

Their songs range from anthems to lullabies, interspersing dreamy, wandering imagery with layered guitars, hypnotic bass vamps, and tight, dynamic drumming to create a wall of sound that is both melody and mayhem.

After playing shows to promote the album and opening for Swervedriver … they took a long hiatus. Josh became a sought-after video director, sound bath performer, and prolific creator while Arj focused on his career as a producer, engineer, and songwriter.  In 2021, they reunited to cover Fountains of Wayne’s “Sick Day” as part of a tribute to friend and supporter Adam Schlesinger, who died from covid. Josh himself died tragically not long after. Arj has now revived the band with the help of several talented musicians and with Josh’s harmonies and sounds helmed by Suneel Agerwala. They are continuing the Still Out to honor his beloved friend and bandmate.

So I guess I feel bad for not wanting to see them.  But I’ll give Crystallized a listen.

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