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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 »

Mastodon / Alcest / Deafheaven (Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA, September 22, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 22, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 22, 2026] Mastodon / Alcest / Deafheaven 

I saw Mastodon at this very venue (when it was called The Electric Factory) ten years ago.  I’ve seen Mastodon a total of three times and after the last show I felt like I didn’t need to see them again.  Nothing against them, but I felt like I had seen enough and was satisfied.  Then all kinds of trouble happened within the band and I felt it was just safest to stay away.

But this bill was stacked!  And I really wanted to go for the opening acts.  It turned out to be scheduled during a week when I had a lot else going on, so I ultimately couldn’t go anyhow.  But I would have really enjoyed seeing the openers again.

I saw Alcest last year and they were great.  They play a kind of heavy metal shoegaze.  Waves and waves of guitars with vocals that are sung in French, but are quiet enough in the mix (from where I was) that they might as well be simply ahh’s.  Corson’s backing vocals were, I think, just ooh and ahhs.  Occasionally, Niege’s vocals would get dark and kind of growly, but more of a low scream rather than a growl–certainly the most palatable scream I’ve encountered.  I would love to see them again.

I’ve seen Deafheaven twice but I’ve wanted to see them more.  There have been a couple of recent shows that I simply haven’t been able to get to.  Well, I’m sure they’ll be back again. And who wants to see them open, when they could clearly headline.

 

 

Posted in Alcest, Deafheaven, Franklin Music Hall, Mastodon, Philadelphia, PA, The Electric Factory | Leave a Comment »

Charlotte Lawrence (Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, September 21, 2026) [SUKI WATERHOUSE]

September 22, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: September 21, 2026] Charlotte Lawrence

I hadn’t heard of Charlotte Lawrence before this show.  I listened to a few songs and liked her.  It turns out that, like Suki Waterhouse, she is an actress (in the show Bad Monkey which I hadn’t heard of), model and singer.

She came out on stage with her band and, I was pleased to her, rocked harder than her records.  Her records had a bit more pop sheen, but live, her band rocked (her guitar player even opened the show by running a beer bottle up and down the neck of his guitar generating interesting sounds–although they were all dressed so preppy, it was hard to take them seriously as rockers).  But that’s okay because they were great.  

Less great was the guy in the baseball hat who held his phone up very high (and was standing right in front of us) for each song and during her talking bits as well.  It was rather much.

I enjoyed Charlotte’s voice immediately–powerful and soaring high.  And the songs were catchy, too.

Before the second song, she said it was written about an asshole and anyone who could relate to that should dance along.  So that was pretty funny.  As was her intro to the third song which was also about an asshole (everyone say fuck you johnny).

I laughed a but when she bemoaned that she missed be young and wild and free (she’s 26), but who knows what her life is like.  And then before the next song, she started crying and said that she lost someone yesterday but she really wanted to keep on with the show.  (I see on previous setlists that at this time she was going to sing a song called Bodybag which, jeez, that’s rough.  It’s a piano ballad and they had unveiled Suki’s piano for this set.  I assume she was supposed to play the piano for this song.  But, damn, how could she play a song like that right now?

She pulled through and sang her bouncier song Fear of Falling and then asked if we’d like to hear a new song.  She started Like a Girl but had to quit after verse or two.  Fortunately, the crowd was really supportive of her and sent their best vibes her way.  I couldn’t help but think about how at a normal job when this happens, you would take a few days off, but I can’t imagine trying to be emotive on stage during this. Continue Reading »

Posted in Charlotte Lawrence, Emmma, Philadelphia, PA, Suki Waterhouse, The Met Philadelphia | Leave a Comment »

Militarie Gun / Softcult / Shady Nasty / Dazy (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, September 22, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 22, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 19, 2022] Militarie Gun / Softcult / Shady Nasty / Dazy

Back in 2022, I first heard of Militaire Gun, who are apparently a post-hardcore supergroup (made up of bands I’ve never heard of).  I got a kick out of this tour being 20 Songs for 20 Bucks and I did consider going.  But this was a crazy busy week for me and I didn’t really fancy going to a show with THREE openers who I’d never heard of. Normally I love a good opening band, but this night sounded exhausting, especially since I assumed they were all heavy/hardcore bands.

Since then they have been spoken of in really high terms by lots of bands that I like and their new single is really soft and catchy.  So unlike the noisy punk extravaganza and that I thought this night would be, it was actually a fairly diverse and far more quiet evening.  Although MG play a kind of heavy alt rock with vocals that are very punk.

I assumed I didn’t know Softcult (which looked less familiar when I saw it as Soft Cult). Turns out I have been interested in them for a little while, but had to miss them in 2026.

Softcult is a duo from Canada.  Their number one song on Spotify, “Love Song” is a soft woozy shoegaze song–it’s wonderful.  Their other songs play more with a hard/soft dynamic and grungy attitude.  The band comprises twin siblings Phoenix and Mercedes Arn-Horn who are also in the band Courage My Love (who are a bit more punk).  The three or four Softcult songs I heard were great.

Shady Nasty are from Sydney and mix hip hop, shoegaze and post punk.  Far more hip hop than anything else and I found it a little bland.

Dazy is a the work of James Goodson.  They put out a single with Militarie Gun and it’s great (Pressure Cooker).  Their songs have big hooks are are kind of unpolished (fuzz guitars) pop.

I’m sure this would have been a fun night.  Must keep Softcult and Dazy in mind for future shows.

Posted in Dazy, Militarie Gun, Philadelphia, PA, Shady Nasty, Soft Cult, Underground Arts | Leave a Comment »

Frayle (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, September 20, 2026) [EIHWAR]

September 20, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: September 20, 2026] Frayle

I didn’t know Frayle, but I knew they had a following (and haters, of course).   They are a female fronted doom and witchrock band from Cleveland.   What does that mean?  Well, their influences are Sleep, Portishead, Björk, Kyuss, & Black Sabbath.  Which sounds impossible, but is true.  The heavy doomy Sleep and Sabbath with great witchy vocals of Portishead and Björk.  Evidently there are two permanent members of the band Gwyn Strang (vocals) and Sean Bilovecky (guitars and I assume more).

They had the stage adorned with candelabra and their logo on vertical banners (visually very satisfying).

I had just seen Angine De Poitrine, a masked band, and I was pretty excited to see Eihwar and Frayle for even more masked fun.

The band came out and the only person I could see was  their bassist who had corpsepaint makeup on and some chains across her face.  She played an intense low end which sounded great throughout the set.  Their drummer was behind her and it wasn’t until half way through the set that I realized he was wearing a black mask with a chain across the front.  Their guitarist had on a large cape with a hood and it was only when he looked up tat you could see he was wearing a similar mask to the drummer.  And then walked out.  She too had her face painted white and had a series of chains across her face as well as a black tiara atop her head.  She had blue eyes shadow on and wasn’t afraid to make eye contact with anyone.

Bright Eyes started the set with slow, heavy bass and guitar with haunting soft high pitched vocals floating over the top.  It was great.  The music was wonderfully heavy and slow but without the typical growled vocals. And the rest of their set was similarly heavy and grooving.  At some point during the set I saw that the guitarist (who was huge) had a pink camera phone and was aiming it at us in the audience.  Then I saw him hand it back to someone, so that was sweet.

I really enjoyed Heretic–a great riff and intense lyrics.  The chorus was interesting because underneath her voice was a deep male voice singing along with her (demonic possession?).  No one in the band seemed to sing along, so I assume it was pre-programmed or she had a very cool filter on her voice. Continue Reading »

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Liz Phair / Sleater-Kinney / Frankie Cosmos (Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA, September 20, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 20, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 20, 2026] Liz Phair / Sleater-Kinney / Frankie Cosmos

I have seen Sleater-Kinney five times.  The last time my wife came along and she loved it.  I would have liked to go to this show as well, but I wasn;t excited about it being at Franklin Music Hall and more importantly, I had tickets to see Eihwar and wasn’t going to give that up.  Plus it turns out that S-K were technically the second headliner so they went on first and only played for an hour.

Three years ago when Liz Phair was last at Franklin Music Hall, I was rather bitchy about her.  I guess it was 30 years ago that I really got into Liz Phair.  I loved Exile in Guyville.  And the two follow-ups.  Three years ago I followed this with

Then she went away for a while and came back as a sell out.  Which she has admitted.  I used to care about things like that, and I never listened to her again, frankly.  I’m somewhat curious about hearing the Guyville songs live.  But I haven’t listened to the record in years either, so it’s like a rock that’s not worth digging up.  Plus it would be weird seeing her in a relatively large space like Franklin Music Hall.

But seeing what she played–mostly stuff from Guyville, I think I would have really enjoyed the show–sorry to be so snarky three years ago, Liz.

In some respects, I’m surprised that Liz is headlining, because S-K probably have a bigger audience, but Liz is probably more generally popular.

Frankie Cosmos plays twee pop songs.  I had heard of the band but didn’t know this:

Greta Simone Kline, also known by the stage name Frankie Cosmos, is known for her independent releases, inspired by Frank O’Hara’s poetry, DIY ethics of K Records and the early 2000s New York City’s anti-folk scene.  She is the daughter of actors Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates. Her former stage name “Frankie Cosmos” is now the name of her band.

So I guess rather than twee pop songs, I’m hearing the spare sound of K recordings, because it did feel like it would fit with the whole Seattle vibe.

Posted in Frankie Cosmos, Franklin Music Hall, Liz Phair, Philadelphia, PA, Sleater-Kinney | Leave a Comment »

cavetown / chloe moriondo (Archer Music Hall, Allentown, PA, September 20, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 20, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 20, 2026] cavetown / chloe moriondo

We saw Cavetown two years ago and they were so much fun.  From the catchy songs to the fun stage goings on, it was a terrific show.  I’ve thought about seeing them again, and this seemed like a lower key way to do so.  Despite the metal looking logo, Cavetown’s music actually seems even more mellow.

I’m fascinated that this tour starts in Allentown and ends a month later in Philadelphia.  I couldn’t go to the Allentown show because I had tickets to Eihwar which I didn’t want to pass up and on the night in Philly, I had tickets to TWO other shows that evening.  So, despite the proximity and frequency, I couldn’t do Cavetown this year.

Om Tidal, it says that chloe moriondo is 16, but she is actually 23.  She’s from Detrooit and plays a mix of indie pop, indie rock and bedroom pop, with the occasional hyperpop.  The first song on Tidal was her with a ukulele.  She’s on Fueled by Ramen, so they trust her fun nature and she appeared on a Pierce the Veil album.  Her songs are kind of soft pop with a slight (very slight) edge–although her newest album is pretty much all pop.

She’s probably fun live.

 

Posted in Allentown PA, Archer Music Hall, Cavetown, chloe moriondo | Leave a Comment »

Bikini Kill (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, September 18, 2026)

September 19, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: September 18, 2026] Bikini Kill 

I saw Bikini Kill three years ago with my daughter.  She has worn the shirt many times and gotten nothing but great reactions from it.

I bought tickets when they came around last time so my wife and daughter could go, but we wound up not going (and reselling the tickets was easy enough).  This year I grabbed a ticket for myself and my wife.  I was very bummed when Cheekface announced a show the same night, but my wife was really looking forward to seeing Bikini Kill.

After the opener went for 45 minutes, I wasn’t sure how long it would take for Bikini Kill to come on.  Setlist suggested ten after but as ten after rolled up, the crew went on stage to tune stuff.  Come on!

They started a few minutes later and the crowd went nuts mostly for Kathleen Hanna of course.  Kathleen Hanna is a great front woman–talking to us about the songs, being supportive of women and young people in general. She joked at one point that she’s starting a new fashion trend–if your dress is too tight to zip up, leave it down and when someone tells you it’s down, say I like it that way.

Like last time three of the original Bikini Kill members were touring, Tobi Vail on drums (and vocals) Kathi Wilcox on bass (and drums) and Kathleen Hanna singing (and bass).  Original member Billy Karren was not part of the reunion and was replaced by Sara Landeau who has an impressive musical background.

The setlist was very similar to last time.  The first three songs were the same–a blur of fast music and Kathleen’s largely inaudible singing. I’m listening to the records and she is pretty clear about the words.  But live there’s a lot more screaming–which works pretty well (especially if you already know the songs). Continue Reading »

Posted in Bikini Kill, Feminism, Franklin Music Hall, Kilynn Lunsford, Philadelphia, PA, Riot Grrrl | Leave a Comment »

Cheekface / Apes of the State / Sad 13 (Underground Arts Philadelphia, PA, September 18, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 18, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 18, 2026] Cheekface / Apes of the State / Sad 13

I saw Cheekface on a whim in 2023 and loved the show so much I couldn’t wait to see them again.  They have been back to Philly three times somnce then and I have been unable to see them. Ugh.

Tonight’s show was the same night as the Bikini Kill show that my wife and I had tickets to.  I really wanted to get to this show, but there was just no way–unless Bikini Kill cancelled (which they didn’t).  They seem to tour annually, so I guess I’ll have to wait until next year to try again.

Apes of the State play folk punk and are from Lancaster, PA.  I feel like I’ve heard of them before, although I can’t find any evidence of that.  They play acoustic folk music but at a breakneck speed.  And with very pointed lyrics (as folk tends to do).  Somehow the speed makes these songs way more fun.

But even their slow songs are spot on

Now I’m not a stranger to being let down
By political movements that die on the ground
But all of those failures they don’t hold a flame
To July 13th ‘24 in Butler, PA

Oh Thomas Oh Thomas
You let us all down
We could have had Donald Trump slumped on the ground
Now instead we have ICE agents all over town
Oh Thomas how you let us down

But we must let his failure be an inspiring tale
And we must take shots even though we might fail
Cause once in a while those shots they do land
And violence is the language fascists understand

Oh Charlie Oh Charlie
Died of direct hit
Taken out by the same bitter hatred he spit
When we speak in a tongue they understand
It defies the boundaries of classes and land

And fascists only speak violence
Fascists only speak violence
They don’t back down to spoken word or acts of kindness
No fascists they only speak violence

Sad13 is the side project of Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz. It’s her more experimental side.  Her songs aren’t mellow folkie songs (as the band name kind of suggests) but rather they are weird experimental songs with sound effects and fascinating noises.  On her new album, the longest song is 1:48. She opened for a show I wanted to get to but couldn’t back in July.  Back then I wrote:  I’m not dying to see this incarnation, but I do hope she is opening for someone one of these days.  So she did, but I couldn’t make it, yet again (which is kind of funny since I’ve seen Speedy Ortiz 5 times).

Posted in Apes of the State, Cheekface, Philadelphia, PA, Sad13, Underground Arts | Leave a Comment »

Pansy Division / Teenage Halloween / Hot Seat (PhilaMOCA, Philadelphia, PA, September 18, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 18, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 18, 2026] Pansy Division / Teenage Halloween / Hot Seat

Three years ago, Pansy Division played Johnny Brenda’s but I was too busy to check them out.

When Pansy Division first appeared in the late 1990s, I was hugely supportive.  I loved that they were out and proud.  They introduced me to a whole subculture that I wasn’t aware of and which I am still really supportive of.  It almost seemed like it wasn’t much of a subculture anymore until Florida got their hands on it. But whatever.  Evidently the world still needs Pansy Division.

There have been gay musicians hidden throughout rock music history, but when Pansy Division began in 1991 in San Francisco, they were the first to be so boldly open about it.  Founded by guitarist/singer Jon Ginoli and soon joined by bassist/singer Chris Freeman, with the intent of forming a gay rock band, Pansy Division blew the closet doors open. Raised on a diet of 60s pop and 70s punk, their sound was suitably crunchy and catchy as hell. They wrote in-your-face lyrics, but did it with a sense of humor. Not only did their music and stance defy stereotypic norms of rock musicians being openly gay, they also broke gay cultural stereotypes that rock wouldn’t interest gay people.

So glad they’re still loud and proud.

I saw Teenage Halloween open for THICK a while back and thought they were great.   The Asbury Park band plays short blasts of catchy emo songs–lots of punk feelings (their bio says)

At the heart of vocalist and guitarist Luk Henderiks’ lyrics is an urgent longing for community. Despite their often strikingly personal vulnerability, these songs reach out to the wider world, striving to hold themselves and those around them accountable for their actions and to make space for those that need to be heard.

and occasionally fantastic guitar solos (Eli Frank is a total shredder, but doesn’t overuse that skill).  Luk seemed to sing more of the songs, but Tricia Marshall (bass) sang about four or five of the seventeen (!) they played.  I would absolutely see them again.

They played with Wax Jaw a month ago but I couldn’t make that show either.  Crazy that I could have seen them twice in a month at different venues with different openers.

Hot Seat is a Philly band that I hadn’t heard of.  Their blurb says

Punchy guitar and bass riffs, fast as hell drums , and witty vocals make up this Philadelphia four piece punk band. Inspired by The The Distillers, The Muffs, Lunachicks and L7, Hot Seat wants everyone to SCREAM.

And I’d say that’s pretty accurate. They are, without a doubt, a fun live band.

Another fun night in Philly.

 

Posted in Hot Seat, Pansy Division, Philadelphia, PA, PhilaMOCA, Teenage Halloween | Leave a Comment »

Kilynn Lunsford (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, September 18, 2026) [BIKINI KILL]

September 18, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: September 18, 2026] Kilynn Lunsford

When we saw Bikini Kill a few years ago, it wasn’t until soon before the show that the announced the opener.  It was a little earlier for this show, but it didn’t help since I had never heard of Kilynn Lunsford.

Midway through the Bikini Kill set Tobi Vail said that she loved Kilynn Lunsford’s work and was not surprised to see that she had been part of several bands that Tobi has loved over the years.  Indeed, New York Music Month says  she is an artist and musician based in New Jersey. She’s been playing in experimental noise punk projects for over 20 years and has released records on Kill Rock Stars, Ecstatic Peace, Siltbreeze, ever/never, and Feel It. Her visual art has been exhibited internationally.

I can’t find any specifics of who she has played with, but it seems that everything they played tonight came from her solo albums.  I guess.

She had three musicians with her (guitar, drums, bass) all dressed in white (like a cult, my wife said).  Kilynn was dressed in a white bodysuit type thing with tiny shorts and a sweater as well as a big bow in her hair.  She stomped around the stage and was hard to take your eyes off of her.  Someone instantly shouted “I love you outfit” although other people were rather horrified by what she was wearing.

When the first song started, the bass sounded amazing–deep and rumbling with a weird effect on it.  I loved it from the start.  The drums were simple four four beats and the guitarist also played keys.   And then Kilynn started singing.  She had a high screechy voice and a few effects pedals nearby.  So her voice had a constant echo which made the words inaudible (which is not so good considering she describes herself as a poet).  She also manipulated her voice in bizarre ways with the sound pad she had–basically making everything she said a bunch of nonsense. Continue Reading »

Posted in Bikini Kill, Feminism, Franklin Music Hall, Kilynn Lunsford, Philadelphia, PA, Riot Grrrl | Leave a Comment »

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