Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for September, 2024

Garcia Peoples / Country Westerns (Milkboy, Philadelphia, PA, September 14, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Country & Westerns, Garcia Peoples, Milkboy, Philadelphia, PA on September 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 14, 2024] Garcia Peoples / Country Westerns

I have seen Garcia Peoples five times, but I hadn’t heard much from them lately–which is only surprising because they used to play all the time.  So much so that I have NOT SEEN them five times since the last time I saw them.

I would have liked seeing them again, and Milkboy would be a great place to see them.  But this was a day that we had plans and it has been a busy concert month, so I gave it a miss.  I do hope  they play around again soon.

Country Westerns are a three-piece band with a two-man engine: Joseph Plunket is an Atlanta hardcore kid turned singer-songwriter whose first solo gig was opening for Cat Power. He went on to lead Brooklyn alt-country legends The Weight during the height of NYCs mid-00’s garage rock bonanza and played bass on the side for King Tuff and Gentleman Jesse. Brian Kotzur is a swaggery metronome who drummed for Silver Jews and was a close collaborator of David Berman. The band’s first fan and an early champion of theirs, Berman would lurk in the back of dingy Nashville clubs and film their early shows on a flip phone.

They play a kind of late Clash-like punk and would be a lot of fun.

Read Full Post »

Silversun Pickups (Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ, September 12, 2024)

Posted in Montclair, NJ, Silversun Pickups, Speedy Ortiz, Wellmont Theater on September 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 12, 2024] Silversun Pickups

I had several opportunities to see Silversun Pickups in the last year or so.  (They’ve played in Sayreville, Asbury Park and now Montclair, as well as Glenside, Bensalem and Philly in the last two years).  So I finally decided it was time to go see them.

I think their song Panic Switch is absolutely dynamite.  It’s one of my favorite songs of the early 2000s.  And they have a few other songs that I like as well.  Indeed, I listened to their discography recently and overall really liked them.  I mean, I can’t shake how much they sound like Smashing Pumpkins, but since I haven’t listened to Smashing Pumpkins on purpose in years, that’s fine.   They’re like Pumpkins without all of the Billy Corgan drama.

The band i a four piece with amazing bass sounds from Nikki Monninger–with only one guitar (and keys) Monninger’s bass is fundamental to these songs and they often (like in Panic Switch) have a great riff holding the song down.  The keys are from Joe Lester.  I have no real sense of what he was adding, but I know he was adding a lot–probably more than I realized.

I’ve always liked the look of Chris Guanlao who stands out in pictures with his long dark hair among the light-haired guys.  But holy crap I was not prepared for how loud his drums would be.  The guy is a beast back there–playing all kinds of tempo changes and just accentuating everything.  He was amazing.

And of course up front is Brian Aubert who said he was bummed that he didn’t get to buy a jacket at thrift store that had closed by the time he returned to it.

The band came out to red lights and the song Growing Old is Getting Old (from Swoon).   Midway through, the song shifted and the full stage lights kicked in.  The stage had dozens of lightbulbs hanging down from the ceiling.  They were LCD and changed colors and lit up.  I was pretty cool.

I really like It Doesn’t Matter Why from their previous album and I think I need to listen to that one a bit more. (more…)

Read Full Post »

Weezer / The Flaming Lips / Dinosaur Jr. (Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA, September 13, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Dinosaur Jr., Philadelphia, PA, The Flaming Lips, Weezer, Wells Fargo Center on September 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 13, 2024]  Weezer / The Flaming Lips / Dinosaur Jr.

I mean, there’s no reason I DIDN’T go to this show.  I love all three bands and have seen each of them at least 3 times.

But this show (in which Weezer played the whole Blue Album) just felt too big.  I didn’t want to go to Wells Fargo Center to see them–especially since I’ve seen all three of them in smaller venues.

As it happened, the week was busy anyhow, but I still acknowledge that this would have been an amazing show to see.

The Weezer setlist was fantastic, including a small Pinkerton section.

The Flaming Lips played for almost an hour–ten songs, most of the hits and a few songs from Yoshimi.  Great stuff.

Dinosaur Jr opened and they played six songs classics in about 25 minutes.

What a cool show.

Read Full Post »

Powerwolf / Unleash the Archers (Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, September 12, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Powerwolf, The Fillmore Philadelphia, Unleash the Archers on September 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 12, 2024] Powerwolf / Unleash the Archers

My I’ve never heard of Powerwolf but I saw this big announcement that

German Metal Juggernauts Powerwolf Announce Their First Ever North American Dates

And I briefly got caught up in the excitement, but I was going to shows the two nights before and had had two Pearl Jam shows a few days before.  So I didn’t get tickets.

I’ve since listened to them and, well, I do certainly love melodic anthemic metal and as the Wikipedia summary says

The group uses religious themes and images, as well as corpse paint, gothic-tinged compositions and songs about werewolf and vampire legends.

This show was either a super fun headbanging sing along or a massive moshpit that I would have hated.

Unleash the Archers are a Canadian power metal band from British Columbia.  The first song I listened to by them was Northwest Passage which features the lyrics

Ah, for just one time, I would take the Northwest PassageTo find the hand of Franklin reaching for the Beaufort SeaTracing one warm line through a land so wide and savageAnd make a Northwest Passage to the sea

It is sung in a sea shanty style, without music for much of the song.  I’m so intrigued by the band.  Not sure that I like them, but they have piqued my interest to be sure.

Although listening to a bit more, I’m not interested in seeing them.

Read Full Post »

Speedy Ortiz (Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ, September 12, 2024) [SILVERSUN PICKUPS]

Posted in Montclair, NJ, Silversun Pickups, Speedy Ortiz, Wellmont Theater on September 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 12, 2024] Speedy Ortiz

I saw Speedy Ortiz a month and a half ago at Milkboy, a small club where I literally was standing behind Sadie Dupuis as she climbed the stairs to the stage.   She had hurt her elbow and this the first time she’d played her guitar in public (for one song).

Then they were invited to open for Silversun Pickups.  I didn’t know they were the openers when I bought the ticket, and I was pretty excited about that–while I love seeing a new band that’s good, it’s even more fun seeing a band I’m really familiar with (this was my fifth time seeing them).

That show was like an Easter Egg for fans.  Seeing them as an opening band was a little different.   Although not hugely different.  Their setlist was very similar to Milkboy (first five songs the same) and they simply excised a few others to shorten the set.  They also ended with the song that Sadie played guitar on for us at Milkboy. (more…)

Read Full Post »

Secret Chiefs 3: UR (Solar Myth, Philadelphia PA, September 11, 2024)

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Secret Chiefs 3, Solar Myth, UR on September 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 11, 2024] Secret Chiefs 3: UR

I saw Secret Chiefs 3 seven years ago when they opened for Dead Cross.  They are a band created by Mr. Bungle’s Trey Spruance.  For that show the band came out all in hooded robes.  No one spoke.  One more note: Musicians tend to float in and out of SC3, so the concept of “current” and “former” members isn’t entirely applicable.  Thus, I have no idea who was on stage in front of me, except Trey who stood center stage.

The band for this show is an iteration of Secret Chiefs 3 called UR.  Fun fact:

In 2007, it was announced that Secret Chiefs 3 has always been a general name for seven different bands, each representing a different aspect of Spruance’s musical and philosophical interests. The seven bands are Electromagnetic Azoth, UR, Ishraqiyun, Traditionalists, Holy Vehm, FORMS, and NT Fan. Spruance has stated that the sound collages of Electromagnetic Azoth serve as the center of Secret Chiefs 3

This show was advertised as

Ars Nova Workshop is thrilled to present Secret Chiefs 3: UR, an incarnation of the shape-shifting avant-cult group led by Mr. Bungle guitarist/composer Trey Spruance, at Solar Myth on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. This show features a brand new incarnation of the SC3 surf band UR. including Spruance, Ches Smith, Shahzad Ismaily, Matt Hollenberg, and Adam Minkoff, performing a full set of all new music.

(more…)

Read Full Post »

Starset : Immersion (Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, September 10, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Starset, The Fillmore Philadelphia on September 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 10, 2024] Starset 

My son and I have seen Starset twice.  Each show has been pretty fantastic.

When this show, the Final Chapter, was announced I really wanted us to go.  Especially since it was a 2 set night of only Starset.

But it was the same night as the Bikini Kill show which we already had tickets for.

The fact that we didn’t go to Bikini Kill makes us missing this show hurt a little bit more.

However, I had gone to a show on 9/7, 9/9 and then 9/11 and 9/12.  I’m not sure I could have made it.

Still, I’ll be this show was great and I’m bummed they didn’t swing back through the area once again with it (and maybe they still will).

Read Full Post »

Bikini Kill / Sweeping Promises (Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA, September 10, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Bikini Kill, Feminism, Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA, Riot Grrrl, Sweeping Promises on September 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 10, 2024] Bikini Kill / Sweeping Promises

Last year my daughter and I saw Bikini Kill, 1,244 days after I bought the tickets.

And we really enjoyed it.

When they announced another tour this year, I grabbed a ticket for my daughter, my wife and I.  And then my wife and I got tickets to two Pearl Jam show just before this one.  And we were wiped out.  Fortunately, my daughter didn’t feel compelled to go either, so we were able to get rid of the tickets and feel okay about the evening.  I’m sure the show was fun.

The setlist was almost exactly the same, but I’ll bet the energy was great.

I didn’t know Sweeping Promises who are a post punk duo from Boston, Massachusetts now based in Lawrence, Kansas consisting of Lira Mondal and Caufield Schnug. Multi-instrumentalist Spenser Gralla has toured as their live drummer since 2019.

They sound… a lot like Bikini Kill.

Read Full Post »

Pearl Jam (Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA, September 9, 2024)

Posted in Glen Hansard, Neil Young, Pearl Jam, Philadelphia, PA, Victoria Williams, Wells Fargo Center on September 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 9, 2024] Pearl Jam

After Saturday’s show we were pretty psyched to do it all again on Monday.  We wound leaving almost an hour later than Saturday night, because we saw how small the GA section was.  And even if we were in the back of it we’d still be damn close.  BUt heck, I guess everyone else had the same thought on a Monday night because we arrived and not only scored the same spot, but I was able to grab this cool poster.

And our new friends Greta and Molly were there again.  So we hung out with them and enjoyed Glen Hansard and were super psyched when the lights went down for Pearl Jam.

For this show I wanted to be a little closer to Mike and I think it was a bad choice.  The group around us was really loud and really pushy.  So the crowd was less enjoyable but the band was on fire.

We have seen Pearl Jam open with a banger, but mostly they tend to open with a slow building song like tonight’s Of the Girl (which I can’t believe we hadn’t heard live before).

We were delighted to get Elderly Woman in which everyone gets to scream Hello!   And speaking of screaming, a whole room of people singing the opening of Corduroy is pretty intense.  (more…)

Read Full Post »

Glen Hansard (Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA, September 9, 2024) [PEARL JAM]

Posted in Glen Hansard, Pearl Jam, Philadelphia, PA, The Frames, Wells Fargo Center on September 9, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 7, 2024] Glen Hansard

I knew that I was going to enjoy Glen’s show the first night but I didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I did.  So I was fully prepared for Glen to blow me away this second night.

And he did.

He seemed even more energized and intense than night 1.

He sang from his knees, he got near the edge of the stage, he danced with the rest of his band.  At one point he sat on a monitor and basically just fell off backwards.

I was a little surprised that he played basically the same set both nights (since Pearl Jam is pretty well known for mixing up their setlists.  At the end of this 45 minute set he played an acoustic version of hie beautiful song This Gift.

It was also keyboardist Mia’s last night on the tour and we all wished her a fond farewell.

My friend Jonathan told me that he’s seen Glen several times and his shows are always amazing.  I agree with him 100%.  I am certain he came away from tis tour with hundreds of new fans.  Everyone around me was blown away by him.  And when he came out later to sing a song with Eddie, he was welcomed to rapturous applause.

I’d really like to see him with a full band again.

 

9/9/2024 (Wells Fargo Center Philly) 9/7/2024 (Wells Fargo Center Philly)
Didn’t He Ramble ‰ Didn’t He Ramble ‰
Bearing Witness ⇔ Bearing Witness ⇔
Dead Reckoning [new] Dead Reckoning [new]
The Feast of St. John ⇔ The Feast of St. John ⇔
Down On Our Knees ⇔ Down On Our Knees ⇔
Fitzcarraldo (The Frames song) £ Fitzcarraldo (The Frames song) £
Revelate (The Frames song) £ Revelate (The Frames song) £
This Gift ® Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy (The Swell Season song) (snippet)
THE FRAMES
£ Fitzcarraldo (1995)

SOLO
⇔ All That Was East Is West of Me Now (2023)
‰ A Season on the Line EP (2016)
® Rhythm and Repose (2012)

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »