Posted in Allentown PA, Archer Music Hall, Guster, The Mountain Goats on July 29, 2025| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: July 29, 2025] Guster / The Mountain Goats
When this Guster/The Mountain Goats tour was announced, I definitely wanted to see them in Allentown–a smallish venue that’s easy to get to. But we had tickets to The Swell Season that evening and we didn’t want to give those up.
So we went to the Stone Pony Summer Stage instead (and that was awesome).
I have yet to go to Archer Music Hall, and I hope to before the end of the year.
Posted in Allentown PA, Archer Music Hall, Kishi Bashi, Oshima Brothers, Tall Tall Trees on May 7, 2025| Leave a Comment »
[ATTENDED: May 6, 2025] Kishi Bashi
This was our seventh time seeing Kishi Bashi. We had seen him not too long ago in Philly for his Kantos tour. But we knew that this was going to be different. It was a RETROspect tour and I knew it would be a very different kind of show. The previous show was a pretty big production with a full backing band (and costume changes). This one was a trio. K. on violin and guitar, Tall Tall Trees (Mike Sorvino) on his Banjotron and keyboards and cellist Emily Hope Price (all three of whom sing like angels).
The place was sold pretty well, but we were still able to get close. It was bizarre that there were people there with little kids. One of whom kept sneaking back and forth between their hangout spot–off to the side–to their guardian. It was pretty distracting but I’ve seen things that were a lot worse. And it was pretty clear all the adults were big fans.
To the side of the stage was a small easel. And throughout the show, K. changed the image to reflect the cover album of the songs he was going to play.
The first image was the cover of his debut EP Room for Dream. He played two songs from the EP (which both appeared on 151a). There was even an opportunity for him and Mike to have a little solo improv piece (and there’s always room for beatboxing).
Then when he switched the easel to 151a, he played a fairly deep cut Wonder Woman Wonder Me (it was really cool hearing this mellow song).
Then he jumped to the big ones: Atticus in the Desert and I am the Antichrist to You. They were glorious. And it was really fun seeing Mike use a violin bow on the Banjotron–meaning all three musicians were bowing their instruments. But Mike’s the only one who busted out a drum mallet to whack on the banjo (so fun when he does this).
The fabulous Lighght came up next. Up first was Philosophize with It, and the show just got better. He told us that he had written the song for a commercial in Japan–it was only the chorus and people wondered where the rest of it was. So he fleshed it out. He followed this with a big surprise for me (although it probably shouldn’t have been). This felt like a fairly small show, and when he started Mr Steak in a quiet, almost ballad style, I didn’t expect Mr Steak to come out. But he did! And we all danced along with the Grade A wonder.
I was a little surprised there were only two songs from Lighght, but he’s got a lot of music now, so we moved onto Sonderlust and the gorgeous m’lover. It was followed by Can’t Let Go Juno, played in a different style from the record. Rather than the intense dancey synth of the record, K. played acoustic guitar
Then it was on to Omioyari and the always amazing to see live Violin Tsunami. That he could follow up the intensity of Tsunami with the beautiful and delicate Marigolds shows what a complex songwriter he is. The three of them stood in front of a central old microphone and sang the gorgeous songs together. This set up continued through the next album. (more…)
Posted in Allentown PA, Archer Music Hall, Dark Sky Burial, Napalm Death, Philadelphia, PA, The Melvins, Titan to Tachyons, Union Transfer, Weedeater on May 5, 2025| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: May 5 & 6, 2025] Napalm Death / The Melvins / Weedeater / Dark Sky Burial / Titan to Tachyons
I saw 
Napalm Death in 2022 and enjoyed the hell out of them. They were fast and furious and lead singer Barney Greenway was awesome.
I saw The Melvins in 2023 when they toured with Boris. I didn’t think I would like them for some reason, but they were fantastic live.
Even though I don’t really want to do a full night of metal anymore, this would have been a cool show to go to. However, the first night was right after I’d been out two nights already that week and the second night was the night we had tickets to see Kishi Bashi. Coincidentally, the second night was in the same venue! This show was downstairs in the huge room and our show was upstairs in the tiny venue.
For the first night, Weedeater and Dark Sky Burial opened.
I like the stoner metal sound of Weedeater but I don’t like the singer’s voice. He sounds like a demon in a movie. Weedeater have an instrumental song Wizard Fight that is pretty great though. They are a sludge/doom metal band from Wilmington, North Carolina, formed in 1998!
Dark Sky Burial have a heavy sound that’s very atmospheric–like a scary noir movie. They really surprised me by including a saxophone on the wonderfully named Decay is the Matric of Fertility. And Beware Your Subconscious Destroyer has dance beats! I didn’t realize that this is a side project of Napalm Death bassist Shane Embury. This is his outlet for experimental music and retro horror/sci fi Movie vibes.
This might have bee a really fun show actually.
Titan to Tachyons is also unknown to me. Turns out they are an experimental jazz-metal group led by New Zealand composer and guitarist Sally Gates, backed by the powerhouse rhythm section of Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle), Matt Hollenberg (Cleric), and Kenny Grohowski (Imperial Triumphant). The quartet instrumentally depicts the realms of Surrealism and science-fiction through eclectic and improvisational passages, juxtaposed by fluid grooves and metallic flurries.
That sounds amazing, frankly. Well, here’s a bunch of new bands to check out.
Posted in Allentown PA, Egner Chapel, Muhlenberg College, Pat Mastelotto, Stick Men, Tim Motzer, Tony Levin on February 24, 2024| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: February 24, 2024] Stick Men / Tim Motzer
I have been trying to see Stick Men since the pandemic. I wasn’t really aware of them before hand. They played a show in Sellersville a few years ago and I was busy. They play a lot around New York, but don’t seem to venture off the island all that often.
A show in Allentown seemed like an interesting opportunity to check them out. But it coincided with a day that we had already set aside for another event. So, there would be no Stick Men any time soon.
Stick Men is the trio comprised of Tony Levin and Pat Mastellotto from King Crimson and Markus Reuter, one of the foremost players of the Chapman Stick guitar thing. Bernier and Levin both play them during the set (hence the name). I’ve wanted to see them every since I heard about them (A chance to se Tony Levin right up close!). But Stick Men seems to tour quite a lot, and now that King Crimson is more or less dissolved for good, I assume they’ll be touring a bit more. So when Son Lux, a band I’ve tried and failed to see twice before) was scheduled for the same night, I had to see them while I had the chance.
Tim Motzer is an experimental guitarist. Apparently you never know what you’re going to get with him.
This was the same line up as in Sellersville, so I guess they tend to tour together.
An excerpt from Motzer in Sellersville is here. I don’t see Stick Men available anymore.
I Just Read About That... 