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Archive for the ‘Montclair, NJ’ Category

The Word Alive (Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ, May 24, 2025) [ICE NINE KILLS Silver Screamathon Day 1]

Posted in Dark Divine, Hail the Sun, Ice Nine Kills, Melrose Avenue, Montclair, NJ, The Funeral Portrait, The Word Alive, TX2, Wellmont Theater on May 24, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 24, 2025] Ice Nine Kills: Silver Screamathon Day 1

I was pretty excited to see the Ice Nine Kills Silver Screamathon–two days at the same venue with each night focusing on one of their horror-themed albums.  My son and I have seen them a few times, but this felt like a way to really see their whole show and in a relatively small place.

Well, it was PACKED and we arrived a little late because we didn’t care about the opening bands.  And while my son did get into the pit, I was much further back than I anticipated.

We missed The Funeral Portrait completely.  They formed in 2014 in Georgia and have a theatrical component (and have had Spencer from INK sing on some of their tracks).  Frontman Lee Jennings compares their sound to a blend of bands such as My Chemical Romance, Ghost, and Motionless In White. I don’t hear it.  Their music is like a weird mix of alt rock and metal but in a way that doesn’t work for me.

Melrose Avenue are from Australia (!).  That alone makes me wish we’d seen them.  Although this description from New Noise Magazine doesn’t sound all that great (more…)

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Ninja Sex Party (Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ, March 28 2025)

Posted in Montclair, NJ, Ninja Sex Party, TWRP, Wellmont Theater on March 29, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 28, 2025] Ninja Sex Party

I found out about Ninja Sex Party when I saw TWRP and Trey Magnifique opened for them.  Trey was hilarious and I had to look him up.  I discovered that Trey is indeed Brian Wecht, who is Ninja Brian of NSP.  Brian is also a published theoretical physicist–his career change is fascinating and quite successful.  Brian played all the music until TWRP joined them in 2015.  But the focus of the band is singer Danny Sexbang [Dan Avidan], he of the glorious long hair and flowing cape.

Lyrically most of their songs are about sex and are NSFW, but some are just funny.  I had heard they put on a great show and that must have been true since the place was packed.

I enjoyed every minute of their set.  Dan is hilarious and Ninja Brian is an amazing sidekick.  They opened with Get Ready to Get Ready started the show and it is hilarious.  Every time I listen, it makes me laugh

So get ready To be ready To get ready
‘Cause we’re almost about to rock
We’re gonna melt your face
With time and space, at an appropriate pace.

For those who about to about to rock. (Rock!)
Please hang tight while I find my socks. (Socks!)
Gonna crack your skull like an aftershock
Just gotta call my broker, sell some stocks.

Cool Patrol is a pretty amusing song about the Cool Patrol teaching kids how to deal with bullies (with a very amusing dance).  Welcome to My Parents’ House is a hilarious seduction attempt, while trying not to wake up Danny’s parents. (more…)

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TWRP (Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ, March 28 2025) [NINJA SEX PARTY]

Posted in Montclair, NJ, Ninja Sex Party, TWRP, Wellmont Theater on March 28, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 28, 2025] TWRP

I’ve seen TWRP twice and pretty much promised myself I’d see them whenever they came around.  I’m only bummed I hadn’t heard of them earlier.  They were the reason I went to this show, although I did know that Ninja Sex Party were friends with the band.  So much so that TWRP was the backing band (in costume!) for Ninja Sex Party.

I was really oping to get close for this show, but I underestimated how popular Ninja Sex Party was.  It was packed!  Luckily I found a slightly elevated space and settled in for some fun.

TWRP shows are an adventure, with a story line running through the show.  There’s lots of asides and banter.  However, when they are the opening band, they are streamlined (well, more streamlined) with some banter but no overarching storyline.

But otherwise everything was the same.  Dr Sung came out on his hoverboard.  Commander Meouch was on bass.  Lord Phobos kicked butt on guitar and Havve Hogan was on drums.  Although with the huge lighting setup of NSP, it was hard to see him back there. (more…)

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José Gonzáles (Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ, March 25, 2025)

Posted in José González, Montclair, NJ, Wellmont Theater on March 25, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 25, 2025] José Gonzáles

I was pretty obsessed with José Gonzáles’ debut album Veneer.  The melodies were gorgeous and his singing voice was so calming.  His song Heartbeats was so darn good.  It was surprising to discover it was a cover (by The Knife, a Swedish band that no one I know had heard of).

I hadn’t really thought about seeing him, although the last time he came arounds my friends saw him and said he was amazing.  (He has played Philly in 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016 and 2021).  So when he announced this tour (which wasn’t even going to Philly), but was going to Montclair!   And was seated!!  I grabbed tickets for my wife and I.

I was also delighted that there was no opening act.  Normally I love an opening act, but this was going to be a mellow show and I didn’t fancy an extra 30 minutes of someone else being mellow too.

The stage was set up with a platform (which was great–it meant we could see him completely) and this cool-looking object on stage.  It was metallic and silver and looked like  cash register or some other kind of old-fashioned odd musical instrument.  And then a roadie came in and sat on it.  Turns out that with the lighting and perspective, this simple wooden (not metallic) chair looked like a fascinating object (the stranger next to me agreed). (more…)

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Girl in Red (Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ, December 1, 2024)

Posted in Gigi Perez, Girl in Red, Montclair, NJ, Wellmont Theater on December 2, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: December 1, 2024] Girl in Red / Momma

My daughter and I saw Girl in Red in April of this year.  I was really surprised that she announced a new show in Montclair and when I asked her if she wanted to go, my daughter said yes!  Even though it was a Sunday school night.

I wondered how much of this show would be the same as last time.   And the answer is, a lot and yet not that much.  The set was the same except smaller.  But the video screen was bigger and made the videos easier to see.   But there was no vertical section like last time (which is fine as it was neat but didn’t add a ton to the show.  Oh and there was no giant swivel light/projector,  But honestly she doesn’t need that because she is a dynamo and everyone is there to see her.

Like last time, Marie was way overdressed in a sweater and button up shirt.  But she was committed to the outfit, she said.  And she proceeded to jump around and dance all over the stage for 90 minutes.

Like last time, she opened with the dancing title track of her new album.

She dove right into one of her faves, “girls” which had the crowd going nuts.  She followed it with “New Love” a song which she said she hadn’t yet performed this tour because she’s had bronchitis.  (more…)

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Gigi Perez (Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ, December 1, 2024) [GIRL IN RED]

Posted in Gigi Perez, Girl in Red, Montclair, NJ, Wellmont Theater on December 1, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: December 1, 2024] Gigi Perez

My daughter and I saw Girl in Red in April of this year.  I was really surprised that she announced a new show in Montclair and when I asked her if she wanted to go, my daughter said yes!  Even though it was a Sunday school night.

We arrived in Montclair early enough to have some dinner ahead of time.  And HOLY COW.  The line to get into the venue stretched for several blocks!  I have been to several shows at this venue and have never seen anything like it.  Clearly every young woman in the tri-state area (as Girl in Red later said–a room full of lesbians) was at this show and wanted to get right up front.  Doors opened at 7 and we arrived about 7:10, so many of the people must have been waiting (in the freezing cold) for hours.  So we had our Tacoria and when we got back to the venue at 7:50, the line was till quite long.

But it moved quick and we entered the venue as Gigi was starting.  But we grabbed some merch since the line was short (good choice as it was huge on the way out).  This was my daughter’s idea and she was chock full of good ideas tonight.  As we entered the concert area, I headed down to the pit, but she stopped us at the bar/mezzanine area.  I always ignore it because it’s usually packed and noisy.  But it was fairly empty–everyone was squeezing in down below.  And we managed to be right behind people at the mezzanine railing.  We had a great view and weren’t crowded in the sweaty pit.  Fantastic!

So we missed a song or two from Gigi, but we caught most of her set.  And I was really impressed.  Her voice is amazing–really powerful and with quite a range.  On stage it was just her on guitar and a drummer (who may have been her brother?).   He triggered loops that added bass and backing vocals to her guitar and she sounded huge.  In fact, I have since listened to her album and found it a bit flat in comparison to how great she sounded live.

I’m not sure what she played. But she has one EP (which is actually longer than the most recent Girl in Red album but over 5 minutes) and a bunch of singles, including the massive hit “Sailor Song” which she ended with.

The crowd was with her right from the start and she gushed about being on the tour (she was born in Hackensack, which is just up the road, but she grew up in Florida, so it probably wasn’t much of a homecoming).

Overall I was really impressed and felt she was a perfect opener for Girl in Red.  It was even more fun when she came back on stage later to sing a couple of songs with Girl in Red.

 

  1. Please Be Rude
  2. Fable
  3. bad idea!
  4. Normalcy
  5. When She Smiles
  6. Chemistry
  7. Sailor Song

 

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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…)

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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…)

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Amon Amarth (Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ, May 9, 2024)

Posted in Amon Amarth, Cannibal Corpse, Montclair, NJ, Wellmont Theater on May 11, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 9, 2024] Amon Amarth

My son and his friends saw Amon Amarth open for Ghost last summer.  So when they announced a headlining tour, I grabbed us tickets.

I thought it would be really fun to see them headline (although their set was actually smaller than when they opened, probably because it was a much smaller venue).  I also thought it would be really cool to see them in a smaller venue and to be on the floor.

The Cannibal Corpse crowd really took up the whole pit, but when they ended a lot of people left, I guess.  The floor opened up and we headed down there.  The crew went to the front right and I stayed in the center back assuming it would be far enough from the pit but still a great view.

Well, it turns out that at an Aman Amarth show, the pit starts pretty far back and I was pretty much right in the middle of it (cane and all).  I quickly made my way out of that area but was pushed and shoved through most of the show as people tried to get into the pit.

There was a lengthy intro (after a few verses of Iron Maiden’s “Run to the Hills”) while their logo swirled around on stage.  And then the curtain dropped and there was the giant Viking helmet drum set.  That’s when the pit started and I didn’t focus on much of the first song as I tried to clamber over people to safety.

It was pretty great seeing them from this close. You could see singer Johann Hegg ((who had a horn of mead (I assume) on his belt and a swagger in his walk) smile as he welcomed the crowd.  And the songs were so much more visceral with the crowd pulsing around us.

One of the best things about an Amon Amarth show is the theatrics.  The stage set was a little smaller (no giant inflatable vikings), but the participation on stage was full-on.

I didn’t get to fully appreciate the first song as I was getting bumped around. But for Tattered Banners and Bloody Flags two gues stood on either side of the stage and waved giant flags.

I really enjoyed the way the various band members walked around the stage visiting all the people in the front and acknowledging everyone.  Hegg encouraged everyone to do a circle pit (and everyone obliged. (more…)

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Cannibal Corpse / Obituary / Frozen Soul (Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ, May 9, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND ALL] [AMON AMARTH]

Posted in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Amon Amarth, Cannibal Corpse, Frozen Soul, Montclair, NJ, Obituary, Wellmont Theater on May 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 9, 2024] Cannibal Corpse / Obituary / Frozen Soul

My son and his friends saw Amon Amarth open for Ghost last summer.  So when they announced a headlining tour, I grabbed us tickets.

The rest of the lineup didn’t thrill me though.  I mean, I guess, yes, Amon Amarth is a death metal band, but not REALLY.  The rest of the lineup was all (mostly old school) death metal bands.  Once I found the details of the settimes, I let the rest of the party know and we agreed that we could easily skip the first  two band and show up sometime in the middle of the 45 minute cannibal Corpse set.

Frozen Soul is a death metal band from Texas.  They formed in 2018.  I had not heard of them and wasn’t really that interested in seeing them anyway.  They are heavy death metal with growling vocals.  I give them props for the whole “frozen” vibe that they have going on.  One of their songs i called “encased in ice” and I was amused to see that were selling shorts that said “encased in ass” which doesn’t make any sense, but is still funny.

Obituary is another super old school band from Tampa (formed in 1984).  I know of them (their logo is very familiar) but I guess I never listened to anything they did.  They are heavy and fast but the singer actually does a kind of high voice when he sings (as well as some growling).  It’s a different vibe to be sure and more of what I think about with 80’s metal bands.

I feel like the addition of this band would be a nice change from the deep growling voices of the rest of the 4 hours of music. I didn’t care if we arrived in time for them and no one else did either.

I wasn’t really that interested in seeing Cannibal Corpse again.  I saw them open for Slayer five years ago.  They played a twenty minute set and I was glad to have seen it, but 20 minutes was plenty. (more…)

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