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Archive for the ‘Montclair, NJ’ Category

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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An Evening With Band of Horses (Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ, February 8, 2024)

Posted in Band of Horses, Montclair, NJ, Wellmont Theater on February 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: February 8, 2024] An Evening With Band of Horses

My wife and I saw Band of Horses three times in three years.  But we hadn’t seen them in eight years!  I couldn’t believe it had been so long because the previous show (the first headlining show we’d seen) was so good, so impactful, that we think of it as one of the best shows we’ve seen.

This show promised to be even better because it was going to be an evening with the band–no opening act!

The first set was acoustic.

Ben Bridwell came out and sang St. Augustine solo.  It was lovely.  He had lost his voice about a week ago and I wasn’t sure how good he would sound, but he sounded perfect.

He then invited out Brett Nash to play guitar with him and sing “Part One.”  The harmonies were wonderful.

Then the rest of the band came out.  Creighton Barrett played a small drum kit, Ryan Monroe sat at a grand piano and Matt Gentling played upright bass.

Here the harmonies became outstanding.

Visually the set was charming with each guy in his own little area.  Each one had a lamp and there were candle all over the stage.

Despite the set being acoustic, it wasn’t specifically quiet or mellow.  Indeed, some of the songs were jaunty and rocking but in a fun folk rock way.  (more…)

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The Musical Box (Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ, January 7, 2024)

Posted in Genesis, Montclair, NJ, The Musical Box, Wellmont Theater on January 7, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: January 7, 2023] The Musical Box

I’ve said many times that I don’t go to see cover bands.  I don’t really see the point (I realize some people like to go out and have music in the background while they drink and talk–for me, the band is the point.  I can drink and talk at home for free).  But I’ve been seeing ads for The Musical Box for a number of years and I often wondered if I needed to check out this cover band who plays early, prog Genesis.

I have enjoyed so much Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets project which plays the early Pink Floyd, but there’s an actual Floyd dude in the band (even if it is “only” the drummer).  There’s no one from Genesis in this band.  But they recreate the insanity of what Peter Gabriel and company were doing in the early 70s.  Shows that were outrageously theatrical and weird.  High tech for the time, but crazily analog now.  But they recreate it perfectly.

Even Genesis agree:

It’s 1973-PETER GABRIEL’s famous theatrics and GENESIS’ musical apex produce some of the most iconic images and sounds of the 70’s, enjoying to this day a cult following. A TIMELESS CLASSIC. THE MUSICAL BOX, who shared the stage with PHIL COLLINS and STEVE HACKETT as performing guests and acclaimed by more than a million spectators in some of the most prestigious venues in the world such as London’s ROYAL ALBERT HALL and Paris’OLYMPIA, will perform the emblematic 1973 show in painstaking details. TAKE A LITTLE TRIP BACK.

PETER GABRIEL: “TMB recreated, very accurately I must say, what Genesis was doing. I saw them in Bristol with my children so they could see what their father did back then”

PHIL COLLINS: “They’re not a tribute band, they have taken a period and are faithfully reproducing it in the same way that someone would do a theatrical production”

When I saw that an online friend of mine had seen them recently and said that this was his third or fourth time seeing them, I considered going for real.  And THEN there was an article about them in The Walrus, a glossy magazine of Canada (The Musical Box is from Canada).  I haven’t actually been reading my magazines recently (I have a huge box of them to go through) so the coincidence of me happening to look through this one and read this glowing article sealed the deal.  And lo and behold, they were playing in Montclair in a couple of months!

The only problem, (if it was a problem) is that they were touring Selling England By the Pound, an early album that I didn’t know all that well (I’m a Foxtrot guy).  But the setlist included three songs from Foxtrot (including Supper’s Ready), so I could certainly listen to Selling England (it’s quite good), and get prepped for this experience. (more…)

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DakhaBrakha (Alexander Kasser Theater, Montclair, NJ, November 18, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Alexander Kasser Theater, DakhaBrakha, Montclair, NJ, Ukraine on November 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: November 18, 2023] DakhaBrakha

I saw DakhaBrakha about a year and a half ago.  I had wanted to see them for a while, but the timing was right after Russia invaded Ukraine.  I can’t believe the war is still going on.

Their music is like nothing else I’ve heard and their visually are just as compellling.

I have wanted to see them again and this show in Montclair seemed perfect.  It just happened to be scheduled on a night when we already had plans.

I am genuinely surprised they haven’t played McCarter in Princeton. It seems like a perfect combination.  Maybe next year.

 

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An Evening with Les Claypool’s Flying Frog Brigade (Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ, October 24, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, Les Claypool, Montclair, NJ, Primus, Wellmont Theater on October 24, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 24, 2023] Les Claypool’s Flying Frog Brigade

This is yet another show that I bought a ticket for in Philly only to find out later that there was a show in Montclair.  Montclair is certainly easier for me to get to, although honestly I don’t live The Wellmont–I don’t know what it is, but I seem to have an iffy time when I go there.  Especially for a metal show.

I don’t think this is going to be a metal show, but I wonder who will show up.

By the same token, the last time I saw Primus, the meathead crowd was really high.  I hope they don’t come to my show since it doesn’t say Primus.

I’ll find out tomorrow.

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