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Mt. Joy / Snacktime (Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, Camden, NJ, September 25, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Camden, NJ, Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, Mt. Joy, Snacktime on September 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 25, 2026] Mt. Joy / Snacktime

Mt. Joy is based in L.A. but they have roots on Philly and therefore Philly loves them.  I’ve enjoyed some songs they’ve put out, but they released my favorite song of last year “Coyote.”  Indeed, it’s their latest album that I like most–although nothing else sounds like Coyote.  So it’s a shame (for me) that this tour is mostly for their debut.

But that’s neither here nor there as I wasn’t going to go to Freedom Mortgage Pavilion to see them (yuck, that venue sucks).  Not to mention, we were going to see The Beths tonight anyhow.

But two days ago I received an email from Live Nation saying

I’m reaching out because we just had some last-minute inventory open up for Mt. Joy this Friday, September 25th at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, and I wanted to give you the first look.

We are offering individual tickets in our suites for $107. This is a rare opportunity to experience the show from a luxury space without committing to a full buy-out.

Your ticket includes:
• VIP Club Access
• Box Seating
• In-seat wait service

I mean, DAMN, for $107 that’s amazing!  If they had thrown in some kind of easy parking, holy crap.  I would have certainly taken them up on this if we weren’t going to The Beths.  Although it looks like they aren’t playing Coyote and that would have pissed me off.

SNACKTIME is Philadelphia’s seven-piece band blazing a path cut from their soul, funk, punk, jazz, hip-hop, and R&B influences. Created during the height of the pandemic, the group began performing free shows that combined their love of music, food, and togetherness in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square. They quickly amassed huge crowds and became a symbol of positivity and lockdown release, while showcasing the richness of their city’s musical history and community.

I don’t really like their studio releases, but I saw them open for Portugal.The Man and wow they were a ton of fun live.

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Muna / Hemlocke Springs (Skyline Stage at The Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA, September 25, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Hemlocke Springs, Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Muna, Philadelphia, PA, Skyline Stage at The Mann on September 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 25, 2026] Muna / Hemlocke Springs

Muna was the first band signed to Phoebe Bridgers label and they quickly amassed a huge following.  We saw them (on a video screen) at All Things Go.

I knew Silk Chiffon which was a highly touted song.  I kind of liked it.  There was something about it that I didn’t quite like but I couldn’t put my finger on it.  In general, I felt like there was something I wished I liked more about them.  But seeing them “live” was a revelation.  They were so fun and energetic.  I would like to see them live and this would be a fun bill, especially on a warm summer night out (which this was decidedly not–forecast of torrential rain).

But we had tickets to The Beths, so this was a non-starter.

Hemlocke Springs played All Things Go back in 2023, but we missed her.  I wrote then that she is an 80’s inspired alt pop singer who is massively quirky and cool.  I hadn’t heard of her before the show but now wish I’d seen her.

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Darlingside (SOPAC, South Orange, NJ, September 25, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Darlingside, SOPAC, South Orange, NJ on September 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 25, 2026] Darlingside / Caitlin Canty

We have seen Darlingside four times and I thought we’d never not see them if they were touring.  Especially if they played SOPAC, which is so close.

We saw them four times in three years and I just realized we haven’t seen them since before COVID.  I’m not sure why we haven’t seen them.

Although tonight we have tickets to see The Beths, so that’s why we’re not going.  But I’m sure they’ll be back and we’ll make an effort.

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∈Y∋ (Warehouse on Watts, Philadelphia, PA, September 25, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Angine de Poitrine, ∈Y∋, Boredoms, Philadelphia, PA, Public Opinion, Sparta, Warehouse on Watts, Yamantaka Eye on September 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 25, 2026] ∈Y∋

Every once in a while, a weird musical event happens and I want to be there but there is nothing I can do about going to it.  I got us tickets to see The Beths tonight because we LOVE The Beths.  And then a few weeks ago, this was announced for tonight.

We very much want to make sure you know the single greatest punk / experimental musician / artist of our lifetime, spanning 5+ decades of flawless output will be making his first visit to Philadelphia in 18 YEARS!!! Japanese noise artist, conductor, DJ, producer, designer and musician Yamantaka Eye aka EYE (of BOREDOMS, HANATARASH, PUZZLE PUNKS, and a million other projects) will be playing a live hybrid / DJ set at Warehouse on Watts TONIGHT.

I can’t even imagine what this is going to be like.  And of course, he won’t ever come back.  Oof.  But I know The Beths will be awesome, so it’s okay.  But still.

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Chelsea Jade (Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ, September 25, 2026) [THE BETHS]

Posted in Chelsea Jade, Sayreville, NJ, Starland Ballroom, The Beths on September 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 25, 2026] Chelsea Jade

I was so excited that The Beths were going to do this “all request” show.  I imagined it might be an evening with them, where they play for 3 hours!  But of course, that’s not what The Beths do.  They like to elevate lesser known bands (I assume, that’s what they like to do).  Today’s lesser known band  was Chelsea Jade, who is apparently not lesser known in certain circles.

She is a South African-born New Zealand singer-songwriter and record producer based in Los Angeles. Vice has described her as New Zealand’s “Accidental Dream Pop Hero.”  In 2017, she was nominated for New Zealand’s Silver Scroll Award for song of the year for her song “Life of the Party.”

So she’s been around for a while.  And, it turns out she was a high school friend of Elizabeth Stokes of The Beths with whom she formed a small Folk trio, Teacups, to busk and get noticed.

Which might explain her fascinating stage show.  She came out on stage with two (really bright) tint flashlights that she waved around the crowd (and pointed in our eyes a but too often).  Music started and she slowly meandered into the audience.  It was neat and audacious.  She sang with the flashlights shining on her.  For the second song she handed the lights to people in the audience who shone them on her (and may have kept the lights?)

For a couple more songs she walked to the wing of the audience area and stood on one of the platforms singing to the people over there. (more…)

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Altin Gün (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, September 24, 2026)

Posted in Altin Gün, Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA on September 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 24, 2026] Altin Gün 

I first heard of Altin Gün (which means Golden Day) in 2022 when they played Underground Arts.   Back then I quoted

Altin Gün’s relentless grooves are truly immersive, anti-elitist, inclusive. It’s truly music for the dancefloor – all dancefloors. Altin Gün are the perfect 21st Century psych band, hinting at a deep record collection while still belonging to a living tradition and having a unique and distinctive voice  [from Forestpunk].

They returned in 2023, this time playing Union Transfer.  I wanted to go, but we had a family obligation that night so I couldn’t check them out.  But in the past year I’d gotten an album and really liked it.

So, this year the show was announced and I grabbed a ticket, super excited to see them live.  Their music is psychedelic with a dirty blend of funk rhythms, wah-wah guitars and analogue organs.  They often play psychedelic covers of Turkish folk music.  Singer Erdinç Ecevit Yıldız is Turkish while the other four members are Dutch.

I walked in and it was really quite empty. I was able to walk up to the barrier with no problem.  And it was a great spot to be because the mixing was perfect.  Aside from the two women who would not shut up behind me.

They came out with a simple set up–guitar, bass and two percussionists.  The man on the left had a full on percussion set up–conga, bongos, wood blocks, cowbells, tambourines and a couple of foot pedals, which I couldn’t figure out what they played.  Daniel Smienk was on the standard drum kit and he was fantastic–a simple kit but complex rhythms.

Jasper Verhulst played bass.  He was on the far side, behind the singer’s keyboards, so I didn’t see him too much,but his bass was essnetial, especially when the other two guys were soloing.  I was right in front of guitarist Thijs Elzinga and he was fantastic.  He switched back and forth between rhythm and lead guitar effortlessly.  His solos were fantastic and he shared the soloing spotlight easily.   Then up front was Erdinç Ecevit Yıldız.  He played keys (some great keyboard solos) and also played the bağlama (or saz)–four-stringed, long-necked (lute family) instrument.  He played some incredible solos on this thing!

I’d listened to the album I have and quickly listened to the new album which I didn’t like quite as much as its a bit quieter.  But I needn’t have worried about that because they came out and played the grooviest psychedelic sounds.  On Gönül Dağ The bass was loud and low, the guitars were great and the percussion kept things interesting.  It had a mid-period Pink Floyd sound.  The percussion came out in force for Sevda Olmasaydı. (more…)

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Nitzer Ebb / Vosh / DJ Mighty Mike Saga (Brooklyn Bowl, Philadelphia, PA, September 25, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Brooklyn Bowl, DJ Mighty Mike Saga, Nitzer Ebb, Philadelphia, PA, VOSH on September 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 25, 2026] Nitzer Ebb / Vosh / DJ Mighty Mike Saga

I’ve known about Nitzer Ebb forever, but I guess I never really listened to them.  When this show was announced, I thought…hmm do I remember these guys at all?  And when I looked at the album covers I didn’t recognize any of them.  In fact, it’s possible I don’t know a single Nitzer Ebb song, so I clearly wasn’t going to go to this show.

In fact, I didn’t even realize that they were English.  I assumed they were German (which I guess was their goal)

Nitzer Ebb are an English EBM group formed in 1982 by Essex school friends Vaughan “Bon” Harris (vocals, programming, synthesizers, drums), Douglas McCarthy (vocals, guitars), and David Gooday (drums). The band was originally named La Comédie De La Mort but soon discarded that and chose the name Nitzer Ebb by cutting up words and letters and arranging them randomly to create something Germanic without using actual German words.

How about that.

The opening band is Vosh, who I’d never heard of.

Originally the trio of Chris Moore (Repulsion, Coke Bust, The Rememberables), Carson Cox (Merchandise, Death Index), and Josephine Olivia (Blacksage), VOSH was built to explore an amalgam of influences that range from Bauhaus to early Ministry to Sisters of Mercy to Zounds to Killing Joke to latter-day titans Nine Inch Nails. And while a wide-reaching and generic term such as “synth pop” or “darkwave” could be applied to the effort in broad strokes, the drama, intensity and excellent songwriting evokes something much deeper, more sinister, and darkly beautiful.

The description is apt.  They have an old school synth goth vibe.  I like it, but don’t need to see them.

I’ve been a to a show where a DJ was announced and he spun songs before and I guess during the acts.  But it often doesn’t feel that much different from the house music they play between bands.   Maybe more curated to the night, but I don’t usua;;ly pay that much attention to it.  Tonight’s  DJ was Philly’s Multi Genre Dj Dark Dance Super Hero! DJ MIGHTY MIKE SAGA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024 Brooklyn Bowl 2022 The Foundry 2019 Union Transfer
Violin Akai € Intro / Pathos, Pathos ∇ Marigolds Ø
Chiba Funk € Manchester ∇ F Delano Ø
Late Night Comic € Bright Whites ∇ Hey Big Star $
It All Began With a Burst ∇ It All Began With a Burst ∇ Say Yeah $
Can’t Let Go, Juno $ Wonder Woman, Wonder Me ∇ Carry on Phenomenon ∠
Marigolds Ø Atticus, in the Desert ∇ Honeybody $
Colorful State € I Am the Antichrist to You ∇ Honeybody Remix $
solo improv Beat the Bright Out of Me ∇ Can’t Let Go, Juno $
I Am the Antichrist to You (solo) ∇ This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) (Talking Heads cover) Theme From Jerome (Forgotten Words) Ø
Summer of ’42 (solo) Ø Q&A ∠ I Am the Antichrist to You (solo) ∇
Violin Tsunami Ø Penny Rabbit and Summer Bear Ø This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) (Talking Heads cover) (solo)
This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) (Talking Heads cover) (solo) Marigolds Ø Violin/Banjo improv
Escape from Knossos € I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) (Meat Loaf cover) Bright Whites ∇
Icarus IV € The Ballad of Mr. Steak ∠ Q&A ∠
Hahaha Pt. 2 ∠ Honeybody (began with studio arrangement which bled into performing in the style of the Mattsoro remix) $ Penny Rabbit and Summer Bear Ø
Lilliputian Chop € encore Angeline Ø
The Ballad of Mr. Steak ∠ Violin Tsunami Ø Violin Tsunami Ø
Philosophize in It! Chemicalize with It! ∠ Philosophize in It! Chemicalize with It! ∠ Ode to My Next Life $
Honeybody $ Philosophize in It! Chemicalize with It! ∠
encore Atticus, in the Desert ∇
Penny Rabbit and Summer Bear (acoustic, in crowd) Ø (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life (Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes cover)
Manchester (acoustic, in crowd) ∇ The Ballad of Mr. Steak ∠
Ooh La La (Rod Stewart cover) (acoustic, in crowd) It All Began With a Burst ∇
encore
Annie, Heart Thief of the Sea (acoustic, in crowd) Ø
Manchester (acoustic, in crowd) ∇
Summer of ’42 (acoustic, in crowd) Ø

 

 

 

2016 Union Transfer 2015 TLA (opening for Guster) 2014 New Brunswick (opening for Rod y Gab)
Stranger Things Theme [recordong] violin improv violin improv
Statues in a Gallery $ Atticus, in the Desert ∇     It All Began With a Burst ∇
Hey Big Star $ Bright Whites ∇ Bittersweet Genesis for Him AND Her ∠
m’lover $ Bittersweet Genesis for Him AND Her ∠ Atticus, in the Desert ∇ 
Atticus, in the Desert (featuring extended banjo percussion solo) ∇     The Ballad of Mr. Steak ∠ Bright Whites ∇
Bright Whites (with improv interlude featuring flute solo) ∇ Q&A ∠ Philosophize in It! Chemicalize with It! ∠
Carry on Phenomenon ∠ Philosophize in It! Chemicalize with It! ∠ Manchester ∇
Who’d You Kill $ Manchester ∇
Can’t Let Go, Juno $
Say Yeah $
Ode to My Next Life $
I Am the Antichrist to You ∇ (solo)
The Ballad of Mr. Steak (featuring Mr. Steak) ∠
Philosophize in It! Chemicalize with It! ∠
It All Began With a Burst (with “Don’t vote for Trump” vocal loop) ∇
encore
Honeybody $
Q&A ∠
Manchester ∇
€ Kantos (2024)
Ø Omoiyari (2019)
$ Sonderlust (2016)
∠ Lighght (2014)
∇ 151a (2012)

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Alex Maas (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, September 24, 2026) [ALTIN GÜN]

Posted in Altin Gün, Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA, The Black Angels on September 24, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 24, 2026] Alex Maas

Alex Maas is the singer for The Black Angels. I didn’t realize that when this show was first announced.  I saw The Black Angels back in May and as curious to see how different Alex’ solo stuff would be.  And the answer is: very different.

He still sounds the same (he has a very distinctive voice), but for this set it was just him and an unnamed drummer.  In fact, I’m not sure he even introduced himself–his mic had a huge echo on it the whole time, so who knows what he ever said).

He played mellotron for a couple of songs and he played (very quiet) electric guitar for a couple of songs.  For the final song he played a small middle eastern sounding instrument.  It was small and stringed, but I’m pretty sure he pressed keys to change the notes.

The songs were all short with lots of echo.  The melodies were nice (and simple) and the drums were mostly snare and bass, but he also had some tiny roto toms which made really sharp sounds.  (more…)

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Willie Nelson & Family / Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts / Ty Myers (TD Pavilion at The Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA, September 24, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Neil Young, Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts, Philadelphia, PA, Ty Myers on September 24, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 24, 2026] Willie Nelson & Family / Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts / Ty Myers

This tour was announced with minimal fanfare and even mire minimal, even though it’s a pretty big deal, I think.

I’ve never been a big fan of Willie Nelson‘s music.  I like everything about him and everything that he stands for, I just don’t like his songs.  So I wasn’t especially interested in going to this.

But my wife and I are huge fans of Neil Young and I assumed we’d never pass up the chance to see him.  But this show didn’t really excite us all that much for some reason.  It was hard to imagine Neil sharing a headline spot.  And while the Mann can be a great venue, it can also be offputting.

So we both decided we didn’t need to see this set.  Shocking.

Turns out Neil went on second (and played about 70 minutes).  It was a good set. (more…)

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Slothrust / The Velveteers (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, September 24, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Slothrust, The Velveteers, Underground Arts on September 24, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 24, 2026] Slothrust / The Velveteers

I thought that I had been on the verge of seeing Slothrust many times, and yet I either didn’t note it or I’m making that up.  I’d alway assumed that with a name like Slothrust that they would be really heavy.  I also assumed, since I thought I saw their name a lot, that they were from Philly.  But they are from Boston and have been around since 2010.  Even more interesting is that the band is just Leah Wellbaum (vocals, guitar) and Will Gorin (drums).

I also just realized/remembered that they played the song for the opeinng credits of You’re the Worst, a show that my wife and I really liked back in the day.  A nice review from The Revue (in Canada) from 2021 says

In the 8 years we’ve been covering Slothrust, we’ve seen the band change a lot musically. They’ve shifted from the early days of jazz-infused grunge, which eventually grew into much bigger and less easy to classify sounds. Each record feels like a rebirth, from Everyone Else having a fine polish on that distinctive Slothrust sound but expanding on it at the same time. The Pact felt like an even more diverse records, with the band diving more into electronic sounds and even diving into poppier sounds. It set up any future releases nicely to dive even more into the trio’s widening approach. Their latest record, Parallel Timeline, heralds yet another rebirth of the band.  This is a slower Slothrust, as the chugging basslines and heavy drums are nowhere to be found. All the things that make Leah Wellbaum stand out as an artist, however, are on full display.

The biggest surprise for me is just how catchy their latest song is.

I was mostly interested in this show because of The Velveteers, a band I saw on Instagram and was immediately hooked by.  Why?  Because the band consisted (I assume it still does although I know someone left) of two drummers (one of whom is named Baby Pottersmith) and a guitarist/singer.  The video was eye catching and the song was simple in that perfect grunge/garage sound that is just so great.

After hearing more of Slothrust, I would have really liked to get to this show, but I already had tickets to see Altin Gün tonight and I’ve been wanting to see them for a while.  So I hope they both come back soon (especially The Velveteers).

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