Posted in Coronavirus, David Gray, Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA, Postponed, Quarantine on August 20, 2020| Leave a Comment »
[POSTPONED: August 20, 2020] David Gray [moved to August 19, 2021]
David Gray is pretty uncool–definitely “old person” music. However, White Ladder is a pretty solid album. When he announced this show, I asked S. is she might want to go. We both had the same reaction. Maybe… if it’s convenient. Well, the Mann Center is anything but convenient, so there’s no way we were going.
I really shouldn’t even post it here, but since I’m including anything I even considered going to, here it is.
Posted in Boot & Saddle, Cancelled, Coronavirus, Fucked Up, Philadelphia, PA, Postponed, Quarantine, Sheer Mag, Young Guv on August 20, 2020| Leave a Comment »
[POSTPONED CANCELLED: August 20, 2020] Sheer Mag / Young Guv [rescheduled from May 15]
UPDATE: I’m not technically sure what the difference is between a postponed and a cancelled show in this time of COVID. This show was changed from postponed to cancelled on October 19. I assume that Sheer Mag will be back at Boot & Saddle one day, maybe it’s just a technicality for their books.
Who would have guessed back in may that a show postponed to August would get postponed again? Well, the CDC I suppose.
Since Sheer Mag is a Philly band, they will be back. But I was looking forward to seeing Young Guv. Hope he gets to come along next time.
I saw Sheer Mag a couple of years ago and found their set to be fun and energetic. I haven’t gotten any of their music because they refuse to put anything out as a CD.
Their sound is so strangely old school rock that it’s hard for me to believe they are a new band made up of young musicians.
I didn’t think I’d need to see them again, but it’s always fun to see bands at Boot & Saddle, especially with a home town crowd. They have rescheduled for two dates in the fall and fortunately my ticket will be applied to the night I am free.
Young Guv is Ben Cook, the guitarist for Fucked Up. I had no idea what kind of music Young Guv made, but what I imagined turned out to be nothing like what it actually is.
Young Guv’s music is poppy and light in an indie rock sorta way. It’s really catchy, too. I’m looking forward to seeing him again.
Posted in Coronavirus, Philadelphia, PA, Postponed, Quarantine, The Decemberists, The Met Philadelphia on August 18, 2020| Leave a Comment »
[POSTPONED: August 18, 2020] The Decemberists: 20 Years Before the Mast [moved to August 17, 2021]
I’ve been a fan of The Decemberists for years and I am surprised by how few times I’ve seen them. We were supposed to see them two years ago and then Colin Meloy’s voice went out just in time for our show, so that was cancelled.
I was surprised that this tour didn’t include a stop in Red Bank, but a show at the Met in Philly is almost as good.
I was really really hoping that this show wouldn’t be postponed–it seemed like a milestone date somehow. Plus, I had AMAZING seats. Fortunately, the show was postponed to exactly a year minus a day away (as many shows tend to be) and my amazing seats are still good.
Here’s their official word on the postponement from May 27:
Adored Mailing List Recipients,
As you might remember from previous emails, there was some discussion over whether or not 2020 was *in fact* the 20th Anniversary of The Decemberists. Did the band start out in 2000? Or was 2001 our proper debut? There are recollections of Decemberists shows happening in 2000 in some form, and yet our first website and logo proclaimed us “Est. 2001” — for reasons lost to time. Well, we’re happy to report that that controversy is settled once and for all, and it only took a global pandemic to do so.
And so: Twenty Years Before the Mast, The Decemberists’ 20th Anniversary Tour will be coming to your town in the summer of 2021, not this summer.
Posted in Atlantic City, NJ, Coronavirus, Phish, Postponed, Quarantine on August 15, 2020| Leave a Comment »
[POSTPONED: August 15 & 16, 2020] Phish [moved to Aug 13, 14, and 15, 2021]
I have seen Phish a bunch of times but I will always try to see them again. And this summer tour promised to be interesting.
Phish will perform three shows on the Atlantic City beach Aug. 14 through 16, according to promoter Live Nation Entertainment. Atlantic City will be one of only two stops for Phish in the Northeast on their summer 2020 tour.
Atlantic City is a bit far for me (okay, it’s really quite far), but this seemed like a fun way to see them. So I got tickets for two of the three nights (I decided driving to Atlantic City of a Friday night was a fool’s errand).
Then on May 1, quite early in the pandemic, Phish made this announcement”
Due to the ongoing pandemic, we sadly have made the difficult decision to reschedule Phish’s entire 2020 summer tour, now moving to the summer of 2021. We’ve been as excited as ever to play music for you all, and are so heartbroken to postpone these dates. The health and well-being of Phish fans, our touring crew, and the communities in which the band plays is our top concern.
I assume my tickets are going to be for the 14th & 15th 2021. I wonder if they had printed any merch yet. I hope not–although it could be a pseudo-collector’s item like the Curveball shirts.
Posted in Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park, NJ, Coronavirus, Fenne Lily, Jeff Tweedy, Lucy Dacus, OHMME, Philadelphia, PA, Postponed, Quarantine, Union Transfer, Waxahatchee on August 14, 2020| Leave a Comment »
[POSTPONED: August 14, 2020] Waxahatchee / Fenne Lily [moved to April 6, 2021]
Waxahatchee was supposed to play Union Transfer back in April. That show was rescheduled to October. But in the interim, she scheduled this date at Asbury Lanes.
Union Transfer holds about 1,000 people. Asbury Lanes holds about 100. What a different experience that would be. Even if you went to both shows.
The one real difference though is the opening act. OHMME is in Union Transfer, Fenne Lily is here. I loved OHMME when I saw them and want to see them again.
I saw Fenne Lily open for Lucy Dacus and I really enjoyed her. In fact, I would enjoy seeing her again as well. So, her as an opening band isn’t a bad thing by any means, It’s just not as good as OHMME.
I’ve seen Waxahatchee twice–once with a full band and once solo. I like her, although I wasn’t sure I wanted to see her again. She has a new album out and I’ve heard it’s much more mellow than her last couple, so that doesn’t really appeal to me.
I’m curious if this show will be rescheduled. It would be fun to see her in a small space (with social distancing).
Posted in Bit Brigade, Coronavirus, Johnny Brenda's, Legend of Zelda, Philadelphia, PA, Postponed, Quarantine on August 9, 2020| Leave a Comment »
[POSTPONED: August 9, 2020] Bit Brigade [rescheduled from March 29]
Bit Brigade was one of the first shows to get postponed due to the pandemic. They were also one of the first bands that I saw post about how the band was their livelihood and how they were going to lose a lot of money from a postponed tour.
I sure hope they managed to make some money on the side and I’m very sorry for them that the show was postponed again. Bit Brigade has played Johnny Brenda’s before and I’m sure they will be back again.
I saw Bit Brigade play Johnny Brenda’s back in 2018. The premise behind a Bit Brigade show is that the band plays the soundtrack to a video game while their resident gamer plays the game. The band is heavy and the sound is amazing.
Last time I saw them, they were playing The Legend of Zelda and it was phenomenal (The music is really good). They came around last year playing a different game but I couldn’t go.
They were playing Zelda again this time around and although it might be more fun seeing a different game, each show is different depending on how well their gamer plays.
I really want to bring my son to this show, but Johnny Brenda’s doesn’t allow anyone underage to come to the show.
I don’t think that an opening act had been announced at this time.
Posted in Boot & Saddle, Coronavirus, Philadelphia, PA, Porridge Radio, Postponed, Quarantine on August 7, 2020| Leave a Comment »
[POSTPONED: August 7, 2020] Porridge Radio
I heard about Porridge Radio from NPR. They are exactly the kind of weirdo post-punk British band that I love and would never hear anywhere on the radio.
Singer Dana Margolin is more of a talker than a singer. Her accent is thick and her intensity is palpable. The band mixes melody and noise in an unexpected way. And of course there’s “the growing legend of their intense live shows.”
This show promised to be about twenty people (which technically would have been okay for a legal small gathering) and it would have been fantastic.
I hope they can make it back.
Posted in Coronavirus, King Crimson, Postponed, Quarantine, Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA, Stick Men on August 5, 2020| Leave a Comment »
[POSTPONED: August 5, 2020] Stick Men [moved to April 1, 2021]
Back in June, as larger shows were getting postponed into August and September, I held out hope that August might allow for some smaller shows like this one.
I had never heard of Stick Men until after a King Crimson show when I heard some fans talking about how amazing Stick Men are.
The band is a trio of Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto and Markus Reuter. Levin and Mastelotto play in Crimson (stick and drums respectively) and Markus Reuter plays his eight string touch guitar covering much more ground than a guitar or a bass. Mastelotto’s drumming encompasses not just the acoustic kit, but a unique electronic setup too, allowing him to add loops, samples, percussion, and more.
To be able to see these musicians up close (without all the distractions of the amazement of a King Crimson concert) would be so cool. Stick Men play once in awhile, although the last few times they’ve been around I couldn’t make it.
Rescheduled to April is a good thing, although I wish they were somewhere closer than Sellersville.
Posted in Bethlehem, PA, Bob's Burgers, Coronavirus, First Aid Kit, Julia Jacklin, Postponed, Quarantine, Steelstacks, The National on July 31, 2020| Leave a Comment »
[CANCELLED: July 31, 2020] The National
I like The National quite a lot. Although sometimes I don’t. Sometimes their songs can be more than a little dour. But they also have a tremendous sense of humor–they have done three songs for Bob’s Burgers after all.
I never really considered seeing live them until my friend Armando told me how great they were in concert–one of his favorite live bands. Since he and I both love seeing Phish and Pearl Jam, I figured I should put them on my list.
When I saw they were playing SteelStacks, I immediately grabbed a ticket. Nevermind that S. and I were going to be leaving for the Newport Folk Festival that evening (probably). I didn’t think that one through, but I remained optimistic that I could pull it off.
We saw Julia Jacklin open for First Aid Kit tow years ago. About her set I said
Jacklin is not a partier, but nor is she a downer either. She is thoughtful and inquisitive. Her music, even live, is fairly spare–except when it’s not–and she sings pretty quietly–except when she doesn’t. She was charming and funny–delightful in an opening act.
When the Newport Folk Festival was cancelled on April 29, I was very bummed. My silver lining was that I might get to see The National. However, on June 10, The National announced that they would be cancelling their tour.
Well, now I certainly hope they come back next year.
Posted in Alabama Shakes, Alexi Murdoch, Andrew Bird, Barrie, Big Thief, Black Pumas, Brittany Howard, Cancelled, Coronavirus, Daughter of Swords, Deer Tick, Delta Spirit, Drive-By Truckers, Early James, EOB, Erin Rae, Grace Potter, Hawktail, Ian Noe, Joseph, Lee Fields, Mandolin Orange, Mandy Moore, Muzz, Natalie Hemby, Nathaniel Rateliff, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Newport Folk Festival, Newport, RI, Norah Jones, Phoebe Bridgers, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Puss N Boots, Quarantine, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Randy Newman, Resistance Revival Chorus, Sampa the Great, Sharon Van Etten, Steve Gunn, Sunny War, Sylvan Esso, The Ballroom Thieves, The Marcus King Band, The National, The Secret Sisters, Tré Burt, Vagabon, Watkins Family Hour, Waxahatchee, William Tyler, Yola on July 31, 2020| Leave a Comment »
[CANCELLED: July 31-August 2, 2020] Newport Folk Festival
Last year we took the whole family to two days of the Newport Folk Festival. It was a fun experience for the most part. Both kids were exhausted and my son decided he’d rather stay in the hotel than go on the second day. However, this year he said he;d like to go again, so since the 2020 Festival was cancelled, maybe next year all four of us will go again.
I was not surprised that the Festival was cancelled. But it was still a shock when it happened on April 29th.
Here’s the formal message
Dear Folk-
This is the letter I was praying I wouldn’t have to write, feeling we need the healing powers of live music more now than ever. It is with the heaviest of hearts we announce the cancellation of the 2020 Newport Folk Festival. As devastating as it is to write those words, it’s balanced with a renewed sense of, well, HOPE. It’s Rhode Island’s motto for good reason and it’s also the feeling you, our festival family, constantly exudes when we come together in good times and perhaps more importantly, in difficult times as well. This community is truly unlike any other in music, and I believe we can emerge from this hardship stronger and more connected than ever before.
However, while your safety was at the core of the present decision, your support will be at the core of our future viability. Our ability to produce this festival in 2021 – and continue making a lasting difference in the lives of artists, students and music lovers like yourselves – is in your hands. Quite simply, we need your help.
Due to the financial and institutional uncertainties we find ourselves in, we believe the most trusting and direct course of action is to let the ticket holders decide where their ticket dollars should go. We have sent all ticket holders an email mapping out three options: 1) donate all or a portion of your ticket that will go directly towards ensuring our festival for 2021 while continuing our support for artists and educators; 2) apply your refund towards a 2021 Revival Membership – a new and one-time offer we’ve created specifically to ensure our future and provide these members with 3-day tickets to the 2021 festival (remaining memberships will be offered to the general public directly after the request period); and 3) receive a 100% full refund if desired.
For those of you who didn’t have tickets for this year, PLEASE consider making a tax-deductible donation. Help us continue these festivals, support year-round music education initiatives, and provide grants to artists in need.
I want to personally thank our founder George Wein, our staff, our Board of Directors, the City of Newport, and the DEM for their continued efforts. And, offer a personal note of gratitude to Rhode Island Governor, Gina Raimondo, for her leadership and counsel in prioritizing our well being in making the decision to cancel the festival.
Although we won’t be able to gather at the Fort this summer, rest assured we have invited ALL the announced artists to join us next year. In the meantime, we promise we will all commune one way or another on our festival weekend. As always, we have some secret surprises in store as well, so stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks. Until then, stay strong and folk on.
