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Archive for the ‘Philadelphia, PA’ Category

They Might Be Giants: 30th Anniversary Flood Show (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, June 16, 2022)–[rescheduled date rescheduled again and again this time CAR ACCIDENT!]

Posted in Coronavirus, Philadelphia, PA, Postponed, They Might Be Giants, Union Transfer on June 16, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: June 16, 2022] They Might Be Giants [rescheduled from March 13, 2020, September 8, 2020, April 15, 2021 and March 22, 2022 moved to January 12, 2023]

COVID is over, right?  Let’s rock, right?  What could go wrong?

Never, ever, tempt fate:

Hello –
We have some unfortunate news to share, John F from TMBG was in a serious car accident after their show last evening. The upcoming Philly show (and next two months of their tour) is now *postponed* to some time later in 2022.
Unreal, right?  Things were finally looking up for our intrepid warriors.  And then this.
Greetings from the hospital. I am writing to you with my glasses a crumpled memory, while under a thick cloud of pain medication. In spite of that, I wanted to write to all of you to explain what exactly happened to me.

Last night in a car service on the way my to my apartment after the magnificent Bowery Ballroom show, I was in a rather dramatic car accident. Crossing into an intersection, our car was t-boned by a vehicle going at a very fast speed. The force of the impact actually flipped our car over to its side. While the driver and I oriented ourselves to our new sideways, broken glass and airbag-filled reality, we sensed the ominous smell of motor oil and smoke. Remarkably, just a moment later it seemed, a dozen NYC firemen arrived and set their minds on finding a way to liberate us. To them and the fantastically efficient EMS who whisked us to a trauma center, I will be forever grateful.

While sitting in the CT scan machine, I was working out how much more time I would need to get to DC for the next show in my diminished state. When I explained my plan to the doctor, he explained I had broken seven ribs (a majority of the ribs on my right side) and some of them in multiple places, and I wasn’t going to be anywhere but in a bed for the foreseeable future.

While the pain in my side has only gotten worse since, it is my heart that is really breaking over these events. The entire band and crew have been working so hard to create a new show worthy of your interest and your endurance over these miserable COVID years. Last night was such a victory, and with unplayed new songs in the works and rearrangements of older material with the horn section, it was all feeling like a new beginning. But today I am in the hospital. I would understand anyone thinking we are just a band born under a bad sign and giving up hope, but I also know someday we will rock again —and for me, that day couldn’t come soon enough.

Until then I will be watching reruns of Sex in the City until I am strong enough to reach the remote. Wish me luck. I’m going to need it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fifth time’s the charm?

After what seemed like a wholly sensible rescheduled date of March 22, 2022, the virus reared its head again, and TMBG decided to push things back one more time.  This time they broke their tour into small chunks to avoid having to cancel a huge tour in the future.

Hello everyone. We have rescheduled all of our Spring 2022 shows. The new batch of shows begin in June and run all the way to May 2023 (proving that 2020 is the first year to last for three!).

And the venue has added

Hello! Thank you for purchasing tickets to see They Might Be Giants. We know that this has been a journey and after two+ years their long awaited tour will finally happen! The Philly show scheduled for March 10 has been moved to June 16 2022.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This show was originally scheduled for March 2020 and it now being rescheduled to March 2022.  It’s hard to believe that it will be two years.

So, with no opening date in sight, this is where we ask you for a big favor. Without a doubt our biggest expense has been refunding tickets for shows with new safe dates in 2021/2022.  The They Might Be Giants show has been officially moved to March 10 2022! With a date this far out, it ensures there will be no issues with TMBG touring and most important – we are near guaranteed to have a safe and normal show (finally!)

This was one of the first shows that was postponed because of the coronavirus.  The new date was scheduled very quickly and, as it turns out, too soon.

Now, like most shows, it is being pushed back about a year from its original date.  Boy I hope it holds out.

I am still very much looking forward to it.  Don’t give up on us yet, Johns!

March was going to be a very busy concert month for me.  This was to be the first of four shows in five nights.  This show was going to be for me and S.–a night of They Might Be Giants performing Flood!

It turned out to be the first of dozens of shows cancelled or postponed by the coronavirus.

Obviously, my main concern is for everyone’s safety, including the bands!

My selfish concern though is that once the shows are rescheduled that all of these shows will be scheduled on the same day!

Let’s hope the rescheduled dates also do some social distancing.

tmbg

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Superchunk (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, June 11, 2022)

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Superchunk, Torres, Union Transfer on June 12, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: June 11, 2022] Superchunk [moved from March 2, 2022]

I saw Superchunk four years ago.  It was my first time seeing a band that I have liked for decades.  They have put out a ton of music and I don’t know all of it, but I still enjoyed their set a lot.

Enough to see them again when they put out a new album this past year.

Last time, they played a ton of stuff from the then new album (8 new songs).  This time, for whatever reason, they played only five songs from the new album and the rest of the set was chock full of songs from throughout their career.

Indeed, they played 21 songs with only 7 duplicates (and I think we’d have been upset if they didn’t play those seven).

The band was, like last time the (nearly) original members: Mac McCaughan of course on vocals and guitar, Jim Wilbur on guitar (he joined after their first album) and Jon Wurster on drums (he joined after the third album)–they’re bonafides!  The only one missing was bassist Laura Ballance.  She plays on the albums but because of her hyperacusis, she no longer tours.  So, on bass we had Jason Narducy who has played with anybody who is anybody. (more…)

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Diane Coffee / Foyer Red (PhilaMOCA, Philadelphia, PA, June 12, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Diane Coffee, Foyer Red, Kim Possible, Philadelphia, PA, PhilaMOCA on June 12, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 20, 2022] Diane Coffee / Foyer Red

I’ve been intrigued by Diane Coffee for about six years.

Diane Coffee is the brainchild of Shaun Fleming.  He used to be the drummer in Foxygen, which tips off somewhat to his aesthetic.

Fleming also does voice acting between 2002 and 2006, he played the twin brothers Jim and Tim Possible on Kim Possible.

He has released four albums all in various styles.  (As Bust puts it for his 2022 album)

Once again Fleming shifts musical gears from his previous album, Internet Arms’ soulful Synth Pop sound to a jangly Folk Rock, Dream Pop vibe with a touch of Glam Rock.

I think the touch of Glam Rock is consistent, as his live show is supposed to be amazing.

This review from Westworld makes his show sound incredible.

The band wore matching suits with bolo ties, while Fleming presented himself in a well-fitted women’s suit. First off, Fleming’s stage presence is astonishing. At one time he was a Disney voice actor, and that ability transfers to his very animated live sets.  He captures all of his emotion in body movements and facial gestures. Watching Fleming perform, you can tell that he has conducted thorough research and perfected some of the most iconic bandleader movements, resulting in a mash-up of Dr. Frank-N-Furter and James Brown, exerting high levels of energy, trying to escape the imprisonment of this little man’s body.

I almost got to see him at XPNFest in2016, but we arrived just as he had finished.

This is the third time I’ve missed one of his shows (one had a good excuse, this night I just didn’t feel like going out).  But the next time Diane Coffee comes t otown, I need to read this live review above to remind myself how much I want to see him live.

Foyer Red has crazy sounds, weirdo words and multiple singers.  And somehow despite all the weirdness (their 2021 album is called Zigzag Wombat), the songs are catchy

Post-Trash says

Foyer Red is a Brooklyn five-piece that makes sweetly sung, charmingly zany art rock. In 2022 they hit the ground running with several great singles — “Pollen City,” “Pickles,” and “Flipper.” In December, the band celebrated signing to Carpark Records by releasing the delightfully spontaneous single, “Etc.”

That first line is enough to make me want to see them.

I’ve listened to a few songs by them now and I really like them a lot.  And now more than ever I wish I’d gone to this show.

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Garcia Peoples / The Tisburys (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, June 12, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Garcia Peoples, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, The Tisburys on June 12, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 30, 2021] Garcia Peoples / The Tisburys

I ‘ve seen Garcia Peoples a bunch of times.  I like to think of them as my local jam band. I’ve seen them enough that I’ve actually missed them a few times and not been too upset about it because I am pretty sure I’ll be able to catch them again.

This show was the same night as a show by Diane Coffee who I had really wanted to see, so I didn’t even bother looking into tickets.

The Tisburys sounds like a band from Canada to me.  But they are actually from Philly.

Their sound is actually pretty much exactly what I’d expect from a band called The Tisburys.  Jangly power pop with a retro edge and a vaguely country vibe.  Think Jayhawks, I guess.

They’d probably frt pretty well with Garcia Peoples, who I’m sure put on an amazing show.

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Torres (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, June 11, 2022) [SUPERCHUNK]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Superchunk, Torres, Union Transfer on June 11, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: June 11, 2022] Torres [moved from March 2, 2022]

This was my forth time seeing Torres play.  I was excited to see her open for Superchunk, but I was (obviously) even more excited to see her play as a headliner.

The headlining gig was great, and I was curious to see how much it would differ when she opened for a well known but not huge indie band.  Especially since she is not exactly the same type of music.

Her new album is a love/lust letter to her new wife and in a close setting like Johnny Brenda’s she explored the album in great detail.  But her she was able to rock it out with amazing intensity.

She switched her setlist a little to open with the more rocking “Are You Sleepwalking” and followed it with the slower opening “Don’t Go Puttin’ Wishes in My Head” (even though it is ultimately even more catchy). (more…)

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Aldous Harding / H. Hawkline (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, June 10, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Aldous Huxley, H. Hawkline, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on June 10, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: June 10, 2022] Aldous Harding / H. Hawkline

I saw Aldous Harding at Underground Arts in 2019.  The show was very weird and pretty cool, with Harding being a presence I could not remove my eyes from.

I couldn’t really imagine her at Union Transfer, it is so much bigger.

I didn’t actually enjoy her new album as much as her previous ones and when this show came up, I basically just stayed home.  I just didn’t feel like it.

H. Hawkline is one of those performers that seems to open for a lot of people that I like.  Or at least whose name I see a lot at shows.

I don’t really know that much about him except that he is Welsh and was once a radio and TV presenter (known as Huw Evans).

Hawkline has put out 5 albums, and Picthfork summarizes his career like this

Hawkline began his career with fingerpicking folk on 2010’s A Cup of Salt, but in recent years, he’s steered towards an ornate art-pop sound that draws influence from his fellow countryman Gruff Rhys, who’s brought him on tour, as well as longtime collaborator Cate Le Bon, who produced Milk for Flowers. Even when the songs are steeped in sadness, there’s a McCartney-esque bounce to them: a pitter-patter levity to the piano arrangements in “Milk for Flowers” and “Denver,” a perpetual forward motion to the playful thump of “Plastic Man.”

It’s a good pedigree and in listening to his new album Milk for Flowers, the McCartney comparison is apt.  He could be quite fun live.

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Sigur Rós (The Met Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, June 7, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Sigur Rós, The Met Philadelphia on June 7, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: June 7, 2022] Sigur Rós

Few bands are as amazing live as Sigur Rós.  I can’t believe it has been five years since I’ve last seen them.

My wife and I were looking forward to this show so much.

And that’s when we learned that you can never schedule anything in June if you have kids.  Our daughter won an award and it was scheduled for this evening.

What timing.  Obviously, there was no chance for going to this show.

 

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Crawlers (PhilaMOCA, Philadelphia, PA, June 4, 2022)

Posted in Crawlers, Philadelphia, PA, PhilaMOCA, T., Thus Love on June 6, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: June 4, 2022] Crawlers

Out of the blue one day my daughter begged me to get her tickets to see a band I had never heard of.  They were called Crawlers from the UK.  They were touring the US for the first time and could she please please please go to a club called PhilaMOCA.

So Crawlers, it turns out are an alt-rock/punk band who are pretty darn cool.

We were in front of guitarist Amy Woodall and on the far side was bassist Liv Kettle who had the best look going on–great eye liner and huge kick ass boots.

Lead singer Holly Minto was up front engaging with everyone.  She was fun and warm and welcoming and was just a delight.  And in the back was Harry Breen smashing up the drum set.  They’ve been playing together for a few years now and Minto and Kettle have been friends forever.  They have a great stage rapport.

Crawlers had made some waves via TikTok and it was clear that their fan base was young, and they were especially speaking to young women.  I tried my best to get out of the way to let the young women have the font, but I also didn’t want to leave me daughter by herself, so we kind of hung out near the front, but not too near.  (more…)

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Thus Love (PhilaMOCA, Philadelphia, PA, June 4, 2022) [CRAWLERS]

Posted in Crawlers, Philadelphia, PA, PhilaMOCA, Thus Love on June 5, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: June 4, 2022] Thus Love

Out of the blue one day my daughter begged me to get her tickets to see a band I had never heard of.  They were called Crawlers from the UK.  They were touring the US for the first time and could she please please please go to a club called PhilaMOCA.

Now I happened to love PhilaMOCA.  When they needed fundraising I supported them and looked forward to them reopening their doors.  I hadn’t been back since they reopened, so I was pretty interested to see the place again.  But I was even more interested to check out this band and see what had my daughter so interested.

PhilaMOCA has a supersmall capacity so I grabbed tickets for us immediately assuming the show would sell out.

But when we arrived (the renovations look great, even if it means the capacity is even smaller now), there was hardly anyone there.  (more…)

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Kurt Vile and the Violators (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, June 3, 2022)

Posted in Kurt Vile, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Natural Information Society, Philadelphia, PA, The War on Drugs, Union Transfer on June 4, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: June 3, 2022] Kurt Vile & The Violators

Since the last time I saw Kurt Vile (2018), S. has become a huge fan of Kurt and his music.  So when he announced he was touring, and would be ending his run in his home town, of course we grabbed tickets.

I had seen Kurt playing in New Jersey four years ago and he was a delight.  He switches instruments almost every song.  he doesn’t talk a lot, but he seems to be having a really good time and is happy that we’re there with him.

It was amazing that he played almost none of the same songs tonight that he did four years ago.  True he had two new albums to showcase since that time, but even the older cuts were mixed up (except for his biggest hit which I couldn’t imagine him not playing and “Waking on a Pretty Day”).

Kurt is pretty much exactly what you get on record–his delivery is pretty much the same, his guitar playing is the same.  he comes across as the most natural performer you’ve ever seen.  Like he literally just walked in and started playing.

I am a huge fan of some of Kurt’s songs.  I love “Loading Zones” and could listen to him play that song for ages.  (more…)

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