Posted in Andrew WK, Cancelled, Philadelphia, PA, Postponed, Theatre of Living Arts on September 23, 2022| Leave a Comment »
[CANCELLED: September 23, 2022] Andrew W.K./Uncle Dan [moved from September 24, 2021]
Andrew W.K. had this show rescheduled pretty quickly after cancelling his 2021 tour.
But then it was also cancelled. I don’t really keep up with his goings on, but as far as I can tell he has maintained complete media silence. No idea what’s going on with the guy. Hope all is well and that he and his new wife and baby are doing well.
Posted in Cancelled, Philadelphia, PA, Spiritualized, Union Transfer on September 22, 2022| Leave a Comment »
[CANCELLED: September, 22, 2022] Spiritualized
I wasn’t entirely sure that I wanted to see Spiritualized live. I really like their album Ladies and gentlemen We Are Floating in Space. But I wasn’t sure how well they would translate live. But I read some rave reviews of their live show, so I grabbed a ticket.
But it turned out that on that night Kathleen Edwards was playing at SOPAC. I had seen her recently, but I had purchased two SOPAC tickets for my wife and I to see her, so Kathleen won out.
Interestingly, at 12:30 this afternoon, Union Transfer sent is this message
Hello! Thank you for purchasing a ticket to see Spiritualized this evening. We want to send this quick heads up, the band will go on right at 8pm and will finish just before 10pm. No opener this evening. One long set.
An hour before showtime, however, the show was cancelled because of a “medical emergency.” They also cancelled the final two shows of the tour (in New Jersey and New York).
So I made the right choice–I would have been really mad to find out that while I Was driving to Philly, the show was cancelled and I therefore missed both shows.
Posted in AViVA, Enter: Shikari, Philadelphia, PA, Trash Boat, Union Transfer on September 18, 2022| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: September 18, 2022] Enter: Shikari / Trash Boat / Aviva
We’re almost entering into an area of bands that I considering seeing based on very little.
Sometimes, when a venue promotes a band pretty heavily it’s easy to get caught up in the hype. There’s also a lot of bands that have been around for fifteen or twenty years that I completely missed when they had their popular surge.
Enter: Shikari (I think that I just like the colon in their name) has been around since 1999 and originally were kind of a screamo band that was really heavy but had lots of synth and electronic elements too. It’s the kind of think I want to like but I tend to not, really.
It’s probably the kind of show I would go to where everyone is a diehard fan and I’d enjoy the songs but not know any of the songs.
I also didn’t realize they were British.
Trash Boat is from the same town as Enter: Shikari (St. Albans). They are a heavy punk band with pop elements (although the vocals are more metal). I wouldn’t have enjoyed this band as much–although I may have once.
AViVA is an Australian singer (and more–for a hilariously over the top hagiography, check out her fan wiki page). Although this blurb is interesting:
Aviva Anastasia Payne, also known professonally as AViVA is Australian singer, songwriter, High School Teacher, and writer.
Her songs seem a little too poppy for this show, but she does include some heavier elements. She’s probably be pretty interesting live.
Posted in Ásdís, Band-Maid, Blær, Daði Freyr, Daði og Gagnamagnið, Eurovision, Iceland, Króli, Philadelphia, PA, Theatre of Living Arts on September 18, 2022| Leave a Comment »
[ATTENDED: September 17, 2022] Daði Freyr
Daði Freyr has been in Eurovision twice and that’s how I know him. He hasn’t won, but he won the hearts of many. He was the leader of Daði & Gagnamagnið and was due to represent Iceland in Eurovision in 2020 with the song “Think About Things.” But the event was cancelled and he was invited to represent them again in 2021 with the song “10 Years.” They came in fourth place.
He is a goofy guy for sure–he is super tall (6 ft 9.9 in) with quite a deep voice. In the performances his band was quite humorous dressing in identical sweaters with pixilated images of themselves. Back then the group was his sister Sigrún Birna Pétursdóttir (backing vocalist), wife Árný Fjóla Ásmundsdóttir (dancer), and friends Hulda Kristín Kolbrúnardóttir (backing vocalist), Stefán Hannesson (dancer), and Jóhann Sigurður Jóhannsson (dancer)—known as “Gagnamagnið”. Gagnamagnið, while translated to English as “the Data”, literally means “the amount of data”, and is the Icelandic word for “data plan”.
But for this tour it was a trio–he is on synths, with percussionist Ylva Øyen and guitarist Pétur Karl rounding out the trio.
His videos are exceptional-he really has the visual side of things down perfectly. I wasn’t sure how he would translate live, but I had to take the opportunity to see him. He was not only a great, engaging frontman, he was very funny as well. He told us that he has to stop moving his microphone stand so much, so if he did we should yell Hey! But not in a mean way.
He started with “Thank You,” a classic synth pop song. His voice is surprisingly deep and yet very warm at the same time.
He stood between two small synth rigs and sang “thank you for being fabulous, wonderful, and nice.” It was earnest and catchy. But he immediately started joking with us since the next song was called “Shut Up” (nothing personal, he assured us). “Shut Up” had a disco feel with the slinky guitars. The song ended with him pointing to everyone pretty much individually and quickly singing Shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up. (more…)
Posted in Band-Maid, Cavetown, Daði Freyr, Daði og Gagnamagnið, Meet the Bug, Philadelphia, PA, Theatre of Living Arts on September 17, 2022| Leave a Comment »
[ATTENDED: September 17, 2022] Meet the Bug
When Daði Freyr announced his U.S. tour, I grabbed a ticket right away. i wasn’t sure if there would be an opening act. And it wasn’t until a few days before the show that it was announced that Meet the Bug would open. Who is Meet the Bug? We’ll let their bio explain:
Meet the Bug is the solo endeavor of Philadelphia-based bedroom pop polymath Cariahbel Azemar. Her latest EP Beet The Mug is “a vibey meditation on keys and glimmery vocals that tackles heavy childhood trauma from the perspective of an emerging artist realizing the power of her voice.” Azemar uses her songs as a sort of diary, cataloging the highs and lows of coming into adulthood as someone who is both on the spectrum and ADHD.
Born in Port au Prince, Haiti and raised in the Georgia suburbs, Azemar began taking classical piano lessons at the age of four. … While at a performance by one of her primary inspirations, Cavetown, Azemar noticed someone she knew in the opening band – meaning, to her, that maybe she could do this, and so she shall. Thus Meet The Bug was born. Coinciding with the start of the pandemic, Meet The Bug’s early focus was her YouTube channel, where she mostly posts covers and originals. Now an active member of the Philly DIY community, Azemar can be found performing in house venues, bars, and cafe’s about town. Most recently, she played support for Daði Freyr at the Theatre of the Living Arts in Philadelphia.
Clearly this went up after I saw her.
Her set was delightful. Lyrically the songs might have been a little dark, but they were more angsty and hopeful. But she sang with a gentle voice and, best of all, nearly all of her songs were played on a ukulele–a fairly large ukulele (maybe a small guitar? but i think it had four strings). This gave her songs a kind of sunny vibe. (more…)
Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Pink Mountaintops, The Afghan Whigs, Underground Arts on September 16, 2022| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: September 16, 2022] Afghan Whigs / Pink Mountaintops
Back in May, although they had no Philadelphia show planned, Afghan Whigs were going to stop in and do a Free at Noon.
I grabbed a ticket but the show was cancelled because of a COVID case.
I love The Afghan Whigs’ album Gentlemen. I should love more by them, but I like them just fine (never been in the cult of Dulli). I’ve never really been interested in seeing them live.
When this show was announced, I was notified because of Pink Mountaintops.
Pink Mountaintops are a band led by Stephem McBean who is the main guy behind Black Mountain. I saw Black Mountain a while back and they were great. I’m not sure I would enjoy Pink Mountaintops as much. So I was never really likely to go to this show.
Posted in Haddon Heights, NJ, Jonah Tolchin, McLaughlin Norcross Memorial Dell, Philadelphia, PA, Richard Thompson, Summer Concert Series on September 14, 2022| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: September 14, 2022] Richard Thompson / Jonah Tolchin [rescheuled from September 7, 2022]
This show had been postponed by a week. But it turned out to be the same night as Pearl Jam. So, sorry Richard, I didn’t show up for your free show.
~~~~
I have seen Richard Thompson more than almost any other musician. This is largely because for several years in a row he played McCarter Theater in Princeton which felt like a short enough distance for us to go when the kids were littler.
Now that I have seen him so often, I’m trying to making him my most-seen performer (although he won’t ever beat Phish since Phish does many multi-date shows near me).
I was pretty excited to see him for this show, especially since it was free! I had been to this location for Kathleen Edwards a few weeks earlier (what a great summer line up!). But as the day moved on, the rain proved to be torrential. Since Richard lives nearby, he was able to postpone his show for a week. To a night that I wasn’t free. Alas.
I had not heard of Jonah Tolchin. He’s a New Jersey native–his bandcamp says he’s from Princeton.
I listened to a few of his songs on bandcamp, and I rather like them. He’s got an interesting mix of folk with a kind of punky attitude. His earlier stuff (when he wa sa long haired hippy) is more folkie, but his latest album (2022’s Lava Lamp) is a bit more stripped down and raw, giving it a rougher edge, maybe like Nathaniel Rateliff.
This would have been a fun double bill (even if Richard would probably only have played his biggest hits).
Posted in Broken Social Scene, Jasmyn, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer, Weaves on September 12, 2022| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: October 12, 2022] Broken Social Scene / Jasmyn
I can fall for hype when it comes to concerts. I’m not going to see someone I don’t actually like or anything like that, but if there’s lots of excitement about a reunion or something, I can get swept up in it.
I really liked Broken Social Scene when they came out. You Forget It in People was on steady rotation twenty years ago. But I didn’t really listen to them at all in the last fifteen or so years.
This 20th anniversary tour was much hyped and I grabbed a ticket remembering how much I liked the album. Although when I went back and listened to the album again I didn’t remember it all that well.
This show was in the middle of a busy week of shows and I felt like I could sacrifice this one to spare me having to go out every night of the week.
Reviews of the show and tour were quite good though and I wonder if I made the right call. In an otherwise rave review, WXPN points out a few flaws at the show
An eight-member edition of their coterie faced mildly chaotic setbacks throughout their Union Transfer set, from Drew switching up songs on the fly as his voice grew more and more raw over two-plus hours, to a sound tech who kept rushing onstage to fidget with drum mics and synth inputs up to the last song of the main set. Though nothing ever reached the point of full collapse, the threat hovered; at one point there was an inexplicable loud BANG! from offstage and once it was clear nobody was injured, the show moved on.
But this makes me think I should have gone
But the moments that were great, were so great. Opening the show with People‘s opening run of songs was a thrill, from the barreling urgency of “KC Accidental” to the handclap-happy crowd participation of “Stars and Sons,” to Amy Millan of the band Stars rushing onstage in a whirlwind to sing “Almost Crimes,” play flute on “Looks Just Like The Sun” and generally contribute to the festivities for the rest of the night. It was the first show of tour where she was able to link up with the band, and she knocked it out of the park.
I love Amy Millan, and that would have been a cool surprise.
I was going to say I didn’t know who Jasmyn was, but the review says she was the singer in Weaves, a band I loved, and who were amazing live. Her new sound is a bit more synth poppy, but I’ll bet she’s still dynamite live.
Posted in Courage My Love, Destroy Boys, Jigsaw Youth, Philadelphia, PA, Pinkshift, Softcult, Theatre of Living Arts on September 10, 2022| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: September 10, 2022] Destroy Boys / Jigsaw Youth / Pinkshift / Softcult
This was an amazing bill for great punk. I only found out about it after I had tickets for Neko Case that evening. It turns out we wound up going to Lunar Faire this night anyhow. But I would see any of these bands when they come back.
Destroy Boys play fast. lo-fi punk, but with really clear (and excellent lyrics). I also enjoy the titles which have very little to do with the lyrics like:
“I Threw Glass at My Friend’s Eyes and Now I’m on Probation” with lyrics like
You’re ruining my life day by dayThe butterflies you give me are literally making me nauseousThis is disgusting, like seriously dudeWhat do you think you’re doing?You’re like way older than meAnd you’re gross and I don’t wanna do that
Jigsaw Youth is a punk band from Staten Island with a seriously heavy low end. I listened to a few songs and liked some. I preferred their newer stuff to their older songs. I’m sure they would have kicked ass.
I have seen Pinkshift twice and they are dynamite, both on record and especially live. I would see them any chance I get. And their new music is even better.
They are down to a trio now, but they always have a bass player on stage with them.
Softcult is the one sonic exception to the punk evening. Softcult is a duo from Canda. Their number one song on Spotify, “Love Song” is a soft woozy shoegaze song–it’s wonderful. Their other songs play more with a hard/soft dynamic and grungy attitude. The band comprises twin siblings Phoenix and Mercedes Arn-Horn who are also in the band Courage My Love (who are a bit more punk). The three or four Softcult songs I heard were great.
Posted in Earthless, Ecstatic Vision, Philadelphia, PA, Riff Mountain DJs, Underground Arts on September 8, 2022| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: September 8, 2022] Earthless / Ecstatic Vision / Riff Mountain DJs
I jotted down this show as one I’d like to check out and then I forgot all about it and the bands that were playing. So a little later I even wrote, who the hell are Earthless.
Well, this was a heavy psych/stoner rock super bill that would have been fun to see live.
Earthless has been around since 2001. They are a mostly instrumental psychedelic rock band from San Diego, California, consisting of guitarist Isaiah Mitchell, bassist Mike Eginton and drummer Mario Rubalcaba. I really enjoyed their overall vibe. I also love that their second album is made of 2 20 minute songs (one with five parts). Although they also have a song “Volt Rush” that’s under two minutes and kicks much ass. Although I prefer the instrumentals.
Ecstatic Vision are from Philly and they continue with the fuzzy…everything. They describe themselves as “Trance inducing raw heavy psych. Ecstatic Vision is Doug Zabolchech, Kevin Nickles, Michael Field Connor and Ricky Culp.”
The song I listened to “Astral Plane” is 13 minutes of heavy fuzziness. Vocals come in about 5 minutes in and I didn’t really like them. Maybe this kind of music is meant to be instrumental.
Since I’m not in the know, I can’t quite figure out what Riff Mountain DJs are. Their Instagram profile says Philadelphia DJ Collective / All Rock / All Wax. So I guess they spin heavy songs before and between bands?
I Just Read About That... 