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Archive for the ‘Philadelphia, PA’ Category

Tanya Tagaq in concert with Nanook of the North (Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center, Philadelphia PA, April 13, 2017)

Posted in Canadian Content, Canadian Music, First Nations, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Nanook of the North, Philadelphia, PA, Robert J. Flaherty, Tanya Tagaq, Verizon Hall on April 13, 2017| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: April 13, 2017] Tanya Tagaq performs Nanook of the North

No use burying the lead: I just witnessed something singular.  Something unique and unforgettable.  Tanya Tagaq is a magical performer and I consider myself lucky to have seen her (even if I wasn’t always looking at her). And to have heard her incredible band live.

Tagaq is an Upik performer who incorporates throat singing into her music.  And when she performs, her entire body is possessed by the music. She becomes animalistic, both low and growling as well as high and soaring.

Nanook of the North is considered the first documentary film.  Filmed in 1920 by Robert J. Flaherty, it depicts Nanook, a “happy Eskimo,” and his family as they go about their lives.   For many people it was their first and only exposure to Native culture.  This film has been praised for its documentary techniques, but ridiculed for its patronizing attitude and for fudging reality.

I learned last night that part of the reason some of it was fudged was because his original film was destroyed in a fire and he returned to get more footage–often recreating what happened the first time.  [Some Wikipedia details shed some light on his good intentions and controversies–see bottom of the post for a few details].

I first watched Nanook of the North about 20 years ago in a college film class.  It was fine–less boring than I imagined, with some interesting moments, but not exactly gripping after 80 years of filmmaking.  But with Tagaq’s new soundtrack, the film took on an amazing and powerful component which added intensity, drama and tension to this film. (more…)

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Foxygen (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 26, 2017)

Posted in Foxygen, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on March 26, 2017| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 26, 2017] Foxygen

I really loved Foxygen’s album We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic.  The whole thing is great–retro and modern at the same time with a great sense of theatrics.  They recently put out a new album Hang, which is also retro (touching on nearly every era–disco, big band, swing, rock and even (apparently) a concept.  I’ve been really enjoying Hang (although I prefer Ambassadors still).

I had also heard that their live shows were crazy, so I thought it would be a great theatrical show.  (Before they came out I was delighted by the keyboard tech’s shirt that sat Not My President with shaking hands (one hand was a snake biting the other).

So I was a little surprised to see that there were no theatrics at all–no props or elaborate anything.  Well, except for lead singer and center of attention Sam France.  The show opened with Jonathan Rado sitting behind the piano and then the rest of the band coming out.  There was a three-piece horn section, drums, bass (which was mixed waaaay too loud in the first half of the show–why don’t sound people recognize that right away?) and then a second keyboardist/guitarist. ( I can’t find names for anybody). (more…)

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Gabriella Cohen (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 26, 2017) [FOXYGEN]

Posted in Full Flower Moon Band, Gabriella Cohen, Kate Dillon, Philadelphia, PA, The Furrs, Union Transfer on March 26, 2017| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 26, 2017] Gabriella Cohen

I typically check out who is opening for a show before I get to the show.  I never had a chance to look up Gabriella Cohen beforehand, so I had no idea what to expect.

When she first came out it was just her with her guitar and her bandmate Kate ‘Babyshakes’ Dillon on backing vocals (red lights are really harsh for a camera phone it seems–very hard to not get a blurry pic). They sang a song together which was simple but charming (it seemed to be about a breakup).  They made me smile as they tried to figure out which side Kate should stand on.  And while Gabriella’s playing and singing were fine, I was delighted with Kate’s backing vocals–soaring and high. (more…)

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Sunn O))) (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 18, 2017)

Posted in Big ‡ Brave, Philadelphia, PA, Sunn O))), Union Transfer on March 18, 2017| 4 Comments »

[ATTENDED: March 18, 2017] Sunn O)))

My friend Lar has been a fan of Sunn O))) for a long time.  Their music is like an ambient death metal–drones and drones of noises with heavy chords played very very slowly.  There’s no drums at all, just beats from the guitars.

And I had heard that their live shows were amazing–louder than anything you’ve ever heard, tons of fog, guys in hoods, and just sonic intensity.  And as soon as I saw that they were playing locally I grabbed a ticket.

I was prepared for the loudest thing I’d ever heard (and brought super great earplugs accordingly).  But I have to say it wasn’t as loud as I was expecting.  I mean, sure it was loud, but I had heard that you could feel it in the pit of your stomach–I was prepared to have to head to the back of the building for the sound waves.  But it wasn’t that loud at all.  On the other hand, it was loud enough that I could feel my nose hairs vibrating, or the cuffs of my pants vibrating.  So that’s pretty loud.  In fact, normally after hearing loud noises, you get a tinnitus ring.  After this show, I had a low throb in my ears for a day after–I’ve never experienced anything like that before.  I’m actually thinking it may have been because the earplugs were in too far.

But aside from that, what was the show like? (more…)

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Big ‡ Brave (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 18, 2017) [SUNN O)))]

Posted in Big ‡ Brave, Bjork, Canadian Music, Philadelphia, PA, Sunn O))), Union Transfer on March 18, 2017| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 18, 2017] Big ‡ Brave

I hadn’t heard of Big ‡ Brave when I saw that they were opening for Sunn O))).  Before the show I read this compelling description: “Big Brave utilize many elements of drone, noise, and post rock with female fronted vocals that are almost reminiscent of Bjork as far as tone.”

They play slow and loud.  And their songs are very bass-heavy even though there is no bass!  Two guitars making very low rumbles.

The band is a trio–2 guitars and a fairly sparse drum kit.  Robin Wattie (here’s a video of her singing) stood on the far side of the stage.  She sang an impassioned wail and often kept time by thumping her guitar (generating more drone I’m sure) before playing low, loud chords.

Closest to me was guitarist Mathieu Bernard Ball.  He was constantly in motion, rocking up and down as he played wondrous noises (see video) with his guitar.  (more…)

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Strand of Oaks (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 10, 2017)

Posted in Baroness, Eliza Hardy Jones, Jason Anderson, John Baizley, Philadelphia, PA, Strand of Oaks, Tim Showalter, Twin Limb, Union Transfer on March 10, 2017| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 10, 2017] Strand of Oaks

Back in December I saw Strand of Oaks at Boot and Saddle.  It was just Tim Showalter and Jason Anderson and they were great.  It was very intimate, it was the third night of a three night stint and everyone was loose and having fun.

At the show, they were selling tickets this March appearance at Union Transfer–which was going to be the whole band.  So I decided to get a ticket that night, for a good comparison.

While waiting for the band to come on, I wound up talking to a bunch of people who were huge fans.  I found out that his previous keyboardist was Eliza Hardy Jones who has since gone solo rather successfully–she was evidently at XPNFest last year, when we were there.  One lady told me that the last time she saw Strand of Oaks, Showalter stage dove right where she was standing (which is where I was standing).  The guy she was with said that last time he saw them, they opened with “Cinnamon Girl,” and they talked about how this was a hometown show and he would go all out–especially since the venue was far more filled than the previous time. (more…)

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Twin Limb (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 10, 2017) [STRAND OF OAKS]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Strand of Oaks, Twin Limb, Union Transfer on March 10, 2017| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 10, 2017] Twin Limb

I had never heard of Twin Limb when they opened for Strand of Oaks.  So I was pretty surprised to walk in on them setting up and to notice a giant accordion on the left side of the stage.

And then on the right side of the stage, facing the accordion was the drumset.  In between was a guy with a guitar.

Twin Limb is the creation of Maryliz Bender (drums, vocals) and Lacey Guthrie (accordion, vocals).  I’m not sure exactly what they sounded like initially.  But a year or so after they formed, they teamed up with Kevin Ratterman (sampled sounds, guitar) and their sound evidently changed pretty dramatically.

I don’t know what it was before, but it was fantastic when I saw them. (more…)

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The Flaming Lips (The Fillmore Philadelphia, March 4, 2017)

Posted in clipping., David Bowie, Philadelphia, PA, Rainbows, The Fillmore Philadelphia, The Flaming Lips, Unicorns on March 4, 2017| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 4, 2017] The Flaming Lips

I saw The Flaming Lips back in 2015 and I was thrilled at how much bigger their show had become since 2000 when I saw them the first time.  When I saw they were touring again for their new album and were playing The Fillmore, I knew that I had to see them again, and this time I needed Sarah to experience the show with me.  She doesn’t know their music very well (she liked a couple of songs and actively disliked a number of them (mostly their noisy covers)–but I knew they wouldn’t play those).  I couldn’t stop talking about that previous show, so I think her expectations were pretty high.  And she told me they did not disappoint.

Having clipping. as the opening band was unusual because if there was ever a show I couldn’t imagine Sarah at it would be a loud, screechy vulgar hip hop band.  But it served as a palate cleanser for The Flaming Lips.

I noticed that they added even more stuff to the previous set, but it was weird that they have all of this great stuff on stage, but then they tend to obscure it as well.  Between the lights in front of the stage (how weird to see all those lights dangling in front of the performers) and the fog machines, sometimes you couldn’t even see the cool stuff going on.  But it was all part of the sensory overload of the show.

Before the show started, Wayne and some of the other guys came out and checked some things. Its was funny to see Wayne walk out on stage and wave to us.  He even shot some hand-held confetti cannons at us.  But then they went back stage and it took another fifteen or so minutes for them to start.

In front of the stage were all of the strands hanging down.  It was impossible to know what they were, until the music started and we saw that they were light strands.  And as the music swelled, Wayne conducted the lights and the music.  It was very cool. (more…)

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clipping. (The Fillmore Philadelphia, March 4, 2017) [THE FLAMING LIPS]

Posted in All Songs Considered, Captain Ahab, clipping., Daveed Diggs, Hamilton, Philadelphia, PA, The Fillmore Philadelphia, The Flaming Lips, Unnecessary Surgery, WhiteHouse on March 4, 2017| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 4, 2017] clipping.

I first heard clipping. on All Songs Considered about a month ago.  The song was noisy and brash and vulgar and featured incredible rapping from a voice that I recognized but couldn’t place.  Then they told us that the rapper was Daveed Diggs who was Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette in Hamilton.  He won a Tony for the role(s).  And now here he was fronting this band of experimental glitch-hop.  And there he was just a few dozen feet from us. 

I love the Fillmore, but it’s one of the few venues that we don’t ever seem to be able to get very close to the stage for.  I guess the artists are a little more popular (and tend to sell out) so there’s less wiggle room at some of the other shows.  So we were further back than I would have liked.  But we could still fully absorb the spectacle.

Clipping are not exactly the kind of band I’d pair with The Flaming Lips (who sing about rainbows and love and whatnot).  And indeed, the contrast was pretty stark.  But the Lips have a crazy stage set-up and it seemed to work perfectly with the kind of static and noise that Clipping creates.  And I’m sure they loved being able to hook into the Lips’ wall of video screens behind them. (more…)

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Japandroids (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, February 25, 2017)

Posted in Canadian Music, Craig Finn, Japandroids, Philadelphia, PA, Rock duo, The Saints, Union Transfer on February 25, 2017| Leave a Comment »

2017-02-25-23-47-33[ATTENDED: February 25, 2017] Japandroids

I was mostly excited to see Japandroids because in addition to liking their music, I wanted to see how two guys could be so powerful live.  I’d also heard that their live shows were a ton of fun.  And was it ever.

Interestingly, I had tickets for the Friday night show, which sold out.  But then something more important came up–a father daughter dance.  I was able to get my ticket to someone I work with and he enjoyed Friday night and I was still able to get a ticket for Saturday night.  So everybody won.  There was also some joking from Brian King the guitarist/singer that Friday night was a better crowd–until the Saturday night crowd decided to prove him wrong.  They were also filming on our night, so I wonder if anything will ever come of that.

But back to the show.  When the crew set up their gear, I was surprised to see them putting the drum set literally right in front of me, sideways–facing the guitar.  I knew that he faced that way but didn’t think they put him right a the front of the stage. (more…)

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