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Archive for the ‘Philadelphia, PA’ Category

Sigur Rós performing with Wordless Music Orchestra (The Met Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, September 23, 2024)

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Sigur Rós, The Met Philadelphia on September 23, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 23, 2024] Sigur Rós performing with Wordless Music Orchestra

The first time I saw Sigur Rós back in 2001 is still one of the most memorable and moving shows I’ve ever been to.  So it’s shocking to be that I’ve only seen them four times in total.

When they announced  this Wordless Orchestra tour last year I wanted to go, but decided it wasn’t worth going into Manhattan (and paying the huge ticket prices).  So I assumed I’d miss this show.  Then they announced a Philly show.

I bought cheap seats far from the stage thinking that it was an orchestra, what was there to really look at.  And it was the right choice aside from the horrible people sitting near us.  I’m just going to get this out of the way.  This couple a few seats down from us talked through the whole show.  Sometimes whispering but always loud enough that you could hear her.  I even know she felt better after going to the bathroom.  I mean, for fucks sake.

But enough, focus on the greatness of  the show. (more…)

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Los Bitchos / Faux Real (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, September 23, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Faux Real, Franklin Music Hall, Los Bitchos, Philadelphia, PA on September 23, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 23, 2024] Los Bitchos / Faux Real

Back in 2022, Los Botchos opened for Belle & Sebastian.  And at the last minute we weren’t able to go to that show.

But I had listened to them and was really interested:

Los Bitchos is a four piece from London.  The band consists of Serra Petale (guitar), Agustina Ruiz (keytar), Josefine Jonsson (bass), and Nic Crawshaw (drums; percussion).  They predominantly play instrumental music in the style of cumbia from the 70s and 80s.  And they are a lot of fun.  Sounds like a great opening act.

I would have really enjoyed this show (and I love getting to see a band that is doing, in this case, six dates).  But it was the same night as Sigur Ros, who would definitely win out.

Faux Real sounds like a fascinating project:

Visionary art-pop duo Faux Real’s long-awaited debut album “Faux Ever” is a self-described “11-piece symphony for head-banging and longing.”

They sound campy and amazing, frankly.

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Stars (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, September 21, 2024)

Posted in Christine Bougie, Lydia Persaud, Philadelphia, PA, Stars, Union Transfer on September 21, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 21, 2024] Stars

I have been a fan of Stars since about 2004.  I finally got to see them on their Christmas tour of 2022.  Singer Torq said that they would definitely be back for a Christmas tour the following year (they weren’t) and they didn’t do one in 2024 either.  But instead they did this: a 20th anniversary of Set Yourself on Fire, the album that introduced me to the band and which I love.  So yes, I was going to this one, too.

No surprises in the setlist then.

Instead it was a great band playing a great album

Amy Millan and Torquil Campbell sounded great and their onstage rapport is always amazing together–like (sometimes jilted) lovers (although they are not).

The rest of the band has remained the same for 20+ years.  Last tour I learned that bassist Evan Cranley and guitarist Chris Seligman are the main composers of Stars’ music. They repeat a riff or tune until something develops, and then Campbell and Amy Millan write lyrics.  (This according to Wikipedia).

Drummer Pat McGee and lead guitarist Chris McCarron were joined by a violin and sax player for some of the songs. (more…)

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Lydia Persaud & Christine Bougie (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, September 21, 2024) [STARS]

Posted in Christine Bougie, Lydia Persaud, Philadelphia, PA, Stars, Union Transfer on September 21, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 21, 2024] Lydia Persaud & Christine Bougie

Back in 2022, I saw Stars for the first time (on their Christmas tour) and loved them.  The opening act was Lydia Persaud (& Christine Bougie).

I believe that they both play together in a lot of things.  Lydia has been a member of The Soul Motivators, The O’Pears and Dwayne Gretzky and she and Christine are part of the the Queer Songbook Orchestra.  

They played a jazzy set of remarkably sad music.

When Stars announced this new tour for Set Yourself on Fire, I was super excited.  And, they announced some interesting opening acts along the way (including Dears, a band I could have seen before the pandemic but missed them and they haven’t been back since).  (more…)

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Sisters of Mercy / Black Audio (The Met Philadelphia, PA, September 18, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Blaqk Audio, Philadelphia, PA, The Met Philadelphia, The Sisters of Mercy on September 18, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 18, 2024] Sisters of Mercy / Black Audio

Back in the 80s, I was big into goth bands.  And I loved The Sisters of Mercy.   They were pretty damned cool.

Well, except for Vision Thing.  But the other two albums were awesome.

I was sort of interested in seeing this show to relive the old days (seeing Skinny Puppy this year was awesome).  But I didn’t really think I wanted to go.  At least not really.

I have since seen the setlist and there’s only three songs from Floodland and four from Vision Thing.  And then a whole bunch of unreleased stuff.

Just as well I stayed home

Blaqk Audio (I didn’t realize that was a q until writing this–look at the poster above) is an American electronic music duo, formed by current AFI members Davey Havok and Jade Puget.

They seem almost like they are poking fun of this kind of music.  But apparently their live shows are a lot of fun with lots of dancing.

 

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Brutus (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, September 16, 2024)

Posted in Brutus, Philadelphia, PA, Superbloom, Underground Arts on September 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 16, 2024] Brutus

Brutus is a trio from Belgium.  I wasn’t familiar with them until this show was announced but when I listened to their album Unison Life, I loved everything about them and knew I wanted to see them.

As the Superbloom gear was being removed, there was a drumkit on the right side of the stage.  I assumed that it would get moved to the middle, but it never did!

Rather, guitarist Stijn Vanhoegaerden and bassist Peter Mulders were center stage with all of their gear (including Milders’ bass pedals) and vocalist and drummer Stefanie Mannaerts faced them from the side of the stage.

Mannaerts’ microphone was on her left so she turned to the crowd when she sang.  The problem for me is that one of her cymbals was right where her face was, so I literally couldn’t see her face the whole night.  Even when the guy in front of me made room for me (that was very nice), it was still impossible to see her. (more…)

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Superbloom (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, September 16, 2024) [BRUTUS]

Posted in Brutus, Philadelphia, PA, Superbloom, Underground Arts on September 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 16, 2024] Superbloom

Superbloom is a 4 piece Brooklyn band.  They are grunge-y and heavy (and loud).

Their latest single shows the band as a five piece so I don’t know which guitarist was playing.

Lead singer Dave Hoon has a great grungy voice, at times sounding a bit like Kurt Cobain (and on one song drummer Matteo Dix did backing vocals like Dave Grohl).  Hoon was wearing a Soundgarden shirt and I’m sure that was only part of the reason I could hear Soundgarden in their music as well.

None of this is to say that they were a knock off band because they weren’t.  I never thought “this sounds just like X,” rather I loved the vibe and the confidence of the songwriting. (more…)

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The Lemonheads: It’s a Shame About C’mon Feel Tour / Cooper B. Handy / The Taxidermists (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, September 14 & 15, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Cooper B. Handy, Lemonheads, Philadelphia, PA, The Taxidermists, Theatre of Living Arts on September 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 14 & 15, 2024] The Lemonheads / Cooper B. Handy / The Taxidermists

I rather enjoyed The Lemonheads’ anniversary of It’s a Shame About Ray.  But I felt that Evan Dando’s performance was less than stellar.  And there was no word that he was “doing better” these days.

So even though I would have really enjoyed hearing these two albums in total, I wanted to hear them by Evan from twenty years ago.

Markit Aneight was there so I didn’t have to be and his video confirms that Evan was in a bad way that night.  So I’m glad I didn’t waste my time.

The first night opener was Cooper B. Handy.

Cooper B Handy has a kind of 90s DIY sound, but from the video below I wouldn’t really have enjoyed him that much.

Born on Cape Cod, Cooper B. Handy started releasing music as LUCY in 2009. In the years since, the Western Massachusetts based singer/producer has made a career of self-releasing music and videos, unpolished & posted in near real time.

The second night opener was The Taxidermists, a band from Massachusetts that’s been around for over a decade and which may have been the same band as played the first night.

the duo of singer/guitarist Cooper B. Handy (LUCY) and drummer Salvadore McNamara—take complete creative control on their infectious new KO EP. The organic sound of two childhood best friends sequestered in a garage with tape reels.

The first night it was just Cooper and a drummer, so maybe it was the same band–but probably different songs?  Maybe?

 

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Garcia Peoples / Country Westerns (Milkboy, Philadelphia, PA, September 14, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Country & Westerns, Garcia Peoples, Milkboy, Philadelphia, PA on September 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 14, 2024] Garcia Peoples / Country Westerns

I have seen Garcia Peoples five times, but I hadn’t heard much from them lately–which is only surprising because they used to play all the time.  So much so that I have NOT SEEN them five times since the last time I saw them.

I would have liked seeing them again, and Milkboy would be a great place to see them.  But this was a day that we had plans and it has been a busy concert month, so I gave it a miss.  I do hope  they play around again soon.

Country Westerns are a three-piece band with a two-man engine: Joseph Plunket is an Atlanta hardcore kid turned singer-songwriter whose first solo gig was opening for Cat Power. He went on to lead Brooklyn alt-country legends The Weight during the height of NYCs mid-00’s garage rock bonanza and played bass on the side for King Tuff and Gentleman Jesse. Brian Kotzur is a swaggery metronome who drummed for Silver Jews and was a close collaborator of David Berman. The band’s first fan and an early champion of theirs, Berman would lurk in the back of dingy Nashville clubs and film their early shows on a flip phone.

They play a kind of late Clash-like punk and would be a lot of fun.

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Weezer / The Flaming Lips / Dinosaur Jr. (Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA, September 13, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Dinosaur Jr., Philadelphia, PA, The Flaming Lips, Weezer, Wells Fargo Center on September 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 13, 2024]  Weezer / The Flaming Lips / Dinosaur Jr.

I mean, there’s no reason I DIDN’T go to this show.  I love all three bands and have seen each of them at least 3 times.

But this show (in which Weezer played the whole Blue Album) just felt too big.  I didn’t want to go to Wells Fargo Center to see them–especially since I’ve seen all three of them in smaller venues.

As it happened, the week was busy anyhow, but I still acknowledge that this would have been an amazing show to see.

The Weezer setlist was fantastic, including a small Pinkerton section.

The Flaming Lips played for almost an hour–ten songs, most of the hits and a few songs from Yoshimi.  Great stuff.

Dinosaur Jr opened and they played six songs classics in about 25 minutes.

What a cool show.

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