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Archive for the ‘Philadelphia, PA’ Category

Tinariwen (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, July 24, 2024)

Posted in Basic, Chris Forsyth, Philadelphia, PA, Tinariwen, Underground Arts on July 25, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 24, 2024] Tinariwen

Tinariwen is a pretty legendary band.  They play a guitar driven “desert blues” in which the guitar is played pretty much non-stop.   It’s unique and original to American ears but is apparently part of a Mali musical sound that combines traditional Tuareg and African music with Western rock.

I’ve been trying to see them for a number of years and things never seemed to pan out, until this year.

The night was a challenge as parking was limited and I wound up coming in later than I intended.  It was also much more crowded (so early) than I anticipated.  So I had  to stand off to the side.

About half way through the show, I had to get out of the crowd and Underground Arts was super nice in that someone got me a chair (I’m using a cane at the moment).  I actually felt obliged to stay in the chair which meant I was in kind of a crappy location visually for most of the show.   But it was so crowded that I wasn’t going to see much anyhow, so I’m grateful for the seat. (more…)

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Basic (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, July 24, 2024) [TINARIWEN]

Posted in Basic, Chris Forsyth, Philadelphia, PA, Tinariwen, Underground Arts on July 24, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 24, 2024] Basic

Philadelphia’s own BASIC, Chris Forsyth on guitar, Nick Millevoi on baritone guitar and drum machine, and Patrick Avery on percussion and electronics.  I saw them open for Tortoise back in 2023 and really enjoyed their rocking, possibly improvised set.

The venue was super packed.  I started in the center but couldn’t see anything so I moved to the Nick Millevoi’s side, but was still blocked by a pole.  Eventually I sidled up and managed to see all three of them.

Last time, I felt Christ Forsyth’s guitar was a little quiet, but this time the sound was great.

Like last time, Avery had a tiny bass drum that he hit with a mallet.  On it was a kind of woodblock, which he hit with a plastic mallet.  That’s all he had.  Millevoi often started a drum machine as he started playing so technically Avery didn’t have a lot to do, but seeing and hearing him add bass drum was a nice touch.  Avery also played with some electronics on a table near him–I think he was doing a lot more than I realized (since I couldn’t see him very well, it’s hard to know).

They played for about 40 minutes and it was a great rocking set.  Nick and Chris both played great solos from time to time and Mikel held it all together.

I do hope to see them one more time, hopefully from the front where I can really see what’s going on.

And what was fun was that Chris and his family (I assume) stood next to me at the end of Tinariwen, and then he was super friendly after the show where we chatted about the upcoming Basic album.

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Kathleen Edwards / Ken Yates (Concerts Under the Stars series Upper Merion Township Building Park, King of Prussia, PA, July 24, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Concerts Under the Stars series, Kathleen Edwards, Ken Yates, King of Prussia PA, Philadelphia, PA, Upper Merion Township Building Park on July 24, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 24, 2024] Kathleen Edwards / Ken Yates [rescheduled from June 19]

I once thought that I would never get to see Kathleen Edwards.  And then she resurfaced from her coffee shop and I saw her three times in a year.

I would have liked to see her at this show (I saw her at an outdoor show two years ago) but King of Prussia is really far.  And then the whole tour was postponed because she and her band ran into Visa issues (for the first time ever).

She managed to rescheduled the dates (I guess there’s a good reason to do short two week tours, they are much easier to reschedule).  (more…)

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Spoon Benders / Color Charge / Disaster Artist (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, July 23, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Color Charge, Disaster Artist, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Spoon Benders, The Lunar Year on July 23, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 23, 2024] Spoon Benders / Color Charge / Disaster Artist / [was] The Lunar Year

Spoon Benders opened for The Psychedelic Porn Crumpets on a night I couldn’t go (still sad about that one).

If they open for PPC, they must be worth checking out so I had considered going to this show.  But I had a couple of other shows this week so this one was pushed aside.

They are a progressive psych-rock powerhouse that has been relentlessly crisscrossing the United States, leaving a trail of newly acquired fans in their wake. Spoon Benders have become synonymous with an electrifying stage presence that can only be described as loud, controlled chaos.

When I first listened to some of their songs I wasn’t that excited, but I feel like I must not have been paying attention because their sound is very cool with lots of echoing guitars and a much-needed female voice on lead and backing vocals.

I would like to see them some day though. (more…)

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The Family Crest / Koser (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, July 21, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Johnny Brenda's, Koser, Philadelphia, PA, The Family Crest on July 21, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 21, 2024] The Family Crest

I saw The Family Crest back in 2017.  I was really into their album at the time.  Since then I’ve kind of forgotten about them.  I was interested in seeing them again as their new material is still strong. But I wound up not getting a ticket.

Then we made plans to go visit family members, so the point was moot anyhow.

Koser sounds like they want to be the band for everyone

a high-energy 5-piece rock/blues/funk band from Philadelphia. The supergroup meshes the powerful contralto vocals of Kara Koser with a heap of instruments– guitars, bass, saxophone, keyboard, synth, percussion, drums, and more, every show. KOSER pairs well with the soul of Lawrence, Amy Winehouse, and the grit of Nirvana, Paramore.

I listened to their one song on Bandcamp and it was all instrumental and all synths, so I don’t really know what that blurb is talking about.

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Scary Kids Scaring Kids / Oxymorrons (The Foundry, Philadelphia, PA, July 21, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Oxymorrons, Philadelphia, PA, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, The Foundry on July 21, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTENDED: July 21, 2024] Scary Kids Scaring Kids / Oxymorrons

I saw an announcement that Oxymorrons were playing The Foundry and I immediately went to get a ticket.  My son and I saw them there about a year and a half ago and it was a ton of fun.

Then I saw that Oxymorrons were OPENING for band that I’d never heard of.

What a bummer.  I certainly wasn’t going to do out of my way for this show.

I’m still not sure what to make of Scary Kids Scaring Kids.   Apparently they put out two albums then broke up.  They put out a new album in 2002 (which was generally regarded as terrible) and now they are playing their self-titled (second) album, which people seem to like.

The descriptions of the album that I’ve read haven’t given me any insight into t he music and I don’t care enough to find out.   But it sounds like their music isn’t scary and maybe they aren’t either.

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Fucked Up / Chastity (Ukie Club, Philadelphia, PA, July 18, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Chastity, Fucked Up, Philadelphia, PA, The Ukie Club on July 18, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 18, 2024] Fucked Up / Chastity

I saw Fucked Up back in July of 2022 and would like to see them again.

They’ve been around a few times since then and things never seem to quite work out.  I was excited about this show because I’m fond of The Ukie Club as a venue.  But then we wound up scheduling dinner with friends and this was the only night available for that.  So, sadly I had to miss them again.

But it sounds like  they’ll be back again soon.

Chastity is a one-man band project from Ontario

is for the skids, the headbangers, the freaks. Chastity is for everyone who has suffered and survived the lethal combination of suburban overculture and mental distress. Chastity is especially for everyone who didn’t survive—the ones who didn’t get out. Brandon Williams did, luckily, and his work with Chastity has been to collect people like him, who got out by the skin of their teeth.

They play surprisingly catchy (with great guitar lines and sing along choruses) song given the angst mentioned and the fact that they are opening for Fucked Up.

I’d have really enjoyed this show I think.

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Lifeguard (PhilaMOCA, Philadelphia, PA, July 15, 2023)

Posted in Cold Court, Font, Lifeguard, Philadelphia, PA, PhilaMOCA on July 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 15, 2024] Lifeguard

Before this show I hadn’t heard of Lifeguard.  Which is why I was surprised that this was a co-headlining tour. But then I saw that in May Monster Children (yea, I don’t know what that is either) wrote an article called “Lifeguard is a band you should know.”

Their music is youthful, energetic and intentional, channeling the nostalgic sounds of bands like Dinosaur Jr and Fugazi while still remaining distinctly their own. They give a shit, putting all of themselves into the band and everything surrounding it, creating a sound that encapsulates this youth collective that they’ve played such a major role in creating.

I don’t know how old the members of the band are, but I assume they are teenagers.

And the first notable thing about them was that singer guitarist Kai Slater was on crutches.  So he sat for the whole set, his right foot in a boot.

Then he started playing guitar–a great crisp, punky guitar sound.  The reminded me a bit of Gang of Four.  Their songs were pretty catchy and yet they were absolutely unafraid to simply make a lot of noise–screamed vocals, angular sharp guitars and crashing drums. (more…)

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Font (PhilaMOCA, Philadelphia, PA, July 15, 2023) [LIFEGUARD]

Posted in Cold Court, Font, Lifeguard, Philadelphia, PA, PhilaMOCA on July 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 15, 2024] Font

I saw Font back in October of 2023 opening for Chai and I loved them.  They hadn’t released any music at the time but this mini tour was in support of the release of their debut album.

So who are they?

Font is an Austin-based band made up of Thom Waddill, Jack Owens, Anthony Lawrence, Roman Parnell, and Logan Wagner. Fontbegan playing shows regularly in the beginning of 2022.

They make noisy, unexpected songs with catchy parts and decidedly uncatchy parts.  The songs tend to have something–a piano note, a guitar riff–that recurs enough to call it a hook.  And each song is unique in its own way.

The bass wanders all over the place–in a great New Wave sorta way.  And, as it turns out the percussionist is a major component of the band.

I stood in front of singer/guitarist/sound effects manipulator Thom Waddill.  In the center of the stage was Anthony Laurence who played guitar and was in charge of a lot of the other sounds that came out–he had a cool array of equipment up there.  On the far side was bassist Roman Parnell.

Then in the back were the real noise makers: Jack Owens on Drums and Logan Wagner on Percussion.  Wagner had a vast supply of equipment that he kept changing out, creating really interesting organic sounds.  He also triggered some samples.

There were two guys up front.  One was the singer.  He played guitar and all kinds of gear that he had around him.  The other guy also played guitar although he seemed to play more of the electronic gear that was around him.  At one point the guy in front of me also play the gear in front of the other guy–there was a lot of gear.

They have weird, interesting songs that people don’t make anymore.  The laziest comparison I can make is Parquet Courts, for the diversity of style and sometimes angular and harsh melodies, but they don’t sound anything like Parquet Courts, not really.

I can’t wait to hear what else they do.  They were terrific.

I told Waddill that I thought they were headlining and he said that they and Lifeguard were co-headlining.  So that made sense.

I would certainly see them again.

 

2024 2023
Cattle Prod § The Golden Calf §
Two Answers Sentence I §
It § Hey Kekulé §
Hey Kekulé § It §
Looking At Engines § Two Answers
Natalie’s Song § Looking at Engines §
The Golden Calf § Cattle Prod §
Signal Drama Natalie’s Song §
Sentence 1 § [maybe one more]

§ Strange Burden (2024)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Font (PhilaMOCA, Philadelphia, PA, July 15, 2023) [LIFEGUARD]

Posted in Cold Court, Font, Lifeguard, Philadelphia, PA, PhilaMOCA on July 16, 2024| 1 Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 15, 2024] Font

I saw Font (from Austin, TX) open for Chai about nine months ago. They weren’t really compatible in terms of style, but they were both a little weird an a pretty noisy.

I really enjoyed Font a lot and was a little bummed that they had, basically, one song available online.  Well a few days ago they released an actual album.  It’s not long (less than half an hour), but it’s packed with all the weirdness that makes Font awesome.

They play a great mix of catchy and really abrasive–repetitive sounds that contrast (in both time signature and style) to the drum/percussion or the great bass sound.

There’s five guys in the band: vocalist/guitarist/sound creator Thom Wadhill, guitarist/sampling savant Anthony Lawrence, bassist Roman Parnell and dual percussionists Jack Owens and Logan Wagner.

Last time, I noted

The bass wanders all over the place–in a great New Wave sorta way.  And, as it turns out the percussionist is a major component of the band.  From where I was I couldn’t really see the drummer (there was so much STUFF on stage), but I could clearly see the percussionist who had cowbells, blocks, cymbals (which he moved around to make different sound) and some bongos.  He must have been exhausted.

There were two guys up front.  One was the singer.  He played guitar and all kinds of gear that he had around him.  The other guy also played guitar although he seemed to play more of the electronic gear that was around him.  At one point the guy in front of me [Wadhill] also played the gear in front of the [Lawrence]–there was a lot of gear.

(more…)

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