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Archive for the ‘Philadelphia, PA’ Category

Chase Petra (The Ukie Club, Philadelphia, PA, July 28, 2023) [POOL KIDS]

Posted in Chase Petra, Philadelphia, PA, Pool Kids, Sweet Pill, Sydney Sprague, The Ukie Club, Ukrainian American Citizens' Association on July 28, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 28, 2023] Chase Petra

I wasn’t sure if I was going to make the show this evening.  Things were confusing at my house, but got straightened out enough that I wound up leaving almost an hour after I would normally have.

I assumed I’d missed Chase Petra.  It was stupidly hot in The Ukie Club and the band on stage was setting up at roughly 8:40.  I guessed it was Sydney Sprague, but when someone on stage shouted for help with Syndey’s amp, I realized that this was Chase Petra.

And I thought, jeez, I’m glad I didn’t arrive on time if they’re just going on now.

But it turned out there was a secret guest who started the show.  New Jersey’s Sweet Pill, who I could have seen at a Front Bottoms festival, but have now missed twice (and whose album is very good).

A few minutes later, amid loud (and accurate) grumbling about how hot it was, Chase Petra took the stage. (more…)

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Phish: Summer Tour 2023 (The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA, July 26, 2023) [night 2 of 2] [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA, Phish on July 26, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 26, 2023] Phish

Ever since seeing two Phish shows in a row at the same venue, it’s hard to not do both show every time.

Last night’s show was great and the new song(s) were fantastic.

But after last night’s lengthy time getting in and lengthy time getting home, even with a friend offering me a Lyft so I didn’t have to fight for parking, I just didn’t have the energy to do another show tonight.

So I sold my ticket on CashorTrade and will head home for an early night, hoping they don’t play any of my “gotta see songs.”

~~~~ (more…)

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Phish: Summer Tour 2023 (The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA, July 25, 2023) [night 1 of 2]

Posted in Jimi Hendrix, Kasvot Växt, Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA, Phish, Talking Heads on July 25, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 25, 2023] Phish

This was my sixteenth Phish show.  I assumed I’d be seeing 17 tomorrow, but I decided to blow it off instead.

Primarily, because this trip from Prince to Philly sucked so bad,  I left work at 4:30 and parked at 7.  Yes, there was a donut run in the middle, but still.  My parking space was way back in the woods (which was actually kind of easy to get out, thankfully).  And I felt like I was surrounded by insanity.

This was my first Mann Center show where I had an assigned seat.  I thought it was balcony, but it was actually outside in that weird uncovered area.  The seat was pretty good.  Me neighbors were weird though.  Not very friendly–no one passed me anything.

I felt like the show had to be spectacular if I was going to even consider going tomorrow night.

And while the show checked off NO songs on my gotta see list and bumped FIVE songs into “now I’ve seen it four times” territory and one song into “now I’ve seen it 5 times” the show was still fun.

Really, seeing a band sixteen times and seeing a few songs only six times is stull a lot of originality, although I fell like they’ve been playing the same basic grouping of songs for the last few tours.  Or maybe playing the same venue makes them think of playing the same songs a lot.  (more…)

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Remember Sports / 2nd Grade (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, July 25, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in 2nd Grade, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Remember Sports on July 25, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 25, 2023] Remember Sports / 2nd Grade

Remember Sports is a Philly band who I instinctively didn;t like because of their name.  Then I heard them and fell in love with them.  Their off-kilter indie rock and wild vocals are just so much fun.

I really wanted to see them live.

And then Phish announced that their summer shows would be that night and the following night.  When I actually wound up with a seat for the first Phish night (instead of lawn) which was the 25th, well, it was hard to pass that up.

I hope they do another tour before too long.

I saw 2nd Grade open for Charly Bliss back in April and really enjoyed their set a lot.

They are a gentle boppy indie pop band.  Super catchy and poppy with delightful harmonies and a childlike quality (as befits their name).  Most of the songs are around two minutes.

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The Struts / Mac Saturn (The Fillmore, Philadelphia, PA, July 22, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Mac Saturn, Philadelphia, PA, Steely Dan, The Fillmore Philadelphia, The Struts on July 22, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 22, 2023] The Struts / Mac Saturn

The Struts opened for Foo Fighters when my wife and I saw them.  Sadly, we missed their entire set.

They have a retro look and feel and I like the way Louder Than War describes their:

knack for writing and performing unapologetically direct, catchy, feel-good original songs that somehow sound like long-lost rock classics. It also shows the singer’s ability to connect with crowds.

Moving with all the grace and poise of someone who, as a child, imitated Michael Jackson in front of a mirror, he fully commits to one tried-and-tested rockstar move after another. It works. His repertoire — above-the-head clapping, raised jazz hands, reaching out with microphone in palm, cupping hand to ear, come hither gestures, running hands over torso, and stationary hands-on-hips poses — forms a direct, almost primal, connection with the audience. With just the flick of a wrist he can get 2,000 people to sing louder, cheer harder, clap faster, or jump higher than they already are.

Luke Skinner sang a song with Foo Fighters and I can attest to his charisma.

This would probably have been a fun show, honestly, but I wasn’t all that inspired. Plus, I had a show the night before, so it seemed like too much.

According to Michigan Daily,

Detroit’s Mac Saturn is best known for its explosive rock ‘n’ roll shows, filled with ’70s rock mystique and flair. The six-piece is made up of frontman Carson Macc, drummer Angelo Coppola, guitarists Mike Moody and Nick Barone, bassist Jive Moses and pianist Evan Mercer on the keys. Mac Saturn became a staple of the Michigan music scene in 2020 and has since released 2022 single “Diamonds,” funk rock EP Until the Money Runs Out and “Plain Clothes Gentleman (Live)” — an electrifying start to a promising career.

I’m getting a funky Steely Dan vibe from them.   In fact, now that I’ve listened to a few of their songs, if you told me the songs were lost Steely San songs I’d believe you.

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Blondshell / Hello Mary (PhilaMOCA, Philadelphia, PA, July 21, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Blondshell, Hello Mary, Philadelphia, PA, PhilaMOCA on July 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 21, 2023] Blondshell / Hello Mary

Blondshell is a new buzz band.  The creation of Sabrina Teitelbaum, who had been making pop music as BAUM, she debuted Blondshell right around the pandemic.

I’ve liked what I heard from her so far and I was looking forward to seeing her at PhilaMOCA before she really took off in the next year or so.  She’s got that retro 90s female singer thing that I likes so much down perfectly.

I’m a little bummed that the non-musical event that I really want to go to is the same night.  As I’ll never see her again at such a small intimate show.

I’m actually more bummed that I’m missing opener Hello Mary who I like even more.

The New York trio’s self-titled full-length debut, out March 3, is a blast of distorted chords, sunny harmonies, and all-consuming angst that will renew your faith in the hopelessly dated and/or timelessly classic sounds of alternative rock. Hello Mary is an instant contender for 2023’s most bracing entrance to the stage, sharp and self-assured. Oh yeah, and the band’s two founders — singer-guitarist Helena Straight and bass player Mikaela Oppenheimer, both 18 — just graduated from high school this summer.

I have since listened to the album and I love it.  I sure hope they tour soon, maybe as a headliner.

 

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Nanna / Indigo Sparke (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, July 21, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Indigo Sparke, Nanna, Of Monsters and Men, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on July 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 21, 2023] Nanna / Indigo Sparke

Nanna is the main singer (and creative force) behind Of Monsters and Men.
I was intrigued by the announcement of her solo tour, but i wasn’t sure if I wanted to see her.

Then Blondshell announced her show the same night as this one and I decided I’d rather see her than Nanna.

Turns out we have another obligation that night anyhow, so the decision was moot.

I know of Indigo Sparke from her Tiny Desk Concert a few years ago.  She is an Australian singer songwriter and I wrote

Sparke sings a little too slowly for my liking–the kind of stretched out vocals that make it hard for me to follow the thread of the song (or maybe that you need a few listens to fully appreciate).

At the tome of that Concert, she was in a relationship with Adrienne Lenker from Big Thief.  Not sure if she still is.

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Blondshell: Free at Noon (World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA, July 21, 2023)

Posted in Blondshell, Free at Noon, Philadelphia, PA, World Cafe Live on July 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 21, 2023] Blondshell

Blondshell is a new band created by Sabrina Teitelbaum.  She has recorded music under BAUM, but wanted to go in a different direction and so created Blondshell (great name).

I’d heard a couple of songs by her and she was generating a lot of buzz.  I bought a ticket to see her (and Hello, Mary, another young band I like a lot) at PhilaMOCA.  The show sold out soon after.

And then I got invited to a party for my friend’s son. I gladly blew of the show to go to the party.  But when it was announced that Blondshell would do the Free at Noon this week, I immediately grabbed a ticket.

The band played eight songs.  I really enjoyed their guitarist playing some really noisy guitar solos especially at the end of “Veronica Mars.”

The song I know and really like is “Joiner” which sounded great.

And I was impressed that Sabrina sings mostly in a kind of low dirgey style but  that she can really belt out when it’s time for it.  She has some really strong pipes. (more…)

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Barenaked Ladies / Del Amitri / Five for Fighting (The Met Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, July 19, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Barenaked Ladies, Del Amitri, Five for Fighting, Philadelphia, PA, The Met Philadelphia on July 19, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 19, 2023] Barenaked Ladies / Five for Fighting / Del Amitri

We haven’t seen Barenaked Ladies since 2017 (2016 was the last time on one of these Last Summer on Earth tours).

They always put on a good show, although I feel like I’ve enjoyed the last few a little bit less than the previous ones.  Mostly because they play the same big hits all the time.  I mean, you can’t be BNL and not play those songs, but it would be fun if they didn’t.

I always consider going to their Last Summer on Earth tours, but I typically dislike the other bands that are playing with them–usually 90s bands that I assumed were broken up. Which doesn’t really speak all that well of BNL (unless it speaks well of them trying to boost old bands).  Their new setlist mixes in a few different songs, so maybe if next year’s co-headliners are good, I’ll grab tickets.

What was such a bummer for me this time is I actually want to see Semisonic (everybody knows that one song, but they have albums worth of great stuff).  But instead they were replaced on this leg of the tour by Five for Fighting.

I had heard of Five for Fighting and I know his song “Superman” although I’m getting it mixed up with another one I’m sure.  I had no idea that it was a one-person operation

Vladimir John Ondrasik III, also known as by his stage name Five for Fighting, is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. He is best known for his piano-based soft rock sentimental ballads.

I also didn’t know they were known for their soft rock ballads. Ew.

I had of course known of Del Amitri, their hit “Roll with Me” is still played from time to time.  Although I had no idea they were Scottish.  I would have told you they were broken up, but I see they reunited in 2013 and again in 2018.  They might have been interesting to see but not worth dragging out for this tour.

Next year guys, find bands that I actually want to see!

 

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First Aid Kit (Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, July 15, 2023)

Posted in First Aid Kit, Fleetwood Mac, Philadelphia, PA, The Fillmore Philadelphia, The Weather Station, Willie Nelson on July 16, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 15, 2023] First Aid Kit 

My wife and I saw First Aid Kit twice in seven months.  First at Union Transfer and then, when they came back through Philly, at the much larger Fillmore.

Both shows were great and we were happy to see them twice so soon apart.

Especially since it took five years for them to come back to town!

The seven month separation between shows led me to observe:

In a nutshell, it felt like a very different show even though it was more or less the same show.

But five years is a long time.  They put out a new album (and reissued it with extra songs the other day).  So this promised to be a very different show.

Although the set up was similar, the backing band was different this time.  Last time: Steve Moore on keys and trombone, Scott Simpson on drums and Melvin Duffy on pedal steel.  This time: Freja “Freja the Dragon” Drakenberg on keyboards, Gabriel Runemark on drums and Johannes Runemark (a.k.a. Kasino) on guitar and mandolin.

Klara and Johanna came out a few moments later looking fabulous–they have really embraced their look with Klara in a hot pink pantsuit and Johanna in a short flowy one piece that was mesmerizing in its pattern.

The new album is great and it is doing well and they opened with two songs from it.

I knew they’d be playing a lot of new stuff, but they did a great job interweaving it since after the  two new tracks, including the first single “Angel,” they played previous big hit “It’s a Shame.”  There was no pedal steel guitar on this tour, although Johannes could play those pedal steel lines on his guitar quite easily.

And there was some delightful banter with the crowd  (Hello Philleeeeeee!). (more…)

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