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Archive for the ‘Philadelphia, PA’ Category

Zeta (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, August 1, 2023) [SPARTA]

Posted in Geoff Rickly, Philadelphia, PA, Sparta, Thursday, Underground Arts, Venezuela, Zeta on August 1, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: August 1, 2023] Zeta

Zeta (pronounced Zeh-tuh) is a band “of immigrants from Venezuela” as they put it.  They are now based in the U.S. trying to deal with the immigration deal.

I had listened to a little of their music before the show and I was absolutely intrigued.  I arrived just before 7:30 but they had already started by the time I came in.  I don’t think I missed too much, but as I got to the stage, the band was in full flight.

There were four members of the band.  As I walked in Juan Chi (Juan Ricardo Yilo) was whaling lead guitar and singing.  Right in the front of the stage was drummer Eduardo Sandoval.  He was front and center because this is a band that loves drums.

The wall of sound was really loud, but not harsh.  Sandoval was a maniac on the kit–it was amazing to have such a fun drummer right in the front of the stage.  Standing behind him was bassist Antonio Pereira.  Pereira was the one constant through the set–his bass was fast and steady keeping the song moving forward and also keeping it in perfect time.  He kept everybody moving. (more…)

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Pool Kids (The Ukie Club, Philadelphia, PA, July 28, 2023)

Posted in Chase Petra, Philadelphia, PA, Pool Kids, Sweet Pill, Sydney Sprague, The Ukie Club, Ukrainian American Citizens' Association on July 30, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 28, 2023] Pool Kids

Wow was it hot in The Ukie Club.

After two bands (and the inability to buy water at the bar–I can never catch a bartender), I splashed water on my face in the bathroom and prepped for Pool Kids.

The band set up, left the stage and then moments later came on stage to a familiar song that I realized I had no idea the name of.  And you probably don’t either.

It was “Sandstorm” by Darude.  You know it.  Everyone knows it. When I looked up the song the top comment on YouTube is “This song would have well over a billion views if people could actually find it”  And it’s true no one knows the name of it. [The video is quite good too.]

Anyhow, the band came out to it, getting everyone pumped, and then the song slowed and wavered as they kicked into the opening chords of “Swallow.”  There’s some great guitar lines on this song and even though there’s some mellow middle parts (on record–live it’s much heavier), the crowd immediately started slam dancing.  Several people who were up front headed for the sides and I moved over a bit to let them get their dancing out. (more…)

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ALT 104.5 Fishtown FestivALT Block Party (July 29, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in ALT 104.5 Fishtown FestivALT Block Party, Brooklyn Bowl, Cafuné, David Kushner, DJ Reed Streets, Grouplove, Max Davey, Philadelphia, PA, Portugal The Man, Snacktime, The Fillmore Philadelphia, The Foundry, Voilà on July 29, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 29, 2023] ALT 104.5 Fishtown FestivALT Block Party

I received a notification that Portugal. The Man were going to be playing at The Fillmore.  They are a band who are high on my “wanna see” list.  So I grabbed a ticket even though I had a ticket for another show that night.

Then I learned a short time later that the Portugal. The Man show was part of this ALT 104.5 Fishtown FestivALT Block Party.  It’s an all-day affair in three locations.  Much of it is free, although the Portugal. show is not.  Well, then it turned out that we were picking up my daughter from camp that day–so that knocked out going into town early.  And then we got invited to a farewell party for a friend who was leaving the area.  So there went the evening show.  I tried to resell my tickets but I guess Portugal. The Man is not on the top of everyone’s “must see” list.

As for the free bands, it’s amazing how much TikTok is making new bands into favorites.

There are three venues involved. (more…)

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Sydney Sprague (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 29, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 28, 2023] Sydney Sprague

I had seen Syndey Sprague open for The Front Bottoms a couple years ago.  She was the first band of  the night and I wound up walking in after the first two songs.

I liked her vibes and overall sound.  But I was surprised/disappointed by her record which was a lot more poppy than her live show (which was kind of grungy and rocking).

For this show, she came out in an oversized shirt(she must have been very hot).

The other two bands were fairly heavy and rocking, and Sydney was almost in that style, but was a little softer, a little quieter.  Just a little.  The biggest difference was in her singing style which was a lot more monotone than t he other two singers.  Not monotone exactly, but nowhere near as expressive as the other singers.

Having said that, her set was a lot of fun and was full of songs from her new (as yet unreleased) album.   The first two (new) songs were catchy and a rocking.  The third, “Steve” slowed things down a bit but retained that catchiness with a big chorus.

“Object Permanence” is a poppy song–super catchy.  (more…)

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Altin Gün / Rogê (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, July 29, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Altin Gün, Philadelphia, PA, Rogê, Union Transfer on July 29, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 29, 2023] Altin Gün / Rogê

Altin Gün is a Turkish psychedelic band from The Netherlands.  (Their name means Golden Day).

Their live shows are supposed to be wonderful as well:

Altin Gün’s relentless grooves are truly immersive, anti-elitist, inclusive. It’s truly music for the dancefloor – all dancefloors. Altin Gün are the perfect 21st Century psych band, hinting at a deep record collection while still belonging to a living tradition and having a unique and distinctive voice
[from Forestpunk].

They played Underground Arts last year but I couldn’t go.  I’m impressed that they moved up to Union Transfer this year–good for them.

I bought a ticket this year because I’d been listening to and enjoying their new album.  But it seemed like this show was destined for me not to go. (more…)

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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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