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Archive for the ‘Circa Survive’ Category

Circa Survive / Geoff Rickly / Boo Boo Spoiler // Circa Survive / The Waywords / Queen of Jeans // Circa Survive / From Indian Lakes / Air is Human (Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, September 15, 16 & 17, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Air is Human, Boo Boo Spoiler, Circa Survive, From Indian Lakes, Geoff Rickly, Philadelphia, PA, Queen of Jeans, The Fillmore Philadelphia, The Waywords on September 15, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 15, 16 & 17, 2026] Circa Survive / Geoff Rickly / Boo Boo Spoiler // Circa Survive / Queen of Jeans / The Waywords  // Circa Survive / From Indian Lakes / Air is Human

I’m not sure when I heard about these three shows, but as soon as I looked at them, they were all sold out.  So, regardless of whether I wanted to se Circa Survive (I did), I was too late.

I didn’t know Circa Survive at all until 2022, and was really surprised to hear that they were from Philly (which is why these three shows sold out so quickly).  Back in 2022, they sold out two nights at Union Transfer and then cancelled the show last minute.  They’re alt and emo and I’m just really surprised I’d never heard them before.  They are obviosuly huge in Philly, but I’m not sure just how big they are elsewhere.   I like that all of the bands on the bills are either from Philly or NJ.

Geoff Rickly is the singer for Thursday, who I had hoped to see at Underground Arts recently but which I couldn’t get to.  As a solo performer, Rickly was fantastic.  He told little stories before each song and played a mix of solo and Thursday songs.  I assume he’d be solo here for this as well.

Boo Boo Spoiler is a DIY band from Philly that’s managed to build a considerable amount of hype off the strength of their live shows, and none of that magic is lost in the studio; in fact, it’s only amplified.  The Philly shoegaze scene is boiling over with talent right now and these guys are great.  I hadn’t heard of them, but I really liked what I listened to–shoegaze with some fun, weird elements.

Queen of Jeans is a Philly band who I’ve seen on a lot of marquees.  I feel like for a while, back before the pandemic, they were opening for a lot of shows that I didn’t go to.   I see now that they haven’t done much since 2019, but they came back with a new album last year.  They are poppy and delightful.  For some reason I thought they were more punky.  I’d be happy to see them live, but once again I’ve missed them.  Their new album is great.

The Waywords I can’t find a single thing about them online.  I wonder who they are.

I saw From Indian Lakes open for L.S. Dunes.  But by the time I walked in, From Indian Lakes were almost done.  They released their first record since 2019 mid last year, which falls under a shoegaze, indie rock type of genre. The latest album of Head Void was a lot heavier than Dimly Lit in 2019, but compared to L.S. Dunes it’s quite tame.  They are apparently the brainchild of lead singer Joe Vann (Joey Vannucchi) a totally understated front man, who was also pretty funny, replying to fans shouting things and generally keeping the mood light.  We saw about three songs in full and I really liked their vibe–very chill and shoegazey.  Although, live there was a harsher element than the soft shimmer of the album.

Air is Human is a duo from Philly. They mix explosive beats and emotive Rhodes piano with bold and atmospheric guitars. Blending influences from downtempo and ambient with kraut and psych rock, the sound is loud and enveloping.
The description is pretty apt.  It’s definitely experimental and unusual, but is really catchy and intriguing–the “enveloping” part is totally accurate.  I’m very intrigued.

(more…)

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Anthony Green / Maps + Atlases / Keith Goodwin (Williams Center Black Box, Rutherford, NJ, August 29, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Anthony Green, Circa Survive, Keith Goodwin, L.S. Dunes, Maps & Atlases, Maps + Atlases, Rutherford NJ, Saosin, Set in New Jersey!, The Sound of Animals Fighting on August 29, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: August 29, 2026] Anthony Green / Maps + Atlases / Keith Goodwin

I found out about this show a couple of days before it happened and there was no chance I was going to go.  It was also the first time I’d heard of the Williams Center/Black Box.   Okay, that’s not exactly true, I grabbed tickets to the Gully Boys/Pollyanna show in October, when I checked out the venue website for the first time, I saw this show.

As for the Williams Center, I don’t really know that much about it.  There is a cinema.  But I was surprised to see the variety of musicians playing here–Built to Spill (!?).  Evidently it has a capacity of 642.  There also appears to be a bigger venue capacity 2,200 but not that many shows listed for it.

I have seen Anthony Green play with L.S. Dunes.  I was very interested in this show but there was just no way to make it.

So I’m going to leave it up to Sadgrlmtl to summarize what she saw in Massachusetts

Keith Goodwin, who I found out has been a long-time collaborator from his High and Driving days, came on. He was joined by Dave Davison on guitar. Anthony joined for the final song.

My two cents: I haven’t heard of him but he is apparently long time friends with Anthony.  He has been in a few bands (Good Old War most notably) and shows up with Anthony a lot–he might even be in Circa Survive for this upcoming tour.

Maps + Atlases came on with Dave back as the main singer. I had not listened to the band beforehand, but they are labeled as math rock which explains the very strange riff choices by all instruments – especially the drums which had 1 cymbal and 4 toms on top of the regular hi-hat, snare and kick combo which threw me off and made me super curious as to what he was gonna do with the mini toms. These were unfortunately not mic’d very well, so I couldn’t hear them. Overall, very interesting openers.

My two cents: I have heard of Maps + Atlases (or Maps & Atlases if you prefer), but I don’t know much about them. They seem to have 4 albums out with their 2010 album Perch Patchwork being remastered this year.  Pitchfork says their early releases were classic math-rock, typified by busy guitar lines borrowed from 90s bands like Don Caballero. Maps & Atlases are far from the only band from Chicago to use that sound as a starting point, but they’re one of the few to try and move it forward and successfully translate it into pop songs.  I probably would have liked them back in the day, although I’m not sold on his voice.

Anthony Green comes on with a massive band including one trumpeter so quiet he needed a mic (!) otherwise, he would be drowned out by the 4 guitars (who needs 4 rhythm guitars?). It was a show of pure excess as Mr. Green performed songs from all of his bands (Circa Survive, L.S. Dunes, Saosin and Sounds of Animals Fighting) all while drinking what looked like piss but was apple juice. At some point, I realized all of his openers were in his band and that Dave had literally been performing the entire evening – what a champ. At some point, they even play musical chair and the trumpeter goes to the drums, the drummer goes to the keyboard and the keyboardist goes to the trumpet (WHAT?). What a polyvalent group that genuinely loves music. Mr. Green sang as if it was his last show which is funny considering how his bandmates played very politely all while staring at him as if thinking “that’s just Anthony being Anthony”. He also sporadically made jokes.

My two cents: The dude is intense.  I wish I’d seen Sounds of Animals Fighting when the played Union Transfer and I wanted to see Circa Survive next month, but all three shows sold out in a second.  But he’s clearly always making music so I’m sure I’ll see him again.

 

  1. Acoustic VIP
  2. Holding Someone’s Hair Back (Circa Survive song)
  3. Like Magick (L.S. Dunes song)
    Show
  4. So It Goes
  5. I Don’t Want to Die Tonight
  6. Babygirl
  7. She Loves Me So
  8. You’ll Be Fine
  9. Trading Doses
  10. East Coast Winters
  11. Pets (Porno for Pyros cover)
  12. Seven Years (Saosin song)
  13. Strange Terrain (Circa Survive song)
  14. Act Appalled (Circa Survive song)
  15. Reconcile
  16. Don’t Dance
  17. Dear Child (I’ve Been Dying to Reach You) / Like Magick / Fucks Me Up

    Encore:

  18. Get Out (Circa Survive song)
  19. This Song Won’t Save You

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Circa Survive / Tigers Jaw / Soul Glo (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 4 & 5, 2022) [CANCELLED]

Posted in Circa Survive, Philadelphia, PA, Soul Glo, Tigers Jaw, Union Transfer on March 4, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[CANCELLED: March 4 & 5, 2022] Circa Survive / Tigers Jaw / Soul Glo

I feel like I should have known Circa Survive.  When this tour was announced there was a lot of hype about it.   I mean, two nights at Union Transfer! (they are a Philly band after all).  This was to be a tour of their ten year old (sort of) album Blue Sky Noise.  They’re alt and emo and I’m just really surprised I’ve never heard them.  The hype made me interested enough to check out the album and I liked it (although I’m not sure of Anthony Green’s voice).

And then just before the tour started, they cancelled it

Circa Survive have announced that they have decided to cancel their Blue Sky Noise Anniversary Tour in part due to the mental health struggles of frontman Anthony Green.

The band had this to say, “It breaks our hearts to announce that we are officially cancelling the BSN Anniversary Tour. This includes the dates that were being rescheduled for the summer as well.

“There are multiple factors at play here but most pressingly Anthony is currently struggling with a mental health crisis and unable to be on tour at this time. A focus on self and family is of the utmost importance right now therefore postponing or rescheduling any further doesn’t feel like the right thing to do.

“We’re absolutely devastated over this and feel awful for everyone it affects. We hope you will accept our most sincere apologies and regrets with this news and the last minute nature of this announcement. All refunds will be available at point of purchase (VIP buyers, check your email).

“Although we are somber and wounded in this moment, our art and this community have always been guiding lights of hope and healing for us in times like this. We look forward to better days where we can celebrate overcoming these hardships together.”

I saw Tigers Jaw last year when they headlined Union Transfer.  It was an album release show for their I Don’t Care How You Remember Me record.  I didn’t know them that well, but since this was an album release show, nobody did.  It was terrific and I was surprised that they were opening this one.  When this show was cancelled they announced a show in Garwood a few days later and I saw them there which was a lot of fun.

Soul Glo is a band I really want to see. They are an extreme punk band and will probably scare the heck out of me.  I’ve heard their live shows are really intense.  Although probably not so much as an opening band.

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