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Archive for the ‘Citizen’ Category

Citizen / Hotline TNT / Anxious / Rocket (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, August 29, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Anxious, Citizen, Hotline TNT, Philadelphia, PA, Rocket, Union Transfer on August 29, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: August 29, 2026] Citizen / Hotline TNT / Anxious / Rocket

What’s a person to do when there’s a four-band bill and you like 2 of the bands but neither is headlining?

I’m always intrigued when I’ve never heard of a band who is headlining a tour.  Particularly if there are other bands on the bill that I know and like.  So how have I never heard of Citizen?  They’ve been around since 2009 and have come through Philly several times. Their 2023 album Calling the Dogs is considered essential listening.  Their bio says

With the ability to excel in both quiet ballads and distorted rock anthems, Citizen (which recently expanded to a full quintet with the addition of former touring members drummer Ben Russin and guitarist Mason Mercer) has an incredible knack for channeling raw emotion and energy into singalong songs.

A brief listen confirms the singalong part for sure.  I like them, they’re quite fun, although they’re not especially memorable. This probably would have been a worthwhile night to check out, although we were leaving for Minnesota the following day so that was unlikely.

Hotline TNT plays what I can only describe as classic shoegaze, which is definitely having a moment again.  Unlike a lot of their contemporaries, they don’t really mess with the classic shoegaze vibe all that much–not adding elements at all.  Their music warms my heart and I’d love to see them live.  This is the seventh time I’ve missed them since 2022.

Anxious are an emo band from Connecticut,  They play some lighter stuff, but seem to have a heavier punk edge as well.  They have old school punk singing from time to time–sometimes in background behind some much gentler singing.  But it’s mostly poppy punk stuff.   Pretty fun/

I Saw Rocket open for Ride and then saw them ona headline tour at Warehouse on Watts.  They are great.  I’m surprised they were so low on this bill.  This Rocket (there are several bands named Rocket) is from LA and holy cow, they scratched just about every musical itch I had.  Soft female vocals, shoegaze to heavy crunchy guitars.  It was all there.  I loved every second of their set.

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Turnstile / Citizen / Ceremony / Ekulu / Truth Cult (Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, May 24, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Ceremony, Citizen, Ekulu, Philadelphia, PA, The Fillmore Philadelphia, Truth Cult, Turnstile on May 24, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 24, 2022] Turnstile / Citizen / Ceremony / Ekulu / Truth Cult

The new Turnstile record is fun and wild.  And I’ve heard that a Turnstile live show was absolutely bonkers.  I wanted to go to this show, although the prospect of five bands in one night is exhausting.

Plus I had tickets to see Sondre Lerche (they couldn’t be more different options)–which we wound up not going to anyhow.

Citizen are a rocking band who embrace a lot of styles.  I hear some post punk and some shoegaze wrapped in an emo blanket.  I rather dig their stuff.

Ceremony were a hardcore band who have expanded their palette a bit.  Indeed, one of their newest songs has a female vocalist singing gently in the middle of the song.

Ekulu, are a crossover hardcore band with lots of screaming metal solos.

Truth Cult throws in a bunch of influences.  There’ a lot of 70s rock in their delivery (those backing vocals and riffs) but the lead vocals are firmly in the punk realm.  There’s a hint of Fucked Up on their overall sound, as well.

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