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Archive for the ‘FACS’ Category

FACS / Jeff Ziegler / Long Spells (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, April 8, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in FACS, Jeff Ziegler, Johnny Brenda's, Long Spells, Philadelphia, PA on April 8, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 8, 2025] FACS / Jeff Ziegler / Long Spells

I saw FACS back in 2019.  They opened for Explosions in the Sky and they were intense and wonderful.  They were 3/4 of the now defunct band Disappears.  I would have really enjoyed seeing them again, to experience their noise and cathartic sounds.  But there were THREE other shows I could have gone to that night and they were all slightly more interesting to me.

Ultimately, I stayed home because my wife had just had surgery.  According to the video below they only played for 45 minutes.

Jeff Ziegler is a Philadelphia based music producer who makes abstract electronic music.  The video below makes it seem reasonably interesting.

The blurb on the video below says:

Live synth set from producer, engineer, and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Zeigler, recorded at Johnny Brenda’s in Philadelphia. Known for his work with Mary Lattimore, Kurt Vile, The War on Drugs, and his own project Valley Exit, Zeigler builds a shifting landscape of modular textures, analog pulses, and atmospheric loops unfolding in real time. This set moves through evolving drones, drifting melodies, layered sequences, and the subtle unpredictability of live modular electronics. It’s a performance that sits between structure and spontaneity, drawing from the rich, textural side of experimental and ambient music.

Long Spells are a trio from Philly with an amusing quote for their bio

“Long Spells is a musical act comprised of three caucasian males of varying ages that reside in the city of Philadelphia and possess mid socioeconomic statuses. Each member works a job unrelated to music that inconsistently assists with creating a sense of financial stability within their lives. Long Spells is a musical and creative outlet that can help them find stimulation, regulate their mood, and live in a manner congruent with their desire to be true to themselves. The members have many similar musical interests and social/cultural connections that have brought them together over the years. Long Spells enjoy making indie pop/rock that allows for experimentation with sound textures, melodies, and rhythms. Audience members at their shows have been observed nodding their heads and tapping their feet to the music. After performances, some showgoers have been overheard telling the band members, “Hey, great set!” “I really liked the third song.” and “I had a hard time hearing the lyrics.”

From what I heard below I would have really enjoyed them.  In fact, the while night sounds like it would have been great.

pocket sound pictures posted videos of

FACS:

Long Spells:

Jeff Ziegler:

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Explosions in the Sky (Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ, October 12, 2019)

Posted in Explosions in the Sky, FACS, Sayreville, NJ, Set in New Jersey!, Starland Ballroom on October 12, 2019| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 12, 2019] Explosions in the Sky

I saw Explosions in the Sky three years ago. It stands as one of the most memorable shows I’ve seen and I knew that I wanted to see them again whenever I had the chance.

I don’t know if the band doesn’t tour all that much or if they just didn’t come my way, but after three years, when I saw they were playing at the Starland Ballroom on their 20th Anniversary Tour (part 1), I got tickets right away.

It took about 20 minutes for EITS to come out on stage.  It was nice to not have those horrible red lights that flooded FACS.

Before they actually started, the lights were natural, so I made sure to snap a few pictures before the colored lights came onto the stage.

All five guys came out and guitarist Munaf Rayani (the only guy to talk) said they were Explosions in the Sky from Texas–looks like some of you know us.  That’s good.”  And until he said good night that was the only voice for 90 some minutes. (more…)

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FACS (Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ, October 12, 2019) [EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY]

Posted in Disappears, Explosions in the Sky, FACS, Sayreville, NJ, Starland Ballroom on October 12, 2019| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 12, 2019] FACS

I saw Explosions in the Sky back in 2016 and the show blew me away.  I knew I’d be seeing them again some time.

For that show, the opening band was Disappears.

I really enjoyed Disappears and wound up buying their records.  For this show, the opening band was FACS.  I had never heard of FACS at all.  When I looked them up I discovered that FACS is (technically was)… three-fourths of Disappears!

According to the Chicago Tribune, Disappears:

broke up in 2016 with the departure of bassist Damon Carruesco, and holdovers [bassist] Brian Case, guitarist Jonathan Van Herik and drummer Noah Leger reinvented themselves as Facs, which explored a more abstract but no less fascinating – and sometimes downright spooky – sound.

Then Van Herik quit, and Facs had to regroup yet again, this time with Case switching back to guitar and newcomer Alianna Kalaba on bass, joining Leger in the rhythm section. There was only one catch: Kalaba had never played bass before. She was previously the drummer in We Ragazzi and the Dishes, but Leger already held that job in Facs.

“In Disappears, we had strict ideas about repetition and minimalism that are still ingrained in us,” Case says. “But with Facs, we took everything out of that comfort zone until we found something we liked and honed into it.

I didn’t really remember much of this going into this show.  I just remembered that they were probably going to be very cool.

And indeed they were.

(more…)

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