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Archive for the ‘Greg Mendez’ Category

Greg Mendez / American Football [FREE AT NOON] (World Stage, Philadelphia Pa, July 10, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in American Football, Greg Mendez, Philadelphia, PA, World Cafe Live on July 10, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 10, 2026] Greg Mendez / American Football [FREE AT NOON]

I had a ticket to this Free at Noon but decided that I didn’t want to go.  Free at Noon is wonderful but it is a huge pain in the butt for me.  And while this was two bands (and presumably an hour of music), I had listened to American Football’s new album and decided I didn’t like it enough for the effort.

I also just realized this would be my first time at the newly named World Stage.

I also had to laugh because Greg Mendez is constantly being thrown at me as someone I should see.  I have nothing against the guy, in fact, I’m not even sure if I know his music.  But, as I wrote in 2024

At the end of last year, I had not heard of Greg Mendez until he was the opening act for two different bands a few weeks apart.  I didn’t go to either of those shows, so I still haven’t seen him.

Now, in fairness, I haven’t heard anything about him since then, but here he is opening for a show that almost never has two artists playing.  I gather he did an acoustic set and them American Football came out.  He is described as:

one of the Philly DIY scene’s best-kept-secrets, the soft-spoken songwriter with a preternatural ability to craft brief yet powerful songs is enjoying a raised profile with the release of his self-titled full-length. On the strength of a few early singles, the initial run of vinyl sold out within a month of the album’s announcement, but with releases and demos dating back to 2006, Mendez is hardly an overnight success.

Back in 2019, American Football did a Tiny Desk Concert for their then new album LP3.  They have just released LP4 and all signs suggest that this is a band I would like.  I mean, I see that “their self-titled debut album became one of the most acclaimed emo and math rock records of its era.”  Emo and math rock, yes please.  They announced a show at Franklin Music Hall, which I wouldn’t have wanted to go to because of the venue.  But when they surprise announced this Free at Noon, I grabbed a ticket and then listened to LP4.

Back in 2019, I had written,

I really enjoy the music of the songs…. but I find the song a little dull.  Maybe I’d just prefer this song as an instrumental.

And that’s how I felt about this new album too.  I find it a little dull and I don’t like the singer’s voice.  So I didn’t go.

I meant to listen to it at work, but I forgot.  I’ll try to check it out when it’s online to see if I made the wrong choice.

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Waxahatchee / Snail Mail / Greg Mendez (Fillmore Philly, Philadelphia, PA, September 8, 2024)

Posted in Greg Mendez, Philadelphia, PA, Snail Mail, The Fillmore Philadelphia, Waxahatchee on September 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 8, 2024] Waxahatchee / Snail Mail / Greg Mendez

I would have liked to go to one of these two Waxahatchee shows.  I wouldn’t have gone to both shows, but I had a hard time deciding which one to go to.

It turns out in the end that it didn’t matter, because we wound up going to Pearl Jam shows on the 7th and the 9th.  I joked with my wife that I was going to try to go to this show too, but we had been standing for hours for Pearl Jam and then would be standing for Pearl Jam for hours the following day. So I had to give it a miss–even though I’ve heard the show was outstanding.

I love Gladie and would love to have seen them again, but when I saw this lineup, I had to choose the night with Snail Mail, a band I have wanted to see them since about 2018, but it keeps not happening.  This is now the seventh time I could have seen them but didn’t. (more…)

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Spencer Krug / Greg Mendez (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, October 26, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Greg Mendez, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Spencer Krug on October 26, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 26, 2023] Spencer Krug / Greg Mendez

I was excited to see Sunset Rubdown last year.  I wound up talking to this guy who was a MASSIVE fan of Spencer Krug–seen him many many times.  He also insisted that I had to see Spencer solo.  That his solo shows were the best in business.

But I prefer spencer for all of his sounds and instrumental noises.  I feel like I would not enjoy the solo show all that much.  So I’m not going to this one.

As the Canadian musician behind Sunset Rubdown and Moonface, co-frontman of Wolf Parade, songwriting member of Swan Lake, and keyboardist for Frog Eyes and Fifths of Seven, Spencer Krug has been a major player on over twenty-five releases within the past two decades. He currently writes and releases music under his own name, and performs a mix of new and old material on stage.

I had not heard of Greg Mendez until two weeks ago when I could have seen him open for Tigers Jaw.  It always amazes me how certain people make the rounds as an opening act with entirely different bands.

Here’s a crazy blurb from the artist

For Greg Mendez, reflection doesn’t mean a static image in a mirror, or even a face he recognizes. It’s more a kaleidoscopic mirage, where paths taken shapeshift with the prospect of paths untread, and the subconscious merges with the intentional. On his self-titled new album, the Philadelphia-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist investigates the shaky camera of memory, striving to carve out a collage that points to a truth. But there isn’t a regimented actuality here; instead, Mendez highlights the merit in many truths, and many lives, and how even the hardest truths can still contain some humor.

I had written Greg Mendez plays mellow folk music with a gentle voice.  According to Bandcamp Daily, he is

one of the Philly DIY scene’s best-kept-secrets, the soft-spoken songwriter with a preternatural ability to craft brief yet powerful songs is enjoying a raised profile with the release of his self-titled full-length. On the strength of a few early singles, the initial run of vinyl sold out within a month of the album’s announcement, but with releases and demos dating back to 2006, Mendez is hardly an overnight success.

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Tigers Jaw / Another Michael / Greg Mendez (Crossroads, Garwood, NJ, October 14, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Another Michael, Crossroads, Garwood, NJ, Greg Mendez, Tigers Jaw on October 14, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 14, 2023] Tigers Jaw / Another Michael/ Greg Mendez

I’ve seen Tigers Jaw twice and both shows were great.  I really like their catchy pop punk, but I’m not sure I need to see them again.  But man if I was a die hard fan, here’s three days in a row of really close concerts I could go to.

And yet…  Here’s what they say about these two shows (they love playing Crossroads)

Mystery Setlists? We’re pulling out all the stops for Garwood this weekend. We’ll be playing two very distinctive sets for people who might want to come to both shows.
One of the shows setlists will concentrate on two worlds + spin, and the other will be charmer + I won’t care heavy. (Not full album plays, just most of both records, plus both sets will have some self titled oldies and newer Ep songs.)
We’re not saying which night is which combo. 🤔
So many songs. Maybe a fun cover.

I could have seen Another Michael open for Pinegrove and Ratboys.   But those shows were cancelled.  I feel like his name pops up a lot but I’ve never seen him/them.

A few years ago I wrote “From what I can tell they play a kind of mellow indie rock with lead Michael’s vocals veering into R&B styles.”  Although their new album sounds a lot more like Pinegrove than anything else.  And I rather liked it.

Greg Mendez plays mellow folk music with a gentle voice.  According to Bandcamp Daily, he is

one of the Philly DIY scene’s best-kept-secrets, the soft-spoken songwriter with a preternatural ability to craft brief yet powerful songs is enjoying a raised profile with the release of his self-titled full-length. On the strength of a few early singles, the initial run of vinyl sold out within a month of the album’s announcement, but with releases and demos dating back to 2006, Mendez is hardly an overnight success.

It’s fascinating that Tigers Jaw encourages mellow openers when their shows tend to really rock out.

 

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