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Archive for the ‘Julian’ Category

Francis of Delirium (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, May 28, 2024)

Posted in Francis of Delirium, Johnny Brenda's, Julian, Philadelphia, PA on May 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 28, 2024] Francis of Delirium 

I was supposed to see Francis of Delirium open for The Districts back in 2022, but I wound up taking my son and his friends to see Ice Nine Kills instead.  I didn’t mind missing The Districts because I had seen them just a few months earlier, but I was bummed about missing Francis.

And here they were two years later on a headlining tour.  They had just played Boston Calling but tonight was their first proper show and they were ready for it.

I had also snagged tickets to see Negativland tonight.  A very different experience.  I was torn about which to go to see because I love Negativland’s culture jamming.  But I thought that Francis of Delirium was a better, more fun choice.  And I was so right!

I had listened to FoD’s new album Lighthouse, which is more mellow than their previous couple of EPs.  So I thought the show would be enjoyable but kind of chill.  But WOW, did they rock!  All of the grunge sensibilities of the early EPs were employed on the new songs as well and the whole night was like a perfect callback to the best elements of the best grunge songs, all with a new perspective.

Francis of Delirium is from Luxembourg (main Delirium, Jana Bahrich, was born in Antwerp but lived in Switzerland and Canada before her family settled in Luxembourg.   Her  backing band Denis Schumacher (drums) and Jeff Hennico (bass) are both native to Luxembourg.  I don’t know really anything about Luxembourg, but it seems so exotic.  And apparently being an indie rock band is REALLY exotic in Luxembourg, so they are like the most exotic band around, I guess.

The trio came on stage and Jana played am introductory guitar part using a metal slide–a sound not featured on the record.  But it was just a cool opening intro before she tossed the slide on the ground and they jumped into “Alone Tonight.”

I’m not sure what recent song really make me perk up my ears and find out who wrote such a great song, but I think it was “Blue Tuesday,” which hits all of my buttons for a great song.  Jana joked that it was a Tuesday night, perfect for playing the song.  It sounded even better than on record.

The new album has 11 song and they played 9, also mixing in some from the earlier EPs.  (more…)

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Julian (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, May 28, 2024) [FRANCIS OF DELIRIUM]

Posted in Francis of Delirium, Johnny Brenda's, Julian, Philadelphia, PA on May 28, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 28, 2024] Julian

I have a negative opinion of any musician who goes by one first name.  I mean, sure a few people can pull it off (Cher, Adele), but their names are (at least a little) unusual to begin with.  It’s weird enough for new artists to go by their first name (Mike, Dave).  But it’s bizarre to me that a band would go by a single first name.   Enter Julian.  I mean, there are several Julian/Julien musicians who do not go by a mononym, so how confusing is it to be this first-named band?

Well, maybe not very.  Their bio says

Despite various lineup shifts and relocating from D.C. to Philadelphia, Julian has remained tight-knit, well-worn, and snugly fit around the sharp, soft voice and inner thoughts of vocalist and guitarist Jay Leiby (they/them). Yearning Songs, the project’s fourth EP following a series of one-off singles, invites listeners to come honest and open—to leave with a warm halo of dream-pop and 2000s pop rock glowing in its wake. They are working on a new EP that will be out sometime this summer.

And yet, it’s really hard to search for them online.

Which is a real shame because they were great as openers for Francis of Delirium.

The band was a five-piece with J front and center.  They played guitar (but not lead as there weren’t really any solos) and sang.  The rest of the band was tight and fit in perfectly.  Although I will say that the second guitarist (I didn’t get anyone else’s names) was too quiet in the mix.  When he played a lead line in one of the songs it was only there when J’s guitar faded.

But the bass and keys sounded great.

Indeed, I really enjoyed the keys/bass music that the band played while J was tuning.  Instead of loops or noise, they played pretty ambient songs.

But the main focus is on J’s songs.

Julian has a few EPs out and most of the songs came from the newest one Yearning Songs.

J plays simple chords, but they use a capo a lot to change the feel of the songs.  But the most notable things about the songs is their mostly really short.  Most of the songs in the set were about 2 minutes long (no time for a solo).

I enjoyed the two new songs (according to the photo of the setlist, Everything and Picture, as they rocked a little harder and were a little longer.  There’s nothing wrong with short songs, but these songs felt more fleshed out.  I mean, Crush Song is only 1 minute and 45 seconds long!  But it’s really good, with a staccato company that is really catchy.

J’s voice is pretty soft and the melodies are all pretty quiet, but there’s a great rocking vibe underneath and most of the songs rock out for a short time.

They told us that Bike (and older song) was their favorite to play and the band really got into it

I was a little bummed that their set was so short.

 

  1. Never B ¥
  2. Everything [new song]
  3. Stuck ¥
  4. Bike £
  5. Picture [new song]
  6. Car ⇔
  7. Crush Song ¥
  8. Having You Around ¥

⇔ Real Distance EP (2018)
£ Longing EP (2021)
¥ Yearning Songs EP (2022)

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