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Archive for the ‘Neko Case’ Category

An evening with Neko Case (McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ, January 29, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in A.M. Homes, McCarter Theatre, Neko Case, Princeton, NJ on January 29, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: January 29, 2025] An evening with Neko Case

I’ve been wanting to see Neko Case’s solo show for a while and when this show was announced–in Princeton!–I was psyched to grab a ticket.

Then I saw that it was for her book tour, and  that there would be no music, but rather an hour of conversation with Princeton University’s A.M. Homes, Author and Professor of the Practice in the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Creative Writing.

I love A.M. Homes’ work and would 100% love to hear her talk to someone I was really interested in.

But to be honest, I wasn’t interested in her memoir.  I don’t really like musician memoirs all that much (most of the time) and while this one might be interesting, the description

a memoir that traces her evolution from an invisible girl “raised by two dogs and a space heater” in rural Washington state to her improbable emergence as an internationally-acclaimed talent.

just doesn’t appeal to me.

I follow her on Instagram and feel like I know a bunch about her and I don’t know that I need to know more about her.

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Neko Case / Lucy Wainwright Roche (Ardmore Music Hall, Ardmore, PA, October 12, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Ardmore Music Hall, Ardmore, PA, Lucy Wainwright Roche, Neko Case on October 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 12, 2024] Neko Case / Lucy Wainwright Roche

I know of Neko Case through New Pornographers.  I like a lot of her solo material.  I’ve wanted to see her live for a while.  But when this show was announced I couldn’t believe how expensive the tickets were.

I guess since I missed her show two years ago, this would have been the one to go to, as according to the review at WXPN:

Setlist-wise, the show was nearly identical to their last Union Transfer appearance, two years back, just a few months following the release of a career-retrospective compilation spanning Case’s six studio albums across almost twenty years of solo recordings – with both tour setlists as well as the compilation notably excluding the singer’s 1997 debut record.

That does make me glad I didn’t go to both shows, though.

Opening the night was “folk bonafide” Lucy Wainwright Roche.  She is the daughter of Loudon Wainwright III and Suzzy Roche, so she has music coming out of every pore.  her music is gentle folk and according to that same WXPN review, her set was “equal parts VH1-storytellers and legitimately humorous stand-up comedy.”

 

 

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The New Pornographers / Gustaf (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, August 6, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Gustaf, Jersey City, NJ, Neko Case, The New Pornographers, White Eagle Hall on August 6, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: August 6, 2024] The New Pornographers / Gustaf

I saw New Pornographers’ back in 2019 (I didn’t realize it was quite so long ago).  I enjoyed the show quite a lot.  And almost wondered if I didn’t need to see them again since they played pretty much everything I wanted to see.  And yet, they were really good and I enjoyed the show a lot–I suspect they are always worth seeing.

That show featured Neko Case on vocals–she wasn’t going to be with them on this tour.  That didn’t actually impact my decision at all about this one because, The New Pornographers are excellent without her as well.

This show happened to be on a night that my daughter was going to be doing stuff at the 4H Fair.  I wanted my wife to come with me, and that was proving to be challenging with out timing.  I hadn’t gotten a ticket but i assumed it wouldn’t sell out.

Then the night of the show it was raining like crazy.  Her event was moved forward and I realized that every time I got to White Eagle Hall, I have to park outrageously far away.  And I realized that I didn’t want to be wet or standing in a venue where everyone was wet.  So we stayed home.

I was actually really excited to see Gustaf who I saw open for Idles almost three years ago.  I’ve wanted to see them again because they were outstanding.  But again, sometimes things prevent you from doing what you want to do.

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The New Pornographers / Wild Pink (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, May 18, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Neko Case, Philadelphia, PA, The New Pornographers, Union Transfer, Wild Pink on May 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 18, 2023] The New Pornographers / Wild Pink

I saw New Pornographers’ back in 2019 (I didn’t realize it was quite so long ago).  I enjoyed the show quite a lot.  And almost wondered if I didn’t need to see them again since they played pretty much everything I wanted to see.

But when they announced this show (in the same place), I immediately grabbed a ticket.

But then May 18 proved to be a hugely popular night for shows.  There was Richard Thompson, Kevin Devine and, most importantly, Acid Mothers Temple.

I have seen AMT more than New Pornographers, but it’s such a fun treat for AMT to come to the States (they had several shows cancelled because of the pandemic), that I couldn’t pass it up.

So even though I heard  the New Pornographers show was great (by all accounts), I was pretty pleased with the AMT show.

Wild Pink plays pleasant but kind of dull music.  I listened to a few songs and kind of forgot that they were on.  So it felt like a push towards Acid Mothers Temple.

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Neko Case / Sean Rowe (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, September 10, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Jersey City, NJ, Neko Case, The New Pornographers, White Eagle Hall on September 10, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 10, 2022] Neko Case / Sean Rowe

Two opportunities to see Neko Case, and I missed them both.

I had wanted to see Neko Case for a while.  But then a few years ago I got to see her with The New Pornographers, which was like double the fun.

When she announced this new solo tour, I thought it would be cool to see her again (even though she posted a kind of nasty message about people taking pictures at her shows).  I actually blew off a much more interesting show this night: Destroy Boys, Jigsaw Youth, Pinkshift and Softcult assuming I would go to see Neko.

But then there was a Lunar Faire and my daughter asked if I could take her and her friend.  So I went to the Faire instead (it was super fun).

Sean Rowe is an alternative folk singer-songwriter and musician.  An avid naturalist, Rowe often speaks of his fascination with the woods and his connection to the land.

I hadn’t heard of him but he sound like a good fit with Neko.  However, when I listened to his song online, I hated his deep, slow vocal style.

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Neko Case / Sean Rowe (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, September 6, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Neko Case, Philadelphia, PA, The New Pornographers, Union Transfer on September 6, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 6, 2022] Neko Case / Sean Rowe

I had wanted to see Neko Case for a while.  But then a few years ago I got to see her with The New Pornographers, which was like double the fun.

When she announced this new solo tour, I thought it would be cool to see her again (even though she posted a kind of nasty message about people taking pictures at her shows).  However, this show wound up being the same night as the Arlo Parks show.  I had wanted to see Arlo Parks at the Foundry, but I thought the show was sold out (I understand tickets were available at the door).  So I opted to go to Arlo instead.

Sean Rowe is an alternative folk singer-songwriter and musician.  An avid naturalist, Rowe often speaks of his fascination with the woods and his connection to the land.

I hadn’t heard of him but he sound like a good fit with Neko.  However, when I listened to his song online, I hated his deep, slow vocal style.

 

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The New Pornographers (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, November 8, 2019)

Posted in Beat Club, Cub, Destroyer, Immaculate Machine, Limblifter, Maow, Neko Case, Philadelphia, PA, Suffrajett, Superconductor, The Evaporators, The New Pornographers, Union Transfer, Zumpano on November 8, 2019| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: November 8, 2019] The New Pornographers

Back in 2000, The New Pornographers sprang out of Vancouver and I didn’t know anything about them.  Especially that the band was made up of all manner of Canadian musicians from other groups.  I only knew that the first single “Letter From an Occupant” was awesome and I listened to it all the time.

Over the last twenty years, The New Pornographers have released reliably excellent albums.  It often seemed like out of the blue, suddenly there was another amazingly catchy song from the band.  I’m not really sure why I never thought to see them live before.  I think missing the Neko Case show in January was an impetus to get me to the show if only to see her.  (Sometimes Neko doesn’t tour with them, so I’m pretty psyched she was here on this tour).

As often happens, when a band tours they have a new album out.  Somehow I had missed this new one entirely.  Of course, I needn’t have worried that it would be good, because of course it was.  I was just worried that I wouldn’t be familiar enough with the songs when they played them.

The lineup has remained remarkably consistent for a band made up of people who all have other bands that tour.  They’ve had a couple of drummers, but otherwise, no changes.  Except for one rather large one.  Dan Bejar, the fantastic lyricist and singer of the band Destroyer more or less officially left the band a couple of years ago. Although he is currently described as a former and possibly future member of the band. So no hard feelings. (more…)

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Lady Lamb (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, November 8, 2019) [THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS]

Posted in Jeni Magana, Katie Von Schleicher, Lady Lamb, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Mitski, Neko Case, South X Lullaby, The New Pornographers, Union Transfer on November 8, 2019| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: November 8, 2019] Lady Lamb

I didn’t know anything about Lady Lamb before this show.  Normally I look up a band before seeing them, but for some reason, I didn’t really investigate her at all.

Lady Lamb is the stage name of Aly Spaltro, (it was formerly Lady Lamb the Beekeeper).  She is a musician from Maine.

I really enjoyed her set a lot.  Her vocal style is direct and powerful (she can reach the back of a room with no problem) and yet the backing vocals added all kinds of interesting layers to her songs.

What I loved about her music was how unexpected it was.  I mean, yes, it was drums, guitar, keys and bass, but there were so many times when the music would briefly get loud or change directions for a few bars and then move on to something else.  As if her indy rock was battling a dose of prog. (more…)

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Tiphanie Yanique-“God’s Caravan” (New Yorker, November 4, 2019)

Posted in Adele, Anderson .Paak, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Andrew Bird, Barbara Hannigan, Bernie and the Believers, Bible, Blue Man Group, Brandi Carlile, Café Tacvba, CHAI, Dan Deacon, Dirty Three, Dr. Dog, Fragile Rock, George Li, Gogol Bordello, H.E.R., iLe, Jorge Drexler, Juanes, Julien Baker, Laura Gibson, Lizzo, Mac Miller, Marbles, Martin Luther King, Memphis, TN, Michael Jackson, Mitski, Mon Laferte, Monsieur Periné, Mucca Pazza, Natalia Lafourcade, Neko Case, New Yorker, Noname, NPR/PRI/PBS, PJ Morton, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Racism, Red Baraat, Religion, Rev Sekou and the Seal Breakers, Short Story, Superorganism, Tamino, Tank and the Bangas, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Thao Nguyen, The Cristina Pato Trio, Tiny Desk Concert, Tiphanie Yanique, Tom Jones, Vic Chesnutt, Yusuf on November 4, 2019| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: TINY DESK PLAYLISTS (2019).

As on October 1, NPR has started the Tiny Desk Playlist page.

As of today there are 9 Playlists on the page.  I’m not going to comment on them, as I’ve already posted about all of these shows (except CHAI as of now).  I might disagree with some of these lists, but whatever the case they are a good introduction to Tiny Desks if you haven’t already seen one.

5 Tiny Desk Concerts That Will Literally Make You Cry
• Julien Baker (read more)
• Yusuf/Cat Stevens (read more)
• Bernie and The Believers (read more)
• Rev. Sekou and The Seal Breakers (read more)
• Barbara Hannigan (read more)

The 5 Most Uplifting Tiny Desk Concerts
• Lizzo (read more)
• Superorganism (read more)
• Fragile Rock (read more)
• Dan Deacon (read more)
• Mucca Pazza (read more)

The 5 Wildest Tiny Desk Concerts
• Gogol Bordello (read more)
• Red Baraat (read more)
• The Cristina Pato Trio (read more)
• George Li (read more)
• Dirty Three (read more)

The Best-Sounding Tiny Desk Concerts, Vol. 1 [selected by “the guy mixing the performances and bopping his head along just off (and sometimes on) screen” Josh Rogosin].
• Monsieur Periné (read more)
• Andrew Bird (read more)
• Nick Hakim (read more)
• Tedeschi Trucks Band (read more)
• PJ Morton (read more)

The Best Of The Very Beginning Of Tiny Desk Concerts
• Laura Gibson (read more)
• Vic Chesnutt (read more)
• Tom Jones (read more)
• Thao Nguyen (read more)
• Dr. Dog (read more)

The 5 Best ‘Before They Were Stars’ Tiny Desk Concerts
• Brandi Carlile (read more)
• Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals (read more)
• Adele (read more)
• H.E.R. (read more)
• Mitski (read more)

Tiny Desk Trick Or Treat: Our 5 Favorite Concerts In Costume
• Neko Case’s Halloween Special (read more)
• Blue Man Group (read more)
• Mucca Pazza (read more)
• CHAI (read more)
• Preservation Hall Jazz Band (read more)

#ElTiny: The Best Latinx Tiny Desk Concerts, Vol. 1
• Natalia Lafourcade (read more)
• Jorge Drexler (read more)
• Juanes & Mon Laferte (read more)
• iLe (read more)
• Café Tacvba (read more)

Lianne La Havas’ 5 Favorite Tiny Desk Concerts
• Tank And The Bangas
• Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals
• Noname
• Tamino
• Mac Miller

[READ: October 28, 2019] “God’s Caravan”

This story opens with boys crouching in the dirt shooting marbles.  I assumed it was set in the 1950s, so I was surprised to see that the boy knew of Michael Jackson’s moonwalk.  But it is set in Memphis, Tennessee–“Soulsville the black part.”

Earl was kicking butt and winning marbles left and right when the boys heard an ice cream truck trundle up.  But this was no ice cream truck.  Rather it was a van and it was playing “I’ve come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee.”  On the side of the van, painted in “blood of Jesus” red were the words “God’s Caravan.”  The speakers then broadcast “When I say, ‘Ride or die’…you say ‘Amen.'”

The voice said “Ride or Die” and Earl and the other boys all shouted back “Amen.”

The door opened and there was the pastor, dressed in black judge’s robes.  He said he had sweets for their hearts. (more…)

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Manuel Gonzales–“Two Minutes, Five Minutes, Ten” [The Short Story Advent Calendar #10] (2016)

Posted in Canadian Content, Kelly Hogan, Manuel Gonzales, Neko Case, Robyn Hitchcock, Short Story, Stephin Merritt, The Decemberists, The Short Story Advent Calendar, Threats, Tiny Desk Concert, Violence on December 10, 2016| Leave a Comment »

2016-12-05-21-06-09SOUNDTRACK: KELLY HOGAN-Tiny Desk Concert #222 (June 4, 2012).

I’d published these posts without Soundtracks while I was reading the calendars.  But I decided to add Tiny Desk Concerts to them when I realized that I’d love to post about all of the remaining 100 or shows and this was a good way to knock out 25 of them.

kelly-hoganI know Kelly Hogan as an amazing back up singer.  She sang with The Decemberists when I saw them live (and she was truly amazing).  She also often sings with Neko Case.

I was pretty excited to hear her Tiny Desk because her voice is really beautiful.

Around this time 2012 she had released an album of songs written by all kinds of people.

“Haunted” is a catchy, bouncy number and her three musicians play along effortlessly.  She encourages everyone to sing along to the “na na na na na” part.

When the song ends she thanks every one “very much for coming to the lunchroom talent show.”

“Plant White Roses” was written by Stephen Merritt and it “is really sad” (and since it was written by Merritt you know it’s really sad). The song is pretty, but it was during this song that the Concert transformed into more of a country show.  Hogan even puts an accent on her voice to make it sound more country.  It’s pretty fascinating to witness.

The third part of the song really perks things up.

“I Like to Keep Myself in Pain” was written by Robyn Hitchcock.  She says it came from one of the many conversations they have had over the years.  This song has an even more country feel, especially towards the end.

So all in wall while Hogan’s voice is pretty fantastic and she herself is very charming, I guess I prefer her as an amazing backing vocalist (and sometimes co-lead vocalist) singing music I really like rather than the more country leanings of her own music.

[READ: December 10, 2016] “Two Minutes, Five Minutes, Ten”

Near the end of November, I found out about The Short Story Advent Calendar.  Which is what exactly?  Well…

The Short Story Advent Calendar returns, not a moment too soon, to spice up your holidays with another collection of 24 stories that readers open one by one on the mornings leading up to Christmas.  This year’s stories once again come from some of your favourite writers across the continent—plus a couple of new crushes you haven’t met yet. Most of the stories have never appeared in a book before. Some have never been published, period.

I already had plans for what to post about in December, but since this arrived I’ve decided to post about every story on each day.

Sometimes, putting a story out of sequence is a gimmick.  But if it’s written well, the gimmick really brings the story to life.

This story is out of sequence, but beyond that, it is also full of possibility.

It opens with a statement about the future: “In two minutes, give or take, she will be running as fast as she can.” (more…)

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