[DID NOT ATTEND: January 14, 16 & 17, 2025] Geordie Greep / NNAMDÏ
Geordie Greep is one of the vocalists in Black Midi. He’s a fascinating dude with a fascinating voice. When I saw that he was doing a solo tour, I was really intrigued.
But when I went to the Johnny Brenda’s site, both night were long sold out.
Sometime later he added another date, but this one was at the Church, so I knew I wouldn’t be going to the show.
I’m not too heartbroken about it, but it would have been interesting to be sure
i saw NNAMDÏ open for Wilco four years ago and I loved their set. I wrote
I felt like he was digging into prog-rock territory and yet I guess it would be more accurately labelled as jazz with rapid time changes, incredibly fast parts and wicked jamming. And yet the roots of most of his songs were a kind of pop/R&B vibe.
This is a solid double bill, with three shows I couldn’t make.
[DID NOT ATTEND: May 27, 2022] NNAMDÏ / Ghösh / Lizdelise
I saw Nnamdi Ogbonnaya open for Wilco and Sleater-Kinney.
I really enjoyed his set which went in all kinds of interesting directions. As this blurb puts it he
makes dreamy, fractured, and frisky music that rarely sits still. He pulls from indie rock, hip-hop, and jazz on songs that mine his experience as a self-described “Black, Jewish, first-generation Nigerian-American.” He was terrific last year at the Mann Center opening for Wilco and Sleater-Kinney, though he couldn’t play guitar because he had broken his wrist skateboarding.
That’s the show I saw, too.
I’m not sure why I didn’t go to this show. I’d say just taking it easy at the end of May.
Ghösh seems like an unlikely fit for this bill. I very much want to see them, but sandwiched between two mellow artists this seems a little off. XPN explains them
Ghösh combines the darkest elements of aforementioned 90’s rave — pummeling beats and washy, distorted samples ala Atari Teenage Riot or Front 242– with the lyrical intensity of a 2009 LiveJournal entry co-written by Angela Davis and your little sister: they’re pissed off, informed, and ready to party.
It’s a weird mix on the surface, but with songs like “Dear Daddy” intoning how bad all cops are (“even my dad,” Symphony shouts) over a dizzying jungle beat, to a cover of Limp Bizkit’s “Break Stuff” where buzzsaw riffs that tear through the an avalanche of Miami bass empowered 808 kicks where they scream-rap “my suggestion is to keep your distance / right now I’m dangerous”, it’s clear the genreless entropy is not just intentional, but beautiful.
The band has honed their sound in the usual spots: basements, dive bars, the batting cages, defying the usual punk orthodoxy with ever slurred, tripped out vocal sample, every re-appropriation of 90’s hip hop and nu-metal, every radical, queer, noisy explosion. And it’s true, Philly gravitates to bands that push, explore and distort a myriad of experiences and influences, the eclectic shit, as much as we love three chord punk, staid indie rock, and meathead hardcore.
Lizdelise was described by NPR as
Liz de Lise is a singer, songwriter and guitarist who writes alternative folk songs with jazz influences. She creates lush soundscapes with acoustic and electric guitar, vocals and a loop pedal. She completed her one-video-a-month-for-a-year project in 2015.
[ATTENDED: August 22, 2021] Wilco / Sleater-Kinney / NNAMDÏ [rescheduled from August 23, 2020]
I saw Wilco five years ago and it was one of the best shows I’d ever been to. The band was amazing. The live versions of their songs were tremendous and they played thirty two songs (two encores).
They were top on my list of bands I wanted to see again. But they didn’t come close to us until this double headline tour last year which became this year.
The bad thing about the double headline is that neither headlining band plays a full set, I assume this is nice for the bands, but who knows. What this mean logistically is that the band played twelve fewer songs at this show.
But those twenty songs were fantastic.
They started with the most appropriate song for a post-pandemic tour “A Shot in the Arm.” And yes, that was all we needed. (more…)
[ATTENDED: August 22, 2021] Wilco / Sleater-Kinney / NNAMDÏ [rescheduled from August 23, 2020]
I saw Sleater-Kinney two years ago. This was the tour where Janet Weiss had just left the band and I think there were some weird feelings floating around. The show was odd since they weren’t a trio, but I came away thinking that they sounded amazing.
Last tour the had three additional players: Angie Boylan (drums), Katie Harkin (guitars/keyboards) and Toko Yasuda (keyboards). This time, their backing band was entirely different. Almost up front with Carrie and Corin was third guitarist Fabi Reyna (who started She Shreds magazine and was a major force on stage). Then in the back row was Galen Clark on keys, Bill Athens on bass and Vincent Lirocchi on drums.
I saw S-K 21 years ago when they were a punky trio and while I would have loved to see one more set with Janet on drums, this new set up is really great live. It allows them to explore in very different ways. Having Fabi play a series of piercing high notes throughout most of the songs added a nice edge to all of the songs. She also seemed to allow Carrie a little freedom to move around a bit more (something Carrie seems to be really enjoying). Plus, now that they have a bassist (!) and a keyboardist, they can make all kinds of sounds.
I was surprised that they announced a tour with Wilco because they sound so different. Although I know that Carrie and Jeff worked together on Portlandia, and that they are buds. I feel like many of the Wilco fans had no idea who Sleater-Kinney were. But there were plenty of S-K fans there to rock. (more…)
[ATTENDED: August 22, 2021] Wilco / Sleater-Kinney / NNAMDÏ [rescheduled from August 23, 2020]
NNAMDÏ is Nnamdi Ogbonnaya, an American multi-instrumentalist born in California to Nigerian immigrants now based in Chicago.
I had not heard of him, but I was really intrigued to see what his set would be like. I can honestly say it was nothing like I expected.
Earlier in the tour NNAMDÏ fell off a scooter or skateboard and broke his wrist. He missed a few dates and then was back on the tour. NNAMDÏ plays guitar but he had to get a replacement for the tour. He told us the replacement learned all of his parts in like a day. And the parts were all over the place. Because NNAMDÏ’s music is about as unclassifiable as Thundercat’s.
I felt like he was digging into prog-rock territory and yet I guess it would be more accurately labelled as jazz with rapid time changes, incredibly fast parts and wicked jamming. And yet the roots of most of his songs were a kind of pop/R&B vibe. (more…)
[POSTPONED: August 23, 2020] Wilco / Sleater-Kinney / NNAMDÏ [moved to August 22, 2021]
I’ve wanted to see Wilco again ever since I saw them a few years ago. Their show was outstanding and long and I know that each set is a little different.
When I heard they were touring with Sleater-Kinney, I was pretty surprised. They are very different sounding, but they share a sensibility that makes sense. Their announcement of their co-headlining tour was pretty great too).
I had just seen S-K and didn’t really need to see them again (although it was a great show), but I was pretty excited that they were joining Wilco. I got tickets very quickly (even willing to go to the Mann Center) and they were good seats (even though it was the day after Deftones). Once again, I’m glad a show that I have good seats for is simply rescheduled with seats remaining.
S. had actually expressed interest in going after I mentioned that I had gotten the ticket. I felt bad because I didn’t think she’s want to go. Maybe with the reschedule I can get her one too.
I haven’t heard of NNAMDÏ who is Nnamdi Ogbonnaya, an American multi-instrumentalist born in California to Nigerian immigrants now based in Chicago, Illinois. He plays a kind of experimental pop and sings with a gentle falsetto. He doesn’t really go with either of them, but he could certainly work on the edge of both of their more recent styles. I’m curious to see him live as well.
Geordie Greep is one of the vocalists in Black Midi. He’s a fascinating dude with a fascinating voice. When I saw that he was doing a solo tour, I was really intrigued.
I’ve wanted to see Wilco again ever since I saw them a few years ago. Their show was outstanding and long and I know that each set is a little different.
I Just Read About That... 