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Meg Baird (Ardmore Music Hall, Ardmore, PA, July 19, 2023) [MDOU MOCTAR]

Posted in Ardmore Music Hall, Ardmore, PA, Mdou Moctar, Meg Baird on July 19, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 19, 2023] Meg Baird

I grabbed a ticket for Mdou Moctar some time ago and was really looking forward to him and his band.  There was no opening act announced until recently.

I was really excited that Meg Baird would be opening.

I saw Meg Baird play with a band back in October.  But for this session she was solo.

Her music is gentle and ethereal and for the first song the audience was wonderfully respectful.  She played acoustic guitar and sang in her high soft voice (her voice doesn’t ever seem to stop or start, it just fades in and out in a magnificent way).

She played three songs on acoustic guitar.  Then she said people asked her where Charlie 9her partner) was.  He couldn’t make it, but she had his electric guitar.

She played three songs on electric guitar.

The first four songs were from her new album Furling. (more…)

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Barenaked Ladies / Del Amitri / Five for Fighting (The Met Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, July 19, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Barenaked Ladies, Del Amitri, Five for Fighting, Philadelphia, PA, The Met Philadelphia on July 19, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 19, 2023] Barenaked Ladies / Five for Fighting / Del Amitri

We haven’t seen Barenaked Ladies since 2017 (2016 was the last time on one of these Last Summer on Earth tours).

They always put on a good show, although I feel like I’ve enjoyed the last few a little bit less than the previous ones.  Mostly because they play the same big hits all the time.  I mean, you can’t be BNL and not play those songs, but it would be fun if they didn’t.

I always consider going to their Last Summer on Earth tours, but I typically dislike the other bands that are playing with them–usually 90s bands that I assumed were broken up. Which doesn’t really speak all that well of BNL (unless it speaks well of them trying to boost old bands).  Their new setlist mixes in a few different songs, so maybe if next year’s co-headliners are good, I’ll grab tickets.

What was such a bummer for me this time is I actually want to see Semisonic (everybody knows that one song, but they have albums worth of great stuff).  But instead they were replaced on this leg of the tour by Five for Fighting.

I had heard of Five for Fighting and I know his song “Superman” although I’m getting it mixed up with another one I’m sure.  I had no idea that it was a one-person operation

Vladimir John Ondrasik III, also known as by his stage name Five for Fighting, is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. He is best known for his piano-based soft rock sentimental ballads.

I also didn’t know they were known for their soft rock ballads. Ew.

I had of course known of Del Amitri, their hit “Roll with Me” is still played from time to time.  Although I had no idea they were Scottish.  I would have told you they were broken up, but I see they reunited in 2013 and again in 2018.  They might have been interesting to see but not worth dragging out for this tour.

Next year guys, find bands that I actually want to see!

 

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First Aid Kit (Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, July 15, 2023)

Posted in First Aid Kit, Fleetwood Mac, Philadelphia, PA, The Fillmore Philadelphia, The Weather Station, Willie Nelson on July 16, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 15, 2023] First Aid Kit 

My wife and I saw First Aid Kit twice in seven months.  First at Union Transfer and then, when they came back through Philly, at the much larger Fillmore.

Both shows were great and we were happy to see them twice so soon apart.

Especially since it took five years for them to come back to town!

The seven month separation between shows led me to observe:

In a nutshell, it felt like a very different show even though it was more or less the same show.

But five years is a long time.  They put out a new album (and reissued it with extra songs the other day).  So this promised to be a very different show.

Although the set up was similar, the backing band was different this time.  Last time: Steve Moore on keys and trombone, Scott Simpson on drums and Melvin Duffy on pedal steel.  This time: Freja “Freja the Dragon” Drakenberg on keyboards, Gabriel Runemark on drums and Johannes Runemark (a.k.a. Kasino) on guitar and mandolin.

Klara and Johanna came out a few moments later looking fabulous–they have really embraced their look with Klara in a hot pink pantsuit and Johanna in a short flowy one piece that was mesmerizing in its pattern.

The new album is great and it is doing well and they opened with two songs from it.

I knew they’d be playing a lot of new stuff, but they did a great job interweaving it since after the  two new tracks, including the first single “Angel,” they played previous big hit “It’s a Shame.”  There was no pedal steel guitar on this tour, although Johannes could play those pedal steel lines on his guitar quite easily.

And there was some delightful banter with the crowd  (Hello Philleeeeeee!). (more…)

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The Weather Station (Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, July 15, 2023) [FIRST AID KIT]

Posted in First Aid Kit, Philadelphia, PA, The Fillmore Philadelphia, The Weather Station on July 15, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 15, 2023] The Weather Station 

I saw The Weather Station open for Mitski last year.  Well, I saw a couple of songs from their set because we were on the merch line for most of their set.

After that set, I wrote

I’ve heard a few of their songs on record and thought they were okay–jazzy and a little slow.  But live their songs really came to life with an energy and vibrancy that I didn’t hear on record.

They ended the set with “The Robber” the one song I knew pretty well and it was great live.  I’m glad they ended with that one.

Well, the weather was crazy and the traffic was nuts so we walked in a few minutes before The Weather Station went on.  And of course, I was on the merch line for half of their set once again. (more…)

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Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds / Garbage / Metric (The Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA, July 14, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Garbage, Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Metric, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Oasis, Philadelphia, PA on July 14, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 14, 2023] Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds / Garbage / Metric

I was more than a little out of sorts that Noel Gallagher’s band had top billing on this tour.  I just now realized that it was a co-headlining tour.  Which is better, but still.

I was surprised (but not really) when Garbage opened for Blondie when we aw them a few years ago.  [I GET that one, Blondie is an icon after all].  But Noel Gallagher?  The dude from Oasis?  I didn’t realize that his band of birds had four albums out.  But I also see that half of the set is Oasis songs.

The co-headlining scam is a pretty good one for bands.  Play for an hour instead of 90 minutes and charge more because its two bands instead of one.  But whatever.

Had I known this was a co-headlining bill I might have looked into getting tickets (although really, the Mann center is such a pain, that I probably wouldn’t).  We also wound up coming home from vacation on this day so that pretty much nixed any evening plans anyhow.

I did like Oasis when they came out (although I was always more Blur than Oasis).  But I find that when he’s not taking liberally from The Beatles, Noel’s songs are kind of bland.

Now Garbage, I love.  They were one of my favorite bands of the 90s.  I’ve seen them four times and would happily see them more if they would just do another headline tour instead of always pairing with people i like less than them.

I saw Metric last year and they were wonderful.  I would of course be happy to see them again, although seeing them in a shortened set like this wouldn’t be ideal (they played nine songs–but nine is better than none).

If this had been at an easier to get to venue, I would probably have tried to go.  And, like a kindred spirit who has the same tastes as me said, I’d have gone for Metric and Garbage and maybe left after to Noel songs.

 

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The Head and the Heart / The Revivalists (Skyline Stage at The Mann Center, July 12, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA, Skyline Stage at The Mann, The Head and the Heart, The Revivalists on July 12, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 12, 2023] The Head and the Heart / The Revivalists

I’m actually surprised that this show was at the Skyline stage instead of the main building at The Mann.  That kind of made me want to go a little bit more (but very little as The Mann is a pain in the ass to get to).

Turns out, though, that we were away on the night of the show, so, it did’t matter anyway.

My wife and I saw The Head and the Heart at the Met Philly in 2019.  Here’s what I wrote:

I had quite possibly the worst concert experience of my life at this show.  And I want to reiterate it had nothing to do with the band.  There may have been a song or two in the middle that I wasn’t too excited about, but overall, they sounded great, played some really fun songs and seemed to be really enjoying themselves.

I wouldn’t mind seeing them again to make up for this show, but I probably won’t.   I also feel like I never want to go to the Met Philly again.  I feel like it attracts the wrong crowd–rich people who are looking for a night out rather than fans of music.

Re-reading the review I spent 2/3 of it complaining about the people around me. They were loud talkers and drinkers, completely louder than the band at times.

I would like to see The Head and the Heart again, I think.  Although it turns out they released a new album last year and I didn’t even know it.  So, I guess I won’t miss them that much,

I just checked and this show is sold out, so I guess they won’t miss me either.  And it really sounds like an event I don’t want to be at.

The Revivalists are a band that get some airplay on WXPN.  I do like one of their songs but overall their vibe is a little too retroey for me.  They are probably a very good fit with The Head and the Heart, although I feel like they veer in a direction I don’t enjoy as much.

 

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Skating Polly (Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia, PA, July 7, 2023)

Posted in Bugsy, Jacklen Ro, Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia, PA, Skating Polly on July 9, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 7, 2023] Skating Polly

I saw Skating Polly six years ago when they opened for X.  Unfortunately, I arrived really late and caught only a couple songs from them.

I’d been intrigued by them for a while–two sisters, both teenagers (technically Kelli was NINE when they formed), started a band as a duo and played some kick ass punk.  Six years ago primary singer Kelli was only 19, older sister Peyton was 24 and their brother Kurtis (no age given) was playing drums with them.

So here it was several years later and Kelli can legally be in Kung Fu Necktie.

They put on a fierce show with Kelli doing impressive high kicks in her platform shoes.

The lighting in KFT was weirdly over-red, so Peyton and Kurtis had a red glow the whole night while the one spotlight was on Kelli.

We also found out that they had a strict curfew of… 9:30!  Apparently there was some kind of event at 10, so they had to be off stage in plenty of time. (more…)

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The Head and the Heart / The Revivalists (The Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park, NJ, July 9, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Asbury Park, NJ, The Head and the Heart, The Revivalists, The Stone Pony, The Stone Pony Summer Stage on July 9, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 7, 2023] The Head and the Heart / The Revivalists

My wife and I saw The Head and the Heart at the Met Philly in 2019.  Here’s what I wrote:

I had quite possibly the worst concert experience of my life at this show.  And I want to reiterate it had nothing to do with the band.  There may have been a song or two in the middle that I wasn’t too excited about, but overall, they sounded great, played some really fun songs and seemed to be really enjoying themselves.

I wouldn’t mind seeing them again to make up for this show, but I probably won’t.   I also feel like I never want to go to the Met Philly again.  I feel like it attracts the wrong crowd–rich people who are looking for a night out rather than fans of music.

Re-reading the review I spent 2/3 of it complaining about the people around me. They were loud talkers and drinkers, completely louder than the band at times.

I would like to see The Head and the Heart again, I think.  Although it turns out they released a new album last year and I didn’t even know it.  So, I guess I won’t miss them that much,

I just checked and this show is sold out, so I guess they won’t miss me either.  And it really sounds like an event I don’t want to be at.

The Revivalists are a band that get some airplay on WXPN.  I do like one of their songs but overall their vibe is a little too retroey for me.  They are probably a very good fit with The Head and the Heart, although I feel like they veer in a direction I don’t enjoy as much.

 

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Bugsy (Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia, PA, July 7, 2023) [SKATING POLLY]

Posted in Bugsy, Jacklen Ro, Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia, PA, Skating Polly on July 8, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 7, 2022] Bugsy

Bugsy are from Minneapolis.

They were much louder than Jacklen Ro (and louder than their recordings would suggest).  They may have been egged on by the fact that Jacklen Ro came right up to the front of the stage to dance wildly for their set.

I enjoyed the guitar and vocal interplay although I found the singer to be a little hard to hear clearly.  It may have been where I was standing, although I find that she’s a little quiet on record as well.

I was quite fond of their bassist though.  She played some really cool fills and runs and her bass had a great almost New Order sound to it. And the final song, “hard to breathe” had a great opening bass line (and guitar harmonics).

I was kind of distracted during their set though because of Jacklen Ro dancing right in front of me and because half way through the set I noticed that Kelli from Skating Polly was in the audience watching, too.  (more…)

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The Smile / Robert Stillman (Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA, July 8, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA, Robert Stillman, The Smile on July 8, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 8, 2023] The Smile / Robert Stillman

Much like with the Trey Anastasio Band and Phish (the only way to get close to Trey is to see him solo), The Smile seemed like the only way to see Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood from Radiohead up close. Their drummer is Tom Skinner from Sons of Kemet.

So when they announced a show in Philly I was all set  to grab a ticket.

Then I listened to the record and… I didn’t think much of it.  Granted , I didn’t give a lot of time to the record, but what I heard was just too jazzy for my liking.  So I was just as happy to not go see them.

I see that it has sold out, so good for them.

Robert Stillman is a composer and multi-instrumentalist from the northeast United States, currently based in Margate, UK. His music juxtaposes the archaic with the futuristic, incorporating influences of Jazz, Minimalism, American Folk music, and experimental electronic music to create a sound described by the Guardian Observer as “lending an avant-garde shimmer to pre-modern American sounds.”

One review of his set says he was

Perched behind a Yamaha DX7 and some DJ gear, Stillman blended down tempo jazz sax with minimalist electronic beats to warm-up the growing crowd

This sounds like a show I would have enjoyed intellectually, but not in practice.

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