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Archive for the ‘Music’ Category

Kathleen Edwards (Musikfest Cafe, Bethlehem, PA, October 19, 2025)

Posted in Bethlehem, PA, Kathleen Edwards, Musikfest on October 19, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 19, 2025] Kathleen Edwards

When I saw Kathleen Edwards in 2021, I traveled to NYC to see her because I thought that this was a one and done kind of thing.  That she had basically retired from music but was going to do this show and I’d finally get to see her.

Who would have guessed that four years later I would have seen her six times.

After seeing her at the XPN Fest it wasn’t really necessary to see her a few weeks later, but heck, seeing her in an intimate setting like the Musikfest Cafe from just a few feet away (when I already had tickets) was hard to pass up.  I had a ticket for my wife as well but she didn’t feel the need to come to the show.

I must have left a little later than I meant to because by the time I parked (and there are NO ADA spots near the venue–the best they can do is spots on the closest side of the closest parking lot which is like two blocks away) I was running seriously late.  In fact, I think I walked in at exactly 8.  Luckily, this is one of those loose setups and there was no opening act, so she came on around 8:15, which gave me enough time to order my (obligatory at this place) food (a flight of pierogis–pretty good).  I was seated at a table not too far from the stage (but I knew better than to get right up against the stage–it’s too close!)

It’s funny that the first few times I saw her, she had a different backing band each time, but for the last three shows it has been the same–they are a well seasoned band by this point and they sound great. (more…)

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Grandaddy: 25th Anniversary of The Sophtware Slump / Pedro the Lion / Greg Freeman (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, October 18, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Grandaddy, Greg Freeman, Pedro the Lion, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on October 18, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 18, 2025] Grandaddy: 25th Anniversary of The Sophtware Slump / Pedro the Lion / Greg Freeman

When The Sophtware Slump came out, I loved the album.  Listened to it all the time and put it in the same boat as the Mercury Rev albums I loved–kind of weird but sweet with high pitched vocals.  When this show was announced I was really excited about it.  And then I cooled on the idea.  I’m not really sur why.  I listened to a few songs off of Sophtware and I wasn’t quite as excited about the show.  I had tickets to see The Beta Band also doing an anniversary show and I guess that felt like enough nostalgia for me.

The show was this album and a few other songs.  I’m not even sure if I know many other songs by them, so I guess I made the right choice.

Pedro the Lion was one of the many bands that came out around the same time who had a name like ___ The ____.  It was hard to keep track of them all.  Pedro the Lion sounds a pit like Pavement.  David Bazan formed the band in 1995 and represented its main creative force, backed by a varying rotation of collaborating musicians.  Bazan went “solo” in the early 2000s, releasing music under his own name.  And then in the late 2010s he decided to release music as Pedro again.  They’re a band I’m on the fence about as I don’t always like his voice, but I’ll bet they are fun live.

Greg Freeman is a quirky musician from Vermont.  He reminds me a bit of MJ Lenderman in that he’s borderline country, but not really and he sings in a slightly unconventional way.  Having said that, they don’t sound anything alike–it’s more about the vibe they give off.  He’s got a nice slacker vibe.

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Margaret Glaspy (Milkboy, Philadelphia, PA, October 15, 2025)

Posted in Brooke Annibale, Daphne Gale, Margaret Glaspy, Milkboy, Philadelphia, PA on October 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 15, 2025] Margaret Glaspy

I have seen Margaret Glaspy three times.  She announced an acoustic show last year but I was unable to go.  I don’t know what she played that night, but a show around that time shows that the set was similar but not exactly the same.

Margaret’s tour manager setup the stage very nicely–a cool old fashioned microphone which was closer to her guitar than her mouth but which picked up everything perfectly–a rug, two guitars and a stool with capo and harmonica.  After a few minutes Margaret came up and took the stage.

Getting this out of the way: there was a guy there who immediately showed YEAH MARGARET!  Totally not reading the room which was quiet and respectful.  That would have been bad enough, but he shouted it before just about every song.  Everyone else was clapping politely and sometimes loudly, but this guy–holy cow.  He also whooped occasionally during the songs.  It was really weird and I feel like maybe Margaret was annoyed by it too.  It startled everyone in the room.

She grabbed her guitar and started playing.  Somehow I missed that she released an EP in 2024 called The Sun Doesn’t Think (she was selling shirts for this release and I wasn’t sure what they were talking about).  The first song Would You Be My Man? was from that EP.  It features great lyrics:

There’s a few numbers in my book, that you don’t know about
But you don’t need to know about them
And a few photos that I took, that you don’t know about
But I’ll let you know if you need to know about it
Yeah I had a life, that you don’t know about
And you don’t need to know about it
But would you be my, would you be my
Would you be my man?

I believe that Margaret is happily married, but boy she has amazing kiss off songs. Up next was her first cover of the night.  Earlier this year she released a covers EP and all three songs that she played come from it.  The first one was The Book of Love.  I’m so used to Stephen Merrit’s deep voice that it was weird hearing Margaret’s delicate voice singing it. (more…)

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Guerilla Toss / Godcaster / Special World (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, October 17, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Godcaster, Guerrilla Toss, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Special World, Speedy Ortiz on October 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 17, 2025] Guerilla Toss / Godcaster / Special World

I’ve been interested in Guerilla Toss for a few years now.  They seem to play a lot in the area, but something always comes up.

They opened for Karina Rykman but I had tickets to a different show that night and later this year they’ll open for Built to Spill but I have surgery scheduled(really bummed about missing that double bill).

I don’t even really know all that much about their music. It’s weird and sounds like if The B52s (without Fred Schneider since the singer of GT is a woman) were more of an underground indie band (so, yes, if The B52s were WEIRDER).  I’ve heard that their live show was a lot of fun–althouhg apparenty it used to be a lot more crazy since they have all matured.  But As one person said it “Guerilla Toss is a chance for experimental, fans-of-the-fringe, noise heads to fuck with mainstream indie-pop, and for mainstream indie-pop heads to fuck with the noise.”

Sounds perfect.  I was all set to go, but we had a family situation and I stayed home.

I feel like I’ve heard people talk about Godcaster, or I just like the name.  Their recording for Audiotree says

Godcaster is an experimental heavy rock band founded by Judson Kolk and Bruce Ebersole who became close friends in Elementary School. The project is known for their ecstatic live shows and serendipitous, incendiary sound.

Listening to the Audiotree set, they are definitely out there.  I’m guessing “experimental” is the new buzzword for hard to describe.  Because they have a very Frank Zappa weirdo vibe.  With lots of complicated melodies and a singer who seems to just sing the weird melodies–there’s even a flute.

Wow, I really want to see them now.

Special World is Andy Molholt, a Philly based experimental musician and guitarist for Speedy Ortiz.   I knew he made cool sounds with Speedy, but this is some pretty trippy bedroom experimentation.  Voices are blurred, sounds echo.  There’s a melody, but it’s bathed in oddity.  Probably a fun war up for the weirdness to follow

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Daphne Gale (Milkboy, Philadelphia, PA, October 15, 2025) [MARGARET GLASPY]

Posted in Brooke Annibale, Daphne Gale, Margaret Glaspy, Milkboy, Philadelphia, PA on October 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 15, 2025] Daphne Gale

Daphne Gale is a singer, songwriter, composer from Brooklyn (she joked about almost being from Philly because her mom almost got a job “across the street” (not sure where that meant).  Her web page says she also lives in Berlin.

I had assumed that she was a new performer.  However, her stage confidence and ability to not feel rushed really showed what a professional she is.  And indeed, she’s been making music for a few years.

She had a guitar player with her (whom she named several times and whose name I have forgotten).  For  the first few songs she played electric guitar (a guitar that her friend found i the trash and fixed up for her) and then she switched to acoustic for the last few.

She told a little story about each song, with fun personal details.  The song Benjamin is about a doorman.  One of the songs (Melodrama, I think) referenced a bakery that was near her ex’s flat.  She used to pass by it every day marveling at the people who were there to buy $8 croissants. (more…)

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Gigi Perez / Hannah Jadagu (Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA, October 16, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Franklin Music Hall, Gigi Perez, Hannah Jadagu, Philadelphia, PA on October 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 16, 2025] Gigi Perez / Hannah Jadagu

Screenshot

Back in May, Gigi Perez headlined TLA (capacity about 1,000) and now just five months later, she’s headlining Franklin Music Hall, one of the largest midsized venues in Philly.  That’s what kind of summer she had!

My daughter and I saw Gigi Perez open for Girl in Red and I was really interested in seeing her as a headliner.  Since this show I’ve seen her two more times (in short sets, but still).  I wouldn’t want to see her in FMH, one of my least favorite venues.

I feel like I’ve been hearing about Hannah Jadagu for a while, but when I looked her up, she released her first album in 2021.  So maybe it’s her I’m thinking of, maybe not.

Jadagu plays sweet bedroom pop music.  She’s got a really nice voice.

So, yeah, I wasn’t going to this show, but it’s cool to see Gigi’s star keep ascending.

 

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The Oh Hellos / Rabbitology (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, October 15, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Rabbitology, The Oh Hellos, Union Transfer on October 15, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 15, 2025] The Oh Hellos / Rabbitology

Back in 2016, I was introduced to The Oh Hellos through a Tiny Desk concert.  And I put them on my bands to see list.

The Oh Hellos are technically a duo of Tyler and Maggie Heath.  But live (and here) they play chamber pop with nine members in the band.  They have an accordion, a violin, a banjo, guitars and great harmonies.

But in the last nine years I hadn’t heard anything about them and more or less forgot about them–they have been putting out albums, but I never heard about them.  When this show was announced I was kind of surprised that it was at Union Transfer, as I didn’t know if they even had a following.  I guess they do.

I was vaguely interested but not enough to get tickets.  Plus I had a ticket to see Margaret Glaspy that night, so Margaret won.

Rabbitology is the world created by the odd-running mind of Michigan-based alternative-folk singer/songwriter Nat Timmerman.  She sings a very earthy, somewhat unsettling style of music.  It reminds me a bit of Paris Paloma–but with a different vocal style.  I really like the songs I’ve heard.  I’ll bet she’s a really compelling live performer.  Maybe she’ll come back around.

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Brooke Annibale (Milkboy, Philadelphia, PA, October 15, 2025) [MARGARET GLASPY]

Posted in Brooke Annibale, Daphne Gale, Margaret Glaspy, Milkboy, Philadelphia, PA on October 15, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 15, 2025] Brooke Annibale

I was happy to see Margaret Glaspy again. And I was especially happy that she was playing in Milkboy–a venue that I really like but which has terrible parking.Last time I Was here I got a parking ticket for the end of my car jutting into a motorcycle area.  I drove around a bit tonight and wound up parking in the exact same spot!  But this time I pulled forward enough that only my bumper was in the motorcycle zone… no ticket, phew.

But between driving around and then slowly getting to the venue, I missed about half of Brooke Annibale’s set.  I also had to stand pretty far in the back–I like to get close because of the strange layout of the room–narrow and very deep.  But I was able to focus on Brooke’s gorgeous voice.

I really enjoyed the lyrics of her new song Bolder Font.

I had no idea that that Brooke Annibale had been releasing music since 2005 (!).  She talked about touring for awhile and how much she liked Margaret Glaspy.  Originally, Brooke wasn’t supposed to play at this show, but she was added last minute (which I guess is why she was on first since Daphne Gale is a much newer musician).

Her albums have more orchestration, but her it was simply her and her guitar–lovely folksinger vibes.  I wish I had seen her whole set.

It also turns out that Brooke was part of Guster’s On the Ocean festival this year.

Setlist

Hold On
Things We Don’t Believe Anymore
Patience
My Favorite Part
Bolder Font
Home Again

 

 

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My Morning Jacket (The Met Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, October 11, 2025, Night 2 of 2)

Posted in Balthvs, My Morning Jacket, Philadelphia, PA, The Met Philadelphia on October 13, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 11, 2025] My Morning Jacket

After such a great night last night, we wound up leaving a little bit later (figuring there was no Friday night traffic) and arrived a few minutes later than last night.  But when I walked up to the merch line there was literally one person in front of me–moments later when I looked again, the line was huge, going up the stairs.  Then we headed down to the pit.  It was a little more crowded than last night.  We were going to try to get in front of Jim, but that’s what everyone else wanted, too.  So we camped out more or less where we were the night before, in front of Carl.  We were two people back from where we were, which isn’t bad at all.

So yes, last night as pretty tiring and we’d had a busy day, but we were psyched for a second night of My Morning Jacket.  And I was super psyched when they opened with Highly Suspicious, a totally ripping song from Evil Urges and one that I’d forgotten about–it was also the first time I’d seen it live.  This was also when I learned that Carl Broemel can do so many great backing voices (including the deep, angry chanting of “highly suspicious”).  They followed it with Off the Record, one of the poppier songs off of Z.

Then Carl Broemel moved over to the pedal steel guitar and they played the short but fun Climbing the Ladder.   It was interesting that last night Carl played the saxophone on a few songs but didn’t play it at all tonight. And last night he didn’t play the pedal steel at all but he played it about three times tonight.

And it was pretty clear that if last night’s show was all about jamming, tonight show was shorter, more rocking songs.  And the guys in the front who were headbanging last night had much more cause to do so tonight.

Speaking of the pit.  Tonight’s crowd was fascinating.  There was a guy who kept walking around the pit area hugging and fist bumping people.  He switched places with people and let other be on the barrier.  In fact, one of the long-haired headbangers let some of the shorter folks switch places with him for a song or two.  It was an incredibly generous and, dare I say it, loving thing to do.  Appropriate for the next song Love Love Love, the only song they played from their previous self-titled album.  The lighting at the shows was fairly simply but effective.  They had five panels mounted behind them.  All of the panels had lights that moved and spun and changed colors. But during Love Love Love, they spelled out Love! which was pretty nice.

Up next was Wordless Chorus, one of the great MMJ songs.  The crowd went nuts and we all sang the wordless chorus over and over as Jim walked around the stage, coming over by us at last. (more…)

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Goat Girl / Maria BC (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, October 13, 2025) [CANCELLED]

Posted in Goat Girl, Johnny Brenda's, Maria BC, Philadelphia, PA on October 13, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[CANCELLED: October 13, 2025] Goat Girl / Maria BC

I saw Goat Girl open for Parquet Courts back in 2018 and I really enjoyed their set.  I liked how they played a variety of styles, sometimes playing very loudly, but other times having a kind of drunken country feel.  THey were fun and I was interested in seeing them again.

But then in August they announced that they had to cancel the whole tour:

Hello everyone We’re really sad to share that, due to personal reasons, we won’t be able to go ahead with our North American tour next month. This was not an easy decision, and we’re truly sorry to everyone who was looking forward to seeing us. We were so excited to come back to the US and Canada – it’s been a while, and it means so much to know you’ve been waiting to see us play. This isn’t goodbye, we fully intend to be back as soon as we can. Thank you for your understanding, and for all the love and support you continue to give us.

Maria BC is an American ambient musician.  She sings over quiet, slightly creepy music–catchy melodies with unusual instrumentation.  Interesting and pretty different from Goat Girl.

I assume they’ll be back again.

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