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Archive for the ‘Music’ Category

[ATTENDED: February 22, 2022] Billie EIlish

Back in 2019, I bought tickets for my daughter and I to see Billie Eilish’s tour in 2020.  I was really looking forward to it because I’d heard that she put on an amazing show.

I was especially looking forward to the energy and the visuals.  Then COVID came in and we watched with bated breath as concerts were cancelled.  And then she postponed the whole tour.  Ultimately, she cancelled it.

And actually that proved to be not a bad thing in the long run.  The opener we had was much better than Denzel Curry.  And our new seats proved to be terrific.  When she announced the tour for the new album, we were given a pre-sale code since we had tickets for the earlier show.  Then in May of 2021 I grabbed tickets and waited nine months!

The only bummer was that this new tour was for her newly released, more mature album (she’s all of 18).  And I didn’t really like it.  I thought it was kind of bland.  I love that Billie is singing and not mumbling like she does on the first album–and I was really impressed by her voice.  But I found the album lacked the dynamics of the first one.

She was performing most of the album live.  Although I see that in the previous tour she did a whole middle section of covers, which I don’t really like, so that’s okay then.

I also thought she’d dress like the album.  But nope, as you can see she was good old punky Billie.  And she played 26 songs and performed for about an hour and forty-five minutes.

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[ATTENDED: February 22, 2022] Dora Jar

Originally Willow was supposed to be the support act for Billie Eilish.

My daughter and I were pretty excited about that because Willow’s new album is really good.  And, she had announced a headline tour, which we didn’t really want to go to.  This was an easy opportunity to see her.

Then a few days before this tour began, Willow dropped out of the tour.  She gave an excuse that, to my ears, sounds very lame:

Due to production limitations, I am unable to put on the show that I believe you all deserve.

It sounds noble, but let’s be honest, it’s not like the opening act’s performance was suddenly stripped down.

At the last minute, Dora Jar, an artist I’d never heard of, signed on.  I listened to a song online.  Thought it was fine and then forgot about it. (more…)

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[ATTENDED: February 18, 2022] Pinegrove

This is my fourth time seeing Pinegrove.  I have a sweet fondness for this band.  They were my first (and only) show at the First Unitarian Church–a show that was so vibrant and alive that I remember it very well even five years later.

Their shows don’t have a lot “going on,” just a lot of good music and a band that sounds better and better.

This new tour is in support of their new album 11:11.  I didn’t like this album as much as their previous collections–the songs were a little too slow for my liking (although there are some terrific songs on it).  They played the entire album (not in order) which might seem like a bummer given how I wasn’t crazy about the album

But instead, the band sounded so good, so dynamic, that it made me like the new songs far more than I did.  Perhaps it was the way they were spaced out.  Or maybe it was mixing older songs with the new ones.  Whatever the case, it made the new songs sound fantastic.

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[ATTENDED: February 18, 2022] Lily Konigsberg

I have seen Lily Konigsberg play with Palberta–she and her bandmates switched instruments throughout the set.  For this set Lily played guitar and sang.  Her Lily K. Band was a four piece.

Nate was on guitar, Charlie on bass and Charlotte Kahn on drums.  I am 90% sure I have seen Kahn play drums with someone else, but I can’t remember who that was.

Lily is a prolific songwriter.  Some are catchy.  Some are downright weird. I was actually surprised at how conventional some of these songs were.  Especially after she started out with the decidedly odd and wonderful “Alone” with its jumpy bass line and wicked guitars.

I loved the title of the next song “At Best a #3.”  Then she told is that “Proud Home” was about Stacy’s perspective from “Stacy’s Mom.”  It was good but not as catchy as he original. (more…)

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[POSTPONED: February 19, 2022] Avalanches [moved to October 10, 2022]

Avalanches debut album, the sample abundant Since I Left You, a fun, left-field rocker that was full of so many samples it was impossible to keep track of them.

It took them something like 16 years to make a second album and I didn’t listen to it.  Or the one they made more recently.  That’s probably not the best attitude for going into a show.  Especially since, as with a lot of electronic based music I wasn’t sure if I necessarily wanted to see them live, but this seemed like a rare and fun opportunity to experience their sampling and beats in a big setting.

But then on December 15, the group announced that it’s postponing the tour to September and October “due to ongoing personal health issues.”

“We want to thank each and every one of you who bought tickets and who have supported We Will Always Love You,” the Avalanches wrote on Instagram. “We thank you so much for your understanding and apologise for the inconvenience. We can’t wait to see you in the US in September and October.”

This date was a little hinky for me, so I was glad it was postponed.  See them in the fall.

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[ATTENDED: February 18, 2022] Poise

Poise is the creation of Lucie Murphy.  She has released an EP and an LP and the songs on them are quite varied.  She’s a got a few short rockers with great riffs and a few mellow, more brooding pieces.

They were a four piece for this show with Marguax on bass, Theo Munger on drums and Sam Skinner (from Pinegrove) on lead guitar.

They cam out with a short rocker.  Murphy’s voice is pretty great–she can hit some really high notes, but mostly she’s got a lot of power.  I really enjoyed the second song “Nothing You Can Say” with a super catchy riff.

She mellowed things out for a song and then allowed Skinner to make some really cool feedbacking squalls during the song with the otherwise quiet chorus of “Let me break your heart.” (more…)

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[POSTPONED: February 15, 2022] Yola / Jac Ross [moved to September 23]

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I has seen Yola on TV and her live presence was incredible. I don’t know a ton of her songs, but the ones I knew I liked a lot.

I really thought it would be fun to see her live

Then the second waved of COVID came through and the show was postponed until the fall.

Jac Ross is an R&B singer who I just listened to and did not like at all.  Sometimes, although not always, it’s worth seeing who the headliner chooses as an opening act to see if you’ll actually enjoy the show.

 

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[ATTENDED: February 12, 2022] CHAI

I heard about CHAI from NPR. Bob Boilen had found them charming and said their live show was not to be missed.  But since they were from Japan I had to wonder how likely it would be to see them.  When they announced a tour, I grabbed pre-sale tickets even though I was sure it wouldn’t sell out.

It didn’t, of course, and it was scheduled opposite Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, so the two crowds couldn’t have been more different.

So here’s a brief histoy of CHAI

Chai was formed in 2012 in Nagoya, by twin sisters Mana and Kana.  Mana, Kana, and Yuna were in the same class at high school.  Yuna introduced the other band members to Japanese music that did not easily fit into the traditional definition of “J-Pop”, such as the band Cero or Kimyō Reitaro. After the members went to university, Mana became friends with Yuuki (originally from Gifu Prefecture, who had moved to Nagoya), and asked the four friends to form a band.  The band’s name comes from Russian tea (known as chai). Kana drank the tea with jam with her Russian literature professor at a Russian restaurant, which she thought was cute.

Cute is the key.  They wanted to make something that was neo-Kawaii.  Not as limiting as what people thought of as kawaii.

The band came out in brightly reflective rain jackets with hoods.  Underneath these were pink toile…outerwear.  Underneath those were a kind of jumpsuit that had short sleeves and pants.  In short, they were matching and they were a sight to behold.

Three of the women came to the front of the stage and faced away from the audience.  The fourth, Yuni, sat at the drum set.  She played a beat while electronic sounds swirled (I assume she was triggering, them, too, but who knows).

The other three women proceeded to do synchronized and, at times, wildly freeform “dances.” as they sang their hilarious song “No More Cake.”

Thank you for reminding me your daily makeup routine
But look at you
That’s way too much
That’s way too much
You’re not a cake
Look at you
That’s way too much
Your face is made up like a cake ha?

As the song neared its end, Kana was handed a guitar.  She walked up front and proceeded to play a noisy, wonderfully wild guitar solo.  Then she handed the guitar back and they finished the song. (more…)

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[ATTENDED: February 12, 2022] Su Lee

If you’re a fairly unknown Japanese band coming to America for the first time (some cities anyway), who do you invite for an opener?

Well, apparently, you pick Su Lee, a Korean singer who had a burst of success on Reddit with her song “I’ll Just Dance” (subtitled: ‘what my mental breakdown sounds like’).  That was in May 2020.  The viral success apparently allowed her to continue as a musician.

Lee was very funny and very very nervous.  This was her first ever tour and we were he fourth or fifth show.

She came out on stage, and shouted at us.  “This thing isn’t working!”  The ear piece–a technology she had never used before wasn’t doing what it was supposed to do.  She muttered and cursed a bunch and eventually it started working. (more…)

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[ATTENDED: February 10, 2022] Ghost

C. and I saw Ghost a couple of years ago and the show was amazing. I knew I’d want to see them again.  We sat close to the stage but kind off to the side.  It was actually an amazing view and we were really close to one of the risers that the guitarist and singer came to.

But for this show i got us floor seats (just behind the pit).  The seats were close but not quite as satisfying.  We did get an amazing view of the set, but it felt just far enough to not be really in it.  And, having seats meant that we couldn’t move away from the tall people in front of us.  (Plus, if we were in the pit we would have had a pretty good chance of getting one of the seemingly endless amount of picks and drumsticks they doled out).

But that’s beside the point, because the performance was great.  The curtain dropped and the amazing stage was revealed.  Stained glass windows of the former Papas, the stairs and platforms and the Nameless Ghouls playing.

This tour was ostensibly to promote the new album.  But Ghost’s new album isn’t out yet.  And, since they were co-headlining it meant that their set was cut short (who exactly does a co-headline tour benefit?  Not the fans.). But that also meant that this was like a greatest hits show.

After playing a new song “Kaisarion,” he began the first of man sing-alongs with “Rats.”

I was delighted with how “funny” the show was last time.  Because they had less stage time, this show did away with some of the fun.  Lead singer Papa Emeritus does some wardrobe changes and the Nameless Ghouls places some instrumental songs to keep us occupied while Papa is backstage.

Last time, the two lead guitarist Ghouls had a showdown.  This time, there was a much briefer contest.  But it was still funny, with the Ghouls pantomiming on stage.  At one point one of the Ghouls played a high note that squealed into feedback.  One of the other Ghouls had to run over and make it stop in what looked like a possible usurpation of lead guitar status.  And it was very amusingly when Papa shoved away the guitarists when they would be where he wanted to stand.

They played a bunch of songs from Meliora, and older album.  They were catchy and the crowd was really into it.

The lighting was always great–conducive to whatever the songs were about.

After a new song “Hunter’s Moon,” they played some songs from Prequelle.

Some jackass had been calling out for “Year Zero” for much of the show.  As C. pointed out–it’s a popular song with a great sing along chorus–of course they’re going to play it.

There was a guy in front of us who was really really into the show–waving his arms and acting out lyrics (even the Nameless Ghouls weren’t doing that).  It’s a little disconcerting when you now some of the words.

There was even a brief keytar solo during the show! The band has added some Ghoulettes to round out the family, one of whom plays keys and tambourine.

They played a rocking “Mummy Dust” complete with confetti cannons.  Although for whatever reason, the confetti all blew off to the right side of the stage and never really made it past the pit.

And then Papa told us that they had three songs left.  Volbeat felt so endless, I couldn’t believe that Ghost was almost over.  They played a cover of  “Enter Sandman,” I guess they did the song for the Metallic covers album.  It sounded really good.

Then they ended with two of their biggest, catchiest sons, “Danse Macabre” and “Square Hammer.”

I had such a good time with them playing “Kiss the Go-Goat” last time, that I was sure they would encore with it.  But they didn’t.  There was no encore.  Sure the final band gets to do an encore!  But no.  And their set was only an hour and fifteen minutes.  While Volbeat played an hour and twenty.  Boo!

But man it was so much fun to see them again.  Like last time, they ended the show with an tapes recording on an Emmylou Harris song (which is weird).  They handed out picks and sticks and waved to people and were generally fun and delightful.

Clearly, next time we see them we need to get pit seats

Oh, and how cool is it that were playing at Devils stadium?

2022 2018
TAPE: Imperia TAPE: Klara stjärnor (Jan Johansson song)
Kaisarion TAPE: Miserere Mei, Deus (Gregorio Allegri song)
Rats Ashes
From the Pinnacle to the Pit Rats
Mary on a Cross Absolution
Devil Church Faith
Cirice Mary on a Cross
Hunter’s Moon Devil Church [with extended jam]
Faith Cirice
Helvetesfönster Miasma
Year Zero Ghuleh/Zombie Queen
Ritual Helvetesfönster [partial]
Mummy Dust Spirit
Enter Sandman (Metallica cover) From the Pinnacle to the Pit
Dance Macabre Ritual
Square Hammer ♣ Satan Prayer
TAPE:  Sorrow in the Wind (Emmylou Harris song) Year Zero
TAPE: Spöksonat
He Is
Mummy Dust
Kiss the Go-Goat
Dance Macabre
encore
Square Hammer ♣
TAPE:  Sorrow in the Wind (Emmylou Harris song)

⇑ Impera (2022)
⊕ Kiss the Go-Goat EP (2019)
♣ Popestar EP (2016)

¶ Prequelle (2018)
⊗ Meliora (2015)
∞ Infestissumam (2013)
 Opus Eponymous (2010)

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