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Archive for the ‘Plague Vendor’ Category

Public Image Limited (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, October 2, 2026)

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Plague Vendor, Public Image Ltd, Union Transfer on October 3, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 2, 2026] Plague Vendor

I was torn about this show from the get go.  John Lydon has (possibly) become a right wing stooge like Morrissey (there are those who say he is mocking the MAGA camp, who the hell knows).  I didn’t really want to give him any money (although I did feel bad about his wife dying and all that).

And yet, I’ve loved most of PiL’s output (at least up through 9) and have never seen them live.  Reviews suggested that on their last tour, at least, they were still great live and so I grabbed a ticket.  There were many other shows that night that I was interested in.  Indeed, we almost went to Karina Rykman at the last minute.  And, boy oh boy do I wish that we had.

Public Image Limited was the worst show I have ever been to.

I’ve been reading other reviews of this tour in which people were blown away by this show and I can’t tell if they are all crazy or if John was just really off tonight.  And yet, people around me seemed to really enjoy it as well.  I’m not sure what rubbed me the wring way so badly.

Now, I know all about John and his antics–his utter disdain for the audience, the “did you ever get the feeling you’ve been swindled,” everything.  I was expecting a performative asshole.  I was actually worried that he might get in my face and give me shit for something I was or wasn’t doing.  But instead, what I got was an old fat guy who didn’t even sound like Lydon.  Lydon has the most distinctive (borderline irritating) high pitched voices in music.  And yet, when he sang (if you can call it that) his voice was deep and gravelly.  It’s hard to imagine that his voice can’t get high pitched and whiny anymore, but maybe he can’t?  And yet it’s not like singing where you have to hit the high notes, this is just a high whiny sound.  Can you really lose that ability? (more…)

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Plague Vendor (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, October 2, 2026) [PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Plague Vendor, Public Image Ltd, Union Transfer on October 2, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 2, 2026] Plague Vendor

I was torn about this show from the get go (see main post) and when I listened to Plague Vendor briefly, they were interesting but not compelling.  So I wasn’t that excited when they came out on stage.

Three guys came out and they started playing an awesome, simple bass and guitar riff.  The bass and guitars sounds fantastic and I was instantly hooked.  Their outfits (the bassist was wearing like a Sears cowboy outfit from the 70s, including a glittering belt buckle that said Bill.)  The guitarist had a fringe of hair that fell in his face and I couldn’t see him at all.

After a minute or so of this riffage, a guy came out on stage in black pants, a black muscle shirt and lots of tattoos.  His hair was soaking wet and he was an absolutely lunatic.  He started singing the first song fairly calmly and then the chorus exploded and his voice exploded too.  It was fascinating.

During the instrumental parts, he lined up the bottles of water (one of which he dumped all over his head midway through the show).  He seemed unhappy with the microphone stand and at one point he threw it into the photographer pit and then later climbed down to get it.  He complained about the lights twice saying how hot it was up there.  He even said I don’t know where the hell I am and I’m sure you don’t either, so let’s just play music.

I didn’t really like him, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of him.  And it’s a good thing I didn’t, because suddenly, he was standing on the barrier singing right at us.  He was holding on the a fan’s hand (and head at one point) just wobbling and singing.  (more…)

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