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Archive for the ‘Silversun Pickups’ Category

Silversun Pickups / Girl Tones (Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ, August 23, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Girl Tones, Montclair, NJ, Silversun Pickups, Wellmont Theater on August 23, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: August 23, 2025] Silversun Pickups

I saw Silversun PIckups at this venue last year.  Even though they are from the West Coast, they sure seem to play NY/NJ/PA a lot.  Which is great!

I really enjoyed their show last year, and was excited to see them again.  Then we wound up scheduling our vacation and this show was right in the middle of it.  I was able to sell my ticket (at a big loss, but it’s better than nothing).

Setlist tells me they played the exact same set (with a couple fewer songs!) with one cover that was different.  I wouldn’t have minded the same setlist, but it certainly lets me know I didn’t miss anything too major.  But I’d certainly see them again.

Girl Tones is a duo of sisters Kenzie and Laila Shultz.  Both classically trained musicians, Kenzie “transitioned from cello to guitar and Laila from piano to drums in an effort to electrify sentient beings from this galaxy to the next.”  They “explore every corner of rock ‘n’ roll, flawlessly mastering everything from punk to indie while still maintaining their signature fiery impact.”

The first part of their EP is simple (guitar and drums) delicate pop with the vocals being high and airy.  But the second half of the EP rocks pretty riffing hard and almost sounds like a different band.

I’m curious to see what they’re like live.

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Silversun Pickups (Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ, September 12, 2024)

Posted in Montclair, NJ, Silversun Pickups, Speedy Ortiz, Wellmont Theater on September 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 12, 2024] Silversun Pickups

I had several opportunities to see Silversun Pickups in the last year or so.  (They’ve played in Sayreville, Asbury Park and now Montclair, as well as Glenside, Bensalem and Philly in the last two years).  So I finally decided it was time to go see them.

I think their song Panic Switch is absolutely dynamite.  It’s one of my favorite songs of the early 2000s.  And they have a few other songs that I like as well.  Indeed, I listened to their discography recently and overall really liked them.  I mean, I can’t shake how much they sound like Smashing Pumpkins, but since I haven’t listened to Smashing Pumpkins on purpose in years, that’s fine.   They’re like Pumpkins without all of the Billy Corgan drama.

The band i a four piece with amazing bass sounds from Nikki Monninger–with only one guitar (and keys) Monninger’s bass is fundamental to these songs and they often (like in Panic Switch) have a great riff holding the song down.  The keys are from Joe Lester.  I have no real sense of what he was adding, but I know he was adding a lot–probably more than I realized.

I’ve always liked the look of Chris Guanlao who stands out in pictures with his long dark hair among the light-haired guys.  But holy crap I was not prepared for how loud his drums would be.  The guy is a beast back there–playing all kinds of tempo changes and just accentuating everything.  He was amazing.

And of course up front is Brian Aubert who said he was bummed that he didn’t get to buy a jacket at thrift store that had closed by the time he returned to it.

The band came out to red lights and the song Growing Old is Getting Old (from Swoon).   Midway through, the song shifted and the full stage lights kicked in.  The stage had dozens of lightbulbs hanging down from the ceiling.  They were LCD and changed colors and lit up.  I was pretty cool.

I really like It Doesn’t Matter Why from their previous album and I think I need to listen to that one a bit more. (more…)

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Speedy Ortiz (Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ, September 12, 2024) [SILVERSUN PICKUPS]

Posted in Montclair, NJ, Silversun Pickups, Speedy Ortiz, Wellmont Theater on September 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 12, 2024] Speedy Ortiz

I saw Speedy Ortiz a month and a half ago at Milkboy, a small club where I literally was standing behind Sadie Dupuis as she climbed the stairs to the stage.   She had hurt her elbow and this the first time she’d played her guitar in public (for one song).

Then they were invited to open for Silversun Pickups.  I didn’t know they were the openers when I bought the ticket, and I was pretty excited about that–while I love seeing a new band that’s good, it’s even more fun seeing a band I’m really familiar with (this was my fifth time seeing them).

That show was like an Easter Egg for fans.  Seeing them as an opening band was a little different.   Although not hugely different.  Their setlist was very similar to Milkboy (first five songs the same) and they simply excised a few others to shorten the set.  They also ended with the song that Sadie played guitar on for us at Milkboy. (more…)

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Silversun Pickups / Hello Mary (The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ, June 28, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Asbury Park, NJ, Hello Mary, Silversun Pickups, The Stone Pony on June 28, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: June 28, 2024] Silversun Pickups / Hello Mary

I have had ample opportunity to see Silversun Pickups, a band that I like, but have never really gotten into.  When they came around last year, there were two or three shows I could have gone to.  And now they were back, playing The Stone Pony.

The thing that made this year’s show even more appealing was that Hello Mary, a band I’ve been quite interested in, was opening.

But there were two problems.

I don’t really like The Stone Pony at all.  And I would prefer not to go to shows there unless it’s the only option.  True, it was the only option, but my displeasure with the Stone Pony outweighed my desire to see either band.

Plus it was a Friday night.  I don’t like going out on Friday nights on  the best of weeks, but Asbury Park on a Friday night.  Ick.

When I finally caved and said maybe I should go, it was sold out, so I made the right choice. (more…)

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Silversun Pickups / The Backfires (Xcite Center, Bensalem, PA, June 2, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Bensalem, PA, Silversun Pickups, The Backfires, Xcite Center on June 2, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: June 2, 2023] Silversun Pickups / The Backfires

Silversun Pickups were doing a four date mini-tour and I was sure I could finally get to see them.

I’d have preferred to see Silversun Pickups at Parx (even though I’ve had some really bad experiences there lately) because it is easier to get to.  But tickets there were $30 more than at Starland.  So the hell with that.

Anyhow, I have thought about seeing Silversun Pickups a few times and it never materialized.  They have two songs that I love and a few others that I like quite a lot.

I bought a ticket for NJ so I wasn’t likley to go to Parx as well.  Even when I didn’t go to Starland.  Alas.

The Backfires are a band from New York (and the lead guy lived in London for a few years).  They are a rocking alternative band in the Arctic Monkeys vein.  I enjoyed most of their recently released EP.  Word has it that they are going to be the next big thing.  Let’s find out.

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Silversun Pickups / The Backfires (Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ, June 1, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Sayreville, NJ, Silversun Pickups, Starland Ballroom, The Backfires on June 1, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: June 1, 2023] Silversun Pickups / The Backfires

I tend to dislike Starland Ballroom, primarily because it can take forever to get into the building.  I missed an entire opening act while waiting online outside.   I’d have preferred to see Silversun Pickups at Parx (even though I’ve had some really bad experiences there lately) because it is easier to get to.  But tickets there were $30 more than at Starland.  So the hell with that.

Starland has acknowledged their shitty check in process by now instituting a $15 VIP/skip the line ticket.  So, reward them for being shitty at their jobs.  No thanks.

Anyhow, I have thought about seeing Silversun Pickups a few times and it never materialized.  They have two songs that I love and a few others that I like quite a lot.

This show was during a week that I had no other shows and during which nothing big was going on.  And, my friend Brendan was going to be there.  So I waited until the day before the show to buy a ticket.

Then I got home and life caught up with me and I had things to do and couldn’t go.  Alas.

The Backfires are a band from New York (and the lead guy lived in London for a few years).  They are a rocking alternative band in the Arctic Monkeys vein.  I enjoyed most of their recently released EP.  Word has it that they are going to be the next big thing.  Let’s find out.

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Douglas Coupland–Marshall McLuhan: You Know Nothing of My Work! (2010)

Posted in Annie Hall, Biography, Books about writers, Canadian Content, Canadian Music, CBC Radio 3, Consumerism, Death, Depression, Douglas Coupland, Extraordinary Canadians, KEXP 90.3 FM--Seattle, WA, Marshall McLuhan, Short Books, Silversun Pickups, Smashing Pumpkins, Technology, The Future on October 20, 2012| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: SILVERSUN PICKUPS-Live on KEXP, May 11, 2012 (2012).

Following the other day’s review of Silversun Pickups, I have this more recent show.  In this one, only two members of the band are here–singer/guitarist Brian Aubert and bassist Nikki Monninger for a stripped down acoustic show.

This set is much more enjoyable than the older set.  The songs are certainly stronger, especially “Bloody Mary” and “The Pit.”  But there’s also something refreshing about hearing this band who is usually so fuzzed out sounding clean and simple.  I wouldn’t want an entire acoustic album from these guys, but it’s so dynamic in this version.  You can really hear the construction of the songs in this simple setting.

And the rapport between Brian and DJ Cheryl Waters is relaxed (they are very funny) and engaging–I really want to like these guys.

It’s interesting that in the five years from the previous set the Billy Corganisms have not gone away at all, but I guess one can’t help what one’s voice sounds like.  It’s kind of hard to get past that, but it’s not impossible, and the songs are so good, you can overlook it.  This makes me want to check out their latest album.  You can hear it here.

And for  those who watch TV, Silversun Pickups were on Up All Night this week (in a very weird mash up of pop culture).  Is that how lesser known bands get publicity, or was that meant to be a draw for the show (I don’t know how popular they are–Sarah had never heard of them).

[READ: October 18, 2012] Marshall McLuhan: You Know Nothing of My Work!

I had not heard of this book until I saw it in my local library.  I wasn’t prepared to read another biography of Marshall McLuhan, and indeed, this isn’t one.  This is the American edition of Extraordinary Canadians: Marshall McLuhan with a spiffy new title.  And it is virtually identical.

There are several things that were in the Canadian edition that were left out of the American edition (although they did leave in all of the “u”s in words like “colour”).

The things that were left out are: (more…)

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Douglas Coupland–“Fire at the Ativan Factory” (Disco 2000) (1999)

Posted in Canadian Content, Corporate skewering, Decadence, Douglas Coupland, Drugs, Marriage Trouble, Short Story, Silversun Pickups, Smashing Pumpkins, U2 on October 11, 2012| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: SILVERSUN PICKUPS-Live at KEXP October 27, 2006 (2006).

I liked Silversun Pickups’ album Swoon quite a bit.  True, the singer sounds uncannily like Billy Corgan, but the shoegazer swirls of music were so sonically interesting that I couldn’t resist.

The lead singer/frontman is very funny and very engaging–he has great patter, and it’s clear that they all feel comfortable at KEXP (who were major promoters of the band).  This set comes from their first album, which I don’t know at all.  And I found it a little samey.

The production–washes and layers of music kind of flattened it out a bit.  It’s true that the melodies are good and his voice is compelling in the way that Billy Corgan’s is, but this set just never sticks with me.  I don’t know if that’s to do with the songs from the first album or if maybe live they’re not that interesting, but I didn’t love this set as much as I wanted to.

You can hear it here and a bunch more sets from them here.

[READ: October, 10, 2012] “Fire at the Ativan Factory”

Now that I’ve finished with Vonnegut for a while, I was planning on turning my attention to some new books, and then I stumbled upon this short story by Douglas Coupland–another author whose oeuvre I plan to read (I’ve actually read most of his books already, but they were over a decade ago so I’m going to go through them again).

Douglas Coupland is not one for short stories.  As far as I can tell this is one of the few stories he has published.  (this is going by Wikipedia, because his own homepage, which one would assume would celebrate all things Coupland, leaves out quite a lot of things).  This short story was published in a U.K. released fin de siècle  compilation called Disco 2000.  I’ve never heard of the collection.  And I certainly wasn’t going to hunt too hard to track it down, even if there are a bunch of interesting writers in it (end of the century malaise is so twelve years ago).  But fortunately and somewhat inexplicably to me, Barcelona Review has a full text copy (in English and Spanish(!)) on their site. (more…)

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