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Archive for the ‘Silversun Pickups’ Category

Weezer (XFinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia PA, September 29, 2026)

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Silversun Pickups, The Shins, Weezer, XFinity Mobile Arena on October 1, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 29, 2026] Weezer

This is my fourth time seeing Weezer.  I’m not a huge Weezer fan and I know they’ve released some real stinker songs, but when they hit it right, they absolutely nail it.  And their shows are a lot of fun.

This is the first time I’ve seen them headline in a pretty long time.  I remembered their 2018 show was a great spectacle showing the band progress through the years.  But they went all out for this show and it was a blast!

The show began with a video of a kid drawing pictures like those in the poster to the right.  Some bullies mocked Nicholas for drawing his weird Ws and Nicholas said that Weezer were playing at his house tonight.  The kids don’t believe him.  Nicholas wishes really hard and the weird symbols he’s drawing start to glow and Rivers received the message about a show that night.  He grabs the band and they head to Nicholas’ house.

The stage had been setup to look like a back yard.  There was a house (!) as well as telephone poles (with sneakers on the wires) artificial turf and a picket fence.  On the screen, the guys approach a fence and then walked through the fence on stage. A simple detail, but really fun.  The screen converted to a backyard scene with a swimming pool and trees and everything.  It looked really convincing (despite being obviously fake).

The story was played out though the whole night (even if the guys in the band are TERRIBLE actors–so bad!  Rivers’ “let keep this party going” and things were pretty sus but who cares).

They started playing a brand new song (I don’t now the album all that well, but everyone on the floor sure did).  In addition to showing the band on the stage, the cameramen in the front row went back an forth to the folks in the front row, and most of them were singing along.

And then came what was mostly a greatest hits selection of songs, but with quite a few deep cuts as well.  (more…)

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The Shins (XFinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia PA, September 29, 2026) [WEEZER]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Silversun Pickups, The Shins, Weezer, XFinity Mobile Arena on September 30, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 29, 2026] The Shins

I have been a fan of The Shins since their debut album came out and I have never seen them live.  I put them very high on my list of bands that I wanted to see.  But I assumed I just never would.  (They played Franklin Music Hall in 2022 and The Fillmore in 2017).  And yet, here they were opening for Weezer.

I don’t know what James Mercer (the only real Shin at this point) has been up to for this last decade (their last album came out in 2017), but whatever it is, he’s been keeping his voice in amazing condition.

They opened with Simple Song and I immediately remembered how much I love The Shins.  And as soon as he hit the first high notes of the song–and hit them confidently and easily, I knew this set was going to be fantastic.  They made some use of the video screens.  The camera zoomed in on the musicians from time to time and behind them, for each song there was a different band name logo, which was really fun.

Up next was Australia (I realized I have no idea what the names of these songs are) but as soon as the “la la las” came along, the whole song flooded back.  And Mercer seemed like he was having a really good time up there.  He commented about how he had never been on an arena tour before and how much fun he was having. (more…)

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Silversun Pickups (XFinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia PA, September 29, 2026) [WEEZER]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Silversun Pickups, The Shins, Weezer, XFinity Mobile Arena on September 29, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 29, 2026] Silversun Pickups

I had been wanting to see Silversun Pickups for a pretty long time and finally managed to see them (after missing easily a half dozen shows in our area over the course of a year or so) in 2024.  And they were great.  I really wanted to see them again, but once again, their headlining show fell during a vacation.

So, at last here they were again, this time opening for Weezer.

Initially, my wife said she didn’t want to go to this show, but upon hearing that The Shins were opening, she changed her mind.  I wound up getting cool seats in the club section (which includes a personal food and drink and bathroom area) and we fought the traffic (why would you AC/DC playing at the football field next door at the EXACT SAME TIME as this show?

We arrives in time, found our cool seats and even ordered food (which we never do) because we hadn’t had time for a pre meal dinner.  Hint: go for the kid’s meal, it’s a decent sized portion for half the price).

We were on the left side of the stage.  Almost parallel to the stage but not quite and really rather close.  Great seats.  And even if you couldn’t see the screens behind them straight on, they were done really well and were easily viewed from where we were.

The Silversun Pickups came out and Nikki Monninger’s bass rumbled the opening notes of Well Thought Out Twinkles. The sounded great.  The venue’s sound quality isn’t perfect or anything, but they sounded really good–that bass was so clean.  It’s always fun to watch drummer Chris Guanlao, going crazy pack there–hair flying, sticks smashing things.  He shows you how fun being a drummer can be. (more…)

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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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