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Archive for the ‘Snacktime’ Category

The Swell Season (Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova) (The Met Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, July 29, 2025)

Posted in Glen Hansard, lnterference, Marketa Irglova, Once, Philadelphia, PA, Snacktime, The Frames, The Swell Season, Van Morrison on July 29, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 29, 2025] The Swell Season (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova)

Three years ago my wife and I saw Glen and Marketa (interestingly announced as Glen and Marketa of The Swell Season) and the show was wonderful.  So when they came back around (this time announced as The Swell Season) I grabbed tickets right away.  (Incidentally, The Swell Season is the formal name of this duo–Glen has several other bands as well.

We were delighted to be reasonably close and right in the middle.

And there were to be lots of surprises tonight.  Glen and Marketa were joined by a bass player and drummer (whose names I don’t recall).  But before the first song started, they had a big surprise–four member of Snacktime came out to play horns on several of the tracks.  Glen explained that he had met Snacktime at the Newport Folk Festival and since they were going to be in Philly at the same time, he asked them to join him on a few songs.  I’m not typically a fan of horns, but their horns added so much depth to these songs, it was terrific.

And what was so much fun was that Glen instructed them how to play some of the songs while on stage–almost like an improved jam session.  The opened with Low Rising and Glen asked them to stick around for any songs that seemed good to have horns on.

The Swell Season just released a new record and they played all of the songs from it (except A Little Sugar).  But as I told my wife, I don’t really listen to The Swell Season all that much, but everything I hear from Glen (especially live) I enjoy immensely.

After a couple of new songs they played When Your Mind’s Made Up and the crowd was rapt as their gorgeous voices (and that piano) melded beautifully.

They played a few songs that they’d played last time, and that’s great because those are obviously the catchiest ones.  They played a few of Glen’s solo songs (three in total) but none of Marketa’s solo songs–although she did get some gorgeous solo moments where it was just her and her piano and her voice is still gorgeous.  This was especially evident on I Leave Everything to You, which Glen said was so beautiful as soon as he heard it he knew it would be the centerpiece of the album and the tour. (more…)

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Portugal. The Man (The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ, February 23, 2024)

Posted in Asbury Park, NJ, Native Americans, Portugal The Man, Snacktime, The Stone Pony on February 25, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: February 23, 2024] Portugal. The Man

My family and I saw Portugal, The Man at the Newport Folk Festival.  Actually, we saw one song and their opening session with a Native American woman (which was very cool, but obviously meant we missed a few more songs.

So I’ve wanted to see them for at least five years, and I know that I wanted to see them for a while before then as well.

I had tickets to see them with Alt-J last summer, but couldn’t make it.   So here they were coming down to Asbury Park, a closeish drive and a cool city (especially in the off-season, when parking is cheap).

I hated the crowd.  They were squeezed in so close, and then a bunch of tall people shoved in front so I could barely see anything (I didn’t even realize there was a woman on stage until about 3/4 of the way through the show).  And the loud bros behind me engaged in this fascinating behavior: Song starts, “TALK TALK TALK TALK TALK–I love this song–sing chorus very loudly-TALK TALK TALK TALK.”  It was hard to move away from them but I slowly did over the course of the show.

But before the music started, they introduced a Native American woman from Alaska who talked about nature and how cool it was to be at the Atlantic Ocean, since she knows the Pacific Ocean.  And then she introduced a man and his daughter who had lived here on this land for thousands of years.  (I assume they were Lenapi).  The spoke a bit and then sang a song of thanks and praise.

It was pretty cool, and an amazing gesture from the band.  After they were finished, they left, the stage cleared for a few minutes.  Then the lights turned red and that just solidified that I wouldn’t see anything for the show.  So I settled in to just chilling with the music.

And it was pretty amazing.  They opened with a wild medley of Dopesmoker which segued into a really fast version of Yes’ Heart of the Sunrise (just the music).  They segued between that and two choruses of their older songs and finally settled on “Grim Generation” from the new album.

I didn’t really know the new album very well.  I’ve listened to it a few times, but it hadn’t really sunk in like their earlier stuff.  But it sounded great live.

The new album is a bit more mellow, but their older music is weird and wild.  And the crowd LOVED it.  I didn’t know that P.tM had such a huge and dedicated following–people who knew the words to all the songs.  Unlike me.  I knew some of the songs, but what really impressed me was how much I enjoyed even the songs that I didn’t know.  The songs were short and catchy.  Each song was about three minutes with a big chorus and they moved on to another song.  It wasn’t exactly a greatest hits type of show, but more of a touchstone for all of their songs through their career. (more…)

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Snacktime (The Stone Pony, Asbury Park, NJ, February 23, 2024) [PORTUGAL. THE MAN]

Posted in Asbury Park, NJ, Portugal The Man, Snacktime, The Stone Pony on February 24, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: February 23, 2024] Snacktime

I had heard of Snacktime, but I wasn’t all that excited to see them.

SNACKTIME is Philadelphia’s already beloved seven-piece band, blazing a path cut from their soul, funk, punk, jazz, hip-hop, and R&B influences. Created during the height of the pandemic, the group began performing free shows that combined their love of music, food, and togetherness in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square. They quickly amassed huge crowds and became a symbol of positivity and lockdown release, while showcasing the richness of their city’s musical history and community. This progressed to sold-out headlining shows, curation of neighborhood festivals, multiple appearances at Philadelphia 76ers halftime shows, and slots at major music festivals.

It wasn’t that I wouldn’t like them.  I mean, obviously, they were going to be a lot of fun.  I assumed they would play horn-filled songs that were catchy and fun and dancey.  And I felt like I had heard that before, so it didn’t excite me.

And when they came out, that’s exactly what they played.  Super fun bouncy horn filled melodies with occasional words (most encouraging people to get up, stand up or dance).

I was in a crabby mood when they started because it was super crowded and I realized for the third time how much I dislike The Stone Pony as a venue (especially when it is crowded).   I couldn’t really see the band and the lights weren’t very helpful, so it was not a great scene.  But their music cheered me up pretty much from the get go.

They played soulful music and implored us to Step Up to The Dance Floor.

I thought about how they were promoting a message of positivity, but “I Don’t Give a Damn” was kind of an odd choice.

However, I really enjoyed the stupid shout-along “Smokin’ Drinkin’ Talkin’ Shit”

The rest of the show was more of the same, with solos, chanting, clapping and good feelings.  There were a lot of people who were there to see Snacktime.  And I totally get it.  It’s just not quite my thing (except when it is). (more…)

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ALT 104.5 Fishtown FestivALT Block Party (July 29, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in ALT 104.5 Fishtown FestivALT Block Party, Brooklyn Bowl, Cafuné, David Kushner, DJ Reed Streets, Grouplove, Max Davey, Philadelphia, PA, Portugal The Man, Snacktime, The Fillmore Philadelphia, The Foundry, Voilà on July 29, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 29, 2023] ALT 104.5 Fishtown FestivALT Block Party

I received a notification that Portugal. The Man were going to be playing at The Fillmore.  They are a band who are high on my “wanna see” list.  So I grabbed a ticket even though I had a ticket for another show that night.

Then I learned a short time later that the Portugal. The Man show was part of this ALT 104.5 Fishtown FestivALT Block Party.  It’s an all-day affair in three locations.  Much of it is free, although the Portugal. show is not.  Well, then it turned out that we were picking up my daughter from camp that day–so that knocked out going into town early.  And then we got invited to a farewell party for a friend who was leaving the area.  So there went the evening show.  I tried to resell my tickets but I guess Portugal. The Man is not on the top of everyone’s “must see” list.

As for the free bands, it’s amazing how much TikTok is making new bands into favorites.

There are three venues involved. (more…)

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