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Archive for the ‘The Charlatans’ Category

The Charlatans (UK) & Ride (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, January 19, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Ride, The Charlatans, Union Transfer on January 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: January 19, 2024] The Charlatans (UK) & Ride

I was rather looking forward to this show.

I was never a huge fan of either band, but it seemed like the perfect way to check off an old itch of bands that I enjoyed back in the day.

I have the first three Charlatans records (but actually didn’t even realize they had been making music since then).

Like with The Charlatans, I really enjoyed the first couple of Ride albums.  Unlike The Charlatans, Ride broke up for a long time and then reunited about a decade ago.

This was also going to be my first show of the new year (and then two other shows crept in front).

As it turned out, there was a snowstorm on this day.  I don’t think the snow was all that bad, but there was a lot of hand wringing and street clearing and it seemed like it just wasn’t a good idea to drive down to Philly and try to find parking.

It was also the night before my son was going back to college, so it was nice to be home for that.

I suspect that if I had really wanted to go to the show, the snow wouldn’t have kept me away, so overall it’s not a huge loss.  I’m a little bummed though that Ride didn’t play their Free at Noon earlier in the day, because at least I would have gotten a chance to hear some of the show.

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Saïd Sayrafiezadeh–“Paranoia” (New Yorker, February 28, 2011)

Posted in New Yorker, Saïd Sayrafiezadeh, Short Story, The Charlatans, The Proclaimers, The Trash Can Sinatras, Threats on March 18, 2011| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: THE TRASH CAN SINATRAS-Cake (1990).

Back in college I had all kinds of disposable income.  And so rather than buying beer or smokes, I bought CDs.  And I bought a few CD’s based on the band’s name or cover (not a great idea).  Some paid of handsomely while other, eh, not so much.

Anyhow, this is one of those bands that I bought based on their name.  I stumbled upon the disc the other day and decided to give it a listen (it gets very high marks on allmusic).

This disc is very much of its time, a jangly UK band that could have been the Charlatans or any other band that was huge in the early 90s.  The album has a more acoustic feel to it than the big college bands of the time.   In fact, they seem to be trafficking in the same style of music as that other huge Scottish band (at the time) The Proclaimers: harmonies, jangly guitars and upbeat choruses (although nowhere near as upbeat as The Proclaimers).

[READ: March 3, 2011] “Paranoia”

This was a really engaging story. And what I especially liked about it was that there were two threads that intermingled, but it wasn’t obvious which was the “main” story.  So the story lulls you into thinking one thing and then slams you with something else.  It was very effective.

The story is about a young white man, Dean, who befriends a young Chilean boy, Roberto.  Roberto is an illegal alien.  His father (and family) was invited here to complete an advanced degree; however as soon as he finished it, the family were sent home.  But Roberto did not want to go back home, he wanted to finish high school, so they let him stay by himself (he was about 17).  He made some money, learned English and made friends with Dean, who was willing to help him out financially.

The second thread concerns the war.  I assume it’s the current Iraq war, (it is described as being a quick, in-and-out operation) but that is never specified.  So it could be the 90’s Iraq war.  There are news flashes about it, flags are everywhere, and there’s even a fourth of July parade timed to coincide with the troops’ departure. (more…)

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