Posted in AF2K, Crossroads, Garwood, NJ, Rush, The OBGMs on December 21, 2025| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: December 21, 2025] AF2K
My friend Doug is a huge Rush fan and likes seeing all of the local tribute bands. He told me about AF2K (A Farewell to Kings) they play primarily 70s/80s Rush songs, and that’s my favorite era.
I also love that they were playing on 12/21.
But had just had surgery and even though this was a seated show, there was just no way.
Posted in Crossroads, Garwood, NJ, Teen Mortgage, The OBGMs on September 25, 2025| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: September 25, 2025] Teen Mortgage / The OBGMs
I get excited whenever a band I’ve heard of plays Crossroads. Which is somewhat ironic as I’ve only been there once. But it’s a nice venue and it’s fairly close and I think it would be a great opportunity. And then something always seems to come up.
I had seen The OBGMs open for Oxymorrons in 2023 and they were great. Great music, funny frontman and an overall great performance. I definitely want to see them again. How cool that they were going to Garwood.
Then I found out that Teen Mortgage was the headliner. I’d never heard of them.
Teen Mortgage is an American punk rock duo from Washington, D.C.. The group consists of guitarist/vocalist James Guile and drummer Ed Barkauskas. So they’re like Japandroids, except their music is faster and nastier. I listened to a couple of live tracks and it’s all kind of samey. Guile’s voice is old school punk without a lot of variation. They would have been fine as the opener, but I didn’t want to see them as a headliner.
Posted in N.E.R.D., Oxymorrons, Philadelphia, PA, The Foundry, The OBGMs on January 22, 2023| Leave a Comment »
[ATTENDED: January 20, 2023] Oxymorrons
My son and I saw Oxymorrons open for grandson about a year ago. No opening band has made such an impact o me. They were intense and fun and catchy and crazy and just all around wonderful.
So when they announced this mini tour and that it would hit the Foundry, I knew that he and I would have to check them out again. But I was sure the tint Foundry stage wouldn’t be big enough to keep them in.
I was also sure that the show would sell out and we’d be in for a massive thrashing mosh pit. That’s why we stayed to the side the whole night (he wasn’t in the mood for slam dancing).
This meant we were right next to guitarist Jafe Paulino. I suggested that the stage was too small for them and he laughed and said he’d be hopping over those guardrails in no time.
When they came out, drummer Matty Mayz, (I had forgotten how much fun he was) had his laptop set up and he got the intro pumping as the frontmen, Demi “Deee” and his brother Kami “KI” came bouncing up on stage.
Deee and KI were great at engaging the audience. They are excellent at getting everyone hyped up. (more…)
Posted in Oxymorrons, Philadelphia, PA, Pinkshift, The Foundry, The OBGMs on January 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »
[ATTENDED: January 20, 2023] Pinkshift
I was really excited for the show–the Melanated Punk Mini Tour featuring Oxymorrons and The OBGMs. At the last minute, Pinkshift was added to the bill, which made things even better!
I’ve seen Pinkshift three times. Each show is really intense, because this band does not hold back.
This set felt a little different. First because they were playing songs mostly from their new album. I hadn’t heard the new album yet but it turns out I’d heard many of the songs live before.
Pinkshift is officially a trio now. Although they do have a bassist of tour with them, the main trio was made up with pretty cool eye makeup.
This was the closest I’d been to the band so I really got to see drummer Myron Houngbedji in action. He was, frankly, amazing. In fact, a few times, someone in the audience shouted something like My man on the drums is really bringing it! (more…)
Posted in Crash and the Boys, Oxymorrons, Philadelphia, PA, Pinkshift, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, The Foundry, The OBGMs on January 20, 2023| Leave a Comment »
[ATTENDED: January 20, 2023] THE OBGMs
I was really excited for the show–the Melanated Punk Mini Tour featuring Oxymorrons and The OBGMs (who I didn’t know but after listening to them, I realized how good they were. At the last minute, Pinkshift was added to the bill, which made things even better!
The show was listed as starting at 7:30 (which on a Friday night usually means a lot of traffic). Bu then Pinkshift said the fun started at 7, so my son and I left stupidly early to avoid traffic and arrived earlier than ever only to find out that the show did not start at 7.
And that’s fine. It’s nice to be early. Also, that Pinkshift wasn’t the first band.
The OBGMs (The oOohh Baby Gimme Mores) are from Toronto. They came out and proceeded to tear the roof off of the place.
After playing a weird riff that sounded like a wild version of Black Sabbath, the whole band started bashing out “Cash” from their new album The Ends.
Dreadlocked lead singer Densil McFarlane also played guitar as he pogoed and screamed the lyrics. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 