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Archive for the ‘Washer’ Category

Speedy Ortiz (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, September 5, 2023)

Posted in Hurry, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Speedy Ortiz, Washer on September 6, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 5, 2023] Speedy Ortiz

I saw Speedy Ortiz back in 2018 at a sold out PhilaMOCA show )I was right in front of Sadie Dupuis).  Their show was great–a fan-favorite selection of songs from throughout their career.

It had been five years since they released a new album and they were celebrating by playing the entire album at our show (the only show they were likely to do so).  [I didn’t know that until she told us].

I had heard a few of the new songs at the Free at Noon show, but this one promised to be so much better.

And so, they played Rabbit Rabbit start to finish.  There were a few moments where she joked about what a pain it was to tune between songs (which is why most bands don’t play the album straight through–they group songs with similar tuning together to minimize drag.

I had listened to the album about three times, so it wasn’t familiar but I recognized many moments.

The band is mostly the same.  Of course, Sadie Dupuis is the main force–her guitar playing is excellent and complex and her voice sounds amazing.  Andy Molholt is still with them playing lead guitar and more.  I especially enjoyed Audrey Zee Whitesides (now a full time member of the band) absolutely screaming backing vocals on a couple of songs.

What was great about seeing the album live like this is that songs that hadn’t quite grabbed me yet on a listen were really powerful live.  Sadie said “Cry Cry Cry” was her favorite song on the record, and after she said that I paid more attention to it and it was great.

Speedy Ortiz doesn’t do encores, so instead they played three older songs to wrap up the night–one from each of the the previous full lengths.

I like Twerp Verse the best so I liked hearing “Buck Me Off”  And “Raising the Skate” is a great song off off Foil Deer.

The final song of the night was “Plough” a great song from their debut–the only bummer about that is that’s what they ended their Free at Noon set with as well.  But that’s a very minor complaint because it’s a killer song.

They have gotten a new drummer since five years ago Joey Doubek has replaced Mike Falcone and unless I am very much mistaken, Doubek hits the drums a whole lot harder.  I feel like he adds a very heavy element to these songs.

Hearing the album like this was really great and I’ve enjoyed it even more after seeing it live.  There are of course other songs I would have loved to hear (made a super long encore?), but I enjoyed this set a lot.  And when I see that in other cities they play maybe 7 or 8 songs (out of 13) off of Rabbit, I feel especially lucky.

 

Johnny Brenda’s 2023 Free at Noon 2023 PhilaMOCA 2018
Kim Cattrall ¥ The Graduates € Buck Me Off ⇓
You S02 ¥ Scabs ¥ Lean In When I Suffer ⇓
Scabs ¥ Ghostwriter ¥ Lucky 88 ⇓
Plus One ¥ Silver Spring ⊗ Raising The Skate €
Cry Cry Cry ¥ Plus One ¥ The Graduates €
Ballad of Y & S ¥ Lucky 88 ⇓ Silver Spring ⊗
Kitty ¥ You S02 ¥ Plough ♠
Who’s Afraid of the Bath ¥ Plough ♠ Alone With Girls ⇓
Ranch vs. Ranch¥ I’m Blessed ⇓
Emergency & Me ¥ Taylor Swift [single]
The Sunday ¥ You Hate The Title ⇓
Brace Thee ¥ Moving In ⇓
Ghostwriter ¥ Villain ⇓
Raising The Skate €            * Swell Content €
Buck Me Off ⇓ * “Silver Spring” was Dvrk Wvrld €
Plough ♠ on setlist

 

¥ Rabbit, Rabbit (2023)
⇓ Twerp Verse (2018)
€ from Foil Deer (2015)
♠ from Major Arcana (2013)
⊗ from Sports EP (2012)
[single] from (2012)

 

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Washer (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, September 5, 2023) [SPEEDY ORTIZ]

Posted in Hurry, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Speedy Ortiz, Washer on September 6, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 5, 2023] Washer

I hadn’t heard of Washer before this show.  Turns out they are a duo–another duo who can make a good holy racket with just guitar (or bass) and drums.  Washer is Mike Quigley: guitar, vocals and bass and Kieran McShane: drums.

Quigley setup right in front of me (off to the side of the stage a bit), so I couldn’t really see McShane all that well.  Of course, the lighting was super dark so I couldn’t see him much anyway.

They started with a slow song, “King Insignificant” with Quigley playing guitar quietly and McShane keeping time.  It sounded good, and not at all like it was missing anything.  But then about 90 seconds into the song, McShane went bonkers on the drums and the song ended in a furious punk rock screamfest and they sounded massive.

Washer clearly don’t have time for things like solos.  Some songs barely have time for a chorus.  They played the first four songs of their newest album–two of which are 90 seconds long and two of which are just over two minutes.  And I liked each one better than the next,

They dipped into a couple of other new songs, but  they also played some older ones as well. (more…)

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Hurry (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, September 5, 2023) [SPEEDY ORTIZ]

Posted in Hurry, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Speedy Ortiz, Teenage Fanclub, Washer on September 5, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 5, 2023] Hurry

I was supposed to see Hurry open for two previous shows.  A Restorations show that was cancelled because of COIVD and a Nada Surf show that I didn’t go to because it was the same night as something else.

I was positive about them, but a little dismissive as well.  Perhaps it took them to release their newest album Don’t Look Back for them to perfect their blend of perfect Nada Surf/Teenage Fanclub pop songcraft.  Indeed, their album is named after a Teenage Fanclub song.

Originally, the project was a solo venture for Matt Scottoline who played bass in another band.  Scottoline has a knack for simple pop hooks and songs that you can’t help but tap your toes to.  The rest of the band is Rob DeCarolis: Drums; Joe DeCarolis: Bass; Justin Fox: Lead Guitar and , a fifth member who (amusingly) sang occasional backing vocals and banged a tambourine but mostly just seemed to hold a drink in his hand.  Turns out this guy was Ian Farmer of Modern Baseball (and owner of their record label) who sat in for this whole set.

I was sucked into their music right from the get go.  The melodies and harmonies were wonderful.  All of the songs were from this new album (which came out last month).  The only exceptions were “When I’m with You” (which is their biggest hit and was features in two TV shows a few years ago) and “Don’t Look Back” the Teenage Fanclub song that they got their album name from. (more…)

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