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Archive for the ‘First Unitarian Church’ Category

Speedy Ortiz / Grass is Green/ Ovlov / Goshupon (First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, January 19, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in First Unitarian Church, Goshupon, Grass is Green, Ovlov, Philadelphia, PA, Speedy Ortiz on January 19, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: January 19, 2025] Speedy Ortiz / Grass is Green/ Ovlov / Goshupon

This show was vaguely on my radar because of the band Ovlov, who I’ve known about but didn’t know.  I’ve always gotten a kick out of their name and whenever I se a Volvo I think of them.

Listening to them now I think I should have been a fan all along.  They have gentle indie rock guitars with wailing guitar walls over the top.  It’s fantastic.   Their albums are short and they’ve only put out three since 2009.  Which is either awesome for getting into them, or frustrating at their lack of productivity.  Either way, I’d love to see  them live, but I suspect I’ve missed their only local appearance for a while.

I’d never heard of Grass is Green who are a Boston based experimental rock/post-punk band.  They’ve been around since 2010 playing a a discordant and angular blend of punk and indie. I’ve listened to a few song and I love them–noisy and weird without being unpleasant.

Now that I’ve listened to these bands more, I would have loved  to have gone to this show.  But of course, it was at the Church and I don’t go there.

Back in October this show was announced as (more…)

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Geordie Greep / NNAMDÏ (First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, January 14, 2025) AND (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, January 16 & 17, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Black Midi, First Unitarian Church, Geordie Greep, Johnny Brenda's, NNAMDÏ, Philadelphia, PA on January 14, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: January 14, 16 & 17, 2025] Geordie Greep / NNAMDÏ

Geordie Greep is one of the vocalists in Black Midi.  He’s a fascinating dude with a fascinating voice.  When I saw that he was doing a solo tour, I was really intrigued.

But when I went to the Johnny Brenda’s site, both night were long sold out.

Sometime later he added another date, but this one was at the Church, so I knew I wouldn’t be going to the show.

I’m not too heartbroken about it, but it would have been interesting to be sure

i saw NNAMDÏ open for Wilco four years ago and I loved their set.  I wrote

I felt like he was digging into prog-rock territory and yet I guess it would be more accurately labelled as jazz with rapid time changes, incredibly fast parts and wicked jamming.   And yet the roots of most of his songs were a kind of pop/R&B vibe.

This is a solid double bill, with three shows I couldn’t make.

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Tropical Fuck Storm / Michael Beach (First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, October 1, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in First Unitarian Church, Michael Beach, Philadelphia, PA, Tropical Fuck Storm on October 1, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 1, 2024] Tropical Fuck Storm / Michael Beach

I love Tropical Fuck Storm.

I’ve seen them twice and the last time, when they headlined, was incredible.

I’d do just about anything to see these freaky Australians.  Except go to the Church, which readers will know is a venue that is just too much of a pain on the ass for me to bother with.

I hope when they come back next time they play anywhere else.

Michael Beach is a Melbourne musician.  His most recent release is a collaborations with Mick Turner (Dirty Three) and Joe Talia (Oren Ambarchi) mixing pulsing minimalism with post-punk/DIY approaches.

Although their earlier stuff is a bit more rocking and some other stuff is kind of noisy singer songwriter style.  It’s unclear what he might have played that night.

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Hotline TNT / Disq / Euphoria Again / Patter (First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, September 28, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Disq, Euphoria Again, First Unitarian Church, Hotline TNT, Patter, Philadelphia, PA on September 28, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 28, 2024] Hotline TNT / Disq / Euphoria Again / Patter

I’ve been a little bit obsessed with Hotline TNT since I missed them back in January (and then fell in love with their record).

When they played  show in June that I missed, I wrote

Hotline TNT plays what I can only describe as classic shoegaze, which is definitely having a moment again.  Unlike a lot of their contemporaries, they don’t really mess with the classic shoegaze vibe all that much–not adding elements at all.  Their music warms my heart and I’d love to see them live.

But it’s hard to imagine going to a four-band show when the headlining band is one you only know a little and has one album that you’ve listened to.

And, of course, I wasn’t going to go to the Church anyhow.

The rest of the lineup?  Never heard of them. (more…)

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Joy Again (First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, May 17, 2024) [CANCELLED]

Posted in First Unitarian Church, Joy Again, Philadelphia, PA on May 17, 2024| 1 Comment »

[CANCELLED: May 17, 2024] Joy Again

I saw (some of) a Joy Again set when they opened for Chastity Belt in 2017.

My daughter loves one of their songs “Looking Out for You” (which has over 460 million listens on Spotify).  I thought it would be fun to see them.

But I don’t go to The Church, so I wouldn’t go to this show anyhow.  But then there was the bigger news.  On March 8, the band wrote:

Hi everyone-

After 10 years we’ve decided to end Joy Again. We have so much love and respect for one another and calling it quits is extremely sad for everyone involved, but it feels like an appropriate time to move on. We’ve had an incredible time together through writing and recording, to being in the studio and on the road. We’re truly going to miss it so much.

Unfortunately with this said we’ll also be cancelling the upcoming tour. We’re so sorry and truly appreciate all of you who had already bought tickets and everyone who was excited to come to one of these shows. Refunds will be issued to everyone shortly – some of you may have already gotten yours.

Our debut album Song and Dance will be released on June 28. We’re so proud of this body of work – it represents our love for each other and all the ups and downs we’ve been through in all our years together. All of this has been a long time coming and we hope you understand that this decision is best for us. We’ll always be making new music, whether together or apart you can always expect to hear something new from us and the projects we pursue in the future.

Thanks for sharing this past decade with us,

Joy Again

They’ve been out for ten years, have half a billion streams on Spotify and hadn’t put out a record yet?

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Cheekface / Yungatita (First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, May 11, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Cheekface, First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, Yungatita on May 11, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 11, 2024] Cheekface / Yungatita

I saw Cheekface a year ago and absolutely loved their set.  I was really looking forward to seeing them again, but they chose to play at The Church, which I don’t go to.  For those keeping score, The Church holds 200 more people than the Ukie Club, so good for them.  Next time they come maybe they’ll be bummed up to Union Transfer.

Yungatita is a band I hadn’t heard of (although they have a song on Spotify “7 Weeks & 3 Days” that has over 77 million plays!

The band is the brainchild of East LA’s Valentina Zapata, Yungatita — who previously released a 2020 solo EP with a groovy, low-fi, retro sound titled Over You — returns with a full band in preparation for their slacker-pop debut LP, Shoelace & a Knot.  That “7 Weeks” song is bedroomy and synthy, but their newer stuff rocks.

Album of the year says that Shoelace 

is the perfect blend between fun, sunny amateur indie rock and ambitious, angry and screamy intentions behind said cutesy indie rock, all in a very digest 35 minutes that never leaves you bored. … infectious melodies and hunger in all of the instrumentals from the surfer-rocky guitar riffs to the hella dynamic and catchy drumming to the harmonies yungatita does with herself that serve as a melodious instrument themselves. The one word I’d use to describe this project is “catchy” – every single bit of instrumentation is an instant hit.

This sounds like it would have been a really fun show (and I would have been the oldest person there by 20 years).

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Chastity Belt / Charlotte Cornfield (First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, May 5, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Charlotte Cornfield, Chastity Belt, First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA on May 5, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 5, 2024] Chastity Belt / Charlotte Cornfield

I saw Chasity Belt back in 2017 and really liked them.  I’ve wanted to see them again, but the schedule never seems to match up.

And this time they were playing The Church, which I don’t go to.

I haven’t listened to them much in the last few years and I think they’ve gotten more mellow on their last few albums.

Which might explain why their opening act is Charlotte Cornfield a singer-songwriter from Toronto.

It’s been less than two years since Highs in the Minuses became Charlotte Cornfield’s breakout—a magnetic mission-statement for the Toronto songwriter described by Rolling Stone as “Canada’s best-kept secret.”

This would have been a pretty mellow almost folksy night.

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Restorations (album release) Signals Midwest / Town Liar (First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, April 20, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, Restorations, Signals Midwest, Town Liar on April 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 20, 2024] Restorations / Signals Midwest / Town Liar

I saw Restorations back in 2016 when they opened for Band of Horses.  I loved them and thought they were a perfect opener for them.  Since then I’ve wanted to see them again.  But I’m never going to the First Unitarian Church, so I had to bail on this one.  I’m kind of surprised that they played such a small venue, but maybe they liked the intimacy of it.

Signals Midwest describe themselves as a “loud, smiley punk rock band from Cleveland, OH. Been at it since 2008. Will play in your kitchen or anywhere really.”

I find them to be a really enjoyable band on the softer side of punk but with big guitars and soft/quiet melodies.  A really fun band.

I had not heard of Town Liar, but that makes sense as they appear to be brand new.  Jason Shevchuk of Kid Dynamite and None More Black has formed a new band called Town Liar. The band also includes Heath Saraceno, Nick Remondelli, and Benny Horowitz. The band has released an EP called Lies: One Through Seven

I thought I had heard of these other bands, but maybe not.  People seem divided on his work, mostly based on his voice.  I listened to a track and found that I did not enjoy his voice.

 

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The Teeth / Toby Leaman (First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, March 8, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Dr. Dog, First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, The Teeth, Toby Leaman on March 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: March 8, 2024] The Teeth / Toby Leaman

Back in January I wrote this about the Teeth.

I had never heard of The Teeth before I saw that they had sold out three nights at Johnny Brenda’s months and months before these shows happened.

So who were they?

The Teeth was an indie rock band from Philadelphia consisting of twin brothers Aaron MoDavis on rhythm guitar and Peter MoDavis

After abruptly breaking up 15 years ago The Teeth are reuniting for a pair of special shows at Johnny Brenda’s in Philadelphia. Twin brothers Peter MoDavis (Bass) and Aaron MoDavis (guitar) will reassemble with Jonas Oesterle (drums) and Brian Ashby (guitar) on their favorite stage in the City of Brotherly Love.

Well, that short run of songs has been extended.  They’re playing this show at The Church and they’re opening for Dr. Dog in July. (more…)

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Militarie Gun / Pool Kids / Spiritual Cramp / Spaced (First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, February 14, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in First Unitarian Church, Militarie Gun, Philadelphia, PA, Pool Kids, Spaced, Spiritual Cramp on February 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: February 14, 2024] Militarie Gun / Pool Kids / Spiritual Cramp / Spaced

I found out a bout this show a few days ago because Pool Kids was playing it. I wasn’t going to go to the Church, so it didn’t really matter who was playing.

I’ve heard of Militarie Gun, who are apparently a post-hardcore supergroup (made up of bands I’ve never heard of) that draws major inspiration from the melodic post-hardcore of the ’90s as well as more alternative-leaning acts.  They formed in 2020, so haven’t been around as long as I assumed for how much I’ve heard their name bandied about.

Their new EP has duets from Bully and Mannequin Pussy.

I feel like I should like them, but I’m not sure yet.

The whole reason I would have gone to this show was for Pool Kids.  I’ve seen them twice and they are amazing live.  They’re one of my favorite bands right now and I’d definitely want to see them again (although preferably as a headliner).

I hadn’t heard of Spiritual Cramp and given the other bands on this tour, I wasn’t really sure what to expect.  They’re kind of all over the place genre-wise, which is kind of fun.  They seem to veer punk but are more new wave.  And this little bit from a Pitchfork review seems really apt:

Spiritual Cramp are among a wave of bands, including Militarie Gun and Turnstile, who emerged from hardcore backgrounds and broadened their palettes to include softer, artsier flourishes. [Like] when the Clash realized the natural alliances between punk and reggae, filtered through a hard-sashwaying garage rock lens. Spiritual Cramp integrate dub, spiky guitars, and oi-like crowd-starters, all with a kitschy wink rather than flatly imitating their predecessors. The music is ecstatic rather than enraged, semi-ridiculous rather than self-serious.

I’ve listened to a bunch of their songs and the latest one sounded like The Hives, so they can please (or upset) everyone.  I’ll bet they are really fun live.

Spaced is (despite the visuals of their albums) a hardcore band with a pretty traditional hardcore vibe.  They are from Buffalo.  The big difference for me is that the singer is female and her growling angry voice adds a new tone to the somewhat overdone format of growling angry men.  I liked what I heard

Lexi Reyngoudt – vocals
Joe Morganti – guitar
Donny Arthur – guitar
John Vaughan – bass
Dan McCormick – drums

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