Posted in Johnny Brenda's, Otoboke Beaver, Philadelphia, PA on April 9, 2022| Leave a Comment »
[POSTPONED: April 9, 2022] Otoboke Beaver [postponed to October 2, 2022]
I’m not sure if this was a COVID-related postponement, but it came at a good time for me, because we had booked a vacation for the following day and it would have been hard to justify going out to see a band the night before a long drive.
I am very excited about seeing Otoboke Beaver.
Posted in Coronavirus, Destroyer, Full show video, Johnny Brenda's, Kiwi Jr., Nap Eyes, Postponed, Quarantine, Ryley Walker, Tonstartssbandht on March 15, 2022| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: March 15, 2022] Ryley Walker / Tonstartssbandht.
I’ve seen Ryley Walker four times, but never on purpose. He’s been the support band for every show that I’ve seen him in.
So I thought it would be interesting to see what he was like when he was the headliner.
But this show was in between two days that I was going to shows and my brother-in-law was in town, so I decided to give it a miss. Walker plays all the time so I’m sure I’ll see him again.
I’d never heard of Tonstartssbandht. On their blurb for the concert, all it said was Andy & Edwin. Wikipedia tells me they are
an American psychedelic, noise rock band consisting of brothers Andy (guitar and vocals) and Edwin (drums and vocals) White. They formed c. 2008 when Edwin was 20 years and Andy was 18. Their influences include the Beach Boys, The Velvet Underground demos, and Can live recordings. As of December 2017, the band has released 17 live and studio albums, as well as a series of solo recordings and collaborations.
Woah.
Markit Aneight has a full show video of both Ryley Walkerand
and Tonstartssbandht
Posted in Coronavirus, Destroyer, Johnny Brenda's, Kiwi Jr., Nap Eyes, Postponed, Quarantine on January 8, 2022| Leave a Comment »
[CANCELLED: January 8, 2022] Nap Eyes / Kiwi Jr.
Nap Eyes opened for Destroyer in the last show I saw before the quarantining. I really wanted to see them headline a tour and do their own thing.
They had scheduled a show at Johnny Brenda’s for May of 2020 which was cancelled. Then they bided their time and waited until 2022 to schedule their new tour. But people are jerks and wouldn’t get vaccinated and now the virus had transformed itself so that everyone is going to get it.
I actually tested positive this week and wouldn’t have been able to go to this show anyhow, so I guess I’m glad the tour is on hold for a bit.
But damn, I want to see some Nap Eyes!
Kiwi Jr. is a fun Canadian band, recently described as “clever, easy-going jangle pop” that I’d really like to see live. So I hope this lineup stays the same when Nap Eyes comes back to Philly again. Some day.
Posted in Canadian Music, Goon, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Preoccupations on December 11, 2021| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: December 11, 2021] METZ / Preoccupations
I saw METZ open for Modest Mouse four years ago and my ears might still be ringing. I knew of Metz from their noise filled chaotic but amazing albums.
Their live show was less about the abrasiveness and more about their intense stage presence. I knew I wanted to see them headline a show.
And then they announced it. A headlining show at my favorite small venue (actually, this place might have been too small for them). I was so psyched, until I saw that it fell on the same day as our holiday party.
Realistically there was no way I could go. What a bummer.
Turns out later on, the band Stars announced their show for the same night and since I’ve never seen Stars, I would have picked them instead. But what a drag when schedules can’t line up.
I’ve actually seen Preoccupations twice already, once in the Foundry opening for Protomartyr. They used to be called Viet Cong, but wisely changed that name. They put on a great live show. This would have been a killer double bill.
Posted in Boot & Saddle, Full show video, Johnny Brenda's, Pat Finnerty, Philadelphia, PA, Strand of Oaks on December 9, 2021| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: December 9 & 10, 2021] Strand of Oaks / Pat Finnerty
In 2015, Timothy Showalter played his first Strand of Oaks Winter Classic at Boot and Saddle.
Every year since then he has played two to four shows around Christmas time to a small but rabid fan base. Obviously he didn’t pay one in 2020. And now Boot & Saddle is closed
I have been to three of these fun winter events.
When he announced December shows at Johnny Brenda’s, it just didn’t occur to me that these would be Winter Classic shows. I’m not sure why it would have made a difference, but had I realized, I would have gotten a ticket before they sold out. Even S said, you love those, I can’t believe you didn’t go.
When I’m looking for it now I see that it was clearly stated that this was a Winter Classic, but I guess I was looking in the wrong places. (more…)
Posted in Angelica Garcia, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Vagabon on November 18, 2021| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: November 18, 2021] Vagabon / Angelica Garcia
I was planning in seeing Vagabon in March 2020, but her show was cancelled of course.
I really enjoyed Vagabon’s debut album. It had a great indie rock sound, but the fact that Lætitia Tamko is originally from Cameroon gives her music a unique quality that makes it stand out.
There is no way I would have missed this show if I hadn’t already purchased Dinosaur Jr. tickets for this night [Dino Jr. was the first new show announced as lockdown ended and I grabbed tickets immediately]. In fact, if they had been announced at the same time, I would have happily grabbed the Vagabon tickets. (more…)
Posted in Half Waif, Ian Chang, Johnny Brenda's, Lightning Bug, Philadelphia, PA, Pinegrove on November 13, 2021| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: November 13, 2021] Half Waif / Lightning Bug
I have wanted to see Half Waif for a couple of years. I’ve heard her live shows are great. And a venue like Johnny Brenda’s would probably be perfect for her intimate songs.
Initially I wanted to see this tour (back in May, and then October) because Ian Chang was opening for her and he is an amazing drummer whom I need to see live.
But that didn’t take away from my desire to see Half Waif as well. But this show happened right in the middle of a bunch of other shows and I try not to do too many nights in a row.
It transpired that most of the shows were cancelled anyway, but I had pretty much committed to being home so I didn’t go. But she’s fairly local so I hope she plays again soon. With any opener.
Half Waif is the project of former Pinegrove singer Nandi Rose. I find her music very pleasing.
Lightning Bug is the project of Audrey Kang (although I believe she has a full band now). She sings lovely, quiet songs, which seems like it would be a nice companion to Half Waif’s music.
Posted in Garcia Peoples, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Ryan Sawyer on October 30, 2021| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: October 30, 2021] Garcia Peoples
I discovered Garcia Peoples by accident a couple of years ago. They were opening for Heron Oblivion and I’d never heard of them. But their show was outstanding.
So when they played a small headline tour I saw them again. And I’ve seen them a couple more times at weird events (like a free show after a Phish concert in Atlantic City).
I kind of made it a mission to see them as often as I could. But sometimes things just get in the way.
I would really have loved to see them at Johnny Brenda’s this night, but I had neem out the night before and the next night was Halloween. It was just too much going on. (more…)
Posted in Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Torres on October 19, 2021| Leave a Comment »
[ATTENDED: October 18, 2021] Torres
This was my third time seeing Torres. I had actually bought tickets for this show back in December of 2019. She was going to be touring the album Silver Tongue, which I never got. In a way I’m glad the show was pushed back to 2021, because her latest album Thirstier is outstanding.
Mackenzie Scott has fallen in love and Thirstier is a happy album. And Mackenzie is ripping it up on stage. She’s been wearing essentially workout clothes and she comes off stage covered in sweat.
Her band was amazing keyboard/synth player Erin Manning, was terrific even though I could never really see her from where I was. Bryan Bisorti rocked out the drums and J.R. Bohannon played pedal steel and matched her on lead guitar.
Posted in Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Sarah Jaffe, Sarah Jarosz, Torres on October 18, 2021| Leave a Comment »
[ATTENDED: October 18, 2021] Sarah Jaffe
I had convinced myself that the opening act for this tour was Sarah Jarosz. Probably because I would like to see Jarosz and I knew that she was touring at the same time. Although sonically it didn’t really make any sense (and I assume that Jarosz is probably bigger than Torres.
But anyhow, a few days before the show I confirmed that the opening act was Sarah Jaffe, whom I had never heard of.
Jaffe came out of stage and proved to be a versatile musician. She sang, she played guitar, she rapped, she played synth pop. All within a brief opening set. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 