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Archive for the ‘Johnny Brenda’s’ Category

Ratboys / Another Michael (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, May 8, 2020) [POSTPONED]

Posted in Another Michael, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Pinegrove, Postponed, Quarantine, Ratboys on May 8, 2020| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: May 8, 2020] Ratboys / Another Michael [moved to September 9]

indexI really like the new Ratboys record Printer’s Devil. It’s got a lot more rocking sound than their earlier albums.

The guitars are more distorted.  The drums are louder and Julia Steiner’s voice seems a bit bigger.  But they still have a pop sensibility.  They seem liked they’d be fun live.

I could have seen Another Michael open for Pinegrove at House of Independents.  I picked a different night with a different opening band.  They play a kind of mellow indie rock with lead Michael’s vocals veering into R&B styles.  They don’t exactly seem to go together, but maybe it would work.

I wasn’t going to go to this show since it was my birthday and I already had a ticket to a show that I wasn’t sure I would be able to go to.  So the rescheduled date of September 9 works pretty well for me.

 

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Pottery / P.E. (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, May 4, 2020) [POSTPONED]

Posted in Coronavirus, Fontaines D.C., Johnny Brenda's, P.E., Philadelphia, PA, Pill, Postponed, Pottery, Quarantine on May 4, 2020| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: May 4, 2020] Pottery / P.E.

indexI saw Pottery open for Fontaines D.C. and was really impressed by them (I actually enjoyed them more than Fontaines because the Fontaines crowd were jerks).

Pottery were weird and cockeyed and really fun. They have an EP out that is only online. They have a full length coming out soon.

I didn’t know they were touring until recently and I probably wouldn’t have gone to this show because I’d have had a show the two nights in a row before it.  But I’m pleased to know that they were coming and that they are going to come back when things settle down.

P.E. is a band formed out of the band Pill (who I’ve not heard of but who were a skronky and intense DIY art-punk band).  Three members of Pill have gone on to form P.E.  The song I heard “Top Ticket” was a propulsive thump, strung along by drill whirs and Torres’ snotty deliver: “I want the top ticket/ Nothing average, nothing contrived/ None of that consumer-grade shit.”   Noisy and weird, a pretty good fit for Pottery.

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Basia Bulat / Samantha Crain (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, April 11, 2020) [POSTPONED/CANCELLED]

Posted in Basia Bulat, Canadian Music, Coronavirus, Johnny Brenda's, Native Americans, Postponed, Quarantine, Samantha Crain on April 11, 2020| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: CANCELLED: April 11, 2020] Basia Bulat / Samantha Crain

indexI saw Basia Bulat on a Tiny Desk Concert many years ago. She played the pianoette and sounded amazing.

That Concert is from 2011 and she has changed a bit since then.  She is more poppy and less folky.  I’m not entirely sure I like her new stuff as much as her old stuff, but I was pretty sure she’d play some old stuff and maybe bring out the pianoette as well.

Samantha Crain is a Choctaw-American songwriter and has been performing since 2004.  I’m surprised I haven’t heard of her before as she is quite well regarded.  Well I look forward to seeing her in person some day.

UPDATE: On June 15, I received a refund, officially cancelling this show.

 

 

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Peter Bjorn and John / Methyl Ethyl (solo) (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, April 7, 2020) [POSTPONED]

Posted in Coronavirus, Johnny Brenda's, Laura Marling, Methyl Ethyl, Peter Bjorn and John, Philadelphia, PA, Postponed, Quarantine on April 7, 2020| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: April 7, 2020] Peter Bjorn and John / Methyl Ethyl [moved to October 10]

indexI really got into Peter Bjorn & John a few years ago.  Then they fell by the wayside for me.  When I saw they were playing at Johnny Brenda’s I thought it promised to be a good show.  I have since heard that PB&J put on an amazing live show, so I was even more excited about it.

Methy Ethyl is a band from Australian who I don’t know anything more about them except that the solo show was going to be done by Jake Webb, the creative force behind the band.

I wound up having a huge conflict on this night because Laura Marling, whom I love announced a solo show the same night.  I was genuinely torn between seeing someone I had seen before, but in an amazing setting and someone I had not seen before who I had heard was amazing.

 

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Vagabon / Angelica Garcia (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, March 31, 2020) [POSTPONED]

Posted in Angelica Garcia, Coronavirus, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Phoebe Bridgers, Postponed, Quarantine, Soccer Mommy, Vagabon on March 31, 2020| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: March 31, 2020] Vagabon / Angelica Garcia

indexI really enjoyed Vagabon’s debut album.  It had a great indie rock quality, but the fact that Lætitia Tamko is originally from Cameroon gives her music a unique quality that makes it stand out.  I haven’t heard much of the new album, but I have heard she puts on an excellent show.

I saw Angelica Garcia open for Phoebe Bridgers and was really impressed.  She showcased an impressively diverse style of music. She sang in folk style, she later used a looping pedal.  She sang in Spanish and English and her voice was huge.

This was just one option for this Tuesday night and I was genuinely torn between this show and the Soccer Mommy show across town.

I hadn’t gotten a ticket for either of these shows and it’s possible I wasn’t going to go to either.

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Bit Brigade (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, March 29, 2020) [POSTPONED]

Posted in Bit Brigade, Coronavirus, Johnny Brenda's, Legend of Zelda, Philadelphia, PA, Postponed, Quarantine on March 29, 2020| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: March 29, 2020] Bit Brigade [moved to August 9]

indexI saw Bit Brigade play Johnny Brenda’s back in 2018.  The premise behind a Bit Brigade show is that the band plays the soundtrack to a video game while their resident gamer plays the game.  The band is heavy and the sound is amazing.

Last time I saw them, they were playing The Legend of Zelda and it was phenomenal (The music is really good).  They came around last year playing a different game but I couldn’t go.

They were playing Zelda again this time around and although it might be more fun seeing a different game, each show is different depending on how well their gamer plays.

I really want to bring my son to this show, but Johnny Brenda’s doesn’t allow anyone underage to come to the show.

I don’t think that an opening act had been announced at this time.

I’m not sure I was going to go to this since there were so many other shows this week, but it’s nice to know that it has been rescheduled to August 9.

 

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Control Top / Pinkwash / Drill (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, March 28, 2020) [POSTPONED]

Posted in Control Top, Drill, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Pinkwash, Postponed, Quarantine, Ted Leo on March 28, 2020| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: March 28, 2020] Control Top/Pinkwash/Drill

indexI saw Control Top open for Ted Leo back in August.

They were incredible, especially considering they are a noise punk band and were opening for a much more sedate headliner.

I have never been so happy to have been there in time for an opener that I’d never heard of before.

I was so excited to see them headlining a show in their hometown.

I had not heard of Pinkwash, but when I looked them up I was immediately intrigued.  Pinkwashing is the LGBT variation of whitewashing stories.  They are a duo based in Philly and they play loud fast punk with powerful lyrics.  I hope I get to see them someday.

Drill is another band from Philly.  They have an EP out called This is Not a Drill. It has six songs in about ten minutes.  Although they are not hardcore speed punk, they are noisy.  I’ll bet they are really fun live.

control

 

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Kenny O’Brien & The O’Douls / Ramoms (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, March 15, 2020) [CANCELLED]

Posted in Cancelled, Johnny Brenda's, Kenny O'Brien & The O'Douls, Kevin Devine, Kevin Devine & The Goddamn Band, Kevin Devine and the Goddman Band, Philadelphia, PA, Ramoms on March 15, 2020| Leave a Comment »

[CANCELLED: March 15, 2020] Kenny O’Brien & The O’Douls / Ramoms

indexMarch was going to be a very busy concert month for me.  This was to be the second of four shows in five nights.  This show was going to be just for me–a night of Kevin Devine performing his Saint Patrick’s Day special with his “Irish” band Kenny O’Brien & The O’Douls.  It promised to be a night of hilarious nonsense and excellent music.  I’m not sure if this show will get rescheduled as it was topical.  But if we can have Christmas in July, why not St. Patrick’s Day in September, when we’ll all need some light-heartedness?

Opening for this show was a band called Ramoms, an all mom parody/tribute band to the Ramones.  It sounds fantastic and I really hope they get paired up with the Kenny O’Brien rescheudled date whether this year or next year on St Patrick’s weekend.

This turned out to be the second of dozens of shows cancelled or postponed by the coronavirus.

Obviously, my main concern is for everyone’s safety, including the bands!

My selfish concern though is that once the shows are rescheduled that all of these shows will be scheduled on the same day!

Let’s hope the rescheduled dates also do some social distancing.

kenny

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Sudan Archives / Cartel Madras / yungkamaji (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia PA, March 13, 2020) [NOT POSTPONED/DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Cartel Madras, clipping., Coronavirus, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Postponed, Quarantine, yungkamaji on March 13, 2020| Leave a Comment »

[NOT POSTPONED: March 13, 2020] Sudan Archives / Cartel Madras / yungkamaji

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Sudan Archives at Johnny Brenda’s was a show I had really wanted to see.  When I realized she was playing there the show was already sold out.  So I gave up (I don’t do resale).

Then Coronavirus came in and shows were starting to get cancelled.  The Districts had still gone on last night, but They Might Be Giants had already been postponed.

A friend of mine went to this show (she had gotten tickets early) and said that so few people had actually shown up that they were letting people buy ticket sta the door.

I didn’t think I could get tickets.  I’m not sure if I would have gone had I known there were tickets available.  The virus hadn’t hit Philly really at that time, but i think I’d have played it safe anyhow.

The Key gave a short (kind of sad) write up about the show.

DJ/Visual artist yungkamaji (whom I have never heard of) opened the show with a short set before being joined by the sisters of Canadian hip hop duo, Cartel Madras.

Cartel madras was supposed to open for clipping. a few months from now but that show was postponed as well.

Visuals from their eclectic music video shone over head as the duo traded verse on their short, mixtape length tracks. Self-classified as “Goonda Rap” (meaning thug), “Conta” and “Eboshi” bring a South Asian aesthetic to Western trap and hip-hop.

It was the last show I could have gone to for a long time.

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Seratones (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, February 4, 2020)

Posted in Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Seratones on February 4, 2020| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: February 4, 2020] Seratones

I first heard of Seratones on a Tiny Desk Concert back in 2016.  I was really impressed at how great they were.

When they announced a show at Johnny Brenda’s I knew I’d want to see them.  And they did not disappoint.

Their new album Power is a bit more soul and a little less rocking than their debut, but when they played it live, it totally rocked.

I watched the band set up their gear.  Singer A.J. Hayes was not wearing the big red skirt as she did so.  After they were all set up, they stepped away and then came back right at 9.

They opened with a wave of synths from Tyran Coker as Hayes showed off her amazing voice.  It was like the coolest warm up a vocalist could do as she sang “like a heart attack” slowly and in different pitches until she signaled to drummer Jesse Gabriel that the song was ready to start.  And with those clicks, “Heart Attack” rocked out.  I loved that they allowed for some serious jamming in this song.

On the record the song is 3 minutes, but this version included a little drum solo and a lengthy keyboard solo while Hayes yelped and rocked out up front.   It got everyone moving. (more…)

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