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Archive for the ‘Johnny Brenda’s’ Category

David Wax Museum / The Squawk Brothers (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, May 7, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in David Wax Museum, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, The Squawk Brothers on May 7, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 7, 2023] David Wax Museum / The Squawk Brothers

My family saw David Wax Museum in a wonderfully intimate setting in 2018.  Since then we’ve become supporters of the band, as they built a new studio on their property.  And we’ve pledged to help them get records released.

David Wax Museum plays American Folk, Indie Rock and Roots Rock with Mexican inspiration based in Charlottesville.

David Wax and his wife Suz Slezak are about the nicest people I’ve ever met.

But this show (I think their first in Philly since 2016) fell at an awkward time.  So we didn’t feel compelled to try to get to it.

But we continue to give them moral support.

The Squawk Brothers describe themselves as “The preeminent Country band in all of the Northeast… of Philadelphia” which makes me like them.  They do indeed sound like a country band–but without all that Southern twang that I hate.  I can’t really find much more about them online.

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Restorations / Space Cadet / Orbits (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, April 28 & 29 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Johnny Brenda's, Orbits, Philadelphia, PA, Restorations, Space Cadet on April 28, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 28 & 29 2023] Restorations / Space Cadet / Orbit

Restorations was scheduled to pay one Philly Date (hometown date) in 2020, which was cancelled.  These two shows aren’t exactly rescheduled shows, but they kind of are.

And, I didn’t hear a single thing about them until long after they were sold out.

I saw them open for Band of Horses six years ago, and they were great.  Like with many opening bands, I thought it would be great to see them headline (especially in a small place like Johnny Brenda’s).

I would have absolutely gone to one (or both) of these shows.

The first night was billed as New and Old Songs.  The second night was billed as LP2

For the first night, they played songs from LP2, LP3, LP 5000 and Restorations as well as some new songs.

The second night they played all of LP2 and some other new songs.

They haven’t really done anything since 2019.  I’m not sure if it was a hiatus or what, but it sure seems like they are back.

Space Cadet is from Massachusetts.  It’s a little hard to find details about them.  But this review from Geoff Wilbur Music is pretty succinct

The songs on Space Cadet‘s Lion on a Leash (available digitally and on vinyl) recall the jangly, energetic radio-friendly rock of Harvey Danger and Semisonic. Vocalist Matt Hock and guitarist David Walsh were two-fifths of punk rock outfit The Explosion, and a bit of that frantic punk energy can be found powering Space Cadet’s songs, as well.

They play catchy pop rock with an edge.

Orbits (not to be confused with about six other similarly named bands (they are not The Orbits, Orbit, Orbital or Atom & the Orbits) are from Philly and Cleveland.   Clevescene says

With Orbits, Toby Reif (the Sidekicks) and Maxwell Stern (Signals Midwest, Timeshares, Meridian) expand upon the music they explored with their previous bands. And yet, Orbits’ densely layered vocals, down-tuned guitars, synthesizers, and odd timings position the record as “a unique vessel for exploring ideas well outside the realm of their past output,” as it’s put in a press release.

The guitars are loud and a little sloppy (not exactly sloppy, but noisy and unpolished).  The vocals are too (with cool loud harmonies).  The songs are short.  It’s a fun record and probably a fun live show.

 

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Fucked Up / Gnawing / Restraining Order (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, April 27, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Fucked Up, Gnawing, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Restraining Order, Underground Arts on April 27, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 27, 2023] Fucked Up / Gnawing / Restraining Order

I saw Fucked Up back in July of last year and never thought they’d be back again so soon.  Of course they are super prolific, so why shouldn’t their touring schedule be, too.

I was really excited to see them again because the last show was intense and a ton of fun.

But I wound up doing a ton of yard work during the day (I had taken the day off from work).  And by the time it was time to go out, I was exhausted.  I even felt asleep during the show hours, so it’s probably best I wasn’t driving.  But it sounds like they’ll be back soon enough.

Gnawing describes themselves as a loud rock and roll band that wishes they were a country band.  They come across as more of a sloppy indie rock band from the 90s and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Restraining Order is pretty much straight up hardcore punk.  They would have been a fun opener.

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Bailter Space / Eight (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia PA, April 26, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Bailter Space, Eight, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA on April 26, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 26, 2023] Bailter Space / Eight

Bailter Space are legendary, although I never really got into them for some reason.  They play a noisy shoegaze/distortion-fueled type of music that I really like.

I was surprised to see that they were touring (I’s assumed they’d broken up years ago–and they had).

They put out 7 albums up until 1999.  Then they disappeared only to resurface in 2012 and 2013 with records.  More recently, they released an album in 2021.

But man, I had something like five shows this week and it’s just too much.

For a scathing review of their last show in New Zealand (in 2018), check out this review.

And here’s a summary of the show the night before this one: “There were real highlights, times when it all gelled like a thousand horse hooves in a rendering plant, but times when it just smelled like a rendering plant.”

Eight is the recording project of Mimi Gallagher, based in Philadelphia. Delight in Eight is the debut record, assembled from recordings done at home and at the Bunk with a revolving door of friends — anchored by the core trio of Mimi Gallagher, Cat Park, and Pat Brier.

I listened to a few songs from the album and I really like it.  It has a Julian Hatfield (circa 1995) feel–gentle vocals over some good old fuzzy guitar rock.

I probably should have gone to this show.  But at least I learned about this band.

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Charly Bliss (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, April 24, 2023)

Posted in 2nd Grade, Charly Bliss, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA on April 25, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: April 24, 2023] Charly Bliss

This was my third time seeing Charly Bliss.

This was their first headlining tour in three years.  It made me wonder what they’ve been doing, but I see they have been playing shows in the meantime.  Nevertheless, this one sold out immediately.

The last time I Saw them, I marveled at Eva Hendrick’s energy–she pogoed throughout so many songs.  The whole band was great and that was the case at this show as well.

They played a kind of greatest hits.  Six songs from their debut and six from their follow up.   The rest of the set was filled out with an oldie and four brand new songs.

Spencer Fox on guitar also seems to really enjoy himself–doing fun poses and dances while playing.

He and Eva also have an amazing rapport, especially when she plays guitar and they jam with each other.

Drummer Sam Hendricks is spot on, keeping these songs moving perfectly and bassist Dan Shure contributes lots of keyboards to flesh out the songs.

But really all eyes are on Eva.  She is a bundle of energy–in the way she sings so intensely and the way she dancey and smiles when she’s not singing.

Her outfits are often very interesting too.  Last time I saw the, she was wearing a skirt made of feathers.  This time it was a kind of Chain Mail made of little rubber (?) tchotchkes.   I saw kitty cats and dogs and letter and all kinds of things.

They seemed super psyched that we came out for (and sold out) the show.  She said she wasn’t sure if anyone still cared about them.  But we sure did.

For an encore, they showed their appreciation the only way they knew how–by playing a cover song t hat everyone knew but me: A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton whom I’ve ever heard of. But the song was fun anyhow.

They ended with “Julia” and with Spencer and Eva on their knees on the floor totally jamming out.

It was a ton of fun.  And I’m glad I was able to get a ticket.

April 24, 2023 November 14, 2019 October 8, 2018
Urge to Purge $$ Capacity ¥ Westermarck ⊗
Capacity ¥ Hard to Believe ¥ Scare U ⊗
DQ ⊗ The Truth ¥ Heaven $
Westermarck ⊗ Threat $ Gatorade ⊗
Chatroom ¥ Glitter ⊗ Ruby ⊗
Nineteen ** Supermoon $ Supermoon
Percolator ⊗ Camera ¥ Percolator ⊗
Heaven $ Ruby ⊗ DQ ⊗
Ruby ⊗ Heaven $ Black Hole ⊗
Black Hole ⊗ Under You ¥ Glitter ⊗
Boyfriend  ** Hurt Me ¥
UDK ** Bleach ¥
Calling You Out ** Blown to Bits ¥
Hurt Me ¥ Young Enough ¥
Hard to Believe ¥ Chatroom ¥
Fighting in the Dark (whole band) ¥ encore
Young Enough ¥ Percolator ⊗

encore
A Thousand Miles [Vanessa Carlton cover]
Julia ⊗

*2018: they played everything but “Totalizer” and “Julia” from Guppy.
*2019: they played everything but “Fighting In the Dark” from Young Enough.

** new songs (2023)

$ = Supermoon EP (2019)
¥ = Young Enough (2019)
⊗ = Guppy (2017)
$$ = Soft Serve EP (2014)

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Overcoats / Halima (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia PA, April 25, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Halima, Johnny Brenda's, Overcoats, Philadelphia, PA on April 25, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 25, 2023] Overcoats / Halima

I saw Overcoats twice back in 2018 and I was really quite taken with their music and their friendship.

Over the years I’ve cooled on them somewhat.  I’m not sure why, exactly, but I wasn’t interested in seeing them again.  So, that’s okay.

Halima’s bio says

Raised by her mother between Lagos and London, and now based in Brooklyn, Halima draws from a tri-continental well. …  From early explorations of folk and piano to later studies of jazz and R&B, Halima’s career has evolved, making pit stops in pop-punk, neo-soul, and electronic along the way. Now, her sound pulls unapologetically from a broad musical spectrum, nodding sonically to those defining experiences and pushing forward toward a more pointed exploration of self.

I listened to one song and only heard R&B and didn’t like it.

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2nd Grade (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, April 24, 2023) [CHARLY BLISS]

Posted in 2nd Grade, Charly Bliss, Gladie, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA on April 24, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: April 24, 2023] 2nd Grade

I could have seen 2nd Grade play with Kiwi Jr. last month.  But I went to a different show that night instead.

Originally, Gladie was supposed to open this show.  But at the last minute, 2nd Grade took their place.  I had been looking forward to seeing Gladie again as I thought they were great.  But I was happy to see 2nd Grade since when I looked them up last time I found

They are a gentle boppy indie pop band.  Super catchy and poppy with delightful harmonies and a childlike quality (as befits their name).  Most of the songs are around two minutes.

And that’s how they played fourteen songs in some 30 minutes.

“Favorite Song” is a fun song about how people’s favorite songs changed during their relationship.  “W-2” is, as he said, a song about taxes.

They have some fun titles.  “Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider” is super catchy with lyrics that are not challenging.

The band is lead by guitarist and vocalist Peter Gill (who actually played bass at our show).  Catherine Dwyer played second guitar and had a nasty word for the PPA who had recently thrown “3 hour limit” parking signs all over the area.  The applause wasn’t as strong as it could have been, probably because most people walk there.  But for me, I was 100% in agreement.

On lead guitar was John Samuels who also played at Johnny Brenda’s the night before with someone else.  His guitar was a little too loud (or I was standing too close to the amp), but his solos were interesting.

Gill had a good rapport with the audience (for a Philly band, they seemed largely unknown, although there were definitely some fans–one of whom even requested a song).  “My Bike” was supposed to come after Sharona but he said they were going  to skip it–you don’t want to hear that. But later on someone did request it, so they dropped the last song on the setlist “Work Til I Die” to fit it in.

They had fun with Controlled Burn which has a big chant at the end: “if you know the title “Controlled Burn” you can chant along.  Which we did.

Most of the songs were indeed under two minutes, with a couple running a little longer.  They were delightful pop nuggets that ricke da little harder than on record–but not much.  A delightful opening band.

  1. Favorite Song ⊗
  2. W-2 ∇
  3. Strung Out on You €
  4. Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider ∇
  5. Me and My Blue Angels €
  6. Superglue ⊗
  7. When You Were My Sharona ∇
  8. Controlled Burn €
  9. Made Up My Own Mind *
  10. Velodrome ∇
  11. Hands Down €
  12. My Bike ∇
  13. Shooting From the Hip ∇
  14. As Long As We Can Talk About It ⊗


€ Easy Listening (2022)
∇ Hit to Hit (2020)
⊗ When You Were Here Tour Revisited (2018/2021)

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Chris Forsyth / Purling Hiss / Garcia Peoples (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia PA, April 21, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Chris Forsyth, Garcia Peoples, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Purling Hiss on April 21, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 21, 2023] Chris Forsyth / Purling Hiss / Garcia Peoples

I had planned to attend fewer shows this year.  It turns out there haven’t been that many days that were overbooked with shows.  This was  the first one that was totally overbooked.

I had tickets to M83 and also to Acid Dad and it was a hard decision which one to go to.

So this show didn’t really stand a chance.

I love Chris Forsyth, and would love to see him again.  However, I have seen him fairly recently and at Johnny Brenda’s.  The show would be reliably great, but as I said, already booked.

I saw Purling Hiss back in 2017 about which I said

I knew that the bulk of the band’s catalog was basically Mike Polizze making music for himself.  It was pretty noisy and abstract with lots of jam moments.  They are now a band–I’m not sure who the other two guys in the band were (based on the latest album, I’m assuming Ben Hart on drums and Dan Provenzano on bass)–and they have gotten more musical since then.  But thy are still noisy.  So I expected a lot of squalling feedback and pummeling sounds.  I was quite pleased with how melodic the band’s songs were (no idea what songs they played, but I assume most of it came from their newest album).

I’d definitely see them again.

Garcia Peoples are joining this tour in Brooklyn.  If they had been in Philly, this would have been a much more difficult choice.

UPDATE: Turns out they DID play as well.

And here’s video proof from the always reliable Markit aneight

Here’s video of Purling Hiss

And here’s Chris Forsyth

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The Sadies / Carson McHone (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, April 18, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Carson McHone, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, The Sadies on April 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 18, 2023] The Sadies / Carson McHone

I could clearly spend most of my time at Johnny Brenda’s, but somehow, I seem to blow off these show more than any others.

I’ve been aware of The Sadies for a pretty long time, although I’ve never really listened to them much.  I kind of assumed they were a country band.  Wikipedia describes them as a a Canadian rock and roll / country and western band.

They are quite beloved by other musicians (in and out of Canada) and just about everyone has sung guest vocals with them (their first three songs on Spotify feature Neko Case, Kurt Vile and Gord Downie).  Just as I was becoming more familiar with them, their singer Dallas Good died suddenly.  I assumed that that was the end for the band, but they have continued.

My brother-in-law saw them recently and said they were great.  I would have liked to see them, but I had tickets to the Final Skinny Puppy show.  So I wasn’t going to miss that.

Carson McHone is a singer-songwriter from Austin. In describing her music, Nashville Scene Magazine says “she’s a young country singer who expresses herself through the form while avoiding the formalism that etiolates the work of many country purists.”

I wouldn’t have specified her as country as much as these review do.  She doesn’t have a twang, but I can see the connection to country.  I like her anyway,

This would have been a good bill.

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Black Belt Eagle Scout / Claire Glass & Adobo (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, April 17, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Adobo, Black Belt Eagle Scout, Claire Glass, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA on April 17, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 17, 2023] Black Belt Eagle Scout / Claire Glass & Adobo

When I first heard about Black Belt Eagle Scout back in 2018, I was really inrigued:

Katherine Paul grew up on a small Indian reservation in the Pacific Northwest. The singer, who performs as Black Belt Eagle Scout, identifies as a “radical indigenous queer feminist” and is influenced by Native American tradition as well as indie rock.

But when I listened to her song, I found it kind of bland.  Her voice is soft and pretty, but the indie rock component was pretty minimal and was, as I say, kind of bland.

It’s now five years later and the new Black Belt Eagle Scout album, The Land, The Water the Sky, ups everything that I found missing that first time around.

I rather wanted to go to this show and a friend of mine says it was really good.  But I have a birthday party to attend to coming up and I’m out tomorrow night so it was important to stay home.

Claire Glass Claire Glass is the solo project of Claire Puckett (of Hikes and Mother Falcon). This iteration highlights intricate classical guitar compositions overlaid with delicate vocals, with lyrical content prodding the deeper meanings of everyday wonders. Her newest release, “Dust”, explores themes of spiritual seeking after religion, alluding to Phillip Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’ trilogy. It blends classical guitar with airy synths to create an ethereal, otherworldly feel.

Adobo Adobo is the solo project of Filipinx naturalist Nay Mapalo (of Hikes); Adobo is a foray into patient, emotive songs that pull inspiration from pop composition and the intricacies of classical guitar technique.

The listing said Claire Glass and Adobo were performing together, but photos made that seem incorrect.

 

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