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Archive for the ‘Venues’ Category

Rheostatics: The Great Lakes Suite (TD Music Hall, Toronto, ON, November 21 & 22, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Alex Lifeson, Canadian Content, Canadian Music, Dave Bidini music, Hugh Marsh, Kevin Hearn, Martin Tielli, Rheostatics, TD Music Hall, Tim Vesely on November 21, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: November 21 & 22, 2025] Rheostatics

I am a huge fan of the Rheostatics, but I’ve only seen them live one time–ten years ago!

They don’t play live much these days and they record music even less.   But they had just released this new project–The Great Lakes Suite.  And, even crazier, Alex Lifeson was on the record and was going to play live!  I could go to this relatively small venue in Toronto and see one of my favorite bands with one of my favorite guitarists.

When I saw Rheostatics, they were playing their Group of 7 album–it was a special event.  So, I saw them play my least favorite of their albums (although live it was really tremendous) plus a few extra songs.

The Great Lakes Suite is a beautiful piece of symphonic music inspired by the Great Lakes.  And this is what they were playing.  And no matter how much I wanted to see Rheostatics and how exciting it was to see Alex up close, I didn’t want to drive all the way to Toronto and hear a band I love NOT play the songs I wanted to hear.

I see on the setlist that they played the entire Suite and two encores.  So I’m glad I didn’t get tickets.

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Stinking Lizaveta / channls (album relase) / Deathbird Earth (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, November 21, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in channls, Deathbird Earth, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Post Animal, Stinking Lizaveta, The Slaps on November 21, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: November 21, 2025] Stinking Lizaveta / channls (album relase) / Deathbird Earth

For reasons I don’t entirely remember, I’ve added Stinking Lizaveta to the list of bands that I’d like to see.

I think what inspired me to check them out is that they are an instrumental band who play complex music.

And this is the third or fourth time that I am not seeing them.  But for some reason I didn’t really feel like going to this show.

channls is a heavy post rock band from Philadelphia.  This show was an album release show for them, although they weren’t the headliners.  Their bandcamp page says

Formed in 2023 by drummer Jay Yachetta and guitar player Steven Rosplock – veterans of the progressive outfit Phantasm – channls is rounded out by two key figures from the Philly music underground: bassist Vincent King (In the Presence of Wolves) and guitarist Jace Miller (Alright Junior). In a move that borders on poetic irony, the band boasts three frontmen in a project where vocals are conspicuously absent.  The band’s sound, rooted in post-rock but unafraid of distortion-drenched aggression, occupies a liminal space between beauty and brutality.

I’m now thinking that this would have been a really good show and I should have gone.

Deathbird Earth are a dup from Philly (BJ – BASS, SYNTHESIZERS, VOCALS; DAVE – DRUMS, PERCUSSION, SYNTHESIZER).  I really enjoy watching two people make a ton of noise and their recording has a lot going on.  They note:

Deathbird Earth’s sound tends to eschew typical genre classification but is made from a mix of heavy drums and distorted bass layered with keyboard sounds that may or may not be lifted from your favorite classic science fiction films.

I guess you’d call them heavy metal, but there’s a lot going on in this heavy metal. They’re the only band with and singing tonight.

 

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Ted Leo (Revilla Grooves and Gear, Milltown, NJ, November 20, 2025)

Posted in Milltown NJ, Ray Lego, Revilla Grooves and Gear, Ted Leo on November 20, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: November 20, 2025] Ted Leo

I’ve seen Ted Leo three times before this.  Twice with Pharmacists and once with Aimee Mann for a Christmas show.  When I saw that he was playing a solo gig at Revilla Grooves, since it’s only 45 minutes from me, I had to go.  I also happen to know the owner, who DJ’d at my wedding.  But this is the first I’d been to his store and it is impressive.  A fantastic collection of vinyl and CDs as well as a ton of used equipment.  If you’re into music, it’s worth the trip.  He knows his stuff too.

But back to Ted Leo.

Back in September, Revilla Grooves hosted the ‘Noise In Focus: 30 Years of Music Photography’ exhibition.  It’s 30 years of candid photos of hundreds of musicians (while I was there I saw MCR, Deftones, Phoebe Bridgers, Jarvis Cocker and so many more) by Ray Lego.  This was the final night of the exhibition which also included a video room containing “Unseen behind the scenes of making of Deftones’  “Sat Night Wrist” record.  The video was from a bunch of tapes Lego had saved from when the band was making Saturday Night Wrist.  It showed the guys playing and taking candid shots.  There was no sound, but it was cool to watch for a bit.

So on this closing night, Ray invited Ted Leo (of whom there were many photos) to play a 45 minute electric set.  I’d never been before and the setup was great.  There’s a small stage and the sound was fantastic.  So, standing about five feet away I got to see Ted Leo do his thing.  This seemed like a great opportunity for Ted to play whatever the heck he wanted.  And I was pretty delighted by the variety of songs he played–some that I knew and many that I didn’t. (more…)

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Ghost Funk Orchestra (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, November 19, 2025) [PSYCHEDELIC PORN CRUMPETS]

Posted in Ghost Funk Orchestra, Philadelphia, PA, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Union Transfer on November 19, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: November 19, 2025] Ghost Funk Orchestra

I was really excited to see the Psychedelic Porn Crumpets again.  I had no idea who might be the support act (last time it was Acid Dad which was awesome).  I didn’t know who Ghost Funk Orchestra was and wasn’t really sure what to expect, but the name is fairly apt.

They are an orchestra–at least on stage there were some nine people up there.  Although Ghost Funk Orchestra is the brainchild of composer/multi-instrumentalist Seth Applebaum and it started as a one man band.

But for our show on the right side of the stage were a trumpeter, a baritone sax player (Stephen Chen, the only person whose name I got because he was very very popular–he also plays with San Fermin) and a trombonist.  Their bass player stood with them as well.

I was delighted with how no one in the band looked like anyone else–Chen dressed in a button down shirt and the bass player wearing what looked like a cowboy outfit with large silver buttons (stars?) down the outside of his pants.  The trombonist had long hair an a beard while most everyone else had short hair.  It felt like a motley crew thrown together to make great music. (more…)

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Blake Freeman (NJPAC–Victoria Theater, Newark, NJ, November 14, 2025) [AARON CHEN]

Posted in Aaron Chen, Blake Freeman, Newark, NJ, NJPAC-Victoria Theater, Set in New Jersey! on November 14, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: November 14, 2025] Blake Freeman

I have made a list of all of comedians from Taskmaster who I would like to see live.  It’s not everyone of course (some of them don’t do stand up and some I don’t think I would enjoy).  And then we started watching Taskmaster Australia and Taskmaster New Zealand, and I’ve added a dozen or so more to that list.

So I was pretty delighted that Aaron Chen announced a show at NJPAC–only ten days after Romesh Ranganathan.

Romesh didn’t have an opening act, so I didn’t know if Aaron would.  But out came an Australian comedian named Blake Freeman.  Blake has been living in the U.S. for about a year (with his partner).

He was very funny.  His delivery was calm but witty.  Talking about living in the U.S., he said the hardest part wasn’t having absolutely no professional or personal support network, it’s that we use Fahrenheit.

There was a very funny bit about him not being able to fight.  He said that he and his mates are open emotionally, and so they only fight when people can’t admit their feelings.  He had to break up a fight between his friends because one felt the other wasn’t opening up about his breakup, “You think you’re tough, well, connect with me like a man.”  After, he apologized saying his love language was touch. (more…)

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Jens Lekman: Songs For Other People’s Weddings Tour / Yeemz (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, November 14, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Jens Lekman, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts, yeemz on November 14, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: November 14, 2025] Jens Lekman/ Yeemz

I have enjoyed Jens Lekman over the years. His Tiny Desk Concert is tremendous.  He was even the subject of a request in an episode of Every Little Thing, (a caller could not get a fragment of a song out of his head and it was one of Lekman’s).

But as the years go by and I listen to him less, I’ve lost interest in seeing him.  This show sounded interesting (he has, indeed, written songs for other people’s weddings.  And this show was basically playing the whole album and then a few bonus songs.

I hadn’t heard the new album at all, and just didn’t feel like going to this one.

yeemz (Yi-Mei Templeman) is a cellist, singer-songwriter, and composer based in Santa Monica, California. She blends musical worlds seamlessly, creating music that is intimate yet universal, intricate yet accessible. A lifelong songwriter, yeemz began composing at the piano, and later developed her signature style—singing while playing the cello like a guitar—after she couldn’t bring her ukulele to college.

She reminds me a bit of Regina Spektor and maybe Mitski in her delivery.  She has a pretty voice and seems to play mostly mellow piano songs.

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Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (The Met Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, November 14, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Joe Russo, Joe Russo's Almost Dead, Philadelphia, PA, The Met Philadelphia on November 14, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: November 14, 2025] Joe Russo’s Almost Dead

I don’t actually know Joe Russo’s Almost Dead.  It didn’t actually occur to me that the Dead in the band name is a Grateful Dead reference.  But I see that JRAD is like a Grateful Dead cover band plus more.  They are known for their intermingling of the Grateful Dead’s recognizable folk-rock and Americana sound with more contemporary Progressive Rock and Jazz Fusion influences.

I haven’t been super excited to see them.  I’m vaguely intrigued.  And then my wife won tickets to this show at XPNFest.  Actually there weren’t many concerts to choose from so she chose this and we got on the waiting list for Neko Case (which we eventually got as well).  I thought free tickets would be the perfect way to see JRAD.  And if we hated it we could leave.

But then we saw that Aaron Chen was doing a show in Newark, so we grabbed tickets to that instead.

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WXPN Thank A Member Live Band Karaoke Party (World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA, November 13, 2025)

Posted in Cheap Trick, David Bowie, Madonna, Philadelphia, PA, Queen, The Beatles, Thin Lizzy, World Cafe Live, WXPN 88.5 FM--Philadelphia, PA on November 13, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: November 13, 2025] WXPN Thank A Member Live Band Karaoke Party

When WXPN announced this event, it sounded like a lot of fun.

A chance to mingle with other members and to see (and maybe sing) karaoke.  But the mostexciting part for me was that the live music was being performed by Pat Finnerty and the Full Band.  I’ve seen Pat twice and I love his videos.  It would be cool just to see him play and maybe hear him do a Little Stinker.

I put in my song choice–The Boys Are Back in Town by Thin Lizzy.  And kind of regretted it. It’s in my range but I realized I don’t know the words all that well.  But when we arrived we were allowed to put more songs in so that the band had more options to choose from.

My wife suggested I put in Surrender by Cheap Trick and I knew she was on to something.

So the night was quite a lot of fun.  We aren’t minglers and my hip was bothering me, so we sat in the (empty) ADA section while people around us danced and drank (free drinks, but as my wife pointed out they didn’t use the top shelf stuff–we found out a few weeks later that World Cafe Live had lost its liquor license and probably shouldn’t have been serving anything!).

The night was emceed by Kristen Kurtis and Robert Drake.  I always wonder if Radio DJs are “celebrities” or not.  It was fun seeing them in person, but even if you listened to the radio, would you care that I got to see or meet them?  We met Robert Drake at a Sloan show a few years ago and he was super nice, but I feel like he’s so present in Philly that everyone has probably met him.

I can’t remember all of the songs that people sang.  But I did appreciate that they projected the lyrics to the songs on the wall so we could follow along.  It also meant that I learned the words to a few songs that I had NO IDEA about.

A woman sang David Bowie’s Moonage Daydream.  I’ve heard that song hundreds of times and realized I never knew any of the words and certainly never guessed they were:

I’m an alligatorI’m a mama-papa comin’ for youI’m the space invaderI’ll be a rock ‘n’ rollin’ bitch for youKeep your mouth shutyou’re squawking like a pink monkey birdAnd I’m bustin’ up my brains for the words

Someone else did Space Oddity.

The night opened with DJ Jim McGuinn singing and playing guitar (Pat informed everyone else that Jim was the only other person who was going to be playing guitar–nobody get any ideas) on an Elvis Costello song.

Two women did Pink!’s Get the Party Started (and even brought little megaphones to sing into).

And as they introduced all of the singers, they were all listed as in choirs or singers in bands–one was even in a tribute band to the artist she sang.  And I wondered if I was called up if I would be okay (having never done karaoke or sung in front of people before). (more…)

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Geese / Dove Ellis (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, November 13, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Dove Ellis, Geese, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on November 13, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: November 13, 2025] Geese / Dove Ellis

My wife and I saw Geese open for Vampire Weekend back in May.  It was about a month before they really blew up.  They had a couple of singles that I’d heard and I loved Cowboy Nudes.  Soon after this show they released Getting Killed and became the most popular band in America.

I probably should have gone to this show because I’m sure the next time they play Philly it will be at a much bigger venue.  I’m not as 100% about them as everyone else is.  I like them more and more as I hear more and more.  But I am genuinely puzzled at why they are so popular.  I mean, they are really weird.  Musically they are fantastic though.  And live they were really great.  Yea, I probably should have gone to this one.

Dove Ellis has started to get a bunch of airplay on WXPN but I didn’t know anything about them.  He’s an Irish folk singer named Thomas O’Donoghue.  I can hear a vague connection to Geese in Dove Ellis’ sound (not that I think they influenced him or anything).  He’s got an alt folk sound and is catchy but a little weird.  I’m curious to see how much more popular he gets.

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Merce Lemon / Hemlock / Soup Dreams (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, November 12, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Hemlock, Johnny Brenda's, Merce Lemon, Philadelphia, PA, Soup Dreams on November 12, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: November 12, 2025] Merce Lemon / Hemlock / Soup Dreams

We saw Merce Lemon open for The Decemberists in July.  They came out as a five piece (although Merce Lemon is apparently the lead singer and it is her project).  They played six songs, each one at least 5 minutes long.  The songs started out quietly but they usually had really exciting moments and the crowd was easily won over by them.  The last song in particular had a great build up and conclusion.

I assume this isn’t a solo show, but I didn’t love them enough to want to see them headline.

Hemlock was not the heavy metal band from Las Vegas but rather, as their (hilariously old school looking website) describes them they are the ongoing folk experiment of Louisiana-born multi-disciplinary artist and independent musician Carolina Chauffe, and various rotating collaborators.  They play “swamp-raised, phone-fi, alt-folk🕊️🕊️ louisiana & chicago-based, but more often on the road 🕊️ END ICE + FREE PALESTINE.”

According to their tour list, this show was a full band.  Their sound is indeed slow and swampy.

Soup Dreams are a Philly based project.  Get Alternative describes them pretty well

Philly’s Soup Dreams play a familiar style: a dusty, rearview-gazing kind of alt rock that seems perpetually en vogue. With Hellbender, though, they do it very, very well. Much of the appeal lies in Emma Kazan’s voice, which carries some of the same self-assured quiver as Katie Crutchfield’s; in fact, Waxahatchee is a fair comparison point for Soup Dreams, who occasionally come off like the … more alt, less country version of them).

I would say like a combination of Remember Sports, Wednesday, and Ratboys.  They are fairly new and I’m sure I’ll see them open for someone else next year.

 

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