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Archive for the ‘Venues’ Category

Kevin Devine / The New Amsterdams / Brother Bird (Crossroads, Garwood, NJ, May 18, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Brother Bird, First Unitarian Church, Kevin Devine, Philadelphia, PA, The New Amsterdams on May 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 18, 2023] Kevin Devine / The New Amsterdams featuring Matt Pryor / Brother Bird

I’ve been a fan of Kevin Devine for a few years.  I feel like I’ve seen him a bunch because he so often plays around here.  And yet I have only seen him three time (twice solo and once with his Goddamn Band).  I would love to see him again especially with his band.

This show was intriguing–he was playing his album Make the Clocks Move (recently re-released) plus more.  The posters made it unclear whether he would be playing with the New Amsterdams or not.

From what I can gather, Kevin was solo, with an occasional guest.

But once again, Kevin Devine has scheduled a local show on the same night as three other shows I wanted to see.  This happened in April of last year as well–three other shows that I had wanted to go to. Tonight’s were The New Pornographers, Richard Thompson and Acid Mothers Temple (who won out).  This show was in Garwood, a local(ish) town that I hope to see more shows at. I’m bummed I couldn’t make this one as it sounds like a great night.

I had never heard of The New Amsterdams.  They are a project of Matt Pryor, the lead singer of The Get Up Kids.  This is his more folkie/mellow side.  But as soon as he started singing, I recognized his voice right away.

The New Amsterdams were Matt Pryor and (according to Country Standard Time) “a few backing musicians.”  He/they were playing the album Worse for the Wear (plus more).

Opening for them was Brother Bird (Caroline Swon, who was a The Voice Season 4 contender).  She played solo acoustic.  She has a very pleasant voice, although the above review says “the songs ended up being a bit too similar … more variety would have suited Brother Bird.”

The review also noted that Brother Bird was a utility player throughout the night, showing up during the sets of both Devine and The New Amsterdams.

Here’s The New Amsterdams (clip from Country Standard Time) filmed at Brighton Music Hall.

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Richard Thompson (McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ, May 18, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ, Richard Thompson on May 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 18, 2023] Richard Thompson

I’ve seen Richard Thompson more than almost anyone else.

I had wanted to move him to my 2nd place list with one more show.

I love seeing him at McCarter, which is a great venue and has a lot of long time fans.  I’ve seen him there more than anywhere else.

But this show was on May 18, a night that I’d already had tickets for The New Pornographers and Acid Mothers Temple had announced a show for the same night.  And so did Kevin Devine.

So Richard would have to wait.  And since he lives in Montclair, I’m sure he’ll be playing again nearby soon.

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ST 37 (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, May 18, 2023) [ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE]

Posted in Acid Mothers Temple, Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O., Indian Jewelry, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, ST 37, Studded Left on May 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 18, 2023] ST 37

I had never heard of ST 37 until they were scheduled to tour with Acid Mothers Temple back in 2020.  That tour was postponed and then cancelled, but here it is three years later and they are still touring together.

What does ST 37 mean?  Well, when I searched for the band, what came up first was:

ST 37 ANTISEPTIC SOLUTION kills common pathogenic bacteria quickly on contact. Laboratory tests have established S.T.37 antiseptic solution as a general antiseptic for household use.

So maybe they are a tribute to the antiseptic.  Actually, an interview from 2021 sets it straights:

Carlton Crutcher named us that after the song by the great San Francisco band Chrome, from their album ‘Alien Soundtracks’. It was not until later that we discovered it was the name of a throat antiseptic product!

And what do they sound like?  Their bandcamp says

Quite simply, we rule. And we have been ruling for over 30 years. So there.

They play a noisy experimental kind of rock and have nine people listed in their “past members” category.  Wikipedia gives these two quotes about them: mind-altering space-punk whose live shows are drowning in a haze of guitar and reverb that can drift through cosmically shifting layers of aggressive punk riffs, fuzzed noise, and scalding jams.

And that’s all pretty accurate.  As they started, I was standing right in front of bassist/singer, ever present member S.L. Telles.  The bass was WAAAAAY too loud for the rest of the band, so I had to back away.  I think it was fixed later because it seemed to settle down okay.  Of course, the bass is the only constant through the set. (more…)

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The New Pornographers / Wild Pink (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, May 18, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Neko Case, Philadelphia, PA, The New Pornographers, Union Transfer, Wild Pink on May 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 18, 2023] The New Pornographers / Wild Pink

I saw New Pornographers’ back in 2019 (I didn’t realize it was quite so long ago).  I enjoyed the show quite a lot.  And almost wondered if I didn’t need to see them again since they played pretty much everything I wanted to see.

But when they announced this show (in the same place), I immediately grabbed a ticket.

But then May 18 proved to be a hugely popular night for shows.  There was Richard Thompson, Kevin Devine and, most importantly, Acid Mothers Temple.

I have seen AMT more than New Pornographers, but it’s such a fun treat for AMT to come to the States (they had several shows cancelled because of the pandemic), that I couldn’t pass it up.

So even though I heard  the New Pornographers show was great (by all accounts), I was pretty pleased with the AMT show.

Wild Pink plays pleasant but kind of dull music.  I listened to a few songs and kind of forgot that they were on.  So it felt like a push towards Acid Mothers Temple.

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Richard Thompson (Musikfest Cafe, Bethlehem, PA, May 17, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Bethlehem, PA, Musikfest Cafe, Richard Thompson on May 17, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 17, 2023] Richard Thompson

I wanted to see Richard Thompson, although we had seen him fairly recently.  Actually, I’d really like to see him with his band rather than solo.  But I’m not sure if he’ll be bringing a band with him on tour much anymore–maybe is he releases a full band record again?

When his first local show was announced at McCarter, I was pretty excited about it.  But it turned out to be the one night that I had other shows lined up.

Then he announced this show at Musikfest Cafe.  It’s a great venue and I would have loved to have seen him there.  But I had a few things going on this week and it just wasn’t going to happen.

I’m sure he’ll be playing nearby again soon–maybe even with his band.

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Shame / Been Stellar (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, May 13, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Been Stellar, Philadelphia, PA, Shame, Union Transfer on May 13, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 13, 2023] Shame / Been Stellar

I hadn’t heard of Shame before this show, although apparently they are quite legendary for their live shows.  When this show was announced there was much hype.  And for a change, I didn’t buy into it.

So I didn’t get tickets, but I have heard some great things about the show.

Indeed, according to Brooklyn Vegan, their show the day before at Irving Plaza

frontman Charlie Steen in typical give-it-all performance mode, much of it spent in — and on top of — the audience. For final song “Gold Hole,” Steen climbed atop the crowd, up to the second floor balcony rail, and plunged again into the teeming mass who carried him back to the stage.

I don’t see any reviews of this Union Transfer show, but I imagine it was similarly wild.

They seem suitably energetic and fun without being unpleasantly noisy and crazy.

Been Stellar (name inspired by Ben Stiller) is a New York band that (according to Fader) plays “timeless alt-rock sound–a mix of anthemic choruses and nonchalant guitars that combine to create something both deeply considered and effortlessly cool.”  I’ve listened to a couple of songs and I really like them.

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Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls / The Interrupters / Bedouin Soundclash (Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park, NJ, May 13, 2023 / Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, May 14, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Bedouin Soundclash, Frank Turner, Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, Philadelphia, PA, The Fillmore Philadelphia, The Interrupters on May 13, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 13 & 14, 2023] Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls / The Interrupters / Bedouin Soundclash

I am reposting exactly what I wrote last year:

I had been wanting to see him for a long time because I’d heard his live shows were amazing.  I saw him last year in a solo (more or less) performance.  And it was great.  So next, I wanted to see him with his band because I’ve heard the band version is even wilder with a more punk aesthetic and I do love a fun punk show.

I grabbed a ticket to this immediately, not realizing that it was Father’s Day Mother’s Day.  It’s not a very Fatherly nice way to spend Mother’s Day by being away from your family for hours.  So I didn’t go.

COME ON FRANK.  Last year on father’s Day.  This year on Mother’s Day?  WTF.

I prefer the Fillmore to the Summer Stage, but by the time I realized that my tickets were for Mother’s Day, we had already made plans for the Saturday so I couldn’t grab tickets in Asbury Park anyway.

The Interrupters opened for the Hella-Mega tour.  We caught their ska set and it was fun as anything. I definitely want to se them again, so this bill was killer for me.

Bedouin Soundclash is from Canada.  Their music is like a combination of reggae and rock with ska elements.  Although everything I listened to on Spotify was far more mellow than I would have expected for this tour.

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Voivod / Imperial Triumphant (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, May 11, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Imperial Triumphant, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts, Voivod on May 11, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 11, 2023] Voivod / Imperial Triumphant

I saw Voivod play back in 2019.

I’ve been a fan of Voivod for decades.  But I never saw them live when I was most into them (late 80’s).  Then after Denis “Piggy” D’Amour’s death in 2005 I assumed I never would.  But amazingly they found a guy who plays guitar very much like Piggy did–a bizarre hybrid of prog, metal, dissonance and eerie harmony.  That man is Daniel “Chewy” Mongrain.  Chewy is able to play Piggy’s parts.  And his new parts are very much in the style of old Voivod, but are certainly his own.

I was pretty excited to go to this show.  I wanted to see them again (although Underground Arts seemed rather small for them).  But for one reason or another I never got a ticket.  And the show cam and went and I missed it.

I was actually more interested in seeing the opening act, Imperial Triumphant, an American experimental metal band formed in 2005 in New York City.  I’m intrigued, especially, because they wear these wild costumes on stage.  Their sound is abrasive and weird.

I do hope to see them at some time.

And Voivod again too.

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Belle and Sebastian (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, May 9, 2023) [CANCELLED]

Posted in Belle and Sebastian, Cancelled, Jersey City, NJ, White Eagle Hall on May 9, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[CANCELLED: May 9, 2023] Belle and Sebastian 

Last year we had to miss the Belle and Sebastian show because of my daughter’s graduation.

I didn’t expect them to announce another tour so quickly (or to release another album so quickly).

But the chance to see them in a relatively small space like White Eagle Hall was pretty exciting.

Then on January 24, we got this message

Unfortunately Belle and Sebastian’s show at White Eagle Hall has been canceled. Tickets will be refunded as soon as possible, please see below for a statement from the band: (more…)

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Yves Tumor (Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA, May 5, 2023)

Posted in Franklin Music Hall, Frost Children, Philadelphia, PA, Pretty Sick, Yves Tumor on May 7, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 5, 2023] Yves Tumor

Yves Tumor had been on my list of artists I wanted to see live.  So when they announced a show at Franklin Music Hall, I grabbed a ticket pretty quickly.  I didn’t think it would sell out.  In fact I thought that Franklin Music Hall would be too big a venue for them.  I mean, had anyone even heard about them?

When I arrived (much earlier than I expected, thank you light traffic), there was hardly anyone in the parking areas that are usually packed.  And the entrance was pretty swift.  But when I got to the floor, it was surprisingly crowded.  Not jam packed or anything, but I couldn’t get anywhere near the stage.

I also realized that this crowd was YOUNG.  I’m usually one of the older people at a show, but this time the gap felt pretty large.  That doesn’t bother me, because usually, the young hyperactive folks rush to the front and I hang out in the middle.  But in this crowd everyone was jumping and bouncing and carrying on.

I’m still not sure how people have heard about Yves Tumor.  My kids hadn’t and they have fingers on various pulses.  I know them from NPR Music, which I think of as a slightly older crowd.  But by the time Yves came on, the crowd was pretty packed in and ready to party.

I had heard that Yves Tumor’s show were must-see.  Their earlier releases were challenging with samples and loops and unexpected diversions.  The songs were spare with Tumor’s voice being one of the things that really held them together.

But on the newest record (and I’m guessing the previous EP), there’s a more glam rock feel to the album. Tumor’s vocals remain the same (which is good) but there are melodies and riffs galore.

Yves Tumor is a star.  They own the stage with everyone following their every movement and step.  Their microphone has some kind of cool attachment  to it (I couldn’t see it from where I was, but it was like a wolf’s head facing them.  They prowled the stage in leggings and short shorts.  They wore a leather jacket and a shirt that simply said FUCK.  Their hair was two-toned.  They were beautiful.

The stage had industrial metal crates with lights permeating from the center.  The lights and feel changed according to the mood and it was quite effective.  The band was few in number but huge in sound.  Gina Ramirez on bass and harmonious backup vocals; Yves Rothman on guitar, keyboard, and samples; Rhys Hastings on drums and lead guitarist Chris Greatti.

Greatti was a star himself, shredding like crazy and being very present as Yves walked around the stage–filling in front and center if Yves walked away and being there when Yves needed to hug someone. (more…)

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