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Archive for the ‘Venues’ Category

Jill Sobule (Hopewell Theater, Hopewell, NJ, December 22, 2018)

Posted in #Fuck7thGrade, #ITMFA, #RESIST, Hopewell Theater, Hopewell, NJ, Jill Sobule on December 22, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: December 22, 2018] Jill Sobule

A friend of mine had told me about the newly renovated Hopewell Theater and how it was a great little venue.  And then I saw that Jill Sobule was playing there.

Jill Sobule had a couple of hits in the 90s (she wrote “I Kissed a Girl” before Katy Perry did).  She bubbled under the radar for a number of years and during that time she released some fantastic albums.  Her songs have always been catchy and smart.  Many of her lyrics are funny but pointed.  And while she’s pretty firmly rooted in the folk scene, her albums tend to rock more than not, with a few ballads tucked in as well.

Over the last decade or so, she’s been quieter, but it turns out she never stopped writing and she’s back with a new album and a one woman show called “#Fuck7thGrade.”

Plus, Hopewell is only 25 minutes from our house.   (more…)

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Slingshot Dakota (Fowler Blast Furnace Room-SteelStacks, Bethlehem, PA, December 14, 2018)

Posted in Bethlehem, PA, Fowler Blast Furnace Room, Lehigh Valley Girls Rock, Petal, Scranton, PA, Slingshot Dakota, Small Mess, Voirvoir on December 14, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: December 14, 2018] Slingshot Dakota

I was planning to see Slingshot Dakota back in the summer of 2016.  They were doing a show with VoirVoir a Bethlehem band that I really like.  But I wound up not being able to make that show.  So I was happy to see them this year, right back in SteelStacks.

It was after they went onstage that Carly Comando told us that they were really excited to organize this entire show with ArtsQuest’s blessing.  She picked the opening acts, Small Mess and Petal, personally, and she made sure that Lehigh Valley Girls Rock was a beneficiary.  She even insisted that there be a food drive as well.

Lehigh Valley Girls Rock is dedicated to empowering girls and women + trans and nonbinary folks through music and art
We build self-confidence and foster a sense of belonging.
We nurture an inclusive, supportive environment.
We connect people who then develop meaningful friendships.
We inspire community involvement.
We teach acceptance.

They even had a special Lehigh Valley Girls Rock-related surprise at the end of their show. (more…)

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Petal (Fowler Blast Furnace Room-SteelStacks, Bethlehem, PA, December 14, 2018) [SLINGSHOT DAKOTA]

Posted in Bethlehem, PA, Fowler Blast Furnace Room, Kevin Devine, Lehigh Valley Girls Rock, Petal, Scranton, PA, Slingshot Dakota, Small Mess, Tom Petty on December 14, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: December 14, 2018] Petal

Petal is the creation of Kiley Lotz from Scranton, PA.  She has released a few albums and an EP (all on bandcamp).  Her recorded output has a somewhat heavier alternapop sound–there’s some great bass on her records.

She plays quite a lot and I have almost seen her a few times.  I believe that most of her concerts are with a band, although this one was solo.

It turns out that she is also good friends with Carly Comando and Tom Patterson from Slingshot Dakota–Kiley has a special connection to the Lehigh Valley, too.  And she was very happy to support Lehigh Valley Girl Rock.

Lehigh Valley Girls Rock is dedicated to empowering girls and women + trans and nonbinary folks through music and art
We build self-confidence and foster a sense of belonging.
We nurture an inclusive, supportive environment.
We connect people who then develop meaningful friendships.
We inspire community involvement.
We teach acceptance.

There was a raffle before the show and she donated a bunch of stuff to one of the baskets (I didn’t win any of the baskets). (more…)

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Small Mess (Fowler Blast Furnace Room-SteelStacks, Bethlehem, PA, December 14, 2018) [SLINGSHOT DAKOTA]

Posted in Bethlehem, PA, Fowler Blast Furnace Room, Lehigh Valley Girls Rock, Petal, Scranton, PA, Slingshot Dakota, Small Mess on December 14, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: December 14, 2018] Small Mess

I wasn’t sure if I was going to go to this show.  I was a little burnt out and it was a Friday night.  But I do love going to shows in Bethlehem and I was supposed to have seen Slingshot Dakota back in 2016, so I decided to go.

And I am so glad I did!  I only wish I had brought my daughter with me because this night’s event was a benefit for Lehigh Valley Girl Rock.

Lehigh Valley Girls Rock is dedicated to empowering girls and women + trans and nonbinary folks through music and art
We build self-confidence and foster a sense of belonging.
We nurture an inclusive, supportive environment.
We connect people who then develop meaningful friendships.
We inspire community involvement.
We teach acceptance.

Becca the singer and guitarist for Small Mess is a major advocate of LVGR and is (if I remember correctly) a former student in the program. (more…)

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Strand of Oaks [Winter Classic IV, Night 2] (Boot and Saddle, Philadelphia, PA, December 7, 2018)

Posted in Beck, Boot & Saddle, Carl Broehmel, Joe Pug, My Morning Jacket, Philadelphia, PA, Strand of Oaks on December 7, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: December 7, 2018] Strand of Oaks

In 2016, Timothy Showalter played his second Strand of Oaks Winter Classic at Boot and Saddle.  I had a really great time.  Then I saw him and his full band later the next year at a bigger venue.  I more or less felt that I didn’t need to go to the winter classic again this year.  But thinking of how much fun it was (and the fact that Carl Broemel was opening) was a huge incentive.  Now I’ve been to one night of his second and fourth Winter Classics.

Showalter came up on stage and Broemel came with him.   Showalter is such a warm and gregarious person and you can see that he is genuinely happy to be there.  He was smiling pretty much for the whole show.

Although I like Strand of Oaks newer album Hard Love, I really like the previous album Heal.  So it was pretty awesome that he played the majority of songs from Heal. In fact. the first three songs were from that album

For a few songs Broemel played lead guitar while Showalter played rhythm and sang.  And the two guitarists took the opportunity to do some great jamming together.  Broemel also played pedal steel (which was really cool) for a couple of songs. (more…)

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Joe Pug (Boot and Saddle, Philadelphia, PA, December 7, 2018) [STRAND OF OAKS Winter Classic IV, Night 2]

Posted in Boot & Saddle, Carole King, Joe Pug, Philadelphia, PA, Strand of Oaks on December 7, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: December 7, 2018] Joe Pug

I had no idea who Joe Pug was before this show. In fact, I’ve never heard of him.  So it was quite a surprise to discover that he had Strand of Oaks open for him on a show when Strand of Oaks Pope Killdragon came out.  Since Strand of Oaks has grown in popularity, he was returning the opening slot favor.

Joe Pug sings folks songs and writes string solid lyrics.  His song “Bright Beginnings” was quite lovely.

Of course, the ones I remember best are the funny ones. Like the one he introduces as an opportunity to tell his wife (here he hemmed and hawed about the right way to say this, until someone warned him to be careful).  Finally he revealed that it was a way to tell his wife that he didn’t work in a bank, so money will likely be tight.  It was a delightfully amusing song. (more…)

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Carl Broemel (Boot and Saddle, Philadelphia, PA, December 7, 2018) [STRAND OF OAKS Winter Classic IV, Night 2]

Posted in Boot & Saddle, Carl Broehmel, Joe Pug, My Morning Jacket, Philadelphia, PA, Radiohead, Strand of Oaks on December 7, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: December 7, 2018] Carl Broemel

In 2016, I went to see the second Strand of Oaks Winter Classic at Boot and Saddle.  It was a wonderful night  I wasn’t even that big of a Strand of Oaks fan–I liked the latest album, but that’s all I knew.  The show was terrific and the whole night had a wonderful feeling of warmth and kindness.  Timothy Showalter is a super nice guy and very grateful for his success.

I didn’t think I needed to go again this year, but then I saw that one of the opening acts was Carl Broemel, guitarist for My Morning Jacket.  MMJ have been on my “must see again” list, but they haven’t played anywhere near us for a while.  So this seemed like the next best thing.

I was running late that night and assumed that Joe Pug was the first opener (from the way it was listed).  But when I got there I discovered that Carl was up first and had started already!  Gadzooks. (more…)

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Heron Oblivion (Monty Hall, Jersey City, NJ, December 6, 2018)

Posted in Garcia Peoples, Heron Oblivion, Jersey City, NJ, Monty Hall, Mountain Movers, Psychrock, WFMU 91.9 FM--Jersey City, NJ on December 6, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: December 6, 2018] Heron Oblivion

I had tickets to a different show this evening, but when I saw that Heron Oblivion, whom I’d assumed was no more, were playing a show in Jersey City, I gave up on the other show and headed to JC.

I liked the Heron Oblivion album a lot–screaming guitars, catchy melodies–although I realized I didn’t know what any of the band looked like.  So during the opening bands, when a guy excused himself as he snuck by me to put some devices on the stage (Recording? I assume.  He took them away for his set), I had no idea he was the bassist for Heron Oblivion.

Heron Oblivion is considered a supergroup, although I didn’t know any of the bands that the musicians came from. I just knew that I loved the record–the washes of feedback and guitars, the great basswork and the way the band scaled down to let the vocals shine through.  I also hadn’t heard the term psychrock specifically before, but the band perfectly encapsulates it. (more…)

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Garcia Peoples (Monty Hall, Jersey City, NJ, December 6, 2018) [HERON OBLIVION]

Posted in Garcia Peoples, Heron Oblivion, Jersey City, NJ, Monty Hall, Mountain Movers on December 6, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: December 6, 2018] Garcia Peoples

I had never heard of Garcia Peoples either and they may have blown me away more than Mountain Movers (who were amazing).

Garcia Peoples are from Rutherford, NJ and they played a kind of jam rock but with an awesome prog rock edge to it–time changes upon time changes, two singers and solos upon solos.  In fact, they also had a funky edge and a classic rock vibe,  Heck they could do it all.  I’m not sure if they played four songs or fifteen songs.

They are apparently friends with Mountain Movers and it’s always great to have bands who like each other on the bill.

Garcia Peoples are led by the twin lead guitars of Danny Arakaki and Tom Malach who both switch off lead vocals as well.  What I loved so much about these two guitarists was that they played at the same time.  Their soloing would often be slightly at odds with each other–not cacophony but two guys playing different solos that fit perfectly with the music…at the same time.

Their soloing styles were quite different, with I’d say Malach’s a little looser (except when he tightened things up).  And then every once in a while they would sync up and play the same concluding riff at the same time–usually in harmony.  It was magical the way the songs came together. (more…)

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Mountain Movers (Monty Hall, Jersey City, NJ, December 6, 2018) [HERON OBLIVION]

Posted in Garcia Peoples, Heron Oblivion, Jersey City, NJ, Monty Hall, Mountain Movers, Psychrock on December 6, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: December 6, 2018] Mountain Movers

I was pretty excited to see Heron Oblivion, although I had never heard of either of the two opening bands.

Turns out all three bands on the bill were awesome.  Mountain Movers absolutely blew me way with their excellent psychedelic stoner rock.  (I believe the term is now psychrock).  The soloing was outstanding.

Mountain Movers are from New Haven, CT and are the brain child of guitarist Dan Greene.  After four albums sometime in 2011 or so, they were joined by lead guitarist Kryssi Battalene and drummer Ross Menze to form the cohesive unit that I saw.  And they were amazing. (more…)

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