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Archive for the ‘Venues’ Category

Boy Scouts (The Foundry, Philadelphia, PA, October 29, 2019) [JAY SOM]

Posted in All Songs Considered, Boy Scouts, Jay Som, NPR/PRI/PBS, Philadelphia, PA, Sum 41, The Foundry on October 29, 2019| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 29, 2019] Boy Scouts

I had heard a song by Boy Scouts on NPR and I was pretty happy they were going to open for Jay Som.

Traffic was a little heavy and I feared that since another band [SUM 41!] were playing in the main part of the building, that it would be tough finding parking. But I got a spot and made it up to The Foundry with no problem. I wound up right behind a short person who was against the fence.

Boy Scouts is basically the creation of Oakland-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Taylor Vick.  She writes delicate, harmony-laced folk and sings in a gentle tone.

I really enjoyed that the songs were simple but not obvious.  There was usually something unexpected in the song that kept it from being monotonous.  Whether it was an unexpected pause before a beat or just the way she stretched out a chord at the end of a line.

She also played some unexpected chords–or at least unexpected high on the neck of the guitar. (more…)

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Sleater-Kinney (Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, October 27, 2019)

Posted in Carrie Brownstein, Corin Tucker, Janet Weiss, Philadelphia, PA, Sleater-Kinney, The Fillmore Philadelphia on October 27, 2019| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 27, 2019] Sleater-Kinney

I saw Sleater-Kinney in New York City in 1999 and 2000.

Back in those days I didn’t try to get up close to the stage and I have one or two pictures of them from far away.

When S-K made their reunion album in 2015, I didn’t feel compelled to see the tour because I had seen them twice already.  I now regret it because it was at Union Transfer and that would have been an amazing place to see them.  Although looking at that setlist, aside from songs of that new album, I didn’t miss a whole lot that wasn’t played at my show, so my regret is now low.

There were some weird things going on with this tour before it even began.  People didn’t like the new record.  Then, amazing drummer Janet Weiss abruptly quit a few weeks before the tour started (I saw that people actually asked online about getting a refund (!)).  And my show had the weird detail of being listed at two venues.  Was it at the main room of the Fillmore?  Or was it in the tiny Foundry (as their site listed).  Now The Foundry would have been an insanely wonderful place to see them, and I wondered if the new album wasn’t selling or that without Janet, maybe they could only fill The Foundry.

But clearly that was a mistake because the Fillmore was well crowded (but not packed).  I have been really down on the Fillmore as of late because super crowded shows there really suck.  But I managed to get a good spot around nicer people and was close enough that I wasn’t in the halo of the bar, so it was all good.  And the sound in the Fillmore is outstanding, of course. (more…)

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Joseph Keckler (Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, October 27, 2019) [SLEATER-KINNEY]

Posted in Drugs, Funny (ha ha), Joseph Keckler, Philadelphia, PA, Shamir, Sleater-Kinney, The Fillmore Philadelphia on October 27, 2019| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 27, 2019] Joseph Keckler

When I bought tickets for Sleater-Kinney ages ago, I don’t think they’d announced an opening act.

Then the opening act was supposed to be Shamir whom I’d seen on a Tiny Desk Concert and enjoyed.  His dance music seemed very different from S-K, but the S-K album is pretty different itself.  Then Shamir dropped out and I didn’t hear about the new opener until a few nights ago.

I looked up Joseph Keckler and I kept seeing this review from the New York Times which called him a “major vocal talent” which I thought was a weird phrasing.  As if they didn’t really know what noun to use to describe him.  I looked for a song briefly and found him to be rather operatic, but didn’t really pursue it very much for whatever reason.

So I had no idea what to expect when he came out on stage.  But wow, he blew me away. (more…)

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Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour [No Retreat, No Surrender & Circus of Horrors] (State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ, October 26, 2019)

Posted in Boot & Saddle, Bruce Lee, Circus of Horrors, Conor McGiffin, Emily Marsh, Jean Claude Van Damme, Joel Hodgson, MST3K, MST3K Live, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Nate Begle, New Brunswick, NJ, No Retreat, No Surrender, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Set in New Jersey!, Starcrawler, State Theatre, The Karate Kid, Wellmont Theater, Yvonne Freese on October 26, 2019| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 26, 2019] MST3K Live

I didn’t realize it was exactly one year ago that I went to the previous MST3K Live experience.  How funny.

I have enjoyed both of the two previous MST3K Live shows quite a bit.  So when it was announced that they were going to do it again and this time it was going to be in New Brunswick instead of Glenside, PA, I got tickets right away (and wound up in the third row).  I only wish I had picked the other side of the stage, because Joel and the bots did their movie watching from over there.

I have been very lucky to have gotten two movies each time I’ve seen the performance.  It seem like a lot of locations get only one movie.  I’m not sure why I’ve been so fortunate.  (And State Theatre offered a discount if you bought seats for both movies!).

Last time the riffing was done by Joel Hodgson and Jonah Ray as well as many of the actors from the show.

This time things were very different.

Jonah Ray was not there.  Nor was Rebecca Hanson as Synthia Forrester.  And of course, no Felicia Day nor Patton Oswalt (not even on video).

But the big announcement was that this was going to be Joel Hodgson’s last MST3K Live tour.  I don’t know if that means there will be more, or if this is the end of them entirely. (more…)

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Ghost (Cure Insurance Arena, Trenton, NJ, October 25, 2019)

Posted in Blue Öyster Cult, Cure Insurance Arena, Emmylou Harris, Ghost, Gregorio Allegri, Jan Johansson, Set in New Jersey!, Slayer, Trenton, NJ on October 25, 2019| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 25, 2019] Ghost

A few years ago Ghost had just popped on my radar when I saw that they were playing the Fillmore in Philly.  I didn’t go, but a friend of mine took his son and said the show was outstanding.

Before getting tickets for Starset, I had bought tickets for C. and I to see Ghost.  I had heard that their live shows were tremendous and I was pretty excited to bring him to a show like this.  When I looked for tickets, I knew we wouldn’t want GA Floor, but I didn’t know if we should go straight back or close to the stage on the side.  I chose close to the stage and I was pretty happy with the location although C. thought it would be better straight on.

I had no idea we’d be going to see two concerts in two nights.  But it was fun for him to compare the two styles of venue–club vs. arena.

Starset has a backstory and Ghost has a backstory too.  Ghost’s story is pretty fascinating.

But before getting to that I have to say that this show was spectacular.  Holy cow was it fun–the band was fantastic.  The stage set was incredible and Cardinal Copia was an amazing front man.

Now, onto the story of Ghost. (more…)

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Nøthing Møre (Cure Insurance Arena, Trenton, NJ, October 25, 2019) [GHOST]

Posted in Cure Insurance Arena, Ghost, Nøthing Møre, Nothing More, Skrillex, Trenton, NJ on October 25, 2019| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 25, 2019] Nøthing Møre

Before getting tickets for Starset, I had bought tickets for C. and I to see Ghost.  I had heard that their live shows were tremendous and I was pretty excited to bring him to a show like this.  When I looked for tickets, I knew we wouldn’t want GA Floor, but I didn’t know if we should go straight back or close to the stage on the side.  I chose close to the stage and I was pretty happy with the location although C. thought it would be better straight on.

I had not heard of Nøthing Møre before this show.  I rather wish I had looked them up beforehand, because part of their live show was really cool and I wish I had known it was coming so I could have appreciated it more.

But as it turned out, I was not quite in the mood for them.

Traffic was fine (I loved having the Arena only 45 minutes away and would totally go back).  Parking was a little tricky (I’ll know better if there is a next time).  We walked in with a few minutes to spare. (more…)

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Starset (Theatre of Living Arts (TLA), Philadelphia, PA, October 24, 2019)

Posted in AC/DC, Cheesesteaks, Hyde, Ice Nine Kills, Led Zeppelin, Philadelphia, PA, Starset, Theatre of Living Arts on October 24, 2019| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 24, 2019] Starset

I had taken C. to a couple of live shows before and he had been to see Ice Nine Kills with his friends.  But this was my first time taking him to see a club concert.

This was going to be a long night too.  Four bands!  With the opening band going on at 7 and Starset ending around 11 (and it was a school night!).

C. has been a fan of Starset since their first album came out.  I had not heard of them and I’m not sure where he came upon them, but he really liked their debut Transmissions.

And I can say that now that I know more about them, they would have been a band that I would absolutely loved and been utterly obsessed with back in high school as well.  Their back story and concept is pretty intricate, so I won’t bother trying to do justice to it here.  Suffice it to say their albums are concept albums.

I also love that he didn’t like the second album, Vessels, as much because it was too poppy (not his words, but I think that’s what he meant).  When I had talked about getting tickets to them the last time (I think we’d just missed them come to the area, he said it was okay as he didn’t like that album that much).  But that the third album was back to the cool stuff again so he was pretty excited when I told him I’d gotten us tickets.

He wanted his friend to come along, but it being a school night and us not getting home until 12:30 made it impossible for his friend to come.  So it was just us. (more…)

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Palisades (Theatre of Living Arts (TLA), Philadelphia, PA, October 24, 2019) [STARSET]

Posted in Hyde, Linkin Park, Palisades, Philadelphia, PA, Theatre of Living Arts on October 24, 2019| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 24, 2019] Palisades

I had taken C. to a couple of live shows before and he had been to see Ice Nine Kills with his friends.  But this was my first time taking him to see a club concert.

This was going to be a long night too.  Four bands!  With the opening band going on at 7 and Starset ending around 11 (and it was a school night!).

Palisades was the biggest of the three supporting bands.  They had also toured with Starset on Starset’s last leg of the tour.  There were definitely a lot of fans there for them. A few of them in front of us left after their set. (more…)

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Hyde (Theatre of Living Arts (TLA), Philadelphia, PA, October 24, 2019) [STARSET]

Posted in A Brilliant Lie, Duran Duran, Hyde, Japanese Music, L'Arc-en-Ciel, Philadelphia, PA, Queensrÿche, Starset, Theatre of Living Arts on October 24, 2019| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 24, 2019] Hyde

I had taken C. to a couple of live shows before and he had been to see Ice Nine Kills with his friends.  But this was my first time taking him to see a club concert.

This was going to be a long night too.  Four bands!  With the opening band going on at 7 and Starset ending around 11 (and it was a school night!).

After A Brilliant Lie, some people moved around and we were right in the middle for Hyde.

When I looked up this concert I saw that  lot of people were more excited about Hyde than anyone else.  Someone even suggested that Hype might play solo–just him and his guitar.

I had no idea who Hyde was, but based on that (erroneous) information I assumed he might be a metal guy doing some mellower songs.

Boy was I wrong. (more…)

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A Brilliant Lie (Theatre of Living Arts (TLA), Philadelphia, PA, October 24, 2019) [STARSET]

Posted in A Brilliant Lie, C., Hyde, Nickelback, Palisades, Philadelphia, PA, Starset, Theatre of Living Arts, Toto, Weezer on October 24, 2019| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 24, 2019] A Brilliant Lie

I had taken C. to a couple of live shows before and he had been to see Ice Nine Kills with his friends.  But this was my first time taking him to see a club concert.

This was going to be a long night too.  Four bands!  With the opening band going on at 7 and Starset ending around 11 (and it was a school night!).

Despite leaving pretty early, between traffic, getting pizza on the way there and parking (dad was trying to be cheap and find street parking, but eventually had to give in and pay), we walked in about 2 songs into A Brilliant Lie’s set.

It was certainly a surprise to walk in and hear a band playing “Africa.”  It was even more of a surprise to hear them later say “Weezer can go away now, because, surely they were only playing this because Weezer re-popularized it, right?”  However, A Brilliant Lie’s version was pretty great–heavier and less exactly like the original.  They even did a “everybody get down” middle section and encouraged everyone to sing along (for better or worse). (more…)

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