Posted in Franklin Music Hall, James, Johnny Marr, Philadelphia, PA on October 11, 2024| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: October 11, 2024] Johnny Marr / James
I saw Johnny Marr six years ago. I can’t believe it has been six years. I more or less didn’t bother getting tickets for this because I thought I had seen him much more recently than that.
Plus, when I saw him, it was at the TLA and this show was at Franklin Music Hall. So good for him for upgrading so much!
But I had two other shows that I was considering that night: The Bevis Frond and The Lemon Twigs. (more…)
Posted in Charly Bliss, Philadelphia, PA, Pronoun, Underground Arts on October 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: October 10, 2024] Charly Bliss / Pronoun
This was a really tough choice for me. I was super excited when Charly Bliss announced this show because the last time I saw them it was a ton of fun.
And then Yard Act announced that they were playing Union Transfer the same night.
I had seen Yard Act before, but only once. And I’d seen Charly Bliss three times. So I chose Yard Act because they are from the UK and are less likely to play Philly again soon. And, if I’m being honest, I didn’t love the direction this new Charly Bliss album went is as much as I liked the older records. So we’ll see what happens in 2025. (Yard Act were great, btw). (more…)
Posted in Omni, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer, Yard Act on October 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »
[ATTENDED: October 10, 2024] Omni
Omni is a trio from Atlanta. I hadn’t heard of them and thought they were a new band. Well, they are, but the members of the band have been around for a while. Guitarist Frankie Broyles on guitar was in Deerhunter. Drummer Chris Yonker has been in some other bands that I didn’t know and Philip Frobos on vocals and bass has been in Carnivores.
This explains why this band of, what I assumed were young newbies, was so confident playing their off-kilter post punk. And probably explains why I loved their set immediately.
I was in front of Frobos and it was cool watching him play bass lines that were more like lead lines than simply rhythm. I also really liked the sound of his bass–clean but not sharp.
I was pretty far from Broyles, but I enjoyed that he played interesting guitar lines that complemented the bass–but it basically meant there was no simply chord playing going on.
Granite Kiss was staccato with fluid lead guitar lines over the stomping bass and drums. (more…)
Posted in Beat, Count Basie Theatre, Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre, Red Bank, NJ, Set in New Jersey!, Steve Vai, Tony Levin on October 9, 2024| Leave a Comment »
[ATTENDED: October 9, 2024] Beat
I have seen King Crimson five times, all in the most recent iteration of the band. I never saw the earlier incarnations when Adrian Belew was the singer/guitarist.
When it was announced that Adrian was gathering troops together to play 80’s era King Crimson, I was intrigued. The tour had the blessing of Robert Fripp AND it featured Tony Levin on bass. So that was pretty much all it took.
I’m not sure why Pat Mastelotto wasn’t invited, but Tool’s Danny Carey was a great choice. As was bringing in fellow Frank Zappa guitar player Steve Vai Although the two never played together).
This ear of King Crimson is not my favorite. Although Discipline was the first KC album I’d ever bought, I never really got into the other two (a few songs from each, but never the whole things). (more…)
Posted in Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn, NY, Julien Baker, Katie Malco, Lucy Dacus, New York City, Webster Hall on October 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: October 8, 2024] Julien Baker / Lucy Dacus / Katie Malco
My daughter and I saw Julien Baker at Webster Hall on Sunday night, the night that Julien got sick and left early.
She immediately announced a new show two nights later in Brooklyn.
We would have loved to have gone to this show but there were a few reasons we couldn’t. My wife and I had tickets to see Kishi Bashi and we were pretty excited to go to that one. Plus, Brooklyn is much harder for us to get to than NYC (which is much more challenging to get to than Philadelphia).
So, we missed out on this show which featured a “surprise” set from Lucy Dacus. My daughter and I assumed that Lucy would be the surprise, and yeah we’re bummed we missed the show, but at least we got to see some of Julien on the first night. (Plus, a video that I saw made it sound like the crowd was really noisy and rowdy–and consequently very distracting).
And, most likely we would probably have been too late to see Katie Malco, just like Sunday.
Posted in Mass of the Fermenting Dregs, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer, Young Statues on October 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: October 8, 2024] Mass of the Fermenting Dregs / Young Statues
I saw Mass of Fermenting Dregs last year and the show was amazing. It was at Underground Arts and it was packed and the crowd was insane. I was really looking forward to seeing them at Union Transfer. I knew a bigger stage would lead to an even better show (and better sight lines as I was too far back at UA).
And then Kishi Bashi announced his Philly show was going to be the same night. And since my wife and I love Kishi Bashi, he took precedence.
The Kishi Bashi show was great, but I’m bummed to have missed MotD. (Although looking at the setlist, it was mostly the same show. But I still would have enjoyed it!). (more…)
Posted in Johnny Brenda's, La Luz, Mia Joy, Philadelphia, PA on October 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: October 8, 2024] La Luz / Mia Joy
It fascinates me when multiple shows that I want to see wind up on the same night. It’s a bummer, of course, but weird, like why were there FOUR shows I would have gone to on October 8?
I know La Luz from a live Levitation recording that I really dig. I don’t know a lot more about the band aside from the basic bio. They are from Seattle and are known for their “surf noir” style, with layered vocal harmonies. I didn’t know that their “energetic live shows often include Soul Train-inspired dance contests and crowd surfing.” Which sounds really fun and makes me want to see them even more.
But again, this was the fourth show tonight and the band I knew the least, so I wasn’t going to go to this one.
Mia Joy Rocha, is an American indie rock musician from Oak Park, Illinois. I haven’t heard of her but her music is described as ethereal indie pop that envelops the listener in a shroud of gentle, personal hymns that are both intimate & warmly inviting.
Listening to her stuff, that description seems very apt.
This would have been a delightful show.
Posted in Brooklyn Bowl, Kishi Bashi, Philadelphia, PA, Sweet Loretta, Tall Tall Trees, The Beatles on October 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »
[ATTENDED: October 8, 2024] Sweet Loretta
Sweet Loretta is from England. They’ve been around for a while but only recently released their first EP/album. When I looked them up, the first song I heard featured Kishi Bashi. How odd, I thought. I liked the song–it reminds me of Kishi Bashi’s more dancey stuff.
We arrived a little later than I thought we would, so we were in the bathroom when the first song started. Midway through the song we heard the beginning of the Star Wars theme song. I’m not sure why, although a few songs later, guitarist/singer Fraser Blanchflower said it was singer/guitarist Quinn Humphreys’s birthday and the Star Wars bit was for him. Very curious what happened there.
Fraser and Quinn were very funny frontmen. I enjoyed their banter quite a lot. Bassist James Stickland was quiet for the whole show and drummer James Clark was from time to time a maniac behind the kit, which was fun. Quinn said that Kishi Bashi stipulated that they needed to have an album or EP out as a stipulation of touring with him. Not sure if that’s true, but they played the entire EP (except the opening soundscape).
Musically, they were very retro in style and sound. I felt like their songs could have been on a John Hughes movie soundtrack. They have great harmonies with all three guys up front singing together at times in a wall of sound. (more…)
Posted in Balance and Composure, Kevin Devine, Kevin Devine & The Goddamn Band, Kevin Devine and the Goddman Band, Milly, Philadelphia, PA, The Fillmore Philadelphia on October 5, 2024| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: October 5, 2024] Balance and Composure / Kevin Devine and the Godamn Band / Milly
The strange thing (to me) about this show is that I knew and liked both of the opening acts but had never even heard of the headliners.
In fact, the reason I wanted to go to this show was for Kevin Devine & the Goddamn Band. I’ve seen Kevin three times and I love his songs and his whole vibe but it’s been five years since I’ve seen him (really bad luck of local shows being canceled or scheduled on a bad night for me). And I really wanted to see him with the Goddamn Band because the Goddamn Band is awesome.
But they only played for 45 minutes, so I’m not terribly upset that I missed them.
I saw Milly open for Swervedriver 5 years ago. I enjoyed them and am delighted to see that since 2019, they’ve released a bunch of stuff.
And then there’s Balance and Composure (from Doylestown, PA). I didn’t know them but apparently everyone else was super psyched that they released a new record in 2024 (it had been 8 years since the last one).
I’ve listened to a few clips of songs and liked them. But I don’t think I would have enjoyed the show with a huge amount of big fans.
My son and I have seen Starset twice. Each show has been pretty fantastic.
When this tour was announced, I was excited that a show was going to be at the Starland Ballroom (a venue I don’t love, but which he does).
But then it turned out to be the night before he was leaving for Europe. There was n way we were staying out all night the night before his flight.
So, we gave this tour a miss.
Rock on Purpose has a big review of the show.
I didn’t know any of the other bands. The above reviewer is a big fan of Red, who he says plays a “combination of cinematic, uplifting, and hardcore rock music.”
They are a Christian band, which seems an odd fit for Starset’s cryptic stances, but whatever, their songs are pretty good with interesting orchestral arrangements over the heavy guitars.
Divide the Fall are from Minnesota. Spill, their local magazine says
their modern hard rock sound and catchy choruses with the occasional heavy breakdown.
And a review of their recent EP describes melodic harmonies and stunning, clean vocals.
Oni were a progressive heavy metal band from Canada with growling vocals and crazy technical profiiency, at least in 2016. In 2022, they released a new album about which Drowned in Sound says
If you were anticipating another round of technical bludgeoning akin to the Ironshore era then you may be disappointed as ONI have taken an entirely different direction this time round.
Sounds like the heaviest bands went on first, although some of their new songs are pretty mellow too. Interestimg.
Posted in Basic Printer, Philadelphia, PA, Silk City, Under the Rug on October 4, 2024| Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: October 4, 2024] Basic Printer / Under the Rug
I discovered Basic Printer through some unusual means–I assume an ad on Instagram where I could download a free copy of an album.
Basic Printer is based in Nashville and makes experimental synthpop.
I like Basic Printer’s music, although I think I enjoy the creator of the music and their Instagram account a little bit more. They’re very engaging and funny.
I’d be curious to see them live, and I’m sure meet them in person (they seem like they’d be happy to meet the fans).
I don’t know Under the Rug, who describe themselves as an odd alt outfit: almost-too-dark humor, big irreverence, lush, humongous recordings. Austin, TX. That self-description makes me like them immediately.
I’m not sure who was the headline band.
Since I had gone to a show the night before and was going to another one in two nights, I decided to stay home on this one.
I Just Read About That... 