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Archive for the ‘Venues’ Category

Avatar / Oxymorrons / Conquer Divide (Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ, May 12, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Avatar, Conquer Divide, Oxymorrons, Sayreville, NJ, Starland Ballroom on May 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 12, 2024] Avatar / Oxymorrons / Conquer Divide

This is a show I was so psyched to go to.  Until I realized it was the same night as Neil Young and my wife and I werre pretty darn psyched to go to see Neil with Crazy Horse.

I’ve seen Avatar three times and I really wanted to see them headline one more time.

I’ve seen Oxymorrons twice and I have loved every second of their shows–I can’t wait to see the again.

Conquer Divide is the only band I was unfamiliar with.  They are a metalcore band, with the twist that all of the members are female, which is pretty awesome.  And frankly, the one really bad thing about metalcore is the vocals.  For Conquer Divide, clean vocalist Kiarely “Kia” Castillo sings in a relatively high register–something that metalcore tends to leave out entirely.  And unclean vocalist Janel Duarte (who just left the band) has a great scream that’s not cookie monster like, it’s a good passionate scream.

This would have been a great show.  Stupid double booked nights.

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Chicano Batman / Lido Pimienta (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, May 12, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Chicano Batman, Lido Pimienta, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on May 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 12, 2024] Chicano Batman 

I saw Chicano Batman three years ago and really enjoyed the show and the vibe of the crowd.

I would definitely had gone to the show except for three reasons.

  1. Avatar, Oxymorrons, Conquer Divide were the same night and I would have gone to that show in a heartbeat
  2. Neil Young & Crazy Horse, a show my wife and I were over the moon to see.
  3. It was Mother’s Day.  If the other two shows hadn’t existed, I was still going to be home for Mother’s Day.

Lido Pimienta had a song that was on WXPN a few years ago that I really liked.

She is a Colombian Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter whose 2016 album, La Papessa, won the 2017 Polaris Music Prize.  She plays traditional indigenous and Afro-Colombian musical styles such as Cumbia and Bullerengue and merges it with contemporary synthpop and electronic music.

She’s quite delightful.

This would have been a really fun set.

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Reverend Billy & the Stop Shopping Choir (Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, Camden, NJ, May 12, 2024) [NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE]

Posted in Camden, NJ, Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, Neil Young, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Reverend Billy & the Stop Shopping Choir on May 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 12, 2024] Reverend Bill & the Stop Shopping Choir

I didn’t know there was going to be an opening act for this show until a few days before the event.  I was glad that there would be one because Freedom Mortgage Pavilion is a pain in the ass to get into on time.

When we saw Pearl Jam, we missed the opening act entirely because of the poor infrastructure there.

It was even better that the opening act was a band I’d never heard of and didn’t care about.

So who are this Choir?  Wikipedia says

Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping is a radical performance community based in New York City. The Stop Shopping Choir is accompanied by a comic preacher, Reverend Billy, portrayed by performer William (Billy) Talen. The philosophy of the Church of Stop Shopping surrounds the imminent “Shopocalypse”, which assumes the end of humanity will come about through manic consumerism.

The Stop Shopping Choir accompanies Reverend Billy and stages guerrilla theater style actions, singing on the property of the Disney stores, Monsanto facilities, and Trump Tower, among others. They are often considered part of the Culture jamming movement.

The group uses the content from their direct actions to create songs that are performed on concert stages and in cabarets. The director of these shows is church co-founder Savitri D.

The character of Reverend Billy was developed in the early 1990s by actor and playwright, William Talen. His family was Dutch Calvinist.  The Reverend Billy character isn’t so much a parody of a preacher, as a preacher motif used to blur the lines between performance and religious experience. “It’s definitely a church service,” Talen explained to Alternet, but, he added, it’s “a political rally, it’s theater, it’s all three, it’s none of them.

(more…)

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Amon Amarth (Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ, May 9, 2024)

Posted in Amon Amarth, Cannibal Corpse, Montclair, NJ, Wellmont Theater on May 11, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 9, 2024] Amon Amarth

My son and his friends saw Amon Amarth open for Ghost last summer.  So when they announced a headlining tour, I grabbed us tickets.

I thought it would be really fun to see them headline (although their set was actually smaller than when they opened, probably because it was a much smaller venue).  I also thought it would be really cool to see them in a smaller venue and to be on the floor.

The Cannibal Corpse crowd really took up the whole pit, but when they ended a lot of people left, I guess.  The floor opened up and we headed down there.  The crew went to the front right and I stayed in the center back assuming it would be far enough from the pit but still a great view.

Well, it turns out that at an Aman Amarth show, the pit starts pretty far back and I was pretty much right in the middle of it (cane and all).  I quickly made my way out of that area but was pushed and shoved through most of the show as people tried to get into the pit.

There was a lengthy intro (after a few verses of Iron Maiden’s “Run to the Hills”) while their logo swirled around on stage.  And then the curtain dropped and there was the giant Viking helmet drum set.  That’s when the pit started and I didn’t focus on much of the first song as I tried to clamber over people to safety.

It was pretty great seeing them from this close. You could see singer Johann Hegg ((who had a horn of mead (I assume) on his belt and a swagger in his walk) smile as he welcomed the crowd.  And the songs were so much more visceral with the crowd pulsing around us.

One of the best things about an Amon Amarth show is the theatrics.  The stage set was a little smaller (no giant inflatable vikings), but the participation on stage was full-on.

I didn’t get to fully appreciate the first song as I was getting bumped around. But for Tattered Banners and Bloody Flags two gues stood on either side of the stage and waved giant flags.

I really enjoyed the way the various band members walked around the stage visiting all the people in the front and acknowledging everyone.  Hegg encouraged everyone to do a circle pit (and everyone obliged. (more…)

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Cheekface / Yungatita (First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, May 11, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Cheekface, First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, Yungatita on May 11, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 11, 2024] Cheekface / Yungatita

I saw Cheekface a year ago and absolutely loved their set.  I was really looking forward to seeing them again, but they chose to play at The Church, which I don’t go to.  For those keeping score, The Church holds 200 more people than the Ukie Club, so good for them.  Next time they come maybe they’ll be bummed up to Union Transfer.

Yungatita is a band I hadn’t heard of (although they have a song on Spotify “7 Weeks & 3 Days” that has over 77 million plays!

The band is the brainchild of East LA’s Valentina Zapata, Yungatita — who previously released a 2020 solo EP with a groovy, low-fi, retro sound titled Over You — returns with a full band in preparation for their slacker-pop debut LP, Shoelace & a Knot.  That “7 Weeks” song is bedroomy and synthy, but their newer stuff rocks.

Album of the year says that Shoelace 

is the perfect blend between fun, sunny amateur indie rock and ambitious, angry and screamy intentions behind said cutesy indie rock, all in a very digest 35 minutes that never leaves you bored. … infectious melodies and hunger in all of the instrumentals from the surfer-rocky guitar riffs to the hella dynamic and catchy drumming to the harmonies yungatita does with herself that serve as a melodious instrument themselves. The one word I’d use to describe this project is “catchy” – every single bit of instrumentation is an instant hit.

This sounds like it would have been a really fun show (and I would have been the oldest person there by 20 years).

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Psychedelic Porn Crumpets / Spoon Benders (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, May 11, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Spoon Benders, Underground Arts on May 11, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 11, 2024] Psychedelic Porn Crumpets

Of all the shows I was sure I wouldn’t miss, it was this one.  I love Psychedelic Porn Crumpets and when I saw them two years ago the show blew me away.  I genuinely couldn’t wait to see them again.

So what happened?  Well, we had a house emergency and I spent most of the evening repairing a toilet.  And I had zero interest in doing anything after that.  I was also having terrible leg pain and couldn’t imagine standing for three hours–or getting in an inevitable mosh pit.

Plus, we were heading to the dreaded Freedom Mortgage Pavilion for Neil Young and Crazy Horse the next night and I didn’t want to be wiped out from this show for that one.

Sigh.  I need that crazy stamina back!

Spoon Benders are a progressive psych-rock powerhouse that has been relentlessly crisscrossing the United States, leaving a trail of newly acquired fans in their wake. Spoon Benders have become synonymous with an electrifying stage presence that can only be described as loud, controlled chaos.

When I first listened to some of their songs I wasn’t that excited, but I feel like I must not have been paying attention because their sound is very cool with lots of echoing guitars and a much-needed female voice on lead and backing vocals.

This really would have been a great show to see.  I hope PPC comes back soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024 2022
2024 Tally-Ho ¿
2024 Lava Lamp Pisco ♠
2024 Bill’s Mandolin &
2024 Mundungus ¿
2024 Found God in a Tomato
2024 November
2024 Mr. Prism ¿
2024 Hymn for a Droid &
2024 Acid Dent ♠
2024 Marmalade March
2024 Cubensis Lenses
2024 encore
2024 Cornflake


♠ Night Gnomes (2022)
¿ SHYGA! The Sunlight Mound (2021)
& And Now for the Whatchamacallit (2019)
¶¶ High Visceral (Part 2) (2017)
¶ High Visceral (Part 1) (2016)

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Cannibal Corpse / Obituary / Frozen Soul (Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ, May 9, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND ALL] [AMON AMARTH]

Posted in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Amon Amarth, Cannibal Corpse, Frozen Soul, Montclair, NJ, Obituary, Wellmont Theater on May 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 9, 2024] Cannibal Corpse / Obituary / Frozen Soul

My son and his friends saw Amon Amarth open for Ghost last summer.  So when they announced a headlining tour, I grabbed us tickets.

The rest of the lineup didn’t thrill me though.  I mean, I guess, yes, Amon Amarth is a death metal band, but not REALLY.  The rest of the lineup was all (mostly old school) death metal bands.  Once I found the details of the settimes, I let the rest of the party know and we agreed that we could easily skip the first  two band and show up sometime in the middle of the 45 minute cannibal Corpse set.

Frozen Soul is a death metal band from Texas.  They formed in 2018.  I had not heard of them and wasn’t really that interested in seeing them anyway.  They are heavy death metal with growling vocals.  I give them props for the whole “frozen” vibe that they have going on.  One of their songs i called “encased in ice” and I was amused to see that were selling shorts that said “encased in ass” which doesn’t make any sense, but is still funny.

Obituary is another super old school band from Tampa (formed in 1984).  I know of them (their logo is very familiar) but I guess I never listened to anything they did.  They are heavy and fast but the singer actually does a kind of high voice when he sings (as well as some growling).  It’s a different vibe to be sure and more of what I think about with 80’s metal bands.

I feel like the addition of this band would be a nice change from the deep growling voices of the rest of the 4 hours of music. I didn’t care if we arrived in time for them and no one else did either.

I wasn’t really that interested in seeing Cannibal Corpse again.  I saw them open for Slayer five years ago.  They played a twenty minute set and I was glad to have seen it, but 20 minutes was plenty. (more…)

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Sweet Pill / Equipment / Broke Body / Have a Good Season (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, May 10, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Broke Body, Equipment, Have a Good Season, Philadelphia, PA, Sweet Pill, Union Transfer on May 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 10, 2024] Sweet Pill / Equipment / Broke Body / Have a Good Season

Sweet Pill opened for Pool Kids last year.  But I arrived too late and missed them.

The other bands raved about them so I was interested in checking them out.  I was really surprised that they had a headline spot at Union Transfer.  And they sold it out!  Very impressive.

I decided I didn’t care enough to go to a four-band show if I didn’t even know the headliners.

Philadelphia’s Sweet Pill writes eruptive emo songs that embrace the edges of pop and hardcore. The kind of band whose members are fully immersed in their local scene—through a handful of notable side projects (twentythreenineteen / Goings / Harm Assist / typopro) and the show-promoting Philly staple 4333 Collective—the quintet’s sound takes wide-spectrum influence from its environment. The result is an amalgam of complex song structures and flourishes of technical acumen, wholly unconcerned with genre, yet evoking the specific styles of touchstones such as Paramore and Circa Survive.

I personally hear a huge amount of Pool Kids in their music, without the wild guitar pyro that Pool Kids use. (more…)

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The Decemberists (Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, May 8, 2024)

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Ratboys, The Decemberists, The Fillmore Philadelphia on May 9, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 8, 2024] The Decemberists     

This was our fourth time seeing The Decemberists (which is frankly too low a number for how much we love them).  But this show was on my birthday!  Imagine that.

I have actually never been to a show on my birthday before, mostly because I like to spend my birthday with my family.  But this was a band that my wife wanted to see as well, so we invited the kids along too, for a fun birthday night.

Sadly, my daughter was on crutches so she chose to stay home, but my son came even though he didn’t think he knew The Decemberists very well.

It turns out he knows them from osmosis and recognized a lot of songs from having heard his parents play them.  He was also pleasantly surprised by how much they rocked (my wife likes the folkier side and she plays them more).

And the show opened with a folky vibe.

There were light fixtures out front and Colin Meloy wandered out with his acoustic guitar and played “Red Right Ankle.”  He sounded great and the ambient lighting was perfect.  He described it as singing in a grotto.  Then Jenny Conlee came out with her accordion and the rest of the band came out soon after.  Nate Query with is upright bass, Chris Funk at his guitar and Lizzy Ellison singing as they played a lovely June Hymn.

They stayed acoustic for the new song All I Want is You complete with Victor Nash on horns and keys.  John Moen came out, the cool lights were removed and the “grotto” was taken away.  They spread out and used the full stage which was delicately designed with floral patterns and curtains.

With the full band out they played Don’t Carry it All with Chris Funk playing lap steel guitar.  Then they played the new song Burial Ground, after which Colin apologized for rhyming the word malaria in the song in case anyone in the audience was currently suffering from it.

The Decemberists could play pretty much anything in their catalog and I’d be happy.  And now that they have so many albums out there are fewer and fewer older songs that they can squeeze in.  So if they can only fit one part of The Crane Wife, I’ll take it.

After a rousing and fun The Sporting Life, with a little coda from The Smiths, Ellison got to show off her vocal chops with a fantastic The Queen’s Rebuke/The Crossing.  The Hazards of Love remains my favorite album of theirs and I love any song they play from it (this was the only one tonight).  But the heavy jamming during The Crossing was great–with some serious metal chords blasting out between the Hammond organ chords. (more…)

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Ratboys (Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, May 8, 2024) [THE DECEMBERISTS]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Ratboys, The Decemberists, The Fillmore Philadelphia on May 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 8, 2024] Ratboys

I saw Ratboys headline a show in November and it was great.  They have been together since 2010, formed by singer/guitarist Julia Steiner and guitar wizard David Sagan.

When I saw them, Steiner told us how pleased she was to have so many different guitars on tour with her, because they were all tuned differently–it made things so easy!  She had a flying V, which was in standard tuning.

That’s the only guitar she used for this set, so I’m guessing all six of the songs they played were in standard tuning.

The set opened the same with, with the blistering rocker “Making Noise for the Ones You Love.”  It’s like a statement of purpose that totally rocks for like 90 seconds before there’s even vocals.

Morning Zoo slows things down and lets you know the diversity of the band’s sound. (more…)

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