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Archive for the ‘Venues’ Category

Chastity Belt / Charlotte Cornfield (First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, May 5, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Charlotte Cornfield, Chastity Belt, First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA on May 5, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 5, 2024] Chastity Belt / Charlotte Cornfield

I saw Chasity Belt back in 2017 and really liked them.  I’ve wanted to see them again, but the schedule never seems to match up.

And this time they were playing The Church, which I don’t go to.

I haven’t listened to them much in the last few years and I think they’ve gotten more mellow on their last few albums.

Which might explain why their opening act is Charlotte Cornfield a singer-songwriter from Toronto.

It’s been less than two years since Highs in the Minuses became Charlotte Cornfield’s breakout—a magnetic mission-statement for the Toronto songwriter described by Rolling Stone as “Canada’s best-kept secret.”

This would have been a pretty mellow almost folksy night.

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The Lemon Twigs / The Smashing Times (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, May 4, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Jersey City, NJ, The Lemon Twigs, The Smashing Times, White Eagle Hall on May 4, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 4, 2024] The Lemon Twigs / The Smashing Times 

I discovered The Lemon Twigs a few years ago and really enjoyed their glam rock sound and I imagined that they would be a ton of fun live.  The band is technically a duo, although they have more people on stage with them.

I really liked The Lemon Twigs’ Do Hollywood album and their follow up EPs showed even more development.  Since then they have put out a few albums, and I have enjoyed them.

Their last two albums have drifted from that sound into a more Beach Boys-vibe.  They sound great but they’re not quite my thing.

It turns out that one of my son’s friends is a huge fan of the band, and he has insisted that I need to see them live.

This seemed like a good opportunity, although it was a little odd that they were only playing this venue.  Turns out this was like a pre-tour show, and they are doing more dates in the fall.

I would have liked to go, but we were having friends over, so I didn’t even bother getting tickets.

The Smashing Times are from Baltimore.  Here’s a fantastic blurb

This really is a fusion of psychedelic, twee and freakbeat that will make your heart skip and your head smile. The guitars shimmer, strum and jangle whilst the vocals float effortlessly on top of the efficient rhythm section. Every song is a bundle of energy with hooks that come both instantly and after multiple plays. Of course there are those, that this sound will be too ‘out there’ for. For such sorts there are an absolute plethora of The Byrds YouTube videos to feast your eyes upon.

And they give off a vibe of 60’s psychedelics folk but if there were indie labels that weren’t perfectly polished back then.  I quite like them and hope to see them live someday.

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TWRP (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, May 2, 2024)

Posted in nelward, Philadelphia, PA, Trey Magnifique, TWRP, Union Transfer on May 4, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 2, 2024] TWRP

My son and I saw TWRP last year.  We had actually gone mostly for the opening band Magic Sword.  But I figured TWRP were going to be a lot of fun.

TWRP were once known as Tupper Ware Remix Party (TWRP is much better).  They are from outer space (and Canada).  They are also from the 1980s (and the future).

They are a foursome. In order of the below photo they are guitarist Lord Phobos, bassist Commander Meouch, keyboardist and vocalist Doctor Sung and drummer Havve Hogan.

Last year’s show was so much fun that I was really excited to see this year’s show.  I got a ticket for my son but he had a final exam at 8:30 the next morning so he (wisely) stayed home.

Last time, Doctor Sung told us all about their high tech new stage manager, Grobb.  Grobb appeared on the side of the stage in a circle which previously said IBS (in the IBM logo style).  Grobb looked like a psychopathic Teletubby as he smiled and talked to us.

Grobb was back again for this tour which was all about crypto currency. (more…)

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Darlingside (Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA, May 4, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Darlingside, Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA on May 4, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 4, 2024] Darlingside 

We have seen Darlingside four times and they are always wonderful.  But it has been five years since the last time we saw them.

And yet, whereas in the past I would instantly grab a ticket to see them, lately I haven’t felt as compelled.

Seeing them at the Sellersville Theater would probably have been a great experience because the sound in that room is tremendous.

We had friends over so it wasn’t actually an issue as to whether or not to go.  I wish I wanted to see them more, though. I feel kind of bad.

I’m not sure if there was an opening band.

 

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Maragret Glaspy: Unplugged / Ryan Lerman (Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA, May 3, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Margaret Glaspy, Ryan Lerman, Scary Pockets, Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA on May 3, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 3, 2024] Maragret Glaspy: Unplugged / Ryan Lerman

I had mixed feelings about this show.  I love Margaret Glaspy, but I really love when she rocks out.  Did I want to see her unplugged?

But I felt that yes I did.  And regardless I snatched up a ticket right away.  I’ve seen her three times and she always puts on a good show, so really it was a no-brainer.

But then two things happened on this Friday.  My son decided he was coming home from college that day (instead of Saturday) and my daughter sprained her knee, which meant that my son and I were the only ones there to help him move out.  It took much longer than I anticipated and there was simply no way I could make it to the show.

Sigh. (more…)

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Trey Magnifique (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, May 2, 2024) [TWRP]

Posted in nelward, Philadelphia, PA, Trey Magnifique, TWRP, Union Transfer on May 3, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 2, 2024] Trey Magnifique

Just as I hadn’t heard of nelward, I hadn’t heard of Trey Magnifique.

He came on stage, a silver fox, in a while suit (with no shirt on).  He proceeded to fill the room with smooth jazz sex.

He won me over immediately by saying “If someone asks if you want to hear smooth jazz,” the appropriate response is “Hell Yea.”  So when we all shouted “Hell Yea!” he said, no our energy was too high.  Try whispering it.  So we whispered ‘Hell yea” and he said no that was too much, just think it.

He then proceeded to make obscene mouth gestures on his straight saxophone.   It was really funny.

And then finally, after about six minutes, he actually played a song.  It was cheesy smooth jazz, but he was great–his sax playing is really solid.

So who is this guy?

Trey Magnifique is the smooth jazz alter ego of musician, comedian, and theoretical physicist Brian Wecht. Best known for his comedy bands Ninja Sex Party and Starbomb, where he performs as the keyboard-playing “Ninja Brian”, as well as his kids’ band Go Banana Go, Brian is one of the most popular comedy musicians in the world. Mature Situations is Brian’s first album as Trey Magnifique, as well as his first solo project.

Brian grew up in Pompton Lakes, NJ, and, after studying math and music (with a focus on jazz composition, arranging, and performance) at Williams College, went on to get a doctorate in theoretical physics from the University of California, San Diego. Wecht held postdoctoral research positions at MIT, Harvard, the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, and the University of Michigan, and was a faculty member in the Centre for Research in String Theory at Queen Mary University of London. Wecht has authored over 30 papers in theoretical physics, focusing on supsersymmetric quantum field theories and string theory.

While pursuing his academic interests, Wecht began doing improv comedy with San Diego TheatreSports, and went on to become the Musical Director of the Improv Asylum in Boston, MA. After moving to New York, he met Dan Avidan through a mutual comedy friend, and the two created Ninja Sex Party in 2009. In 2015, Wecht left his faculty position at Queen Mary in order to focus on his YouTube career full time. In addition to NSP and Starbomb, Wecht’s projects include children’s comedy band Go Banana Go! (along with NSP producer Jim Roach), and the podcast Leighton Night with Brian Wecht (along with Leighton Grey). Outside of YouTube, Wecht maintains an active career as a public speaker and science communicator, and is one of the organizers of the annual Northeast Conference on Science and Skepticism (NECSS).

Incredible.  This guy is literally a genius AND he is funny as hell. (more…)

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nelward (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, May 2, 2024) [TWRP]

Posted in nelward, Philadelphia, PA, Trey Magnifique, TWRP, Union Transfer on May 2, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 2, 2024] nelward

I hadn’t heard of Nelward, but holy cow a few people in the audience sure did.

Nick “nelward” Elward is an electronic composer based in Atlanta. His music takes cues from video game soundtracks, jazz fusion, old school hip hop, and classic pop.

Nelward’s songs are (mostly) short and (mostly) silly.   He came out snazzily dressed and began singing DVD (30 seconds long, although longer live, with the entirety of the lyrics: Have you seen the DVD of me? repeated).

Ghost was a bit more of a real song–catchy and rather fun.  He did some wild dances and clearly loved the reactions of his silly behavior.

More representative of his stuff seems to be “I Hope My Pants Don’t Fall Down.” A minute of silliness. (more…)

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Wine Lips / Bad Nerves / Wax Jaw (Broken Goblet, Bensalem, PA, April 28, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Bensalem, PA, Broken Goblet Brewing, Wax Jaw, Wine Lips on April 28, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 28, 2024] Wine Lips / Bad Nerves / Wax Jaw

I was really interested in this show mostly because of Wax Jaw (I continue to want to see them and to get foiled in doing so).  But also because of Wine Lips who played with Wine Lips a year ago.

I had written it on my calendar as happening on Sunday the 28th.  Which I couldn’t make.  imagine my surprise that it was actually Monday but I had missed it anyway.

Wine Lips are a trio of Cam Hilborn on Guitar and Vocals with Aurora Evans on Drums and Charlie Weare on Bass.

Their music seemed to fit well with Acid Dad as this review says:

“Fuzzy, loud and fast, Wine Lips are a garage/ punk/ psychedelic band whose music feels like a shot of adrenaline to the heart. A no holds barred kind of rock n roll that’ll make you want to buy a motorcycle, just to crash it.” – Sled Island

Bad Nerves are from England.  How’d they get on this seemingly local tour, I wonder.

The Aquarian says this about them

UK’s Bad Nerves want to shake things up – and shake things up they will. Actually, it is already what they are doing in this dull, formulaic, and predictive music scene. The punk rock outfit are bringing back the ethos we all miss: the CBGB’s underground rock spirit, the Ramones-era nostalgic punk scene we crave, and the edgy garage band we want. Their songs are reminiscent of the 1970s and singer Bobby Nerves’ shrill, piercing vocals complement Will Power, Jon Poulton, Sam Thompson, and George Berry immaculately. 

I listened to a bit of the show below and found it to be kind of dull and formulaic.  So, whatever.

And then there’s Wax Jaw, undeniably the band I would like to see who I keep missing more than another band, even though they play near me ALL THE TIME.

From Markit An Eight, here’s all three shows:

Wine Lips

Bad Nerves

Wax Jaw

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Ty Segall / Sharpie Smile (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, April 28, 2024)

Posted in Kamikaze Palm Tree, Philadelphia, PA, Sharpie Smile, Ty Segall, Union Transfer on April 28, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 28, 2024] Ty Segall / Sharpie Smile

I bought a ticket to this show in August.  AUGUST!  I’d been waiting nine months to see Ty Segall (as I’d missed him five previous times for various reasons).  I didn’t really want to see him solo, and I assumed this was  full band show (which it was).

But then our friends invites us over for a Passover Dinner and we couldn’t say no.  I thought maybe I could squeeze in the show afterward, but damn, that’s a long dinner.

I’m about to give up on ever seeing Ty Segall.  Next time he announces a local show, I’m no buying a ticket ahead of time.

Sharpie Smile is a dup who were formerly called Kamikaze Palm Tree.  (more…)

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Rodrigo y Gabriela (McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ, April 28, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ, Rodrigo y Gabriela on April 28, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 28, 2024] Rodrigo y Gabriela

I’m not sure why it feels like some shows just recently happened and other feels so long ago.

I can’t believe that it has been seven years since we last saw Rodrigo y Gabriela.  That show was amazing and we were right up front so we could see everything they did.

I’d always felt that I’d want to see them whenever I could, but when they announced a show at McCarter Theater (practically in my backyard) I should have snatched up tickets instantly.  But I didn’t and then the only tickets available were pretty far back.  And that last show was SO GOOD, that it felt like this could only be a letdown.

Our friends who have seen them twice with us did wind up going (McCarter is even closer to them).  They told us that it was amazing to see them again and even more so to be home and ready for bed by 9:30.

Well, we got invited to a Passover dinner, so we couldn’t have gone anyway.  So there.

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