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Archive for the ‘The Ukie Club’ Category

Pinkshift / Jhariah / Pollyanna (Ukie Club, Philadelphia, PA, October 14, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Jhariah, Philadelphia, PA, Pinkshift, Pollyanna, The Ukie Club on October 14, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 14, 2023] Pinkshift / Jhariah / Pollyanna 

I wanted to go to this show more than the one at House of Independents because I love the Ukie Club.  But I already had tickets to Algernon Cadwallader for this night.  The fact that my son was home from college and I didn’t go to anything this night is totally fine.   And now I’ve found out that the HOI show was rescheduled, so all is good.

I have seen Pinkshift three times and they are amazing.  They get better with each show, but I have yet to see them headline.  So I would have really liked to get to this show.

Jhariah plays musical theater.  But on the heavy end, like when My Chemical Romance goes theatrical.  He throws in all kinds of cool and interesting sounds.  This is wacky and fun and he clearly relishes the theatricality.  I would love to see him live.

Pollyanna are from New Jersey and they absolutely rock: Lead singer and guitarist Jill Beckett, drummer Daniel McCool, bassist Brandon Bolton, and guitarist Jack Rose.  They mix

power-pop, loud rock, bubble grunge, and punk influences.  Their name directly derives from the dictionary definition, “to be unreasonably or illogically optimistic” – perfectly describing front-person Jill Beckett’s ‘stuck in 2017’ incredibly optimistic attitude. After meeting in the first grade, Dan and Jill started the band at just 13 years old, eager to create and play music that would reach audiences beyond the confines of Jill’s open garage doors. Brandon made them a trio in early 2019, bringing 90’s femme punk influence to the group. At the start of 2021, Jack completed the bands’ lineup, adding his elemental stabby guitars and love for shoegaze and metal into the mix. After completing almost 5 tours around the east coast and the midwest, Pollyanna has won over a following in the New Jersey music scene along with cities in the tri-state and beyond. They plan on growing as far as possible and leaving a unique mark in the music industry.

Their album Slime is great–snotty and brash with great sounds and Beckett’s excellent vocals.  So, yes, I hope to see them some time.

Sorry about the flooding (it was really terrible), but I’m glad I get to see the show next year.

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Pool Kids (The Ukie Club, Philadelphia, PA, July 28, 2023)

Posted in Chase Petra, Philadelphia, PA, Pool Kids, Sweet Pill, Sydney Sprague, The Ukie Club, Ukrainian American Citizens' Association on July 30, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 28, 2023] Pool Kids

Wow was it hot in The Ukie Club.

After two bands (and the inability to buy water at the bar–I can never catch a bartender), I splashed water on my face in the bathroom and prepped for Pool Kids.

The band set up, left the stage and then moments later came on stage to a familiar song that I realized I had no idea the name of.  And you probably don’t either.

It was “Sandstorm” by Darude.  You know it.  Everyone knows it. When I looked up the song the top comment on YouTube is “This song would have well over a billion views if people could actually find it”  And it’s true no one knows the name of it. [The video is quite good too.]

Anyhow, the band came out to it, getting everyone pumped, and then the song slowed and wavered as they kicked into the opening chords of “Swallow.”  There’s some great guitar lines on this song and even though there’s some mellow middle parts (on record–live it’s much heavier), the crowd immediately started slam dancing.  Several people who were up front headed for the sides and I moved over a bit to let them get their dancing out. (more…)

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Sydney Sprague (The Ukie Club, Philadelphia, PA, July 28, 2023) [POOL KIDS]

Posted in Chase Petra, Philadelphia, PA, Pool Kids, Sweet Pill, Sydney Sprague, The Ukie Club, Ukrainian American Citizens' Association on July 29, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 28, 2023] Sydney Sprague

I had seen Syndey Sprague open for The Front Bottoms a couple years ago.  She was the first band of  the night and I wound up walking in after the first two songs.

I liked her vibes and overall sound.  But I was surprised/disappointed by her record which was a lot more poppy than her live show (which was kind of grungy and rocking).

For this show, she came out in an oversized shirt(she must have been very hot).

The other two bands were fairly heavy and rocking, and Sydney was almost in that style, but was a little softer, a little quieter.  Just a little.  The biggest difference was in her singing style which was a lot more monotone than t he other two singers.  Not monotone exactly, but nowhere near as expressive as the other singers.

Having said that, her set was a lot of fun and was full of songs from her new (as yet unreleased) album.   The first two (new) songs were catchy and a rocking.  The third, “Steve” slowed things down a bit but retained that catchiness with a big chorus.

“Object Permanence” is a poppy song–super catchy.  (more…)

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Chase Petra (The Ukie Club, Philadelphia, PA, July 28, 2023) [POOL KIDS]

Posted in Chase Petra, Philadelphia, PA, Pool Kids, Sweet Pill, Sydney Sprague, The Ukie Club, Ukrainian American Citizens' Association on July 28, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: July 28, 2023] Chase Petra

I wasn’t sure if I was going to make the show this evening.  Things were confusing at my house, but got straightened out enough that I wound up leaving almost an hour after I would normally have.

I assumed I’d missed Chase Petra.  It was stupidly hot in The Ukie Club and the band on stage was setting up at roughly 8:40.  I guessed it was Sydney Sprague, but when someone on stage shouted for help with Syndey’s amp, I realized that this was Chase Petra.

And I thought, jeez, I’m glad I didn’t arrive on time if they’re just going on now.

But it turned out there was a secret guest who started the show.  New Jersey’s Sweet Pill, who I could have seen at a Front Bottoms festival, but have now missed twice (and whose album is very good).

A few minutes later, amid loud (and accurate) grumbling about how hot it was, Chase Petra took the stage. (more…)

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Cheekface (The Ukie Club, Philadelphia, PA, March 26, 2023)

Posted in Cheekface, Philadelphia, PA, Sad Park, The Ukie Club, Ukrainian American Citizens' Association on March 27, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 26, 2023] Cheekface

I first heard of Cheekface about a month ago.  I’m not even sure what made me check them out, but as soon as I did, I knew I had to see them live.

Cheekface is America’s local band.  They are a trio comprised of Amanda Tannen on bass guitar, Greg Katz on vocals and guitar
and Mark Echo Edwards on drums.

Musically, they fill a niche that is often overlooked : witty lyrics delivered in a talk-sing way, choruses that are impossible not to sing along to, and razor sharp instrumentals with the bass taking more of a lead role than the guitar on a lot of songs (thanks Get Alternative).

Indeed, the rhythm section is outstanding, with Tannen generating a fantastic bass sound as she plays the interesting melodies and Edwards using all parts of his kit to create interesting sounds.  The songs also have lots of parts–so they jump from quieter to louder, slower to faster and back again.

But all eyes are on Greg Katz (who reminded me of Will Ferrell at his most charming).  He does, indeed deliver his lyrics (which are great) in a kind of speak/sing manner.  But it’s a bit more than a poetry recital to music, because Katz emotes a lot as he delivers lines like “Pledge Drive”‘s (more…)

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Sad Park (The Ukie Club, Philadelphia, PA, March 26, 2023) [CHEEKFACE]

Posted in Cheekface, Philadelphia, PA, Sad Park, The Ukie Club, Ukrainian American Citizens' Association on March 26, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 26, 2023] Sad Park

This was my first show at the Ukrainian American Citizens’ Association (The Ukie).

The show is in the basement bar–it felt like an improved First Unitarian Church (at least I enjoyed the space a lot more than the Church).  There’s free parking nearby.  Sadly there was no Ukrainian merch for sale–although there was plenty of Ukrainian beer!

I was a little sad to find out that Sad Park went on at 8:45 and not 8, as I got there just in time for 8.  I had done a lot of shifting of things all day so my legs were pretty beat.  Fortunately, I found a pole (not a Pole) that I could lean against.

And soon enough, the four guys from Sad Park came out on stage.

Vocalist/guitarist Graham Steele was front and center, bassist Sam Morton was in front of me and drummer Grant Bubar was in the back.  Second guitarist Aidan Memory (possibly not a full member of the band?) was the only one with a brighter light shining on him, which accentuated the bleach in his hair.

Memory was the most fun guy to watch as he jumped around and thrashed his guitar and was generally having a great time.  His guitar playing was pretty great too.

I was also really impressed with Morton’s basslines.  He wasn’t content to ape the guitar or just play the low end–there were plenty of runs that moved up the neck.

Bubar was loud and thrashing–but also handled the time changes with ease.

Steele was great fun to watch.  He emoted as he sang his lyrics of despair (sometimes) and comedy (sometimes).  He also had a great scream/growl that he busted out from time to time.

Their songs were really catchy with a fantastic energy.  But they also knew how to play quietly–usually in aid of setting up for the heavier stuff to come.  There was one moment when a guy up front lit an actual lighter (!) for a quiet moment.

There was another guy in the middle of the crowd who knew the words to every song I hope they saw him).

I thought they were great and I’m passing their name around for a (newish) band for young emo punks to enjoy.

 

2023
I Should ≠
Feel Like Shit ♦
unknown (“Such a good time, such a bad time, such a short time” “Don’t’ wanna leave you without saying thanks”)
Tragically Young ⊗
Nothing Ever
Awake ≠
No Name §
OMW ◊
unknown  (“After it’s all over” ” waiting, watching” “leaning on each other I know we’ll be okay”)
Alone ⊗
In My Head ⊗
End. ⊗

◊ OMW single (2022)
≠ It’s All Over (2021)
⊗ Sleep (2018)
♦ Feel Like Shit single (2018)
§ Sad Park (2016)

 

 

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