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Archive for the ‘Underground Arts’ Category

Baroness (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, March 6, 2026)

Posted in Baroness, Blood Vulture, Commitment, John Baizley, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts on March 8, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 6, 2026] Baroness

I have seen Baroness twice before this show.  The first was an acoustic record release show at a Record Store.  The second was at a sold out Kung Fu Necktie in which I couldn’t see anything because of where I was.  So I felt I hadn’t really seen them.

I really wanted to see their Red and Blue tour (where they played both of those albums), but it sold out before I got a ticket.  So this was my chance.  It turned out that they were playing the following night at Starland Ballroom, but they were OPENING for Acid Bath, who I’d never heard of. Crazy.

But here they were headlining.  It feels like the band is really John Baizley (they only person who has been with the band from the start) and new(ish) lead guitarist and amazing shredder Gina Gleeson.  I had thought that the bassist and drummer were kind of new to the band, but Nick Jost has been bassist and Sebastian Thomson has been drummer since 2013–so, they’re long time fixtures for sure. (more…)

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Commitment (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, March 6, 2026) [BARONESS]

Posted in Baroness, Blood Vulture, Commitment, John Baizley, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts on March 7, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 6, 2026] Commitment

I listened to Commitment just before the show and was blown away by the band’s old school hardcore punk sound.  And that the singer was a woman (not all that common in hardcore).  The woman is Tati Salazar who can scream with an unparalleled fury.   I noticed that the guitarist from Soul Glo was standing in the back of the stage, and that made even more sense when I found out that the drummer is Soul Glo vocalist Pierce Jordan.  And he is a beast on the drums!  Holy cow he is fast and loud.

Guitarist Jake Smith (of Eye Flys, who I do not know) was on the far side of the stage and bassist Zach Bailey, was in front of me.  Bailey was fascinating to watch because his bass work was excellent, but he did not fit the part–he looked a little like Peter Parker in the early Spiderman movies.  He also wore a black latex glove on his left hand–how did it not get ripped on the strings that he was sliding all over?  The last time I saw someone wearing those gloves on stage was also at UA when Damien from Fucked Up said that he had cut his hand and the glove was for protection.  If Bailey cut his hand, it didn’t impact his playing at all.

The band came out and exploded all over the stage.  It was no-frills hardcore punk with almost no song reaching the two-minute mark (except for one longer song).  Now, I couldn’t understand a lot of what Tati was singing, but her energy and intensity made it pretty clear what the songs were generally about. (more…)

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Aterciopelados / Laura Lizcano (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, March 7, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Aterciopelados, Laura Lizcano, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts on March 7, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: March 7, 2026] Aterciopelados / Laura Lizcano

Back in the 90s I was a fan of Aterciopelados.  They never really made it onto my radar in the 2000s but I was really pleased to see that they were still together and touring.  I would have liked to go to this show but we had tickets to see DakhaBrakha already and I really wanted to see them.  Their sound has changed over the years but they retain Colombian styles as they shoft from more rocking sounds to their more recent poppy sounds.

Laura Lizcano is a Colombian singer who lives in New York now.   She combines Latin American musical traditions and indie alternative music. Her songs shine in both English and Spanish with deeply personal and confessional storytelling enhanced by a telenovela-like drama.  She has a lovely voice 

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Blood Vulture (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, March 6, 2026) [BARONESS]

Posted in Baroness, Blood Vulture, Commitment, John Baizley, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts on March 6, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 6, 2026] Blood Vulture

I had not heard of Blood Vulture before this show was announced.  I listened to their record and was kind of surprised at just how much they sounded like Alice in Chains.  Singer Jordan Olds sounded quite a lot like Layne Staley, almost shockingly so.  It’s possible that it was a combination of his voice and the backing vocalist(s) who really made this comparison, but it was unavoidable.  They are a bit heavier and groovier on record.  And live, the Alice in Chains delivery is pretty much gone.  But the energy remained.

I didn’t know anything about Blood Vulture or Jordan Olds who is also known as Gwarsenio Hall from his popular YouTube series, ‘Two Minutes to Late Night.”  During the Baroness set, John Baizley said that they had been on Jordan’s show a number of times.

I was initially turned off by Jordan because he did that thing where opening bands demand that people dance (and circle pit) to their music.  I’m not convinced that anyone can insist on a pit–they should form organically.  Anyhow, I didn’t love his attitude, but I quickly learned that he’s pretty funny and whatever these songs are about, he told us that each song was “about sucking blood!”

Their drummer was fantastic, and indeed, everyone in the band was great.  I loved the sound of the bass.  The lead guitarist played some great solos and they keyboardist sang great backing vocals too.  Although the recording was all done by Jordan, so there was no introduction of the band members. (more…)

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Dan Deacon (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, February 6, 2026)

Posted in Dan Deacon, Moon Bounce, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts on February 7, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: February 6, 2026] Dan Deacon 

I saw Dan Deacon three years ago and it was one of the most fun and uplifting shows I’d ever been to.  I knew I’d see him again and I planned to drag my wife along with me.  I knew that she wouldn’t really like the music, but I thought she’d really enjoy the experience.

After the last show I wrote

I would absolutely see him again, even if I need to wait another six years.

So it was almost 4 but it did take a while.

On the way to the show I told her that all of the things that I usually get mad at during a show don’t apply here.  People can talk, they can push, then can block my view.  It really doesn’t matter.  And, wherever we start it won’t be the same place when we’re done.

She seemed thankful for this primer and knew that this was going to be a very different show.

I had genuinely hoped that Dan would come out right after Moon Bounce was done (who starts a show at 9PM these days?).  Especially since Moon Bounce’s set was 30 minutes.  But he waited until 10.  Unlike last time, he had a live drummer, which was totally unexpected but a lot of fun.

He also took advantage of the venue’s video screen.  I thought he might project trippy images, but he explained that he had been meaning to make something but he didn’t.  So instead, he played a Phish show from Saratoga Springs.  It was so funny to see the guys from Phis playing behind him.  But he was thankful to them for putting out entire shows (2 hours) for free on line with no ads.

And then he started his music.  And it was loud.  I had intended to bring earplugs like always, but with the parking problem (and trying to find a reasonable spot) I forgot.  Dan’s music is repetitive and dancey.  He also sings and usually modulates his voice so that it’s insanely high pitched.  Which is bizarre but somehow even more fun. (more…)

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Moon Bounce (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, February 6, 2026) [DAN DEACON]

Posted in Dan Deacon, Moon Bounce, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts on February 6, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: February 6, 2026] Moon Bounce

Moon Bounce is an electronic musician.  He said he was originally from Philly then he moved to L.A. (don’t ever do it)and now he’s back in Philly.  He said he got his start because Dan Deacon turned him on to electronic music.

His set was thirty minutes and I enjoyed watching him.

He had all of his music on his laptop and he used various gear to pitch shift and modify the songs.  It was fun watching someone manipulate sounds in real time.  It was also fun seeing how well he knew his music (which duh, I know, but he would wave his hands in the air to the beats that were coming or angle his face when things slowed down).

His songs were catchy and he did sing (which I wasn’t expecting after the first few minutes of instrumentals).

It’s hard to really describe electronic music if you don’t know it that well.  There were beats and sounds.  He chose some cool sounds to go with the beats. At one point he looped an a capella sample from a rap album (which I can’t remember the name of).  The loop was one word repeated pretty quickly.  Then he slowed it down to match the beat of the next song.  “This is called a transition, it’s got to match 89 BPM, ok here we go.” (more…)

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Agriculture (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, January 24, 2026)

Posted in Agriculture, Knoll, Nina Ryser, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts on January 26, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: January 24, 2026] Agriculture

I saw Agriculture open for Boris just two months ago.  I enjoyed their set so much that I knew I’d see them again and two months was not too short of a time to wait.

Agriculture calls their music ecstatic black metal and that description, while slightly vague, is really spot on.  There is screaming and growling, speed and heaviness but also a lot of brightness and beauty.

They put out a new album last year and most of their Boris set was from that album.  The headline set added two more songs form that record and a few more older tracks.

First out was guitarist Richard Chowenhill who started playing one note really really fast.  I was standing right in front of him and I was really blown away by how fast he was picking the string.   The rest of the band came out and started Flea, which features bassist Leah Levinson reciting lyrics while guitarist Dan Meyer who still has a big beard screamed gutturally.  The fact the the song shifts gears midway through to a pleasant, uplifting voice while Leah sings gently only make the screams that she does shortly all the more crazy.

I loved watching drummer Kern Haug.  He has exceptional sideburns and he plays so fast and yet with such precision.  I’m surprised for the second time that he wore a button down shirt,  But I was less surprised to see him trying to stretch out his back mid set because holy cow what a workout.

But it was really amazing being in front of Chowenhill as he played these amazing solos. Whether he shredded furiously or was doing fascinating finger tapping while sliding up and down the neck, the speed and accuracy were mind blowing.

It was pretty bizarre about half way through the show a guy pushed his way up front and started “singing” along to Leah’s screamed vocals. He clearly knew the words and he did try to sound screamy but it was almost like have a translator next to me.  I let him get in front so he’s stop shouting in my ear. (more…)

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Knoll (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, January 24, 2026) [AGRICULTURE]

Posted in Agriculture, Knoll, Nina Ryser, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts on January 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: January 24, 2026] Knoll

I hadn’t heard of Knoll until my physical therapist said he knew them.  He said they put on an incredible show.  And since I already knew that Agriculture was incredible, I was doubly psyched.

So Knoll set up their gear.  They had an old-looking end table (I would guess like 100 years old, with all kinds of filigree–but probably not worth anything) and interesting gear on it. The table also had a little light on it.  And then I realized that there were four floor lamps around the stage.

And these lights were the only things that lit the stage!  And, most interesting of all, each band member had a step on plug (like we use for our Christmas lights) and turned their individual light on and off throughout the show.

All five members of the band were dressed in all black–button down shirts and black pants.  And the lead singer, James Eubanks, has his head shaved, (possibly his eyebrows), his fingernails shaped into points.  He looks like Nosferatu.

Before the show, he busied himself by making sure all of the lamps were plugged in.  And as soon as they were ready.

BOOM.

I was in front of guitarist Cameron Giarraputo.  He was like a machine with the speed and technical expertise he brought to these incredibly fast songs.  It was a wall of noise.  And then Eubanks stepped up front and an unholy demon jumped out of his mouth.

He growled, he shrieked, he made sounds that I didn’t think a human could make and… apparently… there were words associated with these sounds. (more…)

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Nina Ryser (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, January 24, 2026) [AGRICULTURE]

Posted in Agriculture, Knoll, Nina Ryser, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts on January 24, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: January 24, 2026] Nina Ryser

Nina Ryser is a member of Palberta (I love that name) whom I saw live a while back.  I saw Nina solo back in 2022.  She was opening for Tropical Fuck Storm.  And tonight she was opening for Agriculture.  That’s two really heavy bands who chose her to open.  She is something of a Philly DIY institution, but she plays offbeat synth songs that are not at all like the headliners.

Most of the songs were built around a beat and a simple chord pattern.  There was a droney component to it and Nina’s vocals were kind of deadpan.  With her was Luke Knapp, on bass and other synthy sounds.

There were some good bass lines and fun synth sounds.  Nina tends to re-state her lyrics a bunch and the songs quickly become familiar (I’m not even sure if there are verses and choruses). (more…)

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Jens Lekman: Songs For Other People’s Weddings Tour / Yeemz (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, November 14, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Jens Lekman, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts, yeemz on November 14, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: November 14, 2025] Jens Lekman/ Yeemz

I have enjoyed Jens Lekman over the years. His Tiny Desk Concert is tremendous.  He was even the subject of a request in an episode of Every Little Thing, (a caller could not get a fragment of a song out of his head and it was one of Lekman’s).

But as the years go by and I listen to him less, I’ve lost interest in seeing him.  This show sounded interesting (he has, indeed, written songs for other people’s weddings.  And this show was basically playing the whole album and then a few bonus songs.

I hadn’t heard the new album at all, and just didn’t feel like going to this one.

yeemz (Yi-Mei Templeman) is a cellist, singer-songwriter, and composer based in Santa Monica, California. She blends musical worlds seamlessly, creating music that is intimate yet universal, intricate yet accessible. A lifelong songwriter, yeemz began composing at the piano, and later developed her signature style—singing while playing the cello like a guitar—after she couldn’t bring her ukulele to college.

She reminds me a bit of Regina Spektor and maybe Mitski in her delivery.  She has a pretty voice and seems to play mostly mellow piano songs.

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