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Archive for the ‘Underground Arts’ Category

Destroyer / Rosali (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, May 6, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Dan Bejar, Destroyer, Philadelphia, PA, Rosali, Underground Arts on May 6, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 6, 2020] Destroyer / Rosali

It was just over two years ago that Destroyer was the last show I saw before the pandemic shut everything down.  So, Destroyer will always have a warm place in my heart because of that.  When this show was announced, I immediately bought tickets for it.

Then, over the next few weeks, SIX other shows were posted for that very same night.  Gogol Bordello, Sunflower Bean, Olivia Rodrigo (which sold out long before I could get a ticket), Lucius and Pup (which my son and I went to).

Pup was a big hit in my house and so we decided to go to that one.

I’m sure Dan and his team will be back for another tour in the not too distant future.

I saw Rosali open for Graham Coxon.

Here’s what I had to say about her in 2018

She is a Philadelphia-based singer songwriter with two albums out (her last album got some pretty glowing reviews).

She has a lovely voice which reminded me of Aimee Mann.  …  But the problem was that there were no hooks in her songs.

She also had very little stage presence.  She stated as much, confessing that stage banter wasn’t her thing.  No kidding.  One time she asked if anyone watched the news today, after some mild boos, she didn’t follow it up.  Every other time that she tuned, she was basically quiet.  In fact, she never said her name, the most basic thing you do when tuning your guitar.

The other problem was her guitar.  She was playing an electric guitar and was primarily playing slowly, picked notes.  But the settings of this guitar–so clean and sharp–were not helping with her voice at all, which was pretty and rather quiet.

She needed either some echo or vibrato or even an acoustic guitar to let the music resonate more.  She made a number of chord flubs which is no big deal but which really stood out since she was by herself and her guitar was so unforgiving.

I hope that her stage show has gotten better in the last four years, because I did really like her voice.

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Psychedelic Porn Crumpets / Acid Dad (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, May 5, 2022) [POSTPONED]

Posted in Acid Dad, Philadelphia, PA, Postponed, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Underground Arts on May 5, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: May 5, 2022] Psychedelic Porn Crumpets / Acid Dad [postponed to October 21, 2022]

I’m not exactly sure how I discovered Psychedelic Porn Crumpets.  They are an Australian band and they are weird and pretty wonderful.

I have been really getting into them and Acid Dad (thanks to the Levitation live shows.

Sadly, but only mildly sadly, I received an email on March 30:

Due to circumstances both unforeseen and beyond our control, the Psychedelic Porn Crumpets show at Underground Arts originally scheduled for May 5, 2022, has been Rescheduled to Friday, October 21st, 2022.

No big deal, they’ll be just a great in the fall as they would be in the spring.

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Nilüfer Yanya / Tasha / Ada Lea (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, May 4, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Ada Lea, Nilüfer Yanya, Philadelphia, PA, Tasha, Underground Arts on May 4, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 4, 2022] Nilüfer Yanya / Tasha / Ada Lea

I saw Nilüfer Yanya back in 2019.  She opened for Sharon Van Etten.  For some reason I keep thinking that she was the headliner for that show.  Which I guess is why I thought it was strange that she was downsizing to Underground Arts.  But she’s now headlining with this tour.

This had been a very busy concert time for me, so I didn’t buy a ticket for this show right away.

Then my Spoon show which had been postponed in April was rescheduled for this same date.  So I was glad I hadn’t bought the ticket yet.

I have rather enjoyed her new album though and would like to see her again.  I’m sure she’s become even more dynamic of a performer.

Tasha (I have to say that there are far too many one-named people with just a first name.  Why do you think that’s okay?  How are people supposed to find you?) is a singer from Chicago.  She has a lovely voice and sings a blend of folk and torch song.  She’d be a great addition to Yanya’s show

Ada Lea (not a one-name singer, as her name is Alexandra Levy) is a Canadian singer who plays slightly up-tempo folk.  She sings a bit like Andy Shauf–what’s up with this style being so prominent?

I’m rather taken with her bio’s blurb about her record:

classic, soft-rock beauty to intimate finger-picked folk passages and night-drive art-pop. And the textures are frequently surprising due to the collage of lo-fi and hi-fi sounds that tastefully decorate the album without ever clouding the heart-center of the song.

I’ve really enjoyed what I heard from her so far–it’s quiet moody and interesting.  I bet she’s great live.

For ease of searching I include: Nilufer Yanya

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Behemoth (The Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, April 29, 2022)

Posted in Arch Enemy, Behemoth, Napalm Death, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts, Unto Others on May 2, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: April 29, 2022] Behemoth

Behemoth is a Polish extreme metal band.  I’ve never been to an extreme metal show before and figure it would be fun (I guess) to see one.

Behemoth have been around for over twenty years and have stirred up their share of controversy.  As NME wrote: Singer Nergal was prosecuted for blasphemy a decade ago for ripping up a bible on stage, but he argued his right to free speech and won the case, having to neither draw pentagrams in salt nor shed the blood of any lambs in the process.

NME also notes: When he is not onstage, he hosted the Polish version of Pop Idol, he runs a chain of barbershops and is a qualified museum curator.

I had heard that Behemoth live shows were legendary.  So I waited to see what would come next.

There were three sculpted microphone stands on the stage and a giant drum set in the back.  There was a sculpture behind the drum riser and lots of pyro.

Then the band came out in corpse paint looking ominous and intense.

The music started.  It was relentless and powerful and the crowd went berserk.  There were clearly long-time fans who knew the words to all the songs.  There was a massive pit in the center of the room.  But mostly there was the band.

Lead singer and guitarist Nergal was in the middle, conducting the whole thing.  Behind him was long time drummer Inferno.

We were in front of bassist Orion and on the other side was a behemoth of a guitarist Seth.

At some point Nergal changed outfits and was wearing a Pope hat.  Orion spit blood in the air and at the audience.  Seth stomped all around the stage and Inferno blasted the hell out of his drums.

It was intense and exhausting (especially after three other bands).  I was pretty wiped out by the end of the show and decided that I probably didn’t need to see any more extreme metal bands.

Behemoth had destroyed them all.

  1. Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer §
  2. Wolves ov Siberia ♥
  3. Ov Fire and the Void €
  4. Evoe Δ
  5. Christians to the Lions ¢
  6. Bartzabel ♥
  7. Conquer All δ
  8. Ov My Herculean Exile Ø
  9. Decade of Therion ¥
  10. Slaves Shall Serve δ
  11. Chant for Eschaton 2000 ¥
  12. O Father O Satan O Sun! §

Ø Opvs Contra Natvram (2022)
Δ A Forest EP (2020)
♥ I Loved You at Your Darkest (2018)
§ The Satanist (2014)
€ Evangelion (2009)
δ Demigod (2004)
¢ Thelema.6 (2000)
¥ Satanica (1999)

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Ho99o9 / N8NOFACE / GHÖSH (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, May 2, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in GHÖSH, Ho99o9, N8NOFACE, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts on May 2, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: March 18, 2023] Ho99o9 / N8NOFACE / GHÖSH

I was not really familiar with Ho99o9 when this show was announced.  I looked them up and decided that although their sets are probably pretty awesome, that this show might be a little too much for me.

As one review says

The destruction really started a few songs in during ‘Street Power’ and new song ‘Forest Fires’ off their latest EP Cyber Cop, the distorted drums and deafening bass shook the room as the duo bounced around the stage like human bouncy balls, just before Eaddy took a first class flight off the stage; jumping on top of the awaiting audience, before climbing back on to the stage to finish up.

….

Tonight’s show was the definition of insanity, bodies flying all around the room, mosh pits opening up anywhere there was available space; Ho99o9 have been able to secure some of the most dedicated and passionate fans in the scene, no matter where they play no doubt there will be fans there to listen!

In a small place like Underground Arts, it might have been overwhelming. (more…)

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Arch Enemy (The Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, April 29, 2022) [BEHEMOTH]

Posted in Arch Enemy, Behemoth, Napalm Death, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts, Unto Others on May 1, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: April 29, 2022] Arch Enemy

I wasn’t really familiar with Arch Enemy.  I knew of them, but I wasn’t aware that they have had two female singers who can growl with the best of them.

The band is based in Sweden, but Angela Gossow–a legend among fans–was a German screamer who sang with the band for 14 years.  When she retired, Gossow recommended Alissa White-Gluz from Canadian metal band The Agonist as her replacement, and remained business manager for the band.

So I got to see White-Gluz in all fo her blue-haired glory.

She held the entire audience rapt.  Between her soaring voice and her guttural growls, it was hard to take your eyes off of her.  Which I suppose the band is used to, but it is their band too, you know?

The music was heavy.  Solid, old school metal with some modern flourishes.

Alissa was lead singer on two albums, but they played music from throughout their catalog.

The most notable thing for me, though, was that a Dad had brought his little girl (I think she was six), and she got up to the front (with big noise cancelling headphones on) and Alissa saw her and waved and later on gave her a setlist.  Sweet.

It’s possible that Arch Enemy is the more popular of the two band (I believe they alternated headline acts), but it would be hard to follow Behemoth’s stage show, even with a highly polished and rocking show like Arch Enemy’s.

  1. Set Flame to the Night [taped entrance]
  2. Deceiver, Deceiver ⊗
  3. The World Is Yours
  4. Ravenous §
  5. War Eternal ψ
  6. My Apocalypse ™
  7. House of Mirrors ⊗
  8. The Eagle Flies Alone
  9. Under Black Flags We March £
  10. Dead Bury Their Dead §
  11. Nemesis ™
  12. Fields of Desolation €
  13. Enter the Machine [taped exit] ™

⊗ Deceivers (2022)
¶ Will to Power (2017)
ψ War Eternal (2014)
£ Khaos Legions (2011)
™ Doomsday Machine (2005)
§ Wages of Sin (2001)
€ Black Earth (1996)

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Napalm Death (The Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, April 29, 2022) [BEHEMOTH]

Posted in Arch Enemy, Behemoth, Napalm Death, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts, Unto Others on April 30, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: April 29, 2022] Napalm Death

Napalm Death are legends.  They have been around since 1981 although formed a solid lineup in 1987.  Although their Wikipedia page lists 18 former members, the lineup I saw was almost has been with the band since at least 1991.

Current members Shane Embury – bass, backing vocals (1987–present) Mitch Harris – guitars, backing vocals (1990–present) Danny Herrera – drums (1991–present) Mark “Barney” Greenway – lead vocals (1989–1996, 1997–present).

That’s pretty impressive for a grindcore band whose first album contained songs that were almost all under two minutes long. (more…)

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Typhoon / Carm / The Ophelias (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, April 30, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in CARM, Philadelphia, PA, The Ophelias, Typhoon, Underground Arts on April 30, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 30, 2022] Typhoon / Carm / The Ophelias

I saw Typhoon back in 2018 and  the show was amazing.  They were so good live, that I knew I’d want to see them again.  Although actually, playing Underground Arts seemed like too small of a stage for their show (I saw them at Union Transfer last time).

Their brand of orchestral rock is really powerful and moving.  It’s interesting how much singer Kyle Morton sounds like Andy Shauf–that same kind of almost marble mouthed delivery that IU don’t quite understand but kind of makes you lean in to hear.

I was pretty excited to see them again, but then I found out that Born Ruffians, a Canadian band that I really like was playing Johnny Brenda’s the same night.  So I opted to see the band that I’d never seen rather than the one I’d seen before.

I hadn’t heard of Carm.  (more…)

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Unto Others (The Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, April 29, 2022) [BEHEMOTH]

Posted in Arch Enemy, Behemoth, Napalm Death, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts, Unto Others on April 29, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: April 29, 2022] Unto Others

Despite having tickets to see Girl Talk, I decided I’d go see this North American Siege of 2022.  I’ve been intrigued by Behemoth for quite a while.  The are an extreme metal band from Poland who sing of the occult and thelemic ideas.  But they are known mainly for their intense live show.

I haven’t really ever been to a show like this and it seemed worth a visit.

I arrived absurdly early.  I think doors opened at 6 and I arrived at 6:15 or something.  And there was hardly anyone there.  The guy at the bar said it sold poorly. (more…)

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Altin Gün / Sessa (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, April 29, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Altin Gün, Philadelphia, PA, Sessa, Underground Arts on April 29, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 29, 2022] Altin Gün / Sessa

Altin Gün sounds like the kind of band I would love–a Turkish psychedelic band from The Netherlands.  (Their name means Golden Day).

Their live shows are supposed to be wonderful as well:

Altin Gün’s relentless grooves are truly immersive, anti-elitist, inclusive. It’s truly music for the dancefloor – all dancefloors. Altin Gün are the perfect 21st Century psych band, hinting at a deep record collection while still belonging to a living tradition and having a unique and distinctive voice
[from Forestpunk].

But when I listened to them I just couldn’t quite get into it.  Possibly because I knew I was so overbooked that night I didn’t want to have yet another band I was dying to see.

Sessa is a Portuguese musician whose record label says “a songwriter …. blessed with a flair for the intimate, the enigmatic, and the licentious. Sessa’s songs are sung in Portuguese, with visceral, sensual lyrics, and melodic flourishes.”  He seems more mellow than Altin Gün but I could see people on the dancefloor for both.

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