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Archive for the ‘Underground Arts’ Category

Deap Vally (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, February 16, 2024)

Posted in Deap Vally, Philadelphia, PA, Sloppy Jane, Underground Arts on February 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: February 16, 2024] Deap Vally

My wife and I saw Deap Vally open for Garbage and Blondie back in 2017.  Here’s how I summed them up seven years ago

So Deap Vally is a duo: Lindsey Troy (guitar, vocals) and Julie Edwards (drums and vocals).  And as with many duos these days, they are able to get a huge sound out of just a guitar and drums (even during the guitar solo which can often leave a big sound feeling a bit empty).

We enjoyed their brief but loud set.  And I kind of forgot about them.  They did a project with The Flaming Lips (Deap Lips) which I knew of but have never heard.

And then a few months ago, they announced that their project as Deap Vally was coming to an end and they were going to go on their final tour.  I had enjoyed their set and thought it would be fun to see them one more time.

They were playing their album Sistrionix in full.  It also turns out that they re-recorded the album recently because their record label had the rights to it and they wanted a new version (hence 2.0).

The premise of the band is pretty simple–simple bluesy heavy rock–a few chords and occasional riff and lots of fuzz and drum.  It works pretty well, although to be honest a headlining show is a little samey.

I wonder if they weren’t playing the album straight through if there would be a bit more variety in the set.

Which is not to say that the show was bad.  None of their songs are very long and so none overstay their welcome.  Lindsey clearly has a lot of fun up there, but I feel like she might enjoy a little more freedom to walk around or, as she does from time to time, jam over by the drum kit.  But most of the songs are pretty short and there’s not a lot of jamming time.

I enjoyed the set quite a lot especially with the addition of Smashley Williams on backing vocals.  She stood in the back and kind of danced and sang from time to time and she was a fun addition. (more…)

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The Dead Milkmen / Flag of Democracy / YDI (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, February 17, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Flag of Democracy, FOD, Philadelphia, PA, The Dead Milkmen, Underground Arts, YDI on February 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: February 17, 2024] Dead Milkmen / Flag of Democracy / YDI

I‘ve been a fan of The Dead Milkmen for over 30 years and have never seen them live.  I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see them in their reunion days, because I didn’t know if they’d play anything old.  But I have been trying to see them now since 2022–this was my third show that I was aware of, although I know they’ve done a number of Philly shows since 2017.

The last few times I had tickets something came up but this time I was determined to go.

And then something came up.

I was selling a car and when someone came to buy it, it wouldn’t start.  And then it seemed like it was out of gas.  And then somehow the keys got locked in the car.  It was hours long and really cold.  And when it was done I just wanted to take a nap, not go to a punk show.  So I stayed home.

But it was okay because I had a ticket for tomorrow night’s show as well (just in case).

I was intrigued to see F.O.D. who I literally only know about from the Dead Milkmen song Nutrition.

And I’d never heard of YDI.  But they have a pretty fascinating history.  Which will be included in the review of their show.

 

 

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Sloppy Jane (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, February 16, 2024) [DEAP VALLY]

Posted in Deap Vally, Philadelphia, PA, Phoebe Bridgers, Sloppy Jane, Underground Arts on February 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: February 16, 2024] Sloppy Jane

I was vaguely aware of Sloppy Jane before this show was announced. I didn’t realize that Phoebe Bridgers was in the band a long time ago.  I certainly didn’t know that they were a theatrical practically avant-garde sorta punk band with a front woman who was amazing.

Haley Dahl leads this band of fascinating musicians which includes a cello (Daniel Hass) two viola (one may be a violin) Ruby Wang and Isabella Bustanoby who also plays bass.

There’s also Lily Reszi Rothman on keys and flute.  Mostly hidden from my view was a drummer whose name is Kim (I couldn’t hear the last name) and a guitarist whose name is, I believe Ryan Howe.

The show began with an instrumental Overture–Haley conducted the strings and keys with some crazily wild moves, including jumping in the air.

The strings segued after some five minutes (and since I didn’t know what to expect, I thought maybe it was all like this) into “Party Anthem,” a quiet song that builds into a catchy song with lots of great backing vocals that turns into a really fun song with a lengthy “la la la” melody that everyone sang.

The song segued into the piano ballad which features the line “I pledge allegiance to Jesus and Your Living Room Floor.”  This mellow song segued into another mellow song, although this one was far from chill.  A classic murder ballad, “Judy’s Bedroom”

You cleaned the dirt from your shoes
Out of Judy Bruce’s bedroom
The gesture did not get you very far
Because when they found her dead
In the foldings of her dress there was
Fibers from the lining of your car

All with a very upbeat “la la la” section. (more…)

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Dogstar / Archer Oh (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, December 14, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Archer Oh, Dogstar, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts on December 14, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: December 14, 2023] Dogstar / Archer Oh

I toyed with the idea of going  to this show, probably for the same reason that a lot of other people did.

To see Keanu Reeves!

I can’t decide if I like Keanu ironically or not, but it’s still pretty wild to think that a celebrity of his star power could have been just a few feet from me.

I genuinely had no idea what Dogstar sounded like.   So here’s the blurb from Underground Arts (more…)

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GZA & The Phunky Nomads / Rebelmatic (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, November 29, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Rebelmatic, Underground Arts on November 29, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: November 29, 2023] GZA & The Phunky Nomads / Rebelmatic

I saw a poster for GZA playing Underground Arts and I was kind of surprised that he wouldn’t play a larger venue.  But I don’t know much about the individual Wu-Tang members, so I shouldn’t guess at how successful they are.

I wasn’t planning on going to this show, but when I heard that he was touring with Fishbone (although not here) I checked out this show a little more.

Turns out Rebelmatic is an amazing band.  I hadn’t heard of them, but listened to a few songs and  they are great.  This blurb is pretty spot on

Style Weekly recently asked the legendary HR of Bad Brains if there were any bands out today that reminded him of the Brains. “There’s a group called Rebelmatic,” was his response. 
 Certainly high praise for a band that recently came off tour with Fishbone’s Angelo Moore. “Rebelmatic brings out the automatic rebel in you,” Moore stated of his tour mates. 
 Rockers, Rebelmatic have been racking up a large number of legendary live performances, most recently packing out Webster Hall with indie darling Kool A.D. (Das Racist).

I’m still not going to this show, but I will definitely keep an eye our for Rebelmatic in the future.

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GZA / Fishbone / Beau Young Prince / Crazy and the Brains (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, November 18, 2023) [CANCELLED]

Posted in Beau Young Prince, Cancelled, Crazy & the Brains, Fishbone, GZA, Jersey City, NJ, Philadelphia, PA, Rebelmatic, Thurston Moore, Underground Arts, White Eagle Hall on November 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[CANCELLED: November 18, 2023] GZA / Fishbone / Beau Young Prince / Crazy and the Brains

This About a month ago I saw a message that Fishbone was playing White Eagle Hall.  I had seen them earlier this summer for the first time and absolutely wanted to see them again–headlining!

But this show was scheduled for a day that we had family plans.  So I knew I couldn’t go.

When I looked up the show recently, I saw that it was cancelled.  I also saw that maybe this show was opening for GZA?  Weird that the WEH page mentioned Fishbone and not GZA.

And of course GZA is part of the Wu-Tang Clan although I don’t know much about him individually.

But it turns out that this leg of the tour has just been cancelled.

Most apologetically, due to unavoidable circumstances, we are forced to postpone the upcoming GZA/Fishbone Truth and Swords shows to Spring 2024.
Rest assured tickets purchased will be honored for the rescheduled date. If you would like to receive a refund, you will be able to do so at place of purchase.
We apologize for doing this at the 11th hour with the tour beginning
in Silver Spring, MD Monday.
Both GZA and Fishbone only want to bring the best show to all of you
and plan on doing so in Spring 2024.

Except that GZA is supposed to play Underground Arts in a week or so (which isn’t on the poster) and the opening band is Rebelmatic, who I’d not heard of, but apparently I should have: (more…)

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Mass of the Fermenting Dregs [マス オブ ザ ファーメンティング ドレッグス] (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, November 17, 2023)

Posted in マス オブ ザ ファーメンティング ドレッグス, Cam Kahin, Mass of the Fermenting Dregs, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts on November 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: November 17, 2023] Mass of the Fermenting Dregs

I found out about Mass of the Fermenting Dregs when I saw a big announcement that the band had sold out the Kung Fu Necktie and the show was being moved to Underground Arts.  They sold out KFN in a couple of weeks.  I checked them out and, discovered that despite their name, they are not a hardcore/noise band.  Indeed, they are super poppy and delightful.

Their own bio says

MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS is a Japanese alternative rock band formed in Kobe City, Japan. In 2007, they won the best artist of EMI Music Japan’s new comer audition and recorded their songs with Dave Fridman at Tarbox road Studio in USA. After they released their 1st album in 2008, they rapidly climbed the alternative-rock ladder in Japan. The band once paused their activities in 2012 then reunion in 2017. The current lineup consists of Natsuko Miyamoto (Vocal & Bass) , Naoya Ogura (Guitar & Backing vocal) and Isao Yoshino (Drums & Backing vocal). Known for their energetic, hair-flailing live shows and melodic, guitar driven pop sound, they are still one of the most exciting and attracted act in Japan.

In Japanese their name is Masu obu za Fāmentingu Doreggusus so the band’s name is shortened to Masu Dore–although I didn’t hear anyone call them that.

I mean, how to pass this up.  This was, as I understand it, their first time playing Philadelphia.  And the crowd was there in full support.

I arrived a little before the opening band went on and the place was PACKED (this almost never happens).  I couldn’t get as close as I wanted to, which was a real shame.

Bu after a few songs, when the full on pit started up, I was pushed far away anyhow, so I guess it doesn’t really matter.

What I enjoyed about this show was that fans were shouting things to them in Japanese and they were answering in Japanese.  No idea what was being said, but it was so cool to overhear. (more…)

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Cam Kahin (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, November 17, 2023)[MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS]

Posted in Cam Kahin, Mass of the Fermenting Dregs, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts on November 17, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: November 17, 2023] Cam Kahin

Cam Kahin is a twenty something Torontonian who, at this show at least, looked a lot like Phil Lynott (mustache included).

It sounded like the band he had with him was a touring band, but they were in pretty great synchronicity–with both the bassist and guitarist seeming very excited to be playing.

His songs were catchy and leaned toward the heavy end of alt rock.  With songs like “Wat Are You Waiting For” having pauses for heavy guitars to punctuate the choruses.  Although some of the songs started off quietly while he softly sang lyrics like

Take my phone
Throw it down the river
Take my smokes
Flush ’em down the drain

He spent most of the time between the songs trying to get the crowd to start moving.  I have to admit that I didn’t think Mass of the Fermenting Dregs were all that mosh-based, so I didn’t really think the opening band would get that kind of response either,  But there was a small section of the crowd who were bouncing enough for their liking–the group received several shout outs.

I enjoyed the simple repetition of the chorus of “in around” which reminded me of old punk songs in style (but not sound).

Nothing in the song was stand-out original, but his use of older ideas was cool.  Like the simple echoed three note riff (and then later a repeated two-note riff) in “try again.”  Super catchy.

“Queen St.” mellowed things out a bit with a kind of rapping delivery.  Although there was some great crowd interaction with our helping out on the “oh-oh” during the chorus.

Then he asked if it was okay if the final two songs were much heavier.  And yes, of course it was.  He introduced “birds” and was probably confused as to why everyone shouted “go birds” at him.  That song and the absolutely blistering “nicotine” ended his set on a high, heavy note as the songs crashed through the crowd.  The lead guitarist also jumped into the crowd (after, I assume, telling Cam that’s what he was going to do).

I didn’t know Kahin before this show, but it was a great set and his music still resonates.

  1. Junky ⇓
  2. compass ⊕
  3. what are you waiting for ⊕
  4. in, around ⊕
  5. try again ⊕
  6. queen st ⇓
  7. birds ⊕
  8. nicotine ⊕

⊕ When It’s All Over (2023)
⇓ Let It Sink In (2022)

 

MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS is a Japanese alternative rock band formed in Kobe City, Japan. In 2007, they won the best artist of EMI Music Japan’s new comer audition and recorded their songs with Dave Fridman at Tarbox road Studio in USA. After they released their 1st album in 2008, they rapidly climbed the alternative-rock ladder in Japan. The band once paused their activities in 2012 then reunion in 2017. The current lineup consists of Natsuko Miyamoto (Vocal & Bass) , Naoya Ogura (Guitar & Backing vocal) and Isao Yoshino (Drums & Backing vocal). Known for their energetic, hair-flailing live shows and melodic, guitar driven pop sound, they are still one of the most exciting and attracted act in Japan.

Cam Kahin

As a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, Cam has been pouring out his own experiences and emotions into his music. Cam has been playing music since he was 12 years old and has been developing his skill set ever since. His music leans toward an experimental/alternative-rock sound, from which he says is due to his upbringing listening to bands such as Radiohead, Cage the Elephants, and Biffy Clyro.

 

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Yard Act (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, November 5, 2023)

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, PVA, Underground Arts, Yard Act on November 7, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: November 5, 2023] Yard Act 

I had tickets to see Yard Act last year.  I bought the ticket mostly because I wanted to see the opening band, Gustaf, whom I had recently seen and really liked.

That show was cancelled at the last minute because Yard Act was called back home to do a live TV appearance for the Mercury Prize (surely a lot more lucrative than playing a gig at Underground Arts).

When this new tour was announced I decided to give them a go.  They are very British (being from Leeds).  On record, “singer” James Smith mostly rants and speaks angrily.  His lyrics are placed over some very cool guitars from Sam Shipstone and some really grooving bass from Ryan Needham.  Drummer Jay Russell keeps things together.

For this live show they had a keyboardist/saxophonist who seemed to allow Shipstone to go even more berserk.

I really had no idea that Shipstone would be playing the kind of noisy, feedback drenched sounds he did.  Which is not to say that he was not playing melody because he was, but as the rest of the band took over a song, he was just wild on the far side of the stage.  I was a little annoyed that I couldn’t see him well.  The woman in front of me was dancing and taking up a lot of real estate so I couldn’t lean in around the guy next to me.

Needham’s bass had a great sound and was often the only thing holding the melody down while Shipstone went nuts.  He also provided backing vocals.

But the focus of the show is clearly James Smith.  And the best part of the show is that he doesn’t casually recite his lyrics.  He is a non-stop machine of gestures and quips, singing and screaming lyrics.  Whispering and delaying satisfaction.  He has the entire audience in his hands and he is not afraid to make then do what he wants.  It was amazing to watch.

He was also quite taken with Philadelphia (he apologized that they missed last year’s show…but they had other commitments).  There was even a point where he shouted I love Philly!  And then fell to he knees shouting “And I’m not just saying that!”  He also said if he HAD to move to the States, he’d want to live in Philly.

So I’d listened to the album a couple of times and knew what the band was about, but I didn’t know any of the songs really.

Really, it’s the lyrics though, that keep you coming back, even if they are spoken like in “Dead Horse:” (more…)

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PVA (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, November 5, 2023) [YARD ACT]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, PVA, Underground Arts, Yard Act on November 6, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: November 5, 2023] PVA

I had not hear of PVA before this set.  I listened to one song before the show and liked it.  Then I read this blurb

South London trio PVA’s stunning debut BLUSH consolidates the beating pulse of electronic music with the raw energy of a life-affirming gig and reveals more than they’ve ever shared before. Ella Harris & Josh Baxter (who share vocals, synths, guitars & production) and drummer Louis Satchell, create 11 blistering tracks from a formula of acid, disco, synths, the dancefloor & queer-coded post-punk.

PVA was sitting on the stage when I walked in.  They were still doing sound check and looked pretty bored.  I think they got their set started a little late because of this.  I say this especially because thy played two fewer songs at our show than the previous night’s show and the audience was really responsive to them.

The woman in front of me, who I picked to stand behind because she was fairly short, turned out to be a dancer.  Which is fine.  Except that she took up about four people’s space when she danced.  She moved a lot, so I couldn’t get anywhere close to where I thought I’d be standing.  She also did that very irritating thing that young women do of stacking one hand up in the air randomly.  So, she was annoying but not terrible. (more…)

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