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Archive for the ‘Union Transfer’ Category

Algernon Cadwallader / Eight / Lizdelise / (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, October 24, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Algernon Cadwallader, Big Nothing, Eight, Lizdelise , Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on October 24, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 24, 2022] Algernon Cadwallader / Sun Organ / Customer

Algernon Cadawaller is another show where I fell for the hype and then couldn’t go.

Since I couldn’t go to the Saturday show–King Gizzard–I could have tried to go to the Monday show.  However, I had been to a show on Friday and Saturday and had shows lined up for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of the next week.  Something had to give.

Eight is the recording project of Mimi Gallagher, based in Philadelphia. Delight in Eight is the debut record, assembled from recordings done at home and at the Bunk with a revolving door of friends — anchored by the core trio of Mimi Gallagher, Cat Park, and Pat Brier.

I listened to a few songs from the album and I really like it.  It has a Julian Hatfield (circa 1995) feel–gentle vocals over some good old fuzzy guitar rock.  I really liked them.

Lizdelise opened for NNAMDÏ / Ghösh in May and was described by NPR as

Liz de Lise is a singer, songwriter and guitarist who writes alternative folk songs with jazz influences. She creates lush soundscapes with acoustic and electric guitar, vocals and a loop pedal.

Big Nothing is from Philly and have a very open feel about them–like you can hear all of the strings on the acoustic guitar strumming.  The lead singer sounds a lot like Bob Mould.  I’d say this is more Mould solo than Sugar.  Perhaps a little too poppy, but could be fun live.

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Algernon Cadwallader / Sun Organ / Customer (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, October 22, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Algernon Cadwallader, Customer, Philadelphia, PA, Sun Organ, Union Transfer on October 22, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 22, 2022] Algernon Cadwallader / Sun Organ / Customer

Algernon Cadawaller is another show where I fell for the hype and then couldn’t go.

I hadn’t heard of the band but apparently they were legendary.  I wouldn’t have bought a ticket without listening to them, of course, but seeing that they were an emo/math rock band was enough to pique my interest.

So I grabbed a ticket before it sold out.  Only to discover that it was the same night as my King Gizzard show (and of course, King Gizzard wins that).  So I’ll never know if it was worth the hype.

Sun Organ is a kind of shambolic noise band from Philly.  The first two songs on their album Candlelight Showertime are kind of slow and ponderous (as if the vocals are slowed down) and I was about to give up on them, but the third and fourth songs are more interesting both in tempo and sonic construction.  I’m sure they’d be fun live.

Customer is a New York based post punk / power indie pop band.  They have two songs out and they’re both really good.  All of the members have been in other bands and I love the way Nicola Leel sings in a slightly out of sync way.  Cool stuff.

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The Black Angels (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, October 18, 2022)

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, The Black Angels, The Vacant Lots, Union Transfer on October 19, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 18, 2022] The Black Angels

The Black Angels are a psychedelic band from Austin, Texas.

I’ve known about them for about ten years.  Their music sounds pretty similar from album to album–fuzzy guitars, catchy riffs and Alex Maas’ recognizable haunting voice.

I Wasn’t really sure what to expect in a live show from them–I assumed some psychedelia.  So I was a little surprised at how stripped down their stage was.  There was a five panel screen and some vertical lights between them.  The l ights shone all different colors and patterns and set the tone of the stage.  The overhead lights were mostly there to add mood.

In other words, I could barely see anyone.  Which was kind of cool.  It created a dark ambiance and meant you focused more on the music than the band members.  The only person I could see with any real clarity was drummer Stephanie Bailey, who pounded the hell out of the drums.  The other three guys, Christian Bland, Jake Garcia and Ramiro Verdooren all played guitar or bass or keyboards.  There was so much switching around of instruments–even though both Bland and Garcia play left handed guitars!

I stood in front of Bland and it was really fun watching him solo and riff and make some really interesting sounds out of his pedals and amps.  He had a bicycle bell on his mic stand (the roadie rang he bell while setting it up), but he never used it in the set. (more…)

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The Vacant Lots (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, October 18, 2022) [THE BLACK ANGELS]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, The Black Angels, The Vacant Lots, Union Transfer on October 18, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 18, 2022] The Vacant Lots

The Vacant Lots are two guys from Brooklyn.  And wow are they loud.

The two guys are Jared Artaud who played guitar and sang and Brian MacFadyen who did pretty much everything else.  MacFayden stood at a keyboard rig and played keys and drum loops (I’m not exactly sure what was looped, as some of the songs were repetitive, but it was clear he was trigger some drum sounds live.  He also played a cymbal, which was a nice live touch and meant that he was never not busy.

The music was essentially electro, but Artaud’s live guitar added a layer of “live-ness” that elevated the whole affair.  As did Artaud’s whole vibe.  He had on big black boots, a fringed jacket and sunglasses.  He stood there playing Jesus and Mary Chain kind of drone guitar and it worked a treat. He also walked around a bit and added some feedback, really cementing the live feel.

But it was MacFayden’s rig that was so loud.  The drums were maxed out and echoing and I had earplugs in from the get go.

I slightly preferred the songs that MacFayden sang, but they weren’t radically different from each other.  I don’t think I’d listen to them as a studio band, but live they were pretty great.

 

  1. Departure (single)
  2. Never Satisfied ψ
  3. Consolation Prize ©
  4. Thank You ©
  5. Fracture ⇔
  6. 6 AM ψ
  7. Mad Mary Jones ψ

© Closure (2022)
⇔ Interzone (2020)
ψ Departure (2014)

 

 

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L7 / Downtown Boys (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, October 10, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Downtown Boys, L7, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on October 10, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 10, 2022] L7 / Downtown Boys

I really liked the Riot Grrl movement and the bands associated with it.  L7 weren’t really part of Riot Grrl although I’m sure some of their success was because they were women when Riot Grrl took off.

I enjoyed L7’s music although it didn’t quite gibe with the other music I liked at the time.  “Pretend We’re Dead” was quite a hit/  And I rather liked “Andres,” but when this thirtieth anniversary show was announced I couldn’t remember much else from them.

I was initially intrigued by this reunion tour, but realized I didn’t care enough to see them.

Downtown Boys have been around for about ten years and yet I didn’t know them.

They create fiery punk rock with a sharp political edge. Their lyrics challenge white hegemony, entitled bro culture, and more while the music offers a distinctive mix of buzzsaw guitars and saxophone.

I don’t like saxophone, so that kind of turns me off.  But they have the same energy as L7, and I think this is a great paring of bands.

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Cate Le Bon (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, October 6, 2022)

Posted in Cate Le Bon, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on October 7, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 6, 2022] Cate Le Bon

Cate Le Bon has been on the top of my “bands to see list” for a few years now.  I have tried to see her a bunch of times to no avail.  In 2019, I sold Phish tickets so that I could see her at Boot & Saddle, but i was too burnt out to go.  Then in 2020, she was supposed to play with Kurt Vile, but that got cancelled twice.  She was scheduled to play Philly for a benefit show, but I didn’t want to see her in that kind of setting.  So, although I guess it has not been that long that I’ve wanted to see her, but prior to 2019, the last time she’d played Philly was 2017, and I feel like I found out about her right around that time. 

Whatever the case, I’d heard her shows were amazing and was really looking forward to it.

I went into the show not knowing her music all that well.  I knew a few albums and had listened to Pompeii (the new album which I knew she was touring), but I expected to be blown away by the performance.

And I wasn’t.

The whole show was fine.  The band (Euan Hinshelwood on sax, keyboards and guitar; Toko Yasuda on bass; Dylan Hadley on drums; and Alex Morrison on keyboards and guitar) were all very good.  There was a little too much sax for my liking, although I did enjoy the way Hinshelwood distorted the sound so it sounded like a guitar at times.  Toko Yasuda on bass was the highlight for me.  Her bass sounded great–ever fluid, deep and rumbly and just a nice low comforting presence amid all the rest of the higher notes.

I enjoyed the stage set up with Cate on a slightly raised platform off to the side (although I had adjusted myself to perfectly see the center microphone and there was a larger guy now blocking my view of Cate).  She mostly played a day-glo orange guitar shape as a sort of pentagon.

I think what it comes down to is that I think that Cate is pretty weird.  And I expected this concert to be weird in a wonderful way.  And really, it was just fine.  The lighting was muted colors.  Her voice is soft and chill.  It was all very laid back and mellow.  And that is simply not what I thought we’d be getting.

Obviously, this is my fault for having the entirely wrong expectations.  Not to mention her newest album Pompeii is pretty different from her weirder earlier stuff–the stuff that I was more familiar with.

Sometimes, you need to see an artist right when you first wanted to.

SETLIST

  1. Miami √
  2. French Boys
  3. Pompeii
  4. Daylight Matters √
  5. Moderation
  6. Running Away
  7. Typical Love *
  8. Mother’s Mother’s Magazines √
  9. Magnificent Gestures √
  10. Rock Pool ®
  11. Sad Nudes √
  12. Mug Museum ϖ
  13. The Light √
  14. Home to You √
  15. Remembering Me
    encore
  16. Harbour 
  17. Dirt on the Bed
* single (2022)
¶ Pompeii (2022)
√ Reward (2019)
® Rock Pool EP (2017)

ϖ Mug Museum (2013)

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A. Savage (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, October 6, 2022) [CATE LE BON]

Posted in A. Savage, Cate Le Bon, Parquet Courts, Union Transfer on October 6, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: October 6, 2022] A. Savage

A. Savage is the main voice behind Parquet Courts.  His deadpan deep voiced delivery is pretty recognizable.

As a solo artist, he plays slightly quirky folk songs.

I knew this show wasn’t going to sell out, so I didn’t buy tickets ahead of time.  I actually had tickets to see Turnstile this even in Asbury Park, but I didn’t feel like that kind of show.  So I blew that off and came to see Cate.

Traffic was a little heavy and I wound up arriving midway through A. Savage’s first or second song.

I had listened to his solo album earlier in the week and I knew pretty much what to expect.  And that’s what I got.  Enjoyable enough folkie kinds of songs.

He is a funny performer with good banter.  After the first song I saw he said something like By the way this is it–just me and the guitar–nothing else is going on.

I really like Parquet Courts for how weird they are.  But this show was not weird at all (except for some of his lyrics).  He is a great guitar player.  Nothing fancy, no solos that I recall, but very solid rhythm with the ability to make the songs feel really full even though it was just him.

I happened to not love his slow delivery, though, so the set was just okay for me.

  1. Unknown new song
  2. Buffalo Calf Road *
  3. Pulcinella (Parquet Courts cover)
  4. Wild, Wild, Wild Horses * 
  5. Winter in the South *
  6. Elvis in the Army
  7. Unknown (new song)
  8. Phantom Limbo *
  9. Minor Strummer
  10. Ladies from Houston *

* Thawing Dawn 

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Ibeyi / Madison McFerrin (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, October 4, 2022) [POSTPONED]

Posted in Ibeyi, Madison McFerrin, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer, World Cafe Live on October 4, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: October 4, 2022] Ibeyi / Madison McFerrin [moved to March 25, 2023 at World Cafe Live]

I first heard of Ibeyi quite some time ago. They are sisters Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Diaz.  They were born in Cuba but moved to France as small kids.  Both of their parents are musicians, and the sisters have a great musical connection.

I had heard that their live show was amazing and I put them high on my list of bands to see.   I was pretty excited to see that they’d be playing Union Transfer.

Then on September 7, I got this email:

Ibeyi have moved their US tour, including their Philadelphia date to Spring 2023. A note from the band can be read below.

“To our fans in North America, we’re sorry to announce that due to logistical complications, we have to move our originally scheduled North America September/October dates to the spring of 2023. For those who have been following Ibeyi from the beginning, you know how touring and performing is special to us, we can’t wait to come and play our songs for you, but it’s only a matter of time.

Please note the new date and venue for our show – original tickets will be honored, please contact your point of purchase for more information.”The Philadelphia show will now be taking place at a new venue, World Cafe Live on March 25, 2023.

The opening act, Madison McFerrin is Bobby McFerrin’s daughter.

She sings in a kind of classic soulful way.  Her voice is rather timeless.  I’m not sure how much I would have enjoyed seeing her live, but I’ll probably never know.

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Indigo De Souza / Horse Jumper Of Love / Friendship (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, October 1, 2022) [rescheduled again, again]

Posted in Friendship, Horse Jumper of Love, Indigo De Souza, Lucy Dacus, Philadelphia, PA, Postponed, Union Transfer on October 1, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: October 1, 2022] Indigo De Souza / Horse Jumper Of Love / Friendship [rescheduled from January 30, and May 2, 2022 moved to May 23, 2023]

Third time was not the charm.  Indigo de Souza has postponed this show twice before because of COVID–valid enough reasons.  But it was pretty strange that she has chosen to postpone this time for very different reasons:

We just received word that Indigo De Souza will begin working on their new record in the coming weeks. So the previously re-scheduled show for October 1st will now take place at our venue on May 23, 2023.

That’s a little weird.  At least they sent this message on August 12, so there was plenty of time to be made aware of the change.

So, the fourth time will be almost a year later from the second time.

~~~~~

Indigo De Souza had to postpone her previous show here because of general COVID anxiety.  Now, just a few days before this show was supposed to happen, she had to postponed because of an actual COVID outbreak:

Thank you for purchasing tickets to see Indigo De Souza at Union Transfer on May 2. Unfortunately, due to a postive Covid test in the touring party, this show has been postponed to a date to be determined in the future.

From the band: “Unfortunately, our bass player and Horse Jumper of Love’s drummer have tested positive for covid so we have decided to postpone Monday’s show in Philadelphia ,PA :/ Please hold on to your tickets as we will be announcing new dates asap. We are sad to miss this show. It’s a sensitive time to be playing music. Thank you for bearing with us as we learn how to navigate it all. Sending love in all directions.“

Perhaps third time’s the charm

~~~~~~~

Indigo De Souza is a new (to me) musician who I heard about on NPR music.  Her song “Kill Me” is outstanding.  A great dynamic of sounds, very funny lyrics and memorable hooks.  I loved it immediately.  She announced a tour soon after I’d heard it and I grabbed a ticket to see her headline tour (!).

She’s ben making music since she was like 9 with a few EPs and a previous album.  I imagine she’ll be a fun and wild performer.

On January 13, Union Transfer announced:

Indigo has decided it’s best for all involved to move their tour to a few weeks later in the year. The Philly show will now take place at Union Transfer on May 2nd

That’s not too far off.

I hadn’t heard of either of the opening acts (such is the case when the headliner is fairy new herself).  (more…)

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The Get Up Kids / Sparta (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, September 29, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Sparta, The Get Up Kids, Union Transfer on September 29, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 29, 2022] The Get Up Kids / Sparta

My friend Al got me into The Get Up Kids back in the early 2000s.  “Mass Pike” is a frequently played song on road trips.  My Get Up Kids album is Something to Write Home About.  I never really got that into Four Minute Mile.  So, even though this show could have been fun, it wouldn’t quite have been for me.

Although I certainly wouldn’t have disliked it.

I had plans to see Sparta back in 2020 but the shows were cancelled.  Back then I wrote

When At the Drive-In broke up, they split into two bands: The Mars Volta and Sparta.  The Mars Volta went in a wild, psychedelic/prog metal direction and Sparta maintained a more tradition heavy rock sound.

I enjoyed the first Sparta albums but I hadn’t heard anything recently.  I considered going to this show because I’d heard they were really good live.

UPDATE: Sparta are headlining a tour in August 2023.  So I’ll get to see them.

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