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Archive for the ‘Union Transfer’ Category

L’Rain (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 9, 2022) [ANIMAL COLLECTIVE]

Posted in Animal Collective, L'Orange, L'Rain, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on March 11, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 9, 2022] L’Rain

Up until the day of the show, I had mistakenly thought that the opening act for Animal Collective was L’Orange, a hip hop producer from North Carolina.  I listened to his stuff and really liked it.

I recalled that when this tour was announced, there was serious buzz about the opening act.  I could see how L’Orange worked with Animal Collective and was curious how he would do his show.

Then I read that it was L’Rain, and it changed everything.  L’Rain is the project of Taja Cheek.  She creates most of the music herself, playing (at least) guitar and bass and looping her voice.   After reading a few reviews, I was really intrigued to hear her. (more…)

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Deafheaven (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 6, 2022)

Posted in Deafheaven, Holy Fawn, Midwife, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on March 8, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 6, 2022] Deafheaven

I’m not a huge fan of Deafheaven, but the more I kept seeing this show advertised (and postponed and rescheduled) the more I thought I might really like to see them live.

I like their blend of shoegaze and screaming metal.  I couldn’t listen to a lot of it, but I figured a show would be just right.

The band’s newest album, however, is very different from past efforts.  There is almost no screaming at all.  Lead singer George Clarke who pretty much only screamed a largely incoherent rasp on previous records actually sang on this one.  The music wasn’t vastly different although it tended to be a bit less intense.

When I looked to see what their setlist was like, the show in late 2021 had them play the entire new album and then a couple old ones.  I wasn’t that excited by that prospect, but figured I’d still enjoy it.  And after Holy Fawn, I was ready.

They opened with “Shellstar” which is quite a pretty song.  I think I would have really liked it if it weren’t Deafheaven.  Plus, I had never seen any footage of them before.  Clarke was a wildly intense figure, but he was dancing and moving and shuffling.  Dressed all in black in a button long sleeve shirt, he moved about the stage and fully engaged with the audience. (more…)

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half•alive / Daisy the Great (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 8, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Daisy the Great, half•alive, Philadelphia, PA, Theatre of Living Arts, Union Transfer on March 8, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: March 8, 2022] half•alive / Daisy the Great

I first heard of half•alive on a Tiny Desk Concert.

I’ve been interested in seeing the band because their stage show is legendary–they have two guys who basically dance–they choreograph dances for the songs.  Half alive is pretty dancey in an alt kind of way and I’m sure I’d like them. Especially live.  But I had tickets to see Tigers jaw at a club relatively close to my house, so I chose to go to that show instead.

I had not heard of Daisy the Great and it turns out to be a band, not a person.  Led by singer-songwriters Kelley Dugan and Mina Walker, their 2017 debut single “The Record Player Song” was a hit.  Later, a remix of “Record Player” was released with production by AJR.  I just listened to the song and it’s possible I’ve heard it.  It starts with an a capella intro which is pretty interesting.  Then it turns into a kind of indie folk pop.  The remix adds a kind of dance beat to it (with extra vocals–changes the song quite a bit actually).  I wonder what they’d be like live.

For ease of searching I include half alive.

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Holy Fawn (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 6, 2022) [DEAFHEAVEN]

Posted in Deafheaven, Holy Fawn, Midwife, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on March 7, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 6, 2022] Holy Fawn

Holy Fawn was supposed to open a show I was going to go to a while ago.  I didn’t go for whatever reason, but here they are again.

“Candy” started out kind of slow and atmospheric.  There were quiet guitars and whisper/sung vocals by Ryan Osterman.  It had a powerful shoegaze vibe.  After a minute or so drummer Austin Reinholz started hitting a martial beat that felt like it was heading to a burst of noise.  But that never came.  It wasn’t until almost four minutes into the song that it burst forth.  And at nearly five minutes started screaming in an intense growl–but just for the end of the song.

“Dark Stone” worked the other way.  After some slow swirling intro sounds, the band played a heavy chord and then silence.  And it worked that way as the full band kicked in–loud crashing chords followed my ambient noise.  vocals were quiet and clean as the band played a picked guitar melody and interesting sounds from the second guitarist Evan Phelps.  The song just built and built on a wall of noise with crashing guitars, lots of cymbals and screams from bassist Alexander Rieth (who was into the music bodily–bouncing and headbanging like crazy). (more…)

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Midwife (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 6, 2022) [DEAFHEAVEN]

Posted in Deafheaven, Holy Fawn, Midwife, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on March 6, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 6, 2022] Midwife

I was intrigued by the setup on the stage.  On the microphone stand there was a old-school telephone receiver.

Then Madeline Johnston came onstage with her guitar.  She spoke into the telephone and her voice sounded distant and far away.  It was pretty neat.

She then triggered a drum beat and started playing guitar over it.  She sang into it and her voice was spooky and sounded like it was coming from outer space.

Midwife plays was she calls Heaven Metal and falls into the “Slowcore” and “Sadcore” genre. (more…)

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Circa Survive / Tigers Jaw / Soul Glo (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 4 & 5, 2022) [CANCELLED]

Posted in Circa Survive, Philadelphia, PA, Soul Glo, Tigers Jaw, Union Transfer on March 4, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[CANCELLED: March 4 & 5, 2022] Circa Survive / Tigers Jaw / Soul Glo

I feel like I should have known Circa Survive.  When this tour was announced there was a lot of hype about it.   I mean, two nights at Union Transfer! (they are a Philly band after all).  This was to be a tour of their ten year old (sort of) album Blue Sky Noise.  They’re alt and emo and I’m just really surprised I’ve never heard them.  The hype made me interested enough to check out the album and I liked it (although I’m not sure of Anthony Green’s voice).

And then just before the tour started, they cancelled it

Circa Survive have announced that they have decided to cancel their Blue Sky Noise Anniversary Tour in part due to the mental health struggles of frontman Anthony Green.

The band had this to say, “It breaks our hearts to announce that we are officially cancelling the BSN Anniversary Tour. This includes the dates that were being rescheduled for the summer as well.

“There are multiple factors at play here but most pressingly Anthony is currently struggling with a mental health crisis and unable to be on tour at this time. A focus on self and family is of the utmost importance right now therefore postponing or rescheduling any further doesn’t feel like the right thing to do.

“We’re absolutely devastated over this and feel awful for everyone it affects. We hope you will accept our most sincere apologies and regrets with this news and the last minute nature of this announcement. All refunds will be available at point of purchase (VIP buyers, check your email).

“Although we are somber and wounded in this moment, our art and this community have always been guiding lights of hope and healing for us in times like this. We look forward to better days where we can celebrate overcoming these hardships together.”

I saw Tigers Jaw last year when they headlined Union Transfer.  It was an album release show for their I Don’t Care How You Remember Me record.  I didn’t know them that well, but since this was an album release show, nobody did.  It was terrific and I was surprised that they were opening this one.  When this show was cancelled they announced a show in Garwood a few days later and I saw them there which was a lot of fun.

Soul Glo is a band I really want to see. They are an extreme punk band and will probably scare the heck out of me.  I’ve heard their live shows are really intense.  Although probably not so much as an opening band.

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Superchunk / Torres (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 2, 2022) [postponed]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Superchunk, Torres, Union Transfer on March 2, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: March 2, 2022] Superchunk / Torres [moved to June 11, 2022]

I saw Superchunk four years ago and really enjoyed their fast and furious set.  I realized that most bands that I like, I want to see twice.  So when they announced a new show, I was ready.

In mid February, when Omicron was surging, they announced that they were going to postpone their tour until the summer, which makes sense given their new single is “Endless Summer.”

It actually worked out alright for me as I was out late the night before seeing Dazey and the Scouts.

I’ve seen Torres four times and she always puts on a great show.  I’m glad she’ll be playing with them in June as well.

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Pinegrove (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, February 18, 2022)

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Pinegrove, Union Transfer on February 20, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: February 18, 2022] Pinegrove

This is my fourth time seeing Pinegrove.  I have a sweet fondness for this band.  They were my first (and only) show at the First Unitarian Church–a show that was so vibrant and alive that I remember it very well even five years later.

Their shows don’t have a lot “going on,” just a lot of good music and a band that sounds better and better.

This new tour is in support of their new album 11:11.  I didn’t like this album as much as their previous collections–the songs were a little too slow for my liking (although there are some terrific songs on it).  They played the entire album (not in order) which might seem like a bummer given how I wasn’t crazy about the album

But instead, the band sounded so good, so dynamic, that it made me like the new songs far more than I did.  Perhaps it was the way they were spaced out.  Or maybe it was mixing older songs with the new ones.  Whatever the case, it made the new songs sound fantastic.

(more…)

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Lily Konigsberg (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, February 18, 2022) [PINEGROVE]

Posted in Lily Konigsberg, Philadelphia, PA, Pinegrove, Poise, Sixpence None the Richer, Union Transfer on February 19, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: February 18, 2022] Lily Konigsberg

I have seen Lily Konigsberg play with Palberta–she and her bandmates switched instruments throughout the set.  For this set Lily played guitar and sang.  Her Lily K. Band was a four piece.

Nate was on guitar, Charlie on bass and Charlotte Kahn on drums.  I am 90% sure I have seen Kahn play drums with someone else, but I can’t remember who that was.

Lily is a prolific songwriter.  Some are catchy.  Some are downright weird. I was actually surprised at how conventional some of these songs were.  Especially after she started out with the decidedly odd and wonderful “Alone” with its jumpy bass line and wicked guitars.

I loved the title of the next song “At Best a #3.”  Then she told is that “Proud Home” was about Stacy’s perspective from “Stacy’s Mom.”  It was good but not as catchy as he original. (more…)

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Poise (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, February 18, 2022) [PINEGROVE]

Posted in Lily Konigsberg, Philadelphia, PA, Pinegrove, Poise, Union Transfer on February 18, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: February 18, 2022] Poise

Poise is the creation of Lucie Murphy.  She has released an EP and an LP and the songs on them are quite varied.  She’s a got a few short rockers with great riffs and a few mellow, more brooding pieces.

They were a four piece for this show with Marguax on bass, Theo Munger on drums and Sam Skinner (from Pinegrove) on lead guitar.

They cam out with a short rocker.  Murphy’s voice is pretty great–she can hit some really high notes, but mostly she’s got a lot of power.  I really enjoyed the second song “Nothing You Can Say” with a super catchy riff.

She mellowed things out for a song and then allowed Skinner to make some really cool feedbacking squalls during the song with the otherwise quiet chorus of “Let me break your heart.” (more…)

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