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Archive for the ‘Union Transfer’ Category

Swearin’ (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, April 4, 2018) [SUPERCHUNK]

Posted in All Dogs, Allison Crutchfield, Katie Crutchfield, Philadelphia, PA, Superchunk, Swearin', Union Transfer, Waxahatchee on April 4, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: April 4, 2018] Swearin’

I was so excited to see Superchunk, I didn’t really care who opened for them.  But I was rather excited to see that Allison Crutchfield’s band Swearin’ was reuniting for this tour.

I didn’t know the band, but in the past year or so I have heard (and liked) more and more from Allison Crutchfield and her sister Katie Crutchfield (Waxahatchee).  It’s not fair to lump them together, but they were in a band together at one point and Allison has toured with Katie’s band, so I think it’s fair to discuss them in the same paragraph.

But this show was all about Allisson (and Swearin’ co-founder Kyle Gilbride, who might be overshadowed somewhat in the Crutchfield love).  On drums was original drummer Jeff Bolt and on bass was their friend Amanda Bartley (of the band All Dogs). (more…)

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Twain (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 31, 2018) [DARLINGSIDE]

Posted in Darlingside, Kishi Bashi, Philadelphia, PA, Twain, Union Transfer on March 30, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 31, 2018] Twain

Twain has become something of a punchline for my friends and I, because we all really disliked his set opening for Kishi Bashi.

What was bizarre was how much Kishi Bashi raved about him that night.  Then recently, Twain played SXSW and the NPR review of SXSW raved about him as well.

They said this:

 Twain’s vast, searching music conjures the cosmic folk of Tim Buckley: A welcoming, wandering rumination on life, the afterlife, loneliness and “the beauties of this earthly world,” “Solar Pilgrim” feels at once human and otherworldly. The latest project to feature singer Mt. Davidson — he’s worked with The Low Anthem, Spirit Family Reunion and others — Twain makes the kind of music that, had it been made 50 years ago, would be a cherished cult item today.

The recording they included was kind of interesting and I imagine that if he had a full band he might be more enjoyable–Darlingside said that he had had a full band on earlier shows.  They also raved about him quite a bit, even joking that it was fun to say his name–Twain–as a nonsense syllable when you had nothing else to say. (more…)

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Godspeed You! Black Emperor (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 14, 2018)

Posted in Godspeed You Black Emperor, Liberty, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on March 14, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 14, 2018] Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Back in 2000, I saw Godspeed You Black Emperor at Maxwell’s in Hoboken.  My friend Lar was in from Ireland and he went to the show with me, which was pretty awesome.

It is one of the most memorable shows of my early concert-going experience.  Which is possibly why I waited 18 years to see them again.

Even though my friends Liz and Eleanor (who have seen them many times) told me to join them in the balcony, to close my eyes and drift to the music, I’m a close-up guy and I wanted to be a part of the show.

The band had a semicircle of chairs on stage.  I should have realized from the get-go that as soon as someone sat in one of them he would basically be blocking everything for me, but I didn’t think it through.

So the show began with “Hope Drone,” which is, as suggested, a drone.  (more…)

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Liberty / Tashi Dorji Duo (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 14, 2018) [GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR]

Posted in Godspeed You Black Emperor, John Zorn, Liberty, Philadelphia, PA, Tashi Dorji, Twain, Union Transfer on March 14, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 14, 2018] Liberty / Tashi Dorji Duo

I had never heard of Liberty / Tashi Dorji Duo when I saw they were opening for Godspeed You Black Emperor.   I also didn’t know if Liberty was a part of the duo or even if Liberty was a second opening act.

Well, it turns out that Tashi Dorji is a guitarist who often plays by himself.  But for this show he was with “the elusive Danish saxophonist LIBERTY (Mette Rasmussen).”

So what did this mean for the show?  Well, a brief search on Dorji revealed:

Tashi Dorji was born and raised in Bhutan, on the eastern side of the Himalayas. Residing in Asheville since 2000 and soaking up a vast array of music. Along the way, Dorji developed a playing style unbound by tradition, yet with a direct line to intuitive artistry. All references break loose during his playing, as Dorji keys into his own inner world.

and that

Liberty is a saxophone player whose music is defining a unique balance of uproar and beauty. Her ability to move between the often strict confines of genres and explore the elements makes her presence highly powerful. She has encapsulated her own personal vision of acoustic music, by amplification expanding her range in dynamics and rocketing a more prosaic stem.

So. (more…)

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First Aid Kit (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, February 10, 2018)

Posted in Conor Oberst, First Aid Kit, Heart, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer, Van William on February 10, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: February 10, 2018] First Aid Kit

I first heard First Aid Kit from a Tiny Desk Concert back in 2012. I was immediately transported by their harmonies. And by the fact that the office looks dark and like they are the only ones in it (Bob, if you read this, if anyone deserves a second Tiny Desk it’s these two–maybe one with lights on!)

I also knew that Sarah would love them, which she did when I put “Emmylou” and “The Lion’s Roar” on a disc for her.  Then we bought the album and she’s become a bigger fan than me.

They played XPN Fest in 2015, but our first year at the Fest was 2016, so we didn’t have an opportunity to see them live until now.  Understandably, this show sold out pretty quickly, but I was quick on the draw and got my tickets right away.

When we got to Union Transfer there was a long line to get in (that ever happens!) And then there was a long (very orderly) line to get merch.  We knew we had to get one of the gorgeous posters which were of somewhat limited supply–although I saw at the end of the show that  they still had some, so I guess poor Sarah didn’t have to carry it all night long.

We were still pretty early and got a good location. The first wonderful thing about the crowd was that they were all short–except for one guy who was literally a foot taller than everyone else (he was very nice and a future librarian and was not in our way).  And unlike some of the more intense shows I’ve been to, nobody pushed his way up front at the last minute.  The crowd was courteous and polite (and even though it was sold out it didn’t feel cramped (maybe half the people had the flu)). (more…)

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Van William (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, February 10, 2018) [FIRST AID KIT]

Posted in First Aid Kit, Philadelphia, PA, Port O'Brien, Union Transfer, Van William, Waters on February 10, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: February 10, 2018] Van William

One of the more enjoyable experiences at a concert is watching an opening act win over an audience.

I don’t know how many people knew Van William before the show.  I didn’t, although I looked him up and really enjoyed the song “Revolution.”  A person behind me said, wait Van William is his name?  So I’m guessing he wasn’t that well known.

Turns out that he goes by Van Pierszalowski (Van William is much easier, even if that singular tense is maddening) and is in the band Waters [who I have sience listened to and really really like] and was the frontman of the band Port O’Brien [who I also rally enjoyed–such songwriting chops on this guy].

He started the show on acoustic guitar, playing a very catchy song called “The Country.”  I loved that the song started slow and then kicked in for the second verse.  And when he gets to that chorus which is basically a big “whooooooa” its hard to resist.  I enjoyed his delivery and the whole song of his folk rock.  It was warmly received.

He told us that he was happy to be here with his best friends First Aid Kit.  (more…)

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Jen Cloher (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, January 31, 2018)

Posted in Chrissie Hynde, Courtney Barnett, Jen Cloher, Johnny Brenda's, Laura Marling, Mia Dyson, Philadelphia, PA, Roland S. Howard, Union Transfer on January 31, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: January 31, 2018] Jen Cloher

Sarah and I saw Jen Cloher open for Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile.  But because of traffic and parking, we saw barely two songs by her.  Her set (like Barnett & Vile’s) was acoustic.  She announced that she would be playing at Johnny Brenda’s in January and that her set would be much more rocking.  She also teased out that Courtney would be playing lead guitar for her.  Those two details made me want to see the show.  And I’m really glad I went.

I hadn’t been to Johnny Brenda’s before.  I heard it was small and sight lines could be tough if you got there late.  This show was sold out but I must have gotten there early because I was almost right in front of the stage (I was behind a woman who basically took up three spots with how often she moved around).

After being pretty far from Courtney at the previous set I made sure to set up on her side of the stage.  And it was pretty electric when she came out to tune up he guitar.  I saw that Kurt Vile was hanging around off to the side of the stage too, although he didn’t come out or anything. (more…)

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Mia Dyson (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, January 31, 2018) [JEN CLOHER]

Posted in Courtney Barnett, Jen Cloher, Johnny Brenda's, Mia Dyson, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on January 31, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: January 31, 2018] Mia Dyson

I had never heard of Mia Dyson before this show.  She is a fellow Australian and old friend of Jen Cloher’s.  I arrived just after her set was underway (amazingly, this was my first time at Johnny Brenda’s, I haven’t quite sussed out parking there, yet).

Mia’s set was really enjoyable.  She has a kind of Bonnie Raitt/rootsy vibe.  As she was singing her songs and I was impressed with her vocal power, her guitar playing and the cool bass and drums parts these songs had.

I don’t really love roots music typically, but her set worked great live.  And the audience responded appropriately.  She even said that she had played Philly and never had a good show here, until this one. (more…)

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Typhoon (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, January 26, 2018)

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Typhoon, Union Transfer on January 26, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: January 26, 2018] Typhoon

I first heard Typhoon on a Tiny Desk Concert.  There were 11 members in the band, they played gorgeous chamber pop and lead singer Kyle Morton had a really interesting vocal delivery.

I didn’t know that they had quite the following (I watched that concert four years ago).  In fact, they sold out Brooklyn the night before my show.  While I was waiting for the show to start I saw the nicest, most gracious act I think I’ve ever seen at a concert.  In front of me were a mom, dad and their daughter.  They were pretty short (about four inches shorter than me).  They were there for longer than I was and as Typhoon was about to go on a taller woman pushed her way in front of them.  A few minutes later the guy(s) she was with came up to stand next to her.  The one guy was about 6′ 5″ and quite broad.  He stood in front of the girl who was dwarfed by him.  Then he turned around and saw the girl and he immediately moved behind her (right in front of me, but I was able to move aside).  His lady friend kept waving him up but he refused.  It was a very sweet act  And by the middle of the show, she went back with him letting the young daughter stand right at the stage’s edge. (more…)

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Bad Bad Hats (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, January 26, 2018) [TYPHOON]

Posted in Bad Bad Hats, Philadelphia, PA, Sunbathe, Typhoon, Union Transfer on January 26, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: January 26, 2018] Bad Bad Hats

I hadn’t heard of Bad Bad Hats before this show, but I quickly became a fan of their music and especially singer/guitarist Kerry Alexander.  In addition to writing catchy alt-rock songs, she had the most enjoyable between-song banter I’ve heard in ages.

Her delivery was really dry–whether as an act or her natural way of speaking, I’m not sure.  But she told hilarious anecdotes to go with these songs, often deadpan and unexpectedly funny.

And the songs were really fun too.  I talked to her briefly after the show and she was super nice, as you might expect someone from Minnesota to be.  Her band even sold pennants which I found adorable. (more…)

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