Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Union Transfer’ Category

Pat Finnerty (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, December 14, 2024) [STRAND OF OAKS]

Posted in Pat Finnerty, Philadelphia, PA, Strand of Oaks, Union Transfer on December 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: December 14, 2024] Pat Finnerty

Pat Finnerty opened for Strand of Oaks for the last three Winter Classics. And these three are the ones that I missed.

And now that I’ve seen him I’m even more bummed that I missed those three shows.  Because he was funny and he and his band were super talented.

Pat told us that he and his band (which was all of Strand of Oaks and his cousin Mike) were there to warm up Strand of Oaks and that this show was going to be all covers.

The house music was ZZ Top’s Legs and he said that they had to play the whole song if they had started it.  He won me over immediately by saying imagine going to your bandmates and saying hey, I’ve got a new song, it’s called Legs.  Band: What’s it about?

He then asked the keyboard player to learn the keyboard part so they could play Legs at the end of the set.

He also told us that he had cash and would give cash to anyone who earned it.  Last time, he saw some woman really dancing when he played a blues riff, she got $4.  At our show, a guy received $2. (more…)

Read Full Post »

Ride (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, December 7, 2024)

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Ride, Rocket, Union Transfer on December 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: December 7, 2024] Ride

I’ve known of (and enjoyed some of) Ride’s music for decades.  I was never a huge fan, but there were a few songs that I liked a lot.

Last year, Ride played a show with the Charlatans, but a snowstorm kept me away.  So here was another chance to see them.

I didn’t realize that they had been broken up for 21 years when they released their reunion album in 2017.  Here it is 7 years after that and they’re still a going concern.

I didn’t know really anything since they’d reunited, so I didn’t really care what they played–I assumed they’d play the few songs that I did know since those were the hits.

And I really enjoyed the new songs quite a lot–they were some of my favorites of the night.  A guy up front (who was bouncing and dancing the whole show) shouted how great the new album was and the band got a kick out of it with Mark Gardener thanking him for the affirmation (they later gave him a pick and a setlist I believe). (more…)

Read Full Post »

Rocket (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, December 7, 2024) [RIDE]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Ride, Rocket, Union Transfer on December 7, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: December 7, 2024] Rocket

I’ve known of (and enjoyed some of) Ride’s music for decades.  I was never a huge fan, but there were a few songs that I liked a lot.

Last year, Ride played a show with the Charlatans, but a snowstorm kept me away.  So here was another chance to see them.

I hadn’t heard of the opening band (there are a few different bands called Rocket).  And it’s not lost one me that the marquee would read Rocket Ride.

This band is from LA and holy cow, they scratched just about every musical itch I had.

Soft female vocals, shoegaze to heavy crunchy guitars.  It was all there.  I loved every second of their set.

When the first chord change of Portrait Show was exactly what I hoped it would be, I knew this band was for me.

I wished that Alithea Tuttle’s vocals were a little louder (it’s probably because I was standing s close to the stage) although the quieter mix worked well with the overall sound.  Her bass was great though, understated and used perfectly to emphasize some of the songs.  (more…)

Read Full Post »

They Might Be Giants: Big Tour (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, December 5 & 6, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, They Might Be Giants, Union Transfer on December 5, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: December 5 & 6, 2024] They Might Be Giants

Las year, after five failed attempts, They Might Be Giants FINALLY got to play Union Transfer.

My wife and I were pretty excited to finally get to see them and we enjoyed the show a lot.

When they announced that they were playing Union Transfer again I think we both decided that we didn;t need to see them again so soon. (more…)

Read Full Post »

Godspeed You! Black Emperor / Alan Sparhawk (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, November 24, 2024) [POSTPONED]

Posted in Alan Sparhawk, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on November 24, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: November 24, 2024] Godspeed You! Black Emperor / Alan Sparhawk [moved  to June 24, 2025]

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.

I waited 18 years to see them again, but the last time I saw them, the show was marred by the crowd.

I’ve thought about seeing them again, but this show popped up on a weekend that was really inconvenient.  And then suddenly it was postponed

Godspeed’s Fall 2024 US tour has been postponed due to illness. Information regarding rescheduled dates will be forthcoming.

Perhaps if the 2025 date works out for me, I’ll be able to see them again.

Alan Sparhawk of Low was supposed to open.  I’ve never been much of a fan of Low, because their music is just too slow for me.  Although their last album was really quite interesting.  I’m not sure what his solo show would include as he plays all kinds of music.  Maybe he’ll be opening next year too.

Read Full Post »

Plini (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, November 18, 2024) [ANIMALS AS LEADERS]

Posted in Animals as Leaders, Philadelphia, PA, Plini, Union Transfer on November 18, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: November 18, 2024] Plini

Plini is Plini Roessler-Holgate, an Australian guitarist who has been recognized by all of the famous guitar gods [for instance: Steve Vai described him as “the future of exceptional guitar playing.”]

I wondered if he would play solo, but no, he had a four-piece band.  Jake Howsam Lowe played guitar with him.  And Jake was amazing as well.  He had some moments of speed and impressive dexterity–and I was glad that he was given his own spotlight in a song at the end.

I was really impressed by bassist Simon Grove.  He played a six string bass and at times played the same fast riffs as both guitarists.  He also had a few soloing moments and I loved seeing him play.

Finally, Chris Allison on drums was terrific.  And he inadvertently had one of the best moments of the night for me.  Someone in the audience held up a sign that said Mr Allison will you trade drum sticks with me  And Allison was totally game.  The fan passed their sticks through the audience (he or she was pretty far back and the sticks were crowd surfed) and Plini asked if the fan wanted the ones Allison had just played with or new ones.  And then said, oh give them both.  Then Plini asked how honest the Philly crowd was as they crowd surfed the sticks to the fan.  It was great.

Plini then said that instead of playing music for 30 minutes, they would just do a trade and swap for the next 30 minutes.

But indeed, they did play.  (more…)

Read Full Post »

Destroy Boys (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, November 15, 2024)

Posted in Chokecherry, Destroy Boys, Jigsaw Youth, Philadelphia, PA, Sasami, Union Transfer on November 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: November 15, 2024] Destroy Boys

My son is a fan of Destroy Boys and when he was playing them, I was getting into them and agreed that they’d be fun to see live.  We saw them open for Pierce the Veil in Reading and really enjoyed the show.  Although, as I said then,

For some godawful reason, the venue decided to bathe the band in purple, which rendered them almost entirely invisible from where we were seated.  It definitely made us all want to see see them (actually see them) in a small club when they come around next time.

So it was great to see them up close at Union Transfer.  It was really entertaining seeing singer Alexia Roditis wearing a long leather coat and chaps (and black underwear).  She is an intense frontperson–powerful and in total control of the room, and I love that she proved how in control she was by basically wearing her underwear on stage.

Guitarist Violet Mayugba was on our side of the stage and she was an intense force of sound and attitude.  Bassist David Orozco was on the far side and seemed somewhat out of place in fairly normal clothes while the women in the band were wearing leather.  Drummer Narsai Malik was great behind the kit.

For this tour they had a fifth member, Nastacha Beck (aka Miss Distortion) from Jigsaw Youth on rhythm guitar.  [Back in 2022, I could have seen Destroy Boys (as a trio), Jigsaw Youth and Pinkshift in ne show but I had other plans…bummer!].

The show was full of energy right from the start with a ripping (and catchy) Shadow (I’m Breaking Down).  They didn’t only play new songs, jumping immediately back to Crybaby from 2018.  And Drink (an incredibly catchy song) dates back to 2021.

But this show was touring the new album so of course there were lots of new songs (which everyone there knew).  Like Plucked, a far more complex song musically than say K Street Walker from their debut (which makes up in fierceness what it lacks in complexity). (more…)

Read Full Post »

Sasami (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, November 15, 2024) [DESTROY BOYS]

Posted in Chokecherry, Destroy Boys, Philadelphia, PA, Sasami, Union Transfer on November 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: November 15, 2024] Sasami

When this tour was announced, I thought it would be perfect for myself and my kids.  My daughter loved seeing Crawlers, the original opening act, my son loves Destroy Boys and in addition to liking both bands, I had wanted to see Sasami for quite a while.

I had heard that Sasami’s shows for her album Squeeze were insane–intense rocking shows in which Sasami didn’t hold back in trying to create “maximum chaos per capita.”

That tour had a full band and they rocked hard.

So I was disappointed that this set from Sasami was all over the place.  It was just her and her Colombian drummer Juan Diego Patiño (who was pretty great).  And she played songs from all over her career.

And honestly there was nothing bad about her set, it was just totally not was I was expecting.  (more…)

Read Full Post »

Chokecherry (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, November 15, 2024) [DESTROY BOYS]

Posted in Chokecherry, Destroy Boys, Philadelphia, PA, Sasami, Union Transfer on November 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: November 15, 2024] Chokecherry

When this tour was announced, I thought it would be perfect for myself and my kids.  My daughter loved seeing Crawlers, the original opening act, my son loves Destroy Boys and in addition to liking both bands, I had wanted to see Sasami for quite a while.

But then Crawlers dropped off the tour (I’m not sure why) and they were replaced by Chokecherry who I hadn’t heard of.  I listened to a song or two and liked them.  So I was pleased to arrive early enough to see them.

I’m not really sure what the details are of this band, but I’m guessing that the two women who were up front, Guitarist Izzie A. Clark and bassist E. Scarlett Levinson are the fixtures of the band.  Other articles list two different members in the band. but for this show, Jack Lillian played second guitar and Sean Aaron  was on drums.

Izzie, Scarlett and Jack were dressed in provocative outfits–undergarments and corsets and they played up this flirtatiousness.  But their music totally rocked and their look proved to be an accent to their songs.   I couldn’t really see Sean who was behind the drums, so I’m not sure if he was wearing only boxers or what.

They opened with Lisa 1 and 2.  It starts with Izzie and Scarlett, quietly singing Lisa, I miss you, Lisa I’m sorry.  And then the song takes off.  But it’s in pat 2 that he real blistering punk comes out.  Two minutes of intensity.

Scarlett sang Afterglow, a song that builds with her softish voice into a terrific loud/quiet rocker.  It features one of several songs that have great guttural screams in them.  Around Around Around had a bit of a shoegaze vibe to it

The two singers had great harmonies together and I loved when Izzie left the mic for a few seconds to walk around while soloing.

They ended with Mirror Mirror a kicking rocker with fuzzy guitars and big loud chords.

I enjoyed their set a ton and would happily see them again.

 

2024 Union Transfer
Lisa 1
Lisa 2
Afterglow ∀
Around Around Around §
I Know You ∀
Glass Jaw §
Mirror Mirror ∀

∀ Messy Star (2024)
§ single (2023)

 

Read Full Post »

Slow Pulp / Free Range (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, November 13, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Free Range, Philadelphia, PA, Slow Pulp, Union Transfer on November 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: November 13, 2024] Slow Pulp / Free Range

In 2022 Slow Pulp opened for Alvvays and I wrote

Slow Pulp is a funny name.  Especially if (like to me) it sounds like your band is just a slower version of the band Pulp, which they are not.  Rather, they are kind of a slow version of Alvvays.  They are slow and introspective.  Seems like a good (if maybe dull?) fit.

I still don’t like the name (for the same reason), but I’ve become somewhat more interested in them.

Last year, they were playing The Foundry on Halloween on the same night that we were seeing Japanese Breakfast.  I listened to them a bit since them and while I still think they are too slow for me (the name is apt), I liked some of their stuff more than I thought I would.

I was intrigued to see them live, but this show was the same night as Palehound and Ratboys, so, I wasn’t going to miss that one.

I have actually seen Free Range live twice.  Technically I only heard them on one occasion–they were playing when we arrived at All Things Go and we could hear  them through the speakers.  But I also saw them open for, of all bands, Ratboys (so the band they opened for last time prevented me from seeing them this time).

About them I wrote

Sofia Jensen’s voice sounded familiar–maybe a kind of Phoebe Bridgers vibe–a kind of strong whispery style, and her songs had a strong Pinegrove feel to me (turns out that Nick Levin from Pinegrove plays pedal steel on on two of the tracks).  I guess the songs are indie rock with a whiff of country about them.  Although, interestingly, the chill vibe was often smashed by the loud jamming sections of some of the songs, especially the final one “Want to Know” which rocked out more than the others.

I would have enjoyed this show if I was in a mellow mood.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »