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Drinking Boys and Girls Choir [드링킹소년소녀합창단] (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 23, 2024) [OTOBOKE BEAVER]

Posted in Drinking Boys and Girls Choir, 드링킹소년소녀합창단, Otoboke Beaver, Party Nerves, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on March 24, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 23, 2024] Drinking Boys and Girls Choir [드링킹소년소녀합창단]

I’ve had limited exposure to Drinking Boys and Girls Choir, except that they are on the same label as Otoboke Beaver.  I knew that they were from South Korea, but only recently learned that Daegu is one of the most conservative cities in the country (“it sucks,” singer/bassist Meena Bae said).

Meena Bae and Myeong-jin Kim (drums & vocals) started the band in 2012.  They’ve gone through a few guitarists over the years and have now grabbed Scottish guitarist Megan Nisbet who joined the band in 2020 (and had been studying Korean for 15 years!).

I was really excited that they were opening for Otoboke Beaver.  I was hoping to buy a copy of their record but I forgot a bag and I didn’t want to hole a record for the entire show (and it’s a good thing, too as Otoboke Beaver fans are wild).

The trio came out and immediately launched into their rockingest songs.  Their debut album Keep Drinking!! is more wild and fun than the follow up Marriage License, although Marriage still rocks pretty hard.  They played songs from both albums and really mixed up the intensity and pacing of the show.

I was in front of Megan, but Meena was very active, running around the stage and making sure we all saw her as she danced and hopped.  She was a bundle of energy and a lot of fun, too.

Their songs are punky and super catchy with lots of backing vocals.  The first couple of songs were fast with the band showing off their chops.  Meena jumped around and Myeong-jin (who goes by MJ) was an impressive drummer–fast and intense and always on beat.

During “Red Shift,” Megan demonstrated her guitar chops with some super impressive soloing.

Some of their songs featured lead vocals by one of their previous members, but they played them anyhow and they sounded great.

But even if the newer songs are a bit softer, “Hit the Corner” is fast and heavy and I was fascinated to see the MJ had a double bass drum pedal and was using it furiously.

Some of the lyrics are in Korean and some in English, so it’s fun to try to figure out if you can figure out the fast words or if they are in Korean.

I was really surprised to hear them play “Linda Linda” a song t hat I know of because of the band The Linda Lindas.  I thought it was odd that they would play this song until I found out that they recorded a single of it before the U.S. band had become known and, in fact, have been playing the song for years.  That’s pretty cool.  Meena jumped off the stage and chatted with a little girl whose name was Lynn.  It was really cute.

“National Police Shit” is super catchy, sung in English and really quite funny.  It’s less than 2 minutes long and features the line “This is just Skateboard!”

It was followed by “History” their first single recorded with Megan (a new album is on the way, I believe).  They ended with a rocking version of “Wish” and Meena ran into the audience to do some slam dancing with the crowd (all while playing).  Then she ran back up on stage to lead the band in a blistering version of their anthemic song Keep Drinking!

The show was awesome and I think they’re winning over audiences all over North America.

(more…)

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Party Nerves (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 23, 2024) [OTOBOKE BEAVER]

Posted in Drinking Boys and Girls Choir, Otoboke Beaver, Party Nerves, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on March 23, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 23, 2024] Party Nerves

I saw Party Nerves open for Say Sue Me back in November and now t hey are opening for Drinking Boys and Girls Choir and Otoboke Beaver.  There seems to be a pattern.

Since it’s only been four months, my opinions of them haven’t changed that much.  Except to say that they sound even better.  Tighter, more powerful.  And the size of this venue didn’t affect them at all.

After a song when someone shout “shit is tight bro” Mike the bassist said thanks, “we practice.  A lot.  We don’t have lives.”  And then drummer Pavlo chimed in, “hey, I have a dog.  And a wife.”

All three members are super in tune with each other, but fairly or unfairly, most of the attention has to go to guitarist Woolly since he’s the one playing the lightning fast, non-stop surf guitar riffs. Yup, rocking surf guitar that reminds me of Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet (the band who made The Kids in the Hall theme song), although listening to them this time, they have more urgency and intensity that Shadowy’s laid back vibe).

Admittedly a lot of the songs are samey–I mean, it’s instrumental and it’s all kind of reverbed and riff-based.  But each guy is really good and the riffs are tasty.

The crowd was really impressed.  Everyone I heard talk about them had nothing but good things to say.

Like last time, 30 minutes was pretty perfect for me to enjoy their stuff without getting overwhelmed by the surf vibes.  I wonder what the longest show they’ve played is.

Party Nerves is a great opening act, check them out! (more…)

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Rx Bandits / Zeta (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 22, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Rx Bandits, Union Transfer, Zeta on March 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: March 22, 2024] Rx Bandits / Zeta

I was not familiar with Rx Bandits when they announced this show.  Indeed the only reason I was interested in this show at all was because Zeta was announced as the opener.

I had seen Zeta once and they blew me away. I would do just about anything to see them again.

But this show, which is right in the middle of a bunch of other shows that I’m going to, was just too much.

When I read about this tour, though it did make me think two or three times about whether I should go.  There’s only a handful of shows, and I always feel special when I am able t o go to a little tour like this. (more…)

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Bombay Bicycle Club (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 20, 2024)

Posted in Bombay Bicycle Club, Mustard Service, Nagin, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on March 21, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: March 20, 2024] Bombay Bicycle Club

 

The show opened with bouncy horns and fanfare as they sang the song “Just a Little More Time.”  The live version was bigger and felt more fun than the record and I knew that this was going to be an enjoyable set.

This segued into the second song on the new album, which had lots of drums and a cool guitar riff and sound.  I really enjoyed watching guitarist Jamie MacColl, confidently playing these riff and getting such varied sounds.

The middle of the song has Jack Steadman whispering I want to let go and forget and he was indeed whispering it pretty quietly.  So much so that some jackass yelled “fix the mic” just before he started getting louder.  Duh. (more…)

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Mustard Service (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 20, 2024) [BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB]

Posted in Bombay Bicycle Club, Mustard Service, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on March 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 20, 2024] Mustard Service

Mustard Service is an indie rock band based in Miami, Florida, formed in 2015. Self-described as “zest pop”, the band’s music draws influences from rock, surf, jazz, funk, and bossa nova.

When they came out and started playing I thought they were joking.  They play with a total wedding band vibe.  There’s soft gently echoed guitars, wavery synths, and a kind of crooning vocal.

And yet, the lyrics are contemporary and funny.

The amusingly titled “Get Fucked” (which has no curses in the lyrics), features this gem:

So when I tell you, hun that I just need to go outside and smoke a blunt, the world seems like it’s spinning, I don’t wanna die, my skin might disagree, but then my heart, it flies, every single day I’m going down.

The songs are all mostly quite short, and yet there were solos galore.  Leo Cattani played a few great keyboard solos (with all kinds of settings on the machine).  And even Augusto “Tuto” Di Catarina had a brief bass solo in one of the songs.

Adam Perez on drums was always smiling and was quite amusing as he introduced “(Your Cat) Don’t Stand a Chance” by saying it was a song about their cat Smoky.  Amusingly it’s about cats fighting, but it’s smooth and discoey.

The band was a four piece for this show with Marco Rivero Ochoa on lead vocals and lead guitar.  Apparently the band has a lead guitarist guitar, Gabriel Marinuchi (or “Nuchi”) but he was not there.  Rivero Ochoa’s solos were good but not amazing or anything. (more…)

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Slide Away Philadelphia: Nothing / Swirlies / Loveliescrushing / Tagabow / Mint Field / Knifeplay / Astrobrite / Glixen (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 9, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND–COVID]

Posted in Astrobrite, Glixen, Knifeplay, Loveliescrushing, Mint Field, Nothing, Philadelphia, PA, Slide Away, Swirlies, Tagabow, Union Transfer on March 9, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: March 9, 2024] Slide Away

When this day-long event was announced, I grabbed a ticket because I knew a couple of the bands.  Amazingly, perhaps, I didn’t know Nothing, the headliner.

I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to spend an entire day at Union Transfer, but the lineup was pretty great.  The recently sent the proposed schedule

3:00pm Doors Open
4:00pm Glixen
5:00pm Astrobrite
6:00pm Knifeplay
7:00pm Mint Field
8:00pm TAGABOW
9:00pm Lovesliescrushing
10:15pm Swirlies
11:30 Nothing
w/ DJ set by Full Body 2, Kip Berman and Vyva Melinkolya between bands

And it sounds like most of the sets were going to be about 30 minutes, at least until Loveliescrushing.

But then my son came home from college for Spring Break and I REALLY didn’t want to spend most of the day away.   I mostlu wanted to see Knifeplay and Mint Field, but as I listened to more of the bands, I realized I quite liked them all.

Glixen is from Phoenix.  Now, pretty much all of these bands are shoegaze, so the descriptions are going to be quite similar, but here we go

Glixen is a shoegaze band from Phoenix, Arizona whose sound consists of tender melodies encased inside chrome walls of grungy textures and heavy guitars. Founder and lead vocalist, Aislinn Ritchie, began the project in 2020 enlisting guitarist Esteban Santana, drummer Keire Johnson, and bassist Sonia Garcia.

I really liked the Glixen vibe–lots of soft guitars and thick cottony sounds.  Aislinn Ritchie has a beautiful soaring voice that suits the music really well. (more…)

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Twin Temple / Vowws (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, February 27, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Twin Temple, Union Transfer, VOWWS on February 27, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: February 27, 2024] Twin Temple / Vowws

I saw Twin Temple two years ago when they opened for Ghost.  I said

I don’t really like the music as I don’t like doo-wop, but I was all in for the spectacle.  And wow, what a spectacle.

The band came out of stage: drums, bass, keys and a big old tenor sax.  After riffing for a bit, the two main persons in the band came out on stage in their full satanic regalia.

and concluded

It was an amazing visual experience and it was an a jam packed 25 minutes.  I even enjoyed the music by the end.

I was minorly intrigued to see what they would do as headliners, but not enough to actually go to the show.

I had heard of VOWWS but I guess I didn’t know them.  This review from Revolver says they

usually perform in near darkness, with the only light coming from a movie projector aimed at the stage. The Australian duo — singer-guitarist Matt James and singer-keyboardist Rizz — mostly play bent over their instruments in dark glasses and long black coats, crafting their brooding, deeply melodic “death pop” from the shadows.

Their music is nowhere near as dark as this makes it sound.  They remind me a lot of Black Celebration Depeche Mode.  Kind of cool and spooky synthy.

I guess maybe this would be a fun show.

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DJ Shadow /Holly (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, February 8, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in DJ Shadow, Holly, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer on February 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: February 8, 2024] DJ Shadow / Holly

I really liked DJ Shadow’s debut album.  I also bought his remix album.  And then promptly assumed he stopped doing music (or something).  So, essentially I hadn’t thought about him in some 25 years.

He hasn’t released all that much over the years, but his previous album was well received.

I wasn’t sure if I necessarily wanted to see him live.  I mean a DJ… how interesting can that be.  But I was curious to see him do his thing and I’d heard that his live shows were good.

So I bought a ticket.

And then Band of Horses announced a show for the same night.  My wife and I love Band of Horses and there was no way I was passing them up to see a DJ that I wasn’t all that sure about.

So, no DJ Shadow for me.  Maybe I’d see him next time he comes around.  We’ll see. (more…)

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Torres (The Foundry, Philadelphia, PA, January 25, 2024)

Posted in Aisha Burns, Philadelphia, PA, Torres, Union Transfer on January 27, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: January 25, 2024] Torres 

This was my fifth time seeing Torres play.

Every time I see her, her set becomes more powerful and intense.  What was fun about this tour was that her new album, What an Enormous Room, was coming out the next day.

So we were able to hear most of these songs for the first time in a live setting, which was great.  Especially since she gave a little explanation of each song before playing them. I also love that she played a new song followed by an old song–a kind of mini greatest hits.

A lot of times when you hear a song for the first time, it may not land right away.  There were a couple of songs that are going to take a few listens to really get into, but for the most part, these songs were grabbers, doing what Torres does best–catchy powerful choruses with her great voice doing its thing.

I had wondered what the title of this album was supposed to mean, and she told us that life these days was overwhelmingly depressing.  And without trying to forget that, she felt that this album was a ray of hope–this is an enormous room, look what other things I can do in it.

She played a few songs from each of her recent albums (although only one from her lost-to-COVID album, Silver Tongue). (more…)

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Aisha Burns (The Foundry, Philadelphia, PA, January 25, 2024) [TORRES]

Posted in Aisha Burns, Philadelphia, PA, Torres, Union Transfer on January 26, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: January 25, 2024] Aisha Burns

I hadn’t heard of Aisha Burns before this show, although the way she talked about her career, it sounded like she’s been playing music for years and years.  She’s in her late 30s and has been playing violin for ages.   She has appeared on several records as a featured violinist, but she has only released two solo albums in the last ten years.

She actually didn’t play as much violin as I imagined.  The first song opened with some looped violin, but then she played the melodica or guitar for most of the songs.  She had a partner on lead guitar with her but she never introduced him.  He played mostly backing solos and noises. They made a solid wall of sound.

Her songs were a little too slow for me overall.  There wasn’t a ton of variety.  But what she played was great.  I think just not in this setting, maybe–a seated venue with a great sound system would be an amazing way to experience her. (more…)

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