Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘White Eagle Hall’ Category

The Front Bottoms / Long Neck / Jordan Jensen (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, May 19, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Jersey City, NJ, Jordan Jensen, Jordan Jensen 2, Long Neck, The Front Bottoms, White Eagle Hall on May 19, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 19, 2022] The Front Bottoms / Long Neck / Jordan Jensen

I heard my son listening to The Front Bottoms.  I didn’t realize he liked them when I saw them last year, but when the band announced this series of shows at White Eagle Hall, I knew the shows would be great and I knew he’d like to go.

Especially with this announcement

The Front Bottoms are playing a few intimate shows in their home state of NJ this spring. They’ve announced three nights at Jersey City’s White Eagle Hall on May 18, 19 and 20. “To say that we’re very excited to play Jersey City is an understatement,” drummer Mathew Uychich says. “These shows are going to be very special.” Guitarist / vocalist Brian Sella adds, “I spent the best years of my life in Jersey City! I should’ve never left. It’s an honor to return home once again!”

But it turned out that the night before was my rescheduled Deftones show which he went to.  And he was pretty wiped out from it and didn’t feel like going to another long show.  So we missed out on this one.  Which seems a real shame.

Long Neck is Lily Mastrodimos.

A review of her 2018 album says that she now brings along a full-fledged rock band for the ride. Powerhouse guitar backings compliment her soulful voice in this album where easy listening meets folk-punk.

She sounds great solo, but if she played with a full band it would have been great.

Jordan Jensen is a comedian.  A random review from Spokane says

Jordan Jensen is an old-school comic who lets it all hang out. The emerging New York entertainer doesn’t care who she offends. The amusing humorist is reminiscent of the late Sam Kinison and the late Mitch Hedberg since Jensen delivers the hottest of takes on relationships and pop culture.

I think a comedian is not a bad opening act.  Ideally, have the comedian do stand up while the bands are breaking down and setting up.

Read Full Post »

The Lemon Twigs / Tchotchke (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, May 15, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Jersey City, NJ, Tchotchke, The Lemon Twigs, White Eagle Hall on May 15, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 15, 2022] The Lemon Twigs / Tchotchke 

I discovered The Lemon Twigs a few years ago and really enjoyed their glam rock sound and I imagined that they would be a ton of fun live.  The band is technically a duo, although I don’t know if they have more people on stage with them.

I really liked The Lemon Twigs’ Do Hollywood album and their follow up EPs showed even more development.  Since then they have put out a few albums, and I have enjoyed them.

I have rather wanted to see them–this new tour, which was playing at TWO locations really close to me seemed to be an easy way to catch them.

This show wound up being scheduled on the same day as a concert I had a ticket for with my wife.  We were going to see Crash Test Dummies, so this show was never really going to come together.  The fact that we blew of the Crash Test Dummies show anyhow, was a smart choice as we didn’t feel like going, but it was a shame to miss so much in one night.

Tchotchke is a band from New York comprised of Anastasia Sanchez, Eva Chambers and Emily Tooraen.  They used to be called Pinky Pinky which I think is a much more apt name for the style of music they play–it’s a kind of an updated doo-wop, pop sheen aesthetic.

Really not my thing, although I heard that if you went to their merch booth after the show they handed out a tchotchke to each person.

 

 

Read Full Post »

The Dead Milkmen / MC Lars / Gibbous Moon (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, May 14, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Gibbous Moon, Jersey City, NJ, MC Lars, The Dead Milkmen, White Eagle Hall on May 14, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 14, 2022] The Dead Milkmen / MC Lars / Gibbous Moon

I’ve been a fan of The Dead Milkmen’s bratty brand of punk for years–probably since 1988.  I’ve never seen them live.

They sort of, but not really, broke up and then reunited and so on.  I didn’t really think I’ve ever get to see them, but they announced this short run of local shows and I thought, YES!  I will finally get to see them.

Well, my plans changed and it turned out I had other things to do that night (and sure, they were fun, but still, bummer).

I think the Dead Milkmen are playing around from time to time, so I met get to see them yet.

MC Lars is a nerd rapper who I would love to see live.  I’ve had a few opportunities and they all seem to fail.  I especially wanted to see the The Four-Eyed Horsemen tour but i couldn’t make it.

MC Lars plays with a laptop and occasionally a punk rock band to back him up, which he refers to as “post-punk laptop rap”. Samples from bands such as Supergrass, Piebald, Brand New, Fugazi, and Iggy Pop play a key role in MC Lars’s music. Hearts That Hate, whose song “Cry Tonight” is sampled in Lars’ “Signing Emo”, is a fictional group created by the rapper.  MC Lars has also shown an interest in using lyrics and song titles based on English and American literature. “Rapbeth” references William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, while “Mr. Raven” is inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven”. “Ahab” is about the novel Moby Dick and “Hey There Ophelia” on This Gigantic Robot Kills retells the story of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Gibbous Moon is a Philly trio that plays heavy psychedelic rock.  (more…)

Read Full Post »

Built to Spill / Wetface / Blood Lemon (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, May 12, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Blood Lemon, Built to Spill, Jersey City, NJ, Wetface, White Eagle Hall on May 12, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 12, 2022] Built to Spill / Wetface / Blood Lemon [rescheduled from July 31, 2020]

I saw Built to Spill the night before in Union Transfer.  Originally I was more excited  to see them at white Eagle Hall, but I had a Sinead O’Connor concert conflict (which of course didn’t happen, but just in case).

Since I had just seen them the night before, it didn’t see worth going out the following night for what would have been largely the same show (good as it was).

I also really didn’t like Wetface and didn’t want to sit through that set while waiting for Built to Spill.

I did really enjoy Blood Lemon though and would happily see them again, especially since I arrived a little late and missed some of their set.

For ease of searching, I include: Le Almeida (drums), Joao Casaes (bass) and Joao Luiz (guitar), Transfusao Noise Records, Orua.

Read Full Post »

Gogol Bordello / Amigo the Devil (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, May 6, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Amigo the Devil, Gogol Bordello, Jersey City, NJ, Kim Gordon, Nick Cave, White Eagle Hall on May 6, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 6, 2022] Gogol Bordello / Amigo the Devil

I have seen Gogol Bordello twice.  The first time I had so much fun I couldn’t wait to see them again.  My recollection of the second time I saw them (this time in Philly), was that I got pushed so far back by the pit that I didn’t really enjoy myself.  But my write up of that show is all positive, so maybe I’m misremembering.

They were so much fun that I would like to see them again.  And this show was showing huge support for Ukraine.  So I was bummed to miss it, but  I’d already had tickets to a show (Destroyer) and wound up going to a different show (Pup).

We’ll see where they play next time around (they are always touring).

Amigo the Devil is Danny Kiranos an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and banjo player. His music is influenced by American folk, country, rock, and heavy metal, with themes of murder, death, and other dark subject matters which has led to his music being called “Dark Folk” or “Murderfolk”.  He is the son of a Greek father and a Spanish mother, and was influenced by the traditional music of both cultures.

I listened to a few of his songs.  They are very banjo heavy and I expected not to like it (especially since the lyrics are so dark) but i found myself quite entranced by him.  Perhaps he is the American version of Nick Cave.

Read Full Post »

Godspeed You! Black Emperor / Myriam Gendron (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, April 22, 2022 and Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, April 23, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Godspeed You Black Emperor, Jersey City, NJ, Myriam Gendron, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer, White Eagle Hall on April 22, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 22 & 23, 2022] 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.

I waited 18 years to see them again, but the last time I saw them, the show was marred by the crowd.  Or perhaps I was just always in the wrong place.  I couldn’t see well from where I was so I moved–something I never do.  I tried a few spots and none felt right and a couple were near some genuinely unpleasant people to be standing near.  So I never enjoyed myself, even though the music was good.

So I thought I’d try a redo.  I was excited to see them in Jersey City, but then the Fontaines D.C. sow came up.  I figured I’d go see them the next night, but we wound up having a big birthday party that day and it seemed rather crass to go out later that night.  So, I missed them. And that’s ok.

Myriam Gendron is a Quebec musician I hadn’t heard of, but this review makes me want to check out her records.  This is for her latest album:

Delving deep into traditional music from Quebec, France, and the United States, she rewired segments of songs to emphasize evocative lyrics and tossed out others that she found abhorrent. Singing in French and English … these historic songs become universal, while her tender voice maintains the soft power to raise the hairs on the back of your neck.

Woah.

Read Full Post »

The Lemonheads / Leah Hennessey (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, April 21, 2022) [POSTPONED]

Posted in Hennessey, Jersey City, NJ, Leah Hennessey, Lemonheads, Soft Kill, White Eagle Hall on April 21, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 21, 2022] The Lemonheads / Leah Hennessey [postponed to December 16, 2022]

I saw Evan Dando play a bunch of Lemonheads songs solo at a tiny venue in Jersey City.  He seemed kind of wasted, but he sounded great and I had a wonderful time.

I was genuinely interested in checking out this show since I missed him in Philly a few months earlier, but the show was postponed.  Whether because of COVID or he mercurial whims of Dando, I’m not sure.  Maybe I’ll see him this winter.

Especially since they’re playing It’s a Shame About Ray–I know this poster is for the UK, but so far the NJ show is a one off.

Leah Hennessey is a musician/actress/playwright/lead singer.  She fronts the band Hennessey a retro synth band created by NY artists.  Not sure what she’d sound like as a solo artist.

Read Full Post »

Kim Gordon / Bill Nace (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, March 19, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Bill Nace, Jersey City, NJ, Kim Gordon, White Eagle Hall on March 19, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: March 19, 2022] Kim Gordon / Bill Nace

I had tickets to see Kim Gordon when she announced her tour in 2020.  It took awhile for her to reschedule the tour, and I wondered if she’s even bother.

I’ve seen Thurstone Moore live.  He played with Steve Shelley.  A long time ago I saw Lee Ranaldo, although I’d love to see him again.  But I’d never seen Sonic Youth, so I thought I could complete the set by seeing Kim live.

I had recently finished Kim Gordon’s memoir.  So when she announced a show at White Eagle Hall, I was about to grab tickets instantly.  And then I didn’t.  I guess it’s because there was always a chance we’d go see Khruangbin.

Then we were invited to a party and I was glad I didn’t get tickets to any of the four shows that I considered going to today.

The setlist for this show is pretty interesting.  A lot of songs from her solo album and not much else.  And apparently it was only an hour.  Still reviews were quite positive.  Well maybe some other time.

Bill Nace was in Body/Head with Kim.  He’s an experimental guitarist, so who knows what his set would have been like.

Read Full Post »

Nada Surf (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, November 19, 2021) [rescheduled, rescheduled again]

Posted in Drinking, Jersey City, NJ, Nada Surf, Pom Pom Squad, The Gravel Pit, White Eagle Hall on November 23, 2021| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: November 21, 2021] Nada Surf [rescheduled from May 28, 2020 and April 18, 2021]

This is my third timing seeing Nada Surf and I decided that S. needed to see them as well.

This was the third time for this show and I was delighted that it finally happened.  And at the nearby (relatively) White Eagle Hall.

My plan was to not get too close to the stage, but we were so early that it was hard not to get too close (especially as the taller guys start filling in the gaps).

The one difference for this show was that bassist Daniel Lorca was not there.  He had hurt his leg and had to miss the tour.

Friends, we sadly have to report that Daniel can’t be with us for the November US tour due to knee and ankle injuries he recently suffered. In his place will be the band’s longtime friend Ed Valauskas of The Gravel Pit. Here’s to a speedy recovery!

I wasn’t familiar with The Gravel Pit, but Valauskas did a great job.  Although I did miss Lorca’s dreadlocks and unique bass sound.

Their set was an excellent mix of songs from throughout their nine song career.  It was interesting that they essentially played all of the songs that the previous time I saw them in 2020 (one of the few bands I saw in 2020), but they added all of the new songs on top of it.   So this concert was six songs longer! (more…)

Read Full Post »

Pom Pom Squad (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, November 19, 2021) [rescheduled, rescheduled again]

Posted in Drinking, Jersey City, NJ, Nada Surf, Pom Pom Squad, White Eagle Hall on November 22, 2021| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: November 21, 2021] Pom Pom Squad S.G. Goodman [rescheduled from May 28, 2020 and April 18, 2021]

Initially the opener for this show was supposed to be S.G. Goodman who had a song with a lot of airplay on the WXPN.  I liked it and then I got sick of it, but was interested in seeing her.

But when she was replaced by Pom Pom Squad I was pretty thrilled.

I had seen a Pom Pom Squad video some time ago and I loved their 90’s grunge sound and attitude.  They seemed like a bit of an odd fit for Nada Surf who is a bit more mellow, but it seemed like they were maybe going set the tone for Nada Surf a bit more.

The band was initially a solo project for Mia Berrin, but have expanded to include an unnamed bassist, Shelby Keller on drums and Alex Mercuri on lead guitar.

I had recently read Rock Stars on the Record and Mia Berrin was interviewed in it and she said her favorite album was Live Through This by Hole.   That totally makes sense given their overall sound.  However, Mia, who is in her early twenties, seems relatively drama free at the moment. (more…)

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »