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Archive for the ‘World Cafe Live’ Category

Calexico (World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA, May 2, 2018)

Posted in Calexico, Philadelphia, PA, Ryley Walker, World Cafe Live on May 2, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 2, 2018] Calexico

Back in the 90s when Calexico first came out, I had no interest in their blend of alt rock and countryish music.  I never really gave them a chance (that was before you could freely listen to music and determine exactly what things sounded like).

Then a couple of years ago, Sarah bought me their then new CD Algiers and I loved it.  Their new single, “Under the Wheels” is wonderful (albeit too short).  So when I saw that they were playing at World Cafe Live, I decided to grab tickets right away.

I didn’t really know what to expect and what I got was a delightfully life affirming set of fun songs, great musicianship and a tremendous amount of diversity.

I don;t really know that much by Calexico as it turns out (no surprise really).  And it was a bit of a bummer that they only played one song from Algiers.  But they played a lot from the new album and (if the crowd reaction is accurate) a whole bunch of old favorites. (more…)

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Ryley Walker (World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA, May 2, 2018) [CALEXICO]

Posted in Bill MacKay, Calexico, Philadelphia, PA, Ryley Walker, World Cafe Live on May 2, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 2, 2018] Ryley Walker

I hadn’t heard of Ryley Walker before this show.  I walked in just as his set was starting and it was Ryley in the center of the stage, another guitarist to his right and an upright bassist on his left.

And basically, they were jamming some cool electric guitar solos.

I found out that the bassist was actually Calexico’s bassist Scott Colberg. (more…)

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An Evening with Nada Surf (World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA, March 9, 2018)

Posted in Guided By Voices, Joy Division, Nada Surf, Philadelphia, PA, World Cafe Live on March 9, 2018| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: March 9, 2018] Nada Surf

Nada Surf has been on my bands-to-see-live list for some time.   Matthew Caws the lead singer and primary songwriter had played a solo gig nearby recently, but I wanted to see the whole band.  So I was really excited to see that they were going to play An Evening, which always means “no opener.”  I love a good opening band, but if I can see twice as much of a headliner, well, that’s even better!

And this was going to be a celebration of their album Let Go.  This was the fifteenth anniversary of this, their third album, and it was going to be played in its entirety.  Which is  great since pretty much the whole album is terrific.

Nada Surf has a fascinating history.  They were huge with their sorta-novelty hit “Popular.”  When they put out their second album, The Proximity Effect, the label thought there were no hits, so the band was dropped.  The guys went to France (Matthew Caws and bassist Daniel Lorca initially met at The Lycée Français de New York (The French High School of New York) a private, independent bilingual French school and also spent time in Belgium and France as kids).  The album was released and well received.  They eventually self-released it back home.

Then they released Let Go in Europe and the U.S. (with different track listings).  Caws thanked Barsuk for releasing the album basically sight-unseen back in 2002.

And the entire first set was the album front to back. (more…)

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