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Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory: XPoNential Music Festival: River Stage (Wiggins Park, Philadelphia PA, September 20, 2025)

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, River Stage, Sharon Van Etten, Sharon Van Etten & the Attachment Theory, Wiggins Park, WXPN 88.5 FM--Philadelphia, PA, XPN Fest, Xponential Music Festival on September 20, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 20, 2025] Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory

Sharon Van Etten and her new band The Attachment Theory headlined Saturday night’s Festival.  I saw SVE in 2019 (I loved her debut album).  But I wasn’t really sure I needed to see her again.  Then she announced a Free at Noon and I went.  And I regretted not seeing her full show at Union Transfer.  So I was pretty psyched that she was headlining tonight.  After Kathleen Edwards, we headed over and managed to get a spot standing pretty close to the stage.

The sun was setting and the atmosphere was building  And soon Sharon and the band came out.

It’s a little weird to start out by singing Who wants to live forever over and over, but I guess it works to build an atmosphere as the song got bigger and louder.  But for me the show really kicked of into high gear when they played Afterlife.  It’s a slow song with a lot of keys (Teeny Lieberson) and then a great bass line (Devra Hoff–whose bass work is outstanding both fretted and fretless). And when the chorus barrels in–the backing vocals are just gorgeous (Sharon picks the best backing vocalists).

They followed it up with the great single from the album, Idiot Box.  Another great bass line from Devra and Sharon picked up the guitar to play the main guitar line.  It’s such a great catchy song and it’s really fantastic live. (more…)

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Kathleen Edwards: XPoNential Music Festival: Marina Stage (Wiggins Park, Philadelphia PA, September 20, 2025)

Posted in Camden, NJ, Kathleen Edwards, Marina Stage, Philadelphia, PA, Wiggins Park, WXPN 88.5 FM--Philadelphia, PA, XPN Fest, Xponential Music Festival on September 20, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 20, 2025] Kathleen Edwards

We wandered around a bit while Molly Tuttle was playing and then headed back to the Marina Stage for Kathleen Edwards.  It was still crowded, but not as crowded and so we got a reasonable spot on the hillside.  We were relatively early for Kathleen.  And let’s face it she was a major reason I wanted to go to this festival.  To get to see her and Richard Thompson was a wonderful day.

I had seen her at the end of last year and I had tickets to see her in October, but a set

This was the first time we were hearing these new songs live.  Billionaire sounded just amazing floating around the riverfront.  When the Truth Comes Out had just started getting some airplay and it was a lot of fun to hear it live for the first time.

But it wasn’t all new songs. She played one of my favorite older songs Change the Sheets–the guitar of this song and the chorus are so great.

She announced that’s she’s part of the five timers club at the festival.  The only other thing she’s done five times is David Letterman.  She said how much she loved Philly, because of XPN and the people who support it.  “It’s fucking unbelievable.  And I know this is a family show so I’m only going to swear once.  Maybe.”  This led to the song in which she sings how thankful she is, Glenfern, one of the songs I’ve seen her play every time.  She will always be thankful (and yes she cursed in it too). (more…)

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Molly Tuttle: XPoNential Music Festival: River Stage (Wiggins Park, Philadelphia PA, September 20, 2025)

Posted in Molly Tuttle, Philadelphia, PA, River Stage, Wiggins Park, WXPN 88.5 FM--Philadelphia, PA, XPN Fest, Xponential Music Festival on September 20, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 20, 2025] Molly Tuttle

We had seen Molly Tuttle at Newport Folk Festival six years ago.  But only for about a minute.  She was playing with Billy Strings on a small stage and we popped in briefly on our way elsewhere.  This year I really liked her song That’s Gonna Leave a Mark and I was interested in seeing her live.

But something has to give when you’re there for so long, and so we decided to get food and merch during Molly’s set.  She sounded great and it was fun hearing her music as we walked around.

Unlike Tune-Yards, someone did keep track of her setlist, but there’s no recording of her set on WXPN–I wonder why.

I associate her with Billy Strings so much but his star has shot to the heavens and hers has gone up a little.  I’d be happy for her if she had more success although I don’t think I’d want to see her live again.

It turns out that she veers more into country than I like.  And while I like bluegrass, I’ve learned that I like instrumental bluegrass a lot more than vocal bluegrass. (more…)

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Richard Thompson: XPoNential Music Festival: Marina Stage (Wiggins Park, Philadelphia PA, September 20, 2025)

Posted in Marina Stage, Philadelphia, PA, Richard Thompson, Wiggins Park, WXPN 88.5 FM--Philadelphia, PA, XPN Fest, Xponential Music Festival on September 20, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 20, 2025] Richard Thompson

After Soccer Mommy, we scooted across the waterfront to get  to the Marina Stage to see Richard Thompson. This was my thirteenth time seeing Richard Thompson. He is a consummate performer and I enjoy his shows every time I see him.

But it was so packed!  We couldn’t get anywhere close to stage (anything close was on a steep hill–not conducive to a guy with a cane. We watched the first song from behind the stage, which is obviously very close, although not very satisfying.  And then two women walked up right behind us and started talking to each other really loudly.  So we gave up and moved to the front.  I wound up standing on the stairs which probably blocked someone, but there were others standing next to me.  My wife went a little further up and was probably more comfortable.

But it was a great view and the sound was fantastic and it was fun to see the crowd get into him.

He didn’t play anything I haven’t seen him play before, although he started with Gethsemane, a favorite of mine that I’d only heard for the first time last time.

He always sounds great–even when he needs to clear his throat–he waits between verses and somehow never sounds bad while singing.  His voice is strong and powerful and his guitar playing is of course phenomenal.

He is also really funny between songs: “People say you are entitled to your opinion.  I say no.  You are entitled to your informed opinion.”  This led to a major compliment to WXPN–“any station that plays me must be good.”

Then he said he was going to play an old song from 1969 (Genesis Hall) which he said is probably before most of your were even born.  No, looking around, I take that back.

He played the super Turning of the Tide, with some great guitar sounds–he does so much with an acoustic guitar.  He followed it with the gorgeous Persuasion.

Then things got rowdy with  the always fun sing along of Johnny’s Far Away.  It’s a modern sea shanty.  A cruise shp shanty.  It’s about sex and it’s got a very obvious chorus.  You’ll know when its coming… as the bishop said to the actress.  The crowd really got into singing along and Richard greatly appreciated it.

Up next was Pharoah, an older song that is pretty dark.  As he said, it’s a song about kings, despots, authoritarians.  [Boos from the crowd]. I’m speaking historically of course, I can’t think of any contemporary similarities.

Up next was a song he put out on an EP during COVID and nobody bought it.  There’s still 80,000 in the warehouse.”  I think it’s a great song, although he joked “Did someone out here say it sounds like Kenny G?  I’m glad i misheard….  But it does a bit.”

I’ve loved Walking the Long Miles Home from the first time I heard it.  I think of it every time I go for a walk because the beat is just perfect.  And he likes to tell the origin story of the song.  It involved him going to the Marquee Club which featured The Who every Tuesday and The Yardbirds every Friday with Eric uh… Idle no Clapton.  Then he left and in came Jeff and then he left and it was Jimmy.  And The Move.  But if he missed the last bus it was a ten mile walk home.  On a school night.  There went a promising career in accounting.

Then came one of his most beloved songs 1952 Vincent Black Lightning.  It’s a gorgeous song, a great guitar melody and live, it features some amazing soloing.

It’s pretty amazing how many classic songs he has been a part of–songs that people with any kind of musical history recognize instantly.  Up next was the song he did with his ex-wife Linda, I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight–fun and jaunty–perfect for a summer day by the waterfront.  He ended the set with another Richard & Linda song, Dimming of the Day.

I was surprised he didn’t play Beeswing, probably his most famous song.  I think he ran out of time.  I’m not disappointed since I have seen him play it 8 times.  But I’m sure some people were bummed.\

Every time I think I’ve seen Richard enough, I realize how much I love his live shows.  But next time I really want a full band!

You can find a stream of his set here: https://xpn.org/xpn-fest/

2025 XPoNential Music Festival
Gethsemane ∴ [2]
Genesis Hall [Fairport Convention song] ۯ [4]
Turning of the Tide ◊ [5]
Persuasion ≤ [8]
Johnny’s Far Away ⊄ [4]
Pharaoh ◊[2]
If I Could Live My Life Again ♦ [4]
Walking the Long Miles Home ∏ [4]
1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [12]
I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight £≤ [5]
Dimming of the Day  [Richard & Linda song] £∇ [4]

 

February 22, 2025, McCarter
 January 14, 2023 Outpost in the Burbs January 18, 2020 McCarter
If I Could Live My Life Again ♦ [3]
 Gethsemane ∴ The Sun Never Shines on the Poor [Richard & Linda song] £∇ [2]
Walking on a Wire [Richard & Linda song] £♦ [8]
 If I Could Live My Life Again ♦ [2] The Ghost of You Walks ⇔ [6]
Beeswing Ø [8]
 Genesis Hall [Fairport Convention song] €Ø [3] Valerie ð [6]
I Feel So Good ® [5]
 Turning of the Tide ◊ [4] Crocodile Tears
Matty Groves [Fairport Convention song] €£ Beeswing Ø [7] Beeswing Ø [6]
 You Love Me Like It’s 1969
 Persuasion [with Teddy Thompson] ≤ [7] Walking on a Wire [Richard & Linda song] £♦ [6]
Walking the Long Miles Home ∏ [3]
 Cut Across Shorty [Eddie Cochran song] [with Teddy Thompson] Walking the Long Miles Home ∏
1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [11]
 Johnny’s Far Away ⊄ [3] 1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [9]
I Misunderstood ® [5]
 Little Sally Rackett [recited a verse of the shanty] [2] Cooksferry Queen ∏ [2]
Pipe Dreams [?]  (with Zara Phillips) 
 Walking on a Wire [Richard & Linda song] £♦ [7] Who Knows Where the Time Goes? [Fairport Convention song] €Ø [2]
 Hokey Pokey (The Ice Cream Song) (with Zara Phillips) £∇
 Walking the Long Miles Home ∏ [2] Hope You Like the New Me ∏ [2]
Singapore Sadie (with Zara Phillips) ⊥[2]
 Wall of Death [Richard & Linda song] (with Zara Phillips) £♦ [7] Meet on the Ledge [Fairport Convention song] €ϖ
 She Twists the Knife Again (with Zara Phillips) ♣ [2]
 Singapore Sadie (with Zara Phillips) ⊥ If I Could Live My Life Again ♦
 If Love Whispers Your Name (with Zara Phillips) Λ [2]
 The Old Pack Mule (with Zara Phillips) ⊥ Jet Plane in a Rocking Chair [Richard & Linda song] (with Zara Phillips) £∇
The Old Pack Mule (with Zara Phillips) ⊥ [2] The Rattle Within (with Zara Phillips) ≅ [2] The Storm Won’t Come (with Zara Phillips) ≅
Withered and Died [Richard & Linda song] (with Zara Phillips) £≤
 Word Unspoken, Sight Unseen (with Zara Phillips) ∴ She Never Could Resist a Winding Road (with Zara Phillips) Θ
Wall of Death [Richard & Linda song] (with Zara Phillips) £♦ [8]
 Keep Your Distance(with Zara Phillips) ® [2] The Rattle Within (with Zara Phillips) ≅
encore
 I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (with Zara Phillips) £≤ [4] My Enemy (with Zara Phillips) ∑ [2]
The Ghost of You Walks ⇔ [7]
 encore encore
The Rattle Within (with Zara Phillips) ≅ [3]
 1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [10] Persuasion ≤ [6]
Tinker’s Rhapsody (with Zara Phillips) ζ [2] Encore 2: Dimming of the Day  [Richard & Linda song] £∇ [3]
  Tinker’s Rhapsody (with Zara Phillips) ζ encore 2
  She Was Lost in the Crowd (with Zara Phillips) I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight [Richard & Linda song] (with Zara Phillips) £≤ [3]
  When the Saints Rise Out of Their Graves (with Zara Phillips)ζ

 

October 9, 2016, Sellersville
 June 4, 2016 Mann Center (opening for Wilco)
 February 9, 2016 McCarter
When the Spell is Broken ♣ [3] When the Spell Is Broken ♣ [2] The Sun Never Shines on the Poor [Richard & Linda song] £∇
Walking on a Wire [Richard & Linda song] £♦ [5] The Ghost of You Walks ⇔ [5] The Ghost of You Walks ⇔ [4]
Josephine Θ [2] Valerie ð [4] Valerie ð [3]
Valerie ð [5] Dry My Tears and Move On ∏ [5] Josephine Θ
Beatnik Walking Θ [2] 1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [7] Johnny’s Far Away ⊄ [2]
1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [8] Walking on a Wire £♦ [4] Beatnik Walking Θ
Dry My Tears and Move On ∏ [6] Persuasion ≤ [4] 1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [6]
 I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight [Richard & Linda song] £≤ [2] One Door Opens ∴ [2] Dry My Tears and Move On ∏ [4]
Who Knows Where the Time Goes? [Fairport Convention song] €Ø I Misunderstood ® [3] I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight [Richard & Linda song] £≤
Good Things Happen to Bad People ∑ [4] Genesis Hall [Fairport Convention song] €Ø [2]
Hots for the Smarts Η Good Things Happen to Bad People ∑ [3]
Wall of Death [Richard & Linda song]£♦ [6] Woods of Darney ⇔
Woods of Darney ⇔ [2] Read About Love ®
Fergus Laing Θ [2] Persuasion ≤ [3]
I Misunderstood ® [4] Fergus Laing Θ
encore Wall of Death [Richard & Linda song] £♦ [5]
Persuasion ≤ [5] I Misunderstood ® [2]
Read About Love® [2] encore
encore 2 Beeswing Ø [4]
Beeswing Ø [5] encore 2
  Down Where the Drunkards Roll [Richard & Linda song] £≤ [2]
  One Door Opens ∴ [2]
  Shoot Out the Lights [Richard & Linda song] £♦

 

October 4, 2013 McCarter
[with Teddy Thompson tour]**		 February 17, 2012 McCarter**
One Door Opens ∴ Man in Need  £♦
Hope You Like the New Me ∏ Sally B ∑
Valerie ð [2] Haul Me Up Λ
Saving the Good Stuff for You ∑ Hard on Me ∏
Johnny’s Far Away ⊄ Good Things Happen to Bad People ∑
Pharaoh ◊ Easy There, Steady Now Ø
1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [5] Al Bowlly’s in Heaven ð [2]
Sunset Song ⊄ I’ll Never Give It Up ⊄
Good Things Happen to Bad People ∑ [2] Did She Jump or Was She Pushed? [Richard and Linda song] £♦
Walking on a Wire [Richard & Linda song] £♦ [3] Sidney Wells Λ
Hamlet (Dog Eat Dog in Denmark) [Frank Loesser cover] [3] Dry My Tears and Move On ∏ [3]
Genesis Hall [Fairport Convention song] €Ø She Twists the Knife Again ♣
Beeswing Ø [3] If Love Whispers Your Name Λ
Crawl Back (Under My Stone) ∏ (2) encore
My Enemy ∑ 1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [4]
Wall of Death [Richard & Linda song] £♦ [4] Little Sally Rackett [traditional]
Down Where the Drunkards Roll [Richard & Linda song] Demons in Her Dancing Shoes Λ
I Feel So Good ® [4]
encore
Persuasion [with Teddy Thompson] ≤ [2]
The Price of Love [with Teddy Thompson] [Everly Brothers song]
encore 2
Grey Funnel Love [with Teddy Thompson] [Cyril Tawney song]

** set list approximated from shows near our show.

 

November 3, 2004 McCarter
[1,000 years of music tour] **		 April 20, 2001 Town Hall (NYC)
Sumer is Icumen In ¥ Don’t Let a Thief Steal Into Your Heart [Richard & Linda song] £1
King Henry Fifth’s Conquest of France ¥ When the Spell Is Broken ♣
So Ben Mi Ch’a Bon Tempo ¥ Crawl Back (Under My Stone) ∏ 
Bonnie St. Johnstone King of Bohemia Ø
O Sleep, Fond Fancy Turning of the Tide ◊ [3]
Dido’s Lament Walking on a Wire [Richard & Linda song] £♦ [2]
Remember O Thou Man I Misunderstood ® 
Shenandoah ¥ My Daddy Is a Mummy
Blackleg Miner ¥ Dry My Tears and Move On ∏ [2]
Trafalgar Square ¥ 1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [3]
There Is Beauty in the Bellow of the Blast ¥ The Great Valerio [Richard and Linda song] £≤
The Sally Gardens I Feel So Good ® [3]
Java Jive
 The Ghost of You Walks ⇔ [3]
Night and Day I Agree with Pat Metheny
London Pride Beeswing Ø [2]
Orange Colored Sky ¥ Keep Your Distance ®
Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee ¥ Uninhabited Man ∏
A-11 ¥ Cooksferry Queen ∏
See My Friends ¥ encore
Friday on My Mind (The Kinks cover) ¥ Persuasion (with Teddy Thompson) ≤
Tempted (Squeeze cover) ¥ I Can’t Wake Up (with Teddy Thompson) Ø
Kiss (Prince cover) ¥ encore 2
Oops!… I Did It Again / Marry, Ageyn Hic Hev Donne Yt  ¥ Word Unspoken Sight Unseen ∴ 
encore Wall of Death  [Richard & Linda song] £∇ [3] (with Teddy Thompson)
I Am a Man in Prison ¥
Money, Money, Money (Abba cover) ¥
It Won’t Be Long (The Beatles cover) ¥
encore 2
Sam Hall ¥
Cry Me A River ¥
1985 ¥

** set list approximated from shows near our show.

June 18, 1998 Harborlights (Boston)
Thompson/Bruce Cockburn/Dar Williams **		 June 15, 1997 (Guinness Fleadh)
Turning of the Tide ◊ [2] Turning of the Tide ◊
Bathsheba Smiles ∏ The Ghost of You Walks ⇔
How Will I Ever Be Simple Again ð I Feel So Good ®
I Feel So Good ® [2] From Galway to Graceland €
The Ghost of You Walks ⇔ [2] 1952 Vincent Black Lightning ®
Hamlet (Dog Eat Dog in Denmark) [Frank Loesser cover] [2] Lotteryland [Richard & Danny Thompson song] √
1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [2] Razor Dance ⇔
Dry My Tears and Move On ∏ Beeswing Ø
Walking on a Wire [Richard & Linda song] £♦ Hamlet (Dog Eat Dog in Denmark) [Frank Loesser cover]
Don’t Sit on My Jimmy Shands ® Wall of Death [Richard & Linda song] £♦
Razor Dance ⇔ [2] Dimming of the Day [Richard & Linda song] £∇
encore encore
Wall of Death [Richard & Linda song] £♦ [2] Keep That Wheel A-Turnin’ [folk song]
Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) [Pete Seeger cover] with Dar Williams and Bruce Cockburn]

** set list approximated from shows near our show.


⊥ Ship to Shore (2024)
Η Live from Honolulu 2006 (2022)
ζ Serpent’s Tears (2021)
♦ Bloody Noses EP (2020)
≅ 13 Rivers (2018)
Θ Still  (2015)
∑ Electric  (2013)
Λ Dream Attic (2010)
⊄ Sweet Warrior (2007)
Front Parlor Ballads
¥ 1,000 Years of Popular Music  (2003)
∴ The Old Kit Bag (2003)
∏ Mock Tudor (1999)
√ Industry (Richard & Danny Thompson) (1997)
⇔ You? Me? Us? (1996)
Ø Mirror Blue (1994)
€ Watching the Dark
® Rumor and Sigh (1991)
≤ Sweet Talker (1991)
◊ Amnesia (1988)
ð Daring Adventures (1986)
♣ Across a Crowded Room (1985)
Ψ Hand of Kindness (1983)
Richard & Linda Thompson
£♦ Shoot Out the Lights (1982)
Sunnyvista (1979)
£1 First Light (1978)
£∇ Pour Down Like Silver (1975)
£∇ Hokey Pokey (1975)
£≤ I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (1974)
Fairport Convention
€£ Liege and Lief (1969)
ۯ Unhalfbricking (1969)
€ϖ What We Did on Our Holidays

RIVER STAGE:
Soccer Mommy
Molly Tuttle
Shar van Etten and the ATtachment Theory
MARINA STAGE:
Tune-Yards
Richard Thompson
Kathleen Edwards
1994
Iris Dement • John Gorka • October Project • Sam Phillips • Sarah McLachlan • Shawn Colvin • Sonia Dada • Subdudes • T-Bone Burnett​
1995
Ani DiFranco • Black 47 • BoDeans • David Wilcox • Freedy Johnston • Jill Sobule • John Flynn • Patsy Foster • Patty Larkin • Paula Cole • Susan Werner • The Schramms • Wanderlust
1996
Cheryl Wheeler • Francis Dunnery • Jonatha Brooke • June Rich • Martin Sexton • Nil Lara • The Iguanas
1997
Big Blue Hearts • Bruce Cockburn • Dar Williams • Grey Eye Glances • John Hiatt • Kim Fox • Kim Richey • Paul Cebar & the Milwaukeeans • Suzanne Vega
1998
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones • Francis Dunnery • Huffamoose • James McMurtry • Lucinda Williams • Marah • Mary Arden Collins • Moxy Fruvous • Olu Dara • Patty Griffin • Southern Culture on the Skids
1999
Brian Seymour • Duncan Sheik • Entrain • Indigenous • Kelly Willis • Old 97’s • Richard Thompson • Spooky Ghost • Steve Earle • Susan Werner
2000
Ben Arnold & the Philly All-Stars • Chris Smither • David Mead • Jimmie Dale Gilmore • John Flynn • Mary Chapin Carpenter • Patti Smith • Phil Roy • Shelby Lynne • Steve Forbert & Rough Squirrels • Terri Hendrix
2001
Amber deLaurentis • Billy Jonas • Blackthorn • Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer • Eliza Carthy • Erin McKeown • Ernie & Neal • Five for Fighting • Girls From Mars • Jeb Loy Nichols • Marc Cohn • Nanci Griffith • North Mississippi Allstars • Tim Eason
2002
4 Way Street • Beats Walkin’ • Cousteau • John Eddie • John Flynn • John Mayer • Los Lobos • Nick Lowe • Raul Malo • Solomon Burke • Sonia Dada • Suzanne Vega
2003
Alexi Murdoch • Art Garfunkel, Maia Sharp & Buddy Mondlock • Damien Rice • Eastmountainsouth • Grey Eye Glances • Indigenous • Kathleen Edwards • Nickel Creek • Rhett Miller • Richard Thompson • Robert Randolph & the Family Band • Sharon Katz & The Peace Train • They Might Be Giants • Townhall
2004
Amos Lee • Bubboon & Bubbles • Charlie Musselwhite • Fountains of Wayne • John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting • Michael McDermott • Mindy Smith • Nellie McKay • North Mississippi Allstars • Old 97’s • Philly Locals in the Round with: Jim Boggia, Lauren Hart, Mutlu • Rachael Yamagata • Sarah Harmer • Shemekia Copeland
2005
Billy Miles • Danielia Cotton • Drive-By Truckers • Erin McKeown • Indigo Girls • Jim Boggia • John Legend (Guest Appearance) • Loudon Wainwright, III • Mike Doughty’s Band • Patti Smith • Rickie Lee Jones • Rodney Crowell • Son Volt • Soulive • Townhall • Warren Haynes (Guest Appearance)
2006
Alejandro Escovedo • Allen Toussaint • Amos Lee • Antje Duvekot • BC Camplight • Ben Franklin Middle School Drummers with Attitude • Blue Sinatra • Brandi Carlile • Citizen Cope • Codename • Danielia Cotton • Darcie Miner • Dave Quicks Trio of the BurnDown All-Stars • DrugByrds • Grace Potter and the Nocturnals • Hoots & Hellmouth • IV Thieves • Jeffrey Gaines •Jim James of My Morning Jacket • Jonah Smith • Josh Ritter • Konono N°1 • Lotus • Mary Lee’s Corvette • Marah • Mutlu • New York Dolls • Seth Kallen and the Reaction • Slo-Mo featuring Mic Wrecka • Steve Wynn • The Brakes • The Fractals • The Hiders • The Lowlands • Willy Mason • Yonder Mountain String Band
2007
Adrienne Young • ALO • Andrew Lipke • Beretta 76 • Bitter Bitter Weeks • Blackthorn • Bob Mould • Brett Dennen • Cracker • David Falcone & Kenli Matus • Dr. Dog • Earl Greyhound • Eastern Conference Champions • Fionn Regan • Fountains of Wayne • Grace Potter and the Nocturnals • Hoots & Hellmouth • Illinois • James Hunter • Jesca Hoop • Jesse Malin • Julian Velard • Kim Richey • Los Lonely Boys • Marc Broussard • Martin Sexton • Robert Hazard • Ruder Than You • Ryan Shaw • Sam Roberts Band • Sharon Little & Scot Sax • Slo-Mo featuring Mic Wrecka • Suzanne Vega • Switches • The A-Sides • The Cat Empire • The Cobbs • The Fratellis • The Smithereens • The Swimmers • Tower of Power • Vienna Teng • Will Hoge
2008
Alejandro Escovedo • Amos Lee • Angel Band • Back Door Slam • Beth Orton • Blind Boys of Alabama • Cheers Elephant • Chuck Prophet • Dar Williams • Dave Barnes • Dean & Britta • Ezra Furman & the Harpoons • Fooling April • Ingrid Michaelson • Jesse Ruben • Jim Bianco • Jim Boggia • Joan Osborne • John Gorka • Kuf Knotz & The Hustle • Madi Diaz • Matt Nathanson • Michael Franti & Spearhead • Mutlu • Nicole Atkins • O’Death • Railroad Earth • Salvador Santana Band • Shelby Lynne • Susan Werner • Suzanne Vega • Teddy Thompson • The Brakes • The Budos Band • The Loved Ones • The Mint • The Redwalls • The Refugees • The Shackletons • The Spinto Band • The War On Drugs • Toby Lightman • Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer
2009
Aimee Mann • Andrew Lipke & the Prospects • Annuals • Assembly of Dust • Donna the Buffalo • East Hundred • Farewell Flight • Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams • Gillian Grassie • Good Old War • Guster • Hoots & Hellmouth • Illinois • John Forte • John Gorka • John Wesley Harding • Katie Herzig • Like A Fox • Los Straitjackets • Matt Duke • Minas • Perkasie • Pete Yorn • Peter Bjorn And John • Robert Cray • Sarah Borges & the Broken • Serena Ryder • Sharon Little • Shemekia Copeland • Singles • Steve Forbert & the Windfall Prophets • Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3 • The Bacon Brothers • The Hold Steady • The Low Anthem • The Peace Creeps • The Revelations featuring Tre’ Williams • They Might Be Giants • Tom Hamilton’s American Babies • Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby • Yeasayer
2010
Alejandro Escovedo • Amy Correia • Ben Arnold • Ben Vaughn • Big Head Todd & the Monsters • Blood Feathers • Bobby Long • Birdie Busch • Cowboy Junkies • Dawes • Diane Birch • Dr. Dog • Dutch • Earl Greyhound • Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros • Fool’s Gold • Free Energy • Grace Potter and the Nocturnals • Harper Blynn • Joshua James • Nicole Atkins • Robert Francis • Robert Randolph and the Family Band • Rosanne Cash • The Felice Brothers • The Great Unknown • The Holmes Brothers • The Walkmen • These United States • Toy Soldiers • Yo La Tengo
2011
Ben Folds • Booker T • Carbon Leaf • Citizen Cope (solo Acoustic) • Clap Your Hands Say Yeah • Dar Williams • David Uosikkinen’s In The Pocket • Deb Callahan • Emmylou Harris • Gary Clark Jr. • Givers • Hayes Carll • Hezekiah Jones and Andrew Lipke • Jeff Bradshaw and Brass Heaven • Johnny Miles and the Waywards • Joseph Arthur • Jukebox The Ghost • Keb’ Mo’ • Kingsfoil • Kuf Knotz • Matt Duke • Nicos Gun • North Mississippi All Stars Duo • Other Lives • Queen Electric • Ra Ra Riot • Shemekia Copeland • Sun Airway • Susan Werner • Ted Leo and the Pharmacists • The Smithereens
2012
City Rain • Counting Crows • Dana Alexandra • Dave Hause • Dawes • Delta Rae • Delta Spirit • Diego Garcia • Dr. Dog • Field Report • Good Old War • JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound • JD McPherson • JD Souther • John Wesley Harding’s Cabinet of Wonders with: Rhett Miller, Megan Reilly, Eugene Mirman, and Rick Moody • Kaki King • Kasey Anderson • Kathleen Edwards • Lee Ranaldo Band • Lower Dens • Matt Santry Band • Mike Doughty • Ozomatli • Patterson Hood and the Downtown Rumblers • Rhett Miller and the Serial Lady Killers • The Avett Brothers • The Bailey Hounds • The Fleeting Ends • The Hold Steady • The Lumineers • The War On Drugs • We Are Augustines • Wilco •Work Drugs
2013
Aaron Brown • Alo Brasil • Bob Dylan and His Band • Brett Dennen • Dawes • Dr. Dog • Dr. John • DRGN King • Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros • Erin McKeown • Hey Marseilles • John Butler Trio • Jose James • Justin Townes Earle • Kat Edmonson • Kopecky Family Band • Lianne LaHavas • Lord Huron • Matt Pond • Michael Kiwanuka • My Morning Jacket • Phosphorescent • Polica • Red Baraat • Ryan Bingham • The Districts • The Fleeting Ends • The Last Bison • The Lumineers • The Stray Birds • Trampled By Turtles • Wilco
2014
Band of Horses • Bear’s Den • Beck • Caitlin Rose • CJ Cheneir and the Red Hot Louisiana Band • Commonwealth Choir • Dave Hause • Dawes • Diego Garcia • Ginger Coyle • Houndmouth • Hurray For the Riff Raff • Ingrid Michaelson • J Roddy Walston and The Business • James Cotton • Jenny Lewis • Jeremy Messersmith • Lake Street Dive • Lucius • Man Man • Marah • Marian Hill • Nicole Atkins • Old 97’s • Our Griffins • Rodrigo y Gabriela • Ryan Adams • Strand of Oaks • The Districts • The Hold Steady • The Lawsuits • Trigger Hippy • Viv & The Revival
2015
Bombino • Buckwheat Zydeco • Calexico • Cheerleader • Cole Redding • Courtney Barnett • Dawes • Delta Rae • Field Report • First Aid Kit • Fly Golden Eagle • George Ezra • Gina Chavez • Grace Potter • Hop Along • Indigo Girls • Israel Nash • JD McPherson • Kopecky • Lone Bellow • Lord Huron • Lost Bayou Ramblers • Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear • Milton • My Morning Jacket • Pine Barons • Rayland Baxter • Son Little • St. Vincent • The Wailers • The Word (Robert Randolph, John Medeski, North Mississippi Allstars) • Vita and the Woolf
2016
Alabama Shakes • Ben Arnold • Billy Hector • Brandi Carlile • case/lang/veirs • Chicano Batman • Colvin & Earle • Darlingside • David Wax Museum • Diane Coffee • Eliza Hardy Jones • Esme Patterson • Father John Misty (solo) • Femi Kuti & The Positive Force • Gary Clark Jr. • Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band • Kississippi • Kurt Vile & The Violators • Low Cut Connie • Mavis Staples • Old Crow Medicine Show • Oliver John-Rodgers • Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Queen Of Jeans • Rosemary Fiki • Ryan Adams and the Shining • The Districts • The Felice Brothers • The Marcus King Band • The Record Company • The Revivalists • The Suffers • Tommy Stinson • White Denim
2017
Adia Victoria • Amos Lee feat. Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Angel Olsen • Arkells • Brownout • Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires • Chicano Batman • Cliff Hillis • Conor Oberst • Dave Hause & The Mermaid• David Bromberg Quintet • Davy Knowles • Dream Syndicate • Drive-By Truckers • Foxygen • Hardwork Movement • Hop Along • Hurray for the Riff Raff • Hurry • Joseph • No Good Sister • Offa Rex • Pinegrove • Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Rhiannon Giddens • Spoon • Strand Of Oaks • Sweet Spirit • Swift Technique • The Dove & The Wolf • The Record Company • The Suffers • Wilco • Xenia Rubinos
2018
Bermuda Triangle feat. Brittany Howard (of Alabama Shakes), Becca Mancari and Jesse Lafser • Blind Boys of Alabama • Cloves • Courtney Marie Andrews • David Byrne • Darlingside • Devon Gilfillian • Fantastic Negrito • Femi Kuti & The Positive Force • Greg Sover Band • Harmony Woods • Hiss Golden Messenger • Hurry • JD McPherson • Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band • Jupiter & Okwess • Katie Frank • Lo Moon • Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real • M.A.K.U. Soundsystem • Margo Price • Mondo Cozmo • Mt. Joy • Natalie Prass • Phoebe Bridgers • Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Proper Dark • Sunflower Bean • Sturgill Simpson • Swift Technique • Sylvan Esso • Tank and the Bangas • The Lone Bellow • The National Reserve • The War on Drugs • &More (Donn T & Chill Moody)
2019
Ali Awan • Amy Ray Band (Indigo Girls) • Bettye LaVette • Blondie • Caroline Rose • Christone “Kingfish” Ingram • Dave Hause & The Mermaid • Dawes • Elvis Costello & The Imposters • Foxtrot & The Get Down • Gregory Alan Isakov • Guster • Hozier • J.S. Ondara • Japanese Breakfast • Kathleen Edwards • Killiam Shakespeare • Low Cut Connie • Lucy Dacus • Nilüfer Yanya • Rayland Baxter • RFA • Ruston Kelly • Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds • Sean Ardoin • St. Paul & The Broken Bones • The McCrary Sisters • The Vaughns • The War and Treaty • The Wood Brothers • Y La Bamba • Zeek Burse
2020

VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES BY:

Devon Gilfillian • Great Time • Illiterate Light • Liz Phair • Michaela Anne • Nicole Atkins • The Districts

2021
Ani DiFranco • Adia Victoria • Anna Shoemaker • Arthur Thomas and the Funkitorium • Christone “Kingfish” Ingram • Cimafunk • Cory Henry • Dawes • Devon Gilfillian • Great Time • Hoochi Coochi • Jade Bird • Lakou Mizik • Los Lobos • Michaela Anne • Nicole Atkins • Paul Beaubrun • Pigeons Playing Ping Pong • Shovels & Rope • Sierra Ferrell • Sofia Valdés • Stella Ruze • Strand of Oaks • Tedeschi Trucks: Fireside Live • The Record Company • Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers
2022
Bartees Strange • Black Opry Revue • Buffalo Nichols • Catbite • Chestnut Grove • Cosmic Guilt • Dos Santos • The Felice Brothers • Geese • Highnoon • Houndmouth • Jenny Lewis • Kathleen Edwards • Lo Moon • Lucinda Williams • Nathaniel Rateliff • Neal Francis • Omar’s Hat • Patti Smith and Her Band • Samantha Fish • Sarah Shook & The Disarmers • SNACKTIME • Taj Mahal • Tamino • The Dip • The Revivalists • The Suffers • The Tisburys • The War on Drugs • Valerie June
2023
Allison Russell • Bailen • Bobby Rush • Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers • Celisse • Christine Havrilla & Gypsy Fuzz • Don McCloskey • Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band • Julia Pratt • Leyla McCalla • Low Cut Connie • Margo Price • Mobbluz • Moustapha Noumbissi • Nik Greeley & the Operators • Old Crow Medicine Show • Sammy Rae & The Friends • Say She She • Sunny War • Tegan & Sara • The Hold Steady • Velvet Rogue • Wednesday • Wilder Woods
2024
The Walkmen • Pete Yorn • George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners • Cedric Burnside • Velvet Rouge • Carla Gamble • Rosanne Cash • Greensky Bluegrass • Phosphorescent • Blondshell • Brigitte Calls Me Baby • Lizzie No • Florry • Moustapha Noumbissi • Guster • Trampled by Turtles • Jade Bird • Bully • The Heavy Heavy • Julia Pratt • Grace Bowers • Brittany Ann Tranbaugh
2025
Courtney Barnett • Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory • WAR • Greensky Bluegrass • Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Molly Tuttle • Soccer Mommy • Spin Doctors • Richard Thompson • Tune-Yards • Kathleen Edwards • Craig Finn • Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country • Michigander • SNACKTIME • Southern Avenue • Zinadelphia • Owen Stewart • Emily Drinker • Black Buttafly • Maxwell Stern & The Good Light Band • Fawziyya Heart

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Soccer Mommy: XPoNential Music Festival: River Stage (Wiggins Park, Philadelphia PA, September 20, 2025)

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, River Stage, Soccer Mommy, Wiggins Park, WXPN 88.5 FM--Philadelphia, PA, XPN Fest, Xponential Music Festival on September 20, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 20, 2025] Soccer Mommy

I saw Soccer Mommy in 2021 and again earlier this year in January.  I didn’t need to see her again, but I was really excited that she was on the bill and I was excited for my wife to see her as well because they previous show was great.  And the weather was perfect for this set.

It’s a standard set up: Sophie Allison (who is Soccer Mommy) plays guitar and sings.  She has a fantastic four piece behind her–Rollum Haas: drums, Nick Widener: bass, Julian Powell: guitar and Rodrigo Avendano: guitar/keys.  The band is really good and they bring these songs to life live in a more powerful way than on the album.

The setlist varied a bit from January but in a shorter set she played all of  the hits.  And there is something really fun about being outside on a gorgeous day with a great musician playing songs just fifteen feet away from you.

She opened with Circle the Drain (every time I’ve seen her I’ve been surprised that she leads off with her hits).  And she followed it with Driver, which is on of my favorite songs of the year.  I love how heavy the verses were and then how soft the chorus was.  It sounded great live.

She told us that her song Abigail is about the character of Abigail in Stardew Valley. My wife loves Stardew and was quite tickled to hear that that’s what the song was about (she didn’t know the song).  It’s a slower song which Sophie said she wrote when she was having some writer’s block. But it proved to be a delightful song. (more…)

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Tune-Yards: XPoNential Music Festival: Marina Stage (Wiggins Park, Philadelphia PA, September 20, 2025)

Posted in Marina Stage, Philadelphia, PA, tUnE-yArDs, WXPN 88.5 FM--Philadelphia, PA, XPN Fest, Xponential Music Festival on September 20, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 20, 2025] Tune-Yards

I tend to not like Festivals.  They are long, they are crowded and usually the artists only play for like 40 minutes instead of a full set.  The XPoNential Music Festival is different because it is smaller (two stages) and doesn’t run very late.  And since we are members of the station we get some nice perks.

Having said that, we don’t go very often.  Usually there’s one or two people I want to see, but a festival is a lot of work for one or two bands.  Then this year’s lineup was announced.  And while one of the days wasn’t great (I’d have liked to see Courtney Barnett, but wasn’t willing to do a Festival just for her), the other day was great:

RIVER STAGE:
Soccer Mommy
Molly Tuttle
Sharon van Etten and the Attachment Theory

MARINA STAGE:
Tune-Yards
Richard Thompson
Kathleen Edwards

I would have happily stayed for all 6 musicians.  But it turned out that we didn’t anticipate the crowds.  By the time we finally got parking and got onto the grounds, Tune-Yards was already playing.  We were still trying to get our bearings, so we basically didn’t see any of their set.  Of course, we could hear the just fine and it was fun to hear their music.  But honestly, they are really fun to watch so it wasn’t quite the same.

Surprisingly, there’s no setlist available and even the WXPN recap doesn’t include songs or a stream (nearly everyone else has a stream).  The only thing they mention is

Merrill Garbus, the main brain behind the majority of Tune-Yards’ material, bounced between electric ukulele, toms, lead vocals, and an SP-404 electronic sampler. Nate Brenner added bass, backing vocals, and analog synth to the mix. Watching Garbus sing while creating and triggering loops on her sampler was an insanely impressive showing of multitasking, frequently using her bare feet to control her vocal chops and recording the drums in front of her into complex, layered rhythms.

I wasn’t really paying attention to what they played, so I can’t even say what I heard, but, as always, their music was fun to have floating around in the air around us. (more…)

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xponential music festival (Wiggins Park, Camden, NJ, September 16-22, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Camden, NJ, Marina Stage, Wiggins Park, WXPN 88.5 FM--Philadelphia, PA, XPN Fest, Xponential Music Festival on September 16, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 16-22, 2022] Xponential Music Festival

We went to this festival with the family back in 2016.  It was really hot.  The kids were in the in-between age where they didn’t really like the music but were too old to just enjoy being outside.

But we saw some really good bands.

It has felt like since then, the bands haven’t been all that interesting.  Although I do like that it’s in September and not July.

These headliners were not interesting to me at all.  We had seen The War on Drugs and it was a great show, but I didn’t need to see them again.  And the rest just weren’t very interesting to me.

In fact, usually the headliners are kind of irrelevant because the fun is in the side stages.

There were certainly a few performers I would have enjoyed seeing.  But most of them we have seen fairy recently.

The only band I haven’t seen who I’d like to is Catbite and maybe Sarah Shook & The Disarmers.  But neither one was worth going to a festival for.

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Kathleen Edwards (Le Poisson Rouge, New York, NY, September 25, 2021)

Posted in Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, Kathleen Edwards, Late Night with David Letterman, Le Poisson Rouge, New York City, Newport Folk Festival, XPN Fest on September 26, 2021| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 25, 2021] Kathleen Edwards

I’ve enjoyed Kathleen Edwards’ music for years.  Her album Voyageur is just stunning.

But when that album came out back in 2012, I wasn’t really going to many shows.   It wasn’t until a few years later that I got the concert bug again and put Kathleen on my “gotta see” list.

But Kathleen had other ideas.  After Voyageur, she took a break from music.  In 2014, she launched a coffee house in Stittsville, Ottawa called Quitters.  And it seemed like she might never play again (even though she said she would).  So I left her on my “maybe, someday” list.

Then in 2019, she played the WXPNFest (the same weekend that we were going to the Newport Folk Festival–I was a wee bit surprised she didn’t play Newport too).  I kind of assumed that it was a one-off return and that would be that.

But an album soon followed.  And then earlier this year it was announced that she was playing The Met Philly.  But as an opening act for Jason Isbell, who I did not want to see.  [It’s one thing going to a show for the opening act, but it’s another if you don’t actually like the headline].  So, again, I was out of luck.

But then she announced a show in New York City at Le Poisson Rouge.  And even though LPR is hugely inconvenient for me and it cost extra in tolls and parking, I’m so glad I went to the LPR show rather than the other two.  If for no other reason than the other two shows were all of 9 songs while this one was 16.  And the LPR crowd were there to see her!  And they sang along, and she was pretty tickled with us all. (more…)

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MariNaomi–Distant Stars: Life on Earth Book 3 (2020)

Posted in Abortion, Aliens, Coronavirus, Domestic Violence, Graphic Novel, Graphic Universe, Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, Kathleen Edwards, MariNaomi, Marriage Trouble, Mdou Moctar, Nigeria, Quarantine, Romance, Set at School, Sexism, Tiny Desk (Home) Concerts, Tiny Desk Concert, Trilogy, XPN Fest, YA Books on June 17, 2021| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: MDOU MOCTAR-Tiny Desk (Home) Concert #213 (May 24, 2021).

Mdou Moctar has been getting some well deserved recognition lately.  It’s pretty great to see a Nigerian performer, who plays distinctly Nigerian style music making an impression on American audiences.

Of course, since I’m contrary, I’m more attracted to Moctar’s drummer who is playing a calabash–in this case red object that looks like a turtle shell and makes a remarkable range of sounds.  But really the focus should be on Moctar’s guitar playing.

Get ready for some fiery desert guitar-shredding, Saharan style, with the music of Mdou Moctar. Producer and American bassist Mikey Coltun told me that “the concert was filmed outside of the house we were all staying at in Niamey, Niger, in November/December 2020.” He continued, “As with any sort of musical happenings in the region, once some music is blasted, that’s an invitation for anyone to come join, sing, clap, dance, and just come together as a community. We wanted to present the Tiny Desk exactly like this, from when we started playing to finally the energy growing with fans crowded around filming on their cell phones and passing around Tuareg tea.”

And so, the four musicians, seated on a blanket (designed with oversized roses) with amps on either side, start playing with no fanfare.

The (home) concert starts off with Mahamadou Souleymane, a.k.a. Mdou Moctar, playing a melodic line on acoustic guitar, with Ahmoudou Madassane on rhythm guitar, Souleymane Ibrahim playing percussion on a calabash, and Mikey Coulton on his Fender Mustang bass on the song “Ya Habibti” from the album Afrique Victime. It’s an album of songs dealing with intense subjects close to Mdou Moctar’s heart: colonialism, exploitation, inequality, but also love.

The song almost feels like a drone because the bass and rhythm pretty much never change throughout.  The drumming is muted–effective but never sharp.  And Moctar’s voice and lead guitar work is subtle.  I’m sure since I don’t understand what he’s singing (which sounds pretty intense), I find his voice very soothing.

“Tala Tannam” follows in the same pattern–except the bass is even less mobile and the way Moctar sings it feels like a lullaby.  The best part is watching Ibrahim and Coltun clearly enjoying themselves–smiling to each other and even hugging at one point.  It’s hard to know how long these songs are as they seems to just go until they stop, but this one does have a deliberate ending.  It’s when he puts down his acoustic and grabs the electric guitar.

You can hear the real musical fire on the last song, the roughly 7-minute psych-rock title track to Afrique Victime. “Africa is a victim of so many crimes,” Mdou Moctar sings in French. “If we stay silent, it will be the end of us.” Silence is not something in Mdou Moctar’s vocabulary.

Moctar’s soloing was subtle on the other songs, but you can really here it standing out with this sharp electric guitar sound.  It’s nice to watch his fingers fly around the neck. There’s some guitar god moments in the soloing–including some finger tapping–but having him seated and equal with everyone else, the solos never seem showoffy.  I also like the way the song speeds up incrementally as it goes–mostly notable by how fast Ibrahim is suddenly hitting the calabash.

[READ: June 10, 2021] Losing the Girl

This final book of the trilogy was a little disappointing for me.

I don’t know what I was expecting, but I feel like there wasn’t enough resolution for anyone.

The book opens on Nigel.  Claudia has shown up to tutor him in math.  He is so smitten he writes a poem that he submits for class.  He calls it “Teacher” and his teacher assumes it is about her.  I can’t even believe that he would submit a poem with the line “teach me how to make puppy love turn into doggy style”  (Nigel is so clueless).

Next we see Brett at his mother’s funeral.  Johanna tries to comfort him but he blows her off demanding to know why she didn’t tell him about her and Paula.  They smooth things over and she asks if his father knows that his mother died.  He says no, he hasn’t talked to his father in a long time.  Jo says her mother might know how to get in touch with him.

The next section is about Darren.  He is by himself remembering how his father hurt his mother and how he doesn’t want to repeat the cycle. (more…)

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MariNaomi–Losing the Girl: Life on Earth Book 1 (2018)

Posted in Abortion, Aliens, Coronavirus, Domestic Violence, Graphic Novel, Graphic Universe, Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, Kathleen Edwards, MariNaomi, Marriage Trouble, Quarantine, Romance, Set at School, Sexism, Tiny Desk (Home) Concerts, Tiny Desk Concert, Trilogy, XPN Fest, YA Books on June 15, 2021| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: KATHLEEN EDWARDS-Tiny Desk (Home) Concert #211 (May 19, 2021).

Kathleen Edwards is a wonderful songwriter with a fantastic voice.  I discovered her from her 2008 album Asking For Flowers.

She put out one more record and then disappeared.

Struggling with depression, Kathleen Edwards opened a coffee shop called Quitters Coffee and lived a very different life.  A handful of years later, in 2017, she was invited to Nashville by Maren Morris to write some songs. That Nashville visit sparked a new beginning and eventually the 2020 album Total Freedom, which birthed the four songs you hear in this Tiny Desk concert.

So Kathleen Edwards is back with a wonderful new album.

On this Tiny desk she is joined by Todd Lombardo and Justin Schipper on dobro (that slide guitar looking thing).

Kathleen’s voice sounds great and on “Glenfern.”

From a house in East Nashville, Kathleen Edwards sings about how thankful she is for those early aughts when she was praised with awards, television appearances, touring to packed venues — even if the tour bus with the bed in back was “total crap.” As she continues to sing “Glenfern,” the opening track to her first album in eight years as well as this Tiny Desk (home) concert, she remembers her former husband and collaborator.

After the first song she introduces the band and says I can’t sing through a mask so after this we’re going straight to to the COVID clinic.

Kathleen Edwards seems happy playing these new songs.  They can be songs of sadness, sometimes filled with seething, such as “Ashes to Ashes,” but she’s also grateful for her everlasting love for a four-legged creature and the little catalpa tree where it’s buried.

There’s some beautiful interplay of guitars in this song.  It’s amazing how great her voice sounds with no accompaniment, no effects.  And afterwards she tells a delightful story about catalpa trees–I just passed one on a dog walk yesterday and absolutely want to try to grow my own this year.

“Hard On Everyone” is the song that’s been getting some airplay around here.  It’s so catchy, I love it.  And the lyrics are pointed and spot on.  when the song is over she and Todd bump elbows and their guitars bump for a nice resounding thump.

I would love to see Kathleen Edwards live.  She played one of her first shows after retiring at XPN Fest, unfortunately that was the year we went to Newport Folk Festival.  Now I see she’s coming around again, but she’s opening for Jason Isbell, and I don’t want to see him, so I’ll have to hope she finds a smaller club to headline.

[READ: June 10, 2021] Losing the Girl

T. brought this book home from school and I though the cover looked pretty neat.  When I looked inside I really liked the crazy drawing style(s) of it (S. did not like it at all).

The book opens on Nigel Jones, a boy with dreadlocks (his profile is always great, and MariNaomi uses these dreadlocks to express Nigels’ mood in clever ways).  The book also uses simple things like arrows to convey movement in a panel, which I liked.  One of the early ones shows a city block.  We just saw Nigel get off a bus and the arrows and a tiny figure on a skateboard show which way he is going.  This effect is used very well at a party later as we see the crowd move about the room in a static picture.

It’s through Nigel that we learn that nobody’s phones are working–this is a steady concern and a minor (or major) irritant throughout the story.   We also learn that a girl, Claudia Jones, (no relation) has been missing for three days.  Everyone has speculations about what happened to her.

Nigel lives with his mom (his dad has moved out) and Nigel is not too happy about the new arrangements–just because your parents separate doesn’t mean they fight less.  In school the next day Nigel tells a joke to Emily.  I found it very funny but Emily doesn’t seem to.  She asks if that’s his way of flirting with her.  A lightbulb goes off and he says yes (he’s had a crush on her for years).  She agrees to meet him at the bleachers later. (more…)

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