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Kevin Devine / The New Amsterdams / Brother Bird (Crossroads, Garwood, NJ, May 18, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

May 18, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 18, 2023] Kevin Devine / The New Amsterdams featuring Matt Pryor / Brother Bird

I’ve been a fan of Kevin Devine for a few years.  I feel like I’ve seen him a bunch because he so often plays around here.  And yet I have only seen him three time (twice solo and once with his Goddamn Band).  I would love to see him again especially with his band.

This show was intriguing–he was playing his album Make the Clocks Move (recently re-released) plus more.  The posters made it unclear whether he would be playing with the New Amsterdams or not.

From what I can gather, Kevin was solo, with an occasional guest.

But once again, Kevin Devine has scheduled a local show on the same night as three other shows I wanted to see.  This happened in April of last year as well–three other shows that I had wanted to go to. Tonight’s were The New Pornographers, Richard Thompson and Acid Mothers Temple (who won out).  This show was in Garwood, a local(ish) town that I hope to see more shows at. I’m bummed I couldn’t make this one as it sounds like a great night.

I had never heard of The New Amsterdams.  They are a project of Matt Pryor, the lead singer of The Get Up Kids.  This is his more folkie/mellow side.  But as soon as he started singing, I recognized his voice right away.

The New Amsterdams were Matt Pryor and (according to Country Standard Time) “a few backing musicians.”  He/they were playing the album Worse for the Wear (plus more).

Opening for them was Brother Bird (Caroline Swon, who was a The Voice Season 4 contender).  She played solo acoustic.  She has a very pleasant voice, although the above review says “the songs ended up being a bit too similar … more variety would have suited Brother Bird.”

The review also noted that Brother Bird was a utility player throughout the night, showing up during the sets of both Devine and The New Amsterdams.

Here’s The New Amsterdams (clip from Country Standard Time) filmed at Brighton Music Hall.

Posted in Brother Bird, First Unitarian Church, Kevin Devine, Philadelphia, PA, The New Amsterdams | Leave a Comment »

Richard Thompson (McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ, May 18, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

May 18, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 18, 2023] Richard Thompson

I’ve seen Richard Thompson more than almost anyone else.

I had wanted to move him to my 2nd place list with one more show.

I love seeing him at McCarter, which is a great venue and has a lot of long time fans.  I’ve seen him there more than anywhere else.

But this show was on May 18, a night that I’d already had tickets for The New Pornographers and Acid Mothers Temple had announced a show for the same night.  And so did Kevin Devine.

So Richard would have to wait.  And since he lives in Montclair, I’m sure he’ll be playing again nearby soon.

Posted in McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ, Richard Thompson | Leave a Comment »

ST 37 (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, May 18, 2023) [ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE]

May 18, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: May 18, 2023] ST 37

I had never heard of ST 37 until they were scheduled to tour with Acid Mothers Temple back in 2020.  That tour was postponed and then cancelled, but here it is three years later and they are still touring together.

What does ST 37 mean?  Well, when I searched for the band, what came up first was:

ST 37 ANTISEPTIC SOLUTION kills common pathogenic bacteria quickly on contact. Laboratory tests have established S.T.37 antiseptic solution as a general antiseptic for household use.

So maybe they are a tribute to the antiseptic.  Actually, an interview from 2021 sets it straights:

Carlton Crutcher named us that after the song by the great San Francisco band Chrome, from their album ‘Alien Soundtracks’. It was not until later that we discovered it was the name of a throat antiseptic product!

And what do they sound like?  Their bandcamp says

Quite simply, we rule. And we have been ruling for over 30 years. So there.

They play a noisy experimental kind of rock and have nine people listed in their “past members” category.  Wikipedia gives these two quotes about them: mind-altering space-punk whose live shows are drowning in a haze of guitar and reverb that can drift through cosmically shifting layers of aggressive punk riffs, fuzzed noise, and scalding jams.

And that’s all pretty accurate.  As they started, I was standing right in front of bassist/singer, ever present member S.L. Telles.  The bass was WAAAAAY too loud for the rest of the band, so I had to back away.  I think it was fixed later because it seemed to settle down okay.  Of course, the bass is the only constant through the set. Continue Reading »

Posted in Acid Mothers Temple, Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O., Indian Jewelry, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, ST 37, Studded Left | Leave a Comment »

The New Pornographers / Wild Pink (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, May 18, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

May 18, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 18, 2023] The New Pornographers / Wild Pink

I saw New Pornographers’ back in 2019 (I didn’t realize it was quite so long ago).  I enjoyed the show quite a lot.  And almost wondered if I didn’t need to see them again since they played pretty much everything I wanted to see.

But when they announced this show (in the same place), I immediately grabbed a ticket.

But then May 18 proved to be a hugely popular night for shows.  There was Richard Thompson, Kevin Devine and, most importantly, Acid Mothers Temple.

I have seen AMT more than New Pornographers, but it’s such a fun treat for AMT to come to the States (they had several shows cancelled because of the pandemic), that I couldn’t pass it up.

So even though I heard  the New Pornographers show was great (by all accounts), I was pretty pleased with the AMT show.

Wild Pink plays pleasant but kind of dull music.  I listened to a few songs and kind of forgot that they were on.  So it felt like a push towards Acid Mothers Temple.

Posted in Neko Case, Philadelphia, PA, The New Pornographers, Union Transfer, Wild Pink | Leave a Comment »

Richard Thompson (Musikfest Cafe, Bethlehem, PA, May 17, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

May 17, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 17, 2023] Richard Thompson

I wanted to see Richard Thompson, although we had seen him fairly recently.  Actually, I’d really like to see him with his band rather than solo.  But I’m not sure if he’ll be bringing a band with him on tour much anymore–maybe is he releases a full band record again?

When his first local show was announced at McCarter, I was pretty excited about it.  But it turned out to be the one night that I had other shows lined up.

Then he announced this show at Musikfest Cafe.  It’s a great venue and I would have loved to have seen him there.  But I had a few things going on this week and it just wasn’t going to happen.

I’m sure he’ll be playing nearby again soon–maybe even with his band.

Posted in Bethlehem, PA, Musikfest Cafe, Richard Thompson | Leave a Comment »

Shame / Been Stellar (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, May 13, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

May 13, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 13, 2023] Shame / Been Stellar

I hadn’t heard of Shame before this show, although apparently they are quite legendary for their live shows.  When this show was announced there was much hype.  And for a change, I didn’t buy into it.

So I didn’t get tickets, but I have heard some great things about the show.

Indeed, according to Brooklyn Vegan, their show the day before at Irving Plaza

frontman Charlie Steen in typical give-it-all performance mode, much of it spent in — and on top of — the audience. For final song “Gold Hole,” Steen climbed atop the crowd, up to the second floor balcony rail, and plunged again into the teeming mass who carried him back to the stage.

I don’t see any reviews of this Union Transfer show, but I imagine it was similarly wild.

They seem suitably energetic and fun without being unpleasantly noisy and crazy.

Been Stellar (name inspired by Ben Stiller) is a New York band that (according to Fader) plays “timeless alt-rock sound–a mix of anthemic choruses and nonchalant guitars that combine to create something both deeply considered and effortlessly cool.”  I’ve listened to a couple of songs and I really like them.

Posted in Been Stellar, Philadelphia, PA, Shame, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »

Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls / The Interrupters / Bedouin Soundclash (Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park, NJ, May 13, 2023 / Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, May 14, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

May 13, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 13 & 14, 2023] Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls / The Interrupters / Bedouin Soundclash

I am reposting exactly what I wrote last year:

I had been wanting to see him for a long time because I’d heard his live shows were amazing.  I saw him last year in a solo (more or less) performance.  And it was great.  So next, I wanted to see him with his band because I’ve heard the band version is even wilder with a more punk aesthetic and I do love a fun punk show.

I grabbed a ticket to this immediately, not realizing that it was Father’s Day Mother’s Day.  It’s not a very Fatherly nice way to spend Mother’s Day by being away from your family for hours.  So I didn’t go.

COME ON FRANK.  Last year on father’s Day.  This year on Mother’s Day?  WTF.

I prefer the Fillmore to the Summer Stage, but by the time I realized that my tickets were for Mother’s Day, we had already made plans for the Saturday so I couldn’t grab tickets in Asbury Park anyway.

The Interrupters opened for the Hella-Mega tour.  We caught their ska set and it was fun as anything. I definitely want to se them again, so this bill was killer for me.

Bedouin Soundclash is from Canada.  Their music is like a combination of reggae and rock with ska elements.  Although everything I listened to on Spotify was far more mellow than I would have expected for this tour.

Posted in Bedouin Soundclash, Frank Turner, Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, Philadelphia, PA, The Fillmore Philadelphia, The Interrupters | Leave a Comment »

Voivod / Imperial Triumphant (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, May 11, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

May 11, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 11, 2023] Voivod / Imperial Triumphant

I saw Voivod play back in 2019.

I’ve been a fan of Voivod for decades.  But I never saw them live when I was most into them (late 80’s).  Then after Denis “Piggy” D’Amour’s death in 2005 I assumed I never would.  But amazingly they found a guy who plays guitar very much like Piggy did–a bizarre hybrid of prog, metal, dissonance and eerie harmony.  That man is Daniel “Chewy” Mongrain.  Chewy is able to play Piggy’s parts.  And his new parts are very much in the style of old Voivod, but are certainly his own.

I was pretty excited to go to this show.  I wanted to see them again (although Underground Arts seemed rather small for them).  But for one reason or another I never got a ticket.  And the show cam and went and I missed it.

I was actually more interested in seeing the opening act, Imperial Triumphant, an American experimental metal band formed in 2005 in New York City.  I’m intrigued, especially, because they wear these wild costumes on stage.  Their sound is abrasive and weird.

I do hope to see them at some time.

And Voivod again too.

Posted in Imperial Triumphant, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts, Voivod | Leave a Comment »

Hozier “Pop Up Show” (World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA, May 9, 2023)

May 10, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: May 9, 2023] Hozier

Hozier announced a headline tour this year (first tour in several years) and I knew I had to get tickets.  My son is a big fan and the rest of us like him quite a lot.  We saw him at Newport Folk Festival a few years ago (although my son chose to skip that day) and he was amazing live.

The tickets went on sale mid March and I got 100% shut out from the Mann Center.  I probably could have gotten lawn seats, but that would have been decidedly uncool.  And by the time I decided whether or not to get lawn seats, they were all gone too (sold out the 14,000 capacity venue, no bad).

And then in mid April he announced he’d be playing some “pop up” shows.  Including one at World Cafe Live.

I never thought I’d get tickets, but somehow I managed to get two.  So my son and I went to Philly to see him.  And, without even talking about the show I can attest that it was 100% better than seeing him at the Mann Center and 1000% better than seeing him from the lawn at the Mann Center.

We arrived early in hopes of getting pretty close to the stage (WCL is quite small with great sightlines.  I didn’t think we’d get up front–and my son was fine with that–but I didn’t want to be too close to the noisy bar either).  We passed by the venue at 6:30 and saw a relatively small line.  But we had plans for Federal Donuts and fried chicken.  Only to discover after the three or four block walk that this location closed at 3 (two blocks from 2 colleges and you close at 3PM?).  That threw off all the plans, so we wound up going to an amazing Halal food truck.  I couldn’t walk and eat, so I stuffed my gyro into my pocket and we headed into the venue (thank goodness they didn’t search for food).

We got down there and my son was delighted with how tiny the place was.  I didn’t want to stand right where people come in so we squeezed  to the other side.  Which was pretty good, although there were a couple of tall people who I knew would block our view from time to time.  So he sneaked around to the side.  I thought it might be a little far to the side (and in fairness, I couldn’t see all of the band), but the sightline for Hozier himself were perfect.  And that’s what we were there for.

Hozier and his large band (nine people in total) came out to much applause. Continue Reading »

Posted in Hozier, Julia Pratt, Philadelphia, PA, World Cafe Live | Leave a Comment »

Belle and Sebastian (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, May 9, 2023) [CANCELLED]

May 9, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[CANCELLED: May 9, 2023] Belle and Sebastian 

Last year we had to miss the Belle and Sebastian show because of my daughter’s graduation.

I didn’t expect them to announce another tour so quickly (or to release another album so quickly).

But the chance to see them in a relatively small space like White Eagle Hall was pretty exciting.

Then on January 24, we got this message

Unfortunately Belle and Sebastian’s show at White Eagle Hall has been canceled. Tickets will be refunded as soon as possible, please see below for a statement from the band: Continue Reading »

Posted in Belle and Sebastian, Cancelled, Jersey City, NJ, White Eagle Hall | Leave a Comment »

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