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Karina Rykman / Guerrilla Toss (The Wonder Bar, Asbury Park, NJ, September 21, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 21, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 21, 2023] Karina Rykman / Guerrilla Toss

I’ve only been to The Wonder Bar once and I really liked it.  Strange how in all these years since there haven’t been any bands I’ve wanted to see there (not exactly true, but the few I’ve wanted to always conflicted).  Then Karina Rykman announced a surprise show there.

My wife and I saw her open for Guster and she was great live.  I’ve since listened to a bunch of her live shows online and she’s a great performer.

When I saw that this tour promised that Guerrilla Toss was opening, I needed to go.  So, even though I had a ticket to see Boris, a band I never want to miss when they come here (especially since they almost called it quits recently), I grabbed a cheap ticket to Karina just in case it sold out.

Then Melvins drummer, Dale Crover injured himself and was going to miss the tour.  I actually wondered if it might get postponed.  But no.  But Karina announced a show in Philly at Milkboy an I grabbed a ticket for that.  It doesn’t look like Guerrilla Toss is going to play that show which is a bummer.  But Karina is worth schlepping into center city Philly in December.

I don’t exactly remember what first attracted me to Guerrilla Toss.  I had heard very good things about them, although I don’t remember what.  I also don’t think I heard about them before 2014 when they were apparently really crazy as this clip from Impose notes:

What I loved about that band in 2014 is not what I love about them now. As long time fans of Toss know, the band is much different now. They’ve ditched the nudity, the three-song sets, the mindless and sometimes violent thrashing. Guerilla Toss brought this hurricane of inescapable absurdity and frantic release; there was always a feeling of, “I need to get this out of me, whatever it is, right fuckin’ now.” On the last three releases, they’ve synthesized the pop even further into a truly danceable and quite accessible experience, one that retains the absurdity and the anxiety that Toss fans have always really appreciated. The reason I love Guerilla Toss now is because not only can I continue to move to their music, but it’s entered a space that ultimately does not push out those who might be afraid to mix with the obscure, the scary, the sometimes absurdly violent environments that the old Guerilla Toss would bring with them everywhere they go. And yet they haven’t fully ditched that angle either. Guerilla Toss, the way I see it anyways, is a chance for experimental, fans-of-the-fringe, noise heads to fuck with mainstream indie-pop, and for mainstream indie-pop heads to fuck with the noise.

I have to say when I listened to them recently I thought they sounded really safe, so maybe they have matured really really far in ten years.  I wonder if their shows are still fun.  And I suppose there’s still a chance they’ll play in Philly.

Posted in Asbury Park, NJ, Guerrilla Toss, Karina Rykman, Wonder Bar | Leave a Comment »

Death Cab for Cutie / The Postal Service / Warpaint (The Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA, September 21, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 21, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 21, 2023] Death Cab for Cutie / The Postal Service / Warpaint

Back in December, Ben Gibbard announced an upcoming tour:

The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie have announced a co-headlining tour taking place next fall. The 2023 dates will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their respective 2003 records: Give Up and Transatlanticism. Bandleader Benjamin Gibbard will pull double-duty each night of the tour, as his bands perform the albums front-to-back. The trek also marks the first live performances from the Postal Service in a decade. Find the full tour schedule below and scroll down for a trailer video.

“I know for a fact I will never have a year again like 2003,” Gibbard said in a press release. “The Postal Service record came out; Transatlanticism came out. These two records will be on my tombstone, and I’m totally fine with that. I’ve never had a more creatively inspired year.”

I was pretty excited about this show since DCFC are so great live and that Postal Service album is pretty great as well.

As it turns out, the show sold out in about 5 seconds.  I was sure they’d announce a second Philly show, but they didn’t.  So, nope I didn’t get to see this one.  It was later announced that Boris would be playing this night in Philly and I would have been pissed if I had to miss them again even if for a show I wanted to see.

Warpaint seems to be an opening band for a bunch of shows I’m interested in and yet I’ve never seen them.  I feel like they should be noisy and wild, but they’re really not.  The only thing I really know about them is that drummer Stella Mozgawa is pretty dynamite.  They remind me a lot of Luscious Jackson.

Posted in Death Cab For Cutie, Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA, Postal Service, The Postal Service, Warpaint | Leave a Comment »

Melt-Banana (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, September 20, 2023) [IGORRR]

September 21, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: September 20, 2023] Melt-Banana

I’ve known about Melt-Banana for years.  I knew they were loud and fast and were from Japan.  But I didn’t know much beyond that.  Turns out they’ve never had a permanent drummer.  They like the freedom of a drum machine.  For over twenty years they had a bass player (Rika Hamamoto) but when they decided to tour again recently, they decided to go just as as duo Yasuko Onuki – vocals and Ichiro Agata – guitars, effects.

After getting all of their gear set up, Yasuko calmly stood with a colorful videogame controller looking device in her hand.  A wall of amps and a laptop behind her.  Off to her left a few feet was Ichiro, with a guitar, a huge array of pedals and his own wall of amps.

He played fast and he looped his sounds and did a million things most of which I can’t even fathom.  Yasuko had her device and from time to time, she would wave her hand and presumably push a button on the gadget and the drums and bass blasted out of the speakers.  And these drums sounded great–they sounded real and not like a preprogrammed device.  I actually wondered if they were somehow triggering the drumset that was set up behind them (they weren’t).

Yasuko sings very high, very fast and sounds kind of angry.  But she never looked angry.  And she never broke a sweat (while Ichiro was a sweaty mess).

They played a whole bunch of songs, I can’t even imagine how anyone could tell them apart.  But someone did, as the setlist below is from the NY show but I believe it is the same (or roughly so) of ours–comparing my clips to what the songs are, it seems like the setlist was the same each night.

About half way through, Yasuko brought over a mic stand with a piece of paper taped to it.  There were 8 lines in Japanese.  She said they were going to play 8 very sort songs and proceeded to play the 8 songs in less than 3 minutes.

After that they were back to longer songs.   The last three songs of the set are around the 4 minute mark.

It was wild and fun and unpredictable.  And the crowd was totally into it.  In fact, this guy who cut in front of me to be right on the stage said he was going to see them tomorrow as well.  He moved away for the last song so he could join the inevitable pit and did not return for Igorrr.

Melt-Banana haven’t put out a new record in about ten years.  But they tour all the time.  So catch them if you can.

  1. Chain-Shot to Have Some Fun ≡
  2. The Hive €
  3. Vertigo Game €
  4. To Raffle or not to Raffle ∇
  5. Lie Lied Lies €
  6. Case D in the Test Tube ℵ
  7. So Unfilial Rule (0:14) (Discordance Axis song) ψ
  8. T for Tone (0:16) ß
  9. Lock the Head (0:28) ß
  10. Scrubber (0:17) §
  11. We Love Choco-Pa! (0:16) ©
  12. First Defy (0:11) ⊗
  13. Screw, Loose (0:24) §
  14. His Name Is Mickey (At Last She Got Him…) (0:22) ⇔
  15. Killer Garden in the Bottle ∞
  16. Sakura Spiral ∞
  17. My Missing Link €
  18. Infection Defective €
  19. Candy Gum €

BOLD songs are part of the “short song” segment

∞ split single with Napalm Death (2016)
€ Fetch (2013)
ß Bambi’s Dilemma (2007)
ψ 13 Hedgehogs (MxBx Singles 1994–1999)
≡ Cell-Scape (2003)
⊗ MxBx 1998 / 13,000 Miles at Light Velocity (1999)
⇔ Scratch or Stitch (1995)
© Cactuses Come in Flocks (1994)
§ Speak Squeak Creak (1994)

∇ Japan is Loud [Adult Swim compilation 2022]
ℵ Noise [Adult Swim compilation 2016]

 

Posted in Igorrr, Melt-Banana, Otto von Schirach, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts | Leave a Comment »

Melvins / Boris / Mr. Phylzzz (Musikfest Cafe, Steel Stacks, Bethlehem, PA, September 20, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 20, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 20, 2023] Melvins / Boris / Mr. Phylzzz 

There’s not a lot that could keep me away from a Boris show.  Although the last time they came to the area, it was the same night that my daughter wanted to see Kurtis Conner.  So obviously she won out that night.

This year, I saw that Boris and Melvins were touring together.  I’m not a big fan of the Melvins.  I like them in theory but never really got into their music.  And yes, I know that Boris gets their name from a Melvins song, so this tour is just too perfect.

Anyhow, the one thing that could keep me away from this show was the fact that I had tickets to see Igorr this very night and I wasn;t going  to pass up that rare opportunity.  PLUS, this very show was going to be in Philadelphia the next night.

Mr. Phylzzz are described as a “two-piece loud-ass noise rock band from Chicago, IL.”  Sounds like a perfect fit for this show.  I’ll find out tomorrow.

Posted in Bethlehem, PA, Boris, Mr. Phylzzz , Steelstacks, The Melvins | Leave a Comment »

The Breeders: 30th Anniversary Tour / Screaming Females (The Fillmore, Philadelphia, PA, September 20, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 20, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 20, 2023] The Breeders / Screaming Females

When The Breeders released “Cannonball” 30 years ago (!), I fell in love with the song (and the video).  It had so much Pixies in it and Kim Deal sounded great.

I believed that I loved the whole album, but it’s possible that I only really liked a couple of songs.

When I saw that they were doing a 30th anniversary tour, I thought that I had to go to it since I’ve seen Pixies without Kim a few times now.  But this show turned out to be the same night that Igorrr and I’ve had tickets for that show since December and there was no way I was going to miss it.

I guess realized I liked The Breeders a bit more in memory than in reality.

Screaming Females opened the show.  I really liked them a few years ago.  I bought most of their records and saw them live twice. But recently, for reasons that are completely unclear to me, I’ve gone cold on them.

Oh well, no biggie.

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Pixies, Screaming Females, The Breeders, The Fillmore Philadelphia | Leave a Comment »

Otto von Schirach (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, September 20, 2023) [IGORRR]

September 20, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: September 20, 2023] Otto von Schirach

I bought tickets to this show back in December–I was really really looking forward to seeing Igorrr after reading about his live shows.  I thought that I had missed him a few years back, but I don’t really see any evidence of him having played Philly since like 2018.

But I wasn’t missing this show.  I was pretty delighted to see that Melt-Banana were opening, but I didn’t know anything about Otto von Schirach.

So who is he?

Bermuda Triangle born Otto Von Schirach is one of a kind human/alien, His magical presence & energy makes you overwhelming happy. This Miami Native puts out many different types of epic Electronic music and always has new life and sounds to share, hence he is always touring around the earth. His Shows are more of a sonic ear cleanse, aura cleanse and will magnify your pineal gland! You will be extremely happy after his live performance.

Otto is really really into triangles.  He wears a headband with a triangle hanging off of it.  Unless I am mistaken, he has two songs about triangles (one of which “Triangle Pit” has these lyrics: Continue Reading »

Posted in Igorrr, Melt-Banana, Otto von Schirach, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts | Leave a Comment »

Bombino (City Winery Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, September 20, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 20, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 20, 2023] Bombino

Bombino is a Tuareg guitar player.

Ever since learning about Tuareg musicians from NPR Music, I’ve made a list of four bands that I’d like to see live, They are Mdou Moctar, Tinariwen, Imarhan and Bombino.

I was lucky enough to see Mdou Moctar recently.  Bombino is actually the first of the Tuareg guitarists I’d heard of and I was rather looking forward to seeing him when he announced he was playing the States.

However, this evening proved to be a night with FOUR shows I was interested in.  And, I already had tickets to one of them (Igorrr).  There was also a Breeders tour, and a Melvin/Boris show in Bethlehem (which would be an insane place to see them, but I’m seeing them tomorrow).

So, Bombino had to be pushed aside.  I’m sure he’ll be back and I’ll get to see him another time.  I imagine that Tinariwen are most likely the next band to come back to Philly.  We’ll see if I’m right.

The promotion for this tour has never mentioned if anyone is opening for his show.  I assume someone is, but I cannot find any information about who it might be.

This also continued my streak of NOT going to the City Winery.  I’m sure I’ll get there eventually.

Posted in Bombino, City Winery Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA | Leave a Comment »

Claud: Supermodels tour / boyish (The Foundry, Philadelphia, PA, September 15, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 15, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 15, 2023] Claud / boyish

I saw Claud open for Soak back in 2019.  I really enjoyed their set–I really liked claud’s voice.  It was clear and quiet but not whispered.  I also really enjoyed the delicate guitar sounds that claud got–even when a song had a loud thumping bass.

Claud’s music is quiet and lo fi.  It would have been a chill night at the Foundry, but I wasn’t really that interested in going.

Boyish was formed by India Shore and Claire Altendahl in 2016 at Berklee College of Music.

Their blurb says Continue Reading »

Posted in Boyish, claud, Philadelphia, PA, The Foundry | Leave a Comment »

Babe Rainbow / Molly Lewis (The Foundry, Philadelphia, PA, September 15, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 15, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 15,  2023] Babe Rainbow / Molly Lewis

I know of The Babe Rainbow because Levitation Records (who put out all kinds of cool psychedelic music) released a Levitation Sessions album and I like to check out any band that plays a session with them.

Babe Rainbow is from Australia.  They do play psychedelic music but it lands squarely on the delicate 60’s folk side of psychedelia.  Meaning it’s fun to have on, but I don’t need to see them live.

Molly Lewis is an Australian born, Los Angeles-based, musician known for her whistling.

I wasn’t really sure how to describe the music that she whistles over, but Aquarium Drunkard calls it “Pacific impressionism” and I think that’s pretty spot on.  But the key is that she is an amazing whistler.

She works in what is oddly called “exotica,” filled with sultry Bossa Nova guitar, rain sticks, shakers, jazzy instruments and an overall feeling of being far away from everything.  It’s pretty dreamy.  It would also be interesting to see her whistle these lead lines in a live setting, although I feel like perhaps the overall vibe would be too chill to really appreciate.

 

Posted in Babe Rainbow, Molly Lewis, Philadelphia, PA, The Foundry | Leave a Comment »

Palm [FINAL SHOW–BAND CALLING IT QUITS] (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, September 14, 2023)

September 15, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: September 14, 2023] Palm 

I discovered Palm by accident back in 2016 when they opened for the band Dilly Dally (who have since broken up).   About that show I wrote:

So Palm was fantastic.  An amazing band to see live (especially from so close).  The band plays noisy, complex music that has parts math-rock and parts shoegaze.  They remind me of Battles, but only in part.  The two guitarists Kasra Kurt and Eve Alpert are constantly playing different (and highly unlikely) chords or notes.  Meanwhile the bassist (Gerasimos Livitsanos) is typically playing his own patterns that somehow meld with the two and keep everything grounded.  And the drummer (Hugo Stanley) is doing complex things of his own.  It’s so hard to tell who you want to watch.

I got to see them headline a few months after that at PhilaMOCA and that was great (although apparently I was shoved aside by a slam dancer at the show).

Six years later and I hadn’t had a chance to see them again when they announced that they were calling it quits as a band.

“Palm is ending. Thank you to everyone who has supported us, to the artists we’ve shared the stage with and to all our collaborators over the past 12 years”.

Not much more was said, and not much more was said in stage either. Continue Reading »

Posted in Johnny Brenda's, Nourished By Time, Palm, Philadelphia, PA | Leave a Comment »

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