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Idles (Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA, June 20, 2023)

June 21, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: June 20, 2023] Idles

I didn’t known that Idles was going to play near me at all this year.  Turns out that Idles will be doing lots of Festivals this summer in the States, and they decided to throw in two headline shows in the middle.  And Philly was one of them.

I’ve seen them twice before–each time the venue getting larger (good for them).

This was at Franklin Music Hall and I don’t think it sold out, but it was close.  The crowd was crazy (although, I feel not quite as crazy as at previous shows).  The band has a newish album out which I haven’t listened to as much–it changes their formula somewhat.

But they still opened with “Colossus.”  A loud, slow, rumbling repeating bass note from Adam Devonshire shook the whole place.  And then Joe Talbot came out and started singing the slow, quiet introduction.  The lights flashed from red to white as the song built and when it hit the loud part–boom!

The Re:SET concerts have seen them playing roughly an hour, so I wasn’t sure how long they would play for us.  They did a solid hour and forty-five minutes, playing songs from all of their albums, and leaving out at least one classic.  I was genuinely surprised they didn’t play “I’m Scum” since they are still selling the T-shirt

Jon Beavis is a maniac on the drums–how did these drum head survive the pummeling?  Again, I could barely see him back there, but he was easily felt.

After the first song Joe left the stage for a minute and Mark Bowen said hiya Philly.  When Joe came back out he said, “is that your crowd talking dress you’re wearing?”  He said that Bowen has never addressed an audience before.  He amended that to, “and been understood.” Continue Reading »

Posted in Franklin Music Hall, Idles, Mannequin Pussy, Philadelphia, PA | Leave a Comment »

Mannequin Pussy (Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA, June 20, 2023) [IDLES]

June 20, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: June 20, 2023] Idles

I was pretty excited to see Idles, but I was even more excited when it was announced that Mannequin Pussy would be opening.

I wanted to get their plenty early.  This was a weird night because I-95 had collapsed and there was a detour in place.  I didn’t know how long it would take to get there.

I’m guessing most people stayed away from 95 altogether, and it was a Tuesday night, because the ride in was so smooth.  The detour that I took was only a few blocks and I was right back on the road with hardly any other traffic,  It was great.

I arrived in plenty of time, although it was already pretty crowded.

Then, at 8PM, Mannequin Pussy came out on stage.

I’ve seen them four times, although it had been almost two years since the last time.  Three of those four times, they were opening, so it’s not like I chose to see them. But I do love seeing them live.  And this show was no exception. Continue Reading »

Posted in Franklin Music Hall, Idles, Mannequin Pussy, Philadelphia, PA | Leave a Comment »

Peter Swanson–All the Beautiful Lies (2018) [audiobook 2018]

June 19, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[LISTENED TO: June 2023] All the Beautiful Lies

I loved Swanson’s Eight Perfect Murders.  I hated the characters in The Kind Worth Killing (but I loved the twists).  So I had this third book as a kind of final litmus test for if I would listen to anymore books by him.

And the answer is no.

Once again, Swanson’s twist and surprises (and the ending) are really good.  But if possible, he made main characters who are even more horrible and unlikable.  How was that possible?

There’s a few spoilers in this review, although none that reveal the twists or who the murderer(s) is/are.

I’m just going to get this over with, so yes, there’s a spoiler here.  One of the main characters is a pedophile.

It’s bad enough when, at some point in the middle of the book, we learn that he is happily going to essentially make a new life with the daughter of his second wife (step-daughter, so not incest, but Jesus Fucking Christ).  And then we find out that this guy was introduced to sex when he was a teenager by a bored housewife.  So he is basically “paying it forward.”

How did Swanson even write these words?   How did his moral compass allow these words to pass his fingers onto the page?

I mean, the blurb on Goodreads starts with this:

Harry Ackerson has always considered his stepmother Alice to be sexy and beautiful, in an “otherworldly” way. She has always been kind and attentive, if a little aloof in the last few years.

I mean, who reads that blurb and wants to read more (I go into my books totally blind, so I had no idea this was coming). Continue Reading »

Posted in Drinking, Feminism, Guns, Maine, Marriage Trouble, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Peter Swanson, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, Sex, Sexism, Unlikable main character, Violence, Yuck! | Leave a Comment »

Protomartyr / Golden Apples (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, June 18, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

June 18, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: June 18, 2023] Protomartyr / Ian Sweet

I saw Protomartyr back in 2018.  I loved their album Under Color of Official Right but I haven’t enjoyed their other albums nearly as much.  I’m not sure what it is, but the newer records don’t do the same for me.

In particular, the music has gotten softer and smoother, whereas on Right it was more abrasive.  Singer/talker Joe Casey doesn’t seem as strangely out of place on these latter songs–a deep-voiced, spoken word seems quite apt for these jazzy melodies.

So I really had no interest in seeing this show.  Although I am curious if they have the same fan base as they did in 2018 when the mosh pit was ceaseless and I had to move away from the front to stop getting elbowed.  Songs like “Make Way” just don’t lend themselves to slam dancing.

The first night sold out crazily fast and they added a second night with Philly band Golden Apples opening.

Golden Apples are another gentle pop band with feelings of jangle pop, grunge, and dream pop.  I listened to one of their songs “Under the Sun” and it sounded instantly familiar, but I had never heard them before.

Maybe these mellow opening acts signal their intention to move away from their more slam-dancing sound.

The song “High School” is a bit dirtier sounding and comes from the first album when Golden Apples are a full band.  I enjoyed it just as much if not more.

I’m immediately hooked and will definitely be listening to them more.

Posted in Golden Apples, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Protomartyr | Leave a Comment »

Strand of Oaks / Friendship (Upper Merion Township Building Park, King of Prussia, PA, June 17, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

June 17, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: June 17, 2023] Strand of Oaks / Friendship

I really like Strand of Oaks, both musically and because I have a real soft spot for Tim Showalter who is such a nice guy.

I have seen them five times, primarily because he started doing an annual Christmas show at Boot & Saddle, which I really liked going to.  He did one this past year at Johnny Brenda’s and it sold out before I had even heard about it.

This would have been a fun opportunity to see him at the 37th annual Concert Under the Stars in King of Prussia, PA.  I do love an outdoor show, after all.

However, the show was a little further than I wanted to go and we had just celebrated my son’s graduation.  So it seemed like a good nice to stay in.  I’m sure Tim and his band will be back again, and maybe this time I’ll even get to the Christmas show.

Although a DJ on WXPN said that this Strand of Oaks show was the best show he’d seen all year.  So maybe I should have dragged ass down there.  Although I aslso see they only played ten songs, so maybe not….

Friendship is from Philly.  They were suppose to open for Indigo de Souza for all of her cancelled shows and theyn they were replaced by someone else when the show finally went on.

According to their bandcamp page

Onstage, bassist Jon Samuels is the only Friendship member who stands up. He is usually swaying back and forth as the songs bear down, pulling together and apart. Friendship’s new record, Dreamin’ is an exorable wave of motion, endlessly rocking between intimacy and loneliness.

I listened to two of their songs and absolutely hated each of the vocalists (I think they were different, if not then I hated both styles of singing that the one vocalist had).

Posted in Friendship, King of Prussia PA, Strand of Oaks, Upper Merion Township Building Park | Leave a Comment »

Protomartyr / Ian Sweet (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, June 17, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

June 17, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: June 17, 2023] Protomartyr / Ian Sweet

I saw Protomartyr back in 2018.  I loved their album Under Color of Official Right but I haven’t enjoyed their other albums nearly as much.  I’m not sure what it is, but the newer records don’t do the same for me.

In particular, the music has gotten softer and smoother, whereas on Right it was more abrasive.  Singer/talker Joe Casey doesn’t seem as strangely out of place on these latter songs–a deep-voiced, spoken word seems quite apt for these jazzy melodies.

So I really had no interest in seeing this show.  Although I am curious if they have the same fan base as they did in 2018 when the mosh pit was ceaseless and I had to move away from the front to stop getting elbowed.  Songs like “Make Way” just don’t lend themselves to slam dancing.

But whoever their fanbase is, they are legion because this show sold out immediately and they had to add another show the next night.

Ian Sweet is the band/stage name of Jilian Medford from Los Angeles.

I can’t quite imagine a band that is further away from Protomartyr’s sound than Ian Sweet.  The music is predominantly synth and dancey–bright and shiny (words that have never been used to describe Protomartyr).  Some of the songs do get loud, but in a very synth way.

Given that when I saw Protomartyr, the fans couldn’t wait for a mosh pit to break out, this seems like an odd choice of opening band.  And yet, I think it makes a really nice counterpoint.

Posted in Ian Sweet, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA, Protomartyr | Leave a Comment »

Wednesday / All Dogs / Tenci (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, June 17, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

June 17, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: June 17, 2023] Wednesday / All Dogs / Tenci

Wednesday were supposed to open for Beach Bunny at The Fillmore last year.  They bailed on the show and I was a little bummed because I had heard good things about them.  When they announced this headlining tour (at Union Transfer?  They’re big enough for there already?) I was intrigued.  I’d heard a song or two that I liked, but there was something that held me back.

I really like the fuzzy guitars and largely grunge sound, but there’s a kind of alt-country vibe that underpins their sound that I just can’t get past.  They have a lap steel guitar (which I either love or hate depending on how it’s used) and are often described as merging shoegaze and country.  So I didn’t feel compelled to go to this show after all.  And it was nice to have a Saturday night at home.

All Dogs is kind of a mini supergroup with Maryn Jones, from Saintseneca, drummer Jesse Wither, from the punk band Delay,bassist Amanda Bartley  from Swearin’, and guitarist Nick Harris, from Slaughter Beach, Dog.  That may explain why their first EP had som many reviews.  With details like

“pierced with a strong sense of yearning” [Pitchfork] “containing more perfect anxiousness and earnestness than some bands can get out in a whole album” [Stereogum] and it’s “awfully charming for something that’s eating itself alive from the inside.”[Consequence of Sound].

I listened to a couple of songs and rather liked them.  They had a good indie rock sound with fuzzy guitars and a pop bedrock.  Although they haven’t released any new music since 2015.

Tenci features Jess Shoman on vocals and guitar and are a indie folk band.  They have a bedroom quality and I don’t quite like their sound. They are a little too slow and yodelly for me.

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer, Wednesday | Leave a Comment »

Peter Swanson–The Kind Worth Killing (2015) [audiobook 2012]

June 16, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[LISTENED TO: June 2023] The Kind Worth Killing

I had enjoyed Peter Swanson’s Eight Perfect Murders so much that I wanted to get more audio books by him.  I had heard that he was creating a sequel to one of his popular books, but I didn’t know which one.  It turns out it was this one.

So this seemed like a good one to start with.

As it opened, I absolutely hated it.  It may have been Johnny Heller’s voice, which I did not like.  Although it also sounded familiar and I wondered if I knew him from reading a children’s book and I didn’t like him in an adult role.

Why did I hate it?  Because within the first few minutes, his character, Ted Severson says something to the effect of, “My wife cheated on me.  So I have to kill her.”  I mean, who the hell thinks like that?  And who bases an entire book on that?  That is psychopathic.

Interestingly, I have read many complaints about Swanson’s bland characters, and while I’m not sure they are bland, exactly, they are certainly deadpan or flat or disinterested.  At least that’s how the narrators read them.

So when Karen White took over as narrator for Lily Kintner’s parts, I enjoyed the book more.  Lily was a flat character, but I found her dispassionate voice to be kind of interesting.  Continue Reading »

Posted in Airplanes, Drinking, Feminism, Guns, Johnny Heller, Karen White, Kathleen Early, Keith Szarabajka, Maine, Marriage Trouble, Murder, Mysteries, Mystery, Peter Swanson, Sex, Sexism, Unlikable main character, Violence | Leave a Comment »

Pierce the Veil / The Used / Don Broco / Girlfriends (Wind Creek Event Center, Bethlehem, PA, June 15, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

June 15, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: June 15, 2023] Pierce the Veil / The Used / Don Broco / Death By Romy

My son has been into Pierce the Veil for a while.  When they announced a show last year we were going to go, but they weren’t the headliners, and it seemed like a lot for just 45 minutes of music.

So here they were, possibly headlining (certainly co-headlining) this Creative Control tour with The Used.

There were literally FIVE shows that we could have gotten to for this tour.

This was the fifth and final show in this local run.  I actually thought we might like to go to this show most of all because it was kind of close.  But it was his graduation night!

The first and fourth shows were at the Rooftop at Pier 17, a venue I love but hate to get to.

The second one was at the Skyline Stage at the Mann Center.  Not a great venue to drag to on a Friday night (we would’ve certainly missed at least one band).  But I already had tickets to see Pixies.  I would have given those up for this show, but was happy I didn’t have to.

The third show was at the Stone Pony and that’s what we got tickets for. Continue Reading »

Posted in Don Broco, Girlfriends, New York City, Pierce the Veil, The Rooftop at PIer 17, The Used | Leave a Comment »

The Used (The Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park, NJ, June 12, 2023)

June 15, 2023 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: June 12, 2023] The Used

I didn’t know The Used at all.  Which is crazy since they’ve been around for 20+ years.

My son told me that he was excited to see them as well–there were a few of their songs that he really liked (and he bought a shirt).

Pierce the Veil went off the stage around 7:45 and The Used came on around 8:15.  It seemed like a lot of the (younger, female) crowd left after PTV, but the crowd for The Used was loud and intense as well.

Their stage setup was adorned with flowers–including “picture frames” of flowers that surrounded their amps and drum set.

They came out on stage and lead guitarist Joey Bradford (who joined in 2018) was wearing a butcher’s apron.  Bassist Jeph Howard (who has been with the band since the beginning) seemed to be wearing a pith helmet (or a bucket hat).  I enjoyed his look which to me was quite nerdy and then he would scream some really growly vocals.   Drummer Dan Whitesides (been with the band since 2006) played loud and furious.  Continue Reading »

Posted in Asbury Park, NJ, Don Broco, Girlfriends, Pierce the Veil, The Stone Pony, The Stone Pony Summer Stage, The Used | Leave a Comment »

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