[ATTENDED: April 6, 2022] Nina Nastasia
I
had not heard of Nina Nastasia before this show. And, placed between Ye Gods and Mogwai, I never expected her to be a pleasant, if rather dark, folk singer.
She released her first album in 2000 and put out records pretty consistently for ten years. Then she stopped and now has a new album due out in July.
Her bandcamp site is quite confessional Continue Reading »
Posted in Mogwai, Nina Nastasia, Philadelphia, PA, Theatre of Living Arts, Ye Gods | Leave a Comment »
[ATTENDED: April 6, 2022] Ye Gods
Ye Gods has an amusing name.
It is the project of Antoni Maiovvi, apparently.
Also apparently, Antoni Maiovvi has released music under about a dozen names like: Ye Gods / Jason Priest / Pleasure Model
Half of: Homoagent / Acid Vatican.
According to his bandcamp page,
A project born in Bristol in 2006 and developed in the bohemian dystopia of Berlin from 2009. Antoni Maiovvi walks the line between retro-synth and horror soundtracks for both real and imagined films.
This was his first stop on the Mogwai tour. When he came out, he had a table with a whole bunch of electronic gear on it. From where I Was standing I could see his laptop, and although it’s was 100% clear, I was pretty sure I could see the progress bar streaming across the screen. And indeed, when it reached the end of the last block, the music ended. So that’s pretty interesting
Essentially, he created a 30 minute block of music and put it in his laptop. Then he had all kinds of buttons and knobs and he modified the songs throughout–mostly adding wild effects and pitchshifting.
He also sang (and screamed) into his mic.
It was catchy and dancey and he seemed really really into it.
I wonder if it would have been more enjoyable from further back? If the sound was better back there. Or maybe seeing how the sausage was made was a little weird? Either way, it was fine and it was fun to see him as he made the sounds, but I felt like with a name like Ye Gods, it might have been a bit more fun.
Posted in Mogwai, Nina Nastasia, Philadelphia, PA, Theatre of Living Arts, Ye Gods | Leave a Comment »
[DID NOT ATTEND: April 5, 2022] Snail Mail / Joy Again
I wanted to see Snail Mail back in 2018 and couldn’t make the show. I really liked her debut album.
I hadn’t enjoyed songs from her new one a much, so even though I bought a ticket as soon as this show was announced, I decided not to go.
I didn’t realize at the time that my daughter had a Joy Again song on her playlist. “Looking out for You” is a bouncy song with lots of banjo, although it doesn’t sound folky at all. I wonder if she would have enjoyed going to this show with me.
Posted in Joy Again, Philadelphia, PA, Snail Mail, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »
[ATTENDED: April 2, 2022] DakhaBrakha
After the last few nights, I was in need of a break, but there was no way I was passing up a chance to see DakhaBrakha.
I heard about this Ukranian band from Tiny Desk Concerts, of course. I fell in love with them immediately. Their music was weird and wonderful with amazing harmonies and interesting instruments. And their outfits were incredible. Giant hats and beautiful dresses on the women–who totally kicked ass while they played, too.
I was thrilled when I saw they were coming to SOPAC–local, small and seated. I snatched up tickets way back in November,
And then Russia invaded Ukraine. And who even knew if they’d be alive, much less able to play in the States. Evidently they left the country about a week before the show–so they had been there (their home base is in Kyiv) during the bombing. It’s unreal.
So now, this show went from being a fun celebration of Ukraine to a pointed attempt to show support to a country that needed it. Suddenly, the night was more significant.
Which, fortunately, didn’t change the music. True, the visuals that the band showed were often far more somber and dark than they probably would have been otherwise, but you can’t change the music. And it was wonderful. Continue Reading »
Posted in DakhaBrakha, SOPAC, South Orange, NJ, Ukraine | 1 Comment »
[POSTPONED: April 3, 2022] Holy Fuck (rescheduled from June 10, 2020 and February 16, 2021; moved to August 13, 2022]
The resurgence of COVID meant Holy Fuck postponed their tour one more time. I was bummed about this one because I didn’t have too many shows around this time. But the new date is in a crowded field of shows
~~~~~~~
Not only did Holy Fuck cancel this tour, Boot & Saddle closed its doors. Mega cancelled.
~~~
After seeing that this show was postponed, it gave me an opportunity to explore their music. I was now looking forward to seeing them in the new year. Well, I guess February is still too soon to plan anything, so this tour has also been cancelled.
Holy Fuck have a great name that pretty much guarantees they won’t get much in the way of airplay or advertising.
Of course their music isn’t super commercial either–although it can be quite catchy (and has been used in a bunch of soundtracks). They play an electronic dance music but in a decidedly old-school fashion. They don’t use laptops at all, employing all manner of old school equipment. Continue Reading »
Posted in Boot & Saddle, Cancelled, Coronavirus, Holy Fuck, Philadelphia, PA, Postponed, Quarantine | Leave a Comment »
[ATTENDED: April 1, 2022] Car Seat Headrest
I saw Car Seat Headrest four years ago at Union Transfer and it was one of the least pleasant shows I’d been to. The music was great, but the crowd was uniformly terrible–especially near me.
I wasn’t sure if I’d want to see them again, but then my son got really turned on to them (I had nothing to do with it) and he really wanted to see them live. I couldn’t pass that up, and I assumed the crowd would be a little different in this much bigger venue.
And, yes, the crowd was much better–although it felt really crowded in there!
The crazy thing is that the doors opens at 7:30. We arrived at 7:25 to an enormous line. And we didn’t get in the venue until after 8. I asked my son if he wanted to get up front or get merch. He chose merch–I think getting close will win out next time. I would have loved to have been closer for sure.
The fascinating thing about Car Seat Headrest now is that lead singer and main Headrest Will Toledo wears a modified gasmask for the entire set. It’s pretty neat as it has a microphone in it and the eyes light up to display emotions (cute eyes, angry eyes, heart and swirly lines). The good thing is that Toledo sounds fine through this odd system. Continue Reading »
Posted in Bartees Strange, Car Seat Headrest, Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA, Toy Bastard | Leave a Comment »
[ATTENDED: April 1, 2022] Bartees Strange
I saw Bartees Strange open for Lucy Dacus back in October. I was delighted by how well he was received by the Car Seat Headrest crowd.
His set was very similar to that last one. He exchanged out a couple of songs for newer ones, but the general vibe was the same.
He came out by himself, wearing a bright year rain slicker and started with a quiet opening of “Far.” After a couple of minutes, the rest of the band came out and rocked out the rest of the song.
I’m not sure if he had the same band playing with him–I assume so. He got the crowd moving with one of his faster songs, “Mustang.” And, like last time, he followed it with the rap of “Kelly Rowland” with the memorable refrain: “Broke ass nigga but I got Versace dreams.”
Mixing it up some more, he followed that with the bouncing “Weights.” He looked up at the audience and chuckled, “Oh, my mom’s here.”
Then he introduced the new song “Hold the Line.” He wrote the song for George Floyd’s daughter, and it was quite a powerful moment.
He followed that with a cover of Lemonworld by The National. I thought last time that it was kind of mellow but the chorus rocked pretty hard.
He introduced the “jazz standard” called “Boomer” and ripped the song through the venue with everyone dancing and singing along.
He ended the set with another new song, his new single “Heavy Hearts.” It’s a bit more mellow, and I probably would have ended with Boomer, but the set was really solid regardless.
Bartees is a great performer and I’m glad to see him getting some attention. His merch was also really cool.
| 2022 | 2021 |
| Far | Far |
| Mustang | Mustang |
| Kelly Rowland | Kelly Rowland |
| Weights | Weights |
| Hold the Line [new] | 17 |
| Lemonworld (The National cover) | Flagey God |
| Boomer | Lemonworld (The National cover) |
| Heavy Hearts | Stone Meadows |
| Boomer |
Posted in Bartees Strange, Car Seat Headrest, Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA, The National | Leave a Comment »
[POSTPONED: March 31, 2022] Andy Shauf / Helena Deland [rescheduled from May 1 2020, December 17, 2020 and September 12, 2021]
This show was postponed several times but when it finally rolled around I had two other shows earlier in the week, one of which was in New York City which turned out to be an absurdly late evening. So I had to take a pass on Andy. Who I’m not 100% sure I really want to see anyway.
Faye Webster was supposed to open for this show, but she has been replaced by Helena Deland.
Deland is a Canadian singer-songwriter with several EPs out. Her inspirations are Jessica Pratt, Joni Mitchell, and Sea Oleena. Her music is quiet and gentle and her voice is high and soft. Its quite lovely and was a good pairing. I preferred her song “Someone New” which is a little more upbeat.
~~~~~~
This show appeared and then disappeared. In May, Andy’s own website it was still an active date until you clicked on it and the ticket sales said March 2022.
Maybe in 2022 Andy will come back around. He was supposed to play a show in NJ as well, but there was none listed in May. We’ll see.
Postponing shows until December seemed like a safe bet. My calendar was pretty free and I was hoping to see shows by now. I’m not sure if I’d rather have gone to Philly or Asbury Park, though. Well, next year will held me decide, I’m sure.
~~~~~
Andy Shauf is a Canadian singer songwriter. He sings quiet, introspective songs. He was playing at Union Transfer at the beginning of May and then in New Jersey in the middle of May.
I was introduced to his music from a Tiny Desk Concert in which he never really moves. He has very long hair which also never moves. His songs are really very pretty and well constructed.
It’s his voice that I find utterly fascinating. He enunciates in such an unusual way. The way he emphasizes certain vowels defies his Saskatchewan upbringing. He sings not unlike Margaret Glaspy and other newer singers who stress their vowels in an unusual to me way.
I really enjoyed his Tiny Desk and I enjoyed reading about the album The Party which sounds like the worst party ever.
Since then he has cut all of his hair and looks totally different–I wasn’t even sure it was the same guy.
Faye Webster is a singer from Georgia who actually has a similar singing style to Andy, which is fascinating. She sings low key torchy ballads and would be a perfect opening act for him. I’m going to have to listen to a bit more from her.
He’s the kind of musician that I would think about going to but probably wouldn’t, and then I’d wish I had. Well, now I have two more chances.
His initial itinerary fascinated me:
Boston, Brooklyn, Philly, D.C., North Carolina, Atlanta, New Orleans, Alabama, Indiana, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, upstate New York.
The rescheduled shows keep the same basic set up except that now Philly is the day before NJ–I wonder what changed that plan.
Posted in Andy Shauf, Asbury Park, NJ, Faye Webster, Helena Deland, House of Independents, Margaret Glaspy, Philadelphia, PA, Postponed, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »
[ATTENDED: March 29, 2022] Sparks
Sparks is, without question, a weird band. I got into them back in 1997 when they released an album of re-recorded versions of their best songs and called it Plagiarism. Since then they have released eight albums. Before that the had release sixteen albums dating all the way back to 1971. And yet despite the occasional hit, they remained largely unknown in the States. They are from the States even though many people assume they are from Europe. Sparks are Russel Mael (vocals) and Ron Mael (everything else).
And they remained at a certain level of obscurity until 2021 when a documentary called The Sparks Brothers was released (and did very well) and when they created a musical movie called Annette which won the Cannes Soundtrack award.
The time seemed ripe to do a (limited) tour of the States. Sparks last played toured American back in 2013, they played at Le Poisson Rouge in 2017, but that was just two shows in New York and two in California–not much of a tour. Normally I hate going into New York and will only do it for special occasions. Continue Reading »
Posted in Annette, New York City, The Sparks Brothers, The Town Hall | Leave a Comment »
[ATTENDED: March 28, 2022] LCD Soundystem
Usually I like to give a separate post for an opening act. But the opening act for this show was a DJ named Dave P. who does a show called Making Time. Or Making Time is a show and he is one of the DJs. Or something. I didn’t quite get it.
So Dave P. spun music before LCD Soundsystem came on. It was kind of funny because they always play music before a band comes on. So instead of a playlist, it was an actual person spinning songs. But he wasn’t on stage–he was up above in the balcony. And he never spoke. So it almost didn’t make a difference. The tunes were pretty good though (but waaay too loud–much louder than the band was).
The biggest gripe I had was that he played until 9:30 (I had arrived at around 7:30). So I basically stood there for two hours. Why didn’t LCD Soundsystem come on at 9 or something? The show could have ended at a more reasonable time as well.
So the band came out at 9:30.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this show. I like a bunch of LCD songs, but they’re all kind of monotonous dance songs. So what was a live show going to be like. Continue Reading »
Posted in DJ Dave P.--Making Time, Franklin Music Hall, LCD Soundsystem, Philadelphia, PA | Leave a Comment »
I Just Read About That... 