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The World is a Beautiful Place and I am No Longer Afraid to Die / Bent Knee / Gates (First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, November 12, 2021//Absury Lanes, Asbury Park, NJ November 13, 2021) [DID NOT ATTEND]

November 12, 2021 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: November 12 or 13, 2021] The World is a Beautiful Place and I am No Longer Afraid to Die / Bent Knee / Gates

I don’t really know The World is a Beautiful Place and I am No Longer Afraid to Die, but I have been intrigued by their name for years.  I’ve heard very good things about their live shows and was interested in checking them out.

However, I will likely never go to First Unitarian Church again (the venue just didn’t work for me for a number of reasons, even though it is a very cool place).  I was planning on seeing them at Asbury Lanes, but for reasons I never quite understood, that date simply disappeared from their tour poster.

The poster to the right has that show listed, but as the date got closer the poster had been updated and no longer included that final show and there was no word about it anywhere.  Fascinating.

I had not heard of Bent Knee, but this introduction from Wikipedia sure sounds interesting:

Bent Knee is an American art rock band formed in Boston, Massachusetts, in 2009. The band performs in multiple genres and draws from multiple influences, including pop, industrial rock, progressive rock, and avant-garde. The band is known for unpredictable dynamic contrast and the wide vocal range of singer Courtney Swain.

I’m certainly sold enough to check them out.

Gates is from New Brunswick, NJ (just down the road from me).  I was unaware of them, but their music sounds like it would be pretty good.

Posted in Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park, NJ, Bent Knee, First Unitarian Church, Gates, Philadelphia, PA, The World is a Beautiful Place and I am No Longer Afraid to Die | Leave a Comment »

Bad Cop/Bad Cop (House of Independents, Asbury Park, NJ, November 10, 2021) [ANTI-FLAG]

November 11, 2021 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: November 10, 2021] Bad Cop/Bad Cop [postponed from March 17, 2020] was originally scheduled to be Grade 2

Initially Grade 2 was scheduled to be on this tour, but they were replaced by Bad Cop/Bad Cop, who turned out to be amazing.

It was pretty fascinating having this band directly follow Doll Skin because the women in this band could easily have been Doll Skin’s moms (there were no men in Bad Cop/Bad Cop, but if there were they could have been Doll Skin’s dads, too).

I actually don’t know how old most of the women were on stage because damn, they rocked hard whatever their age, I only guess they are older since they sang songs about Breast Cancer and Detox.

Bad Cop/Bad Cop actually has three lead singers: guitarists Stacey Dee and Jennie Cotterill and bassist Linh Le alternated through the set.

We were right in front of Le and she was one of the most intense bassists I’ve ever seen–great poses, daring you to look her in the eye or daring you to look away.  I found out later that Le is the creator of the amazing series bassists against racists.

Drummer Myra Gallarza was great too, keeping the beat to these fast and furious songs.

I loved everything about Bad Cop/Bad Cop and I’m delighted to have seen them live.

  1. Retrograde ϖ
  2. Pursuit of Liberty ®
  3. Rodeo ⊗
  4. Breastless ®
  5. Perpetual Motion Machine ®
  6. I’m Done ϖ
  7. Simple Girl ®
  8. Take My Call ®
  9. Broken ϖ
  10. Amputations ϖ 
  11. Certain Kind Of Monster ®
  12. Womanarchist ϖ
  13. Wild Me ϖ

⊗ Boss Lady EP (2014)
ϖ Warriors (2017)
® The Ride (2020)

Posted in Anti-Flag, Asbury Park, NJ, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Doll Skin, House of Independents | Leave a Comment »

Caspian / Caracara / Holy Fawn (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, November 10, 2021) [DID NOT ATTEND]

November 10, 2021 by Paul Debraski

[POSTPONED: April 6, 2020] Caspian / Pianos Become the Teeth / Maserati

My friends Liz and Eleanor have told me that Caspian was one of the best shows that they had seen.  I have been planning to see them ever since.

They were supposed to play Union Transfer in April 2020, but that show was postponed/cancelled.  It’s kind of surprising that they went from Union Transfer to Underground Arts (which is about half the size), but who knows why things are scheduled where they are.

I was pretty excited to go to this show, except that we had tickets to the rescheduled Anti-Flag show for the same night.  So Caspian will have to wait. Continue Reading »

Posted in Caracara, Caspian, Holy Fawn, Mannequin Pussy, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »

Doll Skin (House of Independents, Asbury Park, NJ, November 10, 2021) [ANTI-FLAG]

November 10, 2021 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: November 10, 2021] Doll Skin [postponed from March 17, 2020]

I was really looking forward to this show because I was taking my son and his friend to their first punk show.  My son had been to a couple of other shows, but nothing where there was going to be as much call for a pit (the other shows were usually too crowded for a pit).

We arrived very early (even though I thought we were late).  Doll Skin didn’t go one for twenty minutes after stated time.  Which was fine because there was a ton of merch and political organization fliers in the back of the room to look at.

Then Doll Skin came on stage and there was a good chance that the band was younger than my son.  That’s actually not true, although when Doll Skin started, lead singer Sydney Dolezal was seventeen.  They are currently 20 or 21.

Meghan Herring and Tay (hired bass player) had COVID so they had Cameron Gile on bass, their driver Dustin Elias-Odgers on bass and multi instrumentalist Torri Ross on drums.

The band was amazing.  Syd was a dynamite singer–a great performer, an excellent voice and a lot of fun.  Their lead guitarist, who I think was Alex Snowden, was incredible–phenomenal riffs and a great sound.  And the substituting players were fantastic.  I don’t know how often they played the songs before, but they were tight as anything.

I really enjoyed their set.  And after the show Syd chatted with us and signed my son’s poster, so that was pretty cool too.

  1. Don’t Cross My Path ⊗
  2. Love Is Dead and We Killed Her ⊗
  3. Control Freak ♦
  4. Mark My Words ⊗
  5. Daughter ♥
  6. Eat Shit Ξ
  7. Puncha Nazi ♥

Ξ Eat Shit [single] (2021)
♦ Control Freak [single] (2021)
⊗ Love Is Dead and We Killed Her (2019)
♥ Manic Pixie Dream Girl (2017)

 

Posted in Anti-Flag, Asbury Park, NJ, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Doll Skin, House of Independents | Leave a Comment »

Grady Hendrix–The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires (2020) [audiobook 2020–Bahni Turpin]

November 9, 2021 by Paul Debraski

[READ: Summer 2021] The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires

I loved the name of this book.  The fact that it was put out by Quirk Books was a major plus.

This book was read by Bahni Turpin and she was magnificent.  I was hooked right from the start.  I loved her Southern accents and the way she made each character unique and easily recognizable.

In the preface to the book, Hendrix explains that this novel is a kind of apology for his earlier novel My Best Friend’s Exorcism.   In that novel teenagers were the protagonists and parents were cast as trouble for them.  He felt the need to address the concerns of the parents this time around.

I love the way the characters clearly love their children but are also realistic about them:  “Being a teenager isn’t a number,” says Maryellen. “It’s the age when you stop liking them.”

The story opens in a hilarious way.

It’s 1988 and Grace Cavanaugh had started a book club,  She wanted all of the women in her circle to read the classics.  This month’s book was Cry, The Beloved Country.  Grace was the quintessential Southern woman.  Her house was perfect.  Her thick pile carpets were white and immaculate (the way she inwardly cringes as cheese straws land on the carpet is hilarious).  She did not allow for anything improper.  She expected people to do what was proper.  Like finish the book club book.

The story zooms in on Patricia Campbell.  She needed the book club,  But she did not read the book.

She was given twenty minutes to talk about the book.  And the way she tries to stretch it out is hilarious.  Eventually Grace calls her out on it.  And is very disappointed in her.  Soon enough, though, the other women reveal that they didn’t read it either.

On her way to her car Patricia is stopped by Kitty Scruggs, another book club woman.  She invites Patricia to join the book club that she has just started.  It’s going to be her and Slick Paley, a conservative Christian (with an amazing accent, thank you Bahni) who seems dumb but is far from dumb, and Maryellen, a Yankee transplant (who has a very different accent which is nice to hear).  Eventually, even Grace joins because they are going to be reading the most salacious true crime books they can find.

Each of the women is married and their families are very different.  Patricia’s husband is straight-laced.  Her daughter is just old enough to be sarcastic to her and her son, Blue (that name is explained about 3/4 of the way through the book) has suddenly become obsessed with Nazis.  Basically, she needs these women.

Five years later, the book club is still going and the women feel closer to each other than ever (although Patricia doesn’t feel super close to Grace, because who could, really).  Then one night, a night that Blue didn’t take out the garbage, Patricia walks to where the cans are stored and is attacked.  The assailant is an old woman.  She acts crazy and even though Patricia knows her, she can’t talk sense into her. The old woman bites off part of her ear (which becomes quite a conversation piece, obviously). Continue Reading »

Posted in Alan Paton, Bahni Turpin, Book Club, Death, Fraud, Funny (ha ha), Grady Hendrix, Marriage Trouble, Monsters, Murder, Nazis, Quirk Books, South, Vampires, Violence, Yuck! | Leave a Comment »

The Flaming Lips (Fillmore Philly, Philadelphia, PA, November 7, 2021)

November 8, 2021 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: NOVEMBER 7, 2021] The Flaming Lips

I have now seen The Flaming Lips six times.  (It’s hard to believe the last time was three years ago).

I love every show, but after each one I think I don’t need to see them again.  Not because they aren’t great live, but because six or even five times is a lot.

But each time I’m delighted to have gone.

Wayne Coyne is such a generous frontman, but with his energy and with his love for everyone there.  Sure, you come out with a fun spectacle, but you also come out feeling loved and appreciated.  Plus, the first two times were over 20 years ago when they were a very different band.

I actually didn’t love American Head as much as other Flaming Lips albums, but these songs translated live very well.  Plus, with The Flaming Lips, you’re getting a lot more than their music.

Unlike most bands, even watching them set up is fun.  Before the band came out to check their gear, Wayne Coyne came out on stage with his latest toy, a bird with a glowing red heart that flew around the audience.  I believe it was remote controlled, but it was hard to see.  He flew it around the audience, and when it crashed, people handed it back so he could do it again.  (He used it in a song a little later, too). Continue Reading »

Posted in Particle Kid, Philadelphia, PA, Rainbows, The Fillmore Philadelphia, The Flaming Lips, Unicorns | Leave a Comment »

Bad Religion / Alkaline Trio / War on Women (The Met Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, November 7, 2021) [DID NOT ATTEND]

November 7, 2021 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: November 7, 2021] Bad Religion / Alkaline Trio / War on Women

I’ve been a fan of Bad Religion since, oh who knows, a long time.  Although I haven’t really listened to them that much in the last few years.  I’ve also never really thought about seeing them live.  Interestingly, S. saw them live at City Gardens a few decades ago (clearly she is cooler than I).

This show was announced and I was intrigued.  But it happened on the same night as a Flaming Lips concerts that I already had tickets to.

I don’t know Alkaline Trio, but I’m assuming they fall into the pop punk genre as well.

War on Women is a hardcore band founded in 2011.  I’ve heard really good things about their live show.  I think I’d rather see them headline a small club, but it would have been fun to check them out.

Bad Religion has been around forever and you never know if long terms bands like this will tour again, but I hope they will so I can be almost as cool as my wife.

Posted in Alkaline Trio, Bad Religion, Philadelphia, PA, The Met Philadelphia, War on Women | Leave a Comment »

Particle Kid (Fillmore Philly, Philadelphia, PA, November 7, 2021) [THE FLAMING LIPS]

November 7, 2021 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: November 7, 2021] Particle Kid

I have always been delighted yet puzzled by the name Particle Kid (the band created by Willie Nelson’s youngest son Micah (who also plays in his brother Lucas’ band Promise of the Real).  I read recently that the name comes from his father intending to call him the Prodigal Son, but apparently misspoke and called him Particle Kid, which is pretty damn funny.

As is Micah.

Micah was able to use The Lips’ video screen to project images on, which was cool.

The band for this tour was Micah Nelson – Guitar, vocals Aroyn Davis – Bass, vocals Milo Gonzales – Guitar Anthony Logerfo, Drums, vocals.

And they were excellent.  Even though Micah is the main figure of the band, Milo Gonzaes was an amazing guitarist to watch. He could play fast riffs and then alternate with incredible unreal sounds.  And then there was Aroyn Davis, an amazing bass player who was all over the neck playing low and high notes and also using effects pedals to create bizarre wonderful effects. Continue Reading »

Posted in Micah Nelson, Neil Young, Particle Kid, Philadelphia, PA, Promise of the Real, Radiohead, The Fillmore Philadelphia, The Flaming Lips | Leave a Comment »

Thundercat (The Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, November 4, 2021)

November 6, 2021 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: March 22, 2020] Thundercat [moved from March 22, 2020]

Thundercat is an amazing bass player (He plays a six string bass).  He also writes some really catchy songs.

His style veers a little too much into R&B for me at times, but there’s something about his overall vibes that surpasses anything.

I really wanted to experience his playing live.  I was bummed that I wound up as far away from the stage as I was because I wanted to see those fingers dominate the bass.

I wasn’t prepared for how amazing his band would be.  They were a trio, with Thundercat in the center of the stage with his giant bass.  On his right was keyboardist Dennis Haam and on his left was drummer Justin Brown.  It wasn’t always clear what Haam was playing and what Thundercat was playing–which just proved how impressive they both were.  But it was totally clear what Brown was playing–dominating the drum kit and most of the stage.

Sometimes I feel that Thundercat’s albums are too poppy for me.  But boy howdy was this concert anything but.  It was like a jazzy, jamming night of excess.  And it was wonderful. Continue Reading »

Posted in Coronavirus, KNOWER, Philadelphia, PA, Postponed, The Fillmore Philadelphia, Thundercat, Yasuke | Leave a Comment »

Tinariwen (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, November 5, 2021) [CANCELLED]

November 5, 2021 by Paul Debraski

[CANCELLED: November 5, 2021] Tinariwen

indexTinariwen is a “Desert blues” band of Tuareg musicians from the Sahara Desert region of northern Mali. The band formed in 1979 in Tamanrasset, Algeria, but returned to Mali after a peace accord between 1990 and 1995.  They gained interbational attention with their album Aman Iman in 2007.

I’ve heard they put on an amazing show.

When I saw they were playing Underground Arts I wanted to snatch up tickets but this weekend proved to be very busy with me going to a show on Thursday and Sunday.

But then on September 30, the tour was cancelled: Continue Reading »

Posted in Cancelled, Coronavirus, Philadelphia, PA, Quarantine, Tinariwen, Underground Arts | Leave a Comment »

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