Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Balance and Composure / Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band / Milly (Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, October 5, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

October 5, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 5, 2024] Balance and Composure / Kevin Devine and the Godamn Band / Milly

The strange thing (to me) about this show is that I knew and liked both of the opening acts but had never even heard of the headliners.

In fact, the reason I wanted to go to this show was for Kevin Devine & the Goddamn Band.  I’ve seen Kevin three times and I love his songs and his whole vibe but it’s been five years since I’ve seen him (really bad luck of local shows being canceled or scheduled on a bad night for me).  And I really wanted to see him with the Goddamn Band because the Goddamn Band is awesome.

But they only played for 45 minutes, so I’m not terribly upset that I missed them.

I saw Milly open for Swervedriver 5 years ago.  I enjoyed them and am delighted to see that since 2019, they’ve released a bunch of stuff.

And then there’s Balance and Composure (from Doylestown, PA).  I didn’t know them but apparently everyone else was super psyched that they released a new record in 2024 (it had been 8 years since the last one).

I’ve listened to a few clips of songs and liked them. But I don’t think I would have enjoyed the show with a huge amount of big fans.

 

 

My son and I have seen Starset twice.  Each show has been pretty fantastic.

When this tour was announced, I was excited that a show was going to be at the Starland Ballroom (a venue I don’t love, but which he does).

But then it turned out to be the night before he was leaving for Europe.  There was n way we were staying out all night the night before his flight.

So, we gave this tour a miss.

Rock on Purpose has a big review of the show.

I didn’t know any of the other bands.  The above reviewer is a big fan of Red, who he says plays a “combination of cinematic, uplifting, and hardcore rock music.”

They are a Christian band, which seems an odd fit for Starset’s cryptic stances, but whatever, their songs are pretty good with interesting orchestral arrangements over the heavy guitars.

Divide the Fall are from Minnesota.  Spill, their local magazine says

their modern hard rock sound and catchy choruses with the occasional heavy breakdown.

And a review of their recent EP describes melodic harmonies and stunning, clean vocals.

Oni were a progressive heavy metal band from Canada with growling vocals and crazy technical profiiency, at least in 2016.  In 2022, they released a new album about which Drowned in Sound says

If you were anticipating another round of technical bludgeoning akin to the Ironshore era then you may be disappointed as ONI have taken an entirely different direction this time round.

Sounds like the heaviest bands went on first, although some of their new songs are pretty mellow too.  Interestimg.

Posted in Balance and Composure, Kevin Devine, Kevin Devine & The Goddamn Band, Kevin Devine and the Goddman Band, Milly, Philadelphia, PA, The Fillmore Philadelphia | Leave a Comment »

Basic Printer / Under the Rug (Silk City, Philadelphia, PA, October 4, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

October 4, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 4, 2024] Basic Printer / Under the Rug

I discovered Basic Printer through some unusual means–I assume an ad on Instagram where I could download a free copy of an album.

Basic Printer is based in Nashville and makes experimental synthpop.

I like Basic Printer’s music, although I think I enjoy the creator of the music and their Instagram account a little bit more.  They’re very engaging and funny.

I’d be curious to see them live, and I’m sure meet them in person (they seem like they’d be happy to meet the fans).

I don’t know Under the Rug, who describe themselves as an odd alt outfit: almost-too-dark humor, big irreverence, lush, humongous recordings. Austin, TX.  That self-description makes me like them immediately.

I’m not sure who was the headline band.

Since I had gone to a show the night before and was going to another one in two nights, I decided to stay home on this one.

 

Posted in Basic Printer, Philadelphia, PA, Silk City, Under the Rug | Leave a Comment »

Nada Surf (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, October 3, 2024)

October 3, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: October 3, 2024] Nada Surf 

I left Soul Coughing for this show.  It was a risk because this was the first time Soul Coughing had toured in decades.  But I was so miserable at the show that I was happy to leave.  And it turned out that tonight’s Nada Surf show was fantastic.

Even though singer Matthew Caws’ voice was a bit shot because they had played two shows (one was a bonus show) the night before.

Since I had been at Soul Coughing, I arrived at Underground Arts basically as the final chords of Office Dog’s last song were fading away.  I didn’t know Office Dog who are a power trio from New Zealand.  And this summary makes me rather bummed that I missed them:

New Zealand singer-songwriter Kane Strang got tired of going it alone as a solo artist, he started an old-fashioned indie rock power trio called Office Dog. Backing him up are two friends from different iterations of his touring band: bassist Rassani Tolovaa and drummer Mitchell Innes. Like Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, and Built to Spill, this threesome emphasizes the personality of each player as it wrings maximum drama from a minimum of instruments.

So I hope they come back around.

This tour was for their latest album Moon Mirror, but they opened with two songs from 2003’s Let Go.  The crowd was totally into it–very responsive and singing along.  Matthew seemed to be really excited at the size of the crowd, which surprised me because I thought that they had played bigger venues before (but I see now that World Cafe Live is the same size as Underground Arts (this blows my mind as I feel like UA is quite small). Continue Reading »

Posted in Nada Surf, Office Dog, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts | Leave a Comment »

Mdou Moctar / The Messthetics (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, October 3, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

October 3, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 3, 2024] Mdou Moctar / The Messthetics

I have seen Mdou Moctar twice, the most recent time back in July.

I would have enjoyed seeing them again, but I already had TWO shows to go to this evening: Soul Coughing and Nada Surf.

I really like The Messthetics (including the name).  The band has at its core drummer Brendan Canty and bassist Joe Lally who were both in Fugazi.  Along with guitarist Anthony Pirog, they make cool and interesting instrumental rock.  They have been pretty high on my list of bands to see. Continue Reading »

Posted in Jersey City, NJ, Mdou Moctar, The Messthetics, White Eagle Hall | Leave a Comment »

An evening with Soul Coughing (Franklin Music Hall, October 3, 2024)

October 3, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: October 3, 2024] Soul Coughing

I was so excited when Soul Coughing announced a return after decades away.  I had never seen them, of course, so it was a great opportunity to see this weird band.

And it was going to be at Union Transfer–a perfect venue that even if you arrive late, you get great sightlines.

And it sold out in a minute.

And then it was moved to Franklin Music Hall.  A venue that I like but which I have had many very bad experiences at.  So that sucked.

And then Nada Surf announced that they were going to play a show at Underground Arts the same night.  It was a surprisingly tough decision–I’ve seen Nada Surf three times and have never seen Soul Coughing.  So what’s the decision.  Well, the closer the show came to actual time, the more the buzz grew.  And the more I realized I probably wouldn’t enjoy the show.

So I made the decision: I’m going to Soul Coughing and if I hate it, I’m leaving and going to the Nada Surf show.

I arrived at what I thought was a good time and walked in to find the place absolutely packed. And in Franklin Music Hall, when it’s packed, there is nowhere to go.  I couldn’t get past the big clump and then had to head over to the side by the bar (ughh).  I had no sight lines and it was 100% clear to me that many people were there just to be there and didn’t care about the band or the music.  And the others were there to prove that they knew Soul Coughing better than anyone by screaming all of the words.

It was very cool to see (sort of) the band and to hear Bus to Beelzebub (I’m glad they opened with a song I knew so well).  They followed it with another song from Ruby Vroom (the album I know best).  And then they moved on to Soft Serve, a song I didn’t know was well.  And that was it for me. Continue Reading »

Posted in Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA, Soul Coughing | Leave a Comment »

Dysrhythmia / Shardik / Vile Form (Milkboy, Philadelphia, PA, October 2, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

October 2, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 2, 2024] Dysrhythmia / Shardik / Vile Form

I could have seen Dysrhythmia (a NYC-based progressive instrumental trio formed in 1998) last year with Stinking Lizaveta.

The week was really busy so I didn’t go to the show.

Since then I’ve been intrigued enough to want to see them.  But I think I really want to see them with Stinking Lizaveta!

I was going to a show the following night so I decided not to go to this one.  I do like Milkboy as a venue, but it’s kind of a hassle to get to. Continue Reading »

Posted in Dysrhythmia, Milkboy, Philadelphia, PA, Shardik, Vile Form | Leave a Comment »

Tropical Fuck Storm / Michael Beach (First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, October 1, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

October 1, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: October 1, 2024] Tropical Fuck Storm / Michael Beach

I love Tropical Fuck Storm.

I’ve seen them twice and the last time, when they headlined, was incredible.

I’d do just about anything to see these freaky Australians.  Except go to the Church, which readers will know is a venue that is just too much of a pain on the ass for me to bother with.

I hope when they come back next time they play anywhere else.

Michael Beach is a Melbourne musician.  His most recent release is a collaborations with Mick Turner (Dirty Three) and Joe Talia (Oren Ambarchi) mixing pulsing minimalism with post-punk/DIY approaches.

Although their earlier stuff is a bit more rocking and some other stuff is kind of noisy singer songwriter style.  It’s unclear what he might have played that night.

Posted in First Unitarian Church, Michael Beach, Philadelphia, PA, Tropical Fuck Storm | Leave a Comment »

Michael Kiwanuka (The Met Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, September 29, 2024)

October 1, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: September 29, 2024] Michael Kiwanuka

Michael Kiwanuka’s previous album Kiwanuka was a slow burning joy for me. I liked every song that I heard from it even though I never actively listened to it. And then I bought it and liked it even more.

I knew I wanted to see him live (he appears in the film Yesterday as himself and was suitably cool in it).

So when this tour was announced I grabbed a ticket right away.  Since it was a double bill, I wasn’t sure who was going on first.  In my head, Brittany Howard is a bigger draw than Michael Kiwanuka, but what do I know.

If nothing else I thought that maybe the two artists would share maybe the same stage set, maybe even the same musicians.  I mean, can you imagine if they had the same backing band and Brittany left and then Michael came out with no changes at all?  That would be wild!

And implausible of course.  Brittany set was taken down, Michael’s was put up and then his band came out. Continue Reading »

Posted in Brittany Howard, Michael Kiwanuka, Philadelphia, PA, The Met Philadelphia, Yasmin Williams | Leave a Comment »

Brittany Howard (The Met Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, September 29, 2024) [MICHAEL KIWANUKA]

September 30, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: September 29, 2024] Brittany Howard

I was really excited to see Michael Kiwanuka but less so about Brittany Howard (although I see that in 2020 I said I was excited to see her live).  Actually I loved her Tiny Desk Concert back in 2020, so I guess the thing was I didn’t really like Alabama Shakes because I don’t really like blues rock.  Although I just realized that they sing Don’t Wanna Fight which I really like, so I guess I’m just dumb.

So I clearly should have been more excited to see her live.  But maybe it’s better that I wasn’t because SHE BLEW ME AWAY!

From the moment she walked on looking like a sparkling goddess, she commanded the room.

To be honest I’m surprised she wasn’t the headliner of this two person tour–I guess maybe they are coheadlining, but still).  The crowd around me went crazy for her–the two women near me were yelping and screaming (I assume they were both pretty drunk).

Howard’s band was fantastic.  She had four musicians behind her, a guitarist next to her and two backing vocalists on her side.  Her drummer Nate Smith was outstanding–he even had a (very brief) drum solo.  I don’t know any of her songs really (except Stay High) so I don’t know the setlist.  But wow, what a voice–so commanding–and what a range.  So impressive.  I also had no idea she played guitar.  There were two other guitarists, so she didn’t play all the time.  Mostly, she played rhythm, but occasionally she played louder parts–with a great tone on that old guitar.  And then every once in a while, she played a guitar solo and totally killed it.  I didn’t know she soloed. but she was really impressive at that too. Continue Reading »

Posted in Brittany Howard, Michael Kiwanuka, Philadelphia, PA, The Met Philadelphia, Yasmin Williams | Leave a Comment »

The Hives / The Mary Veils (Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, September 29, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 29, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 29, 2024] The Hives / The Mary Veils

When The Hives released their second album, I, like so many people, fell in love with the punchy songs and cool black and white look.

They did another album that I really liked and then I pretty much forgot about them.

I don’t know if everyone else did too, but in 2023 they released their first album in 11 years and like the others it features sledgehammer guitars, drums that sound like they’re being punctured as they’re being played, obtuse lyrics delivered at a steady Scandinavian scream.

I would have more seriously considered going to this show if it wasn’t the same night as Michael Kiwanuka and if it was at a smaller venue.

The Mary Veils are a Philly garage rock band that started as the solo project of songwriter Brian von Uff, and has evolved into a full band with Justin Mansor, Andrew Mann and Evan Wall.

The fuzz is good and they have the same energy.  Sounda like a fun bill.

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, The Fillmore Philadelphia, The Hives, The Mary Veils | Leave a Comment »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »