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Devo (The Met Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, May 1, 2025)

May 1, 2025 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: May 1, 2025] DEVO

As with most people my age, Devo has been (intentionally or not) part of my life for most of my life.  Even if I didn’t know their earlist stuff, Whip It was unavoidable in the days of MTV.

I never considered seeing them.  In fact I hadn’t really thought about them at all since college.  But a few years ago we saw a Mark Mothersbaugh exhibit in a Denver Museum and I went on a really deep dive of his stuff (and obviously I know he makes all kinds of great soundtracks).

Devo has played live over the last decade, but this was their first time playing Philly since 2008.  And I had heard that the shows on this tour were great.  So I was excited to see them.

And what a show!  They’ve always been a very visual band and this continued in their live show.  And the crowd responded in kind.  There were many people dressed in yellow jump suits.  There were countless energy domes, including one that a guy custom fit the inside with duct tape and other gadgets so it fit him perfectly (he of course had on a yellow jump suit too).

It opened with a funny video showing a where are they now look at the guy who tried to make them stars in the 1970s.  (Very funny, but also quite pointed).

They opened with one of their “new” songs (from 2010) which I vaguely knew.   And the backdrop was a full scale visual assault of colors and videos.

The band were dressed in black suit jacket and pants (with Devo printed on the lapel).  Mark Mothersbaugh looks a lot like Steve Martin now which is somehow even more fun. Continue Reading »

Posted in Devo, Philadelphia, PA, The Met Philadelphia | Leave a Comment »

Sparta / Moondough / Demmers / Elliot Fullam (Crossroads, Garwood, NJ, May 1, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

May 1, 2025 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 1, 2025] Sparta / Moondough / Demmers / Elliot Fullam

I really enjoyed seeing Sparta last year.  The songs were intense and great.  So when they announced this tour of the Porcelain album, I was on board.  I especially wanted to go to Crossroads because it’s relatively close to me.  But this show was th same night as Devo.  And I wasn’t missing out on them.

Moondough is the recording name of one guy.

Ken Raymundo is a talented Multi-Instrumental, Singer/Song Writer from Southern California, that goes by ‘Moondough’. Possessing a unique range of musical influences, he has created a signature sound that highlights his soulful melodies, smooth guitar progressions, and funky bass lines.

Doesn’t seem like someone that should open for Sparta, but who knows.  The rest of the lineup is also all over the place.

Demmers are from New Jersey.  Their brief bio says hardcore kids in non hardcore places.  But they are in fact older guys who have played in other bands.  They have one song out on bandcamp.  I like the music but not the singer.

Elliot Fullam is from New Jersey.  He reminds me of Elliot Smith–a whispered kind of vocal style over picked guitar.  Huh, he’s also an actor who played Jonathan Shaw in the horror films Terrifier 2 and Terrifier 3

Posted in Crossroads, Demmers, Elliot Fullam, Garwood, NJ, Moondough, Sparta | Leave a Comment »

Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory / Love Spells (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, April 30, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

April 30, 2025 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 30, 2025] Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory / Love Spells

It’s been a roller coaster of hits and misses with Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory this year.  I didn’t love Sharon’s previous two albums, so I wasn’t that interested in this show when it was announced.   But when they said she’d be doing a Free at Noon, I went and LOVED the new band and sound.  I thought about getting tickets to this show, but it had sold out.

Later in the summer my wife and I saw her headline XPoNential Fest and she was great.  Then my daughter and I missed her at All Things Go.

I don’t know how different her Union Transfer show was from her XPoNential Fest show, but the Fest show was so good, I don’t mind missing this one.

Love Spells is the mystic lovechild of 20-year-old singer-songwriter Sir Taegen C’aion Harris. Born and raised in Houston, TX, Harris marries ethereal vocals, delicate percussion, and soothing guitar riffs into a dreamy & nostalgic fusion of indie rock, psychedelia, and dream pop.

I listened to a song and it was soft and dream with whispery vocals.  A nice moody accompaniment to Sharon’s songs.

 

Posted in James, Love Spells, Philadelphia, PA, Sharon Van Etten, Sharon Van Etten & the Attachment Theory, Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (The Met Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, April 26, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

April 26, 2025 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT AnicTTEND: April 26, 2025] Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

I saw Nick Cave back in 2017 and it was a great show an a terrible show at the same time.  Nick was great but the crowd around me was so annoying.  And a lot of things went wrong that kept me from getting there at a reasonable hour, so I was really far back.  Blah Blah Blah.

I don’t really like Nick’s newest, mellow, sad album.  I hadn’t even listened to this new one.   And since this was the tour for this album, I didn’t really plan to get tickets.  I did look at them when they were announced and they were really expensive.  So I didn’t even bother getting a ticket.

Looks like he did play songs I wanted to hear and I’m sure the crowd would have been better behaved.  But it’s totally fine that I didn’t go.

Posted in Nick Cave, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Philadelphia, PA, The Met Philadelphia | Leave a Comment »

Beach Bunny / Pool Kids (The Fillmore Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, April 26, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

April 26, 2025 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 26, 2025] Beach Bunny / Pool Kids

I have seen Beach Bunny with my daughter three times.  Her shows are a lot off fun, so when she announced this show, I was sure my daughter would like to go to.

But as the night approached my daughter was too busy to go.  I offered the ticket to my wife, but although we had just gone to a seated show, she did not feel up to going to a GA show. So we stayed home instead.

Pool Kids are one of my favorite young bands, who I actually first saw when the opened for Beach Bunny at Pier 17.  This really was a great double bill and I’m bummed to have missed it.  But I did get tickets to see Pool Kids headline in September, and I’m sure Beach Bunny will be back soon.

 

 

Posted in Beach Bunny, Philadelphia, PA, Pool Kids, The Fillmore Philadelphia | Leave a Comment »

Orla Gartland / Fightmaster (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, April 25, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

April 25, 2025 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 25, 2025] Orla Gartland / Fightmaster

I’ve known about Orla Gartland for a few years.  I really liked her song You’re Not Special, Babe.  And her newer song Little Chaos is great.

She falls into the grouping of youngish women singers who I really like one or two songs by but never looked into more of their stuff.  So I want to see them but I’m not super psyched to do it.

Usually when I go see them I enjoy their show.  But if I don’t, then I think about seeing them every time they come.

I had intended to see Beach Bunny the following night with my daughter, so I stayed home because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go out two nights in a row.  And I feel like I should have gone to this one.  I should definitely go if she comes back to the US.

Fightmaster is the solo music project of nonbinary artist ER Fightmaster.

ER Fightmaster has appeared on Grey’s Anatomy (!).  I gather that they have quite following and their live sets are pretty captivating.  Maybe they’ll open up for someone else in the future.

Posted in Fightmaster, Orla Gartland, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts | Leave a Comment »

Magic Sword / Mega Ran / Starbenders (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, April 24, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

April 24, 2025 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 24, 2025] Magic Sword / Mega Ran / Starbenders

I’ve seen Magic Sword twice and I love their instrumental fake-soundtrack music.  Everything about them is super fun.  I would see them any time they came around.  But at the same time they’re kind of a second tier show for me.  Like if something else came along I might go to that instead?  So Cheekface the same night was a tough call.

But I wound up staying home instead of having to decide.

Mega Ran according to Wikipedia,

Raheem Jarbo (stage names Mega Ran and Random) is an American underground nerdcore rapper, chiptune DJ, and record producer. In February 2015, he changed his stage name to Mega Ran, removing Random from any releases.

Mega Ran keeps popping up at shows around here and I’d really like to see him once.  I hope it works out.

Starbenders sound like they’re a mid 80s hair metal band.  And I think that’s the point?  They seem to be considered a glam rock band.  I almost feel like they’re a joke band but I don’t think they are. I’m probably not the right audience for them.

 

Posted in Magic Sword, Mega Ran, Philadelphia, PA, Starbenders, Underground Arts | Leave a Comment »

Cheekface / Pacing (The Foundry, Philadelphia, PA, April 24, 2025) [DID NOT ATTEND]

April 24, 2025 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 24, 2025] Cheekface / Pacing

I saw Cheekface two years ago and loved them.  I really wanted to see them again.  Last year they played The Church, which I don’t go to.  So when they announced this show at The Foundry I was psyched.  But I already had tickets to see Magic Sword tonight.  What’s a guy to do?

Well, having gone out a few times and having my wife at home still recovering, a guy stays home and doesn’t see either band.

I had not heard of Pacing but when I looked them up I found them delightful and hilarious.  Their bio says

Pacing is the songwriting and recording project of Katie McTigue (she/her). Various Small Flames wrote that she “follows inthe playful, tongue-in-cheek tradition of the likes of Kimya Dawson, yet always nudges the ideas further to be more than mere twee humour or sardonic fun.” Fans and new listeners alike often remark that her anxious, confessional lyrics are “a little too relatable.”

The music is kind of twee but I do love twee.  This would have been a really fun show.

Posted in Cheekface, Pacing, Philadelphia, PA, The Foundry | Leave a Comment »

Steven Page Trio (World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA, April 22, 2025)

April 23, 2025 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: April 22, 2025] Steven Page Trio

I have loved Steven Page’s voice for decades.

I’ve really enjoyed his Trio shows, too.  I think I’d like to see him with a full band to really rock out, but even in this trio format, they can still rock.

The trio includes Craig Northey (of Odds) on guitar and Kevin Fox on cello.  I saw this same trio in the same place six years ago and it was great to see them again.

Like last time, they played a mix of BNL songs and Steven solo songs.  It was fun that they opened with It’s All Been Done (Steven acoustic, Craig electric) and the crowd Whoo hoo hoo’d along with them.  They followed it with Steven’s A New Shore (Land ho!) and the on to another BNL song, Jane.

The conundrum is that I love the BNL songs as much as anyone, but I feel a little bad that he doesn’t play more of his great solo stuff.  And yet, when he satted Alternative Girlfriend–one of my all time faves, it was a glorious moment.  The fact that it segued into Odds’ Someone Who’s Cool was a wonderful touch. Continue Reading »

Posted in Art of Time Ensemble, Barenaked Ladies, Craig Northey, Kevin Fox, Philadelphia, PA, Steven Page, The Beatles, World Cafe Live | Leave a Comment »

Menno Versteeg (World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA, April 22, 2025) [STEVEN PAGE TRIO]

April 22, 2025 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: April 22, 2025] Menno Versteeg

Menno Versteeg is a Canadian musician who fronted the awesomely-named (but I’ve never heard or heard of) Hollerado.  I wasn’t aware of him until this show, and I’m not sure how “big” he is in Canada.

Menno was very funny–a lighthearted storyteller (even if the stories were kind of dark).  Sadly, we walked in during the first song (WCL can be a real pain to get to), but we didn’t miss much.

It was him and his acoustic guitar playing songs from Why We Run, his debut solo album–although he has released music under the name Mav Carlo as well.

His songs were about a rough life as a youth in Canada

We would to drink enough whatever there was
To kill a clydesdale every night
But we’d do enough drugs and punching,
To bring that same horse back to life  [from Videostore]

There was a country vibe, but like most of Canadian country music, there wasn’t that awful twang in the vocals.

I particularly enjoyed the two dog songs.  The 4o some second I Got a Dog which is (entirely):

My mother is dyslexic
Sometimes her letters switch around
She failed grade 10 like a good artist does
And passed those ğood ġenes down
She faints plowers, like she saints pun-sets
Haints her Peart when She bolds a hush
And she assured me I would rind my dog
When I wasn’t in a fush

And then Bad Dog was a funny song story about a real bad dog–but Menno loves him still. Continue Reading »

Posted in Barenaked Ladies, Craig Northey, Hollerado, Kevin Fox, Menno Versteeg, Philadelphia, PA, Steven Page, World Cafe Live | Leave a Comment »

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