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The Rural Alberta Advantage (The Foundry, Philadelphia, PA, March 27, 2024)

March 28, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: March 27, 2024] The Rural Alberta Advantage

I saw a video of The Rural Alberta Advantage at Massey Hall in 2018 (it was from 2014).  This was the first real exposure I had to the band and the first time I saw how intense they were live.

Since then, they have played Philly three times.  I don’t think the first one registered.  But the second time I was ready to see them. But I already had  tickets to a different show that night.  I decided, however, that I’d rather see RAA, but when I went to get a ticket, it was sold out! (good for them).

But this time, there was no way I was missing them.  I arrived early, got on the barrier and marveled at the stage set up.  Keys, guitar and drums, with the drums on the right side and the drummer facing the other two.

The came out of the mystery door at the side of the stage and immediately started playing FSHG as they walked into the crowd.   Nils Edenloff walked around and sang while Amy Cole sang backing vocals.  I’m not sure if Paul Banwatt played any percussion as I couldn’t really see him.  But soon enough they were marching the song up to the stage. Continue Reading »

Posted in Julianna Riolino, Philadelphia, PA, The Foundry, The Rural Alberta Advantage | Leave a Comment »

Julianna Riolino (The Foundry, Philadelphia, PA, March 27, 2024) [THE RURAL ALBERTA ADVANTAGE]

March 27, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: March 27, 2024] Julianna Riolino

Julianna Riolino is a Canadian alt-country singer.  I had never heard of her before.

She came across as more country on some songs than on others.  She has a bit of a snarl and can really belt out some notes.

She was a little overly goofy, I thought, between songs.  She said her name between every song (which I liked and was kind of funny), but it also felt like she was trying a little too hard.  Which is odd because she’s been doing this for a while.   But she was certainly memorable.

When she said she was from a small town outside of Toronto (and outside of Buffalo, NY) I was surprised, and I think she guessed it right because she joked about being Italian, so people think she’s from New York. Continue Reading »

Posted in Julianna Riolino, Philadelphia, PA, The Foundry, The Rural Alberta Advantage | Leave a Comment »

Guster: “We Also Have Eras Tour” (Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at the Count Basie Center, Red Bank, NJ, March 26, 2024)

March 26, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: March 26, 2024] Guster

This was my eleventh time seeing Guster!  This show pushed them in to second place (along with Tori Amos and Richard Thompson) as the artists I’ve seen the most.

And what a great show this proved to be.  Following Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, Guster announced that they have eras too (since they’ve been around for 30 years) and they announced a two set retrospective of their career.

What I didn’t know (I saw no spoilers!) is that there would be a narrator telling us what was going on with the band.  Dave Butler (who also plays drums with Marco Benevento and has played live with Guster since 2015) was the evening’s narrator. [This also means I’ve seen Dave Butler play 12 times]. Continue Reading »

Posted in Count Basie Theatre, Guster, Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre, Red Bank, NJ, Set in New Jersey!, Talking Heads | Leave a Comment »

Otoboke Beaver (おとぼけビ～バ～) (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 23, 2024)

March 25, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: March 23, 2024] Drinking Boys and Girls Choir [드링킹소년소녀합창단]

Otoboke Beaver is slowly moving up in North America.  They first played Philly’s Johnny Brenda’s, (250 capacity) then moved up to Underground Arts (650 capacity) and have now moved to the relatively big leagues of Union Transfer (1200 capacity).

All without having any presence in the States at all that I’m aware of.

So this was my third time seeing them and each time I have failed to get any meaningful pictures or videos.  Because each time, as soon as they start playing the crowd goes insane!  I thought that at Union Transfer, if I got there early enough, I ‘d could position myself away from the pit.  But from the first song I was pushed around and almost knocked down.  So I moved away from the center a bit and was still pushed around.  I don’t think the show sold out but it was packed up front!

This was  the biggest stage that I’d seen them on and they filled it pretty well.  Although I never did get close to bassist Hiro-Chan (who plays barefoot) for the whole show.  In fact I barely saw her between the heads of people around me.

This was the first time I could see drummer Kahokiss because she was on a riser, but she was surrounded by cymbals so I never actually got to see her, just her flying, furious arms.

Singer Accorinrin was hard to spot because of the tall guy in front of me, but she clearly made her presence known.  And, like last time, I was in awe when, before one of the songs, Accorinrin stood with her arm raised and the whole band waited for her to begin.  The crowd, not taking the hint, whooped it up, but she was clearly waiting for silence.  She stood and waited (like a teacher) in front of some 1,000 people, while every jackass had to whoo one last time and people finally started yelling “shut up.”  When things were quiet to her liking, she got the whole band to launch into the song in perfect sync.

Their songs are short and fast with serious time changes.  There is no margin for error.

The most fun member of the band is obviously guitarist Yoyoyoshie.  Between every few songs she screams in a crazy guttural voice, “WE ARE OTOBOKE BEAVER!”  She also talks the most between songs, telling about how she eats Philadelphia Cheese on the bus every day on tour.  She also commented that she loves the Phillies (especially the mascot).

Sure, their setlist has been virtually the same for the last two years (they are working on a new album), but it doesn’t really matter because the songs are frenetic and fun and are somewhat similar in style–there’s usually small things that are different between the songs.  Like a part that slows things down or a part that is kind of silly or funny or a great big chanting chorus.

As with every time I’ve seen them, I was quickly shoved aside from my original spot and had to fight to stand upright in the moshing crowd.  But with the band on the big stage it was a lot easier to watch them than it has been in the past.

When they finished the set after about an hour, they left the stage and then came back a few minutes later.  Yoyoyoshie had an inflatable beaver pool toy and threw it into the crowd, which everyone started batting around.  And then Yoyoyoshie herself surfed into the crowd and climbed into the Beaver!  It was wild and weird and super fun.  If I had been in the original spot I probably would have gotten to hold her up.

When she surfed back to the stage they played an encore.  Accorinrin said it was the first time the song was played in the US and said it was called “I don’t want to live with mother-in-law.”

This bodes well for a new album coming out soon.

And, yes, I’d see them again.  I wonder if they will move up to a bigger venue next time?  They didn’t sell out union transfer but they have sold out many of the venues on the tour.

2024 2023 2022
Yakitori § (ヤキトリ) Yakitori § (ヤキトリ) Yakitori § (ヤキトリ)
Akimahenka Ø Akimahenka Ø Akimahenka Ø
Don’t light my fire ⊗ Don’t light my fire ⊗ Don’t light my fire ⊗
Bad luck ⊗ Bad luck ⊗ Bad luck ⊗
S’il Vous Plait Ω (シルブプレ) S’il Vous Plait Ω (シルブプレ) S’il Vous Plait Ω (シルブプレ)
Love Is Short ♥ Love Is Short ♥ Love Is Short ♥
What do you mean you have talk to me at this late date? Ω (いまさらわたしに話ってなんえ) What do you mean you have talk to me at this late date? Ω (いまさらわたしに話ってなんえ) What do you mean you have talk to me at this late date? Ω (いまさらわたしに話ってなんえ)
Introduce me to your family ♥ Introduce me to your family ♥ Introduce me to your family ♥
Datsu . Hikage no onna ⊗ (脱・日陰の女) Datsu . Hikage no onna ⊗ (脱・日陰の女) Datsu . Hikage no onna ⊗ (脱・日陰の女)
Dirty old fart is waiting for my reaction § (​ジ​ジ​イ is waiting for my reaction) Dirty old fart is waiting for my reaction § (​ジ​ジ​イ is waiting for my reaction) Don’t call me Mojo § (呼ばんといて喪女)
I am not maternal § (アイドンビリーブマイ母性)  I am not maternal § (アイドンビリーブマイ母性)  George & Janice § (ジョージ&ジャニス)
Don’t call me Mojo § (呼ばんといて喪女) Don’t call me Mojo § (呼ばんといて喪女) Dirty old fart is waiting for my reaction § (​ジ​ジ​イ is waiting for my reaction)
I put my love to you in a song JASRAC § (あなたとの恋、歌にしてJASRAC) PARDON? § (パードゥン？)  I am not maternal § (アイドンビリーブマイ母性) 
PARDON? § (パードゥン？)  Nabe party with pocket brothers § (穴兄弟で鍋パーティー)  Nabe party with pocket brothers § (穴兄弟で鍋パーティー) 
I checked your cellphone § (​携​帯​み​て​し​ま​い​ま​し​た​) I put my love to you in a song JASRAC § (あなたとの恋、歌にしてJASRAC)  I put my love to you in a song JASRAC § (あなたとの恋、歌にしてJASRAC)
I won’t dish out salads § (サラダ取り分けませんことよ) George & Janice § (ジョージ&ジャニス) I checked your cellphone § (​携​帯​み​て​し​ま​い​ま​し​た​)
Leave me alone! No, stay with me! § (リーブミーアローンやっぱさっきのなしでステイウィズミ) I checked your cellphone § (​携​帯​み​て​し​ま​い​ま​し​た​) PARDON? § (パードゥン？) 
I don’t want to die alone § (孤独死こわい)  I won’t dish out salads § (サラダ取り分けませんことよ) I won’t dish out salads § (サラダ取り分けませんことよ)
First-class side-guy § (一級品の間男) Leave me alone! No, stay with me! § (リーブミーアローンやっぱさっきのなしでステイウィズミ) Leave me alone! No, stay with me! § (リーブミーアローンやっぱさっきのなしでステイウィズミ)
Anata Watashi Daita Ato Yome No Meshi ⊗ (あなたわたし抱いたあとよめのめし) I don’t want to die alone § (孤独死こわい)  I don’t want to die alone § (孤独死こわい) 
encore First-class side-guy § (一級品の間男) First-class side-guy § (一級品の間男)
Shutome to Dokyo B-DASH Kaigo
(First time played in North America)
 Anata Watashi Daita Ato Yome No Meshi ⊗ (あなたわたし抱いたあとよめのめし) Anata Watashi Daita Ato Yome No Meshi ⊗ (あなたわたし抱いたあとよめのめし)
encore encore
Ai no Bourobon ~bakuro book~ Ω (愛の暴露本) Ai no Bourobon ~bakuro book~ Ω (愛の暴露本)
encore 2
SETLISTS are similar at most venues with these possible changes

Love Is Short ♥ may have been Bakuro Book
Introduce Me to Your Family ♥ may have been 6 day working week is a pain

 Let’s shopping after show § (レッツショッピングアフターショー)
§ SUPER CHAMPON (2022) ス​ー​パ​ー​チ​ャ​ン​ポ​ン
⊗ ITEKOMA HITS (2019)
♥ Love Is Short EP (2017)
Ø Okoshiyasu!! Otoboke Beaver (2016)
Ω Ai no Bourobon ~bakuro book~ EP (2016)

Posted in おとぼけビ～バ～, Drinking Boys and Girls Choir, 드링킹소년소녀합창단, Otoboke Beaver, Party Nerves, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »

Drinking Boys and Girls Choir [드링킹소년소녀합창단] (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 23, 2024) [OTOBOKE BEAVER]

March 24, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: March 23, 2024] Drinking Boys and Girls Choir [드링킹소년소녀합창단]

I’ve had limited exposure to Drinking Boys and Girls Choir, except that they are on the same label as Otoboke Beaver.  I knew that they were from South Korea, but only recently learned that Daegu is one of the most conservative cities in the country (“it sucks,” singer/bassist Meena Bae said).

Meena Bae and Myeong-jin Kim (drums & vocals) started the band in 2012.  They’ve gone through a few guitarists over the years and have now grabbed Scottish guitarist Megan Nisbet who joined the band in 2020 (and had been studying Korean for 15 years!).

I was really excited that they were opening for Otoboke Beaver.  I was hoping to buy a copy of their record but I forgot a bag and I didn’t want to hole a record for the entire show (and it’s a good thing, too as Otoboke Beaver fans are wild).

The trio came out and immediately launched into their rockingest songs.  Their debut album Keep Drinking!! is more wild and fun than the follow up Marriage License, although Marriage still rocks pretty hard.  They played songs from both albums and really mixed up the intensity and pacing of the show.

I was in front of Megan, but Meena was very active, running around the stage and making sure we all saw her as she danced and hopped.  She was a bundle of energy and a lot of fun, too.

Their songs are punky and super catchy with lots of backing vocals.  The first couple of songs were fast with the band showing off their chops.  Meena jumped around and Myeong-jin (who goes by MJ) was an impressive drummer–fast and intense and always on beat.

During “Red Shift,” Megan demonstrated her guitar chops with some super impressive soloing.

Some of their songs featured lead vocals by one of their previous members, but they played them anyhow and they sounded great.

But even if the newer songs are a bit softer, “Hit the Corner” is fast and heavy and I was fascinated to see the MJ had a double bass drum pedal and was using it furiously.

Some of the lyrics are in Korean and some in English, so it’s fun to try to figure out if you can figure out the fast words or if they are in Korean.

I was really surprised to hear them play “Linda Linda” a song t hat I know of because of the band The Linda Lindas.  I thought it was odd that they would play this song until I found out that they recorded a single of it before the U.S. band had become known and, in fact, have been playing the song for years.  That’s pretty cool.  Meena jumped off the stage and chatted with a little girl whose name was Lynn.  It was really cute.

“National Police Shit” is super catchy, sung in English and really quite funny.  It’s less than 2 minutes long and features the line “This is just Skateboard!”

It was followed by “History” their first single recorded with Megan (a new album is on the way, I believe).  They ended with a rocking version of “Wish” and Meena ran into the audience to do some slam dancing with the crowd (all while playing).  Then she ran back up on stage to lead the band in a blistering version of their anthemic song Keep Drinking!

The show was awesome and I think they’re winning over audiences all over North America.

Continue Reading »

Posted in Drinking Boys and Girls Choir, 드링킹소년소녀합창단, Otoboke Beaver, Party Nerves, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »

Voivod / Prong / Traverse the Abyss / Black Horizon (Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg, PA, March 24, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

March 24, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: March 24, 2024] Voivod / Prong / Traverse the Abyss / Black Horizon

Originally I was told that the opening band was War on Women and I was super excited to see them.  Indeed it was Voivod (who I love) and War on Women (who I’ve heard are amazing live) that made me consider getting a ticket.  I used to really like Prong a lot, but that was  thirty years ago and I had no idea they were still making music.   I actually can’t find any official word anywhere that War on Women was going to open, but I didn’t just make it up.  Anyhow, I received an update a couple of days ago that the openers were going to be Traverse the Abyss and Black Horizon.

And that changed everything.

I had been out the night before and it’s hard to get motivated to go out if you’ve been in a cozy house all day.

So, when I saw that one third of the reason I wanted to go was no longer there, it really made me rethink my plans.

I saw Voivod five years ago (it feel much more recent than that) and I would very much like to see the again, but that one show made a lasting impression on me.  I see that the setlist is quiet different than the last time, with a great amount of variety in the music, so it would certainly have been a good show.  But it didn’t feel compelling enough to drive all that way on a Sunday night. Continue Reading »

Posted in Black Horizon, Prong, Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg, PA, Traverse the Abyss, Voivod, War on Women | Leave a Comment »

Grouplove / Bully (Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA, March 23, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

March 23, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: March 23, 2024] Grouplove / Bully

I really only know one Grouplove song (“Tongue Tied”) but I have heard that their concerts are a ton of fun.  I tried to go to one last year but I couldn’t make the date.

It was weird when my daughter suggested that she’d like to see them too.  But that was only casually mentioned, so I don’t know how serious she was.

If I hadn’t had plans to see Voivod on the same night I would have grabbed her a ticket and we would have gone together.  Well, I’m sure they’ll be back again.

I was actually more excited to go once I saw that Bully would be opening.  Bully is great and I have seen them once before.   She put on a great show when opening for two band where noone cared about them.  Since then they have gotten a little bigger and I’m sure will be better received.

Honestly I’d prefer a Bully headlining show.

Posted in Bully, Franklin Music Hall, Grouplove, Philadelphia, PA | Leave a Comment »

Party Nerves (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 23, 2024) [OTOBOKE BEAVER]

March 23, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: March 23, 2024] Party Nerves

I saw Party Nerves open for Say Sue Me back in November and now t hey are opening for Drinking Boys and Girls Choir and Otoboke Beaver.  There seems to be a pattern.

Since it’s only been four months, my opinions of them haven’t changed that much.  Except to say that they sound even better.  Tighter, more powerful.  And the size of this venue didn’t affect them at all.

After a song when someone shout “shit is tight bro” Mike the bassist said thanks, “we practice.  A lot.  We don’t have lives.”  And then drummer Pavlo chimed in, “hey, I have a dog.  And a wife.”

All three members are super in tune with each other, but fairly or unfairly, most of the attention has to go to guitarist Woolly since he’s the one playing the lightning fast, non-stop surf guitar riffs. Yup, rocking surf guitar that reminds me of Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet (the band who made The Kids in the Hall theme song), although listening to them this time, they have more urgency and intensity that Shadowy’s laid back vibe).

Admittedly a lot of the songs are samey–I mean, it’s instrumental and it’s all kind of reverbed and riff-based.  But each guy is really good and the riffs are tasty.

The crowd was really impressed.  Everyone I heard talk about them had nothing but good things to say.

Like last time, 30 minutes was pretty perfect for me to enjoy their stuff without getting overwhelmed by the surf vibes.  I wonder what the longest show they’ve played is.

Party Nerves is a great opening act, check them out! Continue Reading »

Posted in Drinking Boys and Girls Choir, Otoboke Beaver, Party Nerves, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »

Latetia Sadier / Storefront Church (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, March 22, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

March 22, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: March 22, 2024] Latetia Sadier

I was once a huge fan of Stereolab.  When I finally saw them live in 2019, it was an amazing experience.  I couldn’t believe how well they duplicated the sounds, but kept it all so lively.

I saw them again in 2022 and had a less wonderful time.  More because of the crowd, but they also played a lot of stuff I didn’t know and it was kind of tedious.

I didn’t know that singer Latetia Sadier put out solo records, although it makes sense that she does.

I was sort of intrigued to see her, but with me going to many many other shows that week, I had to give this one a miss.

Opening for her is Storefront Church who I’d never heard of.

Storefront Church’s surreal, lush, and dark atmospheres are the creation of Los Angeles musician Lukas Frank.  The band specializes in atmospheric and melodramatic indie rock.

I listened to one song (with Phoebe Bridgers guesting) and it was slow and melodramatic and I did not care for it at all.

 

I was  onceahigefanofStereolab.

Posted in Johnny Brenda's, Latetia Sadier, Philadelphia, PA, Stereolab, Storefront Church | Leave a Comment »

Rx Bandits / Zeta (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, March 22, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

March 22, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: March 22, 2024] Rx Bandits / Zeta

I was not familiar with Rx Bandits when they announced this show.  Indeed the only reason I was interested in this show at all was because Zeta was announced as the opener.

I had seen Zeta once and they blew me away. I would do just about anything to see them again.

But this show, which is right in the middle of a bunch of other shows that I’m going to, was just too much.

When I read about this tour, though it did make me think two or three times about whether I should go.  There’s only a handful of shows, and I always feel special when I am able t o go to a little tour like this. Continue Reading »

Posted in Philadelphia, PA, Rx Bandits, Union Transfer, Zeta | Leave a Comment »

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