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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 »

Yasmin Williams (The Met Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, September 29, 2024) [MICHAEL KIWANUKA]

September 29, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: September 29, 2024] Yasmin Williams

I hadn’t heard of Yasmin Williams before this show.  But as soon as I watched a video of her, I knew I wanted to see her set.  (Any video will do, definitely check her out).

My tickets said that the show would start at 7:30.  I arrived a little later than I intended, but was still there by around 7:20.  It took a while to get into the venue and by the time I got close to the stage (it wasn’t very crowded yet), Yasmin finished a song and announced her last song!

I don’t know what time she actually went on (a little after 7, I guess) so I only had the chance to watch one of her songs.

It was wild fingerpicked guitar (she lays the guitar on her lap and has a kalimba at the end of it as well.  So much fun to watch.  I’m not sure I would simply listen to her–although her song was lovely.  I don’t really listen to solo acoustic guitar music.  But I would absolutely see her live any time.

No setlist available.

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

Hotline TNT / Disq / Euphoria Again / Patter (First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA, September 28, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 28, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 28, 2024] Hotline TNT / Disq / Euphoria Again / Patter

I’ve been a little bit obsessed with Hotline TNT since I missed them back in January (and then fell in love with their record).

When they played  show in June that I missed, I wrote

Hotline TNT plays what I can only describe as classic shoegaze, which is definitely having a moment again.  Unlike a lot of their contemporaries, they don’t really mess with the classic shoegaze vibe all that much–not adding elements at all.  Their music warms my heart and I’d love to see them live.

But it’s hard to imagine going to a four-band show when the headlining band is one you only know a little and has one album that you’ve listened to.

And, of course, I wasn’t going to go to the Church anyhow.

The rest of the lineup?  Never heard of them. Continue Reading »

Posted in Disq, Euphoria Again, First Unitarian Church, Hotline TNT, Patter, Philadelphia, PA | Leave a Comment »

Nilüfer Yanya / Lutalo / Eliza McLamb (Underground Arts, Philadelphia, PA, September 28, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 28, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 28, 2024] Nilüfer Yanya / Lutalo / Eliza McLamb

I saw Nilüfer Yanya back in 2019.  Since then she seems to have become even more of a dynamic performer.

I wanted to go to this show but I had a show the night before and the night after so I stayed home.

And the more I listen to her newer stuff the less engaged I am by it.

Lutalo is based in Vermont.

After releasing their 2022 debut EP, the 24-year-old born Lutalo Jones emerged as a rising presence in the indie world, catching the attention of Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold and Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker, who invited the young musician on tour.

Their music was good, but didn’t inspire me. Continue Reading »

Posted in Eliza McLamb, Lutalo, Nilüfer Yanya, Philadelphia, PA, Underground Arts | Leave a Comment »

Stars / Lydia Persaud (Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park, NJ, September 28, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 28, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 18, 2024] Stars / Lydia Persaud

I have been a fan of Stars since about 2004.  Seeing them live in 2022 was amazing.  And I couldn’t wait to see them again.

But since they were playing at Union Transfer, there was no way I was going to the Stone Pont Summer Stage to see them.  Frankly, that sounds like a terrible place to see an intimate band like Stars.

Lydia Persaud opened again.  I didn’t really like her last time.

Posted in Asbury Park, NJ, Christine Bougie, Lydia Persaud, Stars, The Stone Pony Summer Stage | Leave a Comment »

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