January 17, 2026 by Paul Debraski
[ATTENDED: January 16, 2026] Chris Gethard
When I first saw a poster for a Chris Gethard show (I’m guessing at House of Independents), I thought his name was a joke–Get Hard, ha ha. I’m sure he took a lot of abuse for that in school.
But I looked him up and discovered that he was part of an amazing podcast called New Jersey is the World (it ended about a year ago). Gethard (pronounced Getherd) grew up in New Jersey and spent many years writing for Weird NJ. And he knows this state better than just about anyone.
He does comedy nationally, but he seems to really relish doing shows in NJ. Last year he did a show in every county (in pizza places, in basements, in a used furniture store (!) and now for the second time in Flounder Brewing. (I’m bummed I missed the last one).
He has regular routines, but he also loves to tell stories about New Jersey, especially weird New Jersey. Continue Reading »
Posted in Chris Gethard, David Dondero, Flounder Brewing Co, Hillsborough NJ, Weird New Jersey | Leave a Comment »
January 16, 2026 by Paul Debraski
[ATTENDED: January 16, 2026] David Dondero
It’s interesting to me that my last show of 2025 was at the same venue as the first show of 2026–a venue I hadn’t been to before that previous show. It helps that it’s 15 minutes from my house.
I have known about Chris Gethard for a little while. I missed him the last time he came around here, but I soon as this show was announced I grabbed a ticket. I saw that David Dondero was going to open for him. I thought I didn’t know who he was, but it turns out I had seen a Tiny Desk of his back in 2014. The folks at NPR Music love(d) him, but I was okay on him
his music is good but not especially memorable, but it’s his lyrics that Dondero is known for. His songs are thoughtful and interesting and look at a variety of subjects.
Chris Gethard introduced him and said that he had known about David for decades and was a huge fan. He was in Florida and David was playing a show and said he was moving back to New Jersey. He and Chris connected and this tour was born. Continue Reading »
Posted in Chris Gethard, David Dondero, Flounder Brewing Co, Hillsborough NJ, Kevin Devine | Leave a Comment »
December 30, 2025 by Paul Debraski
[DID NOT ATTEND: December 30 & 31, 2025] John Oliver
I love John Oliver. He is always funny and was a highlight of The Daily Show. I understand his new (not new) show is very funny and very insightful as well, but I haven’t seen it.
His stand up has got to be fantastic.
But even without the surgery, I had no intention of going out to Philly on Dec 30th and especially not on the 31st.
It would have been a fun way to ring i the new year, I suppose, although we’d probably have been driving home at midnight.
Posted in John Oliver, Philadelphia, PA, The Met Philadelphia | Leave a Comment »
December 28, 2025 by Paul Debraski
[DID NOT ATTEND: December 28-31, 2025] Phish
In 2023, I took my family to Phish on New Year’s Eve and we had a great time. The show was fun and being in New York City after midnight was a hoot.
I didn’t feel like going last year. But this year I asked the family if they wanted to go again. And my son and wife said they’d go. I snagged tickets for the 28th and the 3oth.
And then I had surgery on the 10th, and there was no way I was hoofing it into the city two weeks after a major surgery, so I happily resold to another fan.
Posted in Madison Square Garden, New York City, Phish | Leave a Comment »
December 21, 2025 by Paul Debraski
[DID NOT ATTEND: December 21, 2025] AF2K
My friend Doug is a huge Rush fan and likes seeing all of the local tribute bands. He told me about AF2K (A Farewell to Kings) they play primarily 70s/80s Rush songs, and that’s my favorite era.
I also love that they were playing on 12/21.
But had just had surgery and even though this was a seated show, there was just no way.
Posted in AF2K, Crossroads, Garwood, NJ, Rush, The OBGMs | Leave a Comment »
December 19, 2025 by Paul Debraski
[DID NOT ATTEND: December 19-20, 2022] Champagne Jam 2025
Every year for quite some time, The Front Bottoms have been doing a Champagne Jam at the close of the calendar year.
I got tickets in 2022 but we didn’t go. This year I didn’t plan on going although my daughter surprised me by saying she wanted to go to one of the days. Then I explained what all was involved–that it wasn’t just a headliner and opener and she agreed that she didn’t want to deal with all that.
So who was there this year? It was much smaller than the 2022 edition, which seemed to have several venues involved. This one was just the Fillmore and the Foundry. Continue Reading »
Posted in Aaron West & The Roaring Twenties, Alex Orange Drink, Annie DiRusso, Balance and Composure, Brother Bird, Chmpagne Jam, Family Dinner, Funambulist, Kevin Devine, Kevin Devine & The Goddamn Band, Leisure Hour, Palomino, Philadelphia, PA, Public Works, The Fillmore Philadelphia, The Front Bottoms, The Lunar Calendar, This is Lorelei | Leave a Comment »
December 18, 2025 by Paul Debraski
[DID NOT ATTEND: December 18, 2025] Built to Spill / Guerilla Toss
I love Built to Spill. I’ve seen them half a dozen times and they’re always fun. Doug Martsch doesn’t really do anything in stage, except shred like a maniac, but somehow the shows are always fun. For the longest time I had seen Modest Mouse and Built to Spill the same number of times. But the last two Built to Spill shows I’ve had to miss for one reason or another. I was hoping to get BTS to catch up, but it didn’t happen. Hope the come back next year.
I had missed Guerilla Toss back in October when they did their headline show. So I was excited that they were opening on this Built to Spill tour. Although I missed a bunch of shows because of the surgery, this was the only one I was really bummed about.
Posted in Built to Spill, Guerrilla Toss, Philadelphia, PA, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »
December 17, 2025 by Paul Debraski
[ATTENDED: December 17, 2025] Kevin Devine
I’ve been a fan of Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band for several years now. I first saw him opening a show and I really enjoyed his brief set. I’ve since seen him solo and with the Goddamn band. So when they announced that he would be playing a show at a Brewery fifteen minutes from my house, I grabbed tickets immediately.
And then my scheduled surgery was moved up from January to December 10. I assumed there was no way I could go. And yet, a week later I felt great and figured I could surely sit for 90 minutes. I reached out to Flounder and secured two seats and by midday I felt well enough to go.
Sadly, I am an idiot and never confirmed the start time. I thought it started at 8, but it actually started at 7:30 and it sounds like Kevin mingled and chatted with everyone. So we arrived around 7:45, embarrassingly after he had started. And we clearly missed ten or fifteen minutes. However, Kevin played 20 songs while we were there and finished a little after nine, so even if we missed a few songs, we still had a great night of music. [Turns out we only missed one full song, some of the second song and a 5 minute intro, phew]. Continue Reading »
Posted in Flounder Brewing Co, Hillsborough NJ, Kevin Devine | Leave a Comment »
December 13, 2025 by Paul Debraski
[DID NOT ATTEND: December 13, 2025] Algernon Cadwallader / Gladie / Snoozer
Algernon Cadawallader has reunited and played a bunch of shows. Before they reunited I had not heard of them. But I had since listened to them and thought they sounded pretty great.
I haven’t been able to see them the last two times they were in town. But I secured a ticket for this show.
And then I had surgery and couldn’t even leave the house. I think I’ll give them one more chance and if I miss that one I’ll gibe up on them entirely.
I saw Gladie open for Otoboke Beaver back in 2023. Since then Gladie has been getting a good buzz about them, which is cool because they were really good. I would have definitely enjoyed seeing them again.
Snoozer is an “alternative group from philly. delco brothers make weird rock.” They play slow slacker rock.
Posted in Algernon Cadwallader, Gladie, Philadelphia, PA, Snoozer, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »
December 13, 2025 by Paul Debraski
[DID NOT ATTEND: December 13, 2025] Great Lake Swimmers / Abe Partridge
I 
thought I knew the Great Lake Swimmers from Ontario. But it turns out I don’t. I was getting them mixed up with someone else. I can see the album cover, but it clearly says another band name.
Great Lake Swimmers are a folk band. They seem alright, but I’m not going to see them.
Abe Partridge is a folk singer from Alabama with a very pronounced Alabama accent while he sings. It’s almost cute, but I don’t like it.
It’s good to keep track of artists you don’t like as well as the ones you like.
Posted in Abe Partridge, Milkboy, Philadelphia, PA | Leave a Comment »
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