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Maragret Glaspy: Unplugged / Ryan Lerman (Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA, May 3, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

May 3, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 3, 2024] Maragret Glaspy: Unplugged / Ryan Lerman

I had mixed feelings about this show.  I love Margaret Glaspy, but I really love when she rocks out.  Did I want to see her unplugged?

But I felt that yes I did.  And regardless I snatched up a ticket right away.  I’ve seen her three times and she always puts on a good show, so really it was a no-brainer.

But then two things happened on this Friday.  My son decided he was coming home from college that day (instead of Saturday) and my daughter sprained her knee, which meant that my son and I were the only ones there to help him move out.  It took much longer than I anticipated and there was simply no way I could make it to the show.

Sigh. Continue Reading »

Posted in Margaret Glaspy, Ryan Lerman, Scary Pockets, Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA | Leave a Comment »

Trey Magnifique (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, May 2, 2024) [TWRP]

May 3, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: May 2, 2024] Trey Magnifique

Just as I hadn’t heard of nelward, I hadn’t heard of Trey Magnifique.

He came on stage, a silver fox, in a while suit (with no shirt on).  He proceeded to fill the room with smooth jazz sex.

He won me over immediately by saying “If someone asks if you want to hear smooth jazz,” the appropriate response is “Hell Yea.”  So when we all shouted “Hell Yea!” he said, no our energy was too high.  Try whispering it.  So we whispered ‘Hell yea” and he said no that was too much, just think it.

He then proceeded to make obscene mouth gestures on his straight saxophone.   It was really funny.

And then finally, after about six minutes, he actually played a song.  It was cheesy smooth jazz, but he was great–his sax playing is really solid.

So who is this guy?

Trey Magnifique is the smooth jazz alter ego of musician, comedian, and theoretical physicist Brian Wecht. Best known for his comedy bands Ninja Sex Party and Starbomb, where he performs as the keyboard-playing “Ninja Brian”, as well as his kids’ band Go Banana Go, Brian is one of the most popular comedy musicians in the world. Mature Situations is Brian’s first album as Trey Magnifique, as well as his first solo project.

Brian grew up in Pompton Lakes, NJ, and, after studying math and music (with a focus on jazz composition, arranging, and performance) at Williams College, went on to get a doctorate in theoretical physics from the University of California, San Diego. Wecht held postdoctoral research positions at MIT, Harvard, the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, and the University of Michigan, and was a faculty member in the Centre for Research in String Theory at Queen Mary University of London. Wecht has authored over 30 papers in theoretical physics, focusing on supsersymmetric quantum field theories and string theory.

While pursuing his academic interests, Wecht began doing improv comedy with San Diego TheatreSports, and went on to become the Musical Director of the Improv Asylum in Boston, MA. After moving to New York, he met Dan Avidan through a mutual comedy friend, and the two created Ninja Sex Party in 2009. In 2015, Wecht left his faculty position at Queen Mary in order to focus on his YouTube career full time. In addition to NSP and Starbomb, Wecht’s projects include children’s comedy band Go Banana Go! (along with NSP producer Jim Roach), and the podcast Leighton Night with Brian Wecht (along with Leighton Grey). Outside of YouTube, Wecht maintains an active career as a public speaker and science communicator, and is one of the organizers of the annual Northeast Conference on Science and Skepticism (NECSS).

Incredible.  This guy is literally a genius AND he is funny as hell. Continue Reading »

Posted in nelward, Philadelphia, PA, Trey Magnifique, TWRP, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »

nelward (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, May 2, 2024) [TWRP]

May 2, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: May 2, 2024] nelward

I hadn’t heard of Nelward, but holy cow a few people in the audience sure did.

Nick “nelward” Elward is an electronic composer based in Atlanta. His music takes cues from video game soundtracks, jazz fusion, old school hip hop, and classic pop.

Nelward’s songs are (mostly) short and (mostly) silly.   He came out snazzily dressed and began singing DVD (30 seconds long, although longer live, with the entirety of the lyrics: Have you seen the DVD of me? repeated).

Ghost was a bit more of a real song–catchy and rather fun.  He did some wild dances and clearly loved the reactions of his silly behavior.

More representative of his stuff seems to be “I Hope My Pants Don’t Fall Down.” A minute of silliness. Continue Reading »

Posted in nelward, Philadelphia, PA, Trey Magnifique, TWRP, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »

Wine Lips / Bad Nerves / Wax Jaw (Broken Goblet, Bensalem, PA, April 28, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

April 28, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 28, 2024] Wine Lips / Bad Nerves / Wax Jaw

I was really interested in this show mostly because of Wax Jaw (I continue to want to see them and to get foiled in doing so).  But also because of Wine Lips who played with Wine Lips a year ago.

I had written it on my calendar as happening on Sunday the 28th.  Which I couldn’t make.  imagine my surprise that it was actually Monday but I had missed it anyway.

Wine Lips are a trio of Cam Hilborn on Guitar and Vocals with Aurora Evans on Drums and Charlie Weare on Bass.

Their music seemed to fit well with Acid Dad as this review says:

“Fuzzy, loud and fast, Wine Lips are a garage/ punk/ psychedelic band whose music feels like a shot of adrenaline to the heart. A no holds barred kind of rock n roll that’ll make you want to buy a motorcycle, just to crash it.” – Sled Island

Bad Nerves are from England.  How’d they get on this seemingly local tour, I wonder.

The Aquarian says this about them

UK’s Bad Nerves want to shake things up – and shake things up they will. Actually, it is already what they are doing in this dull, formulaic, and predictive music scene. The punk rock outfit are bringing back the ethos we all miss: the CBGB’s underground rock spirit, the Ramones-era nostalgic punk scene we crave, and the edgy garage band we want. Their songs are reminiscent of the 1970s and singer Bobby Nerves’ shrill, piercing vocals complement Will Power, Jon Poulton, Sam Thompson, and George Berry immaculately. 

I listened to a bit of the show below and found it to be kind of dull and formulaic.  So, whatever.

And then there’s Wax Jaw, undeniably the band I would like to see who I keep missing more than another band, even though they play near me ALL THE TIME.

From Markit An Eight, here’s all three shows:

Wine Lips

Bad Nerves

Wax Jaw

Posted in Bensalem, PA, Broken Goblet Brewing, Wax Jaw, Wine Lips | Leave a Comment »

Ty Segall / Sharpie Smile (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, April 28, 2024)

April 28, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 28, 2024] Ty Segall / Sharpie Smile

I bought a ticket to this show in August.  AUGUST!  I’d been waiting nine months to see Ty Segall (as I’d missed him five previous times for various reasons).  I didn’t really want to see him solo, and I assumed this was  full band show (which it was).

But then our friends invites us over for a Passover Dinner and we couldn’t say no.  I thought maybe I could squeeze in the show afterward, but damn, that’s a long dinner.

I’m about to give up on ever seeing Ty Segall.  Next time he announces a local show, I’m no buying a ticket ahead of time.

Sharpie Smile is a dup who were formerly called Kamikaze Palm Tree.  Continue Reading »

Posted in Kamikaze Palm Tree, Philadelphia, PA, Sharpie Smile, Ty Segall, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »

Rodrigo y Gabriela (McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ, April 28, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

April 28, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 28, 2024] Rodrigo y Gabriela

I’m not sure why it feels like some shows just recently happened and other feels so long ago.

I can’t believe that it has been seven years since we last saw Rodrigo y Gabriela.  That show was amazing and we were right up front so we could see everything they did.

I’d always felt that I’d want to see them whenever I could, but when they announced a show at McCarter Theater (practically in my backyard) I should have snatched up tickets instantly.  But I didn’t and then the only tickets available were pretty far back.  And that last show was SO GOOD, that it felt like this could only be a letdown.

Our friends who have seen them twice with us did wind up going (McCarter is even closer to them).  They told us that it was amazing to see them again and even more so to be home and ready for bed by 9:30.

Well, we got invited to a Passover dinner, so we couldn’t have gone anyway.  So there.

Posted in McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ, Rodrigo y Gabriela | Leave a Comment »

An evening with Porridge Radio (solo) (Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia, PA, April 28, 2024) [CANCELLED]

April 28, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[CANCELLED: September 24, 2022] Porridge Radio (solo)

I heard about Porridge Radio from NPR back in 2020.  They are exactly the kind of weirdo post-punk British band that I love and would never hear anywhere on the radio.

Singer Dana Margolin is more of a talker than a singer.  Her accent is thick and her intensity is palpable.  The band mixes melody and noise in an unexpected way.  And of course there’s “the growing legend of their intense live shows.”

They played a show in 2022 and I couldn’t make it.  And I hoped they’d come back.

This show was announced on March 29.  (Less than a month ahead!)  I grabbed a ticket immediately even though I had purchased tickets to see Ty Segall back in August!  Ty’s show was a must see as I kept missing him.  But Porridge Radio was such a weird opportunity (even if I was torn at seeing her solo).

Well, it didn’t matter because my family was invited to a Passover dinner that night AND, this show was cancelled anyway.

I received an email the day before:

Hey y’all,

The show tomorrow is canceled due to health reasons.

On her instagram, Dana wrote

So sorry Philadelphia but I must cancel the show tonight I am still unwell and have not made it to America 🪦 the optics are good though I’ll be with you asap

She did play the New York show, but had to cancel both LA shows.  Yikes.

But at least I didn’t bail on FOUR shows this weekend.

Posted in Cancelled, Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia, PA, Porridge Radio | Leave a Comment »

Teenage Fanclub / Sweet Baboo (White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ, April 27, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

April 27, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 27, 2024] Teenage Fanclub / Sweet Baboo

I feel like I saw Teenage Fanclub not that long ago, but it was way back in 2019!

I’ve been a fan of Teenage Fanclub since I heard “The Concept” back in 1991.  The band has changed (and mellowed) a lot since then (they had long hair, they had hair, and they could have been teenagers, maybe), but they still write gorgeous harmony-filled, pop-rock songs.

Last year when bassist Gerald Love retired (amicably) from the band, I assumed they were done.  Love wrote a little more than 1/3 of the songs (Norman Blake wrote a lot and Raymond McGinley wrote a bit less) and he wrote some of their catchiest songs.

But they have continued and announced they were returning to the States.  I had tickets to see Me First and the Gimme Gimmes but I assumed I’d be going to see Teenage Fanclub instead.  Although the parking at White Eagle Hall is terrible, especially now that I’ve had a hard time walking.

And for whatever reason, I was really tired that night.  I wound up doing a lot of things that day and was asleep by 9:30.  I probably could have gone to the show and been awake enough to enjoy it, but I didn’t have the motivation to go to either show.

Sweet Baboo is the musical alias of Welsh singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Stephen Black, whose idiosyncratic style encompasses psychedelia, indie pop, folk, electronic, and even classical music. Active since the early 2000s.

His music is chill and perhaps a little forgettable.

 

Posted in Jersey City, NJ, Sweet Baboo, Teenage Fanclub, White Eagle Hall | Leave a Comment »

Belle & Sebastian (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, April 26, 2024)

April 27, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: April 26, 2024] Belle & Sebastian

I was shocked to discover that it had been SEVEN YEARS since we’d last seen Belle & Sebastian.  I would have sworn that the show at the Mann was just a couple of years ago.

But I see that in 2019 we just “didn’t feel like going” to Union Transfer.  What?  That’s insane–I mean, not really, I’ve felt like that many times, but in retrospect to miss out on a B&S show was crazy.

Then in 2022, the show was scheduled on the same night as my daughter’s graduation.  And last year they cancelled the tour for health reasons.

My wife and I were pretty excited to go to this show and then it turned out their Girl Scout troop scheduled a trip leaving on Friday night.  So she had to miss the show.  And I hate to say this, but she would have loved the show–a setlist geared very much to her.

But it was also geared to me, because holy cow they played all kinds of great songs.

They even joked about how anyone who followed them back in the old days would be shocked at how different they are now, and it’s true.  Their early albums were quiet and introspective, but as they played more and more they got really fun and dancey.

Indeed, they started with two songs off of Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance, and it boded very well for the rest of the night. Continue Reading »

Posted in Belle and Sebastian, Philadelphia, PA, The Weather Station, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »

Me First & the Gimme Gimmes / The Defiant / Ultrabomb (Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park, NJ, April 27, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

April 27, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 27, 2024] Me First & the Gimme Gimmes / The Defiant / Ultrabomb

I initially didn’t want to like Me First and the Gimme Gimmes because I didn’t like their name.  There are worse reasons to not like a band. Then I learned that they are a cover band doing punk covers of classic rock songs and I thought their name was actually pretty perfect and now I want to see them live too.

I bought a ticket for this show but learned a few weeks later that Teenage Fanclub was playing the same night.  Very different vibes, but a tough decision.

And, best of all, my family was going to be out for the night so I didn’t even have to feel guilty about going out without them!

But for whatever reason, I was really tired that night.  I wound up doing a lot of things that day and was asleep by 9:30.  I probably could have gone to the show and been awake enough to enjoy it, but I didn’t have the motivation to go to either show.

I hadn’t heard of The Defiant, but had I known about them, it probably would have swayed my decision to go to this show

Members from The Offspring, Smash Mouth, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Street Dogs and The Briggs have united to form the new band THE DEFIANT. The members of The Defiant are no strangers to success as individuals but as a group their music stands for so much more on both a personal and professional level. Together the five members create a rock ’n’ roll pedigree that culminates into a riot of melodic punk. The Defiant will release their twelve-song debut album this October with touring to follow.  The Defiant is:  Pete Parada on drums (The Offspring),  Greg Camp on guitar (Smash Mouth),  Johnny Rioux on bass (Street Dogs),  Joey LaRocca on guitar and keys (The Briggs) Dicky Barrett front and center (The Mighty Mighty Bosstones).

Mostly, I have wanted to see The Mighty Mighty Bosstones for decades (I saw them once back in the 90s) and was very sad when they broke up.  Had I known that I could have seen Dicky Barrett (who is really the one I wanted to see), I would have absolutely gone to this show. Ignorance is a bad thing.

And holy crap Ultrabomb features Hüsker Dü’s Greg Norton!  Why didn’t I read about these bands before this show?

UltraBomb, the eagerly anticipated international supergroup, have now arrived bringing together three iconic musicians from the cream of punk rock. On bass is the legend that is Greg Norton, once the driving force behind one of the most influential bands to emerge from the American punk scene, Hüsker Dü. Next up is the indefatigable singer-guitarist Finny McConnell, a name you’ll recognise from thirty years as the frontman of the Canadian Irish folk-punk sensation The Mahones. Completing the trio is the drumming powerhouse Jamie Oliver, having served well over fifteen years in the seminal British punk band UK Subs, as well as shorter stints with the likes of SNFU among others.

Oh boy, do I regret missing this show.

Posted in Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park, NJ, Hüsker Dü, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, The Defiant, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Ultrabomb | Leave a Comment »

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