October 11, 2023 by Paul Debraski
[ATTENDED: October 11, 2023] Font
Before this show I looked up Font on bandcamp and they had … one song.
And it was great.
But who are they?
Font is an Austin-based band made up of Thom Waddill, Jack Owens, Anthony Lawrence, Roman Parnell, and Logan Wagner. Font began playing shows regularly in the beginning of 2022.
The Austin Chronicle has described their music as “relentless post-punk with New Wave keyboards and arty, personality-driven singing.”
I don’t know what “personality-driven singing” means, but the rest is pretty accurate. They make noisy, unexpected songs with catchy parts and decided uncatchy parts. The songs tend to have something–a piano note, a guitar riff–that recurs enough to call it a hook.
The bass wanders all over the place–in a great New Wave sorta way. And, as it turns out the percussionist is a major component of the band. From where I was I couldn’t really see the drummer (there was so much STUFF on stage), but I could clearly see the percussionist who had cowbells, blocks, cymbals (which he moved around to make different sound) and some bongos. He must have been exhausted. Continue Reading »
Posted in CHAI, Font, Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia, PA | Leave a Comment »
October 10, 2023 by Paul Debraski
[CANCELLED: October 10, 2023] Rainbow Kitten Surprise / Indigo de Souza
I really liked the couple of Rainbow Kitten Surpirse songs I’ve heard. I actually thought they might be even weirder than they were with a name like that. I’m not sure if I wanted to see them live or not, but I kept this on my radar. Especially since Indigo de Souza was announced as the opener.
I have been trying to see Indigo de Souza for what seems like years. My first attempt was in Jan 2022. But there were several cancelled shows (including one opening slot that I couldn’t make). And then finally, her major headlining show in the area and I was unavailable that night.
So, that might have made me want to go to this show. But that’s irrelevant because on May 23rd, they cancelled the entire Fall tour.
The band announced Tuesday night in a Twitter thread that the tour will be canceled due to a medical crisis, saying they will “turn off the lights for now.”
“We do not make this decision lightly, and we know that it will result in a lot of disappointment and concern, but we are a family, and we know that the most important thing we can do right now is to help get everyone healthy,” the thread said.
While the band did not put a timeline on its return, they did say they will make their comeback when their friend and fellow bandmate is in good health. The band said it hopes to return in full glory and pick up where it left off.
No word on how anyone is, but at the time, they stated
“One of our members is in a medical crisis. To make sure they have the time to get the proper treatment, we have decided to take down the entire year of shows.”
Hope the person is okay.
Posted in Indigo De Souza, Philadelphia, PA, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, The Met Philadelphia | Leave a Comment »
October 10, 2023 by Paul Debraski
[DID NOT ATTEND: October 10, 2023] Kurt Vile and the Violators / Schoolly D / Emily Robb
I really respect Philly Music Fest. If I lived closer to the venues and didn’t have other things (like a family), I’d love to go to every night. But I don’t. Lat year I didn’t go to any. This year I’m going to one show.
But it’s not this one either. Although of the nights I did not go to, this is certainly a good one. If I’d had more time, would have happily seen Kurt and Purling Hiss together.
I saw Purling Hiss six years ago. I assumed they would be a really loud heavy metal band. But they’re not. They’re more of loud indie rock band with lots and lots of guitars.
Here’s a few out of context sentences from reviews of their newest album Drag on Girard (it’s shame this show wasn’t at Johnny Brenda’s).
- The fuzzed-out lead guitar, the languid vocals, and the unbridled backbeat that keeps it all together
- Drag on Girard settles on the scuzzy, faded sound of a nicotine-stained dollar bin find from the ‘70s.
- Their latest release, Drag On Girard, can be fuzzy, abrasive and at times chaotic, but the album still brings a melodic and catchy ambiance.
- Drag On Girard is a raging amalgamation of late-’70s, pop-rock guitar solos and the rambunctious reemergence of the off-bent alternative punk scene of the 2010s
It’s pretty great stuff and makes for a fun live show. I may have to check them out again soon.
What I did not realize was that
Purling Hiss is led by Mike Polizze, a fixture of the Philadelphia music scene. He’s connected to the world of Kurt Vile, the War on Drugs, and their shared affection for 1970s classic rock and its favoring of lengthy jam sessions and guitar histrionics. Vile and Jeff Zeigler of the War on Drugs assisted with Polizze’s well-received solo album, 2020’s Long Lost Solace Find.
Polizze is also the main guy behind Birds of Maya, another garage/psychedelic band that makes noise. I wonder if he brings out the noisy side of Kurt Vile.
Florry are a kind of sloppy “bar country” band.
Singer-songwriter Francie Medosch started out as a teenager recording tense, depressive lo-fi indie rock, but during the pandemic, she had a realization: She wasn’t depressed anymore. “I think it’s cool to have art that reflects where you are in the moment,” she said then. She’d also been revisiting old favorites like Gram Parsons and Neil Young, planting seeds for the folksy new sound that would take hold on 2021’s Big Fall. Florry’s second proper album, The Holey Bible, posits an alternative to nihilistic indifference: What if instead of dispassionately accepting disaster as inevitable, we use the bitter end as a motivator to make the best of what time is left?
Though Florry’s sound has always had a homespun quality, on The Holey Bible, Medosch and her backing band—complete with 12-string guitar, fiddle, mandolin, harmonica, and plenty of pedal steel—push further toward old-school country.
Not my scene, but it could be fun.
Posted in Ardmore Music Hall, Ardmore, PA, Birds of Maya, Florry, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Mike Polizze, Philly Music Fest, Purling Hiss | Leave a Comment »
October 9, 2023 by Paul Debraski
[DID NOT ATTEND: October 9, 2023] Kurt Vile and the Violators / Schoolly D / Emily Robb
I really respect Philly Music Fest. If I lived closer to the venues and didn’t have other things (like a family), I’d love to go to every night. But I don’t. Lat year I didn’t go to any. This year I’m going to one show.
But it’s not this one.
I’ve seen Kurt Vile a few times and he always plays a good show. But my wife and I had seen him fairly recently, so there was n need to see him again so soon.
Schoolly D is an old-school rapper who i kind of thought I knew, but I guess I mostly know him from Primus.
We hopped into my dart and headed for the nightbreak to see a man they called Schooly D. [–Harold of the Rocks]
I don’t know what he’s like these days, but I imagine him on stage with a Casio drum machine freestyling. His latest album came out in 2010 and it was more mixing and sampling than lyrics.
Emily Robb plays an electric guitar (and is referred to as a guitar abuser). She has a solo album out that is an incredible amount of fuzzy guitar noise.
No vocals, no artifice, barely even a drum. It’s a totally fried, mutant offering that’ll entice the twisted seekers– a sustained, distilled meditation on the unabashed revved up freedom of rock.
This night actually sounds kind of unpleasant.
Posted in Ardmore Music Hall, Ardmore, PA, Emily Robb, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Philly Music Fest, Schoolly D | Leave a Comment »
October 7, 2023 by Paul Debraski
[ATTENDED: October 7, 2023] Aunty Donna
I don’t recall what made me check out Aunty Donna one night. But the opening skit of the first episode had me cracking up. I’ve been a fan ever since.
The only “problem” with them is that their jokes are so vulgar, so over the top rude, that it’s hard to share them. Especially with the kids. I mean, even their merch–which includes a hat that says Morning Brown is hard to explain without going a bit red in the face.
So what was this show going to entail?
Well, the promo told us this
Dear Human Beings,
Hello, I am a Magical Dead Cat, the titular Magical Dead Cat from the very title of this very show. I write to you today because I have discovered the most wondrous sketch show on the popular streaming service Netflix – Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun. I was so impressed with said show that I issued Aunty Donna this challenge: entertain me with a 2 hour live show, one that features all new sketches, but also a few fan favourites. It MUST include a short interval, and based on availability / budget, possibly an opening act. If Aunty Donna succeeds in pleasing me with a rip-roarin’ show, I have promised to surprise them with a special, web slinging, mystery guest!
Come, sweet humans, and see if Broden, Zach and Mark are up for the task!
With loving grace,
The Magical Dead Cat.
The show also came with a warning that there would be occasional coarse kanguage. Nothing could be further from the truth. It was filled front to back with nothing BUT coarse language.
They opened the show by having an announcer introduce each of the three comedians. And as each one’s name was announced they came to the front of the stage and did a high-stepping dance. But the announcer continued to re-introduce Broden and Mark, as Zach’s face fell and the other two grew exhausted from all of their dancing. Continue Reading »
Posted in Aunty Donna, Australia, Broden Kelly, Funny (ha ha), Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Mark Bonanno, Perelman Theater, Philadelphia, PA, Religion, Zachary Ruane | Leave a Comment »
October 6, 2023 by Paul Debraski
[DID NOT ATTEND: October 6, 2023] Gladie
I saw Gladie open for Otoboke Beaver late last year and really enjoyed their set a lot. I would happily see them again, although a Free at Noon didn’t really seem like a worthwhile trip.
Here’s the blurb from the show and what I missed
After a successful tour with Jeff Rosenstock, today’s Free at Noon performer Gladie made a pit stop at the World Cafe Live stage to dazzle fans with their indie rock magic. Performing songs from their last album Don’t Know What You’re in Until You’re Out, along with a few favorites from other projects, the band truly came to impress.
The stage was decked out in the best gear, necessary for a classic Indie Rock experience. Guitarists Pat Conaboy and Matt Schimelfenig had full pedal boards, and used them frequently throughout the show, conjuring waves of distortion, their eyes were glued to the floor in true shoegaze fashion. The band started with their song “Mud,” immediately exploding into the room with a beautiful wall of sound that demanded the attention of everyone — a common theme that remained through the entirety of the show.
Lead vocalist Augusta Koch sang with intense power. She was able to strongly project (and even scream during some songs) her voice over the volume of the band, and listeners could also eel the emotion within her voice, whether the track had a somber energy or an exasperated energy. Koch’s lyrics were very impactful, influencing the tone of her vocals, as we heard during “20/20” where she and Schimelfenig harmonized to sing “I am angry, I am lonely, but I’m optimistic too.” Later, Schimelfenig took over vocals for “Fixer,” a song where he sings lead with a bit of a country twang from the band’s 2022 album Don’t Know What You’re In Until You’re Out.
Drummer Miles Ziskind was astounding to watch. The movement of his hands was difficult to track throughout the show due to his fills being so quick and precise. At stage left, bassist Liz Parsons accompanied the music with interesting lines throughout the set, especially on “Hit the Ground Running,” which was a bit groovier than the rest, allowing her to show off her skills. As the set came to a peak, “When You Leave The Sun” from Gladie’s 2020 album Safe Sins was the most commanding part of the set. It was faster, heavier, and built up a breathtaking ending with the band members blaring their instruments, hitting the crowd once again with that wall of sound.
That’s a lot of blurb for this fairly short set. Here’s the setlist and you can listen to it here
- Mud ⇔
- 20/20 §
- Hit The Ground Running ⇔
- When You Leave The Sun §
- Fixer ⇔
- Nothing ⇔
- Chaos Reigns [new single]
- Born Yesterday ⇔
When I saw them they played:
- When You Leave The Sun §
- thank you card ¥
- Mud ⇔
- Twenty Twenty §
- …Heaven, Someday ⇔
- Hit the Ground Running ⇔
- Nothing ⇔
- Born Yesterday ⇔
⇔ Don’t Know What You’re in Until You’re Out (2022)
§ Safe Sins (2020)
¥ thank you card EP (2020)
Posted in Free at Noon, Gladie, Philadelphia, PA, World Cafe Live | Leave a Comment »
October 5, 2023 by Paul Debraski
[ATTENDED: October 5, 2023] Everything Everything / Pierre Kwenders
I recently heard of Everything Everything in glowing terms and when I saw that they were playing locally I made a note of it. They are an
English art rock band from Manchester that formed in late 2007. Noted for their eclectic sound and complex, sociopolitical lyrics.
Their music is interesting and they remind me of a few bands that I like, but I wasn’t blown away enough to want to check them out.
Pierre Kwenders is the stage name of José Louis Modabi, a Congolese-Canadian musician. His 2014 album Le Dernier empereur bantou was a shortlisted nominee for the Juno Award for World Music Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2015, and a longlisted nominee for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize.
he has a good vibe and nice flow, but I’m not sad to not see him.
Posted in Everything Everything, Philadelphia, PA, Pierre Kwenders, Underground Arts | Leave a Comment »
October 1, 2023 by Paul Debraski
[ATTENDED: October 1, 2023] Lana Del Rey
Sometime in April, my daughter asked if we could go to the All Things Go Festival. I had never heard of this Festival and assumed the answer was no. But then I saw that it was at the Merriweather Post Pavilion which is exactly three hours away from us. So when tickets went on sale, I managed to get two pre-sale tickets for Sunday. And then when they went on proper sale, I managed to score two more for Saturday.
Sunday was the far more important day for music. I mean, the whole reason she wanted to go was to see boygenius (and Lana Del Rey). But this was a great day of music to be sure.
While Muna was playing on the other stage, the Lana Del Rey crew assembled the stage for the final act. I didn’t understand why boygenius was late in starting. But they finished at 8, when they were supposed to. The Lana set was fully in place before Muna finished.
Of all of the performers at this festival, Lana was the person I was least interested in seeing. My take on Lana is that she plays a random melody on the piano (or guitar) and then looks out the window and literally describes what’s in front of her in a bored monotone. I never would have guessed that she actually had a beautiful voice, because all I ever hear from her is bored monotone. Continue Reading »
Posted in Alex G, All Things Go, Alvvays, Arlo Parks, Boygenius, Carly Rae Jepsen, Columbia MD, Dayglow, Ella Jane, Ethel Cain, Flecther, Free Range, Hemlocke Springs, Jensen McRae, Juliana Madrid, Lana Del Ray, Last Dinosaurs, Leith Ross, Lizzie McAlpine, Maggie Rogers, Meet Me @ The Altar, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Mt. Joy, Muna, No Vacation, Peach Pit, Raye, Samia, Sudan Archives, Suki Waterhouse, Tegan and Sara, Tommy Lefroy, Vacations, Vundabar | Leave a Comment »
October 1, 2023 by Paul Debraski
[ATTENDED: October 1, 2023] Muna
Sometime in April, my daughter asked if we could go to the All Things Go Festival. I had never heard of this Festival and assumed the answer was no. But then I saw that it was at the Merriweather Post Pavilion which is exactly three hours away from us. So when tickets went on sale, I managed to get two pre-sale tickets for Sunday. And then when they went on proper sale, I managed to score two more for Saturday.
Sunday was the far more important day for music. I mean, the whole reason she wanted to go was to see boygenius (and Lana Del Rey). But this was a great day of music to be sure.
I didn’t really know Muna all that well before this show. I knew that they were signed to Phoebe Bridgers’ label and that she joined them on stage a lot. I also knew Silk Chiffon which was a highly touted song. I kind of liked it. There was something about it that I didn’t quite like but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
It probably would have been fun to see them in person, as their set was really fun and lively. But realistically since they went on literally right after Boygenius on a stage that was a short walk away, there was no way we would have gotten anything like a good space to be. Continue Reading »
Posted in Alex G, All Things Go, Alvvays, Arlo Parks, Boygenius, Carly Rae Jepsen, Columbia MD, Dayglow, Ella Jane, Ethel Cain, Flecther, Free Range, Hemlocke Springs, Jensen McRae, Juliana Madrid, Lana Del Ray, Last Dinosaurs, Leith Ross, Lizzie McAlpine, Maggie Rogers, Meet Me @ The Altar, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Mt. Joy, Muna, No Vacation, Peach Pit, Raye, Samia, Sudan Archives, Suki Waterhouse, Tegan and Sara, Tommy Lefroy, Vacations, Vundabar | Leave a Comment »
October 1, 2023 by Paul Debraski
[ATTENDED: October 1, 2023] boygenius
Sometime in April, my daughter asked if we could go to the All Things Go Festival. I had never heard of this Festival and assumed the answer was no. But then I saw that it was at the Merriweather Post Pavilion which is exactly three hours away from us. So when tickets went on sale, I managed to get two pre-sale tickets for Sunday. And then when they went on proper sale, I managed to score two more for Saturday.
Sunday was the far more important day for music. I mean, the whoel reason she wanted to go was to see boygenius (and Lana Del Rey). But this was a great day of music to be sure.
Despite our plans to get to the pavilion early for boygenius, by the time we got there, every close seat was full. We didn’t want to sit in the sun (it was HOT) so we wound up sitting much further back than I would have liked.
I have to say that I was shocked that Lana del Rey was headlining and not boygenius, because it sure seemed to me that boygenius was the biggest band on the planet at the time. But Lana does have a much longer track record (and a lot of fans).
Boygenius was late coming on stage. I genuinely don’t know why. I mean, Arlo Parks had been off the stage for half an hour and the Boygenius gear was already on stage (the festival was, otherwise, very efficient). So they went on 15 minutes late. And what was insulting about it was that earlier in the week we were told that beabadoobie couldn’t make it so boygenius would get an extra 15 minutes. We were prepared for a full on 90 minute show, but we lost those 15 minutes anyway.
They played The Boys Are Back in Town over the speakers and then we saw the geniuses backstage singing “Without You Without Them” as they do.
And then they came bounding out on stage. Continue Reading »
Posted in Alex G, All Things Go, Alvvays, Arlo Parks, Boygenius, Carly Rae Jepsen, Columbia MD, Dayglow, Ella Jane, Ethel Cain, Flecther, Free Range, Hemlocke Springs, Jensen McRae, Juliana Madrid, Lana Del Ray, Last Dinosaurs, Leith Ross, Lizzie McAlpine, Maggie Rogers, Meet Me @ The Altar, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Mt. Joy, Muna, No Vacation, Peach Pit, Raye, Samia, Sudan Archives, Suki Waterhouse, Tegan and Sara, Tommy Lefroy, Vacations, Vundabar | Leave a Comment »
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Before this show I looked up Font on bandcamp and they had … one song.
I Just Read About That... 