Happy Mondays / Psychedelic Furs - 10/7/09 - Philadelphia - Trocadero

Entering the 80's arena yet again this year, I learned a valuable lesson after last night's Happy Mondays / Psychedelic Furs co-headlining show at the Troc. in Philly. Let's refer to that lesson as "The Absolute Necessity For A Good Front Man".

Taking the stage first, Shawn Ryder and company (sans Bez, vexed yet again by U.S. immigration issues) performed a very abbreviated set last night, hitting all the right notes in terms of the band's performance but woefully lacking in the front man charisma department. Glued to his adlib monitor as if it was the burning bush, Ryder barely moved at all from his center stage perch, all the while mumbling incoherent shout-outs to friends and Steve McQueen alike in between songs. Taking Bez's place (and thank god for it) was a magnetic female singer and hype artist whose name unfortunately escapes me. She brought the fun and the stage presence. Unfortunately all Shawn had to bring last night was his lumpen English self who couldn't be bothered.

At the other end of the spectrum, there's Richard Butler. I'm not sure what deal this man has made with El Diablo but suffice to say I would like to make a similar one. Looking shockingly good and sounding amazing, Mr. Butler and company ran through a 17 song set-list heavy on the hits while not missing a beat in terms of poncey twirls, audience interaction, and general Bowie-esque fabulosity. I've seen this band many times over the last 20 + years and never once have they disappointed. Last night was no exception (with the exception of not playing Heartbreak Beat but I'll survive). Winner = Psychedelic Furs by a wide margin!

Happy Mondays Set List:

1. Kinky Afro
2. Monster
3. Loose Fit
4. Reverend Black Grape
5. Hallelujah
6. Nasty
7. Anti Warhole on the Dancefloor
8. Jellybean
9. Mumbo Jumbo
10. Step On

Psychedelic Furs Set List:

1. Love My Way
2. Heartbeat
3. Like a Stranger
4. President Gas
5. The Ghost in You
6. In My Head
7. All of This and Nothing
8. Believe
9. Pretty in Pink
10. No Easy Street
11. Sister Europe
12. It Goes On
13. I Don't Wanna Be Shadow
14. Heaven
15. Encore:
15. Forever Now
16. She Is Mine
17. Dumb Waiters

School of Seven Bells - 9/26/09 - Philadelphia - Johnny Brenda's

Every once in a while I'm lucky enough to catch a band at the beginning of what I hope to be an extraordinarily successful career trajectory. This would be one of those bands and one of those times.

Composed of Alley and Claudia Deheza (formerly of On!Air!Library) with Ben Curtis (previously of The Secret Machines) on guitar, the trio makes ridiculously beautiful music suitable for all addled headspaces. I hate drawing comparisons but imagine if My Bloody Valentine had their way with the Cocteau Twins while engaging in an illicit affair with Lush. In other words the shit is good. Their first full length album "Alpinisms" (released last year on the Ghostly International label) brought them the attention of the Pitchfork set with their unique pastiche of wah-wah guitars fluidly blending with the Deheza sisters ethereal vocals creating an almost otherworldly sound perfect to consume 'ludes to.

Live, the band elegantly captures the aural tapestries found on their debut album (Forgive me for just typing "aural tapestries". There is no reason for that and I am sorry). Suffice to say make every effort to see this band live before they're headlining large venues in the near future. Roadworking new material hopefully to be found on their next album due March of next year, such new songs as "Bye-Bye" and "ILU" fit seamlessly into their Alpinisms driven set. There is also a "deluxe" version of "Alpinisms" due 10/13 incorporating demo versions, alternate takes, and new mixes of songs off their first album. Check http://pitchfork.com/forkcast/13402-iamundernodisguise-alternate-version/ for the alternate version of iamundernodisguise.

Here are a couple vids. I shot of the band from February of this year in Philly at the Troc. for a taste of their magic. Note to iPhone users. Do not waste your time trying to shoot video on this device at a show. It will sound like the seventh circle of hell. Trust me. -

Tour Dates. Go. You owe it to yourself. Or the terrorists win!:

Friday, September 25th - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brendas w/Popo
Saturday, September 26th - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar w/ Phantogram
Sunday, September 27th - Washington DC - Rock and Roll Hotel w/ Phantogram
Monday, September 28th - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 w/ Phantogram, Graveyard Fields
Tuesday, September 29th - Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn w/ Phantogram, The Tealights
Thursday, October 1st - Austin, TX - Emos Alternative Lounge w/ Phantogram
Friday, October 2nd - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits / Ziker Park
Sunday, October 4th - San Diego, CA - Casbah w/ Phantogram
Monday, October 5th - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour w/ Warpaint, Phantogram
Tuesday, October 6th - San Francisco, CA - Slims w/ Warpaint, Phantogram
Thursday, October 8th - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge w/ Warpaint
Friday, October 9th - Vancouver BC - Biltmore Cabaret w/ Depreciation Guild, Warpaint
Saturday, October 10th - Seattle, WA - Neumos w/ Warpaint
Tuesday, October 13th - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry w/ Depreciation Guild, Warpaint
Wednesday, October 14th - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle w/ Depreciation Guild, Warpaint
Thursday, October 15th - Toronto, ON - Lees Palace w/ Depreciation Guild, Warpaint
Friday - October 16th - Northampton, MA - Pearl Street w/ Depreciation Guild, Warpaint
Saturday, October 17th - Boston, MA - Paradise w/ Depreciation Guild, Warpaint
Friday, October 23rd - New York, NY - Webster Hall w/ The XX, First Aid Kit

The Nightman Cometh Live - 9/17/09 - Philadelphia

Being a huge fan of the FX television show "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", it was a pleasant surprise to hear all of the cast were doing an abbreviated tour of the meta - play within a show within a show featured in one of the more popular episodes from last year to promote the premiere of the new season. I won't belabor anyone with a description of the play in question but suffice to say make every effort to see the show if you can. Just imagine Danny Devito playing the troll toll who one must pay to access the "boy's hole". You get the picture.

By 7:30 pm the crowd outside Tower Theater in Philly was chockablock with fans, costumed freaks, and other Killadelphia detritus clamoring to get in. Treated to an abysmal opening comedian (performing with a live band natch), the show officially got underway with a sneak peek look at clips from the show's upcoming Christmas DVD release as well as an ep. from the new season. Finally taking the stage around 9:15, Charley, Dee, Mac, et al were greeted with thunderous applause as the show got underway. A too short 30 minutes later we left the theater grinning like addled 18 year olds wishing more television shows had the presence of mind to do something this craven from a marketing perspective in the near future.

A taste. "Dayman. aaaAAAaa. Fighter of the Nightman"!

Pet Shop Boys - 9/2-6/09 - NYC / AC

Observing Neil's hat. Wanting one for myself.

This was my third Pet Shop Boys tour over the last 15 years and I told myself from the outset "go more than once, asshole. You always regret not doing so". After telling myself to shut the hell up I did just that and purchased tix for both the band's New York and Atlantic City appearances. And I am happy to report it was money well-spent.

There are some bands who are just shockingly good live. PSB is one of those bands. One would assume it would be a rather being boring moment in that Neil and Chris are not the most excitable of characters (both onstage and off). Taking that into consideration they consistently make an effort to surround themselves with dancers, stunning visual effects, and other homosational effluvia. For this round, the backdrop consisted of strategically placed white boxes set up in different dimensional patterns forming a screen of sorts for the op-art, cubist videos being projected upon them. Manipulated in different patterns by both the dancers and "technicians" throughout the show, it reminded me of a futuristic disco fronted by two very English poofs. In other words I want to go to there. Often.

For Atlantic City we procured VIP tix allowing us to interact briefly with the band before the show and affording us prime rail spots. The guys could not have been nicer (droll, witty, making fun of George Michael's sexual exploits = John Love). I reciprocated by becoming disturbingly drunk during the show and making an ass of myself. Yay for video. Or in my parlance "YEEAAAHHHH".

NY / AC Setlist:

1. More Than A Dream (Magical Dub) (truncated)
2. Heart
3. Did You See Me Coming?
4. Pandemonium/Can You Forgive Her? (medley)
5. Love Etc.
6. Building A Wall (incorporating "Integral")
7. Go West (incorporating "Paninaro" and "Opportunites (Let's Make Lots Of Money)")
8. Two Divided By Zero
9. Why Don't We Live Together? (incorporating "Left To My Own Devices")
10. Always On My Mind

11. New York City Boy
12. Closer To Heaven (truncated)
13. Left To My Own Devices
14. Do I Have To?
15. King's Cross
16. The Way It Used To Be
17. Jealousy
18. Suburbia

19. All Over The World
20. Se A Vida É (That's The Way Life Is)
21. Viva La Vida (incorporating "Discoteca" and "Domino Dancing")
22. It's A Sin

23. Being Boring
24. West End Girls

Depeche Mode - 8/1-4/09 - AC / NYC

So I have been completely remiss in updating my blog over the last two months due to outside issues. I know the 4 people who are "following" me on here are now rejoicing, thanking the heavens my nubby little concert reviews are back. Glad to be of service.

First up, Depeche Mode in Atlantic City at the Borgata Resort on August 1. As always, this band live can do no wrong in terms of song selection, quality of presentation, and general nerdy moments for me to scream "YEAAAHHH" at as I'm trying to take video. Coming off of a ho-hum last album (Sounds Of The Universe), DM wisely favored older, more esoteric tracks in their setlist (4 nuggets alone off Black Celebration = Hell To The Yes!!). The concert was cut a full encore short due to Atlantic City's infernal curfew and the venue was more than likely over 100 degrees plus at certain points in the show (thank you Gahan and your delicate voice). Minor complaints compared to the opportunity to see a band of this magnitude in a 2500 capacity ballroom. We sang, we danced, we did waving wheat arms. The world became a better place.

Next up, DM in NYC at MSG on August 4. Not much else to add here with the exception of a full set (inclusive of Master and Servant, Strangelove, and Waiting For The Night. Thank you baby Jesus. Thank You!). I'm still not exactly sure why Madison Square has the reputation it has as the #1 destination venue in the world to see shows. Based on your seat location, the sound can be atrocious. Entering and exiting the place is like maneuvering around the snow covered maze in the Shining (with Nicholson clutching ax chasing you included). Seeing 20,000 New Yorkers lose their shit and sing along to Enjoy The Silence though is something that can always be appreciated, regardless of venue.

AC Setlist:
1. In Chains

2. Wrong
3. Hole To Feed
4. Walking In My Shoes
5. It's No Good

6. A Question Of Time
7. Precious
8. Fly On The Windscreen

9. Jezebel
10. Question of Lust
11. Come Back
12. Policy of Truth
13. In Your Room
14. I Feel You
15. Enjoy The Silence

Encore 1:
16. Stripped
17. Personal Jesus
18. Never Let Me Down Again

MSG Setlist:

1. In Chains

2.Wrong

3. Hole To Feed
4. Walking In My Shoes

5. It's No Good
6. A Question Of Time
7. Precious
8. Fly On The Windscreen
9. Jezebel
10. Question of Lust
11. Miles Away/This Truth Is
12. Policy of Truth
13. In Your Room
14. I Feel You
15. Enjoy The Silence

16. Never Let Me Down Again

Encore 1:
17. Stripped
18. Master And Servant

19. Strangelove

Encore 2:
20. Personal Jesus
21. Waiting For The Night

New Muse Single - Finally!!

Check the new Muse single "United States of Eurasia" off their upcoming album scheduled to drop worldwide 9/14. One great big Queen pastiche. It is going to not suck live!

The Pixies Are Coming, The Pixies Are Coming!!

After a brief summer sojourn in Europe, The Pixies are returning to the US in November to commemorate the 20th anniversary release of their seminal album "Doolittle", performing the album in its entirety along with corresponding B-sides and other gems. Um, yes please!

Dates and on-sales below:

NOVEMBER
4 The Palladium, Los Angeles, CA - on sale TBA
8 Fox Theater, Oakland, CA - on sale August 16
9 Fox Theater, Oakland, CA - on sale August 16
12 Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA - on sale August 1
13 Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA - on sale August 1
14 Hult Center, Eugene, OR - on sale August 14
16 The Fillmore, Denver, CO - on sale September 12
20 Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, IL - on sale September 12
21 Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, IL - on sale September 12
23 Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY - on sale August 14
24 Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY - on sale August 14
25 Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY - on sale August 14
27 Wang Center, Boston, MA - on sale September 12
30 Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C. - on sale September 11

Black Moth Super Rainbow - 7/25/09 - Johnny Brenda's

A crazy fun good time was had by all last Friday night in the bowels of Philly, PA. as Pennsy bred band Black Moth Super Rainbow took to the stage at Johnny Brenda's with their unique blend of psych poptronica. Fronted by a hype man dressed as Gorilla Judge Ito and backed by a video montage hodgepodge featuring nutty murderous hipsters and unicorn starshine, the sold out show was a nice respite from the norm. cookie cutter affairs bands of their size normally throw at this stage in their careers. Glowsticks were thrown about, copious amounts of herb was smoked while Boots and I took in the show both onstage and off. By the end of the event, there was no difference between the two as some of the crowd clamored onstage for their "look at me Ma" moment to shake their white-girl asses to music they more than likely didn't really comprehend.

With a nod to the Flaming Lips, this band really knows how to throw a proper hootenanny.

I give this show a resounding 4 hits of white blotter acid up!

The Secret Machines - 6/19/09 - Santos Party House

Very rarely would I classify a show as being worth it if all you got was an abbreviated 5 song set from a band I could happily listen to play for 3 + hours. This was definitely one of those "worth it" moments. Setlist: Fire Is Waiting - Nothing new here - Vid. is partial Terrible Light - New song - In my humble opinion, it was brilliant! Like I Can - A revival from the Annex shows - Josh confirmed it's making the new album. Pure psych-pop goodness. Walls Are Starting..Nothing new here but really strong version overall - Vid. is partial Dreaming of Dreaming - By far the most exciting, bass-tastic version of this song I've seen / heard live. It melted hipster faces. Phil tore this shit up at the end! Being a forgetful douche, I forgot to inquire about a drop date for the new material. They are "wrapping up recording now" and I'm assuming we'll see something by fall / winter if hopefully not sooner. Possibility of more live dates soon but don't quote me on that. Viva La TSM!

R.I.P. Virgin!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/arts/music/15virgin.html?hpw

Fleetwood Mac - 6/13/09 - Boardwalk Hall

Does Fleetwood Mac really need to be "unleashed"? Taking into account the blue-plate-special craving audience at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City Saturday night, I would hazard a guess the answer to that question would be a resounding NO!

Winding down the last leg of this pseudo greatest-hits tour, the Unleashed shows are a gift of sorts to their long-time fans by focusing on the spectacular number of hits the band has achieved over the last 40 + years. As evidenced in the setlist below, there was something for everyone (hell, even Lindsey got to "go insane" from his '84 solo album as it were). The band were in fine form; Stevie bringing the shawls and throaty vocals, Lindsey bringing the virtuoso guitar work and blush bars, John with the thudding bass and Mick with the fucking crazy - brass balls included!  Hearing "Storms" and "Sara" for the first time live was reason enough to shell out coin for tickets to this hela-fun show.

And that brings me to the one negative point of the evening....the audience. Last night's affair was dispiriting to say the least from a crowd standpoint. I thought I was in a surreal production of Benjamin Button, The Early Years as I would guess the median age for this wild-bunch started at 55 +. No complaints there but one would think (especially in this economy) if you spend the money on a ticket and take the time / make the effort to get your sorry ass to the show you plan on displaying some form of joy at being there. Sitting in one's seat throughout the duration of the event and grumbling about people in front of you who would like to *shudder* stand in front of their seat and *gasp* shake their moneymaker a little during Gold Dust Woman is not appropriate manners, even if you did go to grade-school with Mick Fleetwood. If you feel your hip may be in jeopardy of shattering in three places if you stand up too suddenly, sit your decrepit ass at home and wait for the DVD. Please. Section 4, Row 23 I'm talking to you. Sorry you were unleashed upon by this 'mo last night but you so deserved it.

Setlist:

Monday Morning

The Chain

Dreams

I Know I'm Not Wrong

Gypsy

Go Insane

Rhiannon

Second Hand News

Tusk

Sara

Big Love

Landslide

Never Going Back Again

Storms

Say You Love Me

Gold Dust Woman

Oh Well

I'm So Afraid

Stand Back

Go Your Own Way

World Turning

Don't Stop 

Ticketmaster + Live Nation = The Devil!!!!!

Besides stifling competition (what little left there is of it), the proposed (and some now say inevitable) merger between Ticketmaster and Live Nation will effectively price a large majority of concert fans right out of the venue come show time. Note Live Nation's increasing reliance on charging "ticketing fees" up to 1/3 the face value of the ticket price (and this does not include the mandatory $4-$8 charge per ticket for parking at company-owned venues) making one already misty for the days of Ticketmaster's 10-15% service charges.    

For more on this troubling situation see:

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1903447,00.html

http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/live-nation-ticketmaster-deal-should-not-proceed-report-says/?scp=9&sq=ticketmaster%20live%20nation&st=cse

http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2009/02/live_nation_and_ticketmaster_i.html

Pet Shop Boys - North American Tour Dates - Presale Info.

PSB begin their "Pandemonium" North American tour Sept. 1 in NYC. Dates are as follows:

Sept 1 New York, NY Hammerstein 

Sept 2 New York, NY Hammerstein 

Sept 3 Washington, DC Constitution Hall 

Sept 5 Boston, MA House of Blues 

Sept 6 Atlantic City, NJ House of Blues 

Sept 9 Miami, FL Fillmore 

Sept 10 Tampa, FL Tampa Bay PAC 

Sept 11 Orlando, FL House of Blues 

Sept 12 Atlanta, GA Chastain 

Sept 14 Chicago, IL Chicago Theater 

Sept 15 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Ballroom 

Sept 19 Vancouver, BC Vancouver Centre of Performing Arts 

Sept 20 Seattle, WA Moore 

Sept 22 San Francisco, CA Warfield 

Sept 23 San Francisco, CA Warfield 

Sept 24 Los Angeles, CA Greek 

Sept 26 Las Vegas, NV Joint

Presale tickets now available at:

https://tix.concertmaps.com/petshopboys/default.asp

NIN / Janes Addiction - 6/6/09 - PNC Bank Arts Center

So I found myself  having a flashback of sorts while standing halfway through the Nine Inch Nails portion of last night's show, realizing it was almost 18 years to the day since I saw these two bands together during the first Lollapalooza tour in 1991. At which point I set my happy ass down and cried copious amounts of internal tears at the realization I am just too damn old. Then I looked at the stage, saw Trent Reznor about to have an aggro-induced coronary and then felt better about myself.   

That being said, here's what developed:

NIN - Great show. Lots of energy. As you'll see from the setlist below it was skewed more towards the hard-core fans clamoring for more esoteric, b-side oriented fare. As that is not me, I was left a bit underwhelmed overall. As this tour for the band is being touted as a "farewell" concert of sorts, it was a fitting send off and tribute to the NIN aficionados. Note to tall shitbags who like to speak into each other's ears ever so softly every  minute the band is on the stage, blocking the view for people unfortunately located directly behind them - please die slow deaths.

Setlist:

Wish

Last 

Discipline

March of the Pigs

Reptile

Meet Your Master

Gave Up

La Mer

Non-Entity

The Way Out Is Through

Mr. Self-Destruct

1,000,000

Echoplex

Survivalism

The Good Soldier

The Hand That Feeds

Head Like A Hole

Hurt

Janes Addiction: You are the sun, the moon and the stars. From Perry Farrell channelling Charles Nelson Reilly in his polyester shell and kicky ascot to being accosted by Dave Navarro's large, pendulous nipples it was all it could have been and even more. In all seriousness I was more than trepiditious going into this show as it had been 18 years since I had last seen the original 4-some together. This is one of my "top 5 of all time" bands who I had seen countless times in clubs, dives and large arenas. "Nothing Shocking" and "Ritual..." are two of the most forward-thinking rock albums produced in the 20th century. There, I said it. Yes, you're right, I'm one of "those" types of fans of this band. However, after last night I found my fears were for naught. The band itself could not have been tighter. From Eric and Stephen's fantabulous rhythm section to Dave's ethereal guitar work, it was like they had been playing together as one tight-knit unit throughout all of these lost years. Perry was in rare form, dashing around the stage and mooning about lending credence to the fact that you can get old and still get HIIIIGGGGHHHH! Word is there might be a new album next year if the rest of these dates go well. Pray it will be so...

Setlist:

Three Days
Whores
Ain't No Right
Pigs In Zen
Then She Did...
Up The Beach
Mountain Song

Been Caught Stealing
Obvious
Ocean Size

Ted, Just Admit It..

Summertime Rolls

Stop!
Jane Says

Franz Ferdinand - May 6, 2009 - Philadelphia - Electric Factory

School of Seven Bells - Feb. 18, 2009 - Philadelphia - The Troc.

Coldplay - Nov. 1, 2008 - Philadelphia - Wachovia Center

The Secret Machines - October 17, 2008 - Philadelphia - The Troc.

Dandy Warhols - Sept. 20, 2008 - Philadelphia - TLA

The Secret Machines - August 14, 2008 - Philadelphia - Urban Outfitters