Non-THS Gig Diary 2014

[nosferatu]

This year's highlights...

JASON ISBELL x2
KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD x2
THE MOONLANDINGZ x2
BELLE & SEBASTIAN
TEENAGE FANCLUB
MARILLION

Isbell was brilliant both times but appeared to be very rehearsed. Not in a good way - like in the way that he'd go over to the keys player at the same time during the same jammy solo bit... but when he wasn't doing that he was spine tinglingly brilliant.

KGATLW I've seen twice, first by accident and then by design. Their pit is the friendliest I've been in for years - everybody looking after each other y'know?

The Moonlandingz are the most exciting band I've seen in ages. Played a suspect show I went to in an old garage in Lower Broughton... absolute chaos but absolutely unbelievable crowd. Check em out. Been working with Sean Lennon.

Belle and Sebastian were at Green Man festival - they were great, and totally owned the festival headliner vibe.

Teenage Fanclub are one of my favourite bands and still play like they are one of my favourite bands. They were fantastic in Manchester last month. Melody and class endure. Great band.

Marillion released a great album this year. They played a sold out show at Manchester Academy 1 to 2500 people - very angry band about the current weirdo socio-political landscape in the U.K. Again, went on a sceptical whim and had a brilliant time. Total respect.

[bigrob]

Went to my 5th Holiday Hang Out at The White Water Tavern at the beginning of December.

Slobberbone, The Bottle Rockets, Two Cow Garage, Marshall Crenshaw, John Moreland (ELECTRIC WITH FULL BAND WHAT), Cory Branan, Joey Kneiser/Glossary, John Paul Keith, Brent Best, Malcolm Holcombe, Lydia Loveless, Austin Lucas, Benchmarks, Adam Faucett, JKutchma, John Calvin Abney, Isaac Hoskins, Kim Nall, Todd May, Kevin Kerby, Mulehead, Michael Dean Damron, Eric Ambel, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Roger Hoover, and Romantica, which was the only band I wasn't in to.

I live for that weekend. I missed the Brooklyn Bowl shows because of it, which I regretted right up to the point where Moreland played with a full band.

[john k]

finally got to see beach slang and i wasnt disappointed. 90 mins of loud crunchy guitars. and some great covers of songs by the cure, pixies and the replacements. i love them

[delboydrums]

Future Islands.
Bristol O2 Academy.
3rd May 2017.


YES YES YES !!!!!

[tbob]

Jan 25, 2017 12:35:24 GMT -5 delboydrums said:

Future Islands.
Bristol O2 Academy.
3rd May 2017.


YES YES YES !!!!!

I hope you have a blast, Del!
I caught them a couple of years back (just after Seasons hit) supporting Beck and The Strokes in Hyde Park.
They were awesome!

I see they're headlining Green Man this year too along with PJ Harvey and Ryan Adams.
Perhaps the strongest line-up they've ever had on their 15th anniversary.

As you know it's only round the corner from me so if you, your friends or family ever want to go feel free to crash at mine.
I've got into a habit of heading home at 2am and going back down at 12pm the following day thanks to a dear friend who doesn't drink!

[doctoracula]

going to see Parquet Courts for the first time tomorrow. just gotta get through the stupid work day...

[tbob]

I'm off to see The Fall in Cardiff tonight. I've only caught glimpses of Mark E. Smith ranting at festivals in the past so it'll be nice to see him unexpurgated at a show of his own.

I've been watching his interview on BBC's Newsnight after the death of John Peel to get me in the mood.

youtu.be/uWFDrslHyvg

Just perfect. I like to think the great man himself would have been thrilled by that performance!

[Camie]

2017 so far:

Got to see doctoracula's band play at Boot and Saddle in Philly
Got to see Bash and Pop (and the So So Glos) at Johnny Brenda's in Philly

next up... Japandroids and Craig for two nights @ Union Transfer.

Cory has seen some additional shows that I couldn't make due to work.

[mtruslow]

Yes, evil work. Won't stop me from seeing Son Volt at the 930 in DC April 11 and the Ardmore Music Hall in Ardmore Pa April 5th. Can't wait.

[john k]

Any UKERS going to the Truckers this week, get in early to see Eyelids. They are excellent

[tbob]

Mar 1, 2017 2:59:51 GMT -5 john k said:

Any UKERS going to the Truckers this week, get in early to see Eyelids. They are excellent

Going to Bristol tonight/ tomorrow. Duly noted. Thanks for the tip.

[tbob]

Just got back from the Stornoway farewell tour show in Cardiff.
First saw them when they were unsigned 10 years ago and it was a lovely show evenly spread between their 3 albums and included an apt, and tear jerking, cover of Simple Minds' "(Don't You) Forget About Me".
I feel emotionally drained but onwards to the Drive-By Truckers in Bristol shortly. It'll be my first experience of their live show and I can't wait!

[doctoracula]

Craig was excellent last weekend. I've been addicted to the acoustic version of "Be Honest" and it was great to hear the full band treatment. He's gotten a lot more animated at the solo shows. The Uptown Controllers are really really good. They fill out the sound so well.

Also, I went to see Noname the other night. Such a great set. She played everything from Telefone plus did a few of her guest verses. Had a great band, and the live arrangements made the songs sound so celebratory. Awesome night.

[doctoracula]

saw 2 very different, incredible shows over the last two weeks. last monday i saw vince staples and kilo kish. kilo kish had a very cool stage setup. it looked like an office with a desk, phone, and newspapers. as she went through the set, she methodically destroyed almost all of it. she is a really magnetic performer, going from calm and collected to totally freaking out on a dime. one guy backed her up, and it was crazy watching him sample & loop everything in real time. vince staples had an absolutely insane light show and 3 screens showing mostly underwater imagery while he played. it was the kind of light show i'd expect to see at an arena, but in a venue that holds 1200 people. crazy high energy, really dynamic set, and he ended with my favorite song (which is a total bummer). i really can't wait for his new album now.

then last night i saw worriers and john k samson. JKS tours so rarely, there's no way i'd miss him. saw a few fellow scenesters there as well! he played about half weakerthans material and half solo material. his band had the rhythm section of the weakerthans, so it was essentially a weakerthans show. he played so many amazing songs. that guy's catalog is insane. worriers did a very cool stripped down set. their new record should be great, whenever it comes out.

[delboydrums]

Going to see Future Islands, Bristol, tomorrow night with Stringer.

So, so excited.

[robs]

Saw Simple Minds in Dundee last week, on their "Acoustic Tour". Not really very acoustic but aside from the dire Mandela Day, it was good. The stuff off the earlier albums especially suited the the slightly stripped down formula. Jim Kerr is still the most cheesy, ridiculous and happy front man in rock, right down to running down the centre aisle to "meet his people" during New Gold Dream. Respect for not cancelling their Manchester gig on Tuesday as well.

[bigrob]

Saw some guy named Craig with a band named after some craigslist listing for a PS4 controller last night. They were alright, I think I'll see them again tonight.

[doctoracula]

i figured out my 10 favorite shows of 2017:

vince staples/kilo kish @ union transfer, phila PA
john k samson/worriers @ world cafe live, phila PA
against me!/bleached @ union transfer, phila PA
noname/ravyn lenae @ world cafe live, phila PA
converge @ union transfer, phila PA
the ergs/exmaid/nervous triggers/weird fantasy band/hunchback @ house of independents, asbury park NJ
night birds/dark thoughts @ boot & saddle, phila PA
lemuria/cayetana/mikey erg @ first unitarian church, phila PA
notches/exmaid/headlines/nervous triggers @ vol 4, new brunswick NJ
lee ranaldo/meg baird @ philamoca, phila PA

[john k]

If you get a chance to see Idles please do. Outstanding

[tlon]

I missed them but I feel like Idles are the mythic positive, unified punk band THS sing about.
Or at least the first one I actually enjoy listening to.

Seeing Flogging Molly again soon, and Laura Jane Grace & The Devouring Mothers with Murder By Death. Bruce Springsteen spends 2 pages in his book talking about how good Against Me! are live, and he’s right.

Locally, I saw Shogun & the Sheets, the lead singer of Royal Headache’s new project, twice. They’re great but Shogun ghosted me even tho we used to kinda be friends... anyway if you’re on this forum you’ll love Royal Headache.

[john k]

Last night I saw The Delines and Alejandro escovedo. Tonight it's Susto and The Sadies

[art81]

Saw Jeff Tweedy solo last night - beautiful show.

[john k]

saw Idles and rolling blackouts cf the other night. two of the best bands around at the moment

[tlon]

It’s barely a gig, but since he played in Mischief Brew, I just tagged Franz on FB in a tiny folk punk tribute to Erik Petersen.

Moved to Melbourne so endless gigs. King Gizz, Drunk Mums, Screaming Females (showed me their Thunder Road tat), a zillion local bands. Laura Jane Grace/Murder By Death the night I got dumped...good times

[WhiskeyDaisy]

Saw the Mekons at the Andy Warhol Museum last Wednesday. Don't know how I missed seeing them in the past, but if you get the chance, do it.
XO
WD