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So what happened here?

June 10, 2022 by Paul Debraski

For nearly fourteen years I was able to keep up this daily blog of books and music.

About a year ago I got a promotion and that changed everything.  I no longer had the time to post everything I wanted to.  Heck, I didn’t even seem to have the time to read all the short stories I wanted to.  Amusingly (or not), just before this new position, I had gotten a print subscription to the New Yorker.  This now means that I (like many others) have a two-foot stack of New Yorker magazines that I haven’t even looked at yet.

For a few weeks I was limiting myself to only the concerts that I went to because that was a little easier to write about.  Although back in the good old days, I used to include photo and links, and I pretty much have neither now. And I’m several shows behind as well.

So I’m still reading books and I think I may try to post some thoughts about them from time to time.  I’d also like to think I have time to write about my concerts, but even those are proving to be challenging.

So let’s consider the blog on hiatus more or less, with occasional posts about things I’ve read or listened to.

The good thing is that I like the new position and wouldn’t change it for the world. I guess I never realized how much down time my old position gave me!

Posted in Paul Debraski | 3 Comments »

Fastball / Spacehog / Stargazer Lily (Ardmore Music Hall, Ardmore, PA, September 29, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 29, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: June 24, 2026] Ally the Piper / Aurelia Anne Cohen

When this show was first announced it was a co-headlining tour of Fastball and Spacehog, two bands who have one album that I really like.

The announcement of this show (especially Spacehog) was really nostalgia-fueling for me.  And I did consider getting tickets as In the Meantime is one of my favorite songs from the era.  I’ve also really liked The Way from Fastball.  But when I went back and listened to those records, I realized that those were the only two songs I really remembered.  So, I decided against the show.

I looked at Ardmore Music Hall’s page the other day and saw the ad on the right and thought, are Fastball playing two shows in the same venue?

No.  Earlier this month, Spacehog wrote

Unfortunately, due to a medical emergency, Spacehog must cancel our scheduled 2026 tour dates. Fastball will be continuing with the dates where they were co-headlining, so please check local listings…tickets will remain valid for those shows. Refunds for other shows are available at the point of purchase. We are deeply disappointed and apologize for the inconvenience. We all sincerely thank you for your understanding and support! Spacehog will be back on the road as soon as we can….stay tuned.  Unfortunately, due to a medical emergency, Spacehog must cancel our scheduled 2026 tour dates.

In their place is Stargazer Lily, who I’ve not heard of.  They were a Philly band who put out a few albums at the end of the 90s and broke up in 2005 (after playing World Cafe Live–although that’s not why).  Now they’ve reunited to put out some new music.  Their music is described as a combination if pop and indie acoustic.

Their first song Discotheque is pretty funny and fairly catchy.  Good for them for making the comeback.

Although I’d have been bummed to get tickets for this primarily for Spacehog and then not to see them.

Posted in Ardmore Music Hall, Ardmore, PA, Fastball, Spacehog, Stargazer Lily | Leave a Comment »

Phoebe Bridgers / Alex G (Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA, September 28, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 28, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 28, 2026] Phoebe Bridgers / Alex G

I saw Phoebe Bridgers at Asbury Lanes back in 2018.  It was intimate and very cool.  A few years later, my daughter became a massive Boygenius fan.  I have seen Lucy Dacus like 6 times and Julien Baker 3 times.  But in that time Phoebe hadn’t toured again except with Boygenius.

When this tour was announced, I knew I wasn’t going to go because I didn’t want to go from Asbury Lanes to the Xfinity Center (even if the show was bigger and presumably exponentially better).  But I also knew that my daughter really wanted to see her (we saw boygenius together, but at a festival, not a more personal show).  And, she was going to be away a college when the show was going to happen.

So I managed to get tickets for her and she had a great time.  And I’m super happy for her.

I’ve seen Alex G twice, sort of.  I saw him ten years ago open for Built to Spill (he may have still been (Sandy) Alex G at the time.  Then my daughter and I saw him at the same festival, but he was on a video screen, so that sort of counts.  My daughter really liked him, but I’ve been kinda meh about him for a while, so this opener wasn’t that exciting for me.   She said he was okay.

 

 

Posted in Alex G, Philadelphia, PA, Phoebe Bridgers, XFinity Mobile Arena | Leave a Comment »

El Ten Eleven / Tall Tall Trees (Milkboy, Philadelphia, PA, September 27, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 27, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 27, 2026] El Ten Eleven / Tall Tall Trees

El Ten Eleven are a great duo who play complex instrumentals with just an incredible drummer Tim Fogarty and an amazing multi instrumentalist Kristian Dunn who plays doubleneck guitar/bass and tons of pedals.

I got turned onto them in 2022 and have wanted to see them ever since.  But something keeps getting in the way.  One time they were even opening for Peter Hook!  This is the second time that they’ve played Milkboy that I’m aware of.  I couldn’t make that one and I really wanted to make this show too.

But I had been to a bunch of shows recently and I had to give up one of them for the sanity of my family.  It was easy to sacrifice a Sunday night show, because Sunday’s are hard to get motivated to go out at night.  But I’m still bummed that I missed them.

It was a surprise to see that Tall Tall Trees was opening.  Tall Tall Trees is the banjo player is Kishi Bashi’s band.  He’s a fantastic player, using his banjo as a percussive as well as a stringed instrument.  I like his albums (although not quite as much as I want to).  But he is fantastic live.  Engaging, improvisational, exceptional.  This would have been a really fun night.

Posted in El Ten Eleven, Milkboy, Philadelphia, PA, Tall Tall Trees | Leave a Comment »

Stinking Lizaveta / Northern Liberties / Alright Junior / Gibbous Moon (Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA, September 26, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 26, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 26, 2026] Stinking Lizaveta / Northern Liberties / Alright Junior / Gibbous Moon

For reasons I don’t entirely remember, I’ve added Stinking Lizaveta to the list of bands that I’d like to see.  I had no idea they’ve been a band since 1994!  And that Steve Albini produced their debut album!

I think what inspired me to check them out is that they are an instrumental band who play complex music.  And this is the third or fourth time that I am not seeing them.  I really would like to, and this seemed like a fun opportunity, but once again, the timing just didn’t work out.

I really need to make a point of seeing them the next time they play in the area.

I love that there’s a band called Northern Liberties, which is a section of Philadelphia that has a great weird name which I don’t entirely understand.  I assumed they were a new band (since they are opening) but they have been around since at least 2001.  The band consists of brothers Justin and Marc Duerr on vocals and drums and Kevin Riley on bass and occasional vocals.  They play a noisy punk–the bass has a really cool effect on it for most of the albums.  They have a cool DIY attitude and sound pretty unique (since there’s no guitar).  They sound like late 80’s/early 90s punk, which is pretty cool.

Alright Junior is Jace Miller and Steph Brettman.  And while it’s not fair to compare them to The White Stripes, there is certainly a kinship, with some intense fast guitar and vocals from Miller and solid drumming from Brettman.  They have also been around the Philly scene for a while (since at least 2014) although I hadn’t heard of them.  They don’t seem to release much music, but this show was an EP release show for them.  And here’s an apt blurb quote: “Red-blooded alt-rock is alive and well, and Philadelphia’s Alright Junior is a prime example of that….for fans of the genre, it’s pure, uninhibited ear-candy.” – Chad Snyder, WXPN

Gibbous Moon have a great name and an old school metal sound and have also been around for a while (since 2016).

This Philadelphia three-piece has been making heads dizzy with their brand of heavy psychedelic rock mayhem since 2016. Takeyour protein pills and put your helmets on – we’re goin’ for a ride!

Fuzzy, metal guitars, big riffs and lots of echo.  Even some cowbell.   Was this recorded in a basement in the 1970s?  Who knows.  Great stuff.

I wish I’d been able to make this show, that’s four great Philly bands.

Posted in Alright Junior, Gibbous Moon, Johnny Brenda's, Northern Liberties, Philadelphia, PA, Stinking Lizaveta | Leave a Comment »

The Beths (Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ, September 25, 2026)

September 26, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: August 1, 20262] The Beths

I’ve been lucky enough to see The Beths five times in just under five years.  They always put on a great show.  Indeed, my wife and I saw a fantastic show at Union Transfer just before I had surgery in December.

So it was kind of crazy to see them again so soon, but they said it would be their last show in the U.S. for a while and, more importantly, it would be an all request show.

I didn’t really have any requests, although I would have liked to hear I’m Not Getting Excited, so I guess I did have a request.  But i was happy to let those with real opinions submit their requests instead.  I assumed it was done online, but instead, The Beths had a really fun series of ways to get to the requests.

As we walked in there was a box and a pile of bottle caps.  We were to vote for the opening song–either Knees Deep or No Joy.  I happen to love No Joy (it’s the song with the flute cannons), but Knees Dee won (it looked like by a landslide).  There was also a pile of papers where people were encouraged to write their requests and either make an airplane or a crumpled up ball.

After that first song they quickly had someone pick the encore–they chose whoever looks the most excited to be here and a guy in the back jumped super high and he was picked.  Guitarist Jonathan Pearce stressed the flow of a show and how carefully curated an encore should be and when the guy shouted out Lying in the Sun, Jonathan had to think about it before saying he could make that work.

Then it was “paper dart” time.  That’s what bassist Benjamin Sinclair called them, which was amazing.  Drummer Tristan Deck called them paper airplanes, so I wonder what the discrepancy is.

Each member of the band picked a missile (after putting on safety goggles).  And when the names were announced, a woman with a rubber pineapple on her head came out and wrote the setlist in a blackboard at the back of the stage.  It was funny and adorable, just like everything The Beths do.

The first request was a deeper cut from Expert in a Dying Field, but the other three were popular songs (two of which I’ve seen at every one of their shows) and I thought that that was awesome.  Because while I love to hear a deep cut, I didn’t want it to be all deep cuts that I didn’t know.  The person who requested Jump Rope Gazers had a missile shaped like a fish and when Benjamin opened it, he read that the person who was requesting the song was having it played at their wedding. Continue Reading »

Posted in Chelsea Jade, Sayreville, NJ, Starland Ballroom, The Beths | Leave a Comment »

Mt. Joy / Snacktime (Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, Camden, NJ, September 25, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 25, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 25, 2026] Mt. Joy / Snacktime

Mt. Joy is based in L.A. but they have roots on Philly and therefore Philly loves them.  I’ve enjoyed some songs they’ve put out, but they released my favorite song of last year “Coyote.”  Indeed, it’s their latest album that I like most–although nothing else sounds like Coyote.  So it’s a shame (for me) that this tour is mostly for their debut.

But that’s neither here nor there as I wasn’t going to go to Freedom Mortgage Pavilion to see them (yuck, that venue sucks).  Not to mention, we were going to see The Beths tonight anyhow.

But two days ago I received an email from Live Nation saying

I’m reaching out because we just had some last-minute inventory open up for Mt. Joy this Friday, September 25th at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, and I wanted to give you the first look.

We are offering individual tickets in our suites for $107. This is a rare opportunity to experience the show from a luxury space without committing to a full buy-out.

Your ticket includes:
• VIP Club Access
• Box Seating
• In-seat wait service

I mean, DAMN, for $107 that’s amazing!  If they had thrown in some kind of easy parking, holy crap.  I would have certainly taken them up on this if we weren’t going to The Beths.  Although it looks like they aren’t playing Coyote and that would have pissed me off.

SNACKTIME is Philadelphia’s seven-piece band blazing a path cut from their soul, funk, punk, jazz, hip-hop, and R&B influences. Created during the height of the pandemic, the group began performing free shows that combined their love of music, food, and togetherness in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square. They quickly amassed huge crowds and became a symbol of positivity and lockdown release, while showcasing the richness of their city’s musical history and community.

I don’t really like their studio releases, but I saw them open for Portugal.The Man and wow they were a ton of fun live.

Posted in Camden, NJ, Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, Mt. Joy, Snacktime | Leave a Comment »

Muna / Hemlocke Springs (Skyline Stage at The Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA, September 25, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 25, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 25, 2026] Muna / Hemlocke Springs

Muna was the first band signed to Phoebe Bridgers label and they quickly amassed a huge following.  We saw them (on a video screen) at All Things Go.

I 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.  In general, I felt like there was something I wished I liked more about them.  But seeing them “live” was a revelation.  They were so fun and energetic.  I would like to see them live and this would be a fun bill, especially on a warm summer night out (which this was decidedly not–forecast of torrential rain).

But we had tickets to The Beths, so this was a non-starter.

Hemlocke Springs played All Things Go back in 2023, but we missed her.  I wrote then that she is an 80’s inspired alt pop singer who is massively quirky and cool.  I hadn’t heard of her before the show but now wish I’d seen her.

Posted in Hemlocke Springs, Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Muna, Philadelphia, PA, Skyline Stage at The Mann | Leave a Comment »

Darlingside (SOPAC, South Orange, NJ, September 25, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 25, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 25, 2026] Darlingside / Caitlin Canty

We have seen Darlingside four times and I thought we’d never not see them if they were touring.  Especially if they played SOPAC, which is so close.

We saw them four times in three years and I just realized we haven’t seen them since before COVID.  I’m not sure why we haven’t seen them.

Although tonight we have tickets to see The Beths, so that’s why we’re not going.  But I’m sure they’ll be back and we’ll make an effort.

Posted in Darlingside, SOPAC, South Orange, NJ | Leave a Comment »

∈Y∋ (Warehouse on Watts, Philadelphia, PA, September 25, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 25, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 25, 2026] ∈Y∋

Every once in a while, a weird musical event happens and I want to be there but there is nothing I can do about going to it.  I got us tickets to see The Beths tonight because we LOVE The Beths.  And then a few weeks ago, this was announced for tonight.

We very much want to make sure you know the single greatest punk / experimental musician / artist of our lifetime, spanning 5+ decades of flawless output will be making his first visit to Philadelphia in 18 YEARS!!! Japanese noise artist, conductor, DJ, producer, designer and musician Yamantaka Eye aka EYE (of BOREDOMS, HANATARASH, PUZZLE PUNKS, and a million other projects) will be playing a live hybrid / DJ set at Warehouse on Watts TONIGHT.

I can’t even imagine what this is going to be like.  And of course, he won’t ever come back.  Oof.  But I know The Beths will be awesome, so it’s okay.  But still.

Posted in Angine de Poitrine, ∈Y∋, Boredoms, Philadelphia, PA, Public Opinion, Sparta, Warehouse on Watts, Yamantaka Eye | Leave a Comment »

Chelsea Jade (Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ, September 25, 2026) [THE BETHS]

September 25, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: September 25, 2026] Chelsea Jade

I was so excited that The Beths were going to do this “all request” show.  I imagined it might be an evening with them, where they play for 3 hours!  But of course, that’s not what The Beths do.  They like to elevate lesser known bands (I assume, that’s what they like to do).  Today’s lesser known band  was Chelsea Jade, who is apparently not lesser known in certain circles.

She is a South African-born New Zealand singer-songwriter and record producer based in Los Angeles. Vice has described her as New Zealand’s “Accidental Dream Pop Hero.”  In 2017, she was nominated for New Zealand’s Silver Scroll Award for song of the year for her song “Life of the Party.”

So she’s been around for a while.  And, it turns out she was a high school friend of Elizabeth Stokes of The Beths with whom she formed a small Folk trio, Teacups, to busk and get noticed.

Which might explain her fascinating stage show.  She came out on stage with two (really bright) tint flashlights that she waved around the crowd (and pointed in our eyes a but too often).  Music started and she slowly meandered into the audience.  It was neat and audacious.  She sang with the flashlights shining on her.  For the second song she handed the lights to people in the audience who shone them on her (and may have kept the lights?)

For a couple more songs she walked to the wing of the audience area and stood on one of the platforms singing to the people over there. Continue Reading »

Posted in Chelsea Jade, Sayreville, NJ, Starland Ballroom, The Beths | Leave a Comment »

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