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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 »

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 »

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 »

Altin Gün (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, September 24, 2026)

September 25, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: September 24, 2026] Altin Gün 

I first heard of Altin Gün (which means Golden Day) in 2022 when they played Underground Arts.   Back then I quoted

Altin Gün’s relentless grooves are truly immersive, anti-elitist, inclusive. It’s truly music for the dancefloor – all dancefloors. Altin Gün are the perfect 21st Century psych band, hinting at a deep record collection while still belonging to a living tradition and having a unique and distinctive voice  [from Forestpunk].

They returned in 2023, this time playing Union Transfer.  I wanted to go, but we had a family obligation that night so I couldn’t check them out.  But in the past year I’d gotten an album and really liked it.

So, this year the show was announced and I grabbed a ticket, super excited to see them live.  Their music is psychedelic with a dirty blend of funk rhythms, wah-wah guitars and analogue organs.  They often play psychedelic covers of Turkish folk music.  Singer Erdinç Ecevit Yıldız is Turkish while the other four members are Dutch.

I walked in and it was really quite empty. I was able to walk up to the barrier with no problem.  And it was a great spot to be because the mixing was perfect.  Aside from the two women who would not shut up behind me.

They came out with a simple set up–guitar, bass and two percussionists.  The man on the left had a full on percussion set up–conga, bongos, wood blocks, cowbells, tambourines and a couple of foot pedals, which I couldn’t figure out what they played.  Daniel Smienk was on the standard drum kit and he was fantastic–a simple kit but complex rhythms.

Jasper Verhulst played bass.  He was on the far side, behind the singer’s keyboards, so I didn’t see him too much,but his bass was essnetial, especially when the other two guys were soloing.  I was right in front of guitarist Thijs Elzinga and he was fantastic.  He switched back and forth between rhythm and lead guitar effortlessly.  His solos were fantastic and he shared the soloing spotlight easily.   Then up front was Erdinç Ecevit Yıldız.  He played keys (some great keyboard solos) and also played the bağlama (or saz)–four-stringed, long-necked (lute family) instrument.  He played some incredible solos on this thing!

I’d listened to the album I have and quickly listened to the new album which I didn’t like quite as much as its a bit quieter.  But I needn’t have worried about that because they came out and played the grooviest psychedelic sounds.  On Gönül Dağ The bass was loud and low, the guitars were great and the percussion kept things interesting.  It had a mid-period Pink Floyd sound.  The percussion came out in force for Sevda Olmasaydı. Continue Reading »

Posted in Altin Gün, Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia, PA | Leave a Comment »

Nitzer Ebb / Vosh / DJ Mighty Mike Saga (Brooklyn Bowl, Philadelphia, PA, September 25, 2026) [DID NOT ATTEND]

September 25, 2026 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 25, 2026] Nitzer Ebb / Vosh / DJ Mighty Mike Saga

I’ve known about Nitzer Ebb forever, but I guess I never really listened to them.  When this show was announced, I thought…hmm do I remember these guys at all?  And when I looked at the album covers I didn’t recognize any of them.  In fact, it’s possible I don’t know a single Nitzer Ebb song, so I clearly wasn’t going to go to this show.

In fact, I didn’t even realize that they were English.  I assumed they were German (which I guess was their goal)

Nitzer Ebb are an English EBM group formed in 1982 by Essex school friends Vaughan “Bon” Harris (vocals, programming, synthesizers, drums), Douglas McCarthy (vocals, guitars), and David Gooday (drums). The band was originally named La Comédie De La Mort but soon discarded that and chose the name Nitzer Ebb by cutting up words and letters and arranging them randomly to create something Germanic without using actual German words.

How about that.

The opening band is Vosh, who I’d never heard of.

Originally the trio of Chris Moore (Repulsion, Coke Bust, The Rememberables), Carson Cox (Merchandise, Death Index), and Josephine Olivia (Blacksage), VOSH was built to explore an amalgam of influences that range from Bauhaus to early Ministry to Sisters of Mercy to Zounds to Killing Joke to latter-day titans Nine Inch Nails. And while a wide-reaching and generic term such as “synth pop” or “darkwave” could be applied to the effort in broad strokes, the drama, intensity and excellent songwriting evokes something much deeper, more sinister, and darkly beautiful.

The description is apt.  They have an old school synth goth vibe.  I like it, but don’t need to see them.

I’ve been a to a show where a DJ was announced and he spun songs before and I guess during the acts.  But it often doesn’t feel that much different from the house music they play between bands.   Maybe more curated to the night, but I don’t usua;;ly pay that much attention to it.  Tonight’s  DJ was Philly’s Multi Genre Dj Dark Dance Super Hero! DJ MIGHTY MIKE SAGA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024 Brooklyn Bowl 2022 The Foundry 2019 Union Transfer
Violin Akai € Intro / Pathos, Pathos ∇ Marigolds Ø
Chiba Funk € Manchester ∇ F Delano Ø
Late Night Comic € Bright Whites ∇ Hey Big Star $
It All Began With a Burst ∇ It All Began With a Burst ∇ Say Yeah $
Can’t Let Go, Juno $ Wonder Woman, Wonder Me ∇ Carry on Phenomenon ∠
Marigolds Ø Atticus, in the Desert ∇ Honeybody $
Colorful State € I Am the Antichrist to You ∇ Honeybody Remix $
solo improv Beat the Bright Out of Me ∇ Can’t Let Go, Juno $
I Am the Antichrist to You (solo) ∇ This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) (Talking Heads cover) Theme From Jerome (Forgotten Words) Ø
Summer of ’42 (solo) Ø Q&A ∠ I Am the Antichrist to You (solo) ∇
Violin Tsunami Ø Penny Rabbit and Summer Bear Ø This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) (Talking Heads cover) (solo)
This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) (Talking Heads cover) (solo) Marigolds Ø Violin/Banjo improv
Escape from Knossos € I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) (Meat Loaf cover) Bright Whites ∇
Icarus IV € The Ballad of Mr. Steak ∠ Q&A ∠
Hahaha Pt. 2 ∠ Honeybody (began with studio arrangement which bled into performing in the style of the Mattsoro remix) $ Penny Rabbit and Summer Bear Ø
Lilliputian Chop € encore Angeline Ø
The Ballad of Mr. Steak ∠ Violin Tsunami Ø Violin Tsunami Ø
Philosophize in It! Chemicalize with It! ∠ Philosophize in It! Chemicalize with It! ∠ Ode to My Next Life $
Honeybody $ Philosophize in It! Chemicalize with It! ∠
encore Atticus, in the Desert ∇
Penny Rabbit and Summer Bear (acoustic, in crowd) Ø (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life (Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes cover)
Manchester (acoustic, in crowd) ∇ The Ballad of Mr. Steak ∠
Ooh La La (Rod Stewart cover) (acoustic, in crowd) It All Began With a Burst ∇
encore
Annie, Heart Thief of the Sea (acoustic, in crowd) Ø
Manchester (acoustic, in crowd) ∇
Summer of ’42 (acoustic, in crowd) Ø

 

 

 

2016 Union Transfer 2015 TLA (opening for Guster) 2014 New Brunswick (opening for Rod y Gab)
Stranger Things Theme [recordong] violin improv violin improv
Statues in a Gallery $ Atticus, in the Desert ∇     It All Began With a Burst ∇
Hey Big Star $ Bright Whites ∇ Bittersweet Genesis for Him AND Her ∠
m’lover $ Bittersweet Genesis for Him AND Her ∠ Atticus, in the Desert ∇ 
Atticus, in the Desert (featuring extended banjo percussion solo) ∇     The Ballad of Mr. Steak ∠ Bright Whites ∇
Bright Whites (with improv interlude featuring flute solo) ∇ Q&A ∠ Philosophize in It! Chemicalize with It! ∠
Carry on Phenomenon ∠ Philosophize in It! Chemicalize with It! ∠ Manchester ∇
Who’d You Kill $ Manchester ∇
Can’t Let Go, Juno $
Say Yeah $
Ode to My Next Life $
I Am the Antichrist to You ∇ (solo)
The Ballad of Mr. Steak (featuring Mr. Steak) ∠
Philosophize in It! Chemicalize with It! ∠
It All Began With a Burst (with “Don’t vote for Trump” vocal loop) ∇
encore
Honeybody $
Q&A ∠
Manchester ∇
€ Kantos (2024)
Ø Omoiyari (2019)
$ Sonderlust (2016)
∠ Lighght (2014)
∇ 151a (2012)

Posted in Brooklyn Bowl, DJ Mighty Mike Saga, Nitzer Ebb, Philadelphia, PA, VOSH | Leave a Comment »

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