104.5 Birthday Celebration (Day 1) – BB&T Pavilion – Camden, NJ – June 17, 2018 This past Sunday was the first of two Radio 104.5 11th Birthday Celebration concerts at BB&T Pavilion. Featuring 11 artists, it was a wide-ranging look at indie rock circa 2018. The following are my favorite moments of the day. *Headliner … Continue reading
U2 – Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia, PA – June 13, 2018 Being one of the biggest music acts around, it is tough for U2 to make an arena show intimate. During their first of two nights at Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. wanted to strip … Continue reading
Skating Polly, Potty Mouth & Control Top – Kung Fu Necktie – Philadelphia, PA – June 9, 2018 A super triple bill took Kung Fu Necktie by storm on Saturday. Led by the youthful rock energies of Skating Polly with a raucous Potty Mouth and Philly’s own punkers Control Top, it was a beautiful June … Continue reading
The Decemberists & M. Ward – Mann Center for the Performing Arts – Philadelphia, PA – June 6, 2018 For the 14th time live, my craving for indie rock steeped in rich language, watery peril and whale props was sated when The Decemberists played The Mann Center last Thursday. As part of the Your Girl/Your Ghost … Continue reading
Depeche Mode & EMA – Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia, PA – June 3, 2018 It took 17 years for Depeche Mode to return to Philly. They made their Sunday show – as part of the Global Spirit Tour at Wells Fargo Center, their first in the city since 2001 – a worthy visit with … Continue reading
Red Aunts, RunHideFight & Control Top – Boot & Saddle – Philadelphia, PA – June 1, 2018 Punk rock was alive and well during last Friday’s Red Aunts show at Boot & Saddle. Playing a rare East Coast show, the quartet of Terri Wahl, Kerry Davis, Debi Martini and Lesley Ishino put on an explosive … Continue reading
This past Saturday the 11th annual Roots Picnic occurred at Festival Pier. The humid warmth of pre-summer yielded to a severe storm that ended The Roots’ headline set after only two songs. Before that abrupt conclusion the day was full of awesome moments. The top highlights were: *Philadelphia’s own Lil Uzi Vert, playing the second top-billed … Continue reading
Wye Oak & Palm – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA – May 14, 2018 Last Monday, Baltimore-based Wye Oak delivered a stunning set of indie rock at Union Transfer. The duo of Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack unleashed tracks from their latest record, the sublime The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs as well … Continue reading
Forth Wanderers, Ó & The Obsessives – First Unitarian Church – Philadelphia, PA – May 4, 2018 Last Friday, the First Unitarian Church saw a youthful triple threat play through the unseasonable heat. Headlined by the superb Sub Pop-minted New Jersey band Forth Wanderers with the wonders of Ó and the rocking The Obsessives opening, … Continue reading
Patti Smith – Central Park SummerStage – New York, NY – September 14, 2017 Thursday, Patti Smith celebrated what would have been the 69th birthday of her late husband (Fred “Sonic” Smith) in Central Park. One of our finest poets of rock, Smith is a mystic of verse and voice. This night was as special as … Continue reading
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