[Drjohnrock]

Social Punk Invasion tour--Ludlow Garage, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 18, 2022.

A package tour of veteran California punk bands isn't the type of show this venue usually puts on. But they occasionally go out of their comfort zone, and so they did on this evening.

TOTAL CHAOS: Opened the show. Pretty much standard thrash , but enlivened by a drummer who reminded me of Orpheo McCord (ex-Fall). I've heard worse live thrash, though. I'm glad I got to see them.

THE DICKIES: This band just seems to get better with age. Leonard had his usual array of props and toys (one of which was a squeaky toy that he played some "solos" with). The band was incredibly tight, with real songcraft in addition to the shredding guitars. If you haven't seen this group before, do so if you get the chance.

TSOL: Yes, Virginia, this was the real TSOL led by Jack Grisham and Ron Emory, not the long departed hair band claim jumpers. They far exceeded my expectations: power, stage presence (which I don't usually care about), energy, and Jack can really work a crowd. This is the first time I've seen TSOL. Hopefully it won't be the last.

I didn't stay for Greg Ginn's Black Flag tribute band, which is what taking BF's former back up band, with its surfer hippie poseur singer, and slapping the "Black Flag" label on them amounts to. A hard pass from me.

[Antagon]

Codeine at Chelsea, Vienna yesterday (Sept. 3rd, 2023)


The three guys are still at the top of their game. The location was jam-packed with old and new fans and the cavernous quality of the concert room paired with the warm late Summer temperatures didn't exactly help. Around the time I had bought tickets for two friends of mine and me, there'd only been around 17 left. That's rather rare for a band that doesn't play stadium rock here in Vienna. But that's the sort of situation you get when a band has a cult-following and sporadically slips in and out of a live-hiatus.


People were cheering loudly, calling for an Encore. Immerwahr by contrast spoke with a decidely calm and collected cadence. He had the presence of a kind, elderly man who had seen a lot but wouldn't let that cloud his judgement. He reminisced about the first time they had played in Vienna back in 1991, appealed to taller audience members to look around and make sure those who are not as tall feel comfortable and generally just seemed like the most polite New Yorker you could possibly encounter.


Without missing a beat, the trio played their classics off Frigid Stars, Dessau and The White Birch. The sound was crisp and clear - a pleasant surprise considering the reputation of the venue they played at (I've seen my fair share of sound fuckups there). A little shoutout to the sound technician who had apparently been booked specifically for that particular gig. I talked to a friend of mine who'd heard her work before and was just as ecstatic about it (good sound technicians are hard to come by in these corners).


Their cover of the Joy Division song "Atmosphere" acted as a particular crowd-pleaser. Hot-take, but ever since I heard it, I vastly prefered it over the original - stripped down, less bombast, more room to sink in and really stick with you. Love me some Joy Division, but I never really got that particular track before I heard the Codeine version. It was only then that I learned to appreciate the songwriting behind it. After previously informing the crowd that they were "allowed to go home" after a certain song, the trio returned for their encore or "extra-credits" as Immerwahr put it, busting into three more tracks, ending on "Broken Hearted Wine", capping the night off on an ethereal note.


I enjoyed it a lot. The music and the show that is. I'll pass on the sweaty, jam-packed cavern where people are trying to squeeze into any vacant inch on the floor they may have caught an illusory glance of.

[Bertrand]

Public Image Limited in Strasbourg
Lydon seemed to genuinely enjoy himself, his breath might not be what it was but he was aware of that and made sure he found other ways. It was better than I expected.


I've just missed The Warlocks/Équipe de Foot in Cognac
My train was canceled due to high winds on the French west coast, and I've gradually stopped using the car for long trips

[hippietears]

I saw the Dresden Dolls in November of 2022. I waited 4 hours to get in, and I got up front! It was absolutely amazing! it was a really small venue, so the stage was up to knees and Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione were like 5 feet in front of me. Amanda made brief eye contact with me during a song, and it was so kool! on the last night the drummer Brian was out on stage. i asked if he liked letters, I gave them their letters I wrote for them, and then he gave me a signed drumhead! It's still hanging proudly in my dorm. They perform with such passion and drive, it's almost magical. I definitely want to see them again someday, when I'm not broke.

[choc e-Claire]

Originally Posted by Antagon

Codeine at Chelsea, Vienna yesterday (Sept. 3rd, 2023)

I saw them at the Northcote Social Club playing a matinée show (the evening one had sold out, but it was a Saturday, so they were able to put one on mid-afternoon) about a month ago, and it was exactly as stunning as you talked about. It's impressive how much they'd stripped away everything excessive from rock (fast tempos, complicated arrangements, even things like chord changes) and were left with just powerful, emotive numbers - the way the songs just ended was an unreal experience. The 'Broken-Hearted Wine' encore was beautiful.

Blind Equation and Your Arms Are My Cocoon, co-headlining at the Thornbury Bowls Club (yes, lawn bowls), was a much more modern and chaotic experience. First time I've ever checked out any live cybergrind stuff (you milennials might have called them 'Nintendocore') from BXE and they were really powerful stuff, the keytar got everyone hyped up and James is a great frontman. YAAMC did a great job of extending out a setlist when their one non-split release is ten minutes long - this included a lengthy improv while we all stood back and let the venue staff clean up broken class - but they played kinetic, tightly-woven screamo and people got so deeply into it.

[_tunic_]

Big Brave with support by Kee Avil, in Duisburg
13 Euro for the ticket, 2 Euro for a large bottle of beer, and parking is cheap too

there were no printed tickets, or e-tickets, they had a list at the entrance and you had to mention your name

wow, didn't know that was possible anymore these days
small venue, many punksters, but very nice ambiance
very good sound too, check the recordings on Dime (not mine)


if you ever have the chance to see Big Brave live, just do it. Their sound is amazing

[Toilet & Bowels]

Selvhenter 3 nights in a row at Cafe Oto last week. It's mind boggling that they're only playing to crowds of ~150 people, see them if you ever get the chance.

[_tunic_]

Originally Posted by Toilet & Bowels

Selvhenter 3 nights in a row at Cafe Oto last week. It's mind boggling that they're only playing to crowds of ~150 people, see them if you ever get the chance.

watching this live video now. Definitely looks fun to watch live

[Bertrand]

It's a bit old now, but I went to Rotterdam for their Motel Mozaique festival, which mingles soul-like bands and post-punk combos.
It was good, plus I felt really well (not being crushed) ; New Dad, Alison Jutta, Library Card, Dry Cleaning...
I saw the Ex a few days later in the north of France, the gig was fine, but even though the place wasn't packed, I did feel a bit overcrowded, which altered my perception of the music
Bodega in Rennes 2 weeks ago, they were good

[Genteel Death 2]

I went to see Graham Lambkin reading extracts from his book at Worse Gallery in South London, where he was also showing his art on the walls. Had a nice chat with him about The Bevis Frond, his work and Jim Shepard.

[choc e-Claire]

Deerhoof last week were great. Very generous setlist (21 songs, more than an hour and a half), attentive crowd; it was obvious that they were having fun on stage - at one point Satomi ran up the stairs behind them to dance for us, and the show ended with a noisy feedback outro.

Grabbed a setlist and said hi to Greg after, he was very grateful for the reception and flattered that I'd taped.

[choc e-Claire]

Have been to a few others since, but last night was Ride performing Going Blank Again, with support from Mercury Rev. Great evening.

[Bertrand]

Mercury Rev supporting Ride in 2024?
That's so strange
It throws me back in the 90ies with a twist (I'd have thought then Ride would have supported Mercury Rev)
So many years have passed...

[_tunic_]

I saw Low open for Mercury Rev once, very strange, becasue I didn't know M.R. at all and didn't like much of it either



Went to see The Ex last friday in a tiny venue
One would think that a 45 year old band would play a set consisting of their greatest hits, but no: the main set were 10 new songs, and each of them were completely and utterly brilliant (well, alright I may not have liked one of them as much but still)
two songs in the encore, one of them ws "old", not even sure if the last song they played was an oldie because I don't think I knew it


Can't wait to hear their new album, whenever it will come out. The recording came out fine upon first listen, I might hold on to it for a bit.




Tonight, it's something completely different: Chantal Acda doing Jazzy singer/songwriter songs

[The Soup Nazi]

Originally Posted by _tunic_

The recording came out fine upon first listen, I might hold on to it for a bit.

You hoarder! (I understand why, though...)

[Bertrand]

Saw Richard Hawley in Tourcoing last sunday (I saw the Ex there earlier and they indeed played stuff I hadn't heard of, and it mostly sounded good)
I liked Hawley's set and it was quite fun listening to between songs
Saw King Hannah in Belgium the day before ; do I enjoy non-French crowds more or is it solely due to the fact I don't go abroad that much?

[Toilet & Bowels]

I saw Incapacitants a couple of weeks ago

[hippietears]

At my college, we have a little music festival every semester since it's an art college and whatnot, and there was this Punk band called Lead Pedal. We got yelled at for moshing by the event staff so we just got to dance in the front, but the sound guys joined us a few times too. The band was great !!!

[_tunic_]

Mono last Sunday was one of the best gigs I've seen of them in the recent years. First time I saw them with an orchestra, two violins, two cellos, a trombone and a trumpet. And with all of them in full force and with the guitars at full speed was divine.
Still have a great dislike of the new drummer, he needs to get a crash course in subtlety, all he can do is hit hard. But even then it was very good.
They play the new album in full, then two older songs as the encore, Ashes in the Snow and Everlasting Light. The last they dedicate to Steve Albini.