Review: It isn’t quite summer without a Barenaked Ladies concert. Last summer, I saw them at Fenway without Hootie & the Blowfish. The summer before that, back at Leader Bank Pavillion with Del Amitri and Five For Fighting.
I took my girlfriend again to see them, as she enjoyed her first time two summers ago. I also took my mom and it was her first concert since we saw the Stones at Fenway 20 years ago!
We unfortunately missed Fastball, but got there in time for Sugar Ray. Mark McGrath is the man. Extremely humble, self deprecating, full of energy, and a great performer with way more energy than I have. They played all the hits including my favorite, “Answer the Phone.”
Barenaked Ladies played for over an hour and a half. They played every one of their hits, including “Brian Wilson.” They also did a little bit of “Love and Mercy” leading into their giant mashup at the end. This mashup, of course, coming after their mashup of female pop songs like “Pink Pony Club” and “Texas Hold’Em.”
This venue is great. Right in the Seaport. Literally right on the water. Almost all of the venue is covered. There are a lot of food and drink options. The venue posts the day of the show what food options they’ll have. Regina Pizza is always there.
It took me longer to get into this band then it should’ve. They are right up my alley. Like right up it.
I had heard the name, especially at two weddings over the past few years. Two years ago, I watched two good friends get married on the top of the mountain in Colorado and the bride walked down the aisle to one of their songs and their first dance was to another.
I then not only attended, but was the wedding officiant last year at another wedding where a song by Caamp was played as their first dance song.
I enter to win concert tickets all the time, thanks Do617 for these ones, and when I won tickets for Caamp at MGM in Boston I knew that I had to go.
I went into super prep mode, looking up their recent set lists and getting familiar with their songs.
I knew the fun covers they were doing on this tour, but needed to learn their own music.
The folk band sold out MGM Music Hall in Boston on both Saturday and Sunday. And Sunday was quite a night of energy and talent.
The band is fronted by one man, but every single person in the band sings, providing backup vocals and harmonies. Not only that, some members also trade off instruments or trade instruments with one another. There is a lot of talent to this band.
Review: This was the first Jack’s Mannequin tour in a decade. They have played some one off shows on the cruise and at festivals but they haven’t tour since this 10 Years in Transit tour in 2016.
I saw Something Corporate almost exactly a year ago at the same venue and that was their first tour in 20 years! Nothing say the start of warmer weather like an Andrew McMahon show. Like the SoCo tour last year, this tour only featured songs by the band. Jack’ Mannequin played a 21 song set list featuring all songs by Jack’s Mannequin spanning from their three albums.
The show opened and closed with video footage of the band from their early days and making the whole crowd feel nostalgic. I went to dinner across the street before the show. I loved seeing all of the shirts of my fellow emo aquantinces. The old Something Corporate Rolling Rock and Piano movers shirts. The Drive-Thru records shirts with the rectangular logo taking me back to the good old days.
Upcoming Tour Dates: https://andrewmcmahon.com/pages/tour-dates
Review: I love my anniversary shows. A Time Machine that takes me back to a time where life was easier and our country wasn’t on fire all the time. Literally and metaphorically.
I was very excited to hear that The Used were going on tour to celebrate 25 years as a band by playing their first three albums. The first album was a big piece of my childhood. It came out when I was 13, which was the start of my emo phase. One that would go on for the next 20+ years! I was way more into emo then screamo, but there were some screamo bands that definitely stuck out for me. Senses Fail, Silverstein, and The Used.
I had a Burt is My Homeboy shirt in high school that I wore too much and I remember watching him jump from the speaker out into the crowd at Warped Tour. They always had a lot of energy and that didn’t go anywhere!
I have been a NEEDTOBREATHE fan since high school. I have seen them play sold out shows at Red Rocks a few times. I saw them with OneRepublic at Xfinity center. And I most recently saw them play at MGM. I learned recently that Bear had a side project and I am so glad I went to go see them play.
But first off, I must correct myself. Wilder Woods is far from a side project. It is a full forced music entity. Bear just released his 3rd album, Curioso, and is currently on the road touring it. He has a full band on stage comprised of a lead guitarist, keyboardist, drummer, bassist, guitarist/percussionist, and a fantastic back-up singer. The whole band is incredibly talented. I felt like I was watching a band that was being inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame.
Bear is a great storyteller. And he is a naturally funny guy. He is an all around great performer. He played lead and rhythm guitar, harmonica, and even just took the mic for a few songs. The band played a 17-song setlist, playing for over an hour and a half. Bear walked through the crowd, sang along with the crowd, and performed a few stripped down songs with his lead guitarist and backup singer.
I can’t wait to see Widler Woods every time they come to town. I have listened to all three albums by now but I can’t wait to listen to them even more. And discover other music of his not from the albums.
I can’t recommend seeing them enough. It was one of the best concerts I have been too in a while.
Opener: Narrow Head, co-headlining tour with Saves the Day who is playing the 20th anniversary of “Through Being Cool.”
Band Members:
• Buddy Nielsen – vocals
• Gavin Caswell – guitar
• Jason Milbank – guitar
• Steve Carey – drums
• Daniel Wonacott – bass
Review: Senses Fail has got to see the band I have seen the most. I have been seeing them since high school at Warped Tour and I try to see them every time they are in town. I have seen them on many anniversary tours. I saw them play “Life is Not a Waiting Room” and “Still Searching” on anniversary tours. When I was at s conference in Atlanta in 2019, I hopped on Bands in Town to see who was playing and got last minute ticket to the “From the Depths of Dreams” tour. And last month I saw “Let It Enfold You” for the 20th anniversary. And this wasn’t even the first time I saw it played for an anniversary! In 2014, I saw them play it for the 10 year anniversary. It is my favorite album of theirs and I hope to see it in another decade for the 30th anniversary.
The show was at the House of Blues in Boston, a venue that I surprisingly haven’t been to in a long time except for seeing Bowling for Soup there a month prior when they played their second album, “A Hangover You Don’t Deserve” in it’s entirety. It is a great venue of a 1000 people. It is right outside of Fenway and the MGM, a new favorite menu. It’s a lot of fun coming out of the show there at night and seeing all the bright lights. They have the downstairs floor and upstairs balconies, which I imagine cost a little more. It’s pretty quick and easy to get a drink there. I just wish that the only option for water was not Liquid Death. I don’t know how that company has monopolized the concert industry, but it really doesn’t taste good enough for a seven dollar canned water.
There is something about an anniversary tour. A Time Machine back to simpler days. Seeing a favorite album of yours from when you were a teen and being instantly transported back to those days.
My friend and I got there for most of Saves the Day set. We hadn’t really listened to them and hadn’t seen them since high school. We had a memory of seeing them playing an acoustic set at Work door and met them after. Nothing will ever be quite like Warped Tour again. Especially the one they’re doing next year.
Anyway, Saves the Day put on a super fun show with really trippy background visuals. I go to a lot of concerts and the bands mostly have a giant backdrop and that is the background of the show. But I was pleasantly surprised to see that both Saves the Day and Senses Fail had different videos during each song of their set lists.
Senses Fail played my favorite album, with the audience singing along to every lyric. The bonus songs were Bloody Romance, Calling All Cars, Can’t Be Saved, and the final song was a cover of My Chemical Romance’s Helena with Chris Conley, the singer of Saves the Day.
About: Ireland’s alternative emo darlings Greywind are finally back with new music – and a story to tell. The Killarney-based brother and sister duo of Steph and Paul O’Sullivan have experienced a lot in their career. The bands formative years saw the two struggling to navigate the juxtaposition of some remarkable highs and traumatic lows. Heroic praise of their sets at Reading & Leeds and Download Festival were often drowned out by unreasonable expectations of those around them. Even renowned radio DJ Zane Lowe (BBC, Apple Music) referring to Greywind as “A moment you won’t forget if you’re a fan of rock music” didn’t seem to quench the thirst of the short-sightedness surrounding them at the time. Then, when confronted by the isolation of a global pandemic, Greywind found themselves struggling mentally & emotionally to decide on the best path forward. As a result, they swore they wouldn’t put out another note of new music until they had the rights to their major-label-released debut album ‘Afterthoughts’ back. Now, after a lengthy struggle, and a 2023 viral surge that saw multiple songs off ‘Afterthoughts’ reaching millions of new fans globally, they’re more than ready to usher in a new era of their career with a brand new single called “Antidote.” Jointly produced by Sam Guaiana (Neck Deep, Silverstein) & The Wonder Years’ guitarist Casey Cavaliere, “Antidote” is a song fueled by the visceral whirlwind of emotions experienced by Steph and Paul in the first phase of their career.
About: The Strike is a three-member band based in Los Angeles, CA including frontman Chris Crabb, Jay Tibbitts (drums), and David Maemone (keys/guitar). The Strike released their debut album “Faint of Heart” in June of 2017, which was met with great enthusiasm nationally. The success of the record allowed them to expand their presence into Los Angeles from the greater Mountain West region where the band started. In 2022 the band signed with Nettwerk Music Group and released their follow-up album “The Lost Years,” which helped them garner national attention and begin touring. The Strike will be releasing their third studio album in the Fall of 2024. The album was recorded with acclaimed producer John Fields (Jonas Brothers, Ben Rector, Cory Wong, Switchfoot).
The Strike is known for their captivating live performances. In an age of musical minimalism, The Strike is reminiscent of rock bands from the 70’s and 80’s. They feature true showmanship in an age where the art of performance has been forgotten. Chris Crabb’s vocal style is akin to rock vocalists such as John Waite, or Steve Perry. The band members are all students at their craft. Those who attend Strike shows become instant fans.
Band members:
Chris Crabb – Vocals
Jay Tibbitts – Drums
David Maemone (keys/guitar)
Where are they from: Los Angeles, CA
Reminds me of: The 1975, Thriving Ivory, Journey, if Patrick Stump fronted a an 80’s rock band.
My favorite band, Good Hangs, have just released a new EP titled, DO IT FOR DALE (hope my love will quit). The album and title track got it’s name from the guys finding out that Nascar Xfinity Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a few of their songs on his playlist. The North Carolina native is apparently a bit time of pop-punk including bands like Have Mercy and The Wonder Years, and more recently Good Hangs.
My two favorites from the EP are pc4pc (hurt) and If I ate mold, do you think I’d notice? (Disa Disa Disa).
DO IT FOR DALE (hope my love will quit) is a song about trying to get over the love you have for your buddy’s girlfriend.
pc4pc (hurt) is a beautiful song about losing out on love due to addiction. The catchy, repetetive words in the chorus will surely get stuck in your head.
If I ate mold, do you think I’d notice? (Disa Disa Disa) is a song about your current, working professional, thirty-year old self looking back on you in your early twenties and being disappointed in how you never reached your dreams or at least are still pursuing them.
I Hate This City (Without You) starts off with a Mark Hoppus style bass line. And, just like so many pop punk albums had one or two acoustic songs, they also always had a song about how different the singer’s town feels now without their love there anymore. And this song is just that.
I just posted about how Bon Iver has a three-track EP coming out this month and has already released a track. This is the first new music released by Bon Iver in over five years. But even if we got new Bon Iver music every day, it’s still wouldn’t be enough. That is why I’ve put together a Spotify playlist so you can listen to my other Bon Iver. This includes Artists and bands that sound like them, as well as side projects and previous bands that Justin Vernon, Sean, Carrie, and other members have been in.
I will keep doing more as I think of them or discover them!
Justin Vernon – Before he started Bon Iver, Justin Vernon released music under his actual name. The songs are raw, emotional, beautiful, and he sounds like Springsteen. There is even a great medley out there called.” Drinking This Rain, I’m on Fire.”
DeYarmond Edison – The band that Justin was in during college.
The Shouting Matches – A trio that Justin is in that makes music for fans of The Stones and The Black Keys.
Gayngs – A soulful soft rock supergroup comprised of Justin and members of other bands like Megafaun, who the rest of DeYarmond Edison went on to start.
Volcano Choir – Another side project of Justin’s.
Kanye West’s Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is one of the best albums ever made. Of any genre. And Bon Iver is on two tracks on this album including a sample of “Woods.”
The Tallest Man on Earth – Bob Dylan of Sweden. Mikey from Bon Iver went on to play violin for them.
James Vincent McMorrow – Basically Irish Bon Iver.
Cautious Clay – A phenomenal singer from Ohio with similar vocals.
Sleep Token – a British rock band from London. The song on this playlist is reminiscent of “Woods” where they use their vocals as the instrument.
Justin Nzouka – A singer-songwriter from Canada.
Francis and the Lights – Modern day Huey Lewis and the News. Has collaborated with Bon Iver.
José González – A phenomenal Swedish indie sfoll singer songwriter from Gothenburg. You have definitely heard “Heartbeats” before. His band, Junip, is also great.
Rogue Wave – A great band featured in some great movies.
Taylor Swift – You might have heard of her. Aarón Dessner, of The National, has been producing Taylor Swift for a few albums now and encouraged her to reach out to Justin and get him on a track from her album, Folklore.
The National. Get to know them. They founder Boston Calling with Bon Iver and Eaux Claire, the festival in Justin’s hometown in Vermont.
Iron & Wine – Very similar style. Received worldwide recognition with his Postal Service cover.
Ben Howard – Bon Iver of London with a fantastic guitar styling.
Gregory Alan Isakov – Bon Iver of Colorado.
Novo Amor – Welsh Bon Iver.
S. Carey – The solo project of Sean Carrey, the drummer of Bon Iver.
