Parliament Funkadelic ft. George Clinton @ Old Forester's Paristown Hall - Louisville
August 26th 2023: Parliament Funkadelic ft. George Clinton, Fishbone at Old Forester’s Paristown Hall - Louisville, KY
Photos courtesy of - Emily May
Parliament Funkadelic Ft George Clinton brought their Just For The Funk Of It Final Tour?!? to Paristown Hall on August 26th to a hyped and eclectic crowd of fans who were ready to dance, get funky, and have fun! Opening the show this evening was Los Angeles rock band Fishbone, who combined elements of ska, punk, funk, metal, reggae, and soul, resulting in a distinct sound that fans have been enjoying since the band formed in 1979. The band is touring with original members Angelo Moore, Norwood Fisher, Dirty Walt, and Chris Dowd (who hasn’t appeared on a Fishbone record since 1993), as well as longtime drummer John Steward and new guitarist Mark Phillips. Although the band experienced some technical issues during the first couple of songs, it didn’t slow the band down and the issues were quickly resolved! Starting their set off with fan-favorite “Party At Ground Zero”, they got the crowd hyped from the first note! Playing a 12-song set that included other hits such as “Everyday Sunshine” and “Ma & Pa”, they also performed a few songs from their latest self-titled EP (produced by Fat Mike) that included “All We Have Is Now”, “I Don’t Care”, and “Estranged Fruit”, their take on the Billie Holiday classic protest song that saw them collaborate with NOFX. Ending their set with “Servitude”, Norwood talked a bit about Parliament’s amazing legacy and announced to the crowd before leaving the stage “Maybe if we make enough noise the mothership will come down and land on us!”.
And land they did! George Clinton and his collective of Parliament-Funkadelic members came out on stage and it was an instant party! Everyone was having so much fun together on stage, with that energy quickly transferring to the crowd. At 83 years old, George Clinton was moving around the stage and having fun with his collective of singers and musicians and with the crowd. Spending much time at the front of the stage with his microphone out in the crowd, the fans happily sang along with him! He spent some time sitting in a chair towards the back of the stage when he wasn’t singing, but no less engaged, as other members of the collective all came together to take turns at the front. As energetic as the collective was on stage, the crowd was just as upbeat, dancing and singing along to every song! The energy was happy and euphoric and evidence of the power of music to bring people together for their love of the arts. Performing a set list that included Parliament and Funkadelic covers such as “Funkentelechy”, “Cosmic Slop”, “Baby Like Fonkin’ It Up”, “Get Low”, “Flash Light”, and the George Clinton hit “Atomic Dog”, they gave everyone a great night of music and a funky good time!
FISHBONE
Middle Kids @ The Mann - Philadelphia
August 26th 2023: Middle Kids @ The Mann Center - Philadelphia, PA
Middle Kids - Photos Courtesy of Carolyn Lederach
Australia’s Middle Kids made their return to the US opening for Jimmy Eat World and Manchester Orchestra’s The Amplified Echos tour. The tour closed out in Philadelphia on August 25th, a hot and humid Saturday night. Despite the radiating heat, the 4-piece gave a flawless performance of new and old tunes, including their latest bop “Highlands”. My only complaint is the short 8 track setlist, which leaves me in anticipation for them to return to the States on (hopefully) a headlining tour.
Setlist
Never Start
Mistake
Stacking Chairs
Highlands
R U 4 Me?
Questions
Bootleg Firecracker
Edge of Town
Outside Lands 2023 // San Francisco, CA
Outside Lands -- San Francisco, CA -- August 11-13, 2023
All Photos Courtesy of: Sabrina Poel
Izzy Bizu
The highly anticipated Outside Lands Music Festival kicked off its fifteenth anniversary in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park from August 11-13, with over 100 acts performed across eight stages. Over 220,000 festival attendees enjoyed live music, the best of the Bay Area’s food & wine, and art installations and visual displays.
With Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, ODESZA, Lana Del Rey, The 1975, Megan Thee Stallion, Zedd, and Janelle Monae at the top of the bill, Outside Lands never fails to bring a formidable and diverse roster of talent to this annual festival. Whether you’re the type of festival goer to sit back along cypress trees or let it all out against the barricade, Outside Lands has something for everyone – where else can you see Shaq (aka DJ Diesel), Noah Kahan, and Lil Yachty on the same lineup?
Day 1 —
Day one was a testament to the festival's eclectic lineup, featuring a diverse array of genres that catered to every taste. From indie rock to electronic beats, hip-hop, and beyond, the stages were lit with talent. For electronic and house music enthusiasts, the SOMA tent was a haven of pulsating beats and euphoric melodies. Internationally acclaimed DJs took festival-goers on a sonic journey through electronic landscapes, making it nearly impossible to stand still. LED light displays and immersive visuals synchronized seamlessly with the music, creating an atmosphere of pure ecstasy. The new Dolores open-air dance floor allowed for the energy of the SOMA tent and the atmosphere of the festival grounds to co-exist harmoniously.
One of the standout performances of the day came from alternative-indie artist, Ethel Cain. Her infectious energy and heartfelt lyrics had the crowd singing along to every word, turning the vast field into a unified sea of fans. As the sun went down, the park was illuminated by dazzling lights & visuals beaming through San Francisco’s own, Karl the Fog, adding an extra layer of enchantment to the experience. Kendrick Lamar’s highly anticipated headlining set on the main stage rang in quite the crowd. Playing crowd favorites across his entire discography, it’s impossible not to be in awe of his artistry and performance. As the curtain fell on day one, the air was palpable with anticipation for the days ahead.
Day 2 —
Indie folk artists like Father John Misty and Maggie Roger serenaded the day two-afternoon crowd with their melodic harmonies, creating an atmosphere of relaxed camaraderie. Across the way, French pop and nu-disco band L’Imperatrice, had the crowd moving from start to finish with their infectious beats. The night closed out with Foo Fighters, Lana Del Rey, and FISHER across the 3 main stages.
Day 3 —
The third and final day brought the exhilarating weekend to an awe-inspiring conclusion, leaving attendees with lasting memories and a sense of fulfillment. The major surprise of the day was a guest appearance by Izzy Bizu during ODESZA’s closing set. Fans were wonderfully caught off guard when Izzy Bizu graced the stage to join ODESZA for track “Forgive Me”, off their 2022 album, The Last Goodbye. In true ODESZA fashion, a firework show shot off during the final song, marking the end of a truly iconic weekend.
The eclectic mix of music, the mesmerizing art, the delectable food, and the undeniable sense of community all pointed to an extraordinary weekend in the heart of San Francisco. Outside Lands will return to Golden Gate Park August 9-11, 2024. For more information about the festival, visit sfoutsidelands.com
The Beths @ The Salt Shed - Chicago
August 24th, 2023: The Beths, Beach Bunny @ The Salt Shed - Chicago, IL
The Beths - Photos Courtesy of: Timi Ikene
Beach Bunny's Lili Trifilio invited a stacked lineup to her Pool Party on Thursday, August 24th, which included New Zealand Natives The Beths! With their quintessential indie sound, The Beths dazzled and swooned the audience with their tunes. Having played the Salt Shed venue just a year prior with Courtney Barnett, the crowd was no stranger to The Beths, and sang "I'd Die a Little Death" and my personal favorite, "I'm Not Getting Excited" (which I did indeed get very excited for) with soul.
Next to the blow-up pool floatie-covered stage was Beach Bunny, the headlining act. Hailing from right here in Chicago, she created an atmosphere of peace and love right out the bat, playing her popular hits like the irreverent "Prom Queen" and "Pain Killer" to a crowd that has been following her since her DIY show days.
Beach Bunny
Almost Monday @ Headliners Music Hall - Louisville
August 15th, 2023: Almost Monday, Weathers, HOKO, and Feral Vices @ Headliners Music Hall - Louisville, KY
Almost Monday - Photos Courtesy of: Emily May
Almost Monday brought their Summer Tour 2023 to Headliners Music Hall recently for a fun and uplifting night of music! Opening the show this evening was local 2-piece alt-rock duo Feral Vices. Blowing through their short but catchy set of rock anthems had the crowd dancing in no time, Singer-guitarist Alexander Hoagland and drummer Justin Cottner were perfectly in sync and having fun together on stage, as well as with the crowd, thanking everyone for coming out early for their set. It was a great start to the evening! Next up was the New York dance-rock band Hoko, formed in 2020 by longtime friends Nathaniel Hoho (vocals) and Jesse Kotansky (guitar). These guys are the epitome of FUN. Starting out the set with Hoho standing at the front of the stage and greeting the crowd, he said “We’re gonna give you a good show tonight”, proceeding to do just that. Hoho, when he wasn’t bouncing around the stage, spent much of the set at the front of it, stretched out towards the crowd or knelt down on one knee, singing directly to them. Twice during the set, he jumped off the stage and sang amongst the crowd, which made for some fun moments. Kotansky, clad in a 70s-looking maroon suit and thick-rimmed translucent-lensed glasses, provided a heavy dose of fun energy and smiles on stage! I have no doubt that these guys made plenty of new fans this evening with their engaging and high-energy set!
Next up was the LA alt-rock band WEATHERS. Having formed in 2015, they have amassed a growing and passionate fan base. These guys were full of energy, with singer Cameron Boyer dancing around the stage with guitarist/backing vocalist Cameron Olsen and bassist/backing vocalist Brennen Bates. Boyer was incredibly engaging with the crowd, chatting with them between songs and leading them on a couple of occasions in sing-alongs, pitting one side of the crowd against the other to see who could sing louder! They sang a nice selection of songs from their 3 albums, as well as some singles, with many fans singing along to each one!
Ending the evening was San Diego indie-pop band Almost Monday. With their sunny, feel-good vibe, the trio had the crowd singing and dancing in no time! Singer Dawson Daugherty, clad in black sunglasses, danced around the stage, whipping his blonde curls around and simulating karate moves on a couple of occasions, having fun with his bandmates and with the crowd. Starting out the set with “Only Wanna Dance” and “Cool Enough”, the band played a fun and varied set list that included the recently released “Life Goes By”, as well as a couple of new and unreleased tracks- “Coast to Coast” and “You Look So Good”. With plenty of smiles and sing-alongs, they performed a super fun set that left everyone feeling happy and uplifted!
Weathers
HOKO
Feral Vices
girlhouse @ Union Transfer - Philadelphia
August 19th 2023: girlhouse @ Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA
girlhouse - Photos Courtesy of Carolyn Lederach
girlhouse and Yoke Lore kicked off the Holy Havoc tour in Philadelphia on August 19th. Lauren (aka girlhouse) celebrated the release of her fourth ep, the fourth ep, earlier this year. She’s truly an enchanting artist to watch, giving a flawless vocal performance and endearing stage presence. I’ve been looking forward to catching girlhouse live since the release of “concussion”. I can say they do not disappoint!
Olivia O'Brien @ The Moroccan Lounge - Los Angeles
August 8th, 2023: Olivia O'Brien @ The Moroccan Lounge - Los Angeles, CA
Olivia O’Brien - Photos Courtesy of: Nicole Ditt
On August 9, Olivia O’Brien brought her second of four LA takeover shows to the Moroccan Lounge. The sold-out crowd was advised to wear their most unhinged clothing items to the show. Fans arrived in both homemade and store-bought items, attempting to showcase just how unhinged they truly are. The newly independent artist included a variety of her music as part of her setlist. Her sultry voice melodically glided through each song and she wore her heart on her sleeve for several emotional ballads. Fans went crazy for some of her older songs, such as “Fuck Feelings,” “Bitches These Days,” and “Sad Songs in the Summer.” Some of her newer music, including the incredibly vulnerable “Born with a Broken Heart,” was met with supportive cheers from the entire room. Recent upbeat single “i should’ve fucked your brother” got everyone jumping up and down in the 200 cap venue. As part of the encore, Olivia came back on stage to sing her first big hit, “i hate u, i love u,” with a little help from special guest, gnash. As he emerged from the side of the stage for his verse on the hit song, the crowd absolutely lost it. If you are looking to support an artist with natural talent, desire to put on the absolute best show possible, and relatable lyrics, look no further than 23 year old Olivia O’Brien!
Yellowcard @ 713 Music Hall - Houston
July 25th, 2023: Yellowcard, This Wild Life, Story of The Year, Mayday Parade @ 713 Music Hall - Houston, TX
Yellowcard - Photos Courtesy of: Brittaney Penney
On Tuesday, Yellowcard came to Houston for the first time since 2016 and the fans were ready to dance and sing along to their favorite songs.
Opening the show, This Wild Life, came out and announced that they were the Hot Topic Mumford & Sons, which made the entire crowd laugh. The two-person band was personable and got those who came out early to join in with a chant during one of their songs later in the set. Story of The Year came on next and really set fire to the stage. Their stage presence is incredible and we even snagged a shot of a young fan sitting on her parent’s shoulders singing along!
Mayday Parade was up after SOTY and played a good mix of their older tracks and their newest. Although one of their recent singles only came out last week, everyone seemed to know the song and sang along. It was a beautiful moment for the band and the fans to share.
Yellowcard finally came onto the stage and this moment was what everyone was waiting for! Starting out with ‘Way Away,’ the fans were ready to jam out. Not only are Yellowcard incredible performers, but their lights and production were also on point. Each member had the perfect amount of spotlights and time as the focus. We were very impressed. Ending the show with ‘Ocean Avenue’ was a genius choice as it is the 20th Anniversary of when the song originally came out.
All in all, we had an amazing time at the show and hope Yellowcard will keep touring in the future, so we can keep catching them when they come by our city!
This Wild Life, Story of The Year, Mayday Parade
