Neon Trees @ Theatre of Living Arts - Philadelphia
September 26th, 2023: Neon Trees @ Theatre of Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA
Neon Trees - Photos Courtesy of: Mandy S.
The Favorite Daze tour started with openers Silent Rival (CA), and Laundry Day (NY). Ending with Neon Trees. I’ll be honest I had never heard of Silent Rival, but they left a mark on me with their performance that night. Sara (Vocalist) sounded amazing all night, and Jon (guitarist) ended up on the barricade. A member from Laundry Day actually came out and played drums while the drummer for Silent Rival played. All of which hyped up the crowd, warming them up for Laundry Day.
Along with not knowing of Silent Rival, I had not come across Laundry Day prior to the Favorite Daze Tour. Laundry day brought out a Lorenzo’s pizza box as a prop (if you’re a Philadelphia native you know the vibes). I was pleasantly surprised with their set and will be adding them to the rotation.
Neon Trees started off the night with “Versions of You: from their EP of the same name released in 2021. Tyler (lead vocalist) draped in a metallic Purple / Blue suit running from side stage to side stage. Proving the band is ‘Still Young’, and knows how to keep it ‘Moving in the Dark’.
Neon Trees controlled their crowd with their songs, and energy the entire night. Ending their show with ‘When the night is over’. They had three encore songs. Officially ending the night with fan favorite ‘Everybody Talks’. Yet another tour that is a must-see, their next stop is Detroit MI!
Misterwives @ The Fillmore - Philadelphia
September 16th, 2023: Misterwives @ The Fillmore - Philadelphia, PA
Misterwives - Photos Courtesy of: Mandy S.
The night started off with opener Raffaella (check her out if you haven’t yet, you won't be disappointed). She had an amazing opening set that had the crowd locked in.
Misterwives started the night off with Out of Your Mind, which also happens to be the Opening song to their senior album (released July 14, 2023). Mandy (lead vocalist) was extremely active on stage and with the crowd. I believe at one point she was semi-in the crowd via the barricade. The band let us know that they had practiced synchronicity for the song ‘ End of My Rope’. The song mixed with the 6ft screens behind them showing lyrics/videos was extremely awesome to see live.
Mandy at one point got on a 6ft riser (she was on it earlier in the night as well) to sing Ultraviolet, the last song on their senior album. She had put a vest on with arrows alluding to the album’s cover. The night closed out with Bishopp Briggs, The ‘Baggage’ singer appeared on the riser with ‘Art of Survival' as her first song. I’ve never seen such an energetic artist on stage before. It was hard to keep track of what part of the stage she was on; she’s insanely good at what she does. She had told us (the crowd) that Her son was in the back (he’s on tour with her) and everyone cheered. Of course, Briggs couldn’t end the night without her iconic song ‘River’ from her album ‘Church of Scars’. I highly suggest checking out the Don’t Look Down tour if you’re one of the next stops.
The Band Camino @ The Met - Philadelphia
September 14th 2023: The Band Camino @ The Met - Philadelphia, PA
Spencer of The Band Camino - Photos Courtesy of Carolyn Lederach
The Band Camino started right where they left off. In Spring 2022 the band ended their last tour in Philadelphia, only to kick off the first night of their latest tour back in Philly, but in a much bigger venue. The Band Camino kicked off their Screaming in The Dark Tour on September 14th. The very minimal stage design (embracing the darkness theme) gave me a throwback to when I used to go to glow-in-the-dark bowling in high school, adorned with backlights and glow paint, it was certainly something different…
This tour is in support of the band’s second studio album, The Dark. Another addition to TBC’s vast catalog of bops, a big step up from the first time we saw the band at Milkboy in 2019 where there were barely enough songs released to cover a whole hour set. Fans might be taken aback at first to notice neither Jeff nor Spencer has their signature keyboards on stage at the beginning of the set, but have no fear, the keyboards make their reappearance. About mid-set, the keyboard makes its appearance for an acoustic duo set from Jeff and Spencer that the screaming fan girls behind me claimed gave “major Eras vibes”.
The show was opened by the amazing Charlotte Sands and Bad Suns.
Local Natives @ The Riviera Theatre - Chicago
September 8th, 2023: Local Natives, Chartreuse @ The Riviera Theatre - Chicago, IL
Local Natives - Photos Courtesy of: Emily Nava
On Friday, September 8th, 2023, Local Natives brought their tour to The Riviera Theatre in Chicago, Illinois with UK opening act, Chartreuse. Local Natives is a Southern California-based band made up of Kelcey Ayer, Taylor Rice, Ryan Hahn, Matthew Frazier, and Nik Ewing. This tour follows the recent release of their fifth album, titled Time Will Wait For No One. It just so happens that this year also marks the 10-year anniversary of Local Natives' sophomore album, Hummingbird. To celebrate it, a small section of the setlist on this tour consisted of songs from that album.
In addition to performing songs from TWWFNO and Hummingbird, throughout the night, Local Natives played songs from all of their previous releases. They even played "Empty Mansions", a song from TWWFNO that they had never played live before. Unfortunately, shortly into their set, Local Natives ran into some technical difficulties but made the most of it by performing a beautiful acoustic interpretation of their song "Who Knows Who Cares" with the crowd while the issue was resolved.
One of the standout aspects of the concert was the Local Natives' constant crowd engagement. They didn't just perform; they connected with the audience on a personal level. Whether it was through stories in between songs, honoring a fan's song request, or simply making eye contact with fans in the crowd, Local Natives made everyone in the room feel like they were part of something special. Taylor Rice (vocals, guitar) even walked through the crowd while performing a newer song, "Featherweight" and crowd-surfed during "Sun Hands," from their debut album Gorilla Manor. It's a rare gift to be able to maintain such a deep connection with fans in a large venue like the Riviera Theatre, but Local Natives pulled it off effortlessly.
Despite the high energy and excitement, the concert also had its share of intimate moments. One of which occurred at the very beginning of the show when Taylor Rice, Kelcey Ayer, and Ryan Hahn gathered around one microphone and performed the title track on their newest album, showcasing their three-part harmonies, which have always been a standout feature of their music. The band showed their versatility by slowing things down at times, allowing for a more personal and emotional connection with the audience. These quieter moments were a beautiful contrast to the explosive energy of the rest of the show and demonstrated the depth of Local Natives' artistry.
The visuals and lighting added another layer to the performance, enhancing the overall atmosphere and taking us on a visual journey that perfectly complemented the music. The stage design and lighting effects were captivating and immersive, adding to the overall magic of the evening. One moment in particular was during their song "Paper Lanterns" when the lights mimicked actual paper lanterns.
Local Natives closed the night with an encore that left the crowd wanting more and it was clear that this was a night no one in the room would forget anytime soon. This concert was a high-energy, emotionally charged, and intimate experience that exceeded all expectations. The band's ability to engage with the crowd and deliver a memorable performance reaffirmed why they are one of my favorite bands. Time will wait for no one, but Chicago will always wait for a Local Natives performance.
Chartreuse
5 Second of Summer @ TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park - Indianapolis
August 30th, 2023: 5 Second of Summer, Meet Me At The Alter @ TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park - Indianapolis, IN
5SOS - Photos Courtesy of: Asia Austin
On Wednesday, August 30th, I had the pleasure of seeing 5 Seconds of Summer live and if you’ve never seen this band perform before, or heard of the names, “Luke Hemmings”, “Calum Hood”, “Ashton Irwin”, or “Michael Clifford”, you’re definitely missing out. 5 Seconds of Summer, also known as “5SOS”, made their tour stop in Indianapolis, IN, and brought their “A game” along with them. With a packed out crowd all the way to the back of TCU Amphitheater at White State River Park, the show was filled with high energy and screaming fans from start to finish.
Opening for 5SOS was “Meet Me at The Altar”, an all-female rock band including lead singer Edith Victoria, bassist Téa Campbell, and drummer Ada Juarez. Performing their known songs such as “T.M.I”, “Say It”, and “Need Me”, and even doing a few covers such as “Burnin’ Up” by the Jonas Brothers, there was never a dull moment and the crowd definitely proved that.
The night continued and 5SOS kicked their set off with “Bad Omens”, a fan favorite from their most recent album, “5SOS5”. The setlist was filled with a little bit of everything from each of their releases which is one of the many reasons why I enjoyed this show so much. Including songs such as “Don’t Stop, “Outer Space/Carry On”, “Want You Back”, “Me, Myself, and I”, and “She Looks So Perfect”, there was something to please everyone. Whether you became a fan a month ago or 10 years ago, this show was the place for anyone who wanted to sing and dance all night.
With fun and quirky intermission videos and a giant inflatable red dice that allowed the crowd to pick one of six songs to play, 5SOS never failed to keep their fans happy, laughing, and amused. At one point during the show, bassist Calum Hood stated that after that night, they were not sure when they would be back to see their fans in Indianapolis. But said that if the fans were willing to come back, so would the band. After a night as amazing as this one, I’m sure I’m not the only one already impatiently waiting for their return.
Meet Me At The Alter
little image @ Baby's All Right - Brooklyn
August 30th, 2023: little image @ Baby’s All Right - Brooklyn, NY
little image - Photos Courtesy of: Edwina Hay
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
