Cold War Kids @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville
November 9th, 2024: Cold War Kids, Husbands @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
California indie rock band Cold War Kids brought their More 20 Years Tour to Mercury Ballroom on November the 9th, celebrating 20 years as a band! With a packed house, everyone was ready for a really fun night. Having been a band for two decades, Cold War Kids have a devoted fan base, as this evening proved, with fans packing out every inch of the venue. With a set list that included songs from their latest self-titled album (released November 3rd, 2023), such as “Run Away With Me” and “For Your Love”, as well as classic hits such as “Hang Me Up To Dry”, “Hospital Beds”, and “We Used To Vacation”, they performed a really fun and varied set list that spanned their extensive catalog and had everyone dancing and singing along! Aside from being a really incredible live band, singer/guitarist/pianist Nathan Willet really engaged with the crowd, giving the evening a really intimate feel.
Willet chatted a bit with the crowd between songs, early on saying “We are excited to be here for our 20 Year Tour. We’ve been here many times before! Let’s keep this rolling.” He later talked about the new album the band released last year and how they would be playing some new songs this evening-”we’re trying to cover all of the bases!”. Before performing “All My Love”, he dedicated the song to his 5 year old daughter, whom he said had been diagnosed with autism, and how it was tough and challenging but gave he and his wife a new outlook on life. Ending the show with a 2-song encore of “Something Is Not Right With Me” and “First”, they gave their fans an evening to remember! Opening the show this evening was indie surf rock band Husbands, hailing from Oklahoma City. They had really fun vibes and got the crowd nice and warmed up for the evening!
HUSBANDS
Leon Bridges @ The Met - Philadelphia
November 7th 2024: Leon Bridges, Hermanos Gutiérrez @ The Met - Philadelphia, PA
Leon Bridges - Photos Courtesy of: Carolyn Lederach
The week of November 4th had a heavy haze over it as America coped with the results of the 2024 election. Despite most of the city being in a depressed slump, The Met filled in anticipation for the 2nd night of Leon Bridge’s Philly shows. It was exciting seeing Leon’s audience grow with every album cycle and now playing 2 nights in his largest venue to date in Philly. Now touring in support of his 4th studio album, Leon, he has a large catalogue to work off of. The setlist did not disappoint, full of bangers that got the audience dancing and giving us a few hours to forget what else was going on in the world.
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Setlist
When a Man Cries
Panther City
Better Man
Flowers
Laredo
Coming Home
That’s What I Love
Never Satisfied
Mariella (Khruangbin & Leon Bridges cover)
Steam
Ain’t Got Nothing On You
Texas Sun (Khruangbin & Leon Bridges cover)
You Don't Know
Bad Bad News
If It Feels Good
Can’t Have It All
God Loves Everyone
River
Peaceful Place
Smooth Sailin'
Encore:
Lisa Sawyer
Beyond
Hermanos Gutiérrez
Mannequin Pussy @ Zanzabar - Louisville
October 18th, 2024: Mannequin Pussy with Margaritas Podridas @ Zanzabar - Louisville KY
Beloved Philadelphia punk/indie rock band Mannequin Pussy made a stop recently at Zanzabar on the second leg of their I Got Heaven Tour of the US. In their 14 years as a band, they have garnered a devoted following of fans, as showcased by their sold out show this evening. Zanzabar is also a bar, restaurant, and arcade, giving people plenty to do while they waited, with the stage/performance space being off the bar area in a separate room. Many fans lined up in the bar area before doors this evening (myself included), with the venue filling up quickly once doors opened. From front to back and side to side, there were fans filling every inch of the performance space with a fun and electric energy. The band released their latest album, I Got Heaven, this year and started off their set with “I Don’t Know You” from the album. As the band took the stage, the crowd went wild with enthusiasm and excitement-a long awaited moment for many finally happening! I could hear some people standing next to me talking about how it was their first time seeing the band and how happy they were, jumping up and down and singing and dancing as the band started playing.
The band is comprised of Marisa “Missy” Dabice (singer/guitar/bass/keys), Kaleen Reading (drums), Colins “Bear” Regisford (bass/vocals), Maxine Steen (guitar), and touring member Carolyn Haynes (keys/guitar/backing vocals). Dabice is a force to be reckoned with on stage, dancing, screaming, and engaging heavily with the crowd. She early on told the crowd that despite the stereotypes about KY, some of the most beautiful and creative people she had ever met were from KY and that she never judged people here by our political representatives (giving a big FU to Mitch McConnell). There were several moments during the show when she would lean into the crowd and sing with the fans, or hold the mic out for her fans to sing parts of songs, much to their delight. She talked quite a bit about many topics, from religion and how it is often used as a way to control people, to reproductive rights, to freeing Palestine, to the negativity surrounding the word pussy (and having everyone scream it). She talked also about how, despite all that is happening in the world, people are supposed to just swallow their anger and their rage, but how it’s not healthy to let it fester and sometimes you just have to let it out and scream. She then, in a very cathartic moment, directed everyone to scream as loud as they could! Towards the end of the set, Regisford gave a shout out to all of the Black and Brown members of the audience and their struggles, criticizing the poiice and saying how someday maybe we will all be free. Performing several songs from their new album, they also performed several older tracks such as “Denial”, “Anything”, “Everything”, “Emotional High”, and “Romantic”, which they ended their set with. It was clear after the last song that the crowd wasn’t ready to say goodnight, and a fan next to me was giddy with excitement when Dabice handed him set list that had her lipstick on it from where she had kissed it before the set started. Mannequin Pussy always put on a show filled with a fun and a furious energy that has everyone feeling good!
Opening the show was Margaritas Podridas, from Hermosillo, Mexico. They quickly got the crowd warmed up and dancing. Despite singing in Spanish, the music spoke for itself, blending the sounds of shoegaze, college rock, punk, and grunge. With driving guitar riffs from guitarist Esli Meuly, soft, yet powerful vocals from Carolina Enriquez, and pounding drums from Rafael Armenta, the band released their debut album Porcelain Mannequin in 2018, followed by their self-titled second album in 2021. They definitely received a warm welcome in Louisville this evening.
Margaritas Podridas
neck deep @ The Rave - Milwaukee
October 29th, 2024: neck deep @ The Rave - Milwaukee, WI
neck deep | Photos Courtesy of: Allie Loven
The iconic Welsh pop-punk band, Neck Deep, rolled into Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Tuesday evening of October 29, 20204 for one of their last stops on ‘The Dumbstruck Dumbf*ck North American Tour.’ The band arrived at The Rave with support from The Home Team and Super American participating in the venue’s “Halloween Concert Series.”
Neck Deep started their career in 2012 and released multiple EPs gaining traction quickly before officially signing with a label only a year later. Over the past 12 years of watching Neck Deep grow as musicians and performers, the band’s momentum, energy, and talent have never wavered. Neck Deep could arguably be considered one of the most influential pop-punk bands of the 2010s and is still maintaining that reputation even now, in 2024.
The room and balcony were filled to the brim with fans waiting in anticipation for Neck Deep to take the stage. They kicked off their set with “Dumbstruck Dumbf*ck” and a high energy level on stage. No matter how many times this band performs, every time they take the stage they offer something enticing and new while keeping fans remaining comfortable throughout their set. A few ways that were noted at The Rave on October 29th specifically was through the lead singer, Ben Barlow’s, fan and crowd interaction.
Not only did the band give an outstanding performance, but they dedicated “She’s a God” to being a “girl pit only.” In the music industry females being represented is always important, and covering this show for The Photo Ladies made that moment even more special. Not only were all the girls in the pit showing people what they brought to the table, or crowd at that, but it also brought a sense of comradery for girls in the pit. Whether someone was next to a stranger or a best friend, the girls were provided with a safe space to scream the lyrics to “She’s a God” with minimal fear of the physical backlash to join in. The snarky comments from the crowd about a “girl pit” only hurt the people making them. The girls in the Milwaukee, WI Neck Deep crowd made it known that women belong in a heavily male-dominated industry too. To ignore the inequalities in the music industry, especially with sexism would be complacency. Neck Deep has made it very clear they stand for equality and human rights all over social media and has been seen making very important statements at shows, but to experience and see it first hand is not only reassuring but also comforting for fans.
With the Milwaukee date being the third to last show on this leg, expectations from the band were unclear. Unsurprisingly, the band delivered a fully energetic set filled with 17 songs to the general admission fans, 14 were on their main setlist, but then the band also provided the fans with a three-song encore as well.. Neck Deep played a good variety of songs from their discography, even including releases from almost a decade ago. Fans new and old, whether it was their first time or hundredth time seeing Neck Deep, left in high spirits and feeling good about their night well spent.
SUECO @ House of Blues - Chicago
October 18th, 2024: SUECO @ House of Blues - Chicago, IL
SUECO | Photos Courtesy of: Allie Loven
On October 18th, Sueco, the LA singer/songwriter and rapper, stopped at the iconic House of Blues—Chicago. The artist has been touring North America in honor of the summer release of Attempted Lover, his third full-length album.
The tour has been doing very well with many sold-out, or almost sold-out shows.
It’s fair to say Sueco’s traction from the start on social media to constantly doing tours is phenomenal. Not only did Sueco start independently online, but Attempted Lover is his first independent record. Comparing the artist’s past shows to now, his energy is up, and so are his fans’ [and his venue capacities].
Throughout the night he engaged with fans, even having the crowd “tipping” himself and his supporting band members to “strip” after reading a fan’s sign, bringing a crowd member on stage, and getting into the crowd as well. With all of that said, beyond all the craziness within the crowd, good and bad, Sueco remained authentic and enthusiastic throughout the whole night. Something about his performances has a way of capturing his audience not only with music but personal connection as well.
He played a good mixture of his catalog, but, for clear reasons, leaned heavy on the AttemptedLover tracks. Support from Sueco fans could be felt through the movements in the floorboards. By the end of the night shouts for an encore filled the room, and as always, Sueco delivered.
The Front Bottoms @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville
October 20th, 2024: The Front Bottoms, Eliza & The Delusionals @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
The Front Bottoms | Photos courtesy of: Emily May
New Jersey indie rock/pop band The Front Bottoms performed two sold-out performances at Mercury Ballroom on October 19th and 20th. I was lucky enough to cover night two, and what a night it was! The venue was packed this evening with a long line of fans waiting to enter when doors opened. Consisting of Brian Sella (lead vocalist/guitar) and Mat Uychich (drums) as the main duo, they were joined on stage by touring members AJ Peacox (guitar/backing vocals), Natalie Newbold (bass/backing vocals), and Erik Kase Romero (guitar/backing vocals). The band formed in 2006 and have grown a large and passionate fan base over the years. “Welcome to night two!”, announced Sella early in the set. The band had visited the Louisville Sluggar Museum earlier in the day, with Sella having brought a bat on stage this evening. “We’ll have batting practice later in the set, ok?”, he announced before continuing the music. The band released their latest album You Are Who You Hang Out With in August of 2023 and performed several tracks from the album this evening, including “Outlook”, “Punching Bag”, “Batman”, and “Emotional”, which he played on a guitar with hot dogs on it!
Sella was very engaged with the crowd, chatting quite a bit between songs, asking about and calling out all of the costumes that fans wore this evening, such as a jester, vampire, skeletons, Shrek, and Spiderman. He then gave out money to the winners, Spiderman and the jester. It was a fun part of the set. More fun ensued later when Kurt Skuse, the guitarist for the opening band Eliza & The Delusionals, came out on stage to drink beer from Mat Uychich’s shoe before running back off stage! The time finally arrived for batting practice, for which Sella had the band’s (I assume) tour manager come out onto the stage with a few t-shirts and threw them at Sella for him to hit into the crowd. The fans scrambled to be one of the lucky fans to grab one, with Sella being a good hitter! The band ended their set with “Finding Your Way Home”, with Sella thanking the fans and saying how the band feels so lucky to get to play music, before playing a three-song encore. They ended their set with “12 Feet Deep”, “Father”, and “Twin Size Mattress”.
Opening the show this evening was Australian indie rock group Eliza & The Delusionals. With 2 albums and 3 EPs under their belt, their most recent album is this year’s Make It Feel Like The Garden. The band performed mostly songs from the new album, along with “Halloween” from their 2022 album Now and Then, their 2019 single “Just Exist”, and a great cover of Phoebe Bridger’s song “Motion Sickness”. The band was in good spirits, with guitarist Kurt Skuse joking with the crowd by saying, after asking if everyone was exited for The Front Bottoms, that “Actually, they aren’t here and we’ll be playing a double set!”, which got a lot of laughs. Later in the set, singer/guitarist Eliza Klatt and Skuse talked about how the band had to go to Bass Pro Shop when they got to the US, as they don’t have them in Australia (Skuse and the drummer were wearing Bass Pro Shop hats). Skuse then asked the crowd if they looked cool, to which the crowd clapped and cheered. “Good”, he said. “We were afraid we looked ridiculous!”. After saying how this was the band’s first time ever in Lousiville, Klatt thanked everyone for being so welcoming. It was a great night of music with a fun and uplifting energy!
Eliza & The Delusionals
Fontaines DC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre - Toronto
October 11th 2024: Fontaines DC @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre - Toronto, ON
Fontaines DC | Photos Courtesy of: Peyton Mott
The Irish-born band Fontaines DC stormed the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto supporting their recent 4th album release, Romance. Fontaines DC has been around well before they blew up in the last year, their musicality is reminiscent of punk before, channelling the stage presence of the like of the Sex Pistols or the Ramones with a modern take on the sound of punk. their experience is proven as a vibrational intro was played, singer Grian Chatten grinned, appearing in a long black trench coat just before leading into the titular track, "Romance".
The band has been one of the few artists successfully bringing back the authentic feeling and community of punk in the 21st century. Between violently green flashes of strobes, the audience catches glimpses of the effortlessly cool instrumentalists playing through their newest tracks "Favourite" and "Sundowner" ” tossing in some deep cuts like "A Lucid Dream" from their 2020 release.
Fontaines DC puts on an unmissable show, shows running through 2025 globally.
Violent Femmes @ Paristown Hall - Louisville
October 4th, 2024: Violent Femmes @ Paristown Hall - Louisville, KY
Violent Femmes | Photos Courtesy of: Emily May
Beloved Milwaukee folk-punk band Violent Femmes brought their current tour to a sold-out crowd at Paristown Hall on October 4th. This tour sees the band performing their first two albums in full- Violent Femmes (1982) and Hallowed Ground (1984). The venue was packed this evening, with fans filling out the floor and balcony, ready to have fun. The band performed Hallowed Ground first, with the crowd singing and dancing from the first note! The band was having fun on stage and seemed to be enjoying interacting with the crowd and performing these songs! At the end of this set, there was a brief intermission before the band came back out to perform their iconic debut album. Although the crowd was enjoying themselves during the first set, there seemed to be a shift in energy as the band performed this album. Performing such hits as “Blister In The Sun”, “Kiss Off”, “Add It Up”, “Please Don’t Go”, and “Gone Daddy Gone”, to name a few, the crowd was enthusiastically singing along, dancing, and smiling with each track! The band chatted a bit with the crowd throughout the evening, but they mostly let their music do the talking. It was a really special night of music that left the crowd buzzing long after the music stopped!
