Halloween is fun. Halloween in Paris would be even more fun (although I’m not sure how big the holiday is there). Halloween in Paris while a music festival is happening would be even better.
Pitchfork Paris has revealed its 2019 lineup, and it includes heavyweights like Chromatics, Belle & Sebastian, Charli XCX, Ezra Collective, Jamila Woods, Weyes Blood, and more. Get your tickets now before they go up in price.
Keep your mind open.
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Thanks to a missing comma, Ft. Wayne apparently renamed the city “Fort Wayne Paul” in McCartney’s honor.
The buzz for Paul McCartney‘s first show ever in Fort Wayne, Indiana was so big that local news outlets were telling people to get to the Memorial Coliseum early, make early dinner plans, and be ready to face construction on Coliseum Boulevard.
I managed to score some upper level tickets at overinflated prices on StubHub after my initial efforts to buy face value tickets were dashed within minutes. I waited months to finally buy the tickets we had. I almost didn’t, but I couldn’t resist the chance to see a living legend in a small arena just over an hour’s drive from my house.
The crowd was enormous and buzzing from the get-go. The merchandise booth was jam-packed with people buying everything from coffee mugs and shirts to tote bags and blankets (Yes, Paul McCartney blankets.). I opted for the limited edition show poster (limited to 100 copies) for the same price as a tour shirt ($45.00). Inside, we also discovered that Sir Paul had vegetarian and vegan food options available at some of the concession stands.
We eventually made our way to our seats, which were nearly ten times face value. Scalpers suck.
The view from our $432.00 seats. Those on the floor in the first section were more than double that EACH.
They turned out to be well worth the money. Sir Paul and his band came out and started with the Beatles‘ “Hard Day’s Night” and then followed it with Wings‘ “Junior’s Farm,” which I didn’t expect and was delighted to hear.
“Hard Day’s Night”
“All My Lovin'” and “Letting Go” followed before they got to “Who Cares” (an anti-bullying song) and “Come On to Me” from his new album Egypt Station (with “Got to Get You into My Life” sandwiched between them).
“Come On to Me”
The Wings track “Let Me Roll It” was followed by a brief instrumental cover of Jimi Hendrix‘s “Purple Haze” and McCartney telling a fun story of him seeing Hendrix play in London just a couple days after Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was released. Another Wings highlight just a couple songs later was “Let ’em In” – a personal favorite of mine.
“In Spite of All the Danger”
“Maybe I’m Amazed” is still powerful, and even more so live. Another fun treat was he and his band performing the first Quarrymen song “In Spite of All the Danger.” He told a fun story about the recording of “Love Me Do” (in which he admitted you can still hear how nervous he was singing it in the song after John Lennon asked him to do it so he could play the harmonica on the track) before playing a fun version of it and then playing a solo acoustic version of “Blackbird,” which is still beautiful and poignant. His ode to Lennon, “Here Today,” also tugged at the heartstrings.
In case you’re wondering, Sir Paul played bass, electric guitar (on which he can shred, by the way), acoustic guitar, mandolin, piano, and ukulele throughout the show. The ukulele he played, by the way, was the one given to him by George Harrison. The song he played on it? Harrison’s “Something,” of course, which sounded great.
“George was a very accomplished ukulele player. Many people don’t know that.”
McCartney’s band were no slouches either, with two guitarists, a keyboardist, a drummer, a three-man horn section, and a top-notch sound and video crew doing great work throughout the three-hour show. The graphics on “Back in the USSR” were great, and the pyrotechnics during “Live and Let Die” (complete with jets of fire and cannon explosions) were big crowd-pleasers.
“Back in the USSR”“Live and Let Die” (with cannons and flame throwers)
The main set ended with “Hey Jude.” That alone with over two hours. The encore was another half-hour and included “Birthday,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Helter Skelter” (a wild, unexpected treat), “Golden Slumbers,” “Carry That Weight” (another welcome addition), and ended with (What else?) “The End.”
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”
He looked great, sounded great, and brought us all a great time. He shows no signs of slowing down, so catch him if you can. The stories he tells are almost worth the ticket price by themselves.
Keep your mind open.
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Chicago’s annual Mamby on the Beachfestival has announced its first wave of acts for 2019, and there are some doozies on the list.
Santigold and Flying Lotus have played the festival before and are sure to put on another great performance. Flying Lotus’ show is in 3-D, no less. Bring your glasses. You won’t regret it. I’d also be keen on seeing Phantogram, and I’m sure Sylvan Esso, Quin XCII, Zhu, and Brockhampton will have jam-packed sets.
It’s a fun festival on a beach in the summer. What’s not to like?
I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to see Chromatics. I’d read the stories about how band leader Johnny Jewel had destroyed all physical copies of their next album, Dear Tommy, following a near-death experience in 2015. I thought, “Well, it was good while it lasted.” I later learned, however, that Jewel and company had re-recorded the album with additional songs added onto the original material. So I thought, “Well, maybe there’s hope yet.”
It turns out I was right because Chromatics announced a summer tour last year and I was able to snag tickets to see them at Chicago’s Park West before they sold out. It would be Chromatics’ first show in Chicago in six years and they were bringing their Italians Do It Better label mates Desire and In Mirrors with them.
After going through a four-stage security check more extensive than one conducted by the TSA, we were inside and facing the IDIB merchandise table that was practically set up like a flea market with its large neon sign, tables of LPs, and racks of T-shirts. I snagged a big tour poster for just five bucks.
In Mirrors started the show with a set of goth wave music that combined heavy synths with near-spoken word poetry and excellent fashion. Each band member looked like they just walked out of a cool men’s clothing store. They also revealed it was Johnny Jewel’s birthday that evening and thanked him for his extensive contribution to their music.
In Mirrors
Mr. Jewel came out next with his other band, Desire (fronted by his wife, Megan Louise, no less), who put on a nice set of shoegaze / synth wave (“Shoe wave?” “Synth gaze?”) that included a lot of songs about love, nights in the city, and, of course, desire. Megan Louise tossed out red roses to the crowd (particularly anyone on a first date) and led everyone in singing happy birthday to Mr. Jewel.
Desire
Everyone was buzzing hard for Chromatics by this point, and they came out to a neat electro start with a wild video show highlighting time moving in different directions. It was indicative of their music – retro and futuristic.
Chromatics
They started with their classic, “Lady,” but stopped the set afterward so Jewel could address a man in the crowd with, “Hey, man, are you okay?” I thought maybe someone was so drunk they could barely stand or perhaps ill or even overcome with emotion from seeing them live, but it quickly became apparent that the guy was drunk AND being a jackass – to put it mildly.
Jewel told him to calm down, not be a dick, and let everyone do their own thing. This is where the security personnel at Park West began to fail. No one showed up to check this guy out or escort him away from the front of the stage. The guy took offense to someone in the crowd during the next song, “Kill for Love,” and slugged somebody. The band called for security, telling them someone had just been punched, and finally one lone bouncer showed up who was at least sixty pounds heavier and thirty years older than the drunk jerk. The drunk struggled with him for a moment, pushing him away and “arm wrestling” with him.
I handed my tour poster to my wife and was three steps away from putting the guy in a rear choke hold and dragging him to the nearest exit. I’m not kidding. I was advancing on this guy and he had no idea I was behind him. I don’t write this to brag. I write this to highlight the lack of Park West security involved in this situation. I, a music blogger who also happens to be a police detective, was going to have to step in and help this lone bouncer because he had no back-up against a young, fit, and angry drunk who was actively resisting him. Luckily, he told the bouncer he’d walk out on his own and then left before I needed to grab him and before he and bouncer had a slugfest in the middle of the crowd.
Park West failed the sold-out crowd and Chromatics for not having security at the front of the stage as soon as Jewel called out the drunk. They should’ve been there before Jewel stopped talking. Instead, they weren’t and someone got hit by this dude. That’s a potential lawsuit, and it would’ve been one if someone had been seriously injured or worse.
Chromatics, and the crowd, sprung back with positive energy once the “one bad apple” (as Jewel called him) was gone. They played “Night Drive / Paradise” and “Back from the Grave” and I was happy to hear one of their newest singles, “Time Rider,” live for the first time. It didn’t disappoint.
They were enjoying their return to Chicago by the time they reached classics like “Cherry” and “I Want Your Love.” They closed the first set with their stunning cover of Neil Young‘s “Hey Hey, My My.”
Lead singer Ruth Radelet (who might be a vampire as she doesn’t appear to have aged in the last ten years) came out for the encore and delivered her beautiful rendition of Springsteen‘s “I’m on Fire,” which is more emotive in a live setting than you can imagine.
Ruth Radelet was on fire at Park West, and in all our hearts.
They ended the night with “Shadow” and their cover of Kate Bush‘s “Running Up that Hill.” Radelet and Jewel thanked everyone for a good night, with Jewel thanking everyone for overcoming the bad energy at the start of the show. It was a good return for them.
Two people behind me were yelling, “Dear Tommy when?” as he walked offstage. I thought, “That’s only for he to know and us to find out.” You can’t always rush art, and the first couple singles we’ve heard this year promise good things to come.
Keep your mind open.
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Chicago’s Riot Fest has released the lineup for its 15th anniversary festival, and early price tickets ($129.00) are nearly sold out. Don’t wait too long to get yours.
There are some heavy-hitters on the lineup this year. The Flaming Lips playing Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots in its entirety is almost worth the price of admission by itself. The Raconteurs are sure to put on a solid set, and I’d be keen to see Bloc Party (who are playing Silent Alarm in its entirety, and that’s a good record to be sure), Die Antwoord (as I’m sure their live shows are nuts), the B-52’s, Bob Mould for a second time this year, RIDE, Caroline Rose, Ganser, and how could you not at least check out the set by Village People?
Rock giantesses Sleater-Kinney are back with not only a sharp new, electro-twinged single, “Hurry On Home,” but also a list of tour dates throughout North America starting in October. “Hurry On Home” is a hot cut about hotter love with a blistering guitar solo from Carrie Brownstein. Don’t miss this tour. Many dates, if not all, are sure to sell out.
10/9/19 – Spokane, WA – Fox Theatre
10/11/19 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory Concert House
10/12/19 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
10/13/19 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
10/15/19 – Minneapolis, MN – Palace Theatre
10/16/19 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theater
10/18/19 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theatre
10/20/19 – Louisville, KY – Old Forester’s Paristown Hall
10/21/19 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
10/23/19 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
10/25/19 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
10/26/19 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE- Indoor
10/27/19 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
10/29/19 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
10/30/19 – Brooklyn, NY – Kings Theatre
10/31/19 – New York, NY – Hammerstein Ballroom
11/1/19 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
11/3/19 – Toronto, ON – Rebel Complex
11/4/19 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre
11/5/19 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
11/7/19 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
11/8/19 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
11/9/19 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater
11/11/19 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
11/12/19 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park
“Through layers of warm harmonies, spirited drum fills and bright guitar riffs, Shane Butler and multi-instrumentalist Caity Shaffer craft a kaleidoscopic world that steadily builds on its own momentum” – NPR Music
Olden Yolk – the duo of songwriters Shane Butler and Caity Shaffer – shares their single from Living Theatre, their sophomore album, via Trouble In Mind. “Grand Palais” is “about the frivolous search to seek some semblance of spiritual understanding in various places, things, and people outside of ourselves. Much of the song was written through improvisation in the studio alongside percussionist Booker Stardrum, whose frantic drumming is a driving force in the song. Weaving vocals, synthesizers, and tempo switches all encapsulate the dual feelings of desperation and euphoria found within this type of pursuit,” explains the band.
Olden Yolk is on tour in support of Living Theatre. They’re joined by Ryan Jewell (drums), Peter Wagner (bass) and Frank Maston (synths/keys). A full list of dates is below. Stream “Grand Palais” – https://youtu.be/977uBeouGb4
Wed. May 29 – Detroit, MI @ Outer Limits Lounge Thu. May 30 – Chicago, IL @ HideoutWed. May 31 – Grand Rapids, MI @ House Show Thu. June 1 – Columbus, OH @ Dirty Dungarees Fri. June 2 – Cleveland, OH @ Happy Dog Fri. June 7 – Sonoma, CA @ Huichica Festival Wed. June 19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Zebulon (LA record release show) Thu. June 20 – San Francisco, CA @ Make Out Room Fri. June 21 – Portland, OR @ Turn Turn Turn w/ Adam Torres Sun. June 23 – Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern Sat. Oct. 12 – Portsmouth, UK @ The Festing Sat. Oct. 13 – Exeter, UK @ The Cavern Mon. Oct. 14 – Brighton, UK @ Komedie Studio Tue. Oct. 15 – London, UK @ Lexington Wed. Oct. 16 – Bristol, UK @ Louisiana Thu. Oct. 17 – Birmingham, UK @ Hair & Hounds 2 Fri. Oct. 18 – Manchester, UK @ YES Sat. Oct. 19 – Oxford, UK @ Ritual Union Festival
Clutch, Killswitch Engage, and Cro-Mags are heading on the road together this summer across the United States in what will surely be one of the loudest tours of 2019. Tickets to all dates are on sale now. Some of the dates include festivals like Clutch’s Earth Rocker (July 13), Rock Fest (July 19th), and Impact Festival (July 28th).
Clutch never disappoint live, so don’t miss your chance to see them.
Keep your mind open.
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I happened to be in Tucson, Arizona on the same night of the final show of Bayonne and Palm Daze‘s most recent tour. I’d wanted to see Bayonne since I’d heard his fine album Primitives and missed his set at Levitation Austin a few years ago.
They were playing at a small club in downtown Tucson called 191 Toole (named for the address). It’s a nice small venue with no bad places to stand for a view of the stage. It’s the kind of venue I’d love to own – small bar, good-sized room, ample parking, not far from a college campus. Fewer than forty people showed up for the gig, probably due to that weekend being graduation weekend for the University of Arizona. It’s a shame for those who missed it, because Bayonne and Palm Daze closed their tour with a great show.
Palm Daze, the Austin psychedelic dream-pop three-piece opened the show and played most, if not all, of their 2017 EP Controls (review coming). Eric McClung and Tyler Delaune bounced back and forth with synths, bass, and percussion while drummer Ryan Heath laid down serious chops. I was hooked by the third song.
Palm Daze (L-R: Ryan Heath, Tyler Delaune, Eric McClung)
Mr. Heath joined Bayonne (Roger Sellers) onstage for drum kit smashing while Mr. Sellers sang and played synths, guitar, and / or percussion, looping a lot of it on top of each other for great effect. Many artists would’ve phoned in a performance on the last night of a tour to a crowd of fewer than forty people, but Bayonne went for broke as he wowed the crowd with tracks of not only Primitives, but also his fine new record – Drastic Measures (again, review coming). Empty water bottles, sweaty towels, and broken drum sticks littered the stage by the time they were done.
This small show currently has the top spot on my list of best concerts of 2019, and will probably remain in the top 10 by the end of the year. Bayonne is playing Lollapalooza this year, and I can tell you his set will be a must-see if you are there.
Bayonne creating aural magic.
Keep your mind open.
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The 2019 Levitation France music festival has released its first announcement of the bands playing at the Le Quai performance center in Angers, France September 20-21st.
There are some interesting choices right out of the gate. Fat White Family makes intriguing psychedelic rock, Iceage, the Warlocks, and Black Midi will provide some of the loudest sets of the weekend, and New Candys bring in some great Italian shoegaze. I need to research the other bands. There might be a new favorite on this list I haven’t yet discovered.
