Travis (2/11/25)

It has been a pretty rough beginning of the year, and I had chosen to not see some shows - including ones that I even had tickets for (Joy Oladokun, Guster, ugh), but I did make it out to see this Travis show at the Agora.  Going back and trying to figure out when I saw them last, I realized that it was before I started my blog (9/13/00 at the Agora), but I did post about them here - talking about how nice it is having just moved to a city where I don’t have to drive two hours back home after the show.  Reading that was just a little extra motivation to make sure I made it to this show - and I’m so glad I did!  

They sounded great. It wasn’t a huge crowd, which I’ll always appreciate.  Even got a nice spot up front for some good video.  They’re such a delightful and down-to-earth band.  Fran in particular is a real character.  I ran across a podcast he did with Bob Lefsetz.  Very entertaining.  And their new album is as good as anything they’ve done!

Rubblebucket (1/19/25)

I’ve seen Rubblebucket plenty of times before (2011, 2016, 2018), but as the first couple seconds of this video shows - they put on a spectacle when they perform.  Of course the music continues to be great too.  I mean how can you not love Stella the Begonia??

As like last time, Hannah Mohan (All The Kids) opened for them.  She continues to have a cool indie sound about her.

Alisa Amador (12/10/24)

For the second show on my Washington DC trip, I stopped by DC9 to catch Eliza Edens’ who’s album I had already in my music library.  She was opening for Alisa Amador who I also really enjoyed (and added to my music library).

Eliza was every bit as charming and enjoyable as I had hoped.  I look forward to seeing both of these artists again!

Abby Sage (12/9/24)

Another work trip to Washington DC, and another chance to catch some concerts down there.  My first night I saw Abby Sage at the Sonbyrd Music House.  She has a cool, sharp edge to her pop sound and songwriting, which I enjoyed.  

I was really hoping to also get to see ave.noelle on the bill, but seemed to have missed her performance.  I also really enjoyed catching Ruqqiyah’s soulful opening performance.

Illiterate Light (12/5/24)

Illiterate Light is an intriguing band, performing recently at the Beachland Tavern.  Apple Music says it pretty well, draing “from a wide array of styles, from raw, guitar-driven indie rock and kaleidoscopic neo-psychedelia to synth-kissed, harmony-laden folk."  They definitely put on a show and I appreciate their drive!

Opening was Virgina based trio Palmyra.  They were decent

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings (11/23/24)

I’ve been waiting for just the right show to finally see the Goodyear Theater in Akron, and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings was it!  I knew it had been awhile since the last time I saw them, 2011 to be exact, which really got me even more excited for this one.  Both the quality of the performance - and the still stringent restriction on photos and video - hence the minimal media.  Still, this is some top quality performance and musicianship.

"It had been too long since Welch and Rawlings set foot in Northeast Ohio (if setlist.fm can be believed, the last time the pair played in the area was at the Kent Stage in 2011), and the singer/songwriters made up for it by treating the capacity crowd to two hours of tunes spanning the myriad projects they collaborated on over the past three decades.

While their brand of folk and bluegrass-indebted music is deceptively restrained and mild-mannered, the show was engaging from the moment the pair launched into ‘Orphan Girl,’ their voices and guitars (and occasional banjo) melding together as if part of a single organism."

(Via Gillian Welch & David Rawlings Hold Audience Rapt With Beautiful Folk Music at Akron Concert | Cleveland | Cleveland Scene.)

Tall Heights (11/15/24)

I’ve seen Tall Heights plenty of times.  Part of the motivation tonight was the opener, DUG, and also getting to ride my bike to the venue (taking the train back home).  Tall Heights always have some good stories and some good camaraderie.  They also reminded the crowd how lucky we are to have a space like Mahalls in our city.  I didn’t stay for the whole show - had to get back on my bike to catch the train home.

DUG only has two songs on Apple Music.  Those, along with some live videos on their website, were enough to have me psyched to see these guys.  And speaking of camaraderie, they have it as well - despite only being a band for 1 year.  As they both noted, they’re in their 30s and know what their doing. They even took a moment to announce that all all people named Doug will be granted free access to their shows - and that they haven’t been overwhlemed - yet.  :-P  Hope to see these guys headlining soon.

The Mynabirds (11/1/24)

Having not seen The Mynabirds in concert since 2012, I was thrilled to see they were doing a house concert tour - with a stop in Shaker Heights!  What a great space and a great show.  The intimacy of it all makes taking photos and video a little uncomfortable, hence the poor quality.  But the show was anything but.

Alfie Templeman (10/11/24)

Knowing I was seeing Empress of the previous night, I was looking for a show for my second night in DC.  I discovered Aflie Templeman who seemed like he might be a lot of fun.  However, after my 2nd full day of traveling and biking all over Washington DC, I was pretty tired by the time I made it to The Atlantis.  I hope Alfie didn’t mind, I didn’t stay for the whole show.

Your Neighbors opened the night.

Empress of (10/10/24)

Empress of has been one of my FAVORITE pop stars lately, and her latest album has just been playing non-stop for me.