Favorite Live Shows from the First Half of 2018

Hinds at Warsaw in May

Going Live

It's been a weird year here for the site. I'm working up a "State of the Site" post that I hope to get up here at some point. The State of the Site keeps changing from one day to the next, though, so nothing I think about writing remains relevant for very long. One constant is still my love of live music. I got to experience shows in some very cool places like Japan and Austin this year in addition to my usual spots around the tri-state area. Here are a few that really stick with me from the first half of 2018.

Russian Baths

Russian Baths Record Release with Dentist, Baked, Grace Vonderkuhn, and The Black Clouds at The Saint, 2/22/18

A Thursday night show at The Saint in the dead of winter. The Front Bottoms were holding a listening session for their new album next door at Asbury Park Brewery. Maybe we didn't pack this show out the way I would have liked, but any time I can get friends like Dentist, Baked, and The Black Clouds together with some Asbury first-timers like Russian Baths and Grace Vonderkuhn (both of whom absolutely blew everyone away), it's a good night.

Grace Vonderkuhn had to make their way up from Delaware in a rainstorm to kick off the show and managed to be onstage, playing about 15 minutes after they arrived. Russian Baths brought their own lights and shook The Saint. Baked, Dentist, and The Black Clouds all turned in great sets making this one I was proud to have slapped with a "CoolDad Music Presents."

And The Front Bottoms eventually brought their crowd over.

A Giant Dog

A Giant Dog at Hotel Vegas for SXSW, 3/12/18

This one was a tough decision for me. It was my first night in Austin for this year's South By Southwest. I'd spent the early part of the evening over at The Mohawk where I caught Shamir and Bully. The rest of the schedule there for that night included Wye Oak and Superchunk. The Superchunk set, though, conflicted with one of only two A Giant Dog sets happening at the festival. I sucked it up and hoofed it over to Hotel Vegas to catch A Giant Dog on their home turf.

Such a good call. I was right up front in the dust as the band took the stage. The Hotel Vegas crowd went absolutely apeshit, and I think it was just about the most violent scrum I've ever tried to shoot from at a show. My camera and I got slammed down on the stage -- HARD -- multiple times before I decided to shoot from someplace a little safer.

When it was all over, I was sweaty, spent, and sore. I wouldn't have traded it for anything. What a welcome to Austin.

BOYTOY

Rock or Die V at Valhalla Presented by Little Dickman Records, CoolDad Music, and The Garden State Beard and Mustache Society for SXSW, 3/17/18

Months of planning. 9 bands. The run up to this one was pretty stressful, but things ultimately went off without a hitch. Gloomies, Dentist, Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires, Fruit & Flowers, Sharkmuffin, Kino Kimino, BOYTOY, High Waisted, Honduras. Lots of great music made by lots of great friends.

Several of the bands were running across the street to play a Pianos showcase at Sidewinder. The Glory Fires pushed their whole, big setup into Valhalla for a 25-minute set. We were streaming CoolDaughter 1's swim meet on my phone and cheering her on as we bounced to Honduras. Afterwards a bunch of us went over to Ladybird Lake to catch Roky Erickson and A Giant Dog.

Just a great day.

Pretenders, Lowlight at Count Basie Theatre, 3/30/18

My second time seeing Lowlight open for Pretenders, this time just 5 minutes away from CDMHQ in Red Bank, NJ. The Basie was sold out thanks to the turnout of Lowlight friends and fans. As always, Lowlight turned in a professional and emotional performance. If you want to hear some of it, check out the band's recently released live album, It's Later Than You Think, which includes selections from the show. It's on Spotify.

Pretenders and Chrissie Hynde amazed again, rattling off an unrelenting string of hits during a 20-or-so song set. Chrissie Hynde still hates mobile phones at her shows and stopped the band once or twice to call people out. She maintains a gruff sense of humor about it though: "I saw the Rolling Stones with Brian Jones: No Phone. Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs: No Phone. Iggy and The Stooges: Well, I wish I had a fucking phone."

The RockNRoll Hi-Fives, Maki, and The exkilll

The RockNRoll Hi-Fives, Piggies, Foodie, The exkilll at NOON+CAFE, Osaka, JP, 4/8/18

The entire trip to Japan with The RockNRoll Hi-Fives was a beautiful experience that I'll never forget. I can't thank the Centenos enough for including me on their once-in-a-lifetime trip and for making me feel like the fifth member of their family. Every show was wonderful for different reasons; but, if I had to pick a favorite, it would be this one in Osaka.

NOON+CAFE is a great venue. The artist "green room" is above the stage, and I snuck up there for some shots during The Hi-Fives' set. The exkillll were playing only their first or second live show ever and were a blast. Piggies were one of my favorite bands that we saw on the whole tour. Our host, Maki, plays in Foodie who have their debut album coming out this month. We made friends with everyone. The show was just a nice microcosm of the whole tour: gracious fans, discovering new bands, making new friends.

Hinds

Hinds, QTY, Sharkmuffin at Warsaw, 5/10/18

I'd seen Hinds maybe about two or three times before either at SXSW or Northside Festival. I never got to see a headlining set from the Spanish four-piece; but, even in those abbreviated appearances, the band's exuberance spread to the entire crowd. Hinds play simple, shambolic garage rock; but they do it with so much joy, and they have so much fun on stage, that you can't help but get swept up in it. By the end of their set at Warsaw, Carlotta Cosials and Ana Perrote were surfing the crowd as the band did their cover of "Davy Crockett."

This was also a great opportunity for our pals in Sharkmuffin who kicked off the sold out evening, and I found a new favorite band in QTY.

Sweet Spirit

Sweet Spirit at Johnny Brenda's, 5/18/18

This was one of those game-time decisions for me. I had spent the early part of the day with my family at the sentencing for the man who, back in September, caused my brother's fatal car accident. When I got home, I remembered that Austin's Sweet Spirit, the pop / soul project that features Sabrina Ellis and Andrew Cashen of A Giant Dog, were playing Philly that night. "Fuck it," I said. I got in my car and made the drive to attend the show.

Damn, I needed that. Sweet Spirit bring it live with pretty much the same intensity as A Giant Dog. And the songs are so damn strong. It was such a fantastic night.

I feel weird putting this kind of responsibility on people who don't know me from a hole in the ground; but Sabrina and Andrew and their bands were there for me during a couple of pretty intense times, right when I needed them. I'm just grateful is all.

Snail Mail

Snail Mail and The RockNRoll Hi-Fives at Asbury Park Brewery, 6/9/18

Just a day or so before this show at Asbury Park Brewery, Matador Records announced that Interpol would be releasing a new record and going on tour. The tour would be bringing them to Madison Square Garden next February where the openers would be label mates Car Seat Headrest and Snail Mail. Snail Mail had just been tapped to play Madison Square Garden, and we were all going to see them at Asbury Park Brewery.

Snail Mail's debut LP, Lush, is one of the best releases of 2018. Lindsey Jordan brings a fresh take and a different voice to guitar-based indie rock, showing that there's still lots of life left in the genre. The brewery was absolutely packed out; and, while it really isn't the most conducive place to see a sold-out show, I staked out a spot up front and enjoyed the whole thing.

The RockNRoll Hi-Fives got the opening slot at the very last minute, and Eilee especially was seriously stoked about it. They made the most of their short set and won over some new fans.

Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires

Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires, Secretary Legs, Algebra II at The Saint, 6/17/18

This was another CoolDad Music Presents joint. I gotta say. Something about this one was just really special. The Glory Fires bring me to the verge of tears with the passion and intensity and just plain rocking out that they bring to every set. Secretary Legs put out another of my favorite records of the year, and it's been my dream to book them ever since I heard it. Algebra II are some beautiful and supportive people with great songs who helped put the whole show together.

This was also Father's Day. I spent a fun day with the family and then I got to experience this show. We took over The Saint and made it our own for a night. Thanks to Scott for letting us do that.

Superchunk

Superchunk and Sneaks at White Eagle Hall, 6/20/18

"Reviewers keep saying 'It's such an angry record,'" said Mac McCaughan of Superchunk's What a Time To Be Alive from the stage at White Eagle Hall. "With everything that's been going on, though, I don't think it's fucking angry enough."

For this show at White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, Superchunk brought every ounce of their high-strung intensity. McCaughan, bassist Jason Narducy, and guitarist Jim Wilbur bounced and bounded around the stage. Jon Wurster played drums with his usual exuberance. The show was -- like the album -- angry but also hopeful. Maybe if everyone, like me, who was shaking their fists and singing along go out and do something...

Sneaks opened and worked through a few minor technical difficulties to deliver a sparse and engaging set.

The RockNRoll Hi-Fives

The RockNRoll Hi-Fives Record Release at Mercury Lounge with Lost Boy ?, 6/24/18

This one started at 5:30pm on a Sunday, so CoolMom was able to come with me. That always makes the show better. Davey Jones and Lost Boy ? kicked things off, and they never cease to amaze me. Jones is a songwriting machine and cranks out winner after winner. They played mostly new songs, and the next album sounds like it's going to be great.

A few songs into The RockNRoll Hi-Fives' set, Gloree broke a string on her bass and didn't have a replacement. It didn't matter. Evren and Eilee worked the crowd with jokes and stories while Mom and Dad tried to deal with the problem. When the band finally started up again, they just made the best of the situation. Everybody laughed and smiled along with them. After the show, it was pictures, autographs, hugs, and congratulations; and The RockNRoll Hi-Fives were off on their next adventure.

So that's the first half of 2018. I don't write as many extensive reviews of shows as I once did, so I wanted to say something about all of these. See you out there.