My ears are ringing this morning. Usually that's only happened after a Sabbath or High On Fire gig, but yet here we are. What? Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you said something. Nevermind.
Last night was my first visit The Boot & Saddle, way down on south broad st. Took almost an hour from up here to get there, but man, was it worth it. This is what a good show can be like. 2 bands, both stunning, and amazing, longer sets.
The Boot & Saddle, as per some research, was (honorably?) Philadelphia's only country/western bar. There are others now? Whatever. There were tin ceilings, cowboys on colts on murals. (For a second I was unsure whether they'd allow "Jewy" looking stoned rockers in, but all kidding aside, this is a great venue.) The sound system is the same used at Union Transfer for 500 people. Well last night for 150 (less?), it proved more than adequate I surmise, with this incessant ringing in my head.
Perhaps? took the stage at 8:30 as stated, and proceeded to blow every single onlooker away. I had never heard of these guys, but man, they are on my radar now. The bassist is the real prodigy at 22 years young, writes all the material apparently. This band has more riffs than God himself, all due praise to Iommi aside. The bassist played a few styles too, which was probably why I kept watching him. He can do the Les Claypool/tool math/jazz stuff, then throw in blues ala Geezer fucking Butler, all seamlessly. This was mostly in the red music, but the quieter moments were gorgeous. These are well trained musicians. Blues, jazz, classical, metal, funk, pop, psych...it was all a blur of loud rock that I was left scratching my head at. There is a Bandcamp apparently, so some due support is coming there way from my end. I suppose you could have labeled them psych, but that's a gross understatement of the sounds they're capable of culling from. It was heavy...it was...uh, it just blew me away. All before the damned headliners. That's a good start for a gig right there. The drummer was fast and hard, and the guitarist has a nice, loose style. I can't wait to catch them again.
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An hour later, AMT took the stage. 4 ancient monks and a younger rhythm guitarist, maybe a nephew? Collective is right. All 5 added to the heavy psych stew; sometimes the bassist blew me away, half the time Kawabata was on fire. Kawabata for me is the Japanese equivalent of Al Cisneros, except on a 6 stringed squealing strat. He seemed to be locked into a riff for an hour and a half, but during certain rising parts, he'd go off on his amazingly unique solos, touching the headstock to the rafters, whammying into the night, Their drummer on this tour, god he looked like Ginger Baker's age, but he was hitting harder and faster. Shit, he was nearly bald. Anyone got an age on that dude?! Well, I suppose the tour name promised me an astrogasm, and yes, thank you for asking, my ears had one. I was elated to finally catch this band; with Boris and Church of Misery already crossed off the list, this completes my land of the rising sun trifecta. The 34th day of the tour, the last tonight (the 28th) at the Bowery, and neither band seemed the least bit tired. Everyone gave it their all, and I got to swish my hair around and plus, with no chemicals, I practically tripped inside this place with cowboys and interstellar space-love-music all swirling around us. It was absolutely absurd to even think about a hard psych band playing a saloon, but damn, it worked. The red light was on, but not for regular gasms. Oh no. These lights were to add to the astrogasm, the ear enjoyment, the cochlear coming. Ah, magical.
If you're unaware of AMT, for shame. If you're unaware of Perhaps, get aware now.
Next we go Swedish voodoo for Goat @ Union Transfer 6/17. Thank you as always for reading, and I hope you had a lovely holiday.
Until then, SabbathJeff over and out.
AMT | Facebook
Words: Sabbath Jeff
Last night was my first visit The Boot & Saddle, way down on south broad st. Took almost an hour from up here to get there, but man, was it worth it. This is what a good show can be like. 2 bands, both stunning, and amazing, longer sets.
The Boot & Saddle, as per some research, was (honorably?) Philadelphia's only country/western bar. There are others now? Whatever. There were tin ceilings, cowboys on colts on murals. (For a second I was unsure whether they'd allow "Jewy" looking stoned rockers in, but all kidding aside, this is a great venue.) The sound system is the same used at Union Transfer for 500 people. Well last night for 150 (less?), it proved more than adequate I surmise, with this incessant ringing in my head.
Perhaps? took the stage at 8:30 as stated, and proceeded to blow every single onlooker away. I had never heard of these guys, but man, they are on my radar now. The bassist is the real prodigy at 22 years young, writes all the material apparently. This band has more riffs than God himself, all due praise to Iommi aside. The bassist played a few styles too, which was probably why I kept watching him. He can do the Les Claypool/tool math/jazz stuff, then throw in blues ala Geezer fucking Butler, all seamlessly. This was mostly in the red music, but the quieter moments were gorgeous. These are well trained musicians. Blues, jazz, classical, metal, funk, pop, psych...it was all a blur of loud rock that I was left scratching my head at. There is a Bandcamp apparently, so some due support is coming there way from my end. I suppose you could have labeled them psych, but that's a gross understatement of the sounds they're capable of culling from. It was heavy...it was...uh, it just blew me away. All before the damned headliners. That's a good start for a gig right there. The drummer was fast and hard, and the guitarist has a nice, loose style. I can't wait to catch them again.
An hour later, AMT took the stage. 4 ancient monks and a younger rhythm guitarist, maybe a nephew? Collective is right. All 5 added to the heavy psych stew; sometimes the bassist blew me away, half the time Kawabata was on fire. Kawabata for me is the Japanese equivalent of Al Cisneros, except on a 6 stringed squealing strat. He seemed to be locked into a riff for an hour and a half, but during certain rising parts, he'd go off on his amazingly unique solos, touching the headstock to the rafters, whammying into the night, Their drummer on this tour, god he looked like Ginger Baker's age, but he was hitting harder and faster. Shit, he was nearly bald. Anyone got an age on that dude?! Well, I suppose the tour name promised me an astrogasm, and yes, thank you for asking, my ears had one. I was elated to finally catch this band; with Boris and Church of Misery already crossed off the list, this completes my land of the rising sun trifecta. The 34th day of the tour, the last tonight (the 28th) at the Bowery, and neither band seemed the least bit tired. Everyone gave it their all, and I got to swish my hair around and plus, with no chemicals, I practically tripped inside this place with cowboys and interstellar space-love-music all swirling around us. It was absolutely absurd to even think about a hard psych band playing a saloon, but damn, it worked. The red light was on, but not for regular gasms. Oh no. These lights were to add to the astrogasm, the ear enjoyment, the cochlear coming. Ah, magical.
If you're unaware of AMT, for shame. If you're unaware of Perhaps, get aware now.
Next we go Swedish voodoo for Goat @ Union Transfer 6/17. Thank you as always for reading, and I hope you had a lovely holiday.
Until then, SabbathJeff over and out.
AMT | Facebook
Words: Sabbath Jeff