I went to an excellent free show this week featuring a band called Here Come the Mummies.  These were the funkiest fellows I've ever experienced.  I don't remember ever hearing someone simultaneously play two saxophones.    

I managed to catch the Verve Pipe do an exceptionally pleasant free show this week.  Not only did it exceed my expectations, but it made me actually re-consider my thoughts about them.  In my head, I'd always unreasonably put the up against the Verve. 

 

 I was at the Foo Fighters show last night.  It was my first experience with Lincoln Financial Field.  I also saw Queens of the Stone Age play.  It was just madness, but the kind I wanted to experience.  

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/foo-fighters/2026/lincoln-financial-field-philadelphia-pa-1b4e0d70.html

 I was at last night's Tori Amos show at the Met.

Also got a solo opening set from Bartees Strange, who I really like and did not expect to be on the bill for this gig.  

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/tori-amos/2026/metropolitan-opera-house-philadelphia-pa-5b4a37ac.html

Just got back from a fantastic show with Broken Social Scene, Stars, and Metric.

 Pavement Setlist

https://xpn.org/make-the-world-better-marries-phillys-two-greatest-loves-sports-and-music-for-a-good-cause/

Just got back from seeing Pavement at the Dell Music Center, which was extremely difficult to get to.  So much so that I missed the majority of the set from Ratboys, who I had really been looking forward to seeing.  The event was hosted by former Philadelphia Eagles player Connor Barwin, and it was part of a festival called Make the World Better Festival.  

Stephen Malkmus's daughter will be attending Drexel, and she got onstage with her rockstar dad.

I was concerned about driving myself home and nearly left early, but had to stay because they closed with "Summer Babe" and "Here,” which are essential listening.  

One of my favorite bands, Dinosaur Jr, is back!!

Just got back from seeing the Strokes.  I hadn't seen them for many years. 

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-strokes/2026/highmark-mann-center-for-the-performing-arts-td-pavilion-philadelphia-pa-6376768b.html

 

I saw Echo and The Bunnymen!  My first time at the Fillmore.  I think I'd probably go back there!

So many problems in my body and my life, but hey, at least I got to see a band who released some of my most beloved stuff.  Albums like Crocodiles, Porcupine, Heaven Up Here, and Ocean Rain.  Originally scheduled for Sunday at the Fillmore, I went and the show was postponed due to the band being in some kind of car accident.  It got rescheduled for two days later, and I did not think I would be able to get there, so I requested a refund using my LiveNation app, and it was granted.    

The concert was rescheduled for the same night as Kevin Morby, who I also had tickets to see, and who released my favorite album of the year, setting me up with this dilemma of who to see.  

I went towards the Kevin Morby show and made a last minute decision to go down the road from Union Transfer to the Fillmore to see Echo and the Bunnymen with my fellow manager and her boyfriend, mainly because they are getting older and this could be their last tour.  Anyway it is a matter of comparing apples and oranges (comparing things that are both good in their own way!!) and I am not going to try to figure out which show would have been better.  

I am only thankful that I got to see Echo and the Bunnymen, a band that has always just had something magical and special about them that cannot be duplicated by anyone.

Also I must thank the two kind souls who helped my directionally challenged self find the venue, and then my way back to my car. 

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/echo-and-the-bunnymen/2026/the-fillmore-philadelphia-philadelphia-pa-537573a1.html

 

Yes, I was there, and at one point maybe thirty feet from Bruce Springsteen.

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/bruce-springsteen/2026/xfinity-mobile-arena-philadelphia-pa-2b4b60da.html

True Story: Growing up, my friend Danielle Ivy, whose last name began with a K, started calling both of us the "DIK's" because that's what both of our initials spelled.   Both of us are forty now, so I guess we both can be asking around if anyone wants some old DIK in their lives.  

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/iron-and-wine/2026/union-transfer-philadelphia-pa-34c551b.html

Just got back from an absolutely outstanding Iron and Wine concert.  I knew I love Iron and Wine, but I think I actually kind of underrated how they would be live.  The show absolutely exceeded my expectations, and they weren't even focusing on the part of their catalogue that I've listened to the most.  Everything they played just sounded so ornate, and they were able to bring the entire place to quiet so you could hear the quietest details.  Not to mention, Sam Beam really sings beautifully and better than I would have expected him to sing live.

I really do think music has healing powers, because I somehow really felt no pain as I drove home from this one.  I can't begin to explain how hard some days are, and this was one of them.  I was very close to not going.  

                                                             

                          Iron and Wine

    

Improvement Movement

YHWH Nailgun

Dry Cleaning

I've been listening to Dry Cleaning for a few years now, and I was thrilled to finally have the opportunity to see them live.  They're not really about spectacle, but more about hypnotic mood building.  They're also an albums band, so the songs a lot of times only makes sense in the context of a full album.  At some moments, the place went completely dark except what was going on onstage.  

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/dry-cleaning/2026/union-transfer-philadelphia-pa-b4ef116.html

 

 

                                                        Afghan Whigs

Mercury Rev

I just got back from seeing the Afghan Whigs with Mercury Rev.  I knew that it would be an amazing show but it actually exceeded expectations for me.  Listening to Mercury Rev has always been like one of those well kept secret bands that no one talked about in any of my circles of friends.  Deserter's Songs was one of the best albums of the nineties.  Then, the Afghan Whigs just have so many great songs to pluck from for any show.   I heard plenty of my favorites, like "66," "Gentleman," and "Going To Town," amongst newer stuff from an upcoming album.  

Some drinks based on Afghan Whigs songs were served too, though I didn't have any.     

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-afghan-whigs/2026/union-transfer-philadelphia-pa-334a10e9.html

 The past few weeks have been absolutely devastating for me because I received a health update which has really shaken me.  I am not sure what is next.

I love everything about Kurt Vile, especially that lo-fi, DYI, rock 'n roll aesthetic.  He has always been an artist as much as a rocker.  Now, I just have to see him again on the upcoming tour.  

Just got back from seeing Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band.  The show was most refreshing.  They made one of my favorite albums of 2025.  I knew I wanted to see them whenever they came to town and I completed my mission.  They closed with a Bruce Cockburn cover, "Lovers In A Dangerous Time."