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