Live Review: Peach Pit @ 9:30 Club — 4/2/22

Posted on April 11, 2022 by Casey Vock in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, Canada, jangle pop, Peach Pit, surf rock, Vancouver.

Christopher Vanderkooy shreds on the electric guitar during a Peach Pit performance at 9:30 Club on April 2, 2022. (Photo by Casey Vock)

Though naturally some of a band’s recorded material is going to create some expectations of its in-person sound, a musical act doesn’t have to let its studio work define its live presentation.

But whether it’s by foresight or luck, the bulk of some artists’ songbooks turns out to be scalable thanks to either a set trajectory or built-in room for improvisation to expand and amplify the sound.

Peach Pit, a red-hot indie pop-rock outfit out of Vancouver, has experienced a rapid rise to popularity since its two founding members graduated high school. As students, Neil Smith and Christopher Vanderkooy teamed up in 2014 to create what began as a possible one-off music project.

Live Review: Counting Crows w/ Frank Turner @ MGM National Harbor — 10/1/21

Posted on October 6, 2021 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Berkeley, California, Counting Crows, Frank Turner, jangle pop, Kyle Gustafson, MGM National Harbor, roots.

Counting Crows perform at MGM National Harbor on Oct. 1, 2021. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson)

A few months ago, I found myself in a discussion with singer-songwriter Kasey Anderson and music critic Craig Jenkins. The point was raised that many of the alternative acts in the late ’80s and early ’90s were, if not in the Americana genre, at least adjacent to it. The Counting Crows certainly fit this description, with influences that include that include the Byrds, The Band, and Van Morrison, in addition to REM. Their brand of alternative meets folk-rock created a sound that, by appealing not only to young audiences, who favored the grunge of the early ’90s, but also to fans of classic rock.

The Counting Crows certainly attracted legions of devoted fans, many of whom packed into the theater at MGM Harbor on Friday night to see them on their tour behind the new Butter Miracle Suite EP.

Livestream Preview: Robyn Hitchcock with Emma Swift @ StageIt, 4/15/20

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Emma Swift, folk, jangle pop, livestream, Nashville, psychedelic, Robyn Hitchcock, StageIt, Tennessee.

Robyn Hitchcock (Photo by Emma Swift)

Tune into the fifth quarantine show by Robyn Hitchcock and Emma Swift, who have been performing regularly since the emergency lockdown across the nation in their series, Live from Sweet Home Quarantine, where they livestream a 30-minute concert from their home in East Nashville.

Catch Robyn and Emma on StageIt on Wednesday, April 15.

Live Review: Teenage Fanclub @ 9:30 Club — 3/16/19

Posted on March 20, 2019 by Kyle Gustafson in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, jangle pop, power pop, Scotland, Teenage Fanclub.

Teenage Fanclub performs at 9:30 Club on March 16, 2019. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson)

It seems wrong to start a concert review by mentioning the one guy that wasn’t there, but we might as well address the elephant in the room first thing. Last fall, Gerry Love, bassist and founding member of Teenage Fanclub, announced he would leave the group after their winter run of shows in the UK.

Preview: Teenage Fanclub @ 9:30 Club, 3/16/19

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged 9:30 Club, jangle pop, power pop, Scotland, Teenage Fanclub.

Teenage Fanclub (Photo courtesy Key Music Management)

Scots jangle poppers Teenage Fanclub released a new song recently, publishing “Everything Is Falling Apart” via Merge Records. On its current US tour, the band performs at 9:30 Club on Saturday, March 16.

Live Review: Gin Blossoms @ State Theatre — 2/16/19

Posted on February 22, 2019 by Chester Simpson in Live Review and tagged Arizona, Gin Blossoms, jangle pop, State Theatre.

Gin Blossoms perform at State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia, on Feb. 16, 2019. (Photo by Chester Simpson)

Now in 2019, Gin Blossoms are celebrating 30 years since their debut album Dusted. And that celebration came to the State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia, recently.

Ticket Giveaway: The Chills @ Black Cat, 2/24/19

Posted on February 4, 2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Black Cat, free tickets, jangle pop, New Zealand, The Chills, ticket giveaway.

The Chills (Photo courtesy Ticketfly)

Hailing from New Zealand, The Chills will bring their melodic global rock to Black Cat on Sunday, Feb. 14. You can win tickets to go with Parklife DC!

Snapshots: Guster @ 9:30 Club — 1/25/19

Posted on January 29, 2019 by paivi in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, Boston, Guster, jangle pop.

Guster performs at 9:30 Club on Jan. 25, 2019. (Photo by Paivi)

Guster breezed into the 9:30 Club in the follow of their latest album to make us forget “hard times” for two nights. Paivi Salonen was there for some cool pictures.

Live Review: Cracker @ 9:30 Club — 1/19/19

Posted on January 21, 2019 by David LaMason in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, Americana, California, Camper Van Beethoven, Cracker, David Lowery, jangle pop, psychedelic, roots.

Cracker rocks the 9:30 Club on Jan. 19, 2019 (Photo by David LaMason

On a cold, wet Saturday night, David Lowery brought some sunshine to the 9:30 Club in the forms of both Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker.

Preview: Guster @ 9:30 Club, 1/25/19

Posted on January 16, 2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged 9:30 Club, Boston, Guster, jangle pop.

Guster (Photo by Alysse Gafkjen)

Boston rockers Guster perform at 9:30 Club on two nights, on the heels of releasing eighth studio album Look Alive. The second of those two nights is sold out, but you can still buy tickets for Guster at 9:30 Club on Friday, Jan. 25.