Shows I saw this year, I visited 7 venues I had never been to before; Argilla Brewing Co., Ting Pavilion, Concert Under the Stars, The Rusty Nail, Kelly's Logan House, Wiggins Park, and City Winery. I also went to a House Show with tickets as opposed to a House Show with a drunken brawl

Merry Christmas!

Since it's that time, my favorite albums of the year, somewhat in order

Built to Spill, at the Transfer, probably my last show of the year, it's nice to go out on a high note(and there were a lot of them) an almost 2 your long guitar extravaganza

Last night, Speedy Ortiz at Johnny Brendas, bringing the heat on a frozen night. If Built To Spill hadn't announced a surprise tour for the end of the year, I would have begun and ended 2025 seeing Speedy

Alright, finally a song I voted for made the XPN 885 Greatest Cover Song Countdown, David Bromberg coming in at 393 with a live version of "Mr. Bojangles. #XPNCountdown

The Beths, at the Transfer, touring in support of their latest album "Straight Line Was A Lie" one of my favorites of this year, great harmonies and they rock hard when they feel the need

Last night, The Aimee Mann &Ted Leo Christmas Show with Nellie Mckay,Paul F. Tompkins & Josh Gonderman at the City Winery. Songs, skits and general foolishness to get one in the Holiday Spirit

Her dog Arrow, really well behaved, he kept her company but he wasn't much of an accompanist

The Mynabirds, aka Laura Burhenn, at a house show(there's a first time for everything) playing songs from her just released album "It's Ok To Go Backwards If You Keep Moving Forward", her first album in almost 10 years

Wednesday, bringing their psychotic blend of Country, Psychdelica, and Rock to the Transfer. They have a new album out, the excellent "Bleed" and I believe the dolls and stuffed animals represent the setting for a malignant nursery. Unhinged goodness

Daffo, at the Transfer, just got back from touring Europe, sure sounded good for a band who could be suffering jet lag. They're doing all this touring to promote their first album,"Where the Earth Bends", it's really good + inexpensive, only 10 bucks at the merch table, what a deal

Grace Vonderkuhn, Delaware's finest, at the Arden Gild Hall, also promoting a new album, her "Into the Morning", that came out at the end of August. A more savage approach, the drummer ended up drumming the kick drum's mic off of the riser trying to keep up with her

Sug Daniels, at the Arden Gild Hall, doing a mini tour promoting her first album, the just released yesterday "I Believe In You", a diverse collection of songs that displays her many talents well

Flock of Dimes, at JohnnyBrendas, playing their latest album "The Life You Save" in it's entirety, always nice when a band does that, I'm sure to hear my favorite song from it. They finished up with 5 of their best songs from previous albums

Icelandic Enchantment with Of Monsters and Men, at The Met, touring in support of their latest album "All is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade"; they closed the show with my fave song from it, the epic "Fruit Bat"

Nice costume, but Trick or Treat was last night

Belly, at the Underground Arts, a little closer this time, made them sound even better, if that's possible

Belly, at the 9:30 Club, touring on the 30th anniversary of their second album "King", my favorite one of theirs. First set was "King" in it's entirety, then after a very short break (about 7 minutes) they came back out for a second set, which was comprised of hits and wonders

I'm at the 9:30 Club to see Belly, it's Howard University's Homecoming, the streets are impassable, mistakes have been made, but this is a new one

Big Thief, at a seriously sold out Met, touring in support of their latest excellent album "Double Infinity" which is not nearly as long as their excellent double album "Dragon New Warm Mountain....." A great live band, their closing song "Spud Infinity" encapsulates their musical abilities and joy

The Headliner was the legendary Northwest band, Team Dresch, playing in their entirety the albums "Personal Best" and "Captain My Captain". They also came close to running afoul of the curfew, finishing with only two minutes to spare.

Whether due to lazines or old age I didn't listen to the openers for last nights show at the Church. To my surprise and delight Noun is the new project of Marissa Paternoster(guitarist of the late, lamented Screaming Females)

Neko Case, at The Met, she can't stop me from taking photos from this spot. Actually, I was one of the very few assholes who took pics or video, and I am deeply ashamed of myself....She was marvelous

I was also up close to see the excellent sets of Sadie Gust, the 24 Hour Song Challenge winner; Tune Yards, always exuberant, and Molly Tuttle, a spirited and amusing set, especially when she flipped her wig

Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory, at the Xponencial Music Festival, the reason I attended. I like her style and her band, and I definitely enjoyed hearing "Jupiter 4" just about my favorite song of hers

Wet Leg, at a sold out Factory, bringing their latest album, the excellent "Moisturizer" to life. What a wacked world they occupy

If it's free, it's for me, especially if it's a damned bargain, Delaware's finest, Grace Vonderkuhn, at Kelly's Logan House(in Wilmington,De,) celebrating the release of her latest album, the really good "Into the Morning". She's a maniac on stage!

Mondo Cozmo, at a sold out JohnnyBrendas, I finally got around to seeing him, I'm a slacker. The crowd was roused up and maybe a little liquored up too as befits a joyous celebration, and it certainly was

Superchunk, at the Armore Music Hall. As Indie a band as an Indie band can be, and, of course, they hate fascists

Headlining at KFN was "No Joy". a band of similar stylings, touring in support of the excellent new album "Bugland". Angular Intensity

Shows at Xfinity Mobil Areana are quite the spectacle, however they have the feeling of being a bit housebroken. Shows at Kung Fu Necktie are more gritty and feral, no better demonstrated than by the D.C. band "Flowers for the Dead", who used KFN's harsh sound to their advantage

Nine Inch Nails, at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, Industrial Strength Rock on stage A, a slightly softer stripped back approach on stage B, a thoroughly enjoyable night

Deep Sea Diver, at Free at Noon, great live band, the other guitar whiz is Kristyn Chapman,a touring member, who has her own band Morpho. Deep Sea Diver is playing tonight at Tellus 360, wish I could be there

If it's free, it's for me, Joan Osborne, at the Memorial Dell, postponed from last night, good of her and her band to stick around, if a show can't go on at the Dell due to the weather, that's usually it; cancelled. A nice mix of her own stuff and Dylan's

Finom, at Philamoca, they're really tight with Jeff Tweedy/Wilco who I saw 2 nights ago. This show of Finom's was a one off, so it was an amazing coincidence. Not only are Sima + Macie of Finom going to open for Jeff on his upcoming tour but they're gonna be part of his band. What a deal

Haven't been to Philamoca since I don't know when, nice to be back

An evening with Wilco, at The Met Philly. Great band, they do lean Country but they are well versed in Rocking

Chevy Metal, at the Foundry, Shane Hawkins, son of Taylor, has taken on his dad's duty as the drummer of this Classic Rock cover band. Will this lead to him taking his dad's spot in the Foo Fighters?

Hurray For The Riff Raff, at Elkton Music Hall, playing all of their latest album, the excellent "The Past Is Still Alive", plus some fan favorites such as "Precious Cargo", whose lyrics include lines such as "Oh, I.C.E., I.C.E., I hate you, I.C.E." as well as lines of similar sentiment

Deep Sea Diver, at a sold out JohnnyBrendas. They brought an impressive amount of hardware, needing two small tables next to the stage to hold some of it. Made things cozy, the better to hear the great pyrotechnic guitar of Jessica Dobson. She calls it, "Noise Art"

River Shook, at the Elkton Music Hall, she used to go by Sarah but that was a Non De plume, and River is her real name. The Disarmers have been disbanded and it's just her and her main squeeze and future hubby previewing songs that will appear on the album she's recording in the Fall

Bad Moves on their farewell tour, at Johnny Brendas'. Power Pop at it's finest, they've got relentless energy. Their final album, last years "Wearing Out The Refrain" is excellent and a fitting way to call it quit

Snug as bugs on a bud

Bleed Radio Bleed, at The Rusty Nail(aka The Nail) in Ardmore. Their first show in 10 years, and the first time I've seen Paul Nance, husband of XPN's Wendy Rollins, on the kit in 9 years, since I last saw The Loud Company. He's a heavy hitter, hope to see them again soon

If it's free, it's for me. Lowertown at Spruce St. Harbor Park, I saw them open for Wet Leg three years ago and they released a really damn good album "I Love To Lie" in October of 22. Such a good show, the intermittent rain was easily ignored. I didn't realize how wet I got until I got home

Last night, U.S. Girls at Johnny Brendas', played songs from her just released(this past Friday) album "Scratch It" including the 11 minute long opus "Bookends" some old favorites + rounded out the set with many from her stellar album "In A Poem Unlimited". Excellent voice + a wicked sense of humor

Blondshell, at a sold out Transfer, a celebratory type of show, no doubt in part helped by a high spirited and vocal crowd

Daffo, at the Transfer, Bruce Warren, long time programmer at XPN and now part time DJ, called Daffo "A great, great band", whom am I to disagree

First Sunflower of the season, hundreds more to follow