30 Comments
Jul 6Liked by S.W. Lauden

Usually I'm good for a handful of clubs shows a year, but the shows I KNOW I'm hitting the rest of 2024 are all at the 2000-ish capacity theater a block down the street from me. X tonight, Howard Jones/ABC/Haircut 100 next month, & Psychedelic Furs/Jesus & Mary Chain in October. I would've seen Redd Kross in a club, but their tour's not hitting KC.

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Jul 6Liked by S.W. Lauden

I DID see The Whiffs in a bar a few months ago, so there's that.

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author

I hope they come back the West Coast soon.

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Jul 6Liked by S.W. Lauden

Hopefully behind a new record. It feels like they've been working on it a long time, but it hasn't even been a year & a half since "Scratch 'N' Sniff" came out. I'm greedy.

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Jul 6Liked by S.W. Lauden

Just saw Dry Cleaning do an outdoor gig at this crazy art park, Opus 40, near Saugerties NY. It was absolutely fantastic! Live music, small venues, yes!

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YES!

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Jul 7Liked by S.W. Lauden

So wanted to go, but just too far from NYC!

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Opus 40 is lovely and I am so glad that Mike Amari (formerly of BSP in kIngston) is promoting interesting shows there. It's outdoors, which is only to its detriment in the sense that it has limited seasons. Plus, you need a car to get there. Club shows were the bread-and-butter of gig-going for generations and we are in danger of losing them. Kingston has the great little venue Tubby's. I don't get to too many gigs there for a number of reasons, including how small it is and the problems that poses for someone with tinnitus, but I enjoy doing something recommended in the article - following through the links put out on the e-mails and social media by Cory the promoter, in the hope that I will find an act that really intrigues me and will get me through the doors. And if not that, that at least gets me listening more to that act. Cheers everyone!

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Jul 7Liked by S.W. Lauden

Last “rock” band I saw in a club was Friko at a spot called Brooklyn Made and it was as great as I expected! Right now we’re in full “outdoor free concert” mode so that’s a little different. Saw Horsegirl for the third time last weekend and I realized I’ve only seen them outside, LO@. Would love to catch them in a club some time. Sunday 7/13 will be a combo: Lifeguard and Font at Union Pool. Since it’s part of their Summer Thunder series, it will be free and outdoors in their little courtyard.

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Jul 7Liked by S.W. Lauden

Absolutely! I've been saying the best way to discover new music is to look up listings, and the club/smaller venues are always a treasure trove. Affordable and so much fun to get in on the ground floor.

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Yes! The energy can be incredible.

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Just saw Cloud Nothings at a local bar/club and it ripped.

Not a club per se, but Red Pants is playing a killer venue out here in August, and I'm excited for that.

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Nice!

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Thank you!

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Hell ya!

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Jul 7Liked by S.W. Lauden

Great Post. Just saw Wednesday and Babehoven at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth NH(Legendary)…soon…Mannequin Pussy, Ovlov, Whitey Morgan, The Beth’s, Silverada, Craig Finn…various Western Ma and Boston venues. Larger venues—-Sammy Rae and the Friends and Dropkick Murphys in the Fall.

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Jul 7·edited Jul 7Author

Thank you. You’re seeing some amazing shows!

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Love this. Clubs really are one of the best ways to experience new music. I've been in a fit having left the northeast to return to my southern hometown, only to find the few clubs and bars that did put on alternative shows have closed, and the ones that replaced them are closing now. Bands left scattered with nowhere for the community to see them, left with only cover bands and mainstream knockoffs playing in overpriced bar and grills.

Definitely try to catch The Beths! I was a Spotify fan for years and then one morning I realized they were playing down the street that night. Great set and an awesome conversation with them afterwards.

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Thank you. It’s rough to hear that the rock clubs near you are closing. I think it’s more common than most fans realize these days. I’m definitely spoiled here in LA, although we’ve lost a few clubs too.

And hell ya to The Beths. I saw them last year and they were fantastic. Question for the upcoming show is whether or not I drive to SD…

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Agree with all you said!

Since moving from Chicago to Greenville SC. - a lot of, um...middle-aged concerns like, travel time, distance,PARKING, parking cost, cover charge, general ease of life/with less excuses now exist!

Just saw Cracker in a smaller venue here and will be seeing The New Pornographers and The Dollyrots in a couple of weeks, then The Old 97s in September - all in a great local venue here, (that I've also had the pleasure of playing at with the band I'm in here - Kick.Snare.Crash.), The Radio Room!

It's a pretty "regional" scene too, so Asheville,NC., where I saw Heartless Bastards and some other cool local bands, is about an hour away.

I guess for me - having pain-in-the-ass barriers removed and wanting to be part of the "new scene" that I moved to has reinvigorated me.

And I'm grateful for that!

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Sounds like you're living the life!

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Jul 8Liked by S.W. Lauden

GBV in Nashville & Chicago. Still got it.

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author

Legends.

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Jul 8Liked by S.W. Lauden

I saw Little Feat (July 3) with Duane Betts opening. Mike Campbell joined Betts and his band for one number (The Dirty Knobs were in Des Moines to play the following night) while Sam Ferrone (Average White Band, Bee Gees, Stoneground) joined The Feat on stage to play along side his old friend Sam Clayton. A great night.

I will seeing the Big Star Radio City 50th anniversary show on July 14 at Codfish Hollow in Maquoketa, IA. The band features original member Jody Stephens, Jon Auer (Posies), Chris Stamey (dB’s), Pat Sansone and John Stirratt (Wilco).

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I’m going to the LA Big Star show. Can’t wait! I saw the star-studded “#1 Record” 50th bash and it was spectacular.

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Jul 8Liked by S.W. Lauden

It looks like you get a member of R.E.M. playing at your show. Have a great time!

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Jul 8Liked by S.W. Lauden

PS…..I’m loving Volume I of your books. Remember The Lightning is a great book series.

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⚡️💥🙏

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Aug 3Liked by S.W. Lauden

From the show I saw at Codfish Hollow,Maquoketa, Iowa. Jody spoke to those of us at the stage and signed for almost ½ hour. It was a great show!

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Jody is the best!

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