Sheer Mag - Record Release Gig!

I know you’ve been waiting for it.  Well here it is:  another BRP live music review.  This time the headliner was Sheer Mag, a local Philly band releasing a new LP.  There were also 3 supporting bands, two of whom are worth mentioning.  And this time, I thought I had a BRP exclusive:  video seen nowhere else on the internet of Sheer Mag blasting through a few tunes.  Yowza!  But no - I have 4 videos, but Weebly is so damn slow in uploading that I gave up.  Maybe I'll revisit or find another way to get those videos out there, but for now, I'm just moving on.

It was good to knock off the rust and get back into the live music scene.  I had been out of the city for a few weeks, and while that was fun, I also knew that I had a number of shows lined up upon my return.  It proves the point that one of the great things about traveling is coming home.  You need to get ready for a lot of live music posts because I am going to be the idiot about town for a while now.

We walked into Union Transfer and who is on stage?  None other than our buddies, Dark Thoughts, an opener before Royal Headache a few weeks back.  Last time I reported that DT was a solid punk act but didn’t bring a lot of new stuff to the genre.  Upon reconsideration, I’m going to give them some better props (and a couple of photos) because they had me grooving and enjoying their set.  Punk, when played with verve and energy, is compelling and DT keeps your attention while they are on the stage.  This group has a future unlike, say, Del Mar.  Here are a couple of pics:

Next band to mention is Purling Hiss (where do these guys come up with these terrible names?).  This band had some great tunes that were instantly catchy but with a heavy hook to them.  You know I love the electric guitar played loudly and with attitude, and these guys brought it.  Some of the songs were pretty lengthy – like 8 minutes – but they all seemed to build into a metallic crescendo and carried the listener.  The boys have a future.

Finally, the main event.  I’m pretty into Sheer Mag at the moment.  They have a punk-y edge to them, and you know that is always welcome at BRP.  But traces of classic rock also exist.  Regardless, they tore through a solid one hour set. 

You’ve got to love a band that sports three guitars up front, and has a female lead singer.  I love the wall of guitar sound that is brought to bear by multiple axes being swung.  And this ain’t you’re average female lead.  Tina Halladay is a woman of substance and snarl who rips lyrics from her gut and spits them out at the crowd.  Good tunes?  You betcha, with lots of hooks and rave ups.  I got some solid shots, even took some in black and white just to show you that I can, and, as aforementioned, videos.  But the black and whites and videos weren't uploading, so you get what you get.  Nonetheless, you sling on to these, babies, and you’ll know that daddy brought home the bacon tonight.

 
What’s next?  How about some more Royal Blood and the monster sound of Queens of the Stone Age!  Oh, children, I bring you nothing but the best.  Back soon, chill and have yourself a beer while I write it up.  Ciao.