Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks
The Fillmore at the TLA
March 29, 2008
“A fillet mignon, that’s the kind of steak Philadelphia is” said Stephen Malkmus. And just like a dinner at a fancy restaurant the former Pavement frontman delivered another amazing performance Saturday night on South Street. Playing mostly songs off thier new album “Real Emotional Trash”, Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks showcased why they are among the elite in the indie-rock world. Opening with “Elmo Delmo” was an interesting choice but followed up by “Hopscotch Willy” and “Cold Son” I realized it was a great way to set the tone of their new album for the audience. The only songs off “R.E.T.” that SM & The Jicks didn’t play were “Wicked Wanda” and “Out of Reaches”(which I was kind of bummed about because “Out of Reaches” is one of my faves of their new songs). I really dug “Gardenia”, but the stongest songs of the night had to be the renditions of “Real Emotiona Trash”, all 10 minutes of it, and Malkmus’ incredible guitar ripping on “Baltimore”.
Joining me for the show were Charftong, Garlic and Graber. We met up on South Street around 7pm, grabbed something to eat at an Irish Pub called O’Neal’s, got beers at Mackos where a homeless man drunk on Bud Ice was rambling to himself while Death Metal played in the background, and then proceeded to the TLA about 10 minutes before Malkmus came on. The crowd was pretty cool and laid back as is with most indie-rock shows. The only real annoyance were the dudes who kept taking pictures during the show like they were freelance Rolling Stone photographers. Hey, I took pictures too, but I took 10 pictures in total, while these guys had to be in the 50 - 100 range. Dude, we get it. You really like the band. But putting your camera up every 2 minutes so we can see your LCD screen gets really distracting after the first 25 times. This really is just a minor complaint for an otherwise incredible show. BTW - Graber, thanks for the lift to McFadden’s after the show.
Jeff and Joe
A Night At The Stone Pony
Recently back in late December, The Bouncing Souls rocked their "Home for the Holidays" shows at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ where they played their fan voted Top 40 favorite songs.
FAN VOTED ALL-TIME 40 FAVAORITE BOUNCING SOULS SONGS
40. Holiday Cocktail Lounge
39. Here We Go
38. Better Things
37. So Jersey
36. Apartment 5F
35. Serenity
34. Shark Attack
33. Born Free
32. For All The Unheard
31. Cracked
30. Private Radio
29. I Like Your Mom
28. The Pizza Song
27. Midnight Mile
26. The BMX Song
25. That Song
24. Neurotic
23. Bryan's Lament
22. East Coast Fuck You
21. Fight To Live
20. Old School
19. Born to Lose
18. The Ballad of Johnny X
17. Lamar Vannoy
16. Wish Me Well (You Can Go To Hell)
15. Kid
14. Night On Earth
13. Sing Along Forever
12. Punks in Vegas
11. The Gold Song
10. Joe Lies (When He Cries)
9. Anchors Aweigh
8. Say Anything
7. Lean on Sheena
6. Kids and Heroes
5. Gone
4. Quick Check Girl
3. Hopeless Romantic
2. Manthem
1. True Believers
However, being the die-hard Bouncing Souls fan that I am, I felt compelled to make my own Top 40 list, and as you can see my favorite Bouncing Souls songs differ from the average fan.
JEFF LARSEN'S ALL-TIME 40 FAVORITE BOUNCING SOULS SONGS
40. Night Train
39. The Something Special
38. Midnight Mile
37. New Day
36. Simple Man
35. That Song
34. Private Radio
33. Punks in Vegas
32. Hopeless Romantic
31. Fight To Live
30. The Ballad of Johnny X
29. '87
28. Apartment 5F
27. Lamar Vannoy
26. Kids and Heroes
25. I Get Lost
24. Some Kind of Wonderful
23. Wig
22. These Are The Quotes From Our Favorite '80's Movies
21. Say Anything
20. I Like Your Mom
19. The Pizza Song
18. PMRC
17. Serenity
16. Quick Check Girl
15. True Believers
14. The Gold Song
13. Trapped
12. So Jersey
11. Neurotic
10. The Guest
9. Anchors Aweigh
8. Joe Lies (When He Cries)
7. For All The Unheard
6. The Freaks, Nerds, And Romantics
5. Gone
4. Kid
3. Kate Is Great
2. Argyle
1. Old School
| CONCERT REVIEW |
Weston
The Trocadero
Philadelphia, PA July 5, 2007
Weston Rocks!
As part of the "Brotherly Shove Festival" I got to see one of the bands that has pretty much carried me from high school to now in my 30's. I know that sounds kind of corny but seeing a band you truly love can inspired you to make the most of this so-called life, and helps you realize that sometimes all you really need is good music and great friends and family.
Kelly, Chris, Dave Weston, Joe and Jeff
CONCERT REVIEW
The Bouncing Souls
Asbury Lanes
Asbury Park, NJ June 24, 2007
Asbury Lanes Asbury Park, NJ
If ever there was a city to see The Bouncing Souls, Asbury Park, NJ has to be #1 on the list. As part of the "School of Rock Festival" The Bouncing Souls rocked the outdoor stage adjacent to Asbury Lanes with a song from each of their 7 albums. From "Joe Lies" to "K8 is Great" to "For All the Unheard" "The Souls" put on an incredible show on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at the Jersey Shore. 
The Bouncing Souls - my favortie band of all-time!
A TRIBUTE TO THE MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES
Here I am backstage with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones before a gig in Washington D.C.
When pounding cold ones and partying all night, I can't think of a better band to listen to then The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. With their legendary live performances and catchy beats and lyrics The Bosstones were a band for the ages. Will they ever reunite? Someday I Suppose but until then let's all get a Little Bit Ugly Now. 
My favorite Bosstone: Ben Carr
The 8 Best Mighty Mighty Bosstones Albums
#8. Medium Rare (2007)
#7. Pay Attention (2000)
#6. More Noise And Other Disturbances (1992)
"I'll Drink to That", "He's Back", and "Where'd You Go?" are among my faves.
#5. A Jackknife to a Swann (2002)
#4. Let's Face It (1997)
#3. Don't Know How to Party (1993)
"Don't Know How to Party", "Someday I Suppose", "Holy Smoke" and "Almost Anything Goes" makes this album unreal.
#2. Question the Answers (1994)
Maybe The Bosstones most diverse album with a good mixture of songs. Even one featuring a piano "Toxic Toast". Fucking incredible music!
#1. Devil's Night Out (1989)
After hearing the first four songs on this album I knew I was going to be a Bosstones fan for life!
