Since the school year is soon coming to a close, I wanted to highlight the summer-long concert series, located at the Upper Merion Township Building Park, which is just a 10-minute drive from Norristown. The event series features some pretty awesome bands, who may surprise you. Below are five concerts that you should check out over the summer!
Mdou Moctar
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Mdou Moctar, a generational talent based out of Tchintabaraden, Niger, has been absolutely killing the music scene as of late, showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. Moctar has been able to fluctuate throughout a list of expansive genres, deriving mainly from Western African. He has quickly climbed to the top of my ladder of underrated artists who I need to see live. Moctar can quickly switch from a repetitive riff to a lengthy guitar solo that hits all the right marks. He recently played a show at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia, and, according to online forum comments, it was a heater of a show. Before hearing Moctar, I had not yet immersed myself in the world music genre, but after giving it an immense shot, I found it to be underappreciated. I would like to see the band achieve some more fans in the near future, as everytime I listen, I am able to immerse myself in the sound completely. I personally will be attending as it’s one I’ve wanted to see for quite a bit now; and I am sure it will be one that blows the Summer Concert Series out of the park.
Dawes w/ Phosphorescent
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When I first saw that Dawes was a late addition to the summer concert series, I went berserk. I’ve been wanting to see Dawes for the last couple of years, especially after hearing “When My Time Comes” throughout the entirety of my life. The California band goes deep into their roots, paying homage to their home state often, especially after the wildfires broke ablaze this past January. As a band, they mix alternative southern sounds, while adding mature songwriting that is sure to hit you deeply, making you think with every lyric that floats by. This is a must-see show if you appreciate well-written, music, so don’t hesitate, buy the tickets, and see where this concert may rate compared to past others.
Spafford
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Imagine yourself in a room that carries echoing synthesizers towering amongst challenging drum patterns and heavy-hitting guitar riffs. This such feeling is one that is sure to emerge from the popular jam band, Spafford. I know some people are quick to judge on jambands, but this one may catch you by surprise due to their abundance of talent. As a band, they know how to fill a jam with everything a top-tier jam needs, and they do it quite well. Just recently, I was listening to a radio station and their song, “Leave the Light On” started playing. At that point, I had not yet known of them, but about 7 minutes into the jam, I needed to check if they were playing any shows in our area. Fast forward a couple of months, and I spot Spafford’s name at the top of the Summer Concert list, so I immediately cancelled all plans happening that day, because I needed to be there. Go out and give them a try; you may ignite a spark into future musical endeavors.
Lotus w/ Circles Around The Sun & Ghost-Note
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Ambient music and jambands; what could go wrong? Lotus, another popular jam band, is one I have been meaning to get into for quite some time now. Although I do not specifically know too much about their music, I do know they have a large following. At the beginning of the school year, Mr. Wexler mentioned their talent to me, so I added them to my list of artists to sort of dig through. Since then, I’ve nitpicked through some old records and found one of their live show recordings to be a guide through the cosmos, which is the main reason they are a must-see act.
One thing for certain, though, is the fact that Circles Around The Sun is playing, as well, and I can attest to their undisputed talent. Just imagine their music as jammy but entertaining music that you would throw on in a classroom, or while studying, as it fits the mood almost on the dot. Personally, it is my go-to study music besides the well-crafted Khrungabin, but that’s a story for another day.
Sure, it has its ambience and reverb moments, but those sounds could lead to a blazing funk jam in a matter of seconds. Though I have not seen them live, I have heard they put on a show that is sure to tickle the spines of your inner psychedelia. I have not yet heard of the band Ghost-Note, so I’m looking forward to seeing how they pan out to my liking. If you can make this one, it is located just down the road at Hueser Park.
Railroad Earth w/ Yonder Mountain String Band & Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country
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This trio of artists is sure to transport you to deep Appalachia with their unique sounds that evoke the feeling of living out in the woods, alone, thriving. First off, Railroad Earth emerges as a distinctive blend of progressive bluegrass, folk, rock, country, jazz, and Americana. I honestly do not know how to describe this band to its tee, because their jumbling together of all the genres listed makes it impossible. The mandolin is apparent throughout most of their catalog, whereas some brass may only be available in a few. The vocals from lead-singer, Todd Sheaffer, are so gut-wrenching, and I know this may be a crazy thing to say, but it reminds me of the bellows that arose from the late Jerry Garcia. There’s not too much I can say, besides go and see them, you’re in for a treat.
Now, the Yonder Mountain String Band, who play much like their name, go full-on bluegrass mode. They can shred improvisational bluegrass from greats like Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, turning it into face-melting tunes that are sure to blow your hat right off your head. The realm of bluegrass has been an eye-opening experience for me, so who knows, if given the right chance, it may do the same for you.
The third band, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, has been one I’ve been following for a while. Donato knows his way around a guitar, perfectly crafting a combination of sounds from old outlaw country to the psychedelic sounds of the Grateful Dead. A good way to describe the sounds you may hear would be to imagine yourself on a horse, strutting your way through an old western town on your way to the local saloon, and all of a sudden, the sky turns purple, and then a trillion colorful trolls fall out closely behind. You never know what side of Donato you may hear, but it’s certain you will hear a side of him worth remembering. This show is also at Hueser Park, so try your hardest to make it if you can!
Honorable Mention-Splintered Sunlight (Free Show)
Splintered Sunlight is playing a free show that you shouldn’t miss. They aren’t one of those typical free bands that tend to lack overall talent, as they’re a Grateful Dead cover band that doesn’t shy away from their late predecessors. When I saw this was a free show, I was shocked, as I’ve heard this band rocks live, convincing me right away that I needed to be there. Splintered Sunlight goes through psychedelic waves of the ethereal, combing their way through classics both long and short. They’re a cover band, so if you wish to hear some lengthy improvisational jams, go for it. This is a must-attend opportunity as it’s one you cannot miss. If you can make it, without any questions, go and ride the waves from there.
