Nov 04 : "Carry On" - Our Own Yokos (Staten Island)

TRUE ROCK N ROLL

Friday night after work (in Manhatan) I went to Arlene's Grocery. I saw Staten Island band "Our Own Yokos" do an excellent show. Excellent arrangements, bringing in some of the classic rock vibe. Arrangements were complex with some exciting chord progressions. I also liked the way each of the guitars would sometimes go off in separate directions and wind up joining back together almost imperceptibly. Intriguing! The performance was extremely tight and crisp, but, at the same time, more textured than what we hear on Bandcamp.

The band played a number of songs at the show, but, oddly enough, have only a few posted on line. Here is "Carry On", which was released in June, 2024.

It doesn't look like the band has any shows coming up in the next couple weeks, but here's where you can keep track of what the band is doing. Our Own Yokos on Instagram (CLICK HERE).

In reference to their name, the band says none of their girlfriends are Yokos, but the band members are Yokos to each other. :)

(pic at top of page is from band's Instagram page)

Oct 28 : "Freedom for the People" - Lazer Shark (Philly)

New Music / Freshly Written and Recently Released (June 7)

Philly Music!

UNITY IN DIVIDED TIMES

In these rugged and crazy times when even some of our leaders are trying to divide "We the People" and keep us angry at each other, it's refreshing and even strengthening to hear a voice talking about our commonality. The song "Freedom for the People" by Philly band Lazer Shark does just that. I saw Lazer Shark do a good show on my recent trip to Philly's Little Big Planet.

They did a video titled, "Freedom for the People" and released it a few months ago on June 7. It was created for the "XPN 24 Hour Song Challenge". The song says we're all created equal, America's a melting pot, and exhorts us to "love everybody". Check out the whole video below :::

Lazer Shark doesn't have any other shows coming in the next couple weeks, but here's a link to their Instagram page where you can keep up with what they're doing: Lazer Shark on Instagram (CLICK HERE).

(pic at top of page is from band's YouTube page).

Oct 21 : "O.K." - Mandy's Dreaming (Brooklyn)

Their rehearsal studio is just a few blocks from where I used to live in Brooklyn. Surprising coincidence I learned when I went to hear "Mandy's Dreaming" play at Little Big Planet (here in Philly) on Friday night. Mandy's Dreaming was one of two touring bands on the bill that night.

The band grew! Looks like a change in personnel, growing to be a four-piece as compared to the pics they have on Bandcamp (shown above).

The instrumentals on the Bandcamp page are smoother and more laid-back than what we heard at the show. Arrangements at the LBP showed more force and threw smooth edges to the wind. The bass pushed through being more aggressive and foundational, but still kept the total sound cohesive.

The band came out with their debut EP, also titled "Mandy's Dreaming", in November 2025. Here is the last track on that album, "O.K.".The lyrics leave the listener with a possible question as to how its story might turn out, but also gives time to reflect with some extended instrumentals at the end. That ending starts about 2:49 on the clock. Listen here :::

Mandy's Dreaming has another show coming up next week at pinkFROG Cafe in Williamsburg. You can also check them out on Bandcamp here ::: Mandy's Dreaming on Bandcamp (CLICK HERE).

Jul 01 : "Guard Stick" - Golden Apples (Philly)

Philly Music!

Friday night I went to Ortlieb's and saw Philly band Golden Apples, playing to a packed house. It was my first time seeing them.

Here's a sample of some of their music. This is "Guard Stick" from their 2023 album "Bananasugarfire" :::

Golden Apples has a couple more shows coming up, on July 10 at White Eagle Hall and on August 14 at PhilaMOCA. In the meantime, here is the click to their Bandcamp page ::: Golden Apples on Bandcamp (CLICK HERE). (pic above is from band's Bandcamp page)

(I was lucky to see any of their show. After some SEPTA bus cancellations, I got to the show just in time for the band's last two songs.)

Jun 17 : "I'm Starting a Podcast" - Tea Eater (Brooklyn)

Is this a band? Or a comedy act? Something else? A few weeks ago I went to Silk City and saw art-punk outfit "Tea Eater". They're a three-piece from Brooklyn.

The band performs a variety of songs with over-the-top lyrics along with some outrageous stage props. Near the beginning of the show they asked us to imagine what it would be like if we were suddenly reincarnated as a "Little White Dog (in a Gated Community)". They sang about waffles, selling cars, "Fuck the DMV", and even wanted to start a podcast. Here is "I'm Starting A Podcast", a single released in July 2022 :::

Many of the songs are personal to lead singer, Tara Thiessen, who says in reference to the band's album, "I Don't Believe in Bad Luck", I Don’t Believe in Bad Luck, is the story of a hotline psychic who’s sick of everyone—including herself. Based on my own personal experiences as an online tarot card reader and exploration in meditation, occult studies, and the Gateway Tapes, the record explores my shadow self and what it means to be the villain in someone else’s story. With some self-aware humor baked into the songs, the record recontextualizes messy experiences, and shows how even the most chaotic holes we fall into can lead to the best possible outcomes.. Here is "The Waffle Song", which is the fourth track on that album :::

The most over-the-top moment at the show was when they started singing about "butter", They moved away from the stage and into the midst of the audience, as they brought out a huge stick-of-butter stage prop which they held like a limbo pole and invited audience members to come dance underneath.

Tea Eater has another show coming up on August 24th at TV Eye. And, in the meantime, to visit the band on Facebook, here is the click ::: Tea Eater on Facebook (CLICK HERE)

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(pic is from artist's Bandcamp page)