Three (Not) of a Kind
After an amazing double dose of nine inch nails, the only thing common in the next three concerts with music that was so sonically different was the outcome - amazing.
Usually, I can attend a few concerts in a row and see some of the same people. Between the three shows I attended from 8/30/2025 to 9/3/2025, I don’t think there was a single person at the any of the same shows I was attending.
None of these shows will rival the nine inch nails performances in Baltimore or Philly seen just a week earlier, but they were all pretty damn solid and sonically very different.
Rilo Kiley 8/30/2025 Stone Pony Summer Stage (Asbury Park, NJ)
By the time I caught Jenny Lewis live in 2008, her indie rock band Rilo Kiley was on “hiatus”. They would officially break up as a band a few years later later and any signs of seeing Rilo Kiley perform live went away. Then Jenny Lewis went on tour with a reunited Postal Service.
They announced a reunion tour in early 2025 with a stop at The Met in Philly on 9/4/2025. I never purchased a ticket for that show because of 1) price but then the NFL schedule was announced and 2) the Eagles would be opening the season against the Cowboys so I eliminated that show from my list.
I ended up getting a ticket to the opening night of the second leg of the tour called Sometimes When You’re On You’re Really Fucking On in Asbury Park, NJ at the Stone Pony Summer Stage on 8/30 - it was Labor Day Weekend in a beach town but the ticket was much cheaper - and I was able to get some pinball in before the show at The Pinball Museum.
For an opening show of a leg of the tour, they were prepared and sounded great all night. The 90 minute set featured 6 songs from “More Adventurous” including the title track in the encore (first time played since 2005) as well as “It’s a Hit” and “Portion for Foxes” (which closed the set). Blake Sennett sang lead on two songs - “Dreamworld” and “Ripchord”. “A Better Son/Daughter” was a highlight while “With Arms Outstretched” transported me to the series finale of Weeds on Showtime.
There were plenty of younger girls who were eager to see the band perform for the first time in 17 years and Adam and I mentioned to a few girls behind us that we would give them a chance to be on the rail (our spot) for a few songs. After Adam let the 2 girls behind us up on the rail, another girl (who we never spoke to) came out of nowhere and pushed her way to the rail spot where I was saying “I LIKE THIS SONG MORE THAN YOU” (Note: The song was “I Never”). OK. You’re Welcome.
Despite the craziness on the rail, it was a fun show at the Stone Pony which was over by 945 pm (there’s a 10pm noise curfew in Asbury Park) which allowed me to get home around 11 pm. Not too bad.
Dungeon Crawl XIX featuring Gabriel Marin and Jeff Mann of Consider the Source 9/2/2025 Silk City (Philadelphia, PA)
Give Jonathan Colman the keys to Philadelphia for his contributions to music in the city! Outside of the monthly Dungeon Crawls (started back in March 2024) put on at Silk City:
He teaches music and music theory in clinics and lessons!
He’s also been a key part of the FREE Funk N Bowl shows at North Bowl
He’s participated in the Unlimited Devotion series in one of the house bands
He’s a member of multiple bands: Muscle Tough and the new trio Winderman Colman Kimock.
Jonathan Colman’s 19th Edition (XIX) of the Dungeon Crawl (2 sets of improvisational music with rotating musicians), featured Consider the Source’s Gabriel Marin on guitar and Jeff Mann on drums. They were a huge discovery of mine at the Peach Music Festival a few years ago and I was very excited to see the output of this Dungeon Crawl.
I’ve only attended 3 of the 19 Dungeon Crawls and each one has been amazing and different but this Dungeon Crawl felt a bit more special. Gabriel switched to the double neck guitar in the 2nd set and played a bunch of crazy sounds while Jonathan matched the output on bass along with Jeff Mann holding it down.
I asked Gabriel how they don’t slip into something familiar in these type of improvisational jams and his response with a smile was simple: “that’s the challenge”. Challenge Accepted. Dungeon Crawl defeated!
Dungeon Crawl XX in October (10/7/2025) is a reprise of a previous one I attended (4/1/2025) and IMHO “a MUST SEE SHOW”: Aron Magner on keys, Marlon B. Lewis on drums and Tom Hamilton Jr. on guitar (this time announced) joining Jonathan Colman in the Dungeon (Silk City).
Mountain Grass Unit 9/3/2025 118 North (Wayne, PA)
I will openly admit that I’m a novice at bluegrass shows. I’ve seen plenty of bluegrass acts lately mostly attributed to the amount of Billy Strings I’ve been exposed to over the last 5 years.
I remember hearing people say “Did you see Billy Strings yesterday?” at the Peach Music Festival in 2019. I kicked myself for not seeing him then. Fast forward a few years ahead and I’m back at the Peach Music Festival in 2023 and someone asks me “Did you see Mountain Grass Unit yesterday?” (Not Again!).
Mountain Grass Unit consists of Drury Anderson (mandolin, vocals), Luke Black (guitar, vocals), Josiah Nelson (fiddle, vocals), and Sam Wilson (bass, vocals). I don’t have their exact ages but they are on the younger side. a collective they are great but Luke Black is definitely the star in the band.
By the time I saw Billy Strings perform he was well on his way to larger venues. Thankfully, for this first time seeing Mountain Grass Unit, I’d be able to see them perform inside the intimate 118 North in Wayne, PA.
Lead singer Drury Anderson mentioned during the 1st set that it was the first time they had a set with ALL ORIGINALS - not bad for a bunch of young 20 year olds. “Cicada Song”, “Boxcar”, “Hey Mama” and “Masterson’s” were the first set highlights.
The 2nd set was a mixed bag of traditional songs, covers and a few more originals most of which I didn’t know immediately but enjoyed. The covers I did know were especially great: “Slow Train” (Billy Strings), “Brown Eyed Women” (Grateful Dead), “Get Back” (The Beatles), “The Likes of Me” (Jerry Reed), and “Ain’t Life Grand” (Widespread Panic).
Throughout both sets there would be featured mandolin (Drury) and fiddle (Josiah) solos, but the solos by Luke Black on guitar were jaw dropping for anyone let alone someone his age. It made me really want to dig deeper into his repertoire with the band and solo.
I was on the opposite end of the stage from Luke but I’ll remember to place myself in front of him (or nearer) for the next show - which will likely be somewhere bigger than 118 North.