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transmissionsfromthebattlefield · 2 years

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Fun Times With Some Rowdy Guys

My first log as a legal adult. Who would’ve thought! Yeah, I’m pretty hardcore. It’s definitely an interesting time to be going through so many rites of passage, from graduating to reaching adulthood last Sunday. It’s also pretty interesting how all these rites of passage seem to coincide with similarly wonderful concerts. I got an incredible DEVO show as a graduation party, which I’m still not quite over. This time around, it was the Melvins who brought me into adulthood on Friday, two days before my gestation completion anniversary. I wanted special for my birthday, dammit, and I ended up getting much, much more than I could have ever asked for. At the very least, I can check off my list seeing the mighty King Buzzo’s hair in person.

The concert also coincided with my first time to what was once a steel capital of the world, good ol’ Bethlehem, PA. Sounds quaint, doesn’t it? The town surrounding the venue and extending across the river itself is nice and quaint. The venue is located right by the old Bethlehem Steel plant, which was operational until, somehow, the mid-nineties. It now looms over a bustling little cultural spot, towering as a series of antiquated pagodas of rust and dead industry. (The morning after the Melvins my family checked out the self guided walking tour along the plant’s old material transport trestle, which allows for some incredible up-close action. It’s truly an incredible and fascinating sight to experience.) The venue itself also houses a movie theater and boasts an orange spiral staircase adorned with intricate blown glass art where we waited to get our tickets checked. Within the ballroom, concertgoers could’ve gotten a table at the also orange balcony looking out on the crowd and stage. The steel plant loomed behind the stage through the large glass windows and would later be illuminated in neon light when the sun set. All in all, it was very atmospheric.

I was initially positioned directly stage right, up against the security gate as I’ve gotten used to at shows that feature them, for openers Harsh Mellow (excellent name). I was impressed at their energetic, intense brand of noise rock, and I’m really excited to see what they do in the future. I had drifted back slightly and more towards the front of the stage to talk with some of my dad’s friends by the time the second band, Helms Alee, took the stage and proceeded to turn everyone’s minds to sluuudge. I actually wouldn’t be surprised if their set went on for longer than the Melvins’. I had a good view of their drummer, who was a total powerhouse in her own right and also very sweet at the merch booth before and after the show. Fun times.

And then, promptly as the headliners took the stage, I was shoved—or maybe something in my consciousness pulled me a little bit—right up against the gate, just slightly off-center from Buzz Osbourne’s microphone stand. What followed was something akin to my mind being blown—or maybe it’s more like my mind being unfolded and refolded, like origami. The more I think about it, the more I’m sure the triple threat of “Oven”, “Lovely Butterflies”, and “It’s Shoved” that opened the show flipped some sort of weird, hidden, primal switch in my brain. I feel like a reformed young woman now after having seen the Melvins. As a result of the weekend’s sonic therapy, I feel respectable and healthy urges to put myself out there more, engage myself more creatively, and try different styling techniques that would increase the volume of my hair. Well, maybe the latter is just the aftershock of getting to see Buzz’s incredible hairdo in person. I am being completely serious when I say that no photograph or video can truly replicate how absolutely incredible it is to see with one’s own eyes.

But I digress.

To put it simply, the band was relentless. Songs launched into each other with the beat of Dale Crover’s pounding, primal drums with barely any time to spare, blending the night’s sequence of events together like a syrupy sweet molotov cocktail. Yet sonic blasts of pent up punk rock fury still played ping pong with sublime, smirking moments of teasing quiet throughout the night—thanks, complex and diverse song structures. “Bob” bless their current bass player, Steve McDonald, who wore what I initially thought was an ironically awful white disco suit before realizing it was some sort of fancy kung-fu jacket accented with gold, elevated from it’s previous Halloween costume status. He was clearly having the time of his life up there, hopping around, crouching, and striking many an audacious pose throughout the night. And then there was Buzz, the one perhaps most appropriately dressed up for Halloween in July in his iconic skeleton robes. I can safely say I’ve never been more intimidated by a man than I was there in my spot in front of the vicious King Buzzo himself, and that’s a good thing. I was even too intimidated to take photos when he got probably as close to my part of the audience as he could’ve gotten as he hammered on his transparent-body guitar. I was that in awe. He and Steve thrashed surprisingly precisely around the place, making good use of the stage’s expansive floor area due to Dale’s drum kit being placed so far back. Dale emerged from behind his instrument of choice at one point to use one of his sticks as a sword in a brief fencing match against the neck of Steve’s bass, which was extremely entertaining. The same goes for Buzz’s liberal use of hand gestures during breaks in songs where he didn’t play guitar, which I will always find very, very amusing no matter who is doing it (and no matter whether or not their hands should actually be strumming those strings at that place in the song). Yes. I dare say the whole band took it to twelve.

I got more used to my surroundings as the night went on. I was marked safe from the inevitable pit the entire time, though I briefly considered joining it before remembering how lucky I was to have acquired the best view of Buzz in the house. Besides which, it was really funny glancing over periodically at the antsy, stingy looking security guy at the front of the stage, who was jerking back and forth as he watched the pit with much concern. It was pretty great to glance back at, too—imagine “Honey Bucket” tearing up such a clean, modern, composed establishment! At the beginning of the show there was some sort of country band playing on one of the complex’s outdoor stages, visible through the glass wall from my initial standing position. I wonder how those guys would’ve reacted to what went on inside. In terms of my reaction, I was mesmerized, pulverized, and totally hooked even after the band left the stage. They could’ve gone on another hour and I still would’ve been wanting more.

But hey, the band is pretty well known for their tour grind, so it’ll presumably be easy to see them again down the road. I slept contently that night knowing that.

Two days later I turned eighteen. If it were 1970 I’d be old enough to kill, but not for votin’. I’ll probably be woman enough to not be able to kill or vote at all soon if this country keeps going the way it is. 246 years this week, huh? I see so many people nowadays wondering how many years it’s got left with the way things are.

Based on their hypotheses, it’s probably less than the Melvins still have in them.

(I posted some more photos here, by the way.)

#blog #blogging #blogger #blogosphere #things I enjoy #music #concerts #Melvins #Helms Alee #Harsh Mellow #Buzz Osbourne #Dale Crover #Steve McDonald #Bethlehem PA #Musikfest Cafe #reviews #commentary #new experiences

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valleyledger · 1 month

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SAMANTHA FISH ROCKS THE BLUES | REVIEW BY: DIANE FLEISCHMAN

Photography & Review by: Diane Fleischman Walking into the Musikfest Cafe building Wednesday night, the signs were everywhere. Samantha Fish is sold out. And while this was Fish’s first appearance in the Lehigh Valley, everyone who was seated in the Cafe knew this accomplished soulful blues artist was going to rock the house with her grace and grit. JD Simo, was the opening performer, and did…

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don-lichterman · 2 years

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Steve Vai tour 2022: Where to buy tickets, schedule, dates

After hearing the guitar solo in Led Zeppelin’s “Heartbreaker” at age 12, legendary shredder Steve Vai picked up the instrument. Half a century later, the three-time Grammy winner is still going strong, playing 50 concerts across the U.S. as part of his “Inviolate Tour.” The tour from October through December includes shows at Bethlehem’s Musikfest Cafe on Oct. 26 and Red Bank’s Hackensack…

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taylorlikescows · 4 years

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no poms - hippo campus

bethlehem, pa. 11/5/19.

#taylorlikescows #hippo campus #GO NATHAN GO #his dances are to die for #😂😂😂😂#no poms #musikfest cafe

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hippoarchive · 4 years

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britobrien: november 5 🍰

#Hippo Campus #Jake Luppen #Nathan Stocker #Zach Sutton #Whistler Allen #Decarlo Jackson #hc live #bambi tour #Musikfest Cafe #pennsylvania #Brit O'Brien #brit insta #tour photos

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mergerecords · 3 years

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Th Mountain Goats' second single from their new album Dark in Here, "The Slow Parts on Death Metal Albums," is out now on digital services. Listen/download the song now along with the previous single "Mobile." https://smarturl.it/DarkInHere

Dark in Here is out June 25. Pre-order the album now on digital, CD, LP, and Peak Vinyl. The latter is pressed on limited-edition High Noon Somewhere Blue vinyl. Don't forget to pick up a Dark in Here jigsaw puzzle and/or pog set while you're on MergeRecords.com.

"The Slow Parts on Death Metal Albums" features luminous backing vocals from Marie Tomlinson Lewey and Cindy Richardson Walker.

Photo by Jade Wilson

The Mountain Goats on tour:

Aug 06 Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel

Aug 07 Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse

Aug 08 Birmingham, AL – Saturn

Aug 10 Austin, TX – Mohawk

Aug 11 Austin, TX – Mohawk

Aug 12 Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall

Aug 13 San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger

Aug 15 Santa Fe, NM – Meow Wolf

Aug 16 Santa Fe, NM – Meow Wolf

Aug 19 Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre

Aug 21 Fort Collins, CO – Washington’s

Aug 23 Milwaukee, WI – The Pabst Theater

Aug 24 Evanston, IL – SPACE

Aug 25 Evanston, IL – SPACE

Aug 26 Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Music Theatre

Sep 16 Dallas, TX – Kessler Theater*

Sep 17 Oklahoma City, OK – Tower Theatre*

Sep 24 Holyoke, MA – Gateway City Arts Center*

Sep 25 Woodstock, NY – Levon Helm Studios*

Sep 26 Bethlehem, PA – Musikfest Cafe at the ArtsQuest*

*John Darnielle solo Less

#the mountain goats #dark in here #new music

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crank11news-blog · 6 years

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Catch The Menzingers In Concert

The Menzingers Events

The Menzingers is touring and will be performing at many venues (list below).

With hits like I Don’t Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore, Good Things and The Obituaries The Menzingers has made a mark since forming in Philadelphia .

(more…)

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myincubusupdate · 5 years

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#Repost from @musikfest ••• Late night scratchin' with @djkilmore of @incubusofficial! Part of the @pncbank Series in the Musikfest Cafe presented by @yuenglingbeer! #Musikfest #bethlehempa #igbethlehem #lehighvalley #artsquest #steelstacks #music #musicfestival #djkilmore #incubus #yuengling #beer (en Musikfest Cafe) https://www.instagram.com/p/B054R2AhRH7/?igshid=x972zhbi3pel

#repost #musikfest #bethlehempa #igbethlehem #lehighvalley #artsquest #steelstacks #music #musicfestival #djkilmore #incubus #yuengling #beer

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mike-griffith · 5 years

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Jimmie Vaughan can still rip and the Texas Blues are alive and well. 🎸🔥🤘 #jimmievaughan #blues #fender #texasblues (at Musikfest Cafe) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzwUvprnIYg/?igshid=fk8371mifsbi

#jimmievaughan #blues #fender #texasblues

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nepascene · 5 years

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Tonight from 7-8 p.m. on our Facebook page, get in the holiday spirit as the NEPA Scene Podcast streams live with Twelve Twenty-Four, a holiday rock orchestra formed in Hazleton that is the nation's longest running tribute to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra! We're going to talk about turning Christmas tunes into rock songs as well as creating their own music, playing and touring for nearly two decades, their newest album "Transcendence," what the holidays mean to them and raising money for charity, their 17th tour with stops at The Theater at North in Scranton, the Mauch Chunk Opera House in Jim Thorpe, Musikfest Cafe in Bethlehem, Berwick Area High School, The Lamp Theatre in Irwin, and the Levoy Theatre in New Jersey, and much more, so join our conversation! Tune in during that hour and we'll answer your questions and read your comments live! #Scranton #ScrantonPA #WilkesBarre #WilkesBarrePA #Hazleton #HazletonPA #NEPA #Pennsylvania #NEPAScene #NEPAScenePodcast #NEPApodcast #music #localmusic #musicscene #band #orchestra #rock #rockorchestra #TSO #1224band #TransSiberianOrchestra #Christmas #Christmasmusic #holidays #show #supportlocalmusic #podcast #CoalCreative #arts #entertainment (at CoalCreative.com) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrA1-xxhEcB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=qieozujejeev

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federalaffiliate · 3 years

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Steve Kimock Live at Musikfest Cafe on 2021-09-10

A Brief Description Live at musikfest cafe. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5. Steve Kimock Steve Kimock (born October 5, 1955) is an American rock guitarist who has spent most of his life around San Francisco. He has been compared to Jerry Garcia, who was a friend of his, and he has been affiliated with musicians connected to the Grateful Dead, including the bands Zero, the Other Ones, and KVHW.…

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#Music Podcast

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transmissionsfromthebattlefield · 2 years

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Melvins live in Bethlehem, PA last Friday.

YESYESYESYESYESYESYES.

#music #photos #my photos #Melvins #concerts #concert photography #Bethlehem PA #SteelStacks #Musikfest Cafe #Canon PowerShot #Canon PowerShot SX620HS #noise rock #punk #sludge metal

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valleyledger · 1 month

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Drum Roll Please, ArtsQuest to host SteelStacks High School Jazz Band Showcase Finals

Bethlehem, PA – March 18, 2024 – ArtsQuest is excited to host the SteelStacks High School Jazz Band Showcase Finals, presented by KingSpry Attorneys & Counselors, on March 24 at 2 p.m. in the Musikfest Cafe. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 (plus fees) and can be purchased at www.steelstacks.org, by calling 610-332-3378 or at the door. The final showcase will also be taped and broadcasted…

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ncapyoass · 6 years

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Here’s a clip of Bob Dylan’s “I shall be released” from our @Musikfest performance last night #moondogs #howl #musikfest #musikfestcafe #rickenzbacker #bobdylan (at Musikfest Cafe)

#moondogs #howl #musikfest #musikfestcafe #rickenzbacker #bobdylan

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mwardmusic · 6 years

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New summer shows on sale now! See you out there! 6/25 - Musikfest Cafe - Bethlehem, PA https://bit.ly/2K6y4XH 6/16 - 9:30 Club - Washington, D.C. http://smarturl.it/MWardWDC 6/18 - Commonwealth Bar - Calgary, AB https://bit.ly/2JhRhnY 6/20 - The Imperial - Vancouver, BC https://bit.ly/2vEEf1F 7/11 - Mod Club - Toronto, ON https://ticketf.ly/2Hi1AMp 7/13 - The Haunt - Ithaca, NY https://ticketf.ly/2HkSn5M 7/14 - Bearsville Theater - Woodstock, NY https://ticketf.ly/2HkLpxL 7/15 - Prescott Park Arts Fest - Portsmouth, NH http://smarturl.it/MWardPNH - FREE

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thevalleyledger · 3 years

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S.T.E.A.M. Fest 2021 Discovery Dinner

Come show your support for the Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Makers and Electronic Entertainment industry. Learn about the PA STEAM Fest Mission, it’s Founding Partners and Sponsors, while enjoying dinner and entertainment. REGISTER HERE. The STEAM21 Dinner will be held Saturday April 24th 2021 Musikfest Cafe, ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks from 6pm-9pm EST. Dress is business casual.…

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