You-Phoria: a music blog from youphoric and roachcraft

  • Four Days And Seven Nights In Illinois

    Posted 6/2/2013 by cal
    At some point in the future, Honest Tune might get around to publishing my review of Summer Camp.  If not, I don't really care.  It's a load of crap that required only slightly more energy as the staff at Honest Tune put into helping me set it up, and it's not like it was going to garner me any pay.  But I couldn't leave it at that, so here's what actually happened during my end-of-May marathon seven-of-eight consecutive nights of live music in Illinois. Read more... Comments (0)

  • Summerfest Day 8

    Posted 7/11/2012 by cal
    Thursday night was earnest white guy night at Summerfest, but before I get to the part with the swooning teenage girls, let’s talk about swooning Gen-X punk rock dudes who grabbed the opportunity to get nostalgic with The Smoking Popes.  They never tried to be the fastest, most aggressive band in the scene, leaving the obnoxious whiny vocals to Screeching Weasel in favor of clean, melodic singing and some of the catchiest pop music that could still be considered at all punk.  Now approaching a decade into their reunion, the Popes still don’t sound much different than they did in 1994; maybe a bit slower but still punchy, and freed from the tired notion of “sellout,” they can mash up a “Do You Feel Like We Do” jam with Jawbreaker’s “Do You Still Hate Me” and not worry about repercussions. Read more... Comments (0)

  • The You-Phoria Guide To Festivals: 2012

    Posted 3/16/2012 by cal

    Festivals: they’re not for the jaded, infirm or impatient, and now that they’re everywhere all the time, it’s pretty hip to dismiss them as tiresome and unwieldy, and those criticisms are certainly true. You either have to be one of those folks who delights in the festival atmosphere and sense of community, or you have to be willing to sacrifice comfort for the sake of hours and hours of music, sweet music. If you’re one of these types or think you might be, you owe it to yourself to check out the phenomenon, ‘cause if you’re anything like me you could wind up making some of your favorite memories ever at these things. Read on for a rundown on the most notable parties of spring/summer 2012. (Note: We’re Milwaukeeans here at You-Phoria, so adjust travel considerations accordingly.)

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  • My Favorite Shows Of 2011

    Posted 12/23/2011 by cal
    If I have any perennial list-readers here, most of them probably sighed preemptively as they imagined what would top my list this year, and they’re all correct: U2 (really impossible to choose between the two shows I saw), Phish (night one at UIC being the best of the seven), Secret Chiefs 3 at the Empty Bottle, Animal Collective at Pitchfork, and Paul McCartney at Wrigley Field. Oops, ya got me: I have favorite bands. I know music critics aren't supposed to reveal those, but there's no sense keeping it a secret. But rather than blather on about them yet again, it’s probably more productive for me to mention the top ten non-my-favorite-band shows of the year. So here goes. (To keep it interesting, I’m going to gloss over other obvious big names (Wilco, Pearl Jam, Primus, STS9), since they’ve all been covered plenty.) Read more... Comments (3)

  • Seizure Chicken Fall Festival (Night One)

    Posted 11/22/2011 by cal
    The City Of Festivals kicked it up a notch this year, particularly on the local music front. Not only did we have a bigger-than-ever WMSE Radio Summer Camp, we’ve got Riverwest Fest coming up in a few weeks, and last weekend was the Seizure Chicken Fall Festival, whose title you really shouldn’t be scratching your head about if you live in Milwaukee. The local blog certainly does enough for the scene to warrant a two-night celebration, and this one was as eclectic as the musical tastes of the folks who write its content. Read more... Comments (0)

  • PJ20

    Posted 9/6/2011 by cal
    Some bands win you over with amazing technical ability, some with superior songwriting, some on attitude alone. Pearl Jam gets you by making you feel like they’re playing and singing just for you. You know it’s not true, you know you’re not special. But Pearl Jam keeps telling you you are. Read more... Comments (0)

  • Pearl Jam Owes Wisconsin a Festival at Alpine Valley

    Posted 4/3/2011 by youphoric

    OK, maybe owes is a strong word, but it was over 7 years ago that Ed Vedder, well into his nightly bottle of red wine, gave us one of his best ever Encore Break rants at the June 21, 2003 Alpine Valley show.

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  • The You-Phoria Guide To Festivals, 2011

    Posted 3/9/2011 by cal
    Now that festivals are big business again, even the hippies have gone hipster, and every year is a PR race to announce the most diverse and crowd-pleasing lineup.  The sense of community is all but gone now from the major three-day parties, and the pioneering spirit that created Bonnaroo is nowhere to be found.  This is already causing a decline in festival attendance and the cancellation of several formerly big names (10,000 Lakes and Rothbury spring to mind).  Still, for the music lover with eclectic tastes, there is an incredible bounty to be had.  Events succeed because with the demise of making records as a career, more and more bands are learning that they must be able to draw crowds playing live if they ever want to quit their day jobs.  Thus, while the big festivals may be on the verge of going dormant again, we concert-goers win by packing as much music as possible into the bulk ticket price.  But which ones are worth the hassle that IS festival life?  Just in case you’re still mulling things over for this year, here’s a handy guide.
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  • I promise, I'm not going into hiding.

    Posted 8/30/2010 by cal
    It's just been a very busy summer, particularly August.  So much going to shows, not so much time to write about shows.  And other sites have been gobbling up my recent reviews.  But there will be lots more show reviews, record reviews, and other random blathering in the coming months, right here on you-phoria, I swear!  In the meantime, a few links to recent stuff in other places...

    Lollapalooza at JamBase

    Phish, Deer Creek, night one at Jambands.com

    Phish, Deer Creek, night two at Jambands.com

    Look for reviews of Phish at Alpine Valley at Jambands also, presumably in the next week or so.  Thanks to everybody who has checked out this site over the years, and stay tuned for lots more musings very soon!

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  • Pitchfork Music Festival 2010

    Posted 7/23/2010 by cal
    The bulk of my review is up at JamBase, but I thought I'd include a few snippets here about artists that didn't make the main highlight/lowlight reel.  There was a lot to see at Union Park this year, and far be it from me to not include somebody.
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  • Summerfest 2010 Roundup

    Posted 7/9/2010 by cal

    The Big Gig is a messy, crowded hodgepodge of good and bad music, but this year’s experience has shown that it isn’t just the biggest; it’s also potentially one of the best, as long as you can ignore the elitist cynics who bitch about drunk people and music below their nose level.  No other festival will give you Thievery Corporation, STS9, Umphrey’s McGee, Yes and Rush in the span of a week, and despite the lack of free-wristband lawn seats at the Marcus Amphitheater, you could’ve seen all of these artists and oodles more for under 20 bucks a day.  It got exhausting at times, what with the getting up early on weekdays, but this year may have been my favorite overall Summerfest ever.


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  • The You-Phoria Guide to Summerfest 2010

    Posted 6/21/2010 by cal

    Despite the general lameness of Summerfest’s big headliners (with one or two exceptions per year), the smaller stages in 2010 are looking hotter than any year in recent memory, especially considering the wealth of local talent spread all over the grounds.  When in doubt, sit at the Cascio Interstate Music Groove Stage (CIMGS) and marvel at all the amazing Milwaukee music you never realized was here.  There’s something worth fifteen bucks every single day this year, and usually multiple quality acts (and don’t forget, you can get in for eight bucks on weekdays between noon and four!).


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  • Favorite Moments of Wakarusa 2010

    Posted 6/20/2010 by youphoric

    Rivalling even Rothbury 2008, our first trip to Wakarusa this year was everything we had hoped for, and much more. I've tried to pull together some hazy memories and recordings I could find of some of our favorite sets and happenings at this wonderful festival. Read on!

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  • "You Get The Butter From The Duck" (New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest, 4.23.10)

    Posted 5/1/2010 by cal
    You-phoria welcomes our newest contributor, Mike Ferguson, who braved the downpour in the Big Easy to bring us this report from day one of the NOJHF.
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  • "Midwestern Folk Rock Revival IV" @ Cactus Club, 11-28-09

    Posted 12/3/2009 by cal
    I like the title of this event. I’m sick to death of the term “Americana”. “Alt-country” is almost as bad. Folk rock gets to the heart of what Wilco nation has been searching for, and Wisconsin and Illinois are at the forefront of at least this particular offshoot of the movement. But this three-act lineup didn’t quite do justice to the lofty ambition of its name. Read more... Comments (0)
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