Before I return to posting on recent reading, I wanted to post a continuation of sorts to my early 2025 live music post. The second half of the year proved to be a bit more challenging to see groups in the area. I ended up seeing some acts I’m not necessarily a big fan of but did want to see. And others (notably the Gang of Four show) I had to miss due to other commitments. As in earlier posts, this is in chronological order and total stream of consciousness.

Kurt Vile and the Violators

Regarding Kurt Vile, I’ve been hooked on a few of his songs but I probably listened to his collaborations (especially with Courtney Barnett) the most. Despite that lead-in, he was someone I have wanted to see live and having his previous year’s show in the area canceled due to his bus breaking down just made me want to see him that much more. Much of it is spaced out and focused on the mundane. But he also provides hooks and choruses that stick in your mind long after hearing them. Not captured in the picture above is the pedal array he had that made watching him at times remind me of watching a church organist at work.

Deep Sea Diver

Deep Sea Diver appeared on my radar with Impossible Weight five years ago, then disappeared until Billboard Heart was released early in 2025. While songs from the recent album were on my playlists throughout the year, their live performance was even better with a rawer and more forceful sound. Jessica Dobson is the focal point of the group, but watching drummer Peter Mansen during the set was a blast. On a side note, I love these all-ages shows. There was a mom with four young girls in front of me and Dobson took time to talk to them a couple of times between songs. An absolute blast all around, especially with Rosali opening for them.

Rosali

This isn’t the first time I don’t realize that I have a lot of an artist’s music on my playlists until I see them live, but this was a reminder that I had been listening to songs off her latest release quite a bit. Rosali Middleton’s plaintive voice also carries a ray of hope, but the depth and contrast comes through much stronger in person. Backing band Mowed Sound felt like just the right fit, and I would have been happy if they had continued on as the headliner instead of an opening act. I will go out of my way to see her and the group again if given the chance. The bassist (David Nance, I believe) turned out to be a long-lost shoe-hating brother to me when he kicked off his flip-flops and performed the set barefoot.

Horsegirl

I listened to Phonetics On and On a lot early in 2025, and I had almost forgotten I had bought tickets in March to see them since they didn’t make it this way until fall. Their sparse sound, with repetitive simplicity and hooks, worked just as well live as it did on their recordings. There’s the occasional dissonance that manages to resolve, causing more pleasure when it does so. While the setting was intimate (a kind word for small), the band seemed genuinely moved by the rowdy approval and support from the crowd.

Real Estate

My wife wanted to see Real Estate and I was happy to tag along. Their indie pop sound has evolved and expanded over the years and it’s been a pleasure to see them tack into or incorporate various directions. The only drawback to their show was they were the opening act, so it was a limited set. Even so, it was quite a delight hearing seasoned veterans in a supporting act without sounding tired or rote.

Jonathan Richman

Jonathan Richman is one of those artists for which I have a mixed regard. I love the Modern Lovers releases. And Jonathan Sings! is a favorite album of mine, that admiration boosted by catching him live on that tour at a small bar in Dallas. (Wow, over 40 years ago…damn, I’m getting old.) Except for a couple of songs since then I haven’t paid that much attention to him. But when I saw he would be in the area I found it strange I wanted to see him so much, and it was well worth the effort. It is years later and he’s still the consummate entertainer. Maybe more limited in ability and antics than with the Sings! era group, but as he noted, “I love entertaining and mixing with you. I could be home collecting Social Security but this is what I love doing.” He may have gotten older, but his innocent/kiddie outlook and desire to please hasn’t changed.

Superchunk

It’s awesome to see all the “dinosaur acts” touring in 2025. It’s great that they’re still around and touring, realizing that touring nowadays can actually be monetarily worth it (instead of the ‘old’ days, when touring was only in support of album sales). That being said, Superchunk doesn’t seem to fall into the dinosaur category, partially for ‘only’ being from the ’90s but crucially for having released one of their best albums in 2025 instead of living off of nostalgia. With Laura King on drums instead of Jon Wurster (whom I saw with Bob Mould earlier this year and missed with the Mountain Goats), they provided an energetic set that mixed the old and new quite well.

The Beths

I mentioned in my 2024 live music post that I wanted to see The Beths in a headlining capacity after having seen them as an opening act. I didn’t hesitate when I had to make a trip to see them and it was more than worth the effort. They played most of their recent release (Straight Line Was a Lie) as well as quite a bit from previous albums. I think what appeals most to me is their songs stand up to repeated listening, the lyrics and the music revealing more and more talent/depth/irony/dual meanings. Their patter in introducing each other has endeared them to me, making them sound like people I know: down to earth, awkward at times, and totally personable. Bassist Benjamin Sinclair has a great blog Breakfast and Travel Updates that provides details about their tours and clued me in to places to check out when traveling as well as locally.

Despite cutting back some on live music this year, I was fortunate to see quite a few great shows (PONY, Bob Mould, The Beths) while all the others were incredibly enjoyable. 2026 dawns with quite a few changes for me and I have no idea how it will play out, but I hope to make live music just as integral a part of my time as previous years.