Never in a million years did I think that I would see Kenzie Ziegler live in concert. But also never in a million years did I think I would also meet the woman herself. An amazing dancer starring on shows such as Dancing With the Stars Juniors turned into an amazing singer, Kenzie’s first leg of her tour opening for artist Mark Ambor was in Philadelphia, PA. The prospect of seeing someone I’ve watched since I was merely 6 years old, just 37 miles north of WVUD’s headquarters left me beyond excited.
Right on South Street in the middle of Philadelphia, many anticipatory fans lined the sidewalk waiting to be let in. The Theatre of Living Arts, while a small venue puts what it lacks in size into the intimacy of the concert. Everything is in the pit, only allowing 800 guests in the entire venue. I got there just before the doors opened and settled into a nice spot by the barricade; I was pretty much on the stage.
Kenzie was a showstopper; she was gorgeous and an amazing voice accompanied it. She started with “biting my tongue”, sounding much better live than I imagined. Her vocals accompanied by her live band set the venue on fire. A beautiful softer melody accompanied by a rough and hard guitar line made this a fantastic opener. She also performed more popular songs such as “paper” and “anatomy” which turned out to be my favorites of the night. You could tell she connected to the songs wholeheartedly; the words she wrote reflected her feelings and she portrayed that perfectly to the audience. I got some great pictures of her and her band despite the tallest man I’ve ever seen was next to me. The set ended after 30 minutes to the dismay of me and many others, but my night was just getting started.
After the concert, I got to meet her which was such a surreal experience. She ended her set with “If anyone wants to meet me, I’ll be at the merch table!” I didn’t know if I had to have some sort of special pass or if she was only meeting a certain number of people, but I knew I wasn’t going to let this opportunity go to waste. After waiting in line behind about 20 hopefuls, I finally met her. She was even more gorgeous in person, and I showed her my favorite picture I took of her before asking for one myself. I was so giddy leaving the venue that you would’ve thought I had 20 Pixie Sticks.
The amazing opportunity to not only get photos but also experience the beautiful live music she put on really made my week. From someone I grew up watching to someone who I saw perform live, it really gave me that amazing “full circle” feeling.
My sister, Casey, loves to share with me her system testing playlists when she’s touring with bands. This is the part where I’d like to brag but alas, I shall refrain from such touting. The perfect crossroads between her industry and, well, the one I take great amusement in writing about, is the music used to test the audio systems in cars.
Manufacturers tend to outsource the manufacturing of its premium sound systems to companies that specialize in that field. Companies like Alpine, Bose, JBL, and Harman Kardon have their products featured in a multitude of vehicles to give occupants a cocoon of sound. Our cars are some of the best ways to experience music because of how many speakers there are, as well as the way the sound can be distributed throughout the cabin.
While we all have our favorite songs to blast, and think we know what sounds the best in our cars, there’s actually a playlist that different audio companies use to test the systems that are in vehicles.
On the opposite end of the industry, the folks that make the music are keeping in mind the best way everybody listens outside of a good set of headphones. Rick Rubin, a producer who has worked with everyone from Red Hot Chili Peppers to Tom Petty. While he was working with Tom Petty on his album, Wildflowers, they utilized the stereo of a rented Toyota to make the final adjustments to the record.
“We would bring cassette tapes from the studio out and listen in the car. We would obviously work on them and mix in the studio and it would sound great in the studio, but if it didn’t sound good in the car, then it didn’t matter. That was the final test. It was the car.”
If we take a deep-dive into the mathematics of it all, the inexpensive sport compact segment sees an average price increase of 30% between the base models and sport models. The luxury sport compact market, a comparable segment that shares the same tuning philosophy as the former, has an average price increase of only 24% between regular and sport models.
The increase between base trim and performance trim are more evident in the luxury segment because of the drastic changes in powertrains. It is interesting to note that the increases in the compact sport luxury segment between the trim levels are less on average compared to the increase found across the cheaper end of the market.
At face value, it looks like Audi and BMW can spend less than Hyundai or Toyota to get their cars juiced-up. But is that really what that means? The increase to move up in performance between both segments seems like that’s the case. In that market, it takes less to move up given the already higher price and platform available, where more work has to be done to revamp less expensive cars to get them up to muster. This is most certainly the case as smaller luxury cars tend to lean more towards sport tuning rather than a softer ride like their larger counterparts.
What a nice middle ground could look like for economy cars could be a platform that uses the same powertrain as the base model, but is already designed to feel great in its base form. The performance versions’ driving dynamics being amplified by this would just become a byproduct since manufacturers wouldn’t have to spend so much money changing the structure or other aspects of the base vehicle to perfect the driving dynamics.
All this is just a commentary on how manufacturers could drive the price down of top-tier performance cars based on cheaper models. If the base models’ chassis tuning was already leaning toward a sporty feel, it would become the perfect base for a full-blow performance version. This would most likely drive the price up anyway, but Volkswagen already did that with the Golf when they decided to make the GTI the base trim offered in the US. What this does is close the gap between the base model and the performance model, but still gives owners a taste of that performance even when they haven’t checked all the boxes on the paperwork.
Honda exemplifies this with the Civic. Just like Mazda, the base models are unassuming and bland most of the time. The Civic Si sits just above the regular Civic, and the best part is, that’s not even the most expensive model within the regular offerings. The Si has little options to choose from and it comes tuned like a go-kart out of the box. If you want more power and a gaudy rear wing, go get the Type-R and spend nearly $20,000 more. Toyota should be applying this logic to the Corolla given that the price jump from the base Corolla to the GR is $15,230.
During this past episode of The Engine Block, Colin and I got talking about how we want inexpensive fun-to-drive cars to come back. We might not have been around during their peak in the nineties, but we love to think about a time where souped-up economy cars and cheap thrills reigned supreme.
Sure, there’s been an uptick in sporty cars on sale today, but it’s hard to look at them without shedding a tear since their days could very well be numbered. Toyota has said that while it doesn’t have plans to end production of the Supra, we know the Bavarians are the ones calling the shots there. But it does make a point that in a world where V-8 muscle cars are getting 86-ed, all that’s left is, well, just that. The GR lineup is a testament to affordable performance with the Corolla and the 86. Honda holds true to the inexpensive sentiment with the Civic Si, and with Acura reviving the Integra, it breathes a little life into the spirits of poor petrolheads everywhere.
But there’s a new player drivers can choose from: Hyundai. Oh how Hyundai has turned the industry on its head when it comes to reliability and fun. Looking back at the genesis of Hyundai’s sports cars, it quite literally starts with the Genesis. The brand’s first attempt at a real sports car was in 2008 with the Genesis Coupe, which packed a 2-liter turbocharged four cylinder that sent power to the rear wheels. It even let drivers move through the gear ratios themselves. A manual transmission was also available on later models after the turbo-four was replaced with a 3.8-liter V-6. The brand’s new wave of sports cars came in the form of hot hatches. The Veloster and Veloster Turbo, both odd in their naming and number of doors, began a detour into equal-parts torque steer and noise complaints.
2019 Hyundai Veloster Turbo (The Drive)2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe (Motor Authority)
After the Elantra GT came and went, and the Veloster got a redesign, The Veloster N came along and with it the Elantra N. Two cheap economy cars that were sent to the gym and pumped-up in looks and performance. While the Veloster is no longer with us, the Elantra N was given its chance at life because of the hatchback that preceded it, and it would live to beat Volkswagen at its own game.
Wait a minute, where the heck is Volkswagen in all of this?
Indeed a fair query to pose, but the Golf and Jetta are starting to lose what charm was left of them through Volkswagen’s replacement for manual transmissions: price gouging. Golfs have gotten really expensive since VW decided to trim the lineup down to just the GTI and R, which start at $31,965 and $45,665 respectively. Put up against the rest of the competition it doesn’t seem so expensive, and while it might not be on paper, the devil is hiding in the details.
2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI (Piston Heads)
Looking at the $30,000-45,000 mark, you have a car-cuterie board of cheap fun to pick from. The Subaru BRZ and WRX, Toyota GR86 and GR Corolla, Honda Civic Si and Type R, Acura Integra, Hyundai Elantra N, Volkswagen Jetta GLI and Golf GTI, and the Mazda Miata are some of the cheapest ways to get into brand-new fun cars today. Go a hair above and you dip into the $45,000-$60,000, which is where the Toyota Supra, Nissan Z, Ford Mustang and others play. Anything above this is Corvette and Porsche territory where the lines between contenders are more clearly drawn.
Some of the cheaper sports cars on that list include the GR86, BRZ, and the Miata. These are purpose-built sports cars from the start, whose more expensive trims add extra features rather than power. On the other hand, the rest of those cars are economy cars or share platforms with less-expensive cars and are given a boost in power and handling. Both of these are fine, but there’s one more way of thinking that manufacturers have abandoned: an economy platform that’s inherently fun to drive. Honda has this with the Civic, and they’re about to do it again with the revival of the Prelude.
The Prelude was Honda’s precursor to the Civic coupe, and from the spy shots, it looks like the previous generation Civic coupe anyway. It is slated to pack an electrified powertrain and lack a manual gearbox, but the platform might be where it shines. Again, this is something that VW had when it still offered cheaper Golfs in the US, but alas, this is no longer the case and where it gets beaten by everyone else in the market it created.
Hot hatches and sporty compact sedans should always be around. It needs to be a law at this point because it gives enthusiasts something attainable. Looking at it from the other direction, more sporty platforms in unassuming cars get our non-car friends excited about driving.
Enter: Mazda. None of Mazda’s cars (outside the Miata) look like they are as sporty as they really are. A few of the brand’s offerings hide a little party trick: their handling. The Mazda3 sedan and hatchback, as well as the CX-30, CX-50, and CX-90 have really good steering feel and composure. Nothing inherently macho about them, but when you take a corner too quickly in one, you’ve realized Mazda is making car lovers out of unassuming drivers, and that’s what it should be all about.
On October 17th, Joywave took to the stage for the second to last US show of their Permanent Pleasure tour. The alternative band hailing all the way from Rochester, New York took to the Brooklyn Bowl in Philadelphia and I had the unique opportunity to cover their show with a photo and press pass through WVUD. As someone who’s been a strong supporter of Joywave and their music since 2021 (make sure to read Cleansing with Joywave as a reference!), this felt like a dream come true and I couldn’t have been more thrilled and ecstatic to take part in such a fun opportunity!
When I originally found out about covering this concert for the radio station, I’ll admit that I was an anxious mess. Personally, I’d never actually driven to Philly by myself up until this moment and on top of that, I’d never actually shot professional concert photos before either! As the event went on, I was able to meet a bunch of Joywave fans, take a ton of photos, and truly enjoy myself right up till the end of the show. Suffice to say, this was truly an event that I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
Opening with Hunny
To be completely honest, I had never actually heard any of Hunny’s music up until the point of this concert but with what I heard at the show, I was truly blown away. The live band consisted of Jason Yarger (lead vocals and guitarist), Jaden Wiggins (bassist), and Joey Anderson (drummer) and let me just say, the energy between the entire band was insane during the whole set. After what I experienced, I would describe Hunny as an eclectic rock band that boasts an incredible stage presence and also provides some incredible songs to dance to as well.
As I was shooting photos in the photo pit for Hunny, I noticed that there was also a lot of interaction between both Jason and the crowd itself. The banter in between songs and the crowd going wild during every single song made the set a lot more enjoyable for me. With songs such as “Shy”, “Saturday Night”, and “Everything Means Everything Meant Everything” being performed that night, I knew I was in for an exceptionally good time. The last song that was played for their set, titled “Vowels (And the Importance of Being Me)” was perhaps my favorite as everyone in the crowd was waving their arms in synchronization and Hunny pushed themselves to the limit in regards to energetic noise for their performance. Overall, I felt as though the entire set was absolutely incredible and although it felt pretty short, I would definitely recommend seeing them live again as well as checking out their music too!
Joywave and the Inflatable Cat (That Also Spins!)
After a brief 15 minute break between sets, the lights finally dimmed again and I realized that I had to rush back into the photo pit for an experience that would change my life. I’ve said it before and I know I’ll continue to say it but Joywave is one of those bands that you need to see live in concert at least once in your life. The immaculate stage presence, overall set design, and the constant jokes and crowd interaction from lead singer, Daniel Armbruster, adds to their legendary concert performances.
The album that they were performing songs from, Permanent Pleasure, released on May 17th 2024 and I feel as though they picked some good songs to perform from that album. Some of my personal favorites from their newest album consisted of “Sleepytime Fantasy”, “He’s Back!”, and “Swimming in the Glow”. The instrumentation from members of the band also really helped to elevate the concert as Joseph Morinelli (guitar), Paul Brenner (drums), Kevin Mahoney (bass), and Taylor Dubray (guitar and keyboard) put their all into this show and it really showed.
Joywave also made sure to play some certified classics within their set as well. My personal favorite had to be the song “Rumors” off of their second album Content. When I originally found out that it was going to be on the setlist for the show, I couldn’t contain my excitement as it’s one of my favorite songs off of their second album. They also made sure to play songs such as “Obsession”, “Traveling at the Speed of Light”, and “After Coffee” which I thoroughly enjoyed as I was watching the show.
Also, did I mention that there was an inflatable cat on stage? If the header of the article and the title of this section didn’t already clue you in, then you might need to get your eyes checked. To me, I felt as though the stage design was absolutely incredible for the show. For their last album, Cleanse, the band focused more on an interactive car wash as the set piece but this time around, they had an inflatable cat based off of the one seen on the Permanent Pleasure album cover that would spin around. I really enjoyed the more intimate vibes that were presented with this show and it was also hilarious to see the band wearing matching pajamas for the concert too.
As with all concerts, they unfortunately always have to end at some point but Joywave made sure that they saved the best for last and ended on a high note. “Destruction” is a song off of their debut studio album called How Do You Feel Now? and it can only be described as “the greatest song ever written” as per Armbruster. With that in mind, there is a tradition that Joywave loves to do with their shows where if the patrons at the venue are loud enough, they’ll play the song again and label it as “Double Destruction”. Luckily for me (and everyone else in attendance), we were blessed to hear the sounds of Destruction twice in one night as everyone was cheering and hoping that they would come back for a second bout to really make the Brooklyn Bowl shake (even more so than the bowling pins being knocked down in the VIP bowling lanes right next to the show). We were even blessed with a wonderful harmonica performance by Mr. Dubray before the second iteration of “Destruction” which added even more to the impact at the end of the concert.
As the damage from “Destruction” subsided and the band members departed off the stage, a spotlight suddenly glowed on the inflatable cat and heavy metal music erupted from the speakers. After a few minutes, everything went back to normal, the crowd dispersed, and I went off on a quest to spend a ton of money on Joywave and Hunny merch.
Closing Remark
Even as I write this blog post, I’m still shocked at the fact that I had such an incredible opportunity to cover Joywave with a photo and press pass. Being able to take photos of your favorite band in a professional setting while also meeting a diverse community of other Joywave fans who are supporting you from the barricade is both thrilling and scary at the same time. As my anxiety subsided from the worries and nerves of the night, I’m just truly grateful that I was able to meet so many people, have everyone be so supportive of my first ever time taking professional concert photos, and also have the very friendly and amazing Brooklyn Bowl staff walk me through what I needed to do too.
I also truly think this night will stay with me for a long time and I’m eternally grateful to WVUD for such an amazing opportunity! With all of this in mind, it’s safe to say that I hope Joywave comes back to Philly soon for another show and I also hope that whoever reads this blog post chooses to see them live as it’s an experience that you will never forget.
On Saturday, September 28, Candian indie pop group Valley kicked off their Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden Tour at Union Transfer in the heart of Philly!
From their trance-inducing musicality to their catchy lyrics, Valley has been the band that keeps giving since 2015, with the release of their EP Car Test, all the way up to their most recent studio album, Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden. I did not start listening to Valley until around 2021, during the midst of the pandemic, when they released their sophomore album, Last Birthday. From the moment Spotify smart shuffled “Like 1999” onto my phone, it was love at first listen. Naturally, this led to me taking up press for this concert, and let me tell you now, they did not disappoint.
Warming Up with Charli Adams and Mickey Darling
The first opener was Charli Adams, an upcoming indie-pop singer-songwriter from Tennessee. One thing that caught my attention with her act was that she paid extensive attention to detail when setting the mood for every song she played. I kid you not when I tell you this woman brought multiple guitars on stage and practically switched between them for almost every song, which in my opinion, showed a level of dedication that was downright refreshing. In addition, her singing made it apparent that she was masterful at vocal flipping. That, along with her captivating storytelling put the crowd in a chokehold for her entire set. Her setlist was comprised mainly of songs that emitted a mellow and calming vibe, including a slower rendition of Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle.” My favorite moment of her performance was when she played “Cheer Captain,” an original wrought with the struggles of being a people pleaser. One comment on this song from my notes app read “These lyrics are tearing my heart into ruins… someone please send help.”
The next opener was the bedroom pop duo and self-proclaimed “sexiest boy band” Mickey Darling. Honestly, this band took me by surprise, and I felt honored to have my first time listening to their music through a live performance. Their performance was nothing short of upbeat and lively due to the constant jumping and dancing of the lead singer Skylar Molina. Additionally, their music is totally something I can see myself getting more into. With noticeably darker lyrics at times mixed with a more aged sound, it’s no wonder this duo has found considerable success. A definite highlight of their setlist was the performance of their 2019 single “Reverse Cowgirl.”
A Garden Party in the Valley
Since this concert was part of a tour to celebrate the release of Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden, the band took the audience through every song from that album, save for “I Didn’t Even Ask For This.” The intro for this song did, however, make a cheeky cameo at the beginning of the concert as the band was making their way onto the stage quaintly decorated with a floor patch mimicking grass and flower clusters planted throughout.
Appropriately enough, Valley’s setlist started out with “Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden.” To provide some pretext, shortly before the doors opened for the show, one fan in line was passing out premade paper flowers to everyone in an attempt to turn the crowd into a makeshift garden for when this song played. So, naturally, when it did, the crowd resembled a meadow of swaying flowers, which was so cool to witness. Valley then hit us all with the HAGS, this is “Have a Good Summer (Without Me),” and “Base Player’s Brother,” a personal favorite of mine off their new album.
Other highlights from this album included an intimate moment where drummer Karah James spoke with the audience about the band’s experience with navigating one of life’s most consistent constants: change just before they sang “Let It Rain,” which also had one of the best live instrumental performances I’ve heard in a long while and a powerful and lively performance of “When You Know Someone.”
Of course, Valley also served the crowd some older throwbacks to supplement the show. Among these were “A Phone Call in Amsterdam,” “sucks to see you’re doing better,” “Swim,” “Closer to the Picture,” and “There’s Still a Light in the House,” and the two I was most excited to hear live “hiccup,” and “Break For You.”
To be transparent, before attending this concert, I wasn’t the biggest fan of WTFPFAG, but I was enough of a fan to cover the tour anyway. This concert definitely gave me a newfound appreciation for it, especially since the slower songs from the album were given heavier instrumentals, which instantly turned their softer tunes into more rock-lined melodies more appropriate for live shows. All in all, in terms of the song line-up, I was appeased, maybe except that I did not get to hear “CHAMPANGE,” but I guess that’s how the wine flows sometimes.
After a brief 15 minute break between sets, the lights finally dimmed again and I realized that I had to rush back into the photo pit for an experience that would change my life. I’ve said it before and I know I’ll continue to say it but Joywave is one of those bands that you need to see live in concert at least once in your life. The immaculate stage presence, overall set design, and the constant jokes and crowd interaction from lead singer, Daniel Armbruster, adds to their legendary concert performances.
