2019 Concert #5: The PDX Broadsides with The Misbehavin' Maidens
By EricMesa
- 3 minutes read - 597 wordsThe Misbehavin’ Maidens at the New Deal Cafe
I would have backed The PDX Broadsides’ Kickstarter for Relatable Content no matter what because I loved Trust Issues and I enjoy nearly all of their older songs. But the thing that made me spread the word everyone and try to get more backers was that they had a goal to do an East Coast tour. When they came to the New Deal Cafe in Greenbelt, MD I was finally able to see them live for the first time. It was also my second time seeing The Misbehavin’ Maidens, who opened for The Doubleclicks earlier in the year.
I must be the same age as the Misbehavin’ Maidens because I feel EXACTLY the way they do about anime!
Just as last time, it was a family show set for the Misbehavin’ Maidens. While the set was very similar to the set they did for The Doubleclicks, part of the fun of these smaller acts and intimate venues is that the moments between the songs have organic improv moments that come from the audience interaction. Also, there are many little quips during the songs that vary from event to event. I’ll once again strongly recommend checking them out if you want a mix of sea shanties and nerd humor. Their regular albums have a lot of rated R material, but they just released an album on Bandcamp with all their family-friendly songs.
The PDX Broadsides at the New Deal Cafe
Then it was time for The PDX Broadsides to take the stage. Given the fact they were on tour for their new album, I thought they played an excellent mix of older and newer content. I’m not sure how many others at the cafe knew their discography, but it was great to hear those older songs. It was particularly moving to hear The Astronaut’s Hymm, which I hadn’t fully grokked the meaning of before, as its themes of being away from loved ones really touched Dr. Hebert, who was away from her husband. Music often affects us emotionally, but it’s always so neat to see how emotional it can be for the artists.
They have a song called Tiny Little Octopus so I had to take a photo with The PDX Broadsides
As with their Live at Orycon live album, a lot of the fun came from the banter between Christian and the ladies. My 4 year old twins’ favorite song is Buffalo, an odd duck of a Christian song. Since The PDX Broadsides hadn’t yet put out their commentary album (a trend they started with Trust Issues), I was wondering where in the world that song came from. Well, they explained it, and it was even more fun than I could have imagined.
There isn’t too much more to say about the concert, except that THIS happened:
I have no idea what that’s about, but apparently it’ll be on their non-family-friendly album that accompanies Relatable Content (another trend they started with Trust Issues - a family family album paired with a dirty album). If you like nerdy content - see my reviews of Trust Issues and Relatable Content - then you have to check their music out. And if they happen to have a concert near you, you have to go see them! And if you’re still not sure if they’re for you. They have a song about Nathan Fillion.
Nathan Fillion as Mal Reynolds in Firefly
And here’s a bit of it (because my phone ran out of space as I was recording it):