Making Time with Neon Indian + Memory Tapes

Neon Indian
Last weekend brought two hot acts to the stage for Philly dance party institution Making Time. After missing Neon Indian's set at the Barbary a few months ago there was no way I was going to miss them again. Alan Palomo brought his full crew with him and let loose their space pop synth navigated jams. Neon Indian's album Psychic Chasm is the ideal fodder for your home dance party needs but when they bring it to the stage they push and pull at their tracks in just the right ways to create a unique experience that truly rowdies up the crowd. They kept it short, hitting all the popular points like Deadbeat Summer, but promised to come back again soon since they're making the obligatory indie band move to Brooklyn. Judging from their presence on the Late Night TV circuit I'd venture a guess that the next time they come through town it'll be at a larger venue. Glad I saw them when I did.

Memory Tapes

Memory Tapes quickly made their way to the stage after Neon Indian and soon held the attention of all  in the room. I was expecting a simple replay of what you get from their recorded stuff - this wouldn't have been bad at all since Making Time is, at its core, a dance party and Memory Tapes have mastered a real nice funky smooth dance vibe - but I was elated to find a far more dynamic set. New Jersey native Davey Hawk, while backed by a good bit of electronic instrumental support, also had a tight live drum accompanying his guitar lead. The nuance of Memory Tapes' arrangements really popped in the live delivery. They satisfied the movers in the crowd by remaining incredibly danceable while those there to watch got plenty to enjoy. It was a very satiating performance and perfect for the Making Time standard.

Neon Indian- Deadbeat Summer (Daytrotter Session)

Memory Tapes - Bicycle

CMJ in Pictures

CMJ was last week and since I was up in New York anyway I took in a little of what the famously chaotic week had to offer. There were so many incredible showcases it was difficult to choose and despite my best intentions there was no way I could catch everything on my list. I did get to hear a lot of fantastic music though and I'm excited to see these bands bring their show through Philly so I can give them due props.

I'm taking the visual approach to this review so enjoy the scroll...

 Mumford & Sons @ The Mercury Lounge

Little Lion Man

The Answering Machine @ The Cake Shop

 

 

Drink Up Buttercup @ The Delancey

At Johnny Brenda's Nov 11

 

Javelin @ Mercury Lounge

At Johnny Brenda's Nov. 3 w/ The Very Best

 

Lovvers @ Brooklyn Bowl

Wasted Youth

 

Kaiser Cartel @ The Living Room

 

 Savoir Adore @ Brooklyn Bowl

We Talk Like Machines

Check out the rest of the photos fom the week at TWIAPC's Flickr Page

Monolith Recap Day One

I made the trek out the infamous Red Rocks for this year's Monolith Music Festival. It had a stellar line up and I was badly in need of a little mountain time. So tickets were bought, flights booked, must see lists drafted and hoodies packed.

Things were looking good Saturday morning and true to the fickle nature of nature the weather toyed with us. The rain rolled in about a third of the way through the day and, due to minimal places to hide away from the elements and to the fire marshal lock down imposed on the inside stages I wasn't able to make it to all my targeted shows. However, the ones I did catch were fantastic.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down
This fiercely awesome lady opened the day for me. Thao and her fellas rocked out a lot more than I was expecting. Listening to the recorded version of her stuff then seeing her live I have a much greater appreciation of talents.


Frightened Rabbit
This was the fifth time I've seen Frightened Rabbit and I never tire of their exceptionally sincere delivery. They have some of the best lyrics and energetic instrumentals to begin with but they take it to a much more alluring and intriguing place with their live show. The entire group plays/sings their heart out on stage; this, combined with their evident comfort and fun they have playing together makes them one of my favorite bands to see. They tossed out some of their new stuff and, upon that first listen, I'd say they aren't slowing down anytime soon.
**I would like to call attention to the shirt the drummer,Grant is wearing ^


Edward Sharp & The Magnificent Zeros
I was terribly curious about ESTMZ. I rather enjoyed their first single, Home and the whole group-of-feel-gooders-taking-to-the-road-to-spread-their-sound thing does nibble at one's attention. I can now say with 100% certainty they are pure delight. I got the best energy from them and their music is even more enjoyable in person than it is recorded. They were a ray of light as the clouds got thicker. They're coming to the Church on Nov 15th.

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
As things really got chilly and damp Pains took the SoCo stage. Appropriate right? Theirs was a pretty standard POBPAH show. Shoe gazealicious and transfixing. The crowd was feeling them full on as they provided the perfect soundtrack for the drizzle.

The Answering Machines
This British trio won my heart. I hadn't heard anything from them before last weekend but was immediately hooked. They play the catchiest of pop songs that you can't help but repeat over and over and over again. The added bonus is that they are the most adorable of kids at the very beginning of a head long tumble into the hearts of the masses. Watch this clip from WOXY's coverage of Monolith.


Thunderheist I had heard good things about Thunderheist but went into their set virtually ignorant of their true awesomeness. They are a unique duo; the incredible MC Isis doing vocals with the spot on Graham Zilla on the table. It was a clean set with a fresh delivery. Great surprise and I look forward to catching them again.


There were two groups whose shows I had to simply listen to from the atrium of the visitors center. Because so many people were digging The Antlers and These United States I wasn't able to get into the WOXY stage. What I heard was awesome and I couldn't be happier both bands were packing it in.

If you're looking for more coverage from Monolith stop by My Old Kentucky Blog's LaundroMatinee or WOXY and if you want to see ALL the pictures from the whole weekend stop by TWIAPC's new FLICKR page.

River City Extension @ The Fire

Ever since I caught River City Extensions' lead singer Joe do a solo set earlier this summer I have been anxious to see the whole six member crew perform live. Finally I had the chance to see them last week and it was far more incredible than I was expecting.

Like the Avett Brothers, their record (while entirely enjoyable) falls a little ahead of the pack while their live show is amongst the best I've seen this year. The music also has a vastly different vibe from the alt country sound of their recorded material. Instead, it is southern rock with heavy punk influence. RCE consists of the usual bass, guitar, drums as well as a cello, floor tom, assorted horns and percussive implements; and, this septet do their thing with a degree of energy and enthusiasm that could almost be considered another instrument.

The openers were ok but did very little to amp up the audience for the kind of intensity RCE had to offer. 3/4's of the way into their first song though they managed to draw people in from the bar and get everyone on the floor moving. Each member, regardless of the instrument's traditional roll in a band, plays in such a way that makes you really pay attention to who is carrying the rhythm, who is laying out the melody and who is providing the chaotic pulse that typically drives their songs. The cello, played by the v. talented Jenn, provides a soaring thread to tracks like Elephant while also managing to rock out on others.

Watching them play I realized that RCE is one of the few bands whose bassist takes more than a supporting role. In a few instances James carries the melody so deftly it pushed the floor tom to really pull out more of those juicy bass tones. The percussionists both took turns picking out lines in each song to emphasize or challenge to really build the depth of RCE's overall sound.

Oh, and I can't forget the horns. Switching between a baritone horn and a trumpet I really enjoyed the character and punkishness he brought to the floor. Often he served to reign in the massive storm of percussion but not without adding his own flair. Joe,the circus leader and head vocalist, was playing through a bloody finger but didn't let that effect his delivery. Just as sincere and balls out as he was when I saw him play solo there was a raw emotional element on display when he was on stage interacting with the full crew. Tearing through Clever & Quickness I was in awe watching them all push it a little harder. On the songs, like (I Had Thought About This In) Marc where everyone sings you really feel their charge at full force.

Watching them during their last song, as they played acoustic in the middle of the audience, I got that feeling in my stomach that these guys are headed for much bigger venues. I can only hope their next album harnesses the power of their live show. If you're in the NJ/NY/PA area try to get yourself to one of their shows. They are playing Philly again on the 25th at the North Star Bar.

(If I Had Thought About This In) March

The Bad Veins @ North Star Bar

Bad Veins are two guys from Cincinnati and a reel-to-reel deck named Irene. They don’t pay much attention to the common curiosity about the origins of their band name, how their lady friend came to be known as Irene nor are they much bothered with buying into what is expected of an indie band trying to make it either (you won’t see them moving to Brooklyn any time soon). And that is perhaps why they may be some of the coolest fellas touring their asses off right now.

But, it isn’t what makes their music so fucking pausing. That is directly related to the great deal of intent and musical intelligence that goes into the creation and presentation of each song.

What started as the solo tinkerings of Ben has now grown to involve the classy presence of Irene and the frenetic talents of Sebastien. Ultimately creating a trio so obvious and wickedly tight they melt away and leave their music to do their talking. Considering they do trend towards the leaner side when compared to the bands consisting of small armies that seem to be so popular right now but their sound, man, their sound is powerful.

Their album was recorded largely in Ben’s home studio where he and Sebastien masterfully built layers of bass, rhythm, loops and even strings then passed them on to Irene. When you listen to their record it is impossible to miss the assortment of elements that are pulled together to achieve their greatness. Some parts are surprisingly simple, like the fuzzed out bass lines on Falling Tide others are unexpected, for example the strings on The Lie. While they aren't members of the every album needs to read as a whole camp the entirety of their debut album shares a thread of epic potential that ties it together nicely. They reach for realms most small groups wouldn't even begin to fathom and not only do they achieve a thoroughly developed sound but they stretch their skills over enough territory that you are left wanting more, much, much more.

Seeing them live is one way to scratch that "more" itch and I'm happy to say the same amount of musical smarts go into their live show. Both Sebastien and Ben recognize the importance of putting on an entertaining live show. To Sebastien this means giving the audience plenty to watch and move to for Ben it means blowing them away with compact and constantly engaging sets. They create quite the homey little set up on stage drum kit to the left, bunches of homemade noise makers to the right and Irene holding court in the middle. It looks like an arrangement devised by the Cohen brothers especially when the buys take the stage in their military button downs.

The amount of sound they blew through the speakers on Wednesday night was astonishing. It was probably a good thing they keep their sets on the shorter side because it was a lot to take in. Sebastien is a whir of energy which plays nicely with Ben's emotional delivery. Both are clearly investing a great deal of themselves in their performances and it creates yet another layer to their sound. The vocals are moody and sincere and the presence of the live drummer are what keep the electronic components from becoming static. This is an act that doesn't really need improvement yet I have a feeling will present itself in a number of different forms as the group continues to play and experiment.

For all of you who missed Wednesday's show you're lucky. Bad Veins will be returning to Philly's North Star Bar on September 20th. For the rest of you non Philly readers. They are going to be all over these United States over the next few months so be sure to check out their tour schedule.

Be sure to get their album but here is a nibble for your needs

Gold & Warm

The Most Serene Republic @ North Star Bar

Friday night I left New York under ominous conditions and a ceiling of crazy cool clouds, to make the drive back to Philly to see The Most Serene Republic at North Star Bar. The normally 75 min drive took a full two hours with intense lighting and torrential rains holding nothing back over the New Jersey Turnpike. The delay caused me to miss Wheat at Kung Fu Necktie which I feel really horrible about cause I like their stuff and was really looking forward to the show. I was pleased to find we had only missed the first of two openers for TMSR.

The other opener Buried Beds did a good job prepping the audience for TMSR to take the stage. While not entirely remarkable Buried Beds attempted to include pretty much every indie/pop/alt country trend device; chamberish harmonies, regular use of strings (in this case violin) and crowding the stage with a small village of band members. All of this without managing to really establish a clear sense of what impression they wanted to leave behind. Although there were a few songs towards the end of their set that begin to suggest the potential of good things to come for the group.

The Most Serene Republic came to my attention via Ryan Hansen of Ryspace about two months ago and I have been looking forward to this show ever since. I didn’t know exactly what to expect from the hard to define but easily listenable troupe but hardly could have hoped for the musical mastery I witnessed.

The group is about to drop a new album so there were a lot of new unheard songs on display but they still included some of the older stuff. The new material tends toward the pop end of the progressive indie music spectrum. But it is most def. a thinking man's pop. Songs like Heavens To Purgatory use a little banjo and thumping bass loop to bounce along chasing some of the best guy/girl vocals in the biz. Despite using the word Gadzooks the Canadian outfit manages to avoid Twee territory by grounding it with juicy instrumentals. Other new pieces were more reminiscent of their older more typical progressive rock sound which appealed to the die hard fans in attendance.

Watching them perform really adds another layer of appreciation for their distinct sound. The songs are far more epic live then on record, an effect achieved by the well placed horn lines and the occasional string contribution. Like other bands I really love both live and recorded (Frightened Rabbit for example) it was evident these guys all knew their music inside and out; their own lines and times as well as their band mates. The comfortable way they interact both musically and personally on stage contributes to a very inclusive concert experience. Plus the presence of hand clapping and the dose of humor brought by lead vocalist Adrian also keeps it from getting too cerebral.

The gave new shine to some of their earlier works to balance out the new stuff. The version of Compliance started with lulling and scenic instrumentals that dropped you off at the door of strong in you face vocals. I was not expecting but fully adored this departure from the album version. Phages was a bit more like the album arrangement but simply in the live setting it too carried a new appeal.

By the time they ended their set I felt as though I had witnessed the most complete live set I'd seen in a while. There was something for everyone, including the band who all seemed to take a certain pleasure in the particular tracks they had chosen for the evening. We grabbed the new album (which comes out in July) and I had it on repeat most of the weekend. Go grab the first single and find out if they're in your area cause both the live and recorded versions of TMSR are worth your complete love and adoration.

Heavens To Purgatory

Northside Festival "Best Of"

The first Annual Northside Festival spread itself over all things Brooklyn this past weekend. As I have been staying in Greenpoint during this phase of my Wandering Summer of '09 it was almost too easy to dip in and out of the numerous shows being hosted as part of this event's pilot year. L Magazine pulled together a slew of venues and they, in turn, pulled in the acts. For a first year it went relatively smoothly. Since I am not a NY blogger, and wouldn't imagine competing with the fine review work to be found Here > Here > Here > Here (amongst others) I am simply giving you a taste of the best acts I saw.Savoir Adore - This duo+ came to my attention due to some good buzz after SXSW. Its all true folks. They're great. So much so I saw them twice. A little glam rock vibe with solid bass lines and a lot of fabulous guy girl harmonies.
Bodies
(Download their EP too)
photo courtesy of Hannah Bergqvist
Xylos - These guys could easily provide the soundtrack to a summer at the beach. Their lyrics are good from the start and the whole package gets better the more I listen to them. They're currently recording their full length so keep an eye out for that this fall as well as a little more tour action to support the effort. I have a feeling we'll see a bit of them in Philly and of course I'll keep you posted.
This House We Built
(EP action here)Anamanaguchi - What do you get when you take a old school nintendo + electronic music and put it in the hands of knowledgeable tech heads? You get Anamanaguchi. This group had one of the most visually appealing sets we caught. They play the video games behind them as they provide a the live music (all out of a high jacked nintendo game system.) My picture doesn't do its awesomeness full due it looks like they'll by in the Philly-dom this summer so you'll be able to experience it yourself.
Dawn Metropolis

Pink Skull - This Philly act has appeared on TWIAPC before so its not entirely a new introduction to their brilliance but their show at Death By Audio was such an exciting suggestion of whats to come on their fall release that I can't help but start to build your anticipation for this dance friendly group. they'll be at Schmidt's piazza this Saturday as part of the 2nd St Festival go and be ready to groove.
Get Inside (My Tiny Pyramids)

photo courtesy of Steve Harmon
Laura Gibson - The final show we saw was Laura Gibson at Studio B. I've seen her before but she too displayed incredible growth of some already wonderous talent. Hers is a sweet vice with a little twist of, well, a life actually lived and felt...genuinely. Her backing band was also a sight to behold. Passing a variety of instrument tween the two of them and also contributing a grand addition to Ms Gibson's beautiful lead.
Spirited

Very Honorable Mentions:
Screaming Females
Acrylics
Sisters

SHOWS!!! Jenny Lewis at The Troc

I remember seeing Jenny Lewis in Troop Beverly Hills when I was a kid and being totally jazzed by seeing a red head get screen time. I guess you could say I had a little bit of a crush on her. Then all these years later she goes and gets even awesomer by proving her chops as a fantastic singer. First with Rilo Kiley then on her lonesome (two albums deep now for those of you just peaking out from under your rock). I've missed the opportunity to see her live show twice now so when I she came within proximity for a third time I cleared the schedule.

After what I witnessed on that stage at the Trocadero I am now fully enamored with Miss Lewis. Not only did her vocals continually impress for the entirety of her hour plus set but she worked that stage in a way that, regardless of your age, sex or persuasion you couldn't help but fall in love with her. She opened with Fernando which was an excellent way to charge out of the gates and show off the excellent band she has backing her on this tour. The percussion was a group effort and, in what is becoming a much appreciated live show trend, threw a full body display into playing it and Fernando never sounded better.

Jenny strutted through old, new and Riley pieces. She gave some of the songs a new twist and for the most part they were improvements upon the recorded versions. The male vocals on Carpetbagger were far greater than those contributed by Elvis Costello on Acid Tongue [yep I think his voice on that one song are distractingly nasally and almost ruin that great song]. Also, her solo version of Rilo Kiley's Silver Lining is slowed down sweeter take on a already fabulous track. Both are legitimate and I liked the variety.

The band started strong and only got stronger. Whether Jenny was holding her own on the guitar or the full ensemble was rocking out there was nary an off beat or sour note. The only weak point that my ears caught were slightly off back up vocals on Rise Up With Fists. The new piece she sang, Just Like Zeus (a nice ditty about hero worship) made me excited to hear the third album hopefully chasing Acid Tongue to the shelves.

Whether you came out of childhood affinity for Hannah Nefler, Rilo Kiley loyalty, or addiction to all things Ms Lewis I'm pretty sure you left as satisfied as I did. Don't let her pass you by.

SHOWS!!! White Rabbits at Johnny Brenda's

Despite chaos being the general theme in my life for the last few weeks I have still managed to maintain a pretty healthy show schedule. The upside of this is that music keeps me sane and grounded the downside is I have so much to write about but not enough time to write it. That being said, I am still going to give you reviews they're just going to be a little on the brief side.

White Rabbits @ Johnny Brendas
After having seen the White Rabbits play the Bowery I knew going in to this show it was going to be interesting considering they are six very active musicians and Johnny Brenda's stage is the size of a postage stamp. Watching them set up was a demonstration in physics as they unfolded their piano (a rather crafty little set up that goes from box to full key board in seconds), assembled gear and literally piled instruments on top of each other. You could tell they were a little curious themselves to see how they would roc the stage. However, any signs of hesitance were completely absent as they launched immediately into their set.

To be honest, much of what I wrote in my first review of their live show held true for this set. They are amazingly full of energy and talent and their live show is the absolute best way to experience all of what they have to offer. They played pretty much the same set list, which is to be expected of a band touring to support their first big album, and did so without a hint of routine or automation. What was truly awesome to watch was the way they maneuvered through the confines of the space. They all still exchanged instruments, danced with each other and played in their distinct full body style. The crowd was right there with them, dancing and singing along. When the much hyped Percussion Gun came on there was a riot of cheers and grooving. I have a feeling this will be the last time these guys play a small Philly venue. My prediction: next time it'll be the Troc or the Electric Factory.

They're out there wandering the country right now so find out if they're playing near you and go hunt down some Rabbits.

Yarn @ The Tin Angel

The bluegrass stylings of Brooklyn’s Yarn have been kicking around my iTunes for about a year now. Other than a B&B show they did nearish Philly last fall they haven’t done much playin in these here parts. That is until last week. The six fellas (three guitars, one stand up bass, a drummer and a mandolin player) crowded the stage at The Tin Angel. Being somewhat familiar with their recorded material I was expecting a night of country leaning music. What I got was far closer to a two hour classic rock jam session. That’s right two whole hours of music to fully appreciate what Yarn has to offer.

This live version of Yarn was all electric vs the acoustic version captured on their albums. Which took the entire show to an unanticipated level of rock out. Ignited by the electricity their mandolin player,Andrew Hendryx, offered up some of the fiercest riffs I have heard from any instrument in recent memory. On the faster pieces the group was prone to passing the "riff torch" around generously usually ending up with a mandolin solo. For good reason too, as his contribution made an excellent anchor for these free flow breaks.

Though Blake Christiana usually carries the leads comfortably-- and provides very easy stage banter-- Yarn's most recent album Empty Pockets featured female vocals (Edie Brickell & Caitlin Cary) and on this evening they were replaced flawlessly by Trevor Macarthur. The dexterity of each player was evident during their numerous solos. Through out the two hours each was given the opportunity to strut their stuff and managed to keep is interesting while not getting too showy or losing the core rhythm of the song. They also managed to criss cross a wide swath of their collected works, but in the electrified format it was basically all new. When the drummer,Jay Frederick, took his solo towards the end of the show (apologies for not knowing the song title) there was a distinct departure from anything remotely bluegrass. His percussion was pure southern rock and when put within the context of his bandmate's solos the entire group seemed to shift towards a new era. It was not surprising to hear Blake mention the next album will be fully plugged in.

I had brought my mother (the progenitor of my musical nerdiness) to the show and at the end she said had I not told her it was a bluegrass show she would have classified them as pure rock. This also sent her on a riff of her own comparing them to such classic bands as Poco and Dire Straights. There are also strong parallels with the likes of Whiskeytown and Ryan Adam's and The Cardinals but considering they all haunt the same Brooklyn environs a little influence is to be expected. After the two hours I witnessed I am no longer content with listening to just the acoustic so get on the recording guys. And the rest of you, go seek Yarn out. They are all over the east in the next few weeks and its well worth the price of admission.

These United States + Jenny Owen Youngs + Jukebox The Ghost @ Johnny Brenda's

Last week I caught a nice trifecta of great local music at Johnny Brenda's. These United States, Jenny Owen Youngs &
Jukebox The Ghost came together to each offer forth their distinct sounds. These United States kicked things off in fine style -- I think it is important to, once again, note the Philadelphia needs to step up its game in supporting the opening acts-- despite the weak crowd showing these fellas gave one hell of a show. I have seen them before and while still rocking this evening they were spot on. They have tightened up their harmonies which really brings their southern rock lyrics an appreciable classic feel. One of the best parts of seeing them live is watching the steel guitar and bass lines being delivered. It is a study in melding the sass and boozy sarcasm inherent in both instruments to shape TUS's sound without crossing into cliche. Throughout the show I was reminded that these two factors were what drew me to them in the first places and I am happy to report they are only getting better. If they continue to work on their stage presence to compliment their vocals and impressive instrumentals they will have crossed a divide into serious fan acquiring territory.

Jenny Owen Youngs was next up and I'm going to keep my thoughts on her performance short and simple. She looks like the other indie darling Jenny Lewis and must know that cause it felt that her sound was very much rebellion of that association. While her backing band and vocals were fun to watch and sounded great she was undermic'd (or just wasn't projecting her voice) and slurred all of her lyrics into a distracting muddle. Only when the fellas from Jukebox came up to share the stage and she kept to guitars did I enjoy what she had to offer.

Jukebox The Ghost were the evening's headliners and by the time they were on stage the place had filled up with a nice showing of local support. The band has an ace understanding of what it means to perform. And I mean not only get up on stage and play the right notes and sing the right words at the right time. They had charming witty banter [at one point asking the audience to boo instead of clap in response to a new song just to buffer the potential for a poor reception] and put forth a style of full body playing that was thoroughly entertaining to witness. For those of you unfamiliar with Jukebox they sound a little like a mash up of Ben Folds Five and They Might Be Giants. Unconventional lyrics tied to tasty pop rhythms. They opened with a song about the end of the world and the quirk was maintained through the whole set.

What makes JTG's offerings that much more enjoyable is the fact that they are fiercely talented musicians. The lead key's are complicated and punchy but played so cleanly your ear doesn't have to do any work to enjoy them. On their new stuff their was evidence of a maturing sound that suggested a little Jackson Browne "Late For The Sky" influence. This will be truly interesting territory to watch them explore. They brought Youngs and her gang back on stage briefly but I would have rather seen a JTG and TUS pairing. Perhaps next time. I would strongly encourage you to see Jukebox The Ghost if they come through your town and certainly seek out both their new and old music for your at home listening pleasure. Get a jump on that with these...
These United States Honor Amongst Thieves
Jukebox The Ghost Hold It In

The White Rabbits Live at Bowery Ballroom

Apparently I have a thing for bands with "rabbit" in their name. Its no secret I love me all things Frightened Rabbit but recently I have realized I may have a subconscious draw to the presence of rabbit in a band. This came to my attention last week when I got to see The White Rabbits at The Bowery Ballroom. I had enjoyed listening to their recent release It's Frightening but that didn't even come close to preparing me for their astounding live show. It was intense, it was brash you could feel the pulse of the percussion in your toes and the tautness of their rhythm in your tum. The group consists of six wildly talented musicians who are so incredibly in tune with each other they are able to work the stage with a cool ease you wouldn't expect from a group that rocks so hard. The two percussionists are a sight to behold. They dance around their set pushing the beat out over the audience with their mad full body playing style.

The band's vocalist and keyboard player put his all into his delivery as well. The band has a bounce to it that is reminiscent of big band swing music with the gritty edge of punk to really suck you in. It is very apparent that the entire band has put a little of themselves into the creation of these tracks. I am constantly amazed at how much more enjoyable live shows are if the performers are sharing a little or, in this case, a lot of their excitement and energy for their music. There wasn't a single song where I was left wanting more. They put their all into the entire set. I was not intending to review that show but I felt I needed to get you guys excited for their up coming tour. I will be catching them again in Philly next week and it is highly advised you see them if and when they come to your area. Just be sure to leave your inhibitions at the door cause they are going to rock your socks off!

To get a little taste of their live show...




The White Rabbits

It Just Couldn't Wait

Sometimes I receive new tid bits I'm so in love with I have to numb my desire to write scads about how much I enjoy them and just get them posted to ignite your aural fires. It helps that tonight I am so beyond tired that writing a lot wouldn't be doing anyone any favors.

First Up: Mark Mallman, my fellow Minnesotan and the front man for Ruby Isle, is releasing his new album Invinceable Criminal in August. Here is a track off said album - You're Never Alone In New York as well as the cover of Boy In The Bubble MM did for the Buffet Libre Rewind. Mallman was a frequent visitor to our campus bar/music venue The Cave so I've seen him a bunch and every time is a little more frenetic than the last. I will certainly be hunting him down on his pending tour.

Next up: IAMXL. This man is quickly snatching up property on my summer remix playlist. His take on For The Longest Time has been on consistent replay and now he sends along this batch of wonders. Feist's Mushaboom and Bloody Beetroot's Warp are both given the IAMXL spin. Go here: Crack4dj's.net to find out what other spectacular remixes he's been throwing down.

Wordless Music Series: Mono Anniversary Show @ NYSEC

Last Friday I made a trip up to New York to catch my first Wordless Music Performance. The show was in honor of the Japanese cinematic ambient rock group Mono's 10th anniversary. For those of you unfamiliar with Wordless, as I was until the fantastic Ryan Hansen of Ryspace brought it to my attention, it is an on going series of concerts that explores the similarities, parallels and influences shared by "the sound worlds of classical and contemporary instrumental music" by presenting rock or electronic acts and classical musicians in tandem. As someone who actually lettered in orchestra I fully appreciate any kind of musical experience that brings orchestra into the fold. The musicalstylings of Mono were also relatively new to me as well so, on the whole it was a night filled with firsts. And as far as first anythings go that evening's collection of them will not soon, if ever, be forgotten.

The show, held at the acoustically spectacular New York Society for Ethical Culture, opened with the premier of Arvo Part's Symphony No. 4. A beautiful piece given life by the Wordless Orchestra conducted by Jeff Milarsky. It set a calm scene. Essential for the performance Mono was about to lay down.

The quartet, backed by a condensed version of the orchestra, played an hour plus set that quite simply defied my greatest expectations. Their regular sound is already unusually instrumental for a rock band so the inclusion of an orchestra was seamless and, for lack of a better word, epic. The 800 plus die hard Mono fans that had lined up around the block to get in were clearly transcended by the event. They four band members put everything they had out there. At one point the lead guitarist was on his hands and knees while a die hard fan hovered near by. Its an interesting experience, witnessing other people experience what may very well be their live musical apex. Even for someone like myself ,who may not have had an abundance of Mono exposure, the music that was created Friday night left me appropriately wordless.

If you're already a classical fan the Wordless Series would be an superb way to get your fix of strings and timpani. If you're looking for a comfortable way to ease into the genre then Wordless is the place for you. This is an endeavor I fully believe should be spread throughout the country. But if you're lucky enough to be within easy NY travel distance, make it a priority. They have a Fiery Furnaces show coming up that I would highly recommend you put on your calendar.

**Photo by Teppei Takazawa

In the Kitchen With Kathryn Ostenberg

I have spent a lot of time in kitchens. It would be safe to say I work out most of my issues while mixing up something tasty (hopefully) and grooving along with the most appropriate mix for the matters at hand. If its been a good "session" the outcome looks a little like this >

Kathryn Ostenberg singer/songwriter just starting out in LA whose best work comes from her kitchen recording sessions. Her offerings take this form:

Goodbye & Take It All Back

Now, I get a lot of singer/songwriter's demos and while I have nothing but respect for their dedication to their dream there are only few I think may have something distinct to offer to the muddled s/s fight. When I first watched a Youtube video of one of her college era performances there was a raspy charm to her vocals. She didn't lapse into a baby-like coo when trying to be sweet nor force her range into Susan Tedeschi mode in an attempt to grab attention. Instead, she has taken what comes naturally and begun to really explore its potential.

Kathryn's talent is still fresh but she is digging into every opportunity she can find to play and play in LA's music scene. Joining forces with fellow artists when the opportunity arises and seeing where they take her while still refining her solo work. You can find her gigging around town at venues such at Room 5 and Genghis Cohen and I would encourage you to catch her while you can. She's currently in the process of organizing a non-kitchen recording session and I can't wait to hear what comes about. But I will always have a fondness for her kitchen work.

So Very Much For Everyone: Photons-Glory EP

The Photons, a fabulous octet out of San Francisco has just kicked off a grand CD release project. Its a multimedia extravaganza, which is quite appropriate for a band that uses anything they can get their hands on to make their music, they will be unleashing three EP's starting with a limited release of Glory on May 12 via insound (it will go wide on June 23rd) and two others later in the year. The neat part is the "We Are Photons" comic book that will be packaged with each EP. The groups ring leader Calvin Liu is also a comic strip artist and has combined his two loves to bring fans a highly enjoyable package of sights and sounds.


I first stumbled upon the Photons when I was given a mix that included Animals (from their 2008 self titled EP). This group of buddies first got together in 2008 as part of an effort to encourage each other to learn a new instrument. What has resulted is a fun exploration of "instruments" ranging from electro-harp to soda bottle percussion to the bulbul tarang (Indian banjo). The four tracks on Glory are proof that they are maturing into a chamber-ish folk rock sound, suggestive of Arcade Fire. Their lyrics are taut and witty while managing to stay on non-annoying side of the twee divide. The first single Where Were You Last Night demonstrates an impressive leap from last years work. Each instrument contributes a unique cog in this machine. They push and pull each other while supporting the call and answer group vocals helmed by the rasp-tastic James Parrish. Its already got a locked spot on my summer play list.

And the comic book you ask? Its a nice look inside the drama and politics that is the Photons with foot notes none the less! Today is Free Comic Book Day btw. so drop into and support your local shop. Then take a second to relish in the simple joy that are The Photons.

Photons website
Where Were You Last Night

Remix Rehash

There were some delicious remixes that came out of the in-box shake this week. Here they be for your head bopping enjoyment.


DTF(edit)- Terror Dactel
Subdrive made a huge announcement this week. They are starting their own open-source digital record label. This track from Terror Dactel is their first release and if this is the standard I look forward to hearing what else Subdrive pushes out. Read all about it here> Subdrive Media

Two Weeks of Hip Hop - Hood Internet
This tasty little gem comes from Chicago's Hood Internet. I keep finding myself hitting repeat like a coked up lab mouse hitting the feeder bar. Yeah, its that good.

Play That Shit Olli Ple Ft. McNasty -Right Handed Barber Mix
Given the endorsement of IAMXL I was biased from the get go. Its got a bit of jock jams reving that has earn it a spot on the iPod "kick your ass in gear" playlist.

Your English is Good (Tokyo Police Club remix) - K-Os
There are a lot of things that I like about this one. It is dynamic enough to intrigue, smart enough not to over do it and lyrically tight.

Little Miss Star - Forcefield Kids
Forcefield Kids are a Newcastle UK "leftfield/lo-fi UK hip-hop act" whose EP comes out on July 6th. There is a bit of The Streets in their delivery and I'm still undecided whether they'll crawl out from under that comparison but I an certain they deserve your listen.

Making Time w/ Simian Mobile Disco

There is a dance party institution in Philadelphia known as Making Time. Depending on who you ask, the history varies but, the gist of the thing is that whenever the powers-that-be have a act they feel like organizing a huge dance-beat-tastic night around they claim a venue and put out the word. In my short Philly tenure I have seen CSS [crazy rowdy intense fun] as well as N.A.S.A. [better off listening to the album] and like many hyped regular-ish dance parties it can be a tough call whether or not it will be the best way to pass a night. However, when they announced that Simian Mobile Disco would be "headlining" their next effort I figured that unless they canceled (a problem that has been plaguing Philly as of late) it would be well worth my $$ to see SMD at least once.

A slew of local DJ's warmed up the crowed until 12 when SMD took the stage. It wasn't a subtle entry by any means. Lights went out. Then a mass of flood lights on stage lit the whole of Pure up like the surface of the sun. Aaaaaaaaaand we were off. The James's worked their tables in a dance choreographed more out of familiarity than great intentional planning (one of the nice parts of being a 5'11 chick is that in heels I can usually get a nice view of the stage from anywhere in the crowd). While they spun their DJ magik one of the tightest light shows of extended memory pushed their beats and carnal bass rhythms to unexpected levels. The crowd was feeling it all the way. Undulating in the trance that good electronic music induces for the entire 95 minutes they were on stage. I'm not often compelled to review electronic shows as they tend not to put much effort into creating a unique experience (ie you would probably have more fun playing their remixes at home with your friends while paying a lot less for booze and cabs). But after witnessing SMD clear gift for entertainment I couldn't help but give them a little love. And you should too. Check out the rest of their tour dates here...

Simian Mobile Disco
Love

Side note- Another Philly dance party habit you should get into is Live Forever at the Barbary. It took over my Saturday night in high Mummer style (seriously check the photos to get the vibe of these events). After a weekend like this my feet are killing me but the pain is oh so worth it!

The Love Language:music for a hot summer night

Wednesday night I hauled all the way up to one of Philly's newer consistently quality music venues Kung Fu Necktie to see The Love Language and Headlights (I will confess to a bit of poor reviewer performace...I missed their set due to a previous obligation but I hear it was v. good). Local act The Robes opened which I was looking forward to because they are involved in a little project I have in the works with some other Philly music kids (more on that to come....). Their sound has a crust of potential that with a little more time and work could melt into a tasty glaze. They do have a really comfortable stage presence though, which made watching them kind of like have a private jam session with friends.

The Love Language set up next and considering their's is a cast of seven it was a pleasantly quick switch. This motley crew efuses gritty lo fi rock with a touch of a southern lilt on their record so I was interested to see how it played live. Well, I can tell you it plays true and then some when you get them on stage. The Love Language is the baby of Stuart McLamb who created the group in an unusual manner, he had the name first and built out from there. Assembling an assortment of friends and family each contributing some serious chops to their unique version of an old school pop sound (and if for you that means N'sync stop reading and go buy Pet Sounds NOW thank me later). They admit to a large swath of musical influnce and touches of Buddy Holly, Jefferson Airplane, The Walkmen and even Roy Orbison are evident and despite this seemingly random amalgum they produce a very deliberate and clean sound.

In addition to being the progenator, writer and arranger for The Love Language McLamb is also the "front man" meaning the live show is where the depth of his talent is on full display. Upon first listening to their album I was immediately drawn to McLamb's straight forward lyric's and hearing them live truly developed the degree of sincerity. He is not one for hiding much of the emotion (both good and bad) behind his songs while on stage. While delivering the heartpanger Sparxxxx he threw himself out there singing straight from whence its inspiration is sourced teathered to the present by a simple bass line and feirce jangley percussion. This unfiltered stage presense lends authenticity and cohesion to the groups overall presentation.

While McLamb's contribution to the success of TLL's sucess is undeniable, so to is the deep well of musical brilliance that brings McLamb's vision to life. Watching the group traverse the course of their album's repetoire while fit cozily on to KFN's smallish stage was a visual demonstration of seven people who are clearly very in tune with each other's role and musical ability. McLamb's brother pushes the edge of brash percussion and tight snares just the right amount so as to make his riffs on songs like Providence little modest gems. On Night Dog the keyboards and rhythm guitar did a nice little dance to a steady tambourine beat. They brought up a member of Headlights to add a squeez box touch to a song and it was pretty aparent the entire troupe was having as much fun putting on the show as we were having watching them. This shared joy peaked nicely with the rollicking and delicious Lalita to top off the set. As I savoured the last bits of their set hanging in the air it occurred to me that theirs is the kind of show you want to see outside on a humid summer evening with a cold beer and folks willing to cut loose a little. I do so hope they pass through town again soon otherwise I may have to make do with hosting a little listening party of my own.

Lalita
Manteo -The Love Language Daytrotter session
*Image courtesy of Michael Triplett