Free Download: Ill-Literacy

[click here to download the new album]
Ill-Literacy is a spoken word group I saw at Messiah my
freshman year. They are amazing, hilarious, and insightful.
They are kindly hooking the internet up with a free album
and my humble site here is one of the official presenters.
Enjoy!

Show Review: MC Psalmist, Johnny Moral, Virtuous

Every Monday night here at MCPC, we have a community gathering. This past week, we were joined by MC Psalmist and two of his associates for a brief message about Compassion International and a short concert of "holy hip-hop".

First up was Virtuous, who looked 20-something but is evidently 40 with children. She did a few short songs (none more than about 2:30), with very focused spiritual lyrics and varying beats. Several of my fellow students enjoyed her set the most and purchased her album, which I found impressive considering I cannot find her online (to have an album and no online presence is practically unheard of).

Next up was Johnny Moral, who told the crowd to get up and join him in various dances he had set to crank/snap-type beats with slightly more vague lyrics including a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor. He had no album to speak of, but is evidently part of this group with MC Psalmist. The most interactive of the three, his dances, jokes, and singalongs elicited a lot of crowd participation.

MC Psalmist is a Queens native Messiah graduate currently residing in Philly. He's been producing and rapping since his teenage years, and though still unable to quit his day job (he has a family to support), his ministry is a major part of his life. Of the three artists, I must say he was the most lyrically advanced, with complex rhymes and punchlines on a par with more successful hip-hop artists. He also showed a knowledge of the audience by playing two songs sampling well-known praise&worship songs for the hook so that we could sing bits we already knew.

Overall I was rather impressed with the confidence and ability of all concerned. It's no easy task to bring hip-hop into an almost completely upper middle class white suburban audience at what amounts to a college chapel service, and to get any crowd interaction/reaction at all is amazing. I'd be interested to see them perform again in a context more conducive to their music.

Show Review: Between the Buried and Me & In Flames

Ever since I discovered Between The Buried And Me this past spring, I’ve been hooked. After hearing Selkies, they quickly moved ahead to be one of my favorite bands. It may be my all-time favorite song. I even wrote a song with sweeps inspired by the solo at the end of the song. All of this being said, when I heard they were coming to Philly, I immediately marked down the date and planned for a crazy night. And quite the eventful evening it was… From nearly running out of gas in stop and go traffic to the actual show, it was quite the event. Unfortunately, in our hitting stop and go traffic, having to stop for gas, having to drop a friend off at Temple, and then discovering that everywhere we wanted to park was full, we ended up late to the show. We missed 3 Inches of Blood and some other band I hadn’t heard of, but got there just in time for BTBAM.


The set was solid. It consisted of: All Bodies, Selkies, Obfuscation, Foam Born A and B and White Walls. Despite being sick, frontman Tommy Rogers came through with his ridiculously powerful screaming and left the crowd to fill in some of the softer singing parts. All of the instrumental work came through with studio-quality precision and, as it usually does, blew my mind. Paul Waggoner’s guitar work is simply amazing.
Closing the night was In Flames. I had listened to these guys a few times before, but they never really did much for me. I feel like them playing after BTBAM took away from the show more than anything. Not that they weren’t good, but they just don’t have as much to bring to the table as BTBAM. The crowd seemed to be just as content with them, however[editors note: I am just as content with them as well]. There was even some crazy drunk guy who jumped from the balcony down to the pit to mosh… Somehow they let you do that at the Troc? Also, during In Flames, the stage lost power for a good 10 minutes. No one really knew what was going on. At the end of the night, the show was a good one and a great time, even looking back on it like a month later.

-Alex Brubaker

Rave Review: Let Your Body Take Control

Well I keep waiting and waiting to find some photographic evidence this went down and can't seem to do so. I thought it was documented online when kids sneeze in the Northern Liberties and Fishtown. I probably missed it cause I don't have a twitter.

Anyway, after the Asher Roth/Lupe Fiasco show, me and a couple friends headed over to 941 Theater (which by the way is about to get shut down because of money issues, educate&donate here) to catch the latter half of Let Your Body Take Control, an occasional throwdown done by the Seclusiasis crew. In this particular case, they were celebrating a bunch of birthdays, the release of the Philly issue of XLR8R and the Street Bass vol. 4 12" with open bar for the 21+ crowd (18+ to get in), free copies of the magazine, and on-site screen printing (?). I got on the list via 51:51 so we all got the discounted $12 cover.

More musically, AC Slater (a Philly native now tearing up NYC and elsewhere with Trouble & Bass), Starkey (who is from Philly but plays more in England), and Dev79 were spinning (I missed Sonkin and Dr. Ew & John Bean). These guys are into heavy bass music of all kinds, which they call "street bass", including dubstep, electro, grime, rap, and much more. They played great sets, some stuff I knew, some I didn't, all with the unifying aesthetic of bass that was evident from 3 blocks away where we parked. The crowd was a mixed bag of ravers, people just looking for a party, and uncomfortable-looking tagalongs scattered among a bunch of hipsters, including one I see around Temple all the time and recognize from this hilarious website. I danced hard enough to notice the building had been ventilated as a theater, not a club, and ended up stripping down to my booty shorts and a wife beater, which was unorthodox but acceptable in this environment. If Seclusiasis is throwing the party, go.

Show Reviews: Chris's Jazz Cafe

Chris's Jazz Cafe is a sweet little spot in Center City with a great atmosphere, diverse crowd, and prices that won't break the bank. I've had the pleasure of enjoying live music here on two occasions. On my first trip, I joined a few friends who'd gotten VIP (read: no cover) passes from a film associate who works there. It being a Monday, the "crowd" was sparse: ourselves, a few customers at the bar, and friends of the musicians. Mike Lorenz was playing guitar, accompanied by upright bass, drums, and piano. They played a couple sets of his own original material. The music was instrumental and definitely more of a modern experimental feel than the jazz I'm used to, but it was an enjoyable experience.

My second journey to Chris's was late on a Saturday evening during the SEPTA strike (the most expensive part of the trip was parking). We paid the $10 post-11:30 cover charge and were seated immediately behind the pianist. Musical stylings that night were provided by vocalist Elizabeth Ross, a similarly equipped rhythm section and a wonderful saxophonist. Their sets ranged from originals and jazz standards to a Beatles cover. On both occasions service was excellent, food was good, and the atmosphere of the place itself was perfect. As the quote from Zagat says on their website: "I came into a room filled with people of all ages (and dress codes) and knew I had hit the jackpot."

Nasty November

Apologies for the lateness of this post, and the fact that I still owe you two show reviews from last month (from Chris's Jazz Cafe and Let Your Body Take Control). I'm currently home sick with the swine flu, and have been miserable and fevered since the Phillies began losing on Thursday. Be that as it may, the following is a list of cool tings going down in and around what I consider the Philadelphia area this month (no that does not, has never, and will not include New York).

Tuesday 11/3,
(21+) The Very Best (Radioclit & African-English singer Esau Mwamwaya), Javelina @ Johnny Brenda's $10
OR
SOLD OUT The Alternative Press Tour: The Academy Is, Mayday Parade, Set Your Goals, The Secret Handshake, You Me At Six @ TLA (or 11/10 @ Croc Rock $17

Wednesday 11/4
Holler Wild Rose @ B-sides FREE

Thursday 11/5
Thao Nguyen & The Get Down, Portland Cello Project, David Schultz @ 1st Unitarian $12
OR
The Get Up Kids, Kevin Devine, The Life & Times @ The Troc $23 (or the next day @ TLA SOLD OUT)(or 11/3 @ 9:30 Club $21)
OR
Quietdrive, The Higher @ Croc Rock $12 (or 11/7 @ Hangar 84 $15)

Friday, 11/6
The Apple Tree Experience (Homeboy Music), The SketchBook Diarys, I Sea Monsters (Homeboy Music), Judges (Homeboy Music), Its in the Blood, Left Astray, Ken Deavers @ The Fiala Building (Camp Hill, PA) $5
OR
Dinner and a Suit, Troubador (Homeboy Music)(show reviews here and here), Color House @ Easton Bible Church $5 (Hainesport, NJ)
OR
Alex Brubaker (Homeboy Music)(show review here) @ C&C Coffee Co. FREE (Chambersburg, PA)
OR
Bro. Calvin (Homeboy Music) presents Praise Unscripted: Ronald Nicholson, Namaste Jones, Project Praise, DJ Fella and Anointed Voices, Kairos Worship Team, Voices of Inspiration Choir, V.O.Y.C.E., Wilbur Nichols, Purpose, Keith McBrown @ Hostetter Chapel (Messiah College) FREE
OR
Talain Rayne (Homeboy Music) @ Starlight Ballroom $?
OR
Falcon Jones, The Mint, Negative Space, Arise This Day @ Chameleon $8
OR
Sean Kingston, New Boyz @ Croc Rock $22

Saturday 11/7
Next Big Thing (upcoming band showcase) @ The Troc $15
OR
Trivium, Chimaira, White Chapel, Dirge Within @ TLA $23
OR
House Exit (Homeboy Music) @ Dillsburg Firehouse FREE (Dillsburg, PA)
OR
About Me About You, Count Me Out, Bells, Promise Me Destruction (Homeboy Music) @ Chameleon $10

Sunday 11/8
Zee Avi, The Mural & the Mint @ 1st Unitarian Chapel $10
OR
Next Big Thing (upcoming band showcase) @ The Troc Balcony $15
OR
Peter Bjorn and John, El Perro del Mar @ TLA $25 (or previous night @ 9:30 Club)

Monday 11/9
Monsters of Folk (Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes & the Mystic Valley Band, M. Ward of She & Him, Mike Mogis) @ Academy of Music $40.50-50.50 ($1 from each ticket supports Art-Reach)
OR
Bob Dylan @ Liacouras Center (Temple) $50 (30 student I think?)
OR
Gwen Stacy, Lovehatehero, Stray From The Path, Ice Nine Kills, Honor Today $12 (or 11/4 w/ A Century Collapsed (Homeboy Music), Visions of Another, Action Plan Process instead of Honor Today @ Hangar 84 $15)(or 11/3 @ Ottobar w/ From This Point On, Life Worth While instead of Honor Today $12)

Tuesday 11/10
Raekwon (of Wu-Tang Clan) @ 1st Unitarian $15
OR
Mercy Mercedes, The Dangerous Summer, Between the Trees, Single File @ The Troc Balcony $12 (or next night @ Croc Rock $10)

Wednesday 11/11
Papa Roach (what?), Jet, Kill Hannah, Morningwood @ Electric Factory $37 (or $34 @ Ram's Head Live 11/9)
OR
Hoots & Hellmouth @ B-sides FREE
OR
Lamb of God, Darkest Hour, Periphery, This or the Apocalypse @ 9:30 Club $35

Thursday 11/12
A.F.I., Gallows @ Electric Factory $29.50
OR
All That Remains, Lacuna Coil, Maylene & the Sons of Disaster @ Chameleon $20 (or @ Ram's Head Live previous night)
OR
We Came As Romans, Broadway, This Romantic Tragedy @ Hangar 84 $15 (or w/ Tides of Man, I Sea Monsters (Homeboy Music), The Air I Breathe, Left Astray @ Champion Ship [Lemoyne, PA] 11/13 $12)

Friday 11/13
Broken Lizard Live (standup & sketch comedy, short films, and preview of next full-length from the creators of Super Troopers, Beerfest, and Club Dread) @ The Troc $29
OR
Peaches, Amanda Blank @ TLA $23
OR
Initials (ex-Taking Back Sunday/The Color Fred [show review here], ex-Versa Emerge, ex-Hot Rod Circuit), The Scenic, Desoto Jones, Impulsive Decision, Bizarre Silence, Super Consumers @ SevenAtSeven (Cherry Hill, NJ) $14
AND/OR
(18+) RED HOT!: Red Cross Benefit Rave featuring DNB, jungle, and dubstep DJs 10pm-5am @ Club Samba $15 advance

Saturday 11/14
Hit the Lights, There for Tomorrow, Vinnie Caruana (ex-Movielife, of I Am The Avalanche), Sparks the Rescue, iRival @ 1st Unitarian $12 (or previous night @ Ottobar)
OR
(21+) Max Tundra (Buzz Band), Deastro @ Kungfu Necktie $10 (or previous night w/ The Water, Comeback Ranch @ The Metro Gallery $10, still 21+)
OR
Forever the Sickest Kids, The Rocket Summer, Sing It Loud, My Favorite Highway, Down With Webster, Kelsey and the Chaos @ the Troc $17 (or w/out Kelsey @ Croc Rock previous night or @ Sonar 11/7 $18)
OR
SOLD OUT Brand New, Thrice, Crime in Stereo @ Electric Factory (or 11/11 @ Sonar also SOLD OUT)
OR
Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia featuring The O'Jays, The New Stylistics, The Delfonics, The Intruders, Jerry Butler, Harold Melvin's Bluenotes, Eddie Holman, and The Jones Girls @ Liacouras Center (Temple) $55-75
OR
Hawthorne Heights, Just Surrender, Punchline, Monty Are I @ Croc Rock $15 (or following night @ Ottobar)
OR
Sean Paul @ Croc Rock $27
AND/OR
MCPC's Spirit of Philadelphia cruise [details] (again shameless self-promotion) $15

Sunday 11/15
SOLD OUT Brand New, Glassjaw, Crime in Stereo @ Electric Factory
OR
Less Than Jake, The Casualties, The Swellers @ TLA $23 (or previous night w/ The Dangerous Summer and Warped Tour doc screening @ Ram's Head Live)

Monday 11/16
Breathe Carolina, Cash Cash, Stephen Jerzak, Kill Paradise, Fight Fair @ 1st Unitarian $12

Tuesday 11/17
J. Tillman (of Fleet Foxes), Pearly Gates Music @ 1st Unitarian $12 (or 11/18 @ 9:30 Club $15)
OR
Bayside, American Sixgun, Eat People, Spark to Inferno @ Ottobar $15

Wednesday 11/18
(21+) Bishop Allen (show review here), Throw Me the Statue, Darwin Deez @ Johnny Brenda's $12
OR
Amanda Palmer (of Dresden Dolls), Nervous Cabaret @ TLA $23
OR
Theory Hazit @ B-sides FREE
OR
Dan Deacon, Nuclear Power Pants, Sick Weapons, The Creepers @ Ottobar $7
OR
Sugarhill Gang 30th Anniversary Party @ Ram's Head Live $20

Friday 11/20
Joshua Radin, The Watson Twins, The Kin @ The Troc $17
OR
Ani DiFranco, Gabby Moreno @ Electric Factory $34
OR
(21+) Hoots & Hellmouth, William Elliot Whitmore @ Johnny Brenda's $15
OR
The Right Coast, The Fold, The Status @ Hangar 84 $15
OR
Dance Rawr Dance III: Family Force 5, Valencia, Young and Divine @ 9:30 Club $15
OR
Alex Brubaker (Homeboy Music)(show review here) @ MCPC FREE (yeah, I'm promoting)

Saturday 11/21
SOLD OUT Boys Like Girls, Cobra Starship, The Maine, A Rocket to the Moon, Versa Emerge @ Electric Factory (or 11/19 @ Croc Rock $25)
OR
Flyleaf, Paper Tongues @ TLA $21 (or previous night @ Sonar $27)
OR
Matisyahu, Trevor Hall @ Sonar $28
OR
Push Play, Emily Osment, Phil Benson, Victory By Revenge (show review here) @ Sonar $14

Sunday 11/22
The Maine, Valencia, A Rocket to the Moon, Versa Emerge, Great Big Planes @ Electric Factory $19
OR
Deadmau5, Burns @ TLA $27.50 (or following night $25 w/ Kim Fai @ 9:30 Club)
OR
Bowling for Soup @ Chameleon $12

Tuesday 11/24
Devendra Banhart, Luke Rathborne @ Electric Factory (seated show) $25 (or following night @ 9:30 Club $30)
OR
Phish @ Wachovia Center $50
OR
In This Moment, In Fear and Faith, Motionless in White @ Croc Rock $14

Wednesday 11/25
Metric, Band of Skulls @ Electric Factory $22 (or 11/23 @ Ram's Head Live $20 minus Band of Skulls)
OR
Phish @ Wachovia Center $50

Friday 11/27
Julian Pelnti (Paul Banks of Interpol), I'm In You @ 1st Unitarian $12

Saturday 11/28
Saving Abel, Red, Pop Evil, Taddy Porter @ Croc Rock $18 (or $25 @ Ram's Head Live 11/24)
OR
Texas In July, With Life In Mind, more TBA @ Champion Ship $10
Maryland Metal & Hardcore Festival III: Throwdown, Bury Your Dead, For Today, Abacabb, In Alcatraz 1962, more TBA @ Sonar $16 ($30 for 2-day pass)

Sunday 11/29
Maryland Metal & Hardcore Festival III: The Faceless, Dying Fetus, Beneath The Massacre, Vital Remains, Annotations of an Autopsy, more TBA @ Sonar $16 ($30 for 2-day pass)

Monday 11/30
Do Make Say Think (members of Broken Social Scene), The Happiness Project (WVMM playlist, member of Broken Social Scene/Do Make Say Think), Years (member of Broken Social Scene/Do Make Say Think, Feist) @ 1st Unitarian Sanctuary $15

Show Review: Lupe Fiasco and Asher Roth

This year's Temple homecoming concert featured Lupe Fiasco, Asher Roth, and Dosage (the opening act I missed because of a friend's birthday mishap involving Distrito). Unlike my previous Temple concert experience, there were no djs working the crowd in between acts, just a bunch of opening shoutouts from MCPB personnel.

Asher Roth took the stage fairly promptly, in contrast to the last time I saw him. Perhaps his punctuality was connected to his seeming lack of marijuana or alcohol, again in contrast to my previous experience. His performance, though slightly less enthusiastic, was otherwise unaffected by this alteration. Approximately a third of his crowd interaction was still dedicated to the promotion of marijuana and alcohol consumption, the remainder reserved for criticizing the evils of commercialism and demonstrating his love for and knowledge of Philadelphia (shouting out Harry Kalas, Jim Johnson, historical sites, and repeatedly claiming Philadelphians as the best people in the world). Despite obvious effort, it seemed much of the crowd were either dismissing him as the one-hit wonder behind the party anthem "I Love College" or drunkenly waiting for that song to justify their attendance. Bright spots included interludes from various other popular songs supposedly being played from his boombox, DJ Wreckineyez' impressive turntabulism performance using Weezer's "Say It Ain't So" leading up to the aforementioned single (the original mixtape version with the Weezer sample that he couldn't clear for the album), the addition of a live drummer to his crew, and Temple girls packing the stage to scream and dance along to dancefloor anthem "She Don't Wanna Man".



Unfortunately the glowing white ball of fun on the stage had no sooner left than the crowd's "Lupe! Lupe!" chant preempted his planned encore... which was then done anyway. Roth's excellent "A Milli" and "Roth Boys" were overshadowed by both the crowd's overwhelming desire for the next act to arrive and familiarity with the original songs using those instrumentals. The ensuing interlude between performances serves as an excellent segue in a brief mention of the venue and atmosphere more generally. This concert was held in Temple's Liacouras Center, a cavernous space the college students only filled up to the first level in most places. Security was fairly tight, but that didn't prevent many concertgoers from smoking assorted varieties of ganja, an activity discouraged only by shining flashlights at offending parties. One couple chose an activity evidently much more discouraged, and provided my friends and I with the amusement of watching security interrupt a repeat sexual encounter on the upper level, unceremoniously escorting the two lovebirds out.






















When the lights came down and a DJ, guitarist, and drummer played the intro to "The Cool", the screaming fans finally got what they wanted-Lupe Fiasco. With guitar and drum solos, fans singing along, peeling off layers of clothing, coming down into the crowd, and his manic stage presence, Lupe was put on what could have almost been described as a rock show, right down to the Jimi Hendrix-sampling "Fire" (free mp3). Any attendees unsure of how hip-hop this was were immediately pacified when he began asking his DJ for various beats, freestyling and performing his "Everybody Nose" N.E.R.D. remix and Kanye collabo "Touch the Sky". Despite substantial contributions from and shoutouts to the instrumentalists and backup vocalist he brought onstage with him, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that this was Lupe's show. Mesmerizing flows from albums new and old, mixtapes, and off the cuff over a variety of beats kept the crowd's attention from start to finish. At one point he almost lost control when he went off on his new album title (L.A.S.E.R.S. which stands for love always shines everytime, remember to smile) in a way my friend Evan Scott described as "a universalistic sermon" that another reviewer complained about here. This diatribe went on just long enough to be memorable, then he got into several snippets from the new album-just enough to interest the audience without providing any bootleg-worthy moments. Clear crowd favorites included skating anthem "Kick Push", "Paris, Tokyo" (dedicated "to all my beautiful, respectable ladies"), and singalong hit "Superstar". Check out some videos taken from far enough back not to blow out the camera mic here to get an impression of what I'm talking about. It was honestly the best live hip-hop show I've ever seen, featuring one of the more versatile artists in the game right now.
Apologies for the terrible sound quality, this is meant to get the vibe of the actual show right in front of a sub. If you want to listen to the music, check out the mp3 link above or buy his album.

Show Review: Sanctus Real, Addison Road, Jason Gray

Friday night I headed down to my friends' alma mater for a Sanctus Real show with my sister. Apparently Red Lion Evangelical Free Church (the parent organization of my friends' school) hosts the occasional concert, sponsored by Reach FM, the local Christian radio station.

I honestly haven't listened to Sanctus Real in quite some time and wasn't entirely sure what to expect from a show in a church/school gym. Singer/songwriter Jason Gray took the stage, armed with an acoustic guitar and intelligently spiritual lyrics set to catchy tunes. Overcoming a significant stutter, his between-song banter was alternatingly funny and profound. Despite some issues with forgetting lyrics, I was impressed by his ability as he used pedals to loop a beat played on his guitar body and a basic riff before adding lead guitar and vocals.




















Next up was female-fronted worship act Addison Road, whose "rockier" numbers failed to get the crowd moving. Their more recognizable worship tunes elicited a much more enthusiastic reaction from the audience, creating a more explicitly spiritual atmosphere. My favorite portion of the performance was a ballad featuring the bass player on a neon green harmonica.

After a short break that served as a promotion for World Vision child sponsorship, reminding me of what makes Christian concerts so positive, the headliners arrived. Sanctus Real has been playing shows since 1996, and that 13 years of experience is obvious. Their evident professionalism was consistent throughout a lengthy set of material new and old, with a little worship tag blended on to the ends of one or two songs. Impressive improvisational solos from each instrumentalist brought musicianship to the forefront, eclipsing fan interaction that bordered on a gimmick. Pulling a fan onstage to introduce the frontman, using an audience member's camera to take a video during the performance, asking a kid who was getting cell phone updates how the Phillies' game was going, and even beginning the encore by walking through the crowd from the rear, frontman Matt Hammitt made sure their fans felt loved. From acoustic numbers, banjos and orchestra bells to singalongs and a pulsating light show, Sanctus Real had it all. Far exceeding my expectations, they put on one of the better rock shows I've seen in a long time while simultaneously communicating their message and avoiding offending an audience primarily composed of parents with young children. As far as explicitly Christian rock goes, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better live act.

Show Review: Janelle Monae

Messiah's Homecoming Dance this year featured a little something new: a live performance by Outkast protege Janelle Monae. After a hits-packed opening DJ set from my friends Steve Harpine (SAB concert executive and member of Pompeii & the Ashes) and Justin Colavita (Frantic Colatitude) that devolved into a dual laptop crossfade mix when Miss Monae wasn't ready to perform at her scheduled time, she took the stage clad in a tuxedo, backed by a full band.

Her performance was at once fascinating and disconcerting, juxtaposing early rock-and-roll sounds with abstract futuristic lyrics and blowing the audience away with consistently impressive vocal stylings. Her songs ran the gamut from lengthy ballad (performed standing on a stool with just one soloing guitarist as accompaniment), to funk, to a driving closer that could have found a home in any Warped Tour mosh pit. Her hysterical theatrics ranged from painting while singing onstage and throwing the finished product into the audience where it spattered expensive apparel with paint, to stage diving directly on my face and crowd surfing during the final song. In the immortal words of King Arthur: "What an eccentric performance!"
[click photo for more]
The remainder of the night was ably handled by my friend Nate Norman's set of deep house and trance jams, closing a dance many Messiah students are not likely to forget.

For more about Janelle Monae, please check out the SAB blog here.

Show Review: Kaci Battaglia

[click photo for more]
If Kaci Battaglia ever graduates from being the one-hit wonder behind "Crazy Possessive", I'll be able to tell whatever generation of my descendants that are screaming along to her top 40 club pop that I once saw her vagina. The singer's brief two-song performance (the aforementioned current single and the upcoming "Body Shots") at Roxxy was memorable for me if only for the anatomy class I found myself and my friends conducting on the dancefloor. Miss Battaglia took the stage long after her promised arrival time, providing a welcome change from the endless repetition that consumes so much of any given night at Philadelphia's few under-21 club parties, clad in a silver bodysuit that was more than skintight. As she and her two backup dancers gyrated to one of the later repetitions of the hook, we became increasingly aware of just how scanty the coverage provided by her shiny getup was. Admittedly, she did a reasonable job of replicating the sound of her songs live and interacting with the crowd, but then again it was only a two song set. Here's a live clip of her doing "Crazy Possessive" wearing the same outfit at some club where the stage had space for two more backup dancers, but it gives you the general vibe:

The One Where I See the Biggest Band in the World.

In September, I was presented with the opportunity to venture to Giants Stadium in New Jersey to see U2. I grew up with Bono and the boys, thanks to my dad's rabid obsession with the Irish megastars. I knew I would someday see these songs of my childhood live; I just didn't realize it would be so soon. Needless to say, I had some pretty high expectations. U2 doesn't just put on a show--they give their audiences the best performances of their lives. Along with expert showmanship, the charisma of Bono as frontman gives every song a sermon-like quality, and as such, he adopts a fairly obvious messianic complex, standing with arms outstretched and head held high. In some strange way, this doesn't seem wrong to me. It's just Bono.
This part of the entry is going to be painful, for you and me both. There's this band called Muse, who are pretty big in their own right (sold out Wembley Stadium in Wales three nights in a row), displaying the power of epic themes in rock and roll, and doing this well with only three band members. I was extremely excited to see them perform, as they were opening for U2. I think the traffic system in New York understood just how excited I was, and deliberately made me wait two hours in the parking lines from the stadium while their entire set played out just one mile away from me. I missed Muse. So, let's talk U2.

I have never before seen such a massive stage. With architecture I can only describe as "intergalactic meets Dr. Suess", over 90,000 people stood and sat captivated by the enormity of it all. The excess here almost mocks U2's incomprehensible fame, and celebrates that sort of indulgence. The band opened the show with an homage to Bowie, playing "Space Oddity" before lighting up the stage for their first song, "Breathe", from newest release No Line on the Horizon. While I am more familiar with (and prefer) old U2, live performances of all of their newest material brought a fresh perspective to even songs I blatantly disliked on the new album (namely "Magnificent"). While my seats were in the 300 level of the stadium, my view was extremely clear, and it was enhanced by video screens that displayed magnified images of each of the band members, along with creative graphics to accompany each song. I sang and danced along to all of the songs that I knew, and jammed to ones I didn't yet. U2 engages the crowd by performing snippets of other well known rocks songs at the beginnings and ends of their own (Bono worked in "Blackbird"from the Beatles after performing "Beautiful Day", and "Stand By Me" after "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"). This integration is seamless and is not contrived, or far-reaching.

Bono's vocals soared as he acoustically performed "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)", a semi-obscure track from their Passengers side project, and his operatic vocal quality resonated chillingly within me. I mean, this guy is freaking BONO and I SAW HIM. And the Edge skillfully recreated the succinct and recognizable opening guitar strains of "Where the Streets Have No Name" with an equally holy feel. Bono picked up an acoustic guitar and led the entire stadium in singing all of "Amazing Grace" before segueing into "Streets". I was floored. If these guys don't give you a preview of real worship, don't ask me what will.

U2's politicism was not hidden in this show, nor in any of their past. As they performed "Walk On", advocates from Amnesty International displayed posters with the face of the Burmese president-elect, who has been held under house arrest for longer than I've been alive, all because she chose to strive for freedom in the face of an oppressive regime. They also flashed images of violence in Iraq on the massive screens before playing "Sunday, Bloody Sunday". These powerful statements are not just statements, but because U2 uses their fame to reach those in need, and to advocate for social justice, their meanings are magnified. It's not just another publicity stunt.

After coming back onstage for a three song encore including "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)" and "With or Without You", complete with driving (annoying) looped bells, this fantastic show had to come to a close. My experience with U2, seemingly thorough for my age, was completely enhanced by seeing them live. Even though I might not want to admit it (because they're my dad's band and all that), they truly put on the best show I have ever seen. Yes, they have the resources to do that, but it's not just the glitz of it--U2 packs power, politicism, and spirituality into every performance, and it is this unrelenting commitment to what they started as that keeps them grounded and functioning for over thirty years with the same lineup. I was blessed by rock and roll that night, and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Show Review: Regina Spektor by Jeff Waters

Each of the two-thousand fans sandwiched into Philadelphia’s Electric Factory are smitten by Regina Spektor’s charm. And who can blame them? The Russian songstress has such a bizarre presence on the stage; one second, she’s giving Tchaikovsky a run for his money, and the next, she’s whacking a chair with a drumstick. Such a wide range of dripping talent has certainly not gotten to the head of the 29-year-old, who seemed unbelievably flattered and, at some points, utterly surprised at the number of voices singing along or the amount of applause received after her songs. Whether she believes it or not, each handclap is entirely deserved. Spektor’s obvious command of the piano, her flawless voice and her quirky and creative lyrics make for quite the show.

Opening with tracks from her new album, “Far”, it was immediately evident that this show would be different from past Spektor shows. Regina was not alone on stage, and was musically supported by a drummer, a cellist and a violin. The show belonged to Spektor, though, and the band was simply an added bonus. Within the first fifteen minutes, Spektor sang about a macaroni computer (The Calculation), barked like a dolphin (Folding Chair), and sang as a heartbroken divorcee who sees her ex involved with another woman while watching from his mouth (Ode to Divorce). Obviously, any worries that Regina’s newfound commercial success would ruin her appeal were immediately tossed out of the window. It was clear that Regina was in top form, and she had the crowd eating out of her hands and singing along at the top of their lungs.

As is the case with all of Spektor’s concerts, the show is driven by her subtle yet undeniably infectious personality. Interestingly enough, some of the most crowd pleasers were ones played away from the Steinway. Bobbing for Apple”, one of Spektor’s signature performance tunes, and That Time were played from her guitar. When Spektor messed up the lyrics during one of the numbers, she said “you all just witnessed the biggest fuckup of the American tour so far. Congratulations!”, which was met with thunderous applause.

Despite the intensity of her guitar numbers, and the enjoyment of her songs with the band, Spektor is at the top of her game when it’s just her and the keys. The crowd responded positively to On The Radio, clapping and singing along to every word. Deep in her set, Spektor peaked during her performance of Apres Moi, a haunting piano number that features a stanza in Russian from a Boris Pasternak poem. Spektor showcased a new song, Carefully Laid Plans, much to the delight of the crowd. After closing her set with Man of A Thousand Faces, Spektor returned to perform a star-studded, greatest-hits encore, featuring Samson, radio hit Fidelity, a riveting performance of Us, complete with the violin and cello), Hotel Song, which featured a beatboxer, and a self-penned, self-proclaimed “country song” called Love You’re A Whore.

During the closing number, Spektor sang “'Cuz they've been there before/And they've come back again/And they always go right back for more”, which sent the crowd into a frenzy. We’ll all be back for more.
- Jeff Waters (his blog is here)

Here's a video of her performing "Us":

Opulent October

Thursday 10/1
(21+) The Soft Pack, TBA @ Johnny Brenda's $12
OR
SOLD OUT Sunny Day Real Estate, The Jealous Sound @ The Troc
OR
(21+) The Mint, Lovemakers, Overlook, The Gills @ The Khyber $8

Friday 10/2
Ra Ra Riot, Maps & Atlases, Princeton @ The Troc $15 (or @ 9:30 Club the previous night)
OR
Relient K, Copeland, Barcelona @ TLA $21

Saturday 10/3
Every Time I Die, Bring Me The Horizon, Oh Sleeper, Architects @ Electric Factory $20 (or previous night @ Sonar $19)
OR
Ghostface Killah @ The Troc $24
OR
Lights, Stars of Track and Field, The Dialogue @ Sonar $12

Sunday 10/4
In Flames, Between the Buried & Me, 3 Inches of Blood, The Faceless @ The Troc $27 (or the next night @ 9:30 Club $25)
OR
Skillet, Hawk Nelson, Decyfer Down, The Letter Black @ Electric Factory $28-48

Monday 10/5
Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Depreciation Guild @ 1st Unitarian $12 (or @ Ottobar 10/1 $12)

Wednesday 10/7
Billy Talent, Poison the Well, AM Taxi @ TLA $18
OR
Grizzly Bear, Beach House @ Electric Factory $28
OR
Wovenhand @ B-sides FREE

Thursday 10/8
Senses Fail, A Skylit Drive, Closure in Moscow, Fact @ The Troc $19 (or $18 the night before @ Croc Rock)
OR
We Shot the Moon (ex-Waking Ashland), Lights Resolve, Destry @ Hangar 84 $15

Friday 10/9
Dinner and a Suit, Troubador (Homeboy Music)(show reviews here and here), Swie Back (Homeboy Music)(show review here) @ The Loft at the Auction House $7
OR
Asher Roth (show review here) @ Croc Rock $22

Saturday 10/10
The Bravery, Living Things, The Dustys @ TLA $20 (or the next night @ 9:30 Club $25
OR
The Mars Volta @ Electric Factory $35 (or @ Sonar 10/11 $42.50)
OR
August Burns Red (show review here), The Acacia Strain, Impending Doom, Mychildren Mybride @ Croc Rock $15
OR
Blitzen Trapper, Wye Oak @ Ottobar $14

Monday 10/12
Them Crooked Vultures (Dave Grohl of Nirvana & Foo Fighters, Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age & Eagles of Death Metal, John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin) @ Electric Factory $47.50

Wednesday 10/14
Colbie Caillat, Howie Day, Trevor Hall @ Electric Factory $27 (or 10/17 @ 9:30 Club $35)
AND/OR
Tiesto @ Electric Factory $50
OR
The Urban Sophisticates (show review here) @ B-sides FREE
OR
BET's 106 & Park Tour: Trey Songz, Mario, Day 26, Sean Garrett, Icebloc @ Sonar $25

Thursday 10/15
SOLD OUT Andrew McMahon (Something Corporate, Jack's Mannequin) @ World Cafe Live
OR
Ray LaMontagne w/ Baltimore Symphony Orchestra @ The Music Center at Strathmore $44.50 (or the following night @ Meyerhoff Symphony Hall)

Friday 10/16
Built to Spill, Disco Doom, Violent Soho @ The Troc $24 (free 21+ DJ set by Doug Martsch of Built to Spill after the show)(or the following night @ 9:30 Club $25)

Saturday 10/17
(21+) SOLD OUT David Bazan (of Pedro the Lion, Headphones), Say Hi @ Kungfu Necktie $14
OR
SOLD OUT Paramore, Paper Route, The Swellers @ Electric Factory
OR
Lewis Black @ Academy of Music $45-65

Sunday 10/18
Mika @ Electric Factory $32
OR
SOLD OUT The Gaslight Anthem, Murder by Death, The Loved Ones, Broadway Calls @ The Troc (or the next day at the Troc $19)(or 10/22 @ 9:30 Club $20)
OR
Pitbull @ Croc Rock $20
OR
Hanson, Hellogoodbye, Steel Train, Sherwood @ 9:30 Club $30

Monday 10/19
New Found Glory @ Chameleon $17
OR
Brokencyde, Kill Paradise, Watchout! There's Ghosts, The Ready Set, Blood on the Dance Floor, Let's Get It @ Croc Rock $14
OR
Youth Group and guests @ Ottobar $12

Tuesday 10/20
Neon Indian, Post Post @ The Barbary $10
OR
From First to Last, Greeley Estates, Therefore I Am, The Color of Violence, Burden of a Day, Embrace the Beauty @ Chameleon $14

Wednesday 10/21
AC/DC @ Wachovia Center $92.50

Thursday 10/22
(21+) Portugal the Man, Drug Rug, Hockey @ Johnny Brenda's $12
OR
Rodrigo y Gabriela @ Electric Factory $37
OR
The Emergency Room (ex-Alkaline Trio) @ the Balcony in the Troc $14
OR
The Electric Six, The Gay Blades, Millions of Brazilians @ Sonar $14
OR
Dr. Dog and guests @ Ottobar $16

Friday 10/23
(21+) Rain Machine (ex-TV on the Radio), Sharon van Etten @ Johnny Brenda's $12
OR
The White Tie Affair, Every Avenue, Stereo Skyline, Runner Runner, The Lives of Famous Men, Victory in Numbers @ The Troc $14
OR
Dr. Dog @ TLA $19 (or the next day again)
OR
Shooter Jennings, Earl Greyhound @ World Cafe Live $15
OR
Powerhouse 2009: Jay-Z (link to concert video here), Keri Hilson (show review here), Jadakiss, Trey Songz, Day 26, Pleasure P, Mario, Jeremih @ Wachovia Center $10-250
OR
Project Pat @ Sonar $20
OR
MTV Ulalame Festival: Paramore, AFI, Dead by Sunrise (Chester Bennington from Linkin Park), Asher Roth (show review here), Kid Cudi @ Merriweather Post Pavilion $25-35

Saturday 10/24
From First to Last, Greeley Estates, Therefore I Am @ Hangar 84 $15

Sunday 10/25
Cartel, This Providence, The Summer Set, The Bigger Lights @ The Troc $17
OR
Andrew Bird, St. Vincent @ Electric Factory $27.50
OR
Drop Dead Gorgeous (show review here) @ Hangar 84 $15
OR
Taking Back Sunday (show review here), Anberlin (show review here), Fun, Gavin Castleton @ Croc Rock $23

Tuesday 10/27
Attack Attack (see complaints about crabcore here and here), I Set My Friends on Fire (hxc soulja boy), Miss May I, Our Last Night, The Color Morale @ 1st Unitarian $13 (or @ Ottobar the next night $14)
OR
Five For Fighting (acoustic set) @ World Cafe Live $25

Wednesday 10/28
The Used, The Almost (Aaron from Underoath) @ Electric Factory $29 (or w/ Drive A @ Croc Rock 10/24 $20 or @ Sonar 10/25 $25)
OR
The White Tie Affair, The Traveling Talent Show, Every Avenue @ Chameleon $14
OR
Zach Vinson @ B-sides FREE

Thursday 10/29
Haste the Day, Divide the Sky, Where the Ocean Meets the Sky, Wish Me Well, At Daybreak @ Hangar 84 $15

Friday 10/30
Cedric the Entertainer @ Academy of Music $59.50-69.50
OR
Army of Me (acoustic), Mike Mangione @ Chameleon $10
OR
Nevershoutnever, Meg & Dia, Now Now Every Children, Carter Hulsey @ Chameleon $15 (or @ Croc Rock 10/20)
OR
Finch, Blessthefall (show review here), Drop Dead Gorgeous (show review here), Vanna, Let's Get It @ Croc Rock $17 (or @ Sonar 10/26 $15)
OR
Junior Boys, Woodhands, Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt @ Sonar $14

Saturday 10/31
Hollywood Undead, Atreyu, Escape the Fate, The Feeling @ Electric Factory $28 (or @ Sonar the previous night)
OR
Silverstein, Madina Lake, I See Stars, The Word Alive @ Croc Rock $14
OR
Cypress Hill @ 9:30 Club $35

Show Review: Troubador and Letters from the Prom

Last Friday Messiah's Philadelphia Student Activities Board (PSAB), of which I am a member, put on a Homeboy Music show featuring my friends in Troubador and the big homie Marc Seeley, who goes by the moniker Letters from the Prom. The following will be my article on the subject for The Broad Street Journal student newspaper:

For the first time ever, MCPC had its own concert. On Friday, September 18th, students were serenaded by central Pennsylvania singer-songwriter Marc Seeley (otherwise known as Letters from the Prom) and Troubador, a band of youthful indie pop upstarts from South Jersey. Sipping hot cider and munching on s'mores and other snacks around a crackling fire in our beautiful backyard as live music floated over the gathered community prompted Director of Community Life Ryan Wilson to wonder, "Why haven't we done this before?"

Letters from the Prom is the solo project of Marc Seeley, a singer-songwriter so talented that he recorded all the tracks (vocals, guitars, bass, drums, keys) on his debut album "Nostalgia Is Dead... And You Killed It" himself. A self-taught musician, he treated us to an hour-long acoustic set of his own material, peppered with occasional covers as diverse as The Postal Service and Bob Dylan, closing with his almost absurdly catchy tune "Discover & Deliver".

Troubador, fresh from a performance on Radio 104.5's local spotlight "Live at 5", played a short set of material from their upcoming "Between the Truth and the Lies" EP and a cover of Nirvana's "Heart Shaped Box". Lead vocalist and keyboardist Erika Ricchini was delighted to play in what she described as "a garden" despite a few minor technical difficulties. Due to a recent personnel change, the first few songs were played with keys, acoustic guitar, and one drum for an effect some students described as "like a lullaby" before being joined by the full kit, electric guitar, and bass for the latter half of the performance.

Be sure to check the bands out at www.youtube.com/icoelmono and www.myspace.com/troubadormusic respectively and look forward to more upcoming PSAB events!

Here's a live electric version of "Discover & Deliver" by Letters from the Prom:


and a video of Troubador performing "Between the Truth and the Lies" on Radio 104.5:

The Future of Music

In case you were wondering, rap music is here to stay, but-regardless of what will.i.am. may tell you, it isn't all about that boom boom pow. Rappers are increasingly collaborating with live musicians, touring, and engaging in other "rocker" behavior, as proved by Kid Cudi's performance on Letterman with Ratatat, a string quartet, and backup singers:

Even Jay-Z has connected with so-called "hipster rappers" like Cudi, Pharrell (of N.E.R.D. and The Neptunes), and Sant(o/i)gold, along with more standard pop/r&b/hip-hop collaborations (wife Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, Mary J. Blige, Memphis Bleek, P. Diddy) and a show-stopping John Mayer performance, all of which were showcased in his Fuse-televised 9/11 benefit show at a sold-out Madison Square Garden in front of a live band (all of which can be found here).

Genre blending is the future. I read an academic paper that claimed hip-hop was the most postmodern form of music because of its basis in sampling and recontextualizing other material in our postmodern age. From Girl Talk's collage of pop samples, to M.I.A.'s Diplo-produced, Clash-sampling reggae/hip-hop "Paper Planes" (which was then sampled for T.I., Lil' Wayne, Kanye and Jay-Z's "Swagger Like Us"), to rappers' and popstars' current electronic obsession, the future of music is going to look a lot like Kid Cudi in front of an indie/electronica band, a string quartet and backup singers on late night TV.

Show Review: Iron & Wine and Roman Candle

Last weekend I returned to lovely Grantham, PA to see Iron & Wine at Messiah's main campus.

Roman Candle, the opening act for the evening, was an impressive Americana/rock'n'roll act playing with the kind of swagger that reminds me why some people (occasionally including myself) listen to country music. Catchy hooks and consummate musicianship combined with well-crafted and thought-provoking songwriting rewarded those in the audience who were initially drawn in by the band's excellent showmanship and confident stage presence. "Why Modern Radio Is A-OK" was the standout song of the evening-at least for my friends and I-with its ironically anthemic take on the quality and lyrical content differences between pop classics and contemporary tunes. You can find the mp3 for free here, but I strongly encourage you to support this band with your hard-earned ca$h, whether by attending a show or purchasing music. Their approach to the internet age is also admirable, maintaining an actual website rather than a myspace page and providing their music for the price of your choice.

Sam Beam (Iron & Wine's one and only member) began his return visit to Messiah College with his cover of The Postal Service's "Such Great Heights" (made famous by its inclusion on Zach Braff's handpicked indie-tastic Garden State soundtrack). His amazing ability to command a crowd's attention fascinated me throughout the evening as his phenomenal voice and nimble fingers filled the room with sound. Though he made the occasional mistake, his unflappability and witty banter maintained an air of casual professionalism rare in the solo performer. Whether it was his liberated approach to Christianity or the fact that he'd been at Messiah previously, his playing-at-a-Christian-college jokes were the best I've heard in my 3 years of Messiah concert-going, including light-hearted jabs at SAB advisor Jeff Rioux, commenting on the exception to the strong language policy granted for "Trapeze Singer", and joking about being "caught" smoking. After a fascinating set, he obliged the audience's request for an encore with a rendition of "Jezebel" that drove home my growing impression that his vocals sound better live, without the processing applied on his many albums. Consider an evening with Iron & Wine a night well spent.

*

*I realize of course that this is a video from his previous visit to Messiah, but the goal was to provide a glimpse of the live experience with high-quality audio to indicate the difference in his vocal.

Show Review: The Dream and Keri Hilson

Welcome week at Temple was filled with activities, including a free concert featuring The Dream and Keri Hilson.

The Dream is a genius in pop music, producing Rihanna's "Umbrella" and Beyonce's "Single Ladies", along with many other smash hits, having written for Mariah Carey, B2K, J. Holiday, Usher, Yung Joc, Jesse McCartney, Ciara, and Mary J. Blige. His performance career has also been filled with hits, included "Shawty is a 10", "Falsetto", "I Luv Your Girl", features on LL Cool J's "Baby", Gym Class Heroes' "Cookie Jar", and his own more recent hits "Rockin That Thang", "My Love" with Mariah Carey, and "Walking on the Moon" with Kanye West. This success has led to marriages to Nivea and more recently Christina Milian, as well as a vice presidency at Island Def Jam Records. Having seen him live, I think perhaps the Dream should stay more behind-the-scenes. Though he (surprisingly) managed to replicate his famous high notes live (for the most part), his stage presence was less than mesmerizing, with little to no dancing, only brief moments of crowd interaction, and a lack of light show or backup dancers for most of the performance to distract from his onstage inactivity. It would have been more interesting if they'd simply played a collection of his music videos on a large screen. To prove my point, here's his clip for "Rockin That Thang":


Keri Hilson, on the other hand, took the stage with an actual DJ backing her up like a rapper would, hyped up the crowd frequently, and was almost constantly joined onstage by backup dancers WITH whom she performed carefully choreographed and actually interesting routines. I had to leave because my friends weren't being allowed in due to late arrival and there was no re-entry, but Keri-for me anyway-lived up to the hype of her early work singing hooks for Timbaland on "The Way I Are" and other songs, writing and singing backup on Britney Spears' Blackout album, and playing the lead role in Usher's "Love in This Club" music video. Her debut album has spawned several hits including "Energy", "Turning Me On", and "Knock You Down". Her willingness to perform some of her early non-solo material and even a cover or two set her apart even more than her entertaining performance already had. If you're into pop/r&b, Keri Hilson is an excellent performer.

Sexy September

Hey kids,
It's time for another monthly show schedule. As of now my internet is still a bit weird, but I'm in Philly at Temple now, so that situation should be rectified in the near future, at which point you can expect more regular posting. I still owe you Warped Tour and Purple Door photoblogs, as well as possible guest reviews of Bob Dylan and Dream Theater from summer. There will also be a forthcoming post on Temple's welcome week concert featuring The Dream and Keri Hilson.
Peace, love, and rock'n'roll,
Foxy


Wednesday 9/2
The Love Language @ B-sides FREE

Thursday 9/3
Four Year Strong, Fireworks, Crime In Stereo, Title Fight @ 1st Unitarian $12
OR
Between the Buried & Me, My Children My Bride, Texas In July, ventriloquist, Below the Tide @ Chameleon $13
OR
The Wallflowers, Butterfly Boucher @ 9:30 Club $25
OR
Pet Shop Boys @ D.A.R. Constitution Hall $55-75

Saturday 9/5
Alice in Chains @ TLA ? (possibly sold out)
OR
Flood The Gates, A Century Collapsed (Homeboy Music), Life In Ruin, TBA @ Hangar 84 $14
OR
Counting Crows, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Augustana @ Merriweather Post Pavilion $35-75

Sunday 9/6
The Right Coast, Racing Kites, Boys of Summer, The Fervour, Darry Miller (Homeboy Music) @ Chameleon $9

Tuesday 9/8
Kings of Leon, The Features @ Merriweather Post Pavilion $36-46

Wednesday 9/9
Punchline, Farewell, Between the Trees @ Hangar 84 $14 (or @ Ottobar 9/7 $12)
OR
Mucca Pazza @ B-sides FREE

Friday 9/11
Absolutepunk.net Next Favorite Band Tour: Between the Trees, Farewell, Punchline, Action Item, Changing Leaves, Fast Track Romance, The Movement, Always Second Favorite, The Sandlot Heroes @ Croc Rock $12

Saturday 9/12
Texas In July, Circus Circus @ Croc Rock $10
OR
Trivium, White Chapel, Dirge Within, Darkest Hour @ Croc Rock $20
OR
Iron & Wine, Roman Candle @ Messiah College $25 (non-students)
OR
Cedric the Entertainer @ Academy of Music $70-80

Sunday 9/13
Perez Hilton presents: Ladyhawke, Ida Maria, Frankmusik, Semi Precious Weapons @ TLA $29.50 (or $20 @ 9:30 Club 9/12)
OR
ZZ Top @ 9:30 Club $75

Monday 9/14
Emmure, Evergreen Terrace, Stick To Your Guns, Oceano, For Today, Action Plan Process @ Hangar 84 $14
OR
ZZ Top @ 9:30 Club $75

Wednesday 9/16
Batida @ B-sides FREE

Thursday 9/17
And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Secret Machines, The G @ 1st Unitarian $12 (or 9/16 $20 @ 9:30 club)
OR
Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Jay Electronica, Medina Green, Black Landlord @ Electric Factory $37 (or $35 @ Sonar 9/16)
OR
Streetlight Manifesto, Outernational, Broadway Calls @ The Troc $17 (or 9/19 $14 @ Chameleon)
OR
Ingrid Michaelson, Greg Holden, Johnny Marnell @ TLA $23 (or 9/18 @ 9:30 Club $20)
OR
Yo La Tengo, Endless Boogie @ 9:30 Club $20
OR
Matt & Kim, Amanda Blank, The Intelligence @ Sonar $15

Friday 9/18
SOLD OUT Thursday, Fall of Troy, Young Widows, Moving Mountains@ 1st Unitarian $17
OR
Jedi Mind Tricks, Immortal Technique, Reef the Lost Cauze @ The Troc $22 (or 9/19 $20 @ Recher Theatre)
OR
Mercy Mercedes, Stereo Skyline, The Readyset, Tina Parole @ Hangar 84 $14 (or $12 @ The Note w/ Sommersault Sunday)
OR
CI Records 14th Anniversary: Open Ravine, Consumer, Motionless in White, This or the Apocalypse, Palermo, Oceans in Love, Adam Taylor, Albert React @ Chameleon $12
OR
Owl City, Kate Havnevik, Unicorn Kid @ The Note $16
OR
Dave Matthews Band @ Susquehanna Bank Center $42
OR
Secondhand Serenade, Parachute, Evan Taubenfeld & The Bust @ Recher Theatre $18

Sunday 9/20
Moby, Kelli Scarr @ Electric Factory $35 (or @ 9:30 Club 9/18)
OR
Stryper (25th Anniversary), Manic Drive @ Croc Rock $20 (or w/ Flight Patterns @ Chameleon 9/23)
OR
Family Force 5, Breathe Carolina, Cash Cash @ Chameleon $15
OR
Dave Matthews Band @ Susquehanna Bank Center $40-77
OR
Gwar, Job For A Cowboy, Mobile Death Camp @ Sonar $23

Monday 9/21
Craig Owens (of Chiodos), Automatic Love Letter (acoustic), The Scenic @ 1st Unitarian $14 (or $12 without The Scenic @ Croc Rock 9/22 or Ottobar 9/20)

Wednesday 9/23
victor victor Band @ B-sides FREE

Thursday 9/24
Regina Spektor @ Electric Factory $37 (or @ D.A.R. Constitution Hall 9/30 $45)
OR
She Wants Revenge, Kill Hannah, New Medicine, Six O'clock Saints @ The Troc $20

Friday 9/25
All That Remains, Lacuna Coil, Maylene & the Sons of Disaster, From Sword to Sunrise @ The Troc $20
OR
Mutemath, As Tall As Lions @ TLA $27 (or $23 9/24 @ Sonar)
OR
SOLD OUT Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ 9:30 Club

Saturday 9/26
Shwayze, B.O.B., Cold Flamez, Beardo, Tabi Bonney @ The Troc $19 (or 9/29 $18 @ Sonar)
OR
Mat Kearney, Diane Birch @ TLA $23 (or 9/24 @ 9:30 Club $25)(or $20 9/22 @ Recher Theatre)
OR
Parkway Drive, Gwen Stacy @ Hangar 84 $14
OR
Mae (show review here), Locksley, Deas vail @ Chameleon $14
OR
Snow Patrol, Plain White T's @ Tower Theater $30-43 (or 9/25 $35 @ D.A.R. Constitution Hall)
OR
The Prize Inside, House Exit (Homeboy Music) @ The Champion Ship $8

Sunday 9/27
A Day To Remember (show review here), Parkway Drive, In Fear and Faith, I See Stars @ Croc Rock $20

Monday 9/28
The Bled, Alesana, Broadway, Asking Alexandria, Madina Lake, Where The Ocean Meets The Sky @ Hangar 84 $14 (or 9/26 without opener @ Croc Rock)(or $17 with Carousel Kings @ Chameleon 9/27)

Tuesday 9/29
Wavves, Ganglians, Reading Rainbow @ 1st Unitarian $10 (or w/ Popo [Mad Decent] instead of Reading Rainbow @ Ottobar 9/30 $12)
OR
Lady GaGa @ D.A.R. Constitution Hall $25-150

Wednesday 9/30
Arctic Monkeys @ Electric Factory $27
OR
Texas in July @ B-sides FREE
OR
SOLD OUT Sunny Day Real Estate, The Jealous Sound @ 9:30 Club

Show Review: Drop Dead Gorgeous, He Is Legend, Before Their Eyes, And Then There Were None

Back in June I went with some friends to a hardcore show featuring And Then There Were None, Before Their Eyes, He Is Legend, and Drop Dead, Gorgeous . Though we were mostly there for ATTWN, a hardcore-turned-techno outfit on Tooth and Nail Records, we were still able to have a great time with the more aggressive bands in the lineup. It was my friends' first hardcore show and our first time at the venue. The Note, a bar in West Chester, PA, seemed a bit incongruous to its surroundings. While West Chester has a bit of charm, the Note has a bit of grunge, with attitude to spare. Wrought iron railings and light fixtures gave it a Gothic atmosphere, and the balcony had leather couches that seemed well used…but still, it’s about the music.

And Then There Were None took the stage first, surrounded by pre-pubescent girls with dyed black hair, TWLOHA tees and Converses. The band only performed five songs, the best of which (“Hospital”) soon had me dancing in my usual nerdy way. With a surprisingly clear and earnest vocalist and melody driven lines, their switchover to the pop side of things was complete. They had a lot of energy, jumping along to bright synth beats and driving guitar riffs. However, the crowd was not impressed. Apparently, dancing is still a sin in West Chester, and my friends and I were the only ones to make an attempt to shake things up. We had a great time, and continued to cheer on the very loud, very computerized ATTWN. To give you an idea of their sound, here's a fan video of their cover of Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek":



After our favorite band left the stage, we were treated to Before Their Eyes, a seemingly inexperienced screamo band in the vein of Hawthorne Heights and the like. I found it humorous that they opened with the dialogue from Willy Wonka during the steamboat scene (“There’s no earthly way of knowing, what direction we are going” etc). They compensated for their youth and inexperience with energy and unexpectedly powerful vocals from their “compact” frontman, and shared the mic with a rabid young fan in the audience who gave the vocalist a run for his money. NOTE: during this time, a circle pit started to form, but it was promptly broken up by security members who take their job entirely too seriously.

He Is Legend took to the stage about 20 minutes later, with flippant and erratic frontman Schuylar Croom making his presence known. The unique “stoner-metal” quality that emanates from the band is simultaneously laughable and respectable. The flannel and long hair of all members contributed to such a label, but their music sets them apart from the other acts that evening. Playing songs from “Suck Out the Poison” and newest release “It Hates You” (ignoring their first, more hardcore album "I Am Hollywood"?), the crowd moshed (as much as security would allow) and screamed their approval in harmony to the powerfully driven metal guitar. It was clear that they were the crowd favorite.
Here's a video of them from the show:


The final band of the evening, Drop Dead, Gorgeous, had a sound that was almost entirely too loud for me to decode. Yes, I understand that hardcore shows are raucous, loud, and rightfully so; however, when volume prevents even basic comprehension of what the heck is being played, there may be a problem. This post-hardcore act was not as energetic or definitive as the other acts on the tour, but they were clearly engaged in their music, with focused performances from a skillful drummer, and pounding guitars. The front man took an arrogant stance on the stage, demanding the audience’s attention with deep guttural vocals, and the audience responded semi-positively. However , with not-so-remarkable breakdowns and an audience clearly more interested in the bands that preceded, Drop Dead, Gorgeous marked the end of the evening well.
With all hardcore shows, a key element is the audience experience. I was extremely put off by the needless insistence of security on ruining the night for so many members of the crowd. Though the crowd was small, and the number of people who actually started to mosh was smaller, they were denied their right to such expression. I enjoyed myself, and my friends did too, but I was not impressed with the management of the venue. As a bar, I thought The Note served its purpose, but as a music venue, especially for hardcore shows, it was not very hospitable. The music was still excellent, but the venue needs to loosen up a bit-it's rock'n'roll.

-Brittany Eltman

Awesome August

Saturday 8/1
Totally Raging in the Round Pool Show: Dan Deacon, No Age, Deerhunter, White Rainbow, Ed Schrader, Infinite Body @ Flying W Airport & Resort (Medford, NJ) $12 (drive yourself)/$17 (w/ shuttle from Philly)
OR
Tinted Windows (Buzz Band) @ TLA $19
OR
An Early Ending (CD release, free CD w/ ticket), Texas In July, Horde of the Eclipse, Hope Runs Deep, My Heart to Fear, I Caught the Alchemist, 20 Shades of Black @ Champion Ship (Lemoyne, PA) $12
OR
Fear Before, Oceana, Memphis May Fire, Of Machines, This Time Next Year, At Daybreak @ Hangar 84 $14
OR
Giants Among Men (Homeboy Music/review here) (EP release show w/ 6 others) @ Silo Nightclub (Reading, PA) $10
OR
All Points West Day 2 (schedule here)

Sunday 8/2
Scream the Prayer 2: The Chariot, Sleeping Giant, Project 86, Oh Sleeper, Gwen Stacy, For Today, A Plea For Purging, Agraceful, Corpus Christi @ Sonar $23
OR
All Points West Day 3

Monday 8/3
Silversun Pickups, Manchester Orchestra, Cage the Elephant @ Ram's Head $30

Tuesday 8/4
(21+) Gang Gang Dance, Hex Message, Mincemeat or Tenspeed @ Kungfu Necktie $12
OR
(21+) Talain Rayne (Homeboy Music) (w/ 3 others) @ North Star Bar $5

Wednesday 8/5
(21+) Now Now Every Children (WVMM Playlist), Bad Veins, Sounds From Atlantis, Makeout Party @ North Star Bar $10

Thurdsay 8/6
Asher Roth (review here), Kid Cudi, B.O.B., 88 Keys @ Electric Factory $27 (or 8/4 @ Ram's Head $30)
OR
Anarbor, Sparks the Rescue, The Dialogue, Rosiere @ Talking Head Club $10

Friday 8/7
Rockstar Mayhem Festival: Marilyn Manson, Slayer, Killswitch Engage, Bullet For My Valentine, Trivium, All That Remains, God Forbid, Cannibal Corpse, Job For A Cowboy, Behemoth, The Black Dahlia Murder, White Chapel @ Susquehanna Bank Center $58
OR
August Burns Red (review here), Bless the Fall, All Shall Perish, Iwrestledabearonce @ Chameleon $17 (or 8/8)
OR
Deadmau5 @ Ram's Head $25

Saturday 8/8
The Clipse, J. Cole @ Starlight Ballroom $18

Sunday 8/9
Jonah Matranga (ex-Far, New End Original, Onelinedrawing, Gratitude) @ 1st Unitarian Chapel (50 seats) $10
OR
Thrash and Burn Tour: Devil Driver, Emmure, Despised Icon, Mychildren Mybride, Veil of Maya, For The Fallen Dreams @ Sonar $20

Tuesday 8/11
Shai Hulud, Reign Supreme, The Carrier, Prophet Said I, Life in Ruin, Action Plan Process @ Hangar 84 $14

Wednesday 8/12
The Scenic, Socratic, Action Item, The Skylife, Robots & Racecars @ The Barbary $10
OR
De La Soul @ Ram's Head $25

Thursday 8/13
The Pretenders, Cat Power, Juliette Lewis @ Electric Factory $52

Friday 8/14-Sunday 8/16
This Is Hardcore Festival @ Starlight Ballroom $55 or $20 a day (bands, etc. @ R5)
OR
Philadelphia Folk Festival: Iron & Wine, The Decemberists, Deer Tick, The Low Anthem, West Philadelphia Orchestra, Enter the Haggis, many more
OR
Purple Door (8/14-15) schedule here

Friday 8/14
I Sea Monsters (Homeboy Music), Aneirin, more TBA @ Champion Ship $8
OR
Liam and Me, The Downtown Fiction, Amely @ Hangar 84 $14

Thursday 8/20
The Scene Aesthetic, The Color Fred (review here), The Ready Set, Stephen Jerzak, Tyler Williams @ The Barbary $12 (or 8/22 @ Sonar)
OR
Colin Hay (of Men at Work), Jer Coons @ Recher Theatre (Towson, MD) $25 (or 8/21 @ World Cafe Live $30)

Saturday 8/22
Bouncing Souls, 7 Seconds, None More Black @ The Troc $21

Sunday 8/23
Bouncing Souls, Lifetime, Tim Barry @ The Troc $21
OR
Blue October, Switchfoot, Ours @ Ram's Head $35

Tuesday 8/25
Emery, Maylene & the Sons of Disaster, Closure in Moscow, Ivoryline, Kiros @ Recher Theatre $15

Wednesday 8/26
The Vivian Girls, The Beets, TBA @ The Barbary $10

Thursday 8/27
Blink-182, Weezer, Taking Back Sunday (review here), Chester French (WVMM playlist) @ Susquehanna Bank Center $65
OR
Red, Our After, Squash, Shelflyfe @ Chameleon $14
OR
KC & the Sunshine Band @ Ram's Head $45