F. Stokes, Live @ Union Transfer

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Chicago, concert video, F. Stokes, F. Stokes artist, live music, live philly concerts, R5 Productions, Union Transfer

F. Stokes of Chicago, IL is a Hip-Hop, Spoken Word, and Blues performer whose live performance dwarfs his recorded material we have heard to date.  No disrespect to the material of his which is currently available digitally and physically; it is a testament to F dot’s ability to work a crowd and deliver a believable performance.

Coming on strong at the Union Transfer stage, F dot caught his groove as far as we were concerned about two songs in.  At this point, the show had gotten personal and a hooper named Halo was brought on stage as a set accouterments dazzling the audience with the vibrant light and motion of her hula hoop.  F dot rolled through songs creating little vignettes with each.  First sitting on the edge of the stage when no bar stool could be delivered to him and addressing those in the pit while they we sitting down (a request had been made for us to do so, and the audience naturally obliged).  Going between rhymes and spoken word with a DJ filling in the blanks, F dot joined those of us in the pit and proceeded to deliver all but his last songs from this location.   He worked the crowd like a true pro having us circle around him and having audience members complete song verses while addressing others specifically.  It was an amazing experience to be sure.  First of a kind at the Union Transfer for LPC.

At the end of the evening, we really felt we knew this guy – F. Stokes – a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and is not afraid to be different and be judged for it.  A man who appreciates his audience and has no intentions of putting himself on a pedestal around them.  F. Stokes is a real person, a real performer, and a real musician.  Check out some video from the evening below:

King Krule, Live @ Union Transfer

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bands to watch, King Krule, live music, live philly concerts, R5 Productions, Union Transfer, United Kingdom, Zoo Kid

Those in attendance at Union Transfer in Philadelphia on January 12th 2012 got a sneak peak into what will become an increasingly popular name later in the year – King Krule.  Starting out in 2010 as Zoo Kid, King Krule changed his stage name/band name in the middle of 2011 already having had several scene-popular tracks under his belt. Continually building the repertoire, Archy Marshall aka King Krule, has a muddled-melodic and slick vocal sound that glides above bluesy-rock eclectic guitar.  To miss this would have been a tragedy.

Putting on a tight show with backing band, King Krule embedded a sound in our brains that will remain there indefinitely.  The 17 year old took the stage like a veteran and we can only but imagine what it’s like to be across the pond, playing big venues, in a project of your own creation at that age.  Stunning show.  Talent like that should support a long career and we truly hope King Krule doesn’t fall through the cracks.  We are betting he won’t.  Check him out:

Sneaking Suspicion, Live @ Kung Fu Necktie

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concert video, kung fu necktie, live music, live philly concerts, Local Philly Band, Sneaking Suspicion

We have a Sneaking Suspicion you haven’t heard of this band and it may be because they are so new that we caught their first show!  The members of Sneaking Suspicion are anything but new to the Philly band scene though.  These guys are amazing. On September 29th they seriously killed it.  We were standing there not believing what we were hearing.  Original material plus Paint it Black by the Stones and Dazed and Confused by Zeppelin were played.  Simply put: if you guys see this band playing, do not miss them.

Sneaking Suspicion is Ry, Bean & Jay-Rod and they all have pedigree.  It is the side project of their dub rock venture Among Criminals and is a Punk, Blues, and Garage Rock mix.

Their songs are tighter than most who have playing their repertoire for years yet it’s all new stuff.  You could tell how much fun they were having as they shredded each and every track.  Ry on guitar and lead vocals is otherworldly in his solos and his voice is on point. Bean lays down thick and inspired bass beating the strings like a madman.  Jay-Rod solidifies the sound with his sick drum skills.

We like these guys a lot and suggest you get out and catch them in their natural element soon.  Here is some video from that unbelievable inaugural performance: