Work Drugs, Live @ Kung Fu Necktie

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bands to watch, concert video, kung fu necktie, live music, live philly concerts, Local Philly Band, Work Drugs, Work Drugs band, Work Drugs Set List

Playing their first set in hometown Philly since February 2012, Work Drugs blew off steam in the form of solid, upbeat chillwave sounds all wearing stone-cool shades and invigorating the crowd.  Highly danceable tracks showed the deep skill set of the band who earlier in March had a great showing at SXSW.  Work Drugs is fronted by two and supported by many.  Tom Crystal on vocal and guitar noises with Ben Louisiana on vocal, key, and synth noises design a self-described sedative-wave, smooth-fi sound proving once again, genres are simply a means for unnecessary classification.  Word Drugs is a golden local musical blend, universally listenable,  that everyone can get behind.  We simply love their sound.

Tracks played on this April 28th evening at Kung Fu Necktie in Philadelphia were off their 2011 efforts Summer Blood and Aurora Lies plus included at least one brand new 2012 single.  We captured video of one below:  License To Drive.  All songs seemed sowed together with precision – instrumentals and vocals complimented each other well live and some we found better than in studio.  Crowd engagement was well represented and we felt brought into the act.  Everything we had hoped it would be, we present to you a few videos from the set below and encourage you to give Work Drugs your attention:

SET LIST

1. Ice Wharf
2. Third Wave
3. Flying Zambo
4. Catalina Wine Mixer
5. Swimmer Girl
6. Sunset Junction
7. License to Drive
8. Blue Steel
9. Physical Acts
10. Daddy Bear
11. Curious Serge
12. Rad Racer

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Gauntlet Hair, Live @ Kung Fu Necktie

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bands to watch, concert video, Dead Oceans records, Don't, Gauntlet Hair, Gauntlet Hair Band, I Was Thinking..., indie music, Keep Time, kung fu necktie, Lights Out, live music, live philly concerts, mexican summer, Mop It Up, Our Scenery, Out, R5 Productions, Rhinoceropolis

What is Gauntlet Hair?  The name would suggest, according to Webster, A protective glove [in this case hair] worn with medieval armor.  Perhaps it means that to old man Webster but to us, Gauntlet Hair is synonymous with the best in experimental Indie music.  Their sound culls upon guitar cords and vocals that sound like they should have been invented long before they were.  A sound that stirs the listener in ways not fathomed.

Gauntlet Hair hails from Lafayette, Colorado and garnered much attention after their performance at South by Southwest festival.  We knew them because Mexican Summer put GH’s first singles on their label.  With their first full-lenth eponymous LP now out on Dead Oceans records, Gauntlet Hair is seeming stronger than ever.

We have been chomping at the bit waiting to see them since we heard their 7″ from 2010 with I Was Thinking… on it.  We sadly missed them in their first Philly appearance as the opening act for the Dodos but were thrilled R5 brought them back as a headliner on October 24th.

Having been worked to the bone during CMJ and other events, we still knew that Andy and Craig and crew would deliver an amazing performance.  They did.  We loved it and feel bad for those that missed it.   Here is some video from Gauntlet Hair’s sick performance at KFN in Philly:

I Was Thinking… | Keep Time | Lights Out | Mop It Up | Out, Don’t | Our Scenery

Toro y Moi, Live @ FUC

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carpark records, Chazwick Bundick, chill wave, concert video, electronic music, firstunitarianchurch, fuc, indie music, still sound, toro y moi, toroymoi

Toro y Moi came to Philly September 12th and played a jam packed show at the First Unitarian Church. Their set touched on all those Chazwick Bundick staples and took place in front of a lava lamp projected backdrop – a second, perhaps, for me in this church. Toro y Moi’s immersive electronic sound enveloped the audience as the crowd came to life hearing such songs as Still Sound, New Beat and Low Shoulder. On the heals of his critically acclaimed 2010 release, Causers of This, T&M eradicated any thought of a sophomore slump with Underneath the Pine from which most all the set list was derived. The show did not disappoint and T&M’s return is anxiously awaited. Here are some videos from that show: