Xiu Xiu, Live @ FUC

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concert video, first unitarian church, first unitarian church concerts, fuc, indie music, polyvinyl, R5 Productions, xiu xiu, xiu xiu band

The decade old project of Jamie Stewart, Xiu Xiu, played a fresh set at FUC in Philly on the third of May 2012.  This avant-garde experimental indie group has existed as a solar system of artists with one star.  The current orbiter (since 2009) is Angela Seo.  The history around Xiu Xiu is deep and saving a regurgitation of this, we simply point you to wikipedia for many paragraphs on the subject.

We can state unequivocally that the performance was moving and energetic.  Coasting in between soft and hard sounds, Xiu Xiu created an atmosphere that held gravity in a state of influx allowing those in attendance to ebb and flow with the metaphorical currents;  quiet interludes pulled at the feet while  soaring guitar solos and haunting vocals pulled the listener up off the ground.  Percussion sounds added to the visceral feel that was manifested and we were happy to be in attendance for yet another stunning performance at FUC for Xiu Xiu.  We have a few videos for you below and apologize in advance for the partially obscured shots:

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Reptar, Live @ Kung Fu Necktie

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Athens, bands to watch, concert video, indie music, kung fu necktie, live music, live philly concerts, Reptar, Reptar Band, Spotify link, Vagrant Records

The talented and assiduous indie electronic dance act Reptar played KFN in Philly on April 13th to a packed crowd.  We were pleased to see Philly come out in such force for an act not on the radar for many – but we predict they will be soon enough in the same way Reptar has developed a huge following in the southeast from their home base of Athens, Georgia.  With an EP, Oblangle Fizz Y’all, chocked full of singles and a new LP out May 1st, Reptar is on the launch pad ready to take off.  The band began under its current moniker in 2008.  Comprised of Ryan Engelberger (bass), William Kennedy (keys), Andrew McFarland (drums), Graham Ulicny (guitar, singing), and Poof Daunghty (percussion, keys) Reptar the group is current on the Vagrant Records imprint.

++ Reptar on Spotify ++

Reptar’s catchy tunes translate into an exuberant concert environment.   They make parties.  Every song was delivered with energy that instantaneously infected the room.  Brilliant.  Reptar played numerous new tracks in addition to old staples.  Lined up against the front of the stage, Graham took many occasions to talk to the crowd and parlay the eventual frenzy brought on by their new single, Sebastian.   Eventually, this track was precipitated by consensual neighborly head touching (there isn’t a easy way to describe this dammit – it’s on the first video though so suggestions are welcome).  At the conclusion of that insanity, Reptar ran into Sebastian and the floor boards at KFN rocked like a schooner in the middle of the Atlantic.  A solid performance, you can check out some of our video below:

Tanlines, Live @ Voyeur

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brooklyn, concert video, IAMSOUND, live music, live philly concerts, making time, making time philadelphia, Spotify link, Tanlines, Tanlines band, True Panther Sounds, voyeur nightclub concert, voyeur philly

The Brooklyn based tropical synth duo, Tanlines, comprised of Jesse Cohen (see:  Professor Murder) and Eric Emm (see: Don Caballero) delivered stunning sounds at the April Making Time Event at Voyeur.  On this Friday the 13th, there was nothing scary about what was played on stage.  Shimmering guitar highlighted familiar dance hall beats and the crowd was worked into a frenzy.  Packed deep, we were treated to amazing calypso and South African beat tinged euphoria.  Tanlines played songs off both their 2012 and 2010 releases and it was fantastic.

++ Tanlines on Spotify ++

The set was highlighted by fervent bongos and soothing vocals characteristic of the Tanlines catalog.  We enjoyed every minute of it and only wished for an encore.  That withstanding, Tanlines are a mind blowing act that will alter your state of consciousness and take you to inner worlds undiscovered.  Check out some video from the night below and head on over to the Tanlines website for more info.

Niki & The Dove, Live @ Voyeur

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concert video, live music, live philly concerts, making time, Niki & The Dove, Niki and the Dove, Niki and The Dve band, Spotify link, Stockholm, Sub-Pop, Swedish Band, voyeur nightclub concert, voyeur philly

Niki & The Dove delivered a magical light-filled performance at the making time event @ Voyeur nightclub on March 9th.  Originating in Stockholm, Sweden, the Sub-Pop signed duo of Malin Dahlström and Gustaf Karlöf have been around in their current configuration since 2010.

+ Niki & The Dove on Spotify +

Niki & The Dove deliver Pop music outside the realm of traditional over-production and corporate tweaking.  It is a pure and raw electronic pop sound that is on the precipice of even greater US popularity.   You can cop their new album out May 14th.

Check out a few of our vids from Niki & The Dove’s performance below.  They played about 5 songs and we got video of two of them:

Bear In Heaven, Live @ Voyeur

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Bear In Heaven, Bear In Heaven band, brooklyn, concert video, Dead Oceans records, Home Tapes, live music, live philly concerts, making time, making time philadelphia, Spotify link, voyeur nightclub concert, voyeur philly

Philly is lucky this year.  It gets to see Bear In Heaven at least twice in 2012.  We have been looking forward to seeing them since we heard You Do You two and a half years ago.  The Brooklyn based band formed by Jon Philpot plays an experimental, psych-synth, indie rock medley and is damn hypnotic.  Bear In Heaven was playing this Philly show at Voyeur on March 9th prior to their SXSW jaunt and they made it count.  Tracks were delivered with the same sound as captured on wax and the show was wildly engaging with Jon coming into the audience and dancing while also playing multiple instruments and singing.  Joe Stickney, and Adam Wills laid down guitar and drums seamlessly and the entire set piece was brilliant.

++ Spotify Playlist ++

With their most recent album, Bear Rest Forth Mouth, getting some best new music honors from Pitchfork we know the critics realize the power in Bear In Heaven’s music too.  On the back of this release will come I Love You It’s Cool, their fourth release since 2003.  We look forward to this and Bear In Heaven’s May 2nd performance at FUC in Philly.  Cop your tix here.  We did (plus Blouse off Captured Tracks is opening and they are simply fantastic).  Check the Bear In Heaven vids:

Saint Motel, Live @ Kung Fu Necktie

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bands to watch, concert video, indie music, kung fu necktie, live music, live philly concerts, Los Angeles, Saint Motel, Saint Motel band, Self Released album, Spotify link, swollen fox show, y not radio show

Every so often we attend a show semi-blind and don’t quite know what to expect.  This, on occasion, proves to be a decision that stuns with it’s seemingly perfect fate.  The Saint Motel set at KFN on March 3rd presented by The Swollen Fox and Y-Not Radio was just such an event.  Music that made us want to re-listen to their entire catalog.  Music that made us want to continue to search through the myriad of quality, and not so quality, band output to find another so exciting.  We wish another chance to replicate the experience would come soon as this was truely great to watch and hear.  A/J Jackson Jr., Dak, asharp, and G.S. Erwin are an LA-based quartet with a jubilant sound delivered via fierce drums, nasty guitar solos, steady bass lines and harmonic vocals.

Saint Motel on Spotify

 The effort displayed was partially measured in sweat as KFN was extremely hot for a winter night.  The remainder was displayed in passionately delivered verse, chord and beat to a crowd who knew what they were seeing was way above average.  Saint Motel is a band to be seen while you can outside of L.A. and before the machine gets a hold of their obvious talent.  We know wide success for them is always at their doorstep, and that Saint Motel is a band to watch and listen.  Check the link above for their catalog on Spotify and take a peep at the videos from the evening below.  Please also note, these guys cover a Del Shannon track – My Little Runaway.  How sick is that?  It’s the third video down:

Young Empires, Live @ Kung Fu Necktie

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bands to watch, concert video, electronic music, Haute Rock, indie music, kung fu necktie, live music, live philly concerts, Spotify link, swollen fox show, Toronto, y not radio show, Young Empires, Young Empires Band

Young Empires from Toronto, Canada graced the KFN stage on March 3rd courtesy of the Swollen Fox and Y-Not Radio.  Dripping in big beat indie-electro goodness Young Empires wasted no time plunging head first into a set of mesmerizing tracks.  The energy transfer from band to crowd was ephemeral and lasted long after the last note faded out of the stage amplifiers, through the hot confines of KFN, and into the warm Philadelphia winter evening.

▲ Young Empires on Spotify ▲

Young Empires, comprised of Matthew, Aaron, Jacob and Taylor, have a sound that transcends live recording and hits with the force of a mega-ton bomb in a live arena.  Primed for future success with a new album out now and several EP’s worth of material prior, we look forward to seeing these guys get the recognition they deserve.  Young Empire’s eventual return to Philly is eagerly awaited and we feel fortunate to have been in attendance for their first go-around.  Check out some video from their set below and make sure to check out our favorite song of theirs, Enter Through the Sun:

She Came Crashing, Live @ The Level Room

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concert video, electronic music, indie music, live music, live philly concerts, Local Philly Band, Phonographic Arts, She Came Crashing, She Came Crashing Band, The Level Room

She Came Crashing continues to impress with a sound brilliantly delivered in live vernacular.  This performance was from another Philly band we feel is improving with each performance.  Despite initial sound issues outside her control, Amanda  seized ears with entangling synth-pop a la white keytar with Ray back on beats.  Dope.  Citing diverse influences such as mewithoutYou, Dr. Dog, Nero, Radiohead, Sleigh Bells, and Santigold, She came Crashing offers its own submission into the ring of good music to hear live and dance to in Philly.  Check out some video into the darkness below:

Instamatic, Live @ The Level Room

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concert video, electronic music, Instamatic, instamatic band, live music, live philly concerts, Local Philly Band, Phonographic Arts, The Level Room

We caught the increasingly honed group Instamatic from Philadelphia at The Level Room on February 18th for a second time (video from the first set we caught them here).  The synthpop quartet of Steven Haslam, TJ Adams, Philip Schorn, and Rick Mitchell were in the ether this night with fantastic electro-disco stylings.  Otherworldly music emanated like a fast moving fog from the dark stage and the new-wave gods were stirred.

Our video primarily caught the house light display licking like electric flames at the ceiling accented by hot synths/keyboards and steady beat.  We like these guys more every time we tsee them.  Check out our video below – albeit more for the sound than anything else.  We need better lighting Level Room!:

** note these are the last two songs of the set although out of order.

Fire in the Hearts and Minds, Live @ The Level Room

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concert video, Fire in the Hearts and Minds, Fire in the Hearts and Minds band, indie music, live music, live philly concerts, Local Philly Band, Phonographic Arts, The Level Room

This is the second article in a series reviewing sets from some of the best bands in Philly at the Level Room NYE2012 show produced my Phonographic Arts. This show played double duty as the last show of 2011 and the first of 2012 and was amazing.

Not be lost in the vast NYE line up at The Level Room was the Philly standout A Fire in the Hearts and Minds. Comprised of Douglas Foulke Jr. on Guitar and vocals, Ben Roysden on bass, and Chad Hoffmann on Drums, these guys play a self-described musical amalgam of Torche, Hum, Pixies, Joy Division, bleach-era Nirvana and blue-era Weezer. In practice its pretty damn fantastic. These guys are even giving away their new album via bandcamp so you have no reason not to grab that.

Obscured in the following video is much of the stage ongoings due to very low lighting. The sound is there though and we really appreciate what these guys are doing. Check some live video [for all intents and purposes audio] out for yourselves: