Mayer Hawthorne, Live @ Union Transfer

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concert video, indie music, live music, live philly concerts, Los Angeles, Mayer Hawthorne, Mayer Hawthorne & the County, Mayer Hawthorne and the County, Mayer Hawthorne live, R5 Productions, Spotify link, Stones Throw, Union Transfer

Once Upon a time, Mayer Hawthorne was the DJ for the hip-hop group, Athletic Mic League and was known as DJ Haircut.  Evolving from this professional start, Andrew Mayer Cohen has honed his chops into the current neo-soul format.  Seen, heard and signed by Peanut Butter Wolf of the Stones Throw imprint in 2008, Mayer Hawthorne has developed a full live band format for tours and a few recorded pieces called The County.  Together they delivered a crowd moving multi-dimensional performance.

++ Mayer Hawthorne on Spotify ++

Mayer Hawthorne and The County’s April 18th set at Union Transfer in Philadelphia was indicative of their typically intimate design.  Crooning from a lush retro-stage setup replete with leather study chair, 50’s-esque lounge decor and illuminated MH and heart logos affixed against the stage back, Mayer Hawthorne brought the crowd into his performance.  The County did the same.  The Mayer Hawthorne compliments consisted of bassist, guitarist, electric pianist and drummer.  All dressed to the nines, The County provided a great soundtrack to the vocal and guitar prowess of Hawthorne.

Highlights of the evening were an audience member using an iPad at the stage front and being called out for it (we caught that on video below), crowd photo opps provided by the band, hearing most every song in the MH catalog, and Hawthorne’s red shoes.

We videoed a few songs at the begning of the set and have those for you below.  Enjoy:

Girls, Live @ Union Transfer

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bands to watch, Christopher Owens, concert video, Girls, Girls Band, live music, live philly concerts, R5 Productions, San Francisco band, Union Transfer

Girls played a stunning set at UT in Philly on January 13th, 2012.

Girls are an Indie Rock band out of San Francisco California.  The band has a core of two: Christopher Owens, who writes & sings, and Chet “JR” White, who plays bass & produces.  Owens came to CA by way of TX and was formerly a member of Holy Shit with Ariel Pink.  Having released their second LP at the end of 2011, and with an EP already under their belts, Girls has built up a sick collection of tracks and they appear to be hitting their stride if never before.  The band has received critical acclaim from the tradition music critics on the back of musical influences such as Queen + Guns ‘N Roses.  But make no mistake, their sound is very different from these.  Trying to describe it is pointless.

Girls

On this evening Girls brought a full production to the stage replete with drummer, keyboardist, backing guitarist,  and 3 lovely soul singers.  The microphone stands and other stage props were adored with flowers bouquets which would be tossed into the crowd following the last song of their encore.  Christopher wore jeans reminiscent of 80’s lady Jordache styling and his top was a beautiful black velvet number with a high mid-drift and over-sized neck-hole.  Belting out tracks and shredding his guitars, there was no doubt who the star here was.  This set in particular left us feeling musically high and we wanted to hear every song the band was willing to give.  Watching the vides from the evening transports us back to that amazing time, each and every time.  Check them out below and definitely get out and see these guys when you can:

Son Step, Live @ Johnny Brenda’s

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concert video, johnny brendas, live music, live philly concerts, Local Philly Band, Son Step, Son Step band

Playing Johnny Brenda’s on January 5th 2012 was a magically eclectic sounding Son Step from our own Philly.  Infusing elements of funk, garage, folk, soul and more, Son Step played an inspiring set.  The four piece is comprised of jon coyle on vocals, little drums, electrics, pat lamborn on vocals, guitar, chris coyle on bass and matt scarano on big drums.  Check out their bandcamp and website for some of their recorded work.

Like nuclear evolution Son Step’s sound morphed on stage moving the listener in and out of chord and tempo changes and delivering an awesome experimental type sound. We enjoyed many things about the Son Step set; but perhaps most was the originality of their compositions.  Check them out when you have a chance and take a peek at our video from the evening below:

Icebird, Live @ Union Transfer

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concert video, Icebird, Icebird band, indie music, live music, Local Philly Band, R5 Productions, RJ's Electrical Connections, RJD2, Union Transfer

Philly’s own Icebird, a brilliant combination of Aaron Livingston and RJD2, played the Union Transfer on October 15th to a packed crowd.  Icebird plays an incomparable blend of Soul, Rock, Folk and Hip Hop and their first single Going and Going, and Going is a doozy.

This was the fourth stop on their first major tour and they pulled out all the stops for the hometown crowd.  Rolling through pretty much every track on their new album, The Abandoned Lullaby, Icebird had a huge backing band including RJD2 on keys and others on guitar, cello, drums, and bass.  Though the sound was not loud enough through the start of their set, by the time they returned to stage for an extra encore at the end of RJD2’s set, everything was on point.  Aaron directed the crowd who repeated his verses and moved organically to the sound having been brought back on stage by RJ.

Icebird plays an end-of-show encore post RJD2 performance

Icebird plays a dynamic range of songs from fast to slow paced and, by in the large, the crowd responded well.  While the buzz we heard was mostly of curiosity as to their origins, we have no doubt that soon many more will be familiar with this stellar Icebird project.  In the end, as the near capacity crowd poured out the doors, all in attendance with a pulse had been moved by Icebird’s performance.

Check out some video from the show including Going and Going, and Going, Charmed Life, & Just Love Me: