Cheers Elephant, Live @ World Cafe Live

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bands to watch, Cheers Elephant, Cheers Elephant band, concert video, live music, live philly concerts, Local Philly Band, World Cafe Live, World Cafe Live Philly

Cheers Elephant is a band capable of fully developing tracks on multiple layers with stand-out vocals and great instrumental harmonies.  It is one thing to be capable but another to execute.  We posit they do just that, execute groovable/rockable/danceable music. Their sound is always engaging and their sets are always a good time.  Doin’ It Right off their 2012 release Like Wind Blows Fire is one of our favorite tracks of the year.  At last count, 93 plays. The obsession with this track started on record store day of this year when we bought one of their albums after their live performance on South Street outside Repo records.

So, this was the third time we have caught them and the first time indoors.  It was also the first time we took video.  Derek Krzywicki, Jordan del Rosario, Travelin’ Mat, and Robert Kingsly round out the talented four piece.  Penning incredibly catchy tracks and putting out music videos in 3D are just parts of Cheers Elephant’s portfolio.  With a new album out this year and many local performances for the hometown band, Cheers Elephant is poised to take larger and larger stages.  Check out some of their music via the player below and pick up their merch:

On this night Cheers Elephant played World Cafe Live Philly downstairs.  You know how good this venue sounds and it was a great place to hear them again.  We caught 6 of their tracks which are all on YouTube for your viewing pleasure:

Lantern, Live @ Kung Fu Necktie

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bands to watch, Bathetic Records, concert video, kung fu necktie, Lantern, Lantern band, live music, live philly concerts, Local Philly Band

A Lantern is a device used to illuminate an area desired by the wielder.  On July 11, 2012 the Philly-based rock heavyweights of the same name decided that they wanted to see Fishtown lit up with plain nasty guitar work by both Zach and Emily, bass line trade offs, booming saxophone, hints of harmonica, and steady percussion.  The performance was the first of their summer tour and had the crowd intrinsically hooked.

On the heels of yet another diverse and powerful tape now out of Bathetic Records, Lantern continues to put out fully developed albums in variously intertwined musical dialects. Drawing comparisons would potentially derail clearly seeing the minds that drive the direction of the band for what they are:  immensely talented and original.  This is not half-cocked derivative sound.  We love it and wish concerts were more frequent.  Music needs musicians and sound like this.

I rest my words now and direct you to our videos from the evening below:

Bass Drum of Death, Live @ Johnny Brenda’s

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bands to watch, Bass Drum of Death, BDoD, indie music, johnny brendas, live music, live philly concerts, Mississippi, R5 Productions, Spotify link

Circling in a tight orbit of incendiary sound, Bass Drum of Death alters gravity in the most pleasing of ways for garage rock enthusiasts.  John and Colin create a music of great proportion and interest to those satiated by the genre.  The Mississippi-based BDoD has released their debut LP to positive reviews and we were excited to hear it performed live at JB’s in Philly June 10th, 2012.

++ Bass Drum of Death on Spotify ++

Most every track was covered on the new LP, GB City as was the song White Fright off their tour only DZDR split.  On this evening the band was three strong and the sound was more voluminous from it.  Haunting in their distortion, vocals pierced through the  sludgy electric guitar, bass and drum beat.  BDoD killed it and we are stoked to hear more output from these guys.

Five videos await your viewing pleasure:

DZ Deathrays, Live @ Johnny Brenda’s

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Australia, bands to watch, concert video, DZ Deathrays, DZDEATHRAYS, DZDR, indie music, johnny brendas, live music, live philly concerts, R5 Productions, Spotify link

Listening to the DZ Deathrays album as I peck out this review makes me press the keys with extra ferocity.  The whole delivery is a sonic boom at 1,000 feet and their live set exceeded this.  The Australian band took the stage at Johnny Brenda’s in Philadelphia dispatching a dense fog of drum beats, guitar chords, and effortless vocals.  A clear Death From Above 1979 influence permeate some tracks – the comparison is meant to commend the sound DZDR’s delivers as DFA1979 is one of our all time faves.  Their efforts are finally garnering Pitchfork attention at a time when the sirens have already lured in so many.

++ Spotify Link to DZ DEATHRAYS ++

Immaculate execution on numerous tracks off 2012’s Bloodstreams, DZDR’s left us wanting an encore.  Bones rendered in electric garage punk rock, Shane Parsons and Simon Ridley delivered a thrashed first performance in Philly and one that everyone in the room should remember for a time to come.  Dig some videos we took below:

White Fence, Live @ Johnny Brenda’s 0518

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bands to watch, Drag City Records, indie music, johnny brendas, live music, live philly concerts, Los Angeles, R5 Productions, Spotify link, white fence, white fence band, woodist records

White Fence is one of Tim Presley’s stunning projects hailing from the sunny left coast.  In addition to The Strange Boys, Hair,  and Darker My Love, Presley delivers a garage sound that culls upon tones from an era gone by, namely the late 60’s, while concurrently sounding grounded in 2010’s garage folk punk revival (now we are making genres up). This was the second time we have caught his act at Johnny Brenda’s and we dare say it was even better than the last.  His current effort Family Perfume volumes 1 & 2 is chocked full of sturdy tracks and is an amazing listen.  It would seem there is no stopping the waterfall of music being produced.

++ White Fence on Spotify ++

White Fence played a sick set of tracks that laid out the red carpet for two tracks he would play with Ty Segall in their Hair project.  Since it is impossible to really overshadow ones-self, we simply point out that which was better was irrelevant.  White Fence alone made the show worth every penny and more.  We had been following the project since its eponymously titled debut in 2010 and our liking has only grown with each release – now on number three.  As such, we are proud to present several videos from that May 18th performance performance at JB’s in Philly.  Do yourself a solid and go see him shred:

The Spinto Band, Live @ Kung Fu Necktie

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bands to watch, concert video, delaware, kung fu necktie, live music, live philly concerts, spinto band, Spotify link, the spinto band, the spinto band residency

The Spinto Band is one of those amazing local bands we have caught on numerous occasions but had never filmed.  We finally got our act together and did so the second night of their May 2012 Kung Fu Necktie residency.  What a show it was.  What a band they are.  A shining star rising from the first state, The Spinto Band are definitely one of our favorite bands to come out of Delaware in awhile – and they have been doing so for well over a decade.

++ The Spinto Band on Spotify ++

The six piece consisting of Jon Eaton on Guitar, Nick Krill on Vocals & Guitar, Thomas Hughes on Vocals & Bass, Jeff Hobson on Drums, Sam Hughes on Keyboards & Vocals, and Joe Hobson Guitar & Vocals is not new to laying down catchy tracks.  Now with 14 plus years behind them, The Spinto Band can look back upon a catalog of 10 LPs and multiple EP’s.  The band has hit an energetic stride over the last 6 years and picks up steam with age.  Their new album Shy Pursuit was just released this year.

This residency will see The Spinto Band playing 4 shows at KFN this may and the videos below are from the second.  You still have 2 Tuesdays left to check them out and we strong suggest you do.  Beat the crowd though, they pack the place and a few notes in it is clear why.  Check out some videos because these are worth more than a thousand pictures.

 

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

Lushlife, Live @ Plateau Vision Album Release Party :: Philly

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bands to watch, concert video, johnny brendas, live music, live philly concerts, Local Philly Band, lushlife, Lushlife album release party, lushlife artist, Plateau Vision, R5 Productions, western vinyl

Lushlife delivered an energetic and immensely convivial performance at Johnny Brenda’s on April 17th in support of his new LP, Plateau Vision, now out on Western Vinyl records.  Exercising his ability to energize crowds while concurrently operating lyrical talents, sample selection and electric drums, Lush continued to prove why he is Philly’s pre-eminent cloud-rapper.

With a very positive review by Pitchfork, and numerous glowing articles in print and digital media alike, there was much hype surrounding the set.  Lush brought the goods.  Digging into tracks off his new album, mixtape, and his first album (Order of Operations), he played songs we had not had the enjoyment of hearing live before.  These tracks were topped off with covers of both classic Jay-Z and Nas which were excellently reconstructed.

Lushlife’s live performances are never to be missed – and we never do when he plays at home in Philly.  You shouldn’t either.  Watch out as Lush continues to blaze new trails and carve out musical originality in his own vein.  We have every confidence that Plateau Vision will be a jumping off point for greater and greater success in the future.  Watching his energy live and hearing that raw energy translate onto wax is a thing of magic.  Go out and purchase the album and check out some of our video below:

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:

Cloud Nothings, Live @ Johnny Brenda’s

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bands to watch, carpark records, Cloud Nothings, Cloud Nothings band, concert video, johnny brendas, live music, live philly concerts, R5 Productions, Sold Out Show, Spotify link

Cloud Nothings is Dylan Baldi, Joe Boyer, TJ Duke, and Jayson Gerycz and was the brainchild of the most former.  Originating in Ohio, the group has risen meteorically since it’s humble beginnings  in 2009.  With three high-quality albums produced since 2010, a best new music citation from Pitchfork this year, and a bevy of catchy singles under their belts, Cloud Nothings shows no sign of slowing down.

++ Cloud Nothings on Spotify ++

We caught them at Johnny Brenda’s on March 30th of this year and were extremely excited having missed their go-around late last year.  This sell-out show was packed full of energy and the band wasted no time playing to it.  Running through most every track on their 2012 release, Attack On Memory, the band laid down mind bending riffs and beats that drew goosebumps.  It was truly an awesome spectacle.  The highlight for us was certainly the 13+ minute version of Wasted Days. In lieu of using more words to describe this, check out the video below: