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:

The Improbables, Live @ Johnny Brenda’s

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concert video, johnny brendas, live music, live philly concerts, Local Philly Band, R5 Productions, The Improbables, The Improbables band

This is going to be a short post and for no other reason than this band snuck up on us so fast that we stood trying to put together what we were witnessing.  The Improbables have been playing together for several years now from what we can gather.  They are an AC/Philly combo who’s sound is really good.  Maybe a surprise is misplaced – their Facebook about section simply says “We’re better than your band.”
The four piece consisting of Joe, Kevin, Dave, and Tom delivers a Garage Rock blend with all around talented musicians.  To be honest, the vocals are some of the strongest we’ve heard in awhile.  A huge regret here is only getting one video and not knowing more about them.

We really cannot wait to see them again.  Check out the loneliest one video below and prepare to have your mind blown:

 

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:

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

Dice Raw, Live @ Johnny Brenda’s

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concert video, Def Jam, Dice Raw, Dj Sugar Shay, johnny brendas, Karl Jenkins, live music, live philly concerts, Local Philly Band, Lushlife album release party, Money Msking Jam Boys, Philly Rapper, Spotify link, The Roots, The Roots Crew

Philly Hip-Hop legend Dice Raw (aka Karl Jenkins) with Roots crew affiliation and Money Making Jam Boys ilk rhymed like a gold-medaler for the Lushlife album release party at Johnny Brenda’s in Fishtown on April 17th.  Spitting verses from his DeNiro-eque career track credits, Dice came across as an authority to the craft in a performance most moving.

++ Dice Raw on Spofity ++

Taking the stage in a vintage-looking grey and black power suit and glasses, vodka in hand, Dice Raw was total class act.  Verses were prepared with quiet effort and care with beats supplied by DJ Sugar Shay (sp?); Dice’s new set DJ.  Diverse, powerful, moving, searching, and clever samples combined with Dice crowd engagement made this a must see set.  One of the greatest Rap performances we have ever seen.   Sufficed to say, there was no mumbling on the mic.  The crisp sound of JB’s lent itself well to Dice’s flow and Sugar Shay’s turntableism.  Check out our video below and witness a Philly star.  Also, Gotye is sampled in the second video.  I know you will like this:

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:

Bleeding Rainbow, Live @ Johnny Brenda’s

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Bleeding Rainbow, Bleeding Rainbow band, concert video, HoZac, johnny brendas, live philly concerts, Local Philly Band, R5 Productions

Bleeding Rainbow played Johnny Brenda’s in Philly on March 30th to a sold out crowd.  The band had taken to facebook prior promising a trashing performance and dammit, they delivered.  It seems that every time we see them, their configuration is slightly different.  On this night, Sarah switched between guitar and bass.  Regardless who is playing what, Bleeding Rainbow always brings intense psychedelic shoegaze punk to bear.   Add to that the obvious fun they are having doing what they do and Bleeding Rainbow is a Philly band to be seen – I know we have said this before, but we will continue to say it until they grow out of our beautiful city.

Check out some video from the JB’s performance and peruse these previous performances for more info on the band (NYE Show, Union Transfer Show).  Also, be sure to get out and see them April 13th at PhilaMOCA!

 

 

 

Wigwams, Live @ Kung Fu Necktie

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concert video, kung fu necktie, live music, live philly concerts, Local Philly Band, swollen fox show, Wigwams, Wigwams band, Wigwams band philly, y not radio show

Please tell us you have caught the awesome Philly act that is Wigwams.  We want to hear that you have experienced live wood blocks, and slick guitar playing trade-offs, and timely bass lines and drum beats.  If you have not made it out to a Wigwams show yet, put it on your to-do list.  Make a note now and witness these guys live.  You will love em.  The band is Jason, Phil, Daniel, and Brian and they play a premium brand of rock/post-punk goodness.

Outlining all the reasons we like Wigwams would simply take too long.  Sufficed to say, their music is a damn pleasure to listen to and having such talent in the city is a testament to our musical scene.  Wigwams played on March 3rd for The Swollen Fox and Y-Not Radio presented show at Kung Fu Necktie on a warm winter eve and we have some video for you below.  Go see these guys!

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.