Mariachi El Bronx, Live @ Johnny Brenda’s

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concert video, johnny brendas, live music, live philly concerts, Los Angeles, Mariachi El Bronx, Mariachi El Bronx Band, Sailor Jerry Show, Sailor Jerry Show Philadelphia, Spotify link, The Bronx Mariachi

Mariachi El Bronx is the Mariachi incarnation of the punk band The Bronx hailing from LA, CA.  After an acoustic set was requested in 2008, the band decided to take it a completely different direction and infused their sound with a very Latin influence – one of the Son Jaliscience typification.  2009 would see Mariachi El Bronx releasing its first of, now, two albums in this style all of which was written and arranged while on tour.

++ Mariachi El Bronx on Spotify ++ 

The current Mariachi El Bronx live setup includes full Mariachi charro regalia and true-to-genre instruments.  There is no faking it and their sound is authentic enough for us.   Mariachi is a genre of music that originated in the State of Jalisco, in Mexico. It is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the historical development of Western Mexico.  The band utilized traditional instruments such as the violin, guitarrón, guitarra de golpe, vihuela, guitar, trumpet, and incorporated a tailored set of drums with their logo emblazoned.

The band stays true to its punk attitude though with Matt pandering to the crowd before and after each track as can be seen in some of our videos.  Pretty hilarious. Matt Caughthran, Joby J. Ford, Jorma Vik, Ken Mochikoshi-Horne, Brad Magers, Vince Hidalgo, and Ray Suen put on quite the show and deviate fantastically from your standard show fare.  Truly a sight to behold, get out and support them and check out our videos below:

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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:

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:

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:

BLEACHED, Live @ Kung Fu Necktie

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bands to watch, BLEACHED, concert video, indie music, kung fu necktie, live music, live philly concerts, Los Angeles

We fell in love on October 15th at Kung Fu Necktie with a band called BLEACHED. It was one of those love at first sight sound kind of things. Their music felt like home and something seemed so familiar. While we didn’t know it at the time, perhaps lack of due diligence, we had heard the lead singer and guitarist before. As it turned out, Jennifer Clavin lead singer and guitarist was in bands with whom we were familiar and enjoyed greatly: Cold Cave and Mika Miko. Back for a new adventure, her and her sister Jessica Clavin (also of Mika Miko) formed BLEACHED, started writing material (in 2009) and much later (due to Jennifer’s involvement with Cold Cave) touring with a supporting cast (drummer and bassist) of two: Scott and Kevin.

BLEACHED live at KFN

But back to the love thing – we aren’t sure that this was caused by their past incarnations but rather the sound they are currently producing. In fact, we are certain it is their current sound.

BLEACHED has that fuzzed out beach garage rock punk sound we adore. It’s part Best Coast/Joan Jett/Ramones/Soft Pack/The Damned/et al. How lucky to have heard them in Philly. The crowd loved them too and the set performed was fantastic – perhaps a warm-up to CMJ and Jessica’s homecoming after leaving NYC post Cold Cave stint. We mean warm-up in the most possitive way possible though as their set was on point and enveloping making it difficult to shoot video and take mental notes about the on-goings.

Watch and listen out for BLEACHED as they turn your dark’s white at every show. They are truly not to be slept on. Currently they have several 7″ single out (we were stoked to get ours signed at the show!) but look for a full length LP at some point. We can’t wait to get our copy. Enjoy some video from their Philly show below:

Fool’s Gold, Live @ Kung Fu Necktie

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concert video, electronic music, Fool's Gold, Fool's Gold Band, IMASOUND, IMASOUND Records, indie music, kung fu necktie, LA, Lewis Pesacov, live music, live philly concerts, Los Angeles, Luke Top

Certainly not pyrite, Fool’s Gold put on a 24 karat performance at KFN as the September 20th headliner.  This Los Angeles collective was formed in 2007 around the talents of Luke Top (vocalist and bassist) and Lewis Pesacov (lead guitarist) to explore musical genres such as Congolese, Ethiopian, Eritrean and Malian Rock music. The remaining influences are Krautrock, Hebrew, and 80’s influenced pop music, combining to create a glorious collection of sounds that comes through in live performances and recordings.  Those concerned about being lost in the translation need not worry as the influences are worked effortlessly into music most anyone could enjoy.

Playing songs from their 2009 and 2011 LP’s, Fool’s Gold was a top notch act to catch having played on such hollowed grounds as The Hollywood Bowl, The Summerstage in Central Park NYC and The Black Sessions in Paris as well as having played events such as Glastonbury, Reading, Leeds, Oya, Austin City Limits Music Festival and London Calling Fest (Amsterdam).

Check out some video from IMASOUND Record’s Fool’s Gold and their recent performance in Philly below: