Philadelphia

Merry Christmas – Cheers!

Posted on:

It’s Christmas Eve, and we’re getting ready to be gluttonous with family and friends! We’ll be back very soon. We might be a little sporadic with postings next week. We’re taking advantage of the holiday lull to take care of some administrative and maintenance work that has been a long time coming. But then again, we might get bored and have plenty of things to help you get through this holiday season. Anyhoo, we make no promises, and we are psyched to take a break from behind our computers to have a little holiday fun of our own, but we’ll definitely be back in full force next year. And we are sure the Philly music scene will be as well. There’s a lot of great local music to look forward to in 2011 so get ready for good things to come! – The Deli Staff
 
Philadelphia

New Track “Y’all Know Who” from Truck North

Posted on:

We mentioned Black Thought’s new project Money Making Jam Boys and shared with you their recent video for “Judgment Day”, which has us excited for their upcoming mixtape. Well, Truck North, one of the MMJB crew, just dropped the track “Y’all Know Who”. Its backdrop should be a familiar beat for you (from Jay Electronica’s “The Ghost of Christopher Wallace”). Special thanks to Okayplayer for sharing the jam with us. Check it out below and enjoy! – The Deli Staff

Y’all Know Who by Truck North 

NYC

Olivia Mancini & the Mates Upcoming Show

Posted on:

 

Typically comprised of Olivia Mancini (guitar, vocals), Ed Donohue (guitar), Kristin Forbes (bass, vocals), Randy Scope (drums), and Julia Mancini (vocals, percussion), DC’s pop folky Olivia Mancini and the Mates are a group of musical friends who have been playing together since 2005. Randy and Olivia used to be the rhythm section of the now-defunct Washington Social Club. 2007 saw the independent release of their first album, This Kind of Life, which they quickly followed up with The Chatterbox EP, produced by Roger Greenawalt (Ben Kweller, Rhett Miller). Now they’ve got a new record, You Can See the Mountains From Here.

They return to the DC stage in the new year at the Black Cat on Jan 7, 2011 @ 9 PM.

NYC

Live Review: Make Out rocked The Mercury Lounge

Posted on:

Danish music veteran Jesper Mortensen and New York upstart Leah Hennessey brought their glam-punk rock band Make Out to The Mercury Lounge on December 16 and the results were very promising. Capably assisted by band mates Anders Christiansen on bass and Olivia Aliminiana on drums, the thrash, bash and pop quartet delighted a dancing, animated and sometimes moshing audience that included non other than NY Doll David Johansen. Hennessey confidently took command of center stage, while brains-behind-the-project Mortensen slashed pop chords and harmonized to the lyrics he wrote. The band just released the single "I Don’t Want Anybody That Wants Me", which finds Leah singing with a sneer in her voice about being on the prowl to "find a lover tonight," only to petulantly reject all interested parties. Jesper’s four chord chorus (and primary hook) precisely marks out the vocal melody as Anders strong bass line is punctuated by Olivia’s sharp percussive accents. Their debut EP is due out February 2011. Dave Cromwell

L.A.

The Belle Brigade’s upcoming debut album and January residency at Spaceland

Posted on:

There is a certain chemistry to be aware of when joining a band with family members — well, the fact that they tend to self destruct in glorious ways. But mix in the disarming vibe of folk music and I think brother and sister, Barbara and Ethan Gruska, will do just fine. The Belle Brigade was just recently scooped up by major label Reprise (Warner Brothers) for the release of their self-titled LP in April 2011. Produced by Matthew Wilder (No Doubt’s Tragic Kingdom), the preview tracks absolutely soar. You can catch a few on their MySpace page to help ease the wait.

The band will be heading up a five date Spaceland residency each Monday of January — bookends with The Melvin’s Friday residency before the historic club changes name.

-Angelo Lorenzo

Philadelphia

The Usual Suspects Takeover for a Good Night at The Fire Dec. 23

Posted on:

Looks like one of those heavily packed local bills will be taking over The Fire tonight with some of the usual suspects. We have Mad Dragon breakouts (and partially broken-up) Toy Soldiers coming together to infuse their trademark whiskey-and-tight-jeans blues-soaked roots rock. There’s also the eccentric folk of Michael McShane, a.k.a Cowmuddy, who, under the moniker, twists weird alt-Americana harvest tales that’s more grounded earth than bemoaning spectacles. And we can’t forget North Lawrence Midnight Singers,who just released their latest effort, Last Great Saturday Night, last month. Their polished urban country allegories blend willowy pastoral melodies with wistful indie sanguinity. But the most electrifying set – and slightly unusual for this bill – may come early from Girls Rock Philly alum Attia Taylor. With her feathery vocal echoes gliding over infectious cosmic digital lip smacks, Taylor’s minimalist twee-pop is delightfully explosive, despite its unadorned tresses. Tack on the dark, brooding folk rock of Kingston’s The Ends of the Earth. It’s bound to be a good night, y’all. The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave, 9pm, $5, 21+ – Annamarya Scaccia
 

Philadelphia

Penrose Record Release Show at KFN Dec. 23

Posted on:

The Murphy boys of Penrose are gearing up to play their Devil’s Grip Album Release (or the “Best Christmas Eve Eve Party You’ve Ever God Damn Well Been To”). Penrose have been keeping it tight playing pretty regularly between here and NY while doing the final knob twisting on Devil’s Grip. Tonight they will officially unleash their raucous batch of tunes that harkens back to blues like Sonny Boy Williamson mixed with Led Zeppelin. The similarity to modern blues brawlers like The Black Keys isn’t a bad thing either. These fun-loving dudes are doing everything they can to deliver on their shows promise by filling the bill with headline worthy openers like TJ Kong & the Atomic Bomb and NYC’s Hollis Brown. Additionally, The Great Vibrations, who I think I saw in some basement that is now a bedroom over the summer, is going to croon and swoon their way into audiences’ hearts. There is also an after party at Murph’s bar with sets by Flamingo and El Fuego and possibly…Cliff Lee? Be there. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 7pm, $10 adv/$12 door, 21+ – Adam G.
 
Philadelphia

Rock to the Future Benefit at WCL Dec. 23

Posted on:

Get into the holiday spirit of donating to a good cause while checking out some local talent in the process! Rock to the Future is a brand new and very needed free afterschool music education program that opened to Philadelphia School District students this fall. This program strives to improve cognitive & creative thinking, socialization skills, and more by giving kids the chance to attend musical seminars and workshops. Tonight World Café Live hosts a very special benefit that donates its proceeds to this cause that will feature an assortment of exciting musicians. Troubadours The Josh & Pete Band will not only be playing in the headlining slot, but some of their members will also be taking part in a set from collaborative The Best Westerns (which also features members of Eat Your Birthday Cake and Conversations with Enemies). New Motels will be bringing the good time tunes from their album Tilbury Sweat, which was recorded with gifted producer Bill Moriarty (Man Man, Dr. Dog, Drink Up Buttercup), that you shouldn’t miss if you plan to make it this evening. You can check out the music video for their very radio-friendly track “My Radio” below. Rounding out the lineup will be stone cold alt-rockers Big Terrible. World Café Live (Upstairs), 3025 Walnut St., 8pm, $12, 21+ – Bill McThrill
 

L.A.

Modern Time Machines- Video for “Mammoth”

Posted on:

Surely everyone that has ever been in a relationship will agree that there has been a time where things have gone wrong, and the only solution to cure the heartache would be a rewind button to start all over from the beginning again. That’s pretty much the storyline to Modern Time Machines‘ new video for "Mammoth". With lyrics like "stuck in a world that’s sinkin’" and the finishing line, "there is nothing else that you can do", it’s a song about how the desire to turn back time is just a modern romantic’s ideal. 

Keeping their dreamy shoegaze sound, the higher pitch of the violin is complimented by guitar reverbs, stong baselines, and drum beats that go along with the catchy lyrics. Their debut album is due out early 2011, and they will be playing a show at LaBrie’s in Glendale on January 18th. 

–Jenna Putnam