There’s no doubt that the chiptune scene is alive and well in Philly. Don Stroud, a.k.a. SKGB, discovered his passion for the experimental genre while looking for an alternative to traditional classical music. Stroud recently won our Featured Artist Poll so you take a gander at our recent interview with "some kid with a gameboy" HERE. (Photo by Ben Mason)
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Get Blazed w/Free Energy at JB’s Oct. 17
Music documentarians Out of Town Films is presenting their first show tonight at Johnny Brenda’s. Headlining the evening are hot tub lovin’, guitar-driven pop rockers Free Energy. The band has gone through a bit of a lineup change over the past year, but actually sounded better this summer at Morgan’s Pier than when I last saw them. All that time on the road have done them well so expect a blazin’ set with some new tunes from the DFA alumni. Their sophomore album Love Sign, which was produced by John Agnello, is scheduled for release on January 15 via the band’s own label Free People. They are joined on the bill by Out of Town Films co-creator Michael James Murray’s brooding atmospheric rock band Edison, who is working on their debut album Living Room. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $12, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman
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New Track: “Moving Along” – Rich Mystics
Check out a new track called “Moving Along” from Rich Mystics, a side project of Nicos Gun’s Barney Cortez (vocals, songwriting, keys, guitars, percussion) and Nick Bockrath (guitars, piano, organ, drums, loops). The song appears on their debut 7-song album LOVERDOSE, which was just released yesterday and you can stream in its entirety HERE. They also received some help making the record from ex and current bandmates Andrew Black (bass) and Harry Zelnick (drums) as well as Dr. Dog’s Eric Slick (drums) and Nina Willbach (violin). Enjoy!
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?uestlove to Teach a College Course
According to a tweet from ?uestlove earlier today, The Roots drummer and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon house band leader will be teaching a course next semester at Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU. It’s unclear what the curriculum will include. However, Jeff Rabhan, the chair at the institute, did state that he’ll be teaching “Classic Albums,” and we’re sure a whole lot more given the depth of his music and industry knowledge. Special thanks to Consequence of Sound for bringing it to our attention.
Update: Billboard reports that the course was inspired from the ill-informed NPR blog post by their intern Austin Cooper over the summer regarding his review of Public Enemy’s classic It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back. Nice to see something positive came out of that whole mess.
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Free Download: Freedom of Speech – Freeway
Freeway just dropped a new mixtape today entitled Freedom of Speech, which you can download for free HERE. You can also check out below a new track called “Jungle” from his forthcoming LP Diamond in the Ruff that is scheduled for release on November 27 via Babygrande Records. His next performance in Philly will be on Monday, November 12 at The Blockley.
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Data Garden Releases Two New Albums from Spaceship Aloha & King Britt Today
If you made the trek to Bartram’s Garden for The Switched-On Garden 002 this past Sunday, then you should know experimental electronic music label Data Garden is doing something quite unique for the art and nature worlds, and we are really looking forward to more wonderful events from them. Well, they have two digital releases out today with limited edition plantable seed-paper packaging from gifted sound sculptures Spaceship Aloha, a.k.a. Christopher Sean Powell (Man Man, Adventuredrum, Need New Body), whose debut LP is titled Universe Mahalo: Volume #1, and King Britt, whose 5-track EP is titled The Bee and The Stamen. You can show your support, and purchase the albums HERE.
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Tuesday Tune-Out w/DRGN King at PhilaMOCA Oct. 16
It’s once again time for another Tuesday Tune-Out, which is curated this month by The Swollen Fox’s Kevin Kennedy. Tonight we have royalty in the house with DRGN King, recent signees to Bar None Records. The group is led by axe wielding rocker Dominic Angelella and producer Ritz Reynolds who recruit “choice” local talent like Norwegian Arms’ Brendan Mulvihill and drummer Joe Baldacci to flesh out their tunes. DRGN King have an interesting sound that doesn’t feel like they are drawing from the niche genres so ingrained in the current music landscape like shoegaze, post-rock, freak folk, etc. It’s refreshing, and you get a sense that they are having a fun time with it so the feelings carry over to the audience. The film chosen by the band this evening “may or may not have been scored by Neil Young.” PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 8pm, $5, All Ages – Alexis V.
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New Video: “Rosa Parks” (OutKast Cover) – Lushlife
Niiiiice – check out multidimensional artist Lushlife, a.k.a. Raj Haldar, doing a cover of “Rosa Parks” by OutKast on acoustic guitar for i-D Magazine’s i-N Session! He’ll also be performing this Thursday at The Delancey for a Deli CMJ Showcase. Enjoy!
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Hip City Veg Taking Over Concessions at Union Transfer
It’s pretty well-known that Sean Agnew and the R5 crew love their vegetarian/vegan cuisine. Well, Agnew just announced that Hip City Veg will be taking over concessions at Union Transfer starting October 19. Yes, tasty food, drinks and music sound like a great combination to us!
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New Video: “Arms Like Boulders” (Austin City Limits) – The War on Drugs
Aww…here’s a live performance video of The War on Drugs performing an oldie but goodie “Arms Like Boulders” (with new drummer Pat Berkery) at Austin City Limits this past Friday. This song always makes us feel good inside.
BTW: Johnny Brenda’s just announced that The War on Drugs will be performing two shows December 30 & 31 to help ring in the New Year. Tickets go on sale this Thursday so make sure you hop on them quickly because we predict that both nights will sell out. (Photo by Glen Brown)
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Free Download: On the Contrary – Taylor Dunn
Check out the new chilled-out, jazz-influenced mixtape On the Contrary from local emcee/producer Taylor Dunn. It’s his sophomore official release and features original production from Dunn and producer Philth Spector. You can take a listen to and download it for free HERE.
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New Music Video: “Tigerbeats” – Work Drugs
Below is a new music video that brings a smile to our faces from Work Drugs for their latest single “Tigerbeats.” The song was written after they performed at The Barbary this summer at the weekly indie dance party, which goes by the same name. Apparently, there was a couple that night making sweet, sweet love (not really – sounds more like bangin’) in the middle of the venue while people photographed it – way to keep it classy Philly! “With our fuzzy memory intact, and plenty of photographic evidence to fill in the gaps, we pieced together the night and all of its debauchery into what has become, ‘Tigerbeats.’ So here it is, a tribute to that night, as well as the timeless teen idols that epitomize that party; shall they all remain forever young.” You can also download the track for free HERE.