Sandcastle continues to unearth glam-folk jewels in EP form. Their latest, Diamond, is an enchanting, sentimental time warp. This most recent musical chapter retains a mystic of lore. Full of love and loss, hope and hopelessness – a minstrel delivers these heartfelt collection of tales.
Weekend Warrior, April 27 – 29
The assemblage of Port Arthur creates engaging, intimate folk. The proximity of the storytelling exhibits a trustful confidence, opening the curtains for all to see and coaxing communicable scenarios in the process. One finds joy in pensive vulnerability, which retains an elevated touch as a cavalcade of instrumentation paints the finer details. Tonight at Kung Fu Necktie, they’ll be joined by the unwavering, straight-shooting songwriting of Shannen Moser, which aches while simultaneously exuding a heartwarming resilience. Signals Midwest’s Maxwell Stern will also invite you on an observational caravan, tying together external sensations and circumstances with internal revelations. Chicago’s Friends of the Bog completes this formidable, folk lineup. (Photo by Raz Elaine) – Michael Colavita
Other places to hear more tales this weekend…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Tall Friend, SAT Tweed
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Carly Brand, SAT Pete Donnelly (Record Release), Chris Kasper, SUN Rosetta, Psychic Teens
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Port Arthur, Shannen Moser, Maxwell Stern/ialive/DJSC/Night Sweats, SAT The World At Large/Midnight Singers/Fame Lust/Speaking Parts, Plastic Ivy, Diamond Girl, Lisa, SUN Lord Crow, Yeenar/Full Bush, Neophobe, Thee Minks
The Trocadero(1003 Arch St.) FRI Nugent’s Follies
The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) SAT Orchestra 2001 Celebrates Frank Zappa’s The Yellow Shark
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) Fri (Upstairs) Feels Good: A Soulidified Tribute to Raphael Saadiq, SAT School of Rock Presents Tributes to Pink Floyd & Metallica/The Side Chicks, Cara Cartney/A 75thBirthday Tribute To George Harrison:
Charlie Phillips Band, Old Baltimore Speedway, Derek Chafin, Elwood James Band, The Mighty Manatees, Justin DePaola Band, Nik Everett Band
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Young Graves, Snake Charmer, Flowercrown, SAT The Disgruntled Sherpa Project, Hootsie, Readership, Deep City Healers
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Young Friends String Quartet, SAT Center City Jazz Festival /Tpatt
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) SAT Wax Wav, Taxes, SUN Heavy Harold
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Body Spray, Tile, Slophouse, Hover/Siravo, SAT The Jersey Corn Pickers, The White Cheddar Boys, Sam Steffen/Hypothetical, Clyde Kelly, The Separators
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2ndSt.) FRI E-Hos, XPresidents, John Bickel Band, Elizabeth Rose, Vessna Scheff/DJ Jay-Ski, SAT Dogs On Main Street, Oldermost (solo), Michael Southerton, Natalie Butts/Jacob Herschel, Dentana, ILY, Roma-Sem
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Aktive, SAT DJ Deejay, SUN The 1910 Chainsaw Company, Past Life
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT V. Shayne Fredericks, Diane Monroe & Tony Miceli, SUN Rusty Cadillac
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Bern & The Bastards (EP Release), Erin Cookman
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT Mike Saga, SUN Cleric, Collider
Century Bar (1350 S. 29th St.) FRI Dunning Kruger, Shit City, SAT Goddamnit!, The Barren Mary’s, Brandish, SUN Scarlet and the Degenerates, Draco The Unabomber
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Chris Urban, SAY Philadelphia Burlesque Academy Student Showcase/DJ Brian Toll
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI At Best, Primatives, SAT Sansom, Double Leo
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SAT David Uosikkinen’s In The Pocketsound
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SAT No Thank You, Jess Sands
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Tiny Hueman, Grace Vonderkühn, Breaklite/The Stammer, Dreamswell, Rabbits to Riches, Sandcastle, SAT Pithair, Goalkeeper/Felipe Pupo (Release Show), Torito, Darko The Super
LAVA Space (4134 Lancaster Ave.) FRI Ronnie Vega, Felipe Pupo, Torito, The Magnificent ShitHawks Of The Greater Northern Americas
Colorspace Labs (1714 N. Mascher St.) FRI Abi Reimold
The Inconvenience Store (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Lazy Eye, Daydrunks (Split Release show), Pretty Words, Slow Reader
New Track: “Different Tune” – Werwe
“Different Tune,” the debut single from Werwe, peers into a lovely frame of nostalgia. A leisurely, personal monologue reflects on points of joy – now that bonds appear broken. A dreamy twinkle of keys elicits an ideal/naïve nature. There’s an ache and an appeal to focusing on the pleasant times as a means of closure. The song is featured on Werwe’s forthcoming EP Birthday.
New Track: “Dreams” (The Cranberries Cover) – Japanese Breakfast
For better or worse, we’ll always associate The Cranberries’ “Dreams” with a scene from The Next Karate Kid. Known for including the 90’s staple in their live sets, Michelle Zauner & her Japanese Breakfast brethren recently recorded the song (paired with “Road Head”) as part of the Spotify Singles Series. An homage to the late Dolores O’Riordan, the group embraces the head-clearing climbs, with a bit of raw guitar thrown in for good measure, creating a powerful performance. You can catch Japanese Breakfast on Sunday, June 3 at Union Transfer, supported by Radiator Hospital and LVL UP.
New Music Video: “Crypt” – Corey Flood
The new video for “Crypt,” which is featured on Corey Flood’s EP Wish You Hadn’t (Fire Talk), reinforces the tone of the recording. Interspersing traveling and performance footage with strange, enlightening imagery, a haunting haze envelops. That cozy/creepy dynamic puts one on edge, but feels eerily familiar. The quartet is scheduled to appear at All Night Diner this Saturday, April 28, alongside Patio, Sieve, and Lester.
The Deli Philly’s Featured Artist(s) Poll Winner: Nematode
Nematode are proof that the sounds of classic psych rock/pop are alive and well in the minds and hearts of the next generation of local musicians. Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Aaron Mughannam brought the spirit of his hometown, San Francisco, to Philly’s Drexel University, and his ideas have taken root, with help from collaborators Larry Flatley (Blind Lion), Mike Downey, and Kazim Zaidi. Below is their latest single, "Friends," and you can learn more about the fledgling quartet HERE.
New Black Melanite LP Available for Streaming & Purchase
The pairing of Timothy Haw and Lizi Colliflower, a.k.a. Black Melanite, have released their first full-length album Evening Glow. The collection of recordings induces a dreamy, melodic calm, with the ability to ignite an instrumental fuse at any moment. The twinkle of stars lights ones path, as a slow-burning, emotive journey unfolds. Gradually creating a comfortable, multi-layered environment, the potential for volatility looms, breaking through at key intervals.
New Track: “Little Man” – Yeenar
Philly four-piece Yeenar recently shared a new single, called “Little Man”. Unfolding from a tight guitar pattern, the song gathers steam as backend elements flesh out a momentous rush. Riding a wave that escalates and ebbs, as points of wisdom, in regards to youth activity and friendship, are offered. Get outside, and enjoy the company of others, or convene this evening at Ortlieb’s, where the band will be sharing a billing with Effusion 35 and Young Pilgrims.
New Dani in Public EP Available for Streaming & Download
There’s a cool, composed yet emotionally-exposed feeling in Leverage, the new EP from Dani in Public. Seeing things like a fly on the wall, a calm-under-pressure vulnerability smoothly slides these scenes into view. Those engaging, multi-dimensional shots reel you in, and the lo-fi, trance-inducing beats make it easy to cruise through these stream-of-consciousness scenarios.
Ticket Giveaway: Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Union Transfer This Saturday
Unknown Mortal Orchestra just dropped their new album, Sex & Food (Jagjaguwar), earlier this month, and you can groove out with Ruban Nielson and the gang this Saturday, April 28 at Union Transfer. To enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets, just send an email to thedelimagazinephiladelphia@gmail.com with the subject line "Not in Love We’re Just High". Please also include your cell number in the body of the message (in case of an emergency). Good luck!
New Track: “Cold Wave” (Feat. Crimeapple, Recognize Ali, Reef The Lost Cauze & DJ SoulBuck) – Buddy Leezle
Buddy Leezle recently completed a collaborative LP with Karnate, entitled Gavage. Its debut single, “Cold Wave,” enlists Crimeapple, Recognize Ali, Reef The Lost Cauze, and DJ Soulbuck as reinforcements. An ominously chill beat steps into the streets. Seamlessly relaying the mic, the collection of emcees deliver cold, calculated bars, with an icy intensity, before leaving frosty bodies in their path. You’ll wanna bump this more than once.
New Music Video: “Heaven’s Away Team” – Vexxed
Thank You Sooo Much, the debut EP from Vexxed, which is comprised of Lucy Stone (DRGN King), Max Steen (Cold Fronts), and Zach Sewall (Grave Goods), is slated for release on May 4. Languishing in a slow-burning, melodic haze, “Heaven’s Away Team,” appears resigned to the inevitable. That pleasant, fading perspective plays into the mystical glow of the accompanying video, with its astronomically doomed serenity.