Philadelphia

The Spooks Haunting Making Time’s Ruby Lounge at Voyeur Oct. 22

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Dave P’s Making Time parties have been consistently delivering free-wheeling if not drunken sloppy concerts/dance parties of joy for over 10 years now, and his brand only seems to be picking up speed. Tonight he is upping the ante at the Making Time hotspot Voyeur by putting two different concerts on for us lucky folks in attendance with the upstairs hosting indie rock wunderkinds Surfer Blood and Brooklyn’s delightfully nostalgic pop act The Drums (and I also heard Surfer Blood’s buddies The Dewars will be joining the lineup), while downstairs local natives The Spooks will be raging a party of their own. The Deli has been preaching the gospel of The Spooks’ surfer boy garage rock for a while now, and for good reason. Their songs are fairly traditional, energetic rock and roll tunes covered in fuzz and sung with a Devendra Banhart-esque quiver. I hope these guys take full advantage of the free Sparks to fuel their performance to the next level (hopefully without us having to see what their drummer had for dinner). Either way, this Making Time is one those that should not be missed. Voyeur, 1221 St. James St., 9pm, $15, 21+ – Adam G.
 
Philadelphia

Come Celebrate Halloween Weekend with The Deli!

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This month has been ridiculously fun for The Deli Staff, and we hope you too! However, if you missed the mind-blowing set by Grandchildren at their record release party or the killer lineup of The Extraordinaires, An American Chinese and Power Animal that we also presented at The Deli’s Anniversary Party last weekend at JB’s, then we do feel bad for you. But you can’t say that we didn’t try to include you in on the fun. Well, lucky we have more good times up our sleeves for the Halloween weekend (our most favorite time of the year). Join us on Friday, Oct. 29 for Grimace Federation’s album release party at JB’s (w/West Philadelphia Orchestra, Univox and the Robotique DJs) and on Sunday, Oct. 31 at the Ukie Club for the TJ Kong Halloween Costume Ball Rock and Roll Murdershow with too many talented up-and-coming local acts for us to list right now (check out the nice poster that Kong provided for us above) as well as a very special mystery guest (whom we can only say is signed to a well-known record label). Just don’t ever say that we didn’t try to include you! – The Deli Staff

Philadelphia

Satanized Emerge at The Ox Oct. 21

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When you go see a live performance by a band called Satanized, you should already accept the name as a warning. The devilish Badmaster crew conjures up their interpretation of the sounds from Hell reigning terror on this earth through the use of stop-start beats, bloodcurdling guitar screeches, truly agro vocals and a bit of a sense of humor that brings the thrashers and the no wave/noise rockers into a union of the unholy. Mainstream America run! They’ll be in the belly of The Ox tonight with Aids Wolf, whom they released a limited edition split 7” with earlier this year via Badmaster Records, and Chicago’s D. Rider. The Ox, 2nd and Oxford, 8pm, $5, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman
 
Philadelphia

Kurt Vile Releasing New 7” Digitally on Oct. 25 and Vinyl on Nov. 9!

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Kurt Vile will be releasing digitally on Monday, October 25 a new 7” via Matador called In My Time, a teaser for Vile’s upcoming LP produced by John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Breeders, Dinosaur Jr., etc.) that will be out in 2011. The vinyl will be available on November 9. You can download the first single below. It comes just in time for his nationwide tour which includes dates with The Soft Pack and local music brethren Purling Hiss, who will be releasing their album Public Service Announcement the day after on October 26 via Woodsist. – The Deli Staff

In My Time by Kurt Vile

Philadelphia

Where Is My Mind?: Strand of Oaks’ Timothy Showalter

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By now, you may have heard about the tragic story of Timothy Showalter a.k.a. Strand of Oaks losing all his belongings in a fire at the same time his fiancé had decided to leave him, which helped inspire Showalter to write songs for his last album Leave Ruin (La Société Expéditionnaire) with an acoustic guitar on a suburban Philly park bench that he was living on. Well, those days may seem like a distant memory to him now that he lives here in Philly happily married to the love of his life, and his latest album Pope Killdragon (released on eMusic) has been getting some serious blogosphere love. What can we say? We can’t help but root for the guy. He’s a survivor and a helluva songwriter. That’s why we had to invite Strand of Oaks to The Deli’s CMJ Showcase tomorrow night (Oct. 21) at The Living Room. We also took the opportunity to pick his brain. You can see what we found here.

Philadelphia

Reading Rainbow Open for Frankie Rosie & the Outs and Woven Bones at KFN Oct. 20

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October is a great time for music in Philly because we definitely benefit from all the traffic of touring bands on their way to and from CMJ. But if you’re like me and can certainly survive without all the crowds and industry people then swing on by KFN tonight for a taste of the Hozac/Impose CMJ showcase that will be at Don Pedros. Hosting their mates and opening the evening will be the busiest Philly couple at the ball. Reading Rainbows’ rich harmonies and cohesive instrumental work will be invading the venues of NYC/Brooklyn this week. They’ll be complimented nicely with buzz-heavy Frankie Rosie & the Outs and “No-wavesgaze Texas gulf skurfer” rockers Woven Bones. So what’s CMJ again? Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $8, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman
 
Philadelphia

The Deli’s CMJ Music Marathon Guide to Philly Artists

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It’s that time of year again. The CMJ Music Marathon begins today. Now, we know that’s NYC news, but we’ll be heading up there and so will some of your favorite Philly acts. While there does seem like a lack of participation from some of the bigger names that you’d expect to be there representing Philly, we certainly don’t lack any waves of up-and-comers ready to crash the party! Here’s our Philly artists guide to CMJ.
 
The Deli Magazine will be presenting 8 Official CMJ showcases throughout NYC/Brooklyn spanning a wide array of genres. We are happy to be hosting Strand of Oaks (a.k.a. Timothy Showalter), who has been receiving an enormous amount of critical acclaim and deservedly so for his latest album Pope Killdragon, at The Living Room on Oct. 21. We’ll also be bringing the epic hard rockin’ harmonious sounds of the mighty Univox to Spike Hill on Oct. 22.
 
Reading Rainbow looks like they’ll be the busiest of our local crew of folks invading the Big Apple. Our most recent Best of Philly Poll winner will be giving everyone at the festival a taste of their upcoming release Prism Eyes due out Nov. 23 via Hozac Records. Reading Rainbow will be opening their CMJ 2010 at their label’s showcase with Impose Records at Don Pedro on Oct. 21. Another Official CMJ Performance includes Oct. 23 at Cake Shop for the Pop Tarts Suck Toasted Showcase with Lehigh Valley’s Soars, as well as an unofficial CMJ show in their typical DIY fashion at Party Xpo.
 
Piano popsters Jukebox the Ghost will be making the rounds first off at the Sneak Attack Party on Oct. 20 at The Delancey. They’ll be pulling double duty the next day with an early evening appearance at Stratosphere Sound for the Maker’s Mark/Insound.com Party and later at Bowery Electric for Bella Union/Yep Roc Official Showcase with labelmates Drink Up Buttercup. Sun Airway will be making their CMJ debut with their pedigrees on their sleeves at Pianos on Oct. 21 for Jagjaguwar/Secretly Canadian/Dead Oceans Official CMJ Showcase and The Windish Showcase at Rockwood Music Hall on Oct. 22. 
 
Penrose will be breaking the seal for the Philly artists today when they bring their big classic rock riffs to Arlene’s Grocery for the No Pulp Showcase. You’ll be able to catch them, TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb (who will be at Spike Hill on Oct. 21) and a slew of local up-and-comers this Oct. 31 in Philly for the TJ Kong_Halloween_CostumeBall_RockandRoll_Murdershow presented by The Deli Magazine and Spaten.
 
Other Philly artists making the trek up to CMJ include Good Old War, The Armchairs, American Babies, Br’er and Avi Wisnia. You can check out the Official CMJ 2010 schedule for more info here. (Feel free to post any local peeps that we missed in our comments section.)
 
– The Deli Staff
 
Philadelphia

A Sunny Day in Glasgow Release FREE Downloadable Album!

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The dreamy ladies and gents from A Sunny Day in Glasgow are back with a new offering entitled Autumn, Again, and it’s available for FREE download here, but we’re sure that they’d gladly accept your donation. It’s self-released and also available in limited edition maroon 12” vinyl. They’ll be doing a northeast mini-tour in support of their recent release starting next week, but no Philly dates scheduled yet. And it looks like the tour opener in Washington D.C. will be moved to the Rock & Roll Hotel due to the crazy shit that went down at DC9 the other night. – The Deli Staff

Fall in love by A Sunny Day in Glasgow

Philadelphia

The Deli’s Featured Artist(s) of the Month: Nicos Gun

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Recent poll winners Nicos Gun (yes, no apostrophe please) have only been together for a little over a year, but the four-piece’s silky, smooth dance tracks sound surprisingly polished. We had a chance to catch up with co-founder of the band, Barney McKenna, to get the scoop on his beef with Geno’s and Jim’s, playing with guns, plans for a Nicos Gun documentary and more.
 
The Deli: How did Nicos Gun start?
 
Barney McKenna: We started when I stopped playing with my band Cortez Cortez (whose album was reviewed on your site). Me and Nick Bockrath (Cortez Cortez bass player) started recording with Harry Zelnick who I’ve known since I was a teenager (we both grew up in Philly). Harry was a hip hop producer and a friend of mine. Harry has produced for Ludacris, Freeway, and Beanie Sigel. He’s the drummer/collaborator now of Nicos Gun. I wrote some songs that Harry helped me produce. Then we began writing stuff together and producing it at a studio on 4th and Callowhill. We’re all into the same type of bands like Prince, LCD Soundsystem, Gang of Four, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Talking Heads, Justice. Andy Black is a great bassist in the area and he joined us for our first show and we’ve been together since then (around September 2009).
 
TD: Where did the band name come from?
 
BM: Me and Harry worked at a shoe repair store downtown owned by an old greek guy named Nico. He kept a luger behind the cash register, and we used to pull it out when we closed the store. One time Harry dropped the gun and it went off in the store. There was a hole in the wall that Nico saw, and he fired us after that.
 
TD: What are your biggest musical influences?
 
BM: Talking Heads, Prince, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Grandmaster Flash, Beck, David Bowie.
 
TD: What artists are you currently listening to?
 
BM: Carsick Cars, Nirvana, MSTRKRFT, Liquid Liquid.
 
TD: What’s the first concert you ever attended and the first album you ever bought?
 
BM: The first big concert I ever attended was Lyle Lovett. My aunt took me to see him. He had cool hair, and I liked his guitar. I was 8. The first album I ever bought was Nevermind by Nirvana when I was 9.
 
TD: What do you love about Philly?
 
BM: I love how many talented people are in this city and how cheap it is to live. Growing up here your friends with every type of race and class. It is a good melting pot of a town where I’ve witnessed very different people hanging out. 
 
TD: What do you hate about Philly? 
 
BM: I hate Geno’s cheesesteaks and the ignorant people who work there and own that store. I hate Jim’s cheesteaks and the idiots who wait in a line around the corner for a shitty fattening sandwich. I hate that there’s becoming fewer and fewer nice venues to play and the urgency for bands to leave the city to gain any type of success. 
 
TD: What are your plans for 2010? 
 
BM: Mix our album, release our EP. Continue booking shows in other cities. Making music videos, and finishing a documentary on the band and our life.
 
TD: What was your most memorable live show?
 
BM: Jay Reatard at Johnny Brenda’s. 
 
TD: What’s your favorite thing to get at the deli?
 
BM: Chicken soup 
 
(Photo by Matthew Dodd)
 
– The Deli Staff
 
Philadelphia

Free Live Recording w/Cowmuddy at The Fire Oct. 17

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You may or may not know it, but Cowmuddy (a.k.a. Michael McShane) is a bit of a local legend on the singer-songwriter scene. The eccentric, environmentally conscious McShane probably would be an interesting subject for a documentary. I imagine him becoming one of those artists who’d gain more popularity and resurgence after its release and he had fallen off the radar like an Anton Newcombe or Daniel Johnston. You know that there must be something special there for him to attract help from a rotating cast of talented hometown musicians that have included Jonas Osterle (formerly of The Teeth, Flashy Python, Purples, Paper Masques) Amos Lee, “Steady” Freddie Berman (Amos Lee), Jaron Olevsky (Amos Lee), Todd Erk (Birdie Busch, Hoots & Hellmouth) and many, many more. He’ll be recording a live performance tonight at his second home, The Fire, for a new CD, and it’s FREE. Also on the bill are The Deli favorites, Levee Drivers, with their slow-burning, bluesy country rock. I know. But the Phillies game! Hopefully they’ll have it on like every music venue with a TV should these days. (Come on KFN – breakdown and play the games. It’d just make everyone happier. Hehe…is it really necessary to run that Bad Brains video again? :o) The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 9pm, FREE, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman