Philadelphia

The Deli’s Featured Artist(s) of the Month: It’s a King Thing

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We had a chance to catch up with our recent poll winner and Featured Artist(s) of Month It’s a King Thing’s Brian Meitz. We were happy to learn that he discovered a new favorite track from one of his poll running mates and that he made us a mixtape which is the first from all the artists that we have interviewed. Feel free to cop it for your own collection.
 
The Deli: How did It’s a King Thing start?

Brian Meitz: It’s a King Thing started when I was in college a few years ago. I wrote a bunch of songs and then recorded them with Dave Downham at the Gradwell House. After the first record was recorded, I formed a band with Steve, Mike and our friend Evan. Evan moved to Chicago [to] play music and to pig out on elephant ears and Johnny and Jay joined shortly thereafter. We’ve had this lineup for a couple of years or so.

TD:Where did the band name come from?

BM: It was written on a sticker I found at a video store I was working at. It had a king with a mustache and a lion in a robe. I found it while putting away copies of White Chicks.

TD:What are your biggest musical influences?

BM:The standard answer I give on this is the Lemonheads, Weezer before they started doing whatever it is they’re doing these last few years, Weston, The Figgs, Ben Kweller. Here’s a list of 10 songs I don’t think I’ll get sick of. I made you a .zip (http://www.dinerstate.net/deli.zip ) cause I want you to hear how hard they rule.

Evan Dando – “Frying Pan”; Mary Lou Lord – “I Figured You Out”; Weston – “Retarded”; Brooke – “9 Lives”; Bugs Eat Books – “San Marosa”; Alphaville – “Forever Young”; Broken Social Scene – “Anthems For a Seventeen Year Old Girl”; Donovan – “Catch The Wind”; Pavement – “Spit On a Stranger”; Sloan – “Marquee and the Moon”

TD:What artists (local, national and/or international) are you currently listening to?

BM: Locally, I like the new Juston Stens and Get Real Gang EP. The new Goodnight Lights album, The Atomic Square, In Grenada, Makeout Party are all awesome. Ages and By Surprise from Jersey have albums coming out soon that I’m pumped for. I just heard The Quelle Source a couple months ago. They rule. Gypsy Death and You, a band we were in the poll with, have this song called “Smile” that’s pretty awesome. Of course, Dr. Dog.

TD: What’s the first concert that you ever attended and first album that you ever bought?

BM: Van Halen at the Spectrum during the Balance tour. My uncle took my brother and I when we were in 6th and 8th grade. I was fat and wore a Kermit the Frog shirt where he was posing on a bench like Forrest Gump.
 
TD: What do you love about Philly?

BM: Charlie Manuel.

TD: What do you hate about Philly?

BM: Parking.

TD: What are your plans for 2010?

BM: 2010’s been fun. Our album (which is available for free at http://ww.itsakingthing.com) got a bunch more downloads than I thought it would. We’re gonna play a show at Lake Kandle, a Halloween show at The Auction House in Audubon, NJ, and we’re gonna do a Kickstarter project to press Buffalo on vinyl. We have a bunch of cool bundles planned. Some of which include a double date with my parents, open mic comedy. Baby sitting.

TD: What was your most memorable live show?

BM: I have fond memories of all of our shows except one in Allentown when we first started playing. Fat dude, asshole, biker bouncers and $3 waters. No fun.

TD: What’s your favorite thing to get at the deli?

BM: Turkey, mayo, tomato, American cheese on white bread with root beer.
 
(Photo by Nick Kessler)
 
– The Deli Staff
 
Philadelphia

Philly F/M Fest – Final Day

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Feeling pretty spent yet? No, either you didn’t take advantage of all the events going on this weekend in Philly or maybe it’s just time to take a Xanax and come down a bit. Well, you can wind down at Yard’s Brewery for the closing party with Choice Tasters Selectors, tag team DJ partners Dr. Rick and Jersey Dan (who will also be spinning hot tracks at The Deli’s Anniversary Party on Oct. 15 at JB’s w/The Extraordinaires, An American Chinese and Power Animal). Other events that you might want to swing by are the On Tyme Marketing showcase at Club Risque, Panic Years with The Revere and Austin’s The Tiny Tin Hearts at The Blockley, and The El Bar with The Midnight Beat and Thee Nosebleeds. If the rain holds out, grab some Ishkabibble’s cheese fries or a Jim’s cheesesteak and The Peace Creeps’ set. I know – lounging around on a rainy day watching football sounds damn tempting too. – H.M. Kauffman  
 
Philadelphia

Philly F/M Fest – Day 3

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With a slew of Philadelphia Film and Music Festival shows going down today, you have no excuse to keep your ears idle. But where should your Philly F/M Fest journey begin? At the Crane Arts Outdoor Stage of course! Starting at noon, the free, all ages Crane Arts showcase will feature a full afternoon of local slaptastic, high-fivin’ music, including indie up-and-comers and set closers Toy Soldiers.The folk-blues collective, who just released their MAD Dragon debut, Whisper Down the Line, this past May, put a urban spin on classic Americana pop, hammering out Southern barnyard rock ‘n’ roll sermons (“Hard Times”), dirt roads and backwoods roots rock (“When I Tripped Into You”), and climatic ragtag-meets-bluegrass gospel choir anthems (“Which Way Waltz”). They’re zealous revival music (even if only in spirit) is worth seeing the whole show through. And while you do, check out label mates The Swimmers,who took a turn in the right direction with their breakout 2009 sophomore effort, People Are Soft, takes hopeless romantic to a whole new, sweeter level with their chugging guitars, handclap-esque percussion, infectious twinkles, thumping build ups and starry-eyed persistence. They’ll also play tonight Johnny Brenda’s with Brooklyn’s willowy art-pop sweethearts Asobi Seksuand Philly’s Like A Fox,who will bring their brand of ‘60s AM radio-loving psych-pop to the Crane Arts gig early in the set. Also on the lineup are dance-rock fashionistas East Hundred, vintage rock troupe Blood Feathers, folk-country fanciers Frog Holler and indie pop show openers Audible. 
 
Not satisfied? Then if you’re packing $40, are 21+ and really want to get loaded, head over to Yard’s Brewery after the Crane Arts daytime taster where you’ll be treated to off-the-cuff film screenings (The Cow Who Wanted to be a Cheeseburger, Dig Comics, I Am Comic, and Woodshop Film Showcase) and eccentric pastoral tunes from locals The Spinning Leaves.If you just wanted the music at Yard’s and can’t stand movies (what kind of person are you??), skip out at 9pm and stumble your way to University City’s  The Blockley Pourhouse (again shuttle buses would be huge) for WXPN’s “The Key” Blog Launch party. You’ll get to see show headliners (and Philly’s best-kept secret) Adam & Dave’s Bloodline drop their fuzzy epoch of blithe but incisive garage-pop (Jenkintown’s alt-power pop quartet New Motels,local sludgy classic rock powerhouse Bussesand Delaware’s post-shoegazers the Sky Drops also share the bill). If you are looking for a change of pace, soak in the hip hop/rock/pop triptych fix of Philly’s lap-steel guitarist Mike “Slo-Mo”Brenner featuring emcee Mic Wreckaat North Star Bar for the Authentic Records showcase (the bill also includes Des Moines-based bittersweet rock outfit The Nadas, crooning acoustic artist Benjamin Wagner, and Jersey’s folk-punk janglers River City Extension, whose lush arrangements and gang vocal lauds are better experienced live). And definitely swing by Tritone where The Deli’s favorite noise-poppers Party Photographers will ignite the stage for the SUGARTOWN showcase (hometown acoustic folk-rock haunters Baby Flamehead,UK’s gutsy and fervid rock singer Anita Maj and Princeton’s DJ Maria Tof WPRB 103.3 FM will also work it out at the South St. venue). I know. Trying to hit all these events is physically impossible, but more is still better than less (that’s what she said). – Annamarya Scaccia
 
Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, September 24 – 26

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When you think of top Philly bands of the late 80s and early 90s, the Dead Milkmen and The Goats are easily two that cross people’s minds as being some of the greatest and most eclectic. One was the pop punk jokester icons of college radio scene, while the other was a pioneer of blending politically driven hip hop with funked out rock. These two iconic groups probably have never shared the stage with one another, but if they have, it might have been one of the most out of place and strangely awesome combos ever. But tonight the Philly F/M Fest and World Café Live are ready to give you the closest possible thing to that epic lineup. Ever since the Dead Milkmen hinted that they were making a comeback, they have wowed audiences during scheduled and secret shows alike. And since Joe Jack Talcum revealed that this would likely be the last Dead Milkmen show of the year, this is the one to see. Especially since they’ll be revealing some new songs that the band plans to record over the fall/winter season! As you know these days the charismatic frontman of The Goats, Maxx has been doing just fantastic! He has assembled Black Landlord, which is a polished funk machine while still remaining fun and loose, and just recently he threw another successful Black Landlord BBQ. This should be a joyous event! World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 8:30pm, $28, All Ages
 
Too many options- what to do, what to do, what to do…
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Blood Feathers and Creeping Weeds, SAT The Swimmers and Like A Fox
 
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Frog Holler, Adam & Dave’s Bloodline, The Wallace Brothers Band, SAT Slo-Mo Feat. Mic Wrecka
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Toy Soldiers, TJ Kong & The Atomic Bomb, Cheers Elephant, Cow Muddy, SAT Jawnzap 7, Icon The Mic King, Voss, SUN Shutterstone, Stellarscope
 
M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The Fallen Troubadours, The New Connection, The Sleepwells, SAT (Early) Organ Blues, Penrose, The Sobriquets, (Late) Javelina, Jail, Starkweather, Clamfight, SUN Big Terrible
 
Tritone (1508 South St.) FRI Doomed to Obscurity and Explosive Head, SAT Party Photographers and Baby Flamehead, SUN The Wallace Brothers Band
 
Danger Danger Gallery (5013 Baltimore Ave.) FRI Hop Along and Motorcycle Maus
 
Millcreek Tavern (4200 Chester Ave.) FRI Backwoods Payback, SAT Gholas
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT (Early) Emberose, Undead Talent, Eternal Essence, (Late) Philadelphia Zombie Prom w/ Young Werewolves and Live Not On Evil
 
JR’s Bar (2327 S. Croskey St.) SAT Bubonic Bear
 
Murph’s Bar (202 E. Girard Ave.) SUN The Lawsuits
 
Crane Arts Building (1400 N. American St.) SAT The Swimmers, Toy Soldiers, Like A Fox, Frog Holler, East Hundred, Blood Feathers, Audible, SUN Baby Flamehead, Hezekiah Jones, Papertrees, Slo-Mo Feat. Mic Wrecka, Hoppin John Orchestra
 
The Blockley Pourhouse (3801 Chestnut St.) FRI West Philadelphia Orchestra, SAT The New Motels, Busses, Adam & Dave’s Bloodline, SUN Panic Years and The Revere
 
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI New Pony, SAT Avi Wisnia
 
The El Bar (1356 N. Front St.) FRI When I Was 12, New Madrid Faults, Goodnight Lights, SAT Loafass, SUN The Midnight Beat, Thee Nosebleeds, El Fuego
 
Media Bureau (725 N 4th St.) FRI Faux Slang, Parachuting Apostles, Three 4 Tens, SAT McRad, Pinch Point, Atomic Age
 
South Street Stage (South Street Headhouse) SUN Big Blue Spruce, Sierra Hurtt, The Gerunds, The Peace Creeps
 
Yards Brewery (901 N. Delaware Ave.) FRI Cabinet, SAT The Spinning Leaves
 
Girard Avenue Festival (Girard Ave. & Front St.) SAT Roomtone, The Fractals, Turning Violet Violet, Yellow Humphrey, (Girard Ave. & 2nd St.) Avi Wisnia, CopperTonic, Little Brown Chair, Shannon Pelcher, Sonni Shine and the Underwater Sounds
 
Leigh Avenue Stage (E. Lehigh Ave. between Livingston and Belgrade Sts, Belgrade and Miller Sts. and Miller St. and Aramingo Ave.) SAT Invisble Friends, Kitten Diaster,  SUN Jukebox Zeros, Kenn Kweder, Wes Mattheu and the New Way Down, Slow and Shakey
 
The Naval Cruise Terminal at the Philadelphia Naval Yard (5100 S. Broad St.) FRI Making Time Summer of Radness Finale!
Philadelphia

Making Time’s Summer of Radness Finale w/LCD Soundsystem!

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As Making Time’s 10th Anniversary Summer of Radness comes to a close tonight to a SOLD OUT show with LCD Soundsystem, Sleigh Bells, Dave P and the Making Time family and friends, I have to wonder. Where the fuck did the time go? Well, I am way exhausted from our most excellent showcase last night at KFN w/Univox, The Homophones, TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb, and Hair Rocket, but it’s time to “man up” as they say. What can I say? You should know what’s up tonight by now. There’s a pre-party with FREE food and alcohol outside Urban Outfitter’s offices for the first 500 21+ ticketholders from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and an afterparty at The Ox with Simian Mobile Disco from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. which is FREE for all Making Time ticketholders and $10 for everyone else. To close things out in the spirit of your host Dave P – GET RAD! The Naval Cruise Terminal at the Philadelphia Naval Yard, 5100 S. Broad St., 9pm, SOLD OUT, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman
 
Philadelphia

Philly F/M Fest – Day 2

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Day two of the Philly F/M Festival kicks in to full effect tonight, and it has plenty of incredible shows that aren’t to be missed. The top show to see happens at World Café Live when two local icons the Dead Milkmen and Black Landlord share a stage together for the first time, and you will be able to read more in our upcoming Weekend Warrior section. You might have caught TJ Kong & the Atomic Bomb last night when they rocked our showcase at Kung Fu Necktie. And now the boys are ready to do it all over again at The Fire. They’ll be joined by soulful roots music dynamos Toy Soldiers and psychedelic heartthrobs Cheers Elephant who are both getting ready to do double duty as part of Saturday’s Girard Festival. They’ll be joined by DC’s artistically melodic Exit Clov who are no strangers to rocking a Philly stage. Silk City plays host to a rare early evening show that features Gildon Works and Busses. Both incendiary acts have received rave reviews for past releases and have shared the same stage during some impressive shows in the past so expect them to deliver some magic or at least some nice walls of sound. Blood Feathers will be joined by melodic virtuosos Creeping Weeds, and Field Music from the UK at JB’s. The Blockley Pourhouse plays host to the Slavic soul and bohemian rhapsody of West Philadelphia Orchestra. If you haven’t seen them before then tonight is the night to catch a cultural gypsy jam session from an all star cast of Philly’s finest musicians. The El Bar is playing host to an exciting lineup that features the indie rockers Goodnight Lights, the multi-intrumental shoegaze-y tour de force of New Madrid Faults, the melodic powerpop folk of When I Was 12, and Baltimore’s Secret Mountains, who is a must see. And since other shows feature performances from the likes of Adam & Dave’s Bloodline, Faux Slang, and The New Connection, there’s plenty more to see! – Bill McThrill
 
Philadelphia

FYI on DIYs in PHL: Philly AIDS Thrift

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Philly AIDS Thrift amps up this weekend for their fifth anniversary bash. Kicking off on Friday, the celebration will have you dying to volunteer! 3 hour shifts searching for unique treasures while helping the greater good? Sounds rad to us…get inspired! Check out our convo with co-founder/manager Christina Kallas-Saritsoglou about hot meats, human skulls, and how it all began here.
 
Philadelphia

Welcome to Opening Day of the Philly F/M Fest!

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So the inaugural run of the Philadelphia Film and Music Festival is upon us. I know that there are a shitload of events so it may seem a little overwhelming, but a few of us here at The Deli rummaged through the mounds of acts participating to bring you what might be the highlights of the fest. It’s pretty obvious where I think you should be tonight and with good reason. Join me and The Deli crew for the Official Opening Party of the Philly F/M Fest! We are stoked about tonight’s lineup! You’ll be treated this evening to the madcap powerpop goodness of Hair Rocket, followed by the growl and footstompin’ blues-garage rock by the creature that they call TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb. But if you know anything about The Deli, we like to mix things up here so we had to bring in The Homophones with their good time grooves and witty, biting melancholy. We’ll close out the evening with ROIR’s once thought to be mythical four-headed beast, the mighty Univox, who will be premiering their video for “Conan”! Nice.

But the night is young and I do have my festival pass so I will hopefully be making the Notekillers set at the M Room. Their old tracks sound great and the new tracks demonstrate that they haven’t lost a step. Now I’s gotsta sees it live! I’ll also be heading over to JB’s where the ladies and gents of A Sunny Day in Glasgow will be holdin’ it down. (A little hint about tonight: What does Brian Wilson and Ben Daniels have in common?). There is certainly plenty to entertain you on this opening evening. And here’s what I’m bummed that I’ll be missing being a pedestrian (note for next year: shuttle service to various venues with bathrooms would be pretty cool). I’m really digging the On Tyme Music Marketing Showcase with Ethel Cee, 84 and Duhmi at, of all places, Club Risque. Oh – too bad that I probably won’t see anybody make it rain tonight. Agent Moosehead’s live scoring of “Attack of the Giant Leeches” at World Café Live (in my most evil mad scientist voice) “looks very interesting”. If you’re over on that side of the Walnut St. Bridge, swing by Millcreek Tavern where our favorite good ole boys Levee Drivers will be sharing a bill with Early Ape and Giant Mind. Creep Records will be providing plenty of blaring guitar riffs for the local punk rockers and metalheads at Media Bureau. The Cobbs and Music for Headphones is also a welcomed live music treat on a Thursday night at Silk City. That’s a lot of shit, mang, so maybe you should work on that fake cough at work today to set the stage for calling out sick on tomorrow.

– Q.D. Tran
 
Philadelphia

Man Man’s New Album Finished and Expected to Be Release Next Year!

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If you remember back to the inaugural interview for our Where Is My Mind? section, we spoke to Man Man’s Honus Honus a.k.a. Ryan Kattner while he was in Omaha this summer recording their upcoming album with Mike Mogis, Bright Eyes producer and Monsters of Folk member. Well, in an interview posted on Spinner yesterday, Kattner reported that the album is complete and tentatively titled Live Fantastic (with French accents in our heads). He also touched on a project that he is working on with Nick Thorwood, a.k.a. Nick Diamonds, of Islands in Where Is My Mind?. That project seems to be moving along. They also recruited the help of Modest Mouse drummer Jeremiah Green to record under the name Mister Heavenly. Sounds like life has been pretty hectic for our mustached friend and about to get more – expect Man Man’s album to be out next year, once again on their label Anti-. – The Deli Staff  
 
Philadelphia

Check Out Diplo’s Unreleased Track with M.I.A. and Other News

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While Diplo hasn’t hidden his distaste for M.I.A.’s new album (well, except for the tracks that he produced), he does seem to be hearting a demo that he made with her and that she posted yesterday. You can check out the unfinished track here. Diplo also hinted at the possibility of leaking the real version of the track on Twitter so stay tuned. While we are on the subject of Diplo news, DJ Hero 2 will contain 2 mixes (Kanye West’s "Heartless" mixed with DJ Shadow’s "Midnight in a Perfect World" and Major Lazer‘s "Pon De Floor" mixed with Harold Faltermeyer’s "Axel F", by our international phenomenon. Guess you too can also dawn a slick suit and feel dapper while pretending to be your favorite local DJ hero. – The Deli Staff  
 
Philadelphia

FYI on DIYs in PHL: Philadelphia Film and Music Festival

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Tomorrow is the start of the Philadelphia Film and Music Festival so for four days you have a chance to see plenty of live music and films as well as be part of something that our local community deserves: our own festival. We had a chance to catch up with partners in crime Joe Lekkas (Village Green Productions) and Doug Sakmann (Backseat Conceptions) about their seemingly herculean task to unite Philly for four days of music, movies and good times. You can check out what they had to say here!
 
Philadelphia

Nightlands Signs to Secretly Canadian!

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Congrats to Nightlands, multi-instrumentalist David Hartley’s ProTools solo project, who just signed to Secretly Canadian! You may best know him as the bassist for The War on Drugs or possibly from his work with BC Camplight, Buried Beds, Adam Acuragi and/or Pepper’s Ghost, but it is always nice to see a talented dude get some of his own recognition. Secretly Canadian will officially release the 12” for Forget the Mantra on November 9. However, you can still purchase it here via Bandcamp. – The Deli Staff