Univox’s self-titled debut full length from Brooklyn indie label ROIR is a joyous rollercoaster ride through music history. I guess that you can call it Glam rock because it is quite theatrical and certainly rocks, but these aren’t posers smearing on makeup and tight outfits to somehow get the chicks (though drummer Kent Boersma has been known to dawn a dress). These are four young men brought together by the rock gods to twist the meaning of what they believe pop music is. With a sound that deserves to be heard through arena stacks, this quartet creates epic rock anthems, but it’s more than just power chords and guitar riffs from below the waist (well, opener “Pi” is a little bit). Led by their radio-ready vocals and the strong backbone drumming of Boersma, Univox combine monster pop hooks and straight-up pedal-to-the-floor rock with such theatrical flare that you can’t help but be swept away over the top with them.

 

Josh Jones’ baritone Bowie-esque vocals and the band’s impressive harmonies have you already hearing tracks like “Everybody Knows” and “You Don’t Know” on the radio (that is if you still listen to radio). “Lever Master City” embodies what I think of as the Univox sound: catchy pop hooks, strange mind-warping lyrics, steady rockin’ backbeat and guitars with gorgeous harmonies. When they drop into “die, don’t leave me alone/call me on the phone/phone make me at home/child to the wave then in the sand/light in your heart/your heart in my hand/holy master crow/who lives in a cage/letting him out in a couple of days/call to my throat/throat lend me a line/line in the salt/salt sand in my eyes/I’m seeing the sand/drop from the days/laying you out in different ways/child to the wave and in the sand/light in your heart/your heart in my hand,” it always brings a smile to my face. Did I already use the word “epic”? The band flexes their vocal muscles in the a cappella track “All This Blood Came From My Heart” which plays out like a sadistic operatic musical reminding you that Univox’s artistic vision far exceeds your normal everyday rock band. Predictable – Univox is not. “Conan” unexpectedly breaks out into an angry Devo dance party while album closer “Nobody’s That Smart” just leaves you wondering what these guys will do next. Long-awaited debut worth the wait. – Q.D. Tran

 

 

Northern Liberties has developed into an epicenter for sustainable businesses, hot bars and clubs, a creative atmosphere, and all things fun albeit a little yuppified. Today they will be taking the fun to the street when the second annual 2nd Street Festival (powered by the people behind Popped Fest) takes over this popular strip. With four beer gardens backed by the likes of Standard Tap and El Camino Real, over 60 vendors on site, skateboarding demonstrations, 3 stages of music and more, the fest looks like the perfect end to an already exciting weekend. And it’s packed to the nines with an entertaining cast of characters so there should be plenty of music for everyone. You have Tough Shits and The Midnight Sounds bringing their lo-fi garage rock to the party while Peasant and Adam Arcuragi have the mellow singer-songwriter indie folk for those who want to take it easy. Maxx from Black Landlord is known for their stylish swagger, but he might want to stop by the Jose Cuervo Stage to see how Jason Ferraro and the rest of The Homophones add a hi-fi flair of balloon popping into the mix. Even more old school and new school connections happen when you factor in legends like Chuck Treece playing the same stage with breakout stars like Post Post. Throw in bands like Gildon Works, Flying Sutra, The Rebel Yell, and the fact that it’s all FREE, and you have a most enjoyable stroll to do through NoLibs today. 2nd Street Festival, 600 – 1100 2nd St., 12pm – 9pm, FREE, All Ages – Bill McThrill

 

We are very excited to be able to offer you a FREE DOWNLOAD of “Stranger”, the new single from Creepoid’s latest two-song EP Graveblanket. If you’ve been checking out The Deli Philly, then it should be no surprise to you that we think Creepoid is creating some amazing tunes. I’ve been blown away by how much I’ve enjoyed every track from such a new band. “Stranger” is no exception. It possesses an eerie, timeless quality. Creepoid will be performing tonight at Tritone on a spectacular rockin’ bill w/Party Photographers, The Sky Drops and Frisky or Trusty, which is brought to you by Sugar Town. I am absolutely pissed that I’ll be missing this one. I’ve been planning on it for weeks now, and I just found out this week that my buddy’s bachelor party is the same evening. I know that there will be plenty of lovely females rockin’ out at Tritone, but I doubt that’s the type of entertainment that he’ll be looking for. On the bright side, I’m going to see many naked ladies tonight. DOWNLOAD “STRANGER” (just click on the arrow pointing down below on the right) and kick back some specials at Tritone! Cheers! – Q.D. Tran

 

There is plenty to do this weekend, and hopefully the right weather to do it in, but if you want to be where the partay is at, then we’ll see you at the Mad Decent Block Party this Saturday! It’s a plain and simple rager folks so get ready to have some fun! Expect performances by Diplo, The Deathset, Maluca, Nadastrom, PO PO, Bosco Delrey, Paul Devro, DJ Sega & Brick Bandits, Toadally Krossed Out, Brendan BringEm plus Dirty South Joe & Flufftronix! Did we use too many exclamation points!?! No really – bring your friends, bring your kids and bring anybody who wants to dance. Make sure that you grab some yummy Sixpoints Craft Ales and always drink plenty of water to keep the party from ending a little earlier than you’d like. Mad Decent Mausoleum, 531 N. 12th St., 1pm – 8pm, FREE, ALL AGES

 

If you are ready for more, here ya go…

 

2nd Street Festival (No Libs) SUN Black Landlord, Chuck Treece, The Midnight Beat, Tough Shits, The Homophones, Post Post, Adam Arcuragi, Gildon Works, Peasant, Wes Mattheu & the New Way Down and more

 

Diesel Store (1507 Walnut St.) FRI Diesel Pre-Party w/Po Po

 

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT It’s The Year 2004 w/ Reef the Lost Cause

 

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) SAT Green Evening Requiem

 

North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) SAT Surgeon

 

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Paper Masques and The Fleeting Ends, SUN Hezekiah Jones

 

M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) SUN Sure Juror

 

The Khyber (56 S. 2nd St.) FRI Live Not On Evil
 
Tritone (1508 South St.) SAT Creepoid, The Party Photographers, The Sky Drops, Frisky or Trusty

 

Blockley Pourhouse (3801 Chestnut St.) FRI High Kick

 

Danger Danger Gallery (5013 Baltimore Ave.) FRI Hot Guts, SAT Sgt. SASS and The Homophones

 

Millcreek Tavern (4200 Chester Ave.) FRI Baptist Preachers

 

Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) SAT Victoria Spaeth

 

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Nicki Jaine

 

The Ox (2nd and Oxford St.) SAT The New Heaven and The New Earth

 

Fergie’s Pub (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Berry Jones

 

With their Misfits-meet-Shellac ‘80s punk rock ethos and crude metal sludge underbelly, Philly’s Live Not On Evil will be a part of local history tonight. Along with Lustkillers, The Fishnet Stalkers, and Smoker & The Rollers, the Creep Records-signed underground punk/metal/goth triptych will play one of the last shows at the Khyber before the fêted Old City pub closes its doors to live music. It should be a live set of epic proportions – and one only appropriate for a band that loves their city. The Khyber, 56 S. 2nd Street, 9pm, $10, 21+ – Annamarya Scaccia

 

Deliciously acoustic, this one woman wonder blurs the line between steamy blues and cabaret with class. On top of crafting original songs and revamping tunes from the 30s and 40s, Nicki Jaine is known to sing in German mesmerizing listeners with her Marlene Dietrich-type swagger. “Sometimes Sunshine” unfolds like the nocturnal melodies of Old World Gypsy camps, her diction bringing to mind the enigmatic Bowie and his intergalactic alter-ego Ziggy Stardust. “Pretty Faces” is dramatic and haunting without sounding over-the-top. With the crackle of old time radio, “Sound of Girls” is surreal and raw. Delivered like a gloomy Liza Minnelli as Cabaret’s Sally Bowles, Jaine’s name belongs in lights. Having recently collaborated with Black Tape for a Blue Girl, Philly’s sultry siren reunites with NYC based darkwave darlings for Projecktfest’10, “a non-stop all ages goth cabaret” with Unto Ashes, The Twilight Garden, and Voltaire. The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 8pm, $10, All Ages – Dianca Potts

 

 

We have to admit that we couldn’t help rooting for Notekillers. These veterans of the indie music scene are back and certainly sound like they are ready to show a whole new generation how to simply rock! We caught up with guitarist David First to get the skinny on Notekillers. (Or is it The Notekillers?)

 

The Deli: How did Notekillers start?

 

David First: Way, way, way, back, back, back in the day, in 1976, two of us, Halkin & I, rekindled a bandmate-hood that began in junior high. We started out totally improvising what we called "free rock" and slowly began imposing spring-loaded structures that I started bringing in. Another old friend, Bilenky, came in much later – sometime in 1977. Version 1.0 lasted till 1981. We reconvened in 2004 shortly after re-animator extraordinaire Thurston Moore mentioned us in an article in Mojo magazine. We’re having MUCH more fun this time around.

 

TD: Where did the band name come from?

 

DF: Those were rebellious, angry times, and in that spirit, it seemed important that we take a stand against something personal for us. Notes – polite, proper pitches and sounds – seemed like a worthy adversary. We wanted to annihilate them…or at least see that they got a good slapping around. Sometimes it’s Notekillers and sometimes it’s The Notekillers – we can never seem to definitively decide.

 

TD: What are your biggest musical influences?

 

DF: The original rock & rollers – especially Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley & Link Wray. Psychedelic rock of the late 60s – Yardbirds, QMS, J. Airplane, and maybe, especially, a Philly band from back then – Mandrake Memorial. Free Jazz (Cecil Taylor, Albert Ayler), serious funk (early Kool & the Gang, Parliament/Funkadelic). The subversive structures of John Fahey. And for me, personally, my studies with local legend Dennis Sandole – under whose guidance I developed the chord-melody concepts behind all our stuff.

 

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

 

DF: I love people who are trying to create something genuinely new and nonretro. These days that generally means artists working largely in the realm of sound sans vocals or played-out ego memes. People such as Zs, Oneida, Parts & Labor, Noveller. Just saw Weasel Walter’s new trio w/Marc Edwards – Cellular Chaos – and that was pretty terrific. Philly guy Nick Millevoi always seems to be in the middle of something interesting – saw him do a lovely solo show a couple weeks ago. We did a show at the M-Room recently with Empty Shapes – they impressed us with their entrancing heaviness.

 

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

 

DF: We’re old – the Doors at the Town Hall was the first show Halkin & I went to – and I even got Ray Manzarek’s autograph. First album was Meet the Beatles purchased at EJ Korvettes on Welsh & the Blvd.

 

TD: What do you love about Philly?

 

DF: The kids and bands that have made things way livelier and healthier than things were when we were starting out. The Philly creative music scene receives national attention – those of us who’ve been around long enough know that this wasn’t always the case. Not by a long-shot.

 

TD: What do you hate about Philly?

 

DF: The chip on the shoulder that I still sense sometimes.

 

TD: What are your plans for 2010?

 

DF: Get back to playing more shows. We took time off to get a new record together – which is now done. It’s called We’re Here to Help and will be officially available in early November on Prophase Records. But we’ll probably have it at shows earlier than that. Otherwise, we’re working on new material and ever-new ways to blow up things and take people for a ride on the shards.

 

TD: What was your most memorable live show?

 

DF: All Tomorrow’s Parties in England a couple years ago was fun – I could easily get used to playing in front of a thousand-plus people all the time. A recent show at Union Pool in Brooklyn that encored with saxophonist Daniel Carter joining us was a blast. And anytime we’ve played at Pilam.

 

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

 

DF: Breyers mint chocolate chip.

 

– The Deli Staff