Electro-soul/R&B duo Marian Hill just dropped a new groove entitled "Lips." It’s the B-side to the group’s new 7", which also contains the track "Got It." You can now purchase the release via LA label B3SCI Records. (Photo by Shervin Lainez)
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Krust Toons: “Government Song” by Teddy Hazard
Krust Toons: "Government Song" by Teddy Hazard – please feel free to drop him a line at teddandthehazards@gmail.com if you dig or have any funny ideas. You can also check out more of his illustrations HERE.
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Mannequin Pussy – Your Remedy for the Mondays at Hazard Hall Dec. 1
The beginning of the week can drag; however, Hazard Hall has a remedy this evening. Mannequin Pussy taps into multiple levels of sound. The trio can lay out there with an unveiled agitated punk release, or lay back somewhat sweetly, stacking up the grit in a controlled yet forceful grunge-injected melody that’s half bubbly and half volatile. That ability to sit back and/or setup at opportune moments illustrates the band’s conscious powerful sense of dynamics. Thin Lips, an offshoot of Dangerous Ponies featuring Kyle Pulley bookended by Chrissy Tashijans, supply excellent riff-centric tunes as Tashijans finds a comfortable spot, distinctly delivering lyrics that you’ll naturally sing along to. Cool Points mesh the threshold of pop-punk and noise adding a menacing undercurrent that coldly cuts. Cincinnati, Ohio’s lo-fi, dream-punk three-piece equation Leggy round out this Monday special. Hazard Hall, (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.), 7pm, All Ages (Photo by Walter Wlodarczyk) – Michael Colavita
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The Deli Philly’s December Record of the Month: The Spirit of the Beehive – The Spirit of the Beehive
There is something rather dark and mysterious about a band that takes its name from a classic Spanish film that focuses on its protagonist, a young girl, who becomes fascinated by the 1931 horror movie, Frankenstein. And with an album cover that portrays a child in a bee costume positioned in front of a tombstone saying, “Here Lies Mom-n-Dad Now Their Gone Isn’t That Sad,” you can’t help but be intrigued, if not a bit disturbed. The Spirit of the Beehive is a local fledgling outfit who has popped up on my radar this past year, appearing on numerous bills, oftentimes at DIY spaces. The band has further grabbed my attention with its debut self-titled full-length album, which was recorded by The Weaks/ex-Dangerous Ponies, Evan Bernard and Chris Baglivo, and released via rising Philly indie label Ranch Records.
The record’s opening track, “Roll Over,” begins with an eerie instrumentation before a languid female voice comes in with barely intelligible lines. “Cycles in and out of morphine hazes. Finding spaces between your floorboards. And I watch the dust move.” Thankfully the group provides us with lyrics on its Bandcamp page; otherwise, the beautifully poetic verses filled with drug-fueled imagery would be lost in the wash of power chords and feedback. “All lost in the black market. To wait in the fix aisle, I roll over.” You also get a sense of the band’s lo-fi, DIY aesthetic when you are abruptly taken out of the world, created by the album’s first, with studio chatter before moving on to the next track. With “Short Walk,” you can’t help but feel the influences of greats like Nirvana and more recently Creepoid with the hushed vocals and sonic bursts. These two tracks set the tone for the first half of the LP, where you travel in and out of the territories of dream pop and shoegaze when the female lead vocals grab a hold of you and then the grungier, harder-edged side takes over with the male lead. This juxtaposition provides quite an enjoyable balance that I actually wished went on longer throughout the record.
It’s not until “Ether,” where the two combine forces, changing the dynamic of their relationship. The title of the song suggests that you might be finding something more ethereal; however, the driving bass line provides a sense of urgency throughout the track. It also marks the point where the male lead begins to dominate the rest of the album, while taking on some of the characteristics of its counterpart. What remains a constant is a psychedelic, drug-filled angst full of guitar licks and distortion, giving off the vibe of a band that is here to rock, and they don’t care if you are ready for it or not.
The Spirit of the Beehive closes out their ambitious LP with the longest and cleanest sounding recording on the album, “Fever Dream,” demonstrating that they don’t need to hide behind studio effects, while making you wonder where their follow-up release will go next. It’s an eclectic and modern sounding record that also pulls from past genres I hold close to my chest. I highly recommend that you go download it ASAP. – Q.D. Tran
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The Deli Philly’s Featured Artist(s) Poll Winner: Church Girls
It’s Sunday. And for you religious folks (Satan is our master – j/k), we thought that it’d be fitting to share our interview with The Deli Philly’s latest Featured Artist(s) Poll Winner, Church Girls, which you can check out HERE. The group centers around the duo of Mariel Beaumont and Evan Anders, and they currently have plans to release their debut EP in January followed by a full-length this summer.
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Find the Right Balance w/Krispy Kareem at Chill Collins Nov. 29
Krispy Kareem is the type of band whose balance makes their songs instant repeaters. With an unguarded honest lyrical approach and a freeing release of an open-air instrumentality, these songs come together with a conscious subtle layering, gradually surrounding you until they break through. Tonight, at Chill Collins, they will be joined by a few former Deli Featured Artist(s) Poll Winners Forever Lesbian, whose gentle endearing and revealing tunes softly sweep you in, and the enticing psych-punk of Seismic Thrust, whose pulse-regulating, mind-drifting tunes have that tasty pull of purposeful ragged worn for comfort tones with structural power to create and maintain a compelling shape. Chill Collins, (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.), $5, 6pm, All Ages – Michael Colavita
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Weekend Warrior, November 28 – 30
For fans of Nickelodeon’s The Adventures of Pete & Pete, which aired in the mid-1990s, this evening’s performance at Johnny Brenda’s might be a dream come true. The TV show’s house band, Polaris, will be gracing the Fishtown venue’s stage this evening. And for an added bonus, one of our favorite songwriters Sam Cook-Parrott, a.k.a. Radiator Hospital, will be the lone opener for this blessed event. For the lucky few, who were smart enough to get your tix ahead of time for this sold-out show, get ready to go back in time, and lose your shit tonight! Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $17, 21+ (Photo by Dylan Johnson) – Alexis V.
Other places to party with your friends and fam this weekend…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT West Philadelphia Orchestra
The Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI 20th Anniversary Tribute with Pleezer and Broasis
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI ILL Fated Natives, Briana Cash, Ganou, KENNY/The Pink Angels/Dark Blue, SAT A Trunk Full of Dead Bodies (Reunion show), SAT Ruby Ruff, Sick Panda, Kevin, SUN Half-Ton of Humanity, Signs of Magnus, Fatal Verdict/ The Pretty Greens, Mike Writes the Epperson Airplane
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SAT MT Billions, Bike Crash
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI LE Yikes Surf Club
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI True Will, Knightlife, Really Fast Automobiles, Fastride, No Reserve, SAT Wisdom in Chains, SUN Bakery Boys, Theodore Grams
Electric Factory (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Conspirator, Cocktail Party Phenomenon
The Liacouras Center (1776 N. Broad St.) SAT Chiddy Bang
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Boris Garcia, The Karmic Repair Company, SAT (Upstairs) Barleyjuice (Downstairs) Beru Revue
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Judah Priest, Supreem Da Rezarekta’, Lanice London, Drusef, SAT (7pm) Harry Walther Band, Levi Schlosser (9pm) ILL Fated Natives (CD Release Show), Quitehype, SUN Soundwavves
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI ILL Doots, Thee Idea Men, OhBree, SAT Nicky P & Friends, Dawnchasers, The JP Bailey Trio
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Molly Rhythm, Wonder & Fury, Take Today, SAT Holland Crouse Duo, Lör
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St) FRI Flamour (Brian Flanagan & Michelle Armour), Dominic Tursi, SAT (7:30pm) Francis Dunnery (10:30pm) Casey Alvarez
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Brown Sugar, SAT Sylvia Platypus (CD Release Party)
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI E. Ness, SAT Embers of Igneous, Sunblaze Lane, The Minutians/ Big Stall, Willpowerless, SUN Mike Liberatore, Nicki Sbaffoni, The Jericho Horns
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St) FRI Blackhawks, SAT The Royal Noise, Flux Capacitor, The Funky T, SUN Seoul Delhi, The Butter Guns
The Grape Room (105 Grape St) FRI No Outlet, McRad, Germany Hill, Kaye Says, SAT Devil’s Triangle, Love Panther, Cardigan Terrace
Bourbon and Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) Fri Taggart, The Silence Kit, SAT Something Like A Monument
Ardmore Music Hall FRI The Box Social with Flightschool SAT US Rails, John Byrne Band, Brian LaPann Trio
Golden Tea House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Dark Thoughts
West Philadelphia Retirement Center (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Ten Ton Hammer, Limits, Hells
Chill Collins Art Space (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Forever Lesbians, Seismic Thrust, Time Hitler & The Assholes From Space, When Ships Collide, Krispy Kareem
Lavender Town (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Blue Smiley, Blankbook
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Free Download: “Almost” – Blood Sound
For a lot of us, family holidays can often be a bittersweet time. So we thought that this new single, "Almost," from fledgling dark-wave crew Blood Sound might capture a little bit of the angst you might be feeling from spending too much time with certain family members yet we’re hoping that it’ll get you bobbing and dancing in the right direction. The band is made up of Chris Jordan, Tristan McKeever, and Vincent Tkac; we are impressed with the tracks that we’ve heard from the trio so far, and are really looking forward to an official album release. Labels, give them a holla! Blood Sound will be performing on Sunday, December 7 at Silk City with qqq and Lapses.
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Free Download: Caymen Islands Sessions, Volume II – Work Drugs
Local indie-pop outfit Work Drugs just shared its new album Caymen Islands Sessions, Volume II, which is available for free download. "As a follow up to the first Cayman Islands Sessions, Work Drugs is releasing 10 new interpretations of classic Work Drugs singles. With help from fellow bandmate Nero Catalano and long time guest vocalist Rachel K Haines, new life has been infused into these tracks." The band also made the rest of its music collection available for free download for Black Friday only. Work Drugs will be performing on Friday, December 5 at Boot & Saddle for the group’s 3rd annual Christmas Spectacle, and it will be the band’s last show for a while.
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New Music Video: “I Was At a Party” – Weird Hot
Weird Hot are getting ready to drop their new self-titled LP. They’ll be celebrating its release on Friday, December 19 at Johnny Brenda’s. Below is their latest music video for the single "I Was At a Party."
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Spend Thanksgiving Eve w/Teen Men, Needle Points & Purples at Boot & Saddle Nov. 26
As members of the noteworthy indie-pop group Spinto Band, singer Nick Krill and guitarist Joe Hobson had found a niche for creating catchy, original tunes that made a poetic statement. And the duo has taken that ability and crafted a sensory overload when they joined forces with photographer Catherine Maloney and filmmaker Albert Birney to start their new project Teen Men. The lavish quartet blend artistic alternative music and electronic ambient tones with a photographic and cinematic digital media filmscape to create a one of a kind live experience. Catching them at Boot & Saddle tonight will be the perfect way to spend your Thanksgiving Eve. Especially when they’ll be joined by psychedelic journeymen/woman Needle Points, who have also been known to deliver a mind altering live performance that’s complete with colorful costumes, dual percussionists, and the thrumming bass of Brian "Langor" Langan. The incendiary musical performance kicks off with a sure to be rockin’ set by Purples, featuring members of Philly indie-rock forefathers The Teeth. Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 8pm, $10, 21+ (Photo by Maciek Jasik) – Bill McThrill
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New Music Video: “Singing Sirens” (Album Version) – The Ghost In You
Animated simplicity, Billy Polard, a.k.a. The Ghost In You, created this video originally in 2011 for the demo version of “Signing Sirens,” using flipnote studio a program found on Nintendo DS. Now, the video contains/corresponds to the official recording included on the Wet Wood album. The message is so heartbreakingly clear that you could melt.