There has always been a gentle honesty in the music of Billy Pollard, a.k.a. The Ghost in You, that we have always felt needed to be heard outside of his bedroom. Below is a live performance of "Seahorses," from his On the Hill session with the crew at Kettle Pot Tracks. The song is the opening track to his 2010 self-titled LP. You can also stream and purchase his entire set HERE.
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New Video: “The Truth” (Out Of Town Films) – Dr. Dog
Here’s an interview and an in-studio performance of "The Truth," one of our favorite songs off Dr. Dog‘s latest LP B-Room. It was recorded by the good folks at Out Of Town Films at the band’s new studio space in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Dr. Dog will be back in town this weekend on January 31 and February 1 for two night at the Electric Factory.
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Free Download: “Digital Girl” (Resistor Remix) – Work Drugs
The usually smooth sailing sounds of Works Drugs get a hyped up, 8-bit remixing from Resistor for their track "Digital Girl." This version is seriously giving the original (which appears on the band’s latest LP Insurgents) a run for its money. You can stream and download the remix for free below.
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Night Sins Belated Record Release Celebration at The Boot & Saddle Jan. 27
Tonight, enter the macabre world of Night Sins, who will be holding a belated record release celebration for their album To London or the Lake (Avant!) at The Boot & Saddle. Led by Kyle Kimball, the group’s sound travels down the shadowy chasm of late generation goth rock with minimal synths and electric guitar lines that ring out like a siren warning of a great storm on the horizon. Will it symbolize the end or a new beginning? You’ll just have to come and find out for yourself when they open for LA-based duo Youth Code who will be bringing along fellow City of Angels residents Coming. Expect to see plenty of folks dressed in black this evening in the South Philly saloon. The Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Alexis V.
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Final Sgt. Sass Album Available for Streaming & Download
After performing their last show this past April, LGBTQ hip-hop crew Sgt. Sass‘ final chapter comes to a close with their new album Black Nail Polish. You can stream and download it below. Enjoy! (Photo by Teresa McCullough)
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Stepping Further Out There w/Pine Barons & Pill Friends at KFN Jan. 26
Pine Barons are a group unafraid to traverse in a wide-area of musical choices. This open approach creates the possibility for surprise. Rooting themselves in a base of rock with a distinct nod to Americana/folk, the group gives off a strong internally burning energy. This core synced-in force is the kind of feeling that an audience really sinks into and gravitates toward. Furthermore, it spills over into the songs fueling at opportune moments of exploratory psychedelic tones in which the Pine Barons take a few leisurely steps just a little further out. Sharing the bill are Pill Friends, who invite you into a boundary-shedding intimate atmosphere. Ryan Wilson delivers emotionally soaked lyrics captivating in their revealing nature and his spoken diary tone. With tightly fitting instrumentation capable of accentuating the lyrical tone from a simplistic strumming and percussion to unfiltered aggression, Pill Friends place honesty in front of you, and dare you to look away. They’ll also be joined this evening at Kung Fu Necktie by locals Underwater Country Club and Baltimore The Sun Club. Kung Fu Necktie 1250 N. Front St., 8pm., $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita
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Mausoleum Pizza Party at PhilaMOCA Jan. 25
In just a short amount of time, PhilaMOCA has been gaining recognition for its YouTube screening of the bizarre live music, sketch comedy and all-around weird in-house variety video series, Mausoleum Party. Tonight’s SOLD OUT taping should be no exception, and the main attraction will be none other than the fabled pizza-themed Velvet Underground cover band that features Macaulay Culkin (yup – that guy!), The Pizza Underground. But the event also features the obscure joke-thrash-metal band that you may have caught during Pizza Brain and Little Baby’s fundraisers, Pizza Face. They’ll also be armed with tunes from their upcoming album, Cafeteria Terrorists. PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 7:30pm & 11pm, SOLD OUT, All Ages – Bill McThrill
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Weekend Warrior, January 24 – 26
Self-classified riot grrls Cayetana play indie rock meant for high volumes, with punk styling that lacks the anger typical to the genre. Instead, that rage is replaced by wistfulness – but don’t think that makes their music any less impactful. Singer Augusta Koch croons over fast paced riffs, all the while sharing poignant lyrics that call for a second listen. Rollicking music coupled with rousing, and oft nostalgia-inducing, lyricism is what the band does best, and they have fun doing it. (Check out what I’m talking about in their video for "Hot Dad Calendar" HERE!) Headlining this Sunday’s bill at the First Unitarian Church is Waxahatchee, the rock moniker of indie darling Katie Crutchfield. Her project specializes in storytelling – each song a direct address to the listener, like Crutchfield’s whispering a tale for your ears only. Intense intimacy is the hallmark of Waxahatchee’s music, and last years LP, Cerulean Salt, didn’t stray from the pattern: raw honesty rasped over simple guitar lines that flow from one tale to the next. Also performing is local garage-pop outfit, Heavy Bangs, who create lo-fi songs of personal empowerment; they don’t need to shout for their message to pack a wallop. And Columbus, Ohio pop-punk group All Dogs will round out the lineup, bringing a crashing of cymbals and heavy guitar to the stage. First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 8pm, $10, All Ages – Shaylin O’Connell
Other places to not freeze your ass off this weekend…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Belgrade, Darling Specter
The Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Banned Books, Son Step, Laser Background, Bad Braids
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SAT Pizza Face
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI (Early) Esoterica, Ashencult, SUN Underwater Country Club, Pill Friends, Pine Barons
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Sean Hoots Trio, Travel Lanes, SAT VOSS
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI Swift Technique, Ju-Taun, SAT Omnivox, Civil Holdup, Honor, Emma Cullen, SUN Jerry Joseph
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The Pretty Greens, Outside Eyes, SAT Paige Allbritton, Emmettt Drueding, SUN Pro Post Time, Snagwing, Candice Martello
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Thee, Idea Men, The Rivals
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI (Early) Jump Winter Issue Launch Party w/Ali Wadsworth, SUN New Sound Brass
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI A Victim of Good Times, Satellite Go, Lo Power Plane
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SUN Lo Power Plane, Beyonder
M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Venice Sunlight, Curtis Jr., Brian Fitzy, Sonnder, Ego Alien, SAT Bastards of Earle, Chris Zurich, Angel Ocana
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT (Early) Kevin Killen Happy Hour, (Late) Eli August and the Abandon Buildings, SUN Rusty Cadillac
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) SUN Zymotic Flow
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) SAT Khalid Quesada, Fantastic Planet, Amber Ladd
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT Trust The Medic (formerly Face Two Face)
JR’s (2327 Croskey St.) FRI The Makeshift Uprising, Alberta’s Court, Bite Size Giant
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI The Great Endangered, Montoj, SAT Pete Grotch, Abilities, Katya Blue
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Orion Freeman
Flux (30 S. 33rd St.) FRI DRGN King, SHMNS
Golden Tea House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT No Time, Low Charge, Martin
Mount Thrashmore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Secret Plot to Destroy the Entire Universe, Commonwealth
LAVA Space (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Swarm
Don’t Tread On Me House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Family Vacation, Besting Tensions, The Jawn, Jantones
4QHQ (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Batworm, New Crime
The Mitten (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Benefit for Women Against Abuse w/Ex By V, Amanda X, See-Through Girls, Mermaid Parade
Colde Club (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT The Downtown Club
Philadelphia
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Locals Only Keeping Philly Weird at The Boot & Saddle Jan. 24
Helping to keep Philly weird is the strangely awesome collection of local acts performing at The Boot & Saddle tonight. First up is the talented songstress Megan Biscieglia, who enchants listeners under the moniker Bad Braids. She’ll be presenting her brand of psychedelic folk, which edges on the vocal-centric madrigal. Following is the danciest acts of the evening, which is kind of odd for me to say, Laser Background. The band took a bit of a holiday break towards the end of last year to help recharge as they work on a more focused sound for their upcoming album. Alliterative sleepwalkers, Son Step, fall in line as direct support for the genre-bending noisemakers, Banned Books, who will be closing out the evening. These two musical mad scientists mix crunchy distortion with unexpected, instrumental spazz-outs to produce something bizarre, yet wonderfully inviting. Get yourself ready, South Philly! The Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Maggie Grabmeier
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DRGN King & SHMNS Helping to Blow Off Some Steam at Flux Jan. 24
It’s been a whole year since DRGN King released their debut LP Paragraph Nights (Bar/None) and toured the country a couple times over. After such a breakout year in 2013, the band is ready to start off 2014 with bang tonight at Drexel University’s music and art space Flux. DRGN King will most likely be previewing some new jams that they’ve been putting the finishing touches on for their upcoming album. They will also be joined by SHMNS, who had a good 2013 as well traveling around the U.S. in support of their EP Somewhere Between Hear and There. Well, school is back in session so expect to see students blowing off some steam this evening. Flux, 30 S. 33rd St., 8pm, $5, All Ages – Bill McThrill
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The Districts’ Label Debut Available for Streaming
The Districts‘ snowball continues to get bigger as it’s pushed up the steep slope of the music industry, and deservedly so. (Sorry, we couldn’t help it, being surrounded by all this snow.) If you’ve caught the band live, then you’ve definitely taken notice of Rob Grote’s impassioned, guttural vocal delivery and foot-stompin’ intensity. We also really dig Mark Larson’s poised guitar work. Well, the group polished off a few older tunes from Telephone and revealed a couple of new ones on their label debut that don’t show any signs of the momentum lessening any time soon for the youthful crew. You can stream their splendid self-titled EP over at Rolling Stone. Enjoy!
Philadelphia
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The Weaks Sign to Lame-O Records & Announce Release Date for Debut EP
Congrats to The Weaks, the latest project from ex-Dangerous Ponies members Evan Bernard and Chris Baglivo, who have signed to Lame-O Records! What started as an experiment to record a song a week has blossomed into an actual release on vinyl. The group’s 12" EP The World Is A Terrible Place and I Hate Myself and Want To Die is scheduled to drop February 11 via the Philly indie startup label that has housed recordings from homegrown rising acts Modern Baseball and The Hundred Acre Woods. Cheers, fellas!