Philadelphia

The Deli Philly’s Best of 2012 Poll Top Performer: Work Drugs

Posted on:

Smooth-fi yacht rockers Work Drugs have come a long way from the "Caymen Islands," developing their musical skills with soft-spoken vocals, shakin’ tambourines, and chiming guitar rhythms. These guys are the givers that keep on givin’ prolifically releasing a barrage of sweet jams and found-footage music videos, since they slinked their way into the Philly indie music community. This year, they’ve wrangled together their finest collection of sexified tunes for the group’s first “official” full-length album release, Delta. The band also ended up on shortlist of cash-prize winners and a Spotify-promoted Bon Iver remix compilation with their reworked version of “Beth/Rest.” The awards and accolades in 2012 were all well and good, but what they should be most proud of is the solidification of their live performance lineup that consistently showed improvement impressing more and more audiences throughout the year. They’ll be hitting the road for a mini-tour next month to spread their smoothness, which kicks off on Saturday, March 9 at Kung Fu Necktie. (BTW: You can check out the full list of Top Performers from The Deli Philly’s Best of 2012 Poll HERE.) – Rachel Barrish

Philadelphia

Mike Bruno + the Magic Family Band & Nothing Opening for Psychic Ills at JB’s Feb. 13

Posted on:

It’s going to get ominously weird (in a good way) tonight at Johnny Brenda’s when hypnotic, lo-fi NYC psych-pop/rock outfit Psychic Ills rolls into town. I can’t really think of a better local opener for the evening than Mike Bruno + the Magic Family Band, who will surely draw you in with their bewitching, shadowy folk tunes. Bridging the bands sets will be Nothing blending in shoegaze-y bursts of rockin’ soundscapes with emotive lyrics and vocals. It’s kind of a good night of music for people who aren’t afraid to take hallucinogens though they’re quite susceptible to bad trips. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Alexis V. 

 
Philadelphia

The Deli Philly’s Best of 2012 Poll Top Performer: Lushlife

Posted on:

Year in review for Lushlife (a.k.a. Raj Haldar): skilled, innovative and making waves. In 2012, this “bedroom composer” made some serious moves with his adventuresome beats and cerebral content. Lushlife was featured on YouTube’s music page for the debut session of The Deli Philly & HotBox Studio’s Choice/Cuts. Plateau Vision was released via Western Vinyl (which became our May Album of the Month). He is certainly on the radar of a number of big-name publications and critics, ranging from Pitchfork to The New York Times, and has collaborated and received the remix treatment from hip-hop stars like Das Racist’s Heems, Styles P and Shabazz Palaces. Basically, it’s not stopping in 2012 for the wildly creative yet extremely humble Deli fave. Lushlife is already on board for the Roots Picnic this summer, and we happen to know that he has a release in the works with a rad mysterious electronic outfit (which really can’t come soon enough for us). This past year was simply a coming out party for Lush, and we look forward to seeing the rest of the world getting exposed to him! – Brandi Lukas 

Philadelphia

New Music Video: “Bathroom Laughter” – Pissed Jeans & Ticket Giveaway!

Posted on:

Pissed Jeans‘ new album Honeys is out today via Sub Pop, and the band also shared a funny and somewhat ghastly music video for the track "Bathroom Laughter" that spoofs informercial television culture. The video was directed by Philly/LA filmmaker Joe Stakun (who has done ones Modest Mouse, Future Island and Japanther) and stars Mark Porsch from The Office. The band members also make cameos, and they’ll be celebrating the record’s release this Friday at Underground Arts with support from Leather and Lantern, which should make for packed evening of intense, noisy goodness that you don’t want to miss. And you don’t have to because we are giving away a pair of free tickets to the celebration. Just send us an email at thedelimagazinephiladelphia@gmail.com with the subject line "It’s in My Jeans!" for a chance to win. Good luck!

Philadelphia

Tuesday Tune-Out w/Chipocrite at PhilaMOCA Feb. 12

Posted on:

Tonight 8static continues their curation of this month’s Tuesday Tune-Out at PhilaMOCA with Chipocrite. He’ll be performing a Big Lebowski-themed set (which he originally did at 2011’s Lebowski Fest) featuring songs from the its soundtrack arranged for Game Boy as well as his own compositions. And of course, the Dude will be screened in its entirety so grab your bathrobe and white Russian mixers and head over to the Eraserhood art space! PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 8pm, $5, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman

Philadelphia

Divers Opening for Auctioneer at KFN Feb. 12

Posted on:

If you were saddened by the recent disbandment of The Weeds, you can still take in the beautiful vocals and words of the defunct band’s frontwoman Emily Ann Zeitlyn in her latest project Divers, which also features guitarist Ross Bellenoit. The quartet is rounded out by drummer Tom Bendel (Buried Beds) and Todd Erk (Hoots & Hellmouth, Birdie Busch, etc.). The brooding rockers will be opening for Shaking Through alums Auctioneer at Kung Fu Necktie tonight, and will also be joined by Wisconsin troubadour Anna Vogelzang. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $8, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman 

Philadelphia

The Deli Philly’s Best of 2012 Poll Top Performer: Hop Along

Posted on:

The Frances Quinlan-fronted trio of Hop Along embraces the raw, unfiltered straight-from-gut-to-the-listeners’-ears approach. It’s that instant reaction, “this isn’t staged, these are my real thoughts and fears” intimacy that gives Hop Along such authenticity. It’s easy to buy in. This isn’t fabricated or produced for effect; it’s just real. Using that as a starting point and coupling it with instrumentation that fits the context of the lyrics from bright and uplifting (energetically clean and harmonic) to down and out (ragged and dreary), all while Frances does her best to make you feel meaning from each and every word she sings is what you’ll find on the group’s official debut LP Get Disowned. Hop Along is a brutally honest band that opens the closet and shares all its skeletons. (Photo by Tiffany Yoon) – Michael Colavita