As an artist formerly known as Hellmouth, Andrew Gray has achieved modest success while touring with the venerable folk outfit Hoots & Hellmouth. But after years of boot stomping rollicking shows with the group, Gray made the tough decision to leave the already established and much-beloved band to venture off alone to perform his own music. The end result is stripped-down acoustic acoustic that does justice to his folk background, as well as songwriting in its purest form. And when Gray opens for William Elliott Whitmore tonight at Johnny Brenda’s, it will be his biggest show to date while embarking upon the new chapter in his musical career. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Bill McThrill
The 2nd Street Festival just announced their lineup this year which was programmed by the Philadelphia Folk Society and partners Point Entertainment, and will take place on Sunday, July 31 in Northern Liberties. The big news from the FREE 6-block party is that indie darling tUnE-YarDs (a.k.a. Merrill Garbus) will be performing alongside local favorites like Black Landlord, East Hundred, Toy Soldiers, The Great Unknown, Cheers Elephant, North Lawrence Midnight Singers, Mason Porter, Gillian Grassie, and more. There will also be some of your favorite restaurants and bars, four stages, crafts, kids programs, workshops, and nonprofit vendors. It should be a fun day for Philly. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the weather isn’t as brutal as this week. – The Deli Staff
Check out the promo video for the Mad Decent Block Party 2011 below! This year’s lineup in Philly features Diplo, Das Racist, DJ Sega, Brick Bandits, POPO, Kito, Paul Devro, and Luvstep. You can RSVP for the FREE event HERE! – The Deli Staff
Tonight’s show at Johnny Brenda’s featuring Deli favorites Reading Rainbow and Creepoid is a benefit for Philadelphia’s 23 year old art collective, Vox Populi. Since it was founded in 1988, the collective has been at work supporting local artists with monthly exhibitions, gallery talks, performances, lectures, and other great programs. In order to continue its overwhelming support of our local art scene, Vox Populi needs your support. Both Reading Rainbow and Creepoid have direct ties to the local art community, aside from just their music. Sarah Everett of Reading Rainbow has designed t-shirts and album/singles covers for her band along with sharing her animalistic designs, and Anna Troxell is an art professor at La Salle University. For Reading Rainbow, the show will be one of their first in town since they have become a three piece by adding guitarist, Al Creedon. Tonight will also be Creepoid’s homecoming from their latest tour with Nothing. So come out and show your support for a great organization and catch sets from a couple of the areas finest bands! Johnny Brenda’s 1201 Frankford Ave. 9 pm, $10 21+ (Reading Rainbow Photo by Kirstie Shanley; Creepoid Photo by Michael James Murray) – Dan Brightcliffe
An 8-bit evening is underway at North Star Bar as Philly’s four-piece videogame beat masters Cheap Dinosaurs bring back the primitive sounds of game play audio. Once a solo project fueled by Dino Lionetti fronted by switches and synths, Cheap Dinosaurs has expanded since, with guitars and drums, which offers a traditional touch to pair nicely with its computer-based sound. (And check out the video below for the song “Tagalog” that Cheap Dinosaurs made last year with a Game Boy Camera that was made circa 1998.) New York City’s chiptune rockers Anamanaguchi will be headlining this nostalgic trip down gamer lane, who is better known for its prevalence in 2010 with a free support concert for the embattled Four Loko, and composing music for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game. Joining the lineup will be moody beat-driven babe Talk to Animals and easy-listening pop rockers The Skateboards. Remember to leave a cartridge in the slot to prevent dust and dirt from entering the system. North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 7pm, $10, All Ages – Brandi Lukas
Kurt Vile has been racking up some serious miles lately. After his tour with Thurston Moore and a jaunt through Europe, Matador Records just announced that he’ll be celebrating his homecoming with a headlining show at Union Transfer on Saturday, November 12. Well, he’ll still have to swing by Austin City Limits and do a run with Bright Eyes, but there is light at the end of the tunnel for the long-haired, guitar-toting road warrior. You can check out his tour schedule HERE. – The Deli Staff
Below is a music video from Chiddy Bang for “Old Ways” that was previously unreleased and appeared on their album The Preview. They just premiered it today via Karmaloop. It was directed by Kristopher Rey-Talley and was shot & edited by Sam Wooton. Enjoy their little tour of Philly! – The Deli Staff
Below is a new track “Headlights (ft. Kuf Knotz)” from The City Music Project that is available for free download. It’s from their new RE-VISIONS EP, which also has remix contributions from Norwegian indie folk-pop duo Kings of Convenience and Philly electronica brethren City Rain. You can check out and download the rest of the album for free HERE. – The Deli Staff
When I first discovered Grubstake, they were simply a grunge-y blues rock duo driven by the raw guitar work and guttural vocals of PW McHugh, but have since evolved into a quintet from their experimental nights performing as the Grubstake Roots Project at Fergie’s. However, you’ll find another different variation of the band tonight at the M Room when they strip-down once again with simply a violin and two guitars. Luckily, they’ll be opening the evening instead of following the country punk sounds of Crills Wilson. Wilson has assembled a tight crew of players for his band, and they like to play loud. But that shouldn’t be a problem for the venue’s sound system with all its experience working with the metal acts that have come through. So kick back a few specials and prepare to get rowdy! M Room, 15 W. Girard Ave., 9pm, $8, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman
Below is a new music video for the track “Peter Perez” from lo-fi experimental artist Cough Cool a.k.a. Dan Svizeny, which premiered today via YVYNYL. It’s a trippy muscle-bound concoction from Berlin-based video artist Will Rockel (a.k.a. monfieur) that he teamed-up with via the magical powers of the internet. The track will be on Cough Cools debut Untitled LP, which will be out on vinyl via Bathetic Records. Svizeny has also been part of acts like Blackhawks and Nude Beach (the one from PA) that we dig on around here. So get ready to pump yourself up; not really – the video and track are chill so we suggest that you slow things down with a doobie. Cheers! – The Deli Staff
There are a bunch of releases from local artists that you should definitely grab today. Ex-Drexel students and electro-hop duo Chiddy Bang have been blowing up, and their new single “Mind Your Manners” featuring Stockholm’s Icona Pop from the upcoming full-length Breakfast can only add to the fireworks. It’s Philly’s feel good hit of the summer that is perfect to bump out of car stereos all around town on sunny days like today. You can download the single via iTunes, and sing-along to its “lyrics” video below while you are doing that. Sun Airway’s first post-Nocturne tracks are available on vinyl via Dead Oceans. Float into the ether with its A-side “Wild Palms,” but you seriously need to check out the music video below for its B-side “Symphony in White, No. 2” from visual virtuoso Klip Collective’s Ricardo Rivera. It was filmed at their last show in Philly on June 3, 2011 in the Sanctuary of the First Unitarian Church, and is simply breathtaking. And if you want to make your purchase today really count, you need to download Other Voices, Other Rooms. The EP is the first commercial release from the ASCAP Songwriter Residency in conjunction with America SCORES, a nationally acclaimed after-school program, with all lyrics written by America SCORES elementary and middle school students from underprivileged neighborhoods, arranged by & music by Philly troubadours The Great Unknown. Please take a listen to the touching interview below with The Great Unknown’s Todd Henkin about his experience working on the project. You can “name your price” to download the EP, and all online sales will be donated back to the program so make a difference and pay for your copy HERE. Enjoy! (Image by Len Davidson) – The Deli Staff
With a new album scheduled for release in October, shows may be few and far between (if any) this summer for Far-Out Fangtooth. So I definitely suggest that you take advantage of this evening and soak in the mesmerizing sonic blasts by the psychedelic goth garage rockers, who have been steadily becoming one of our staff’s local favorites. They’ll be opening for Philly space rock veterans The Asteroid #4, who plan to embark on a Weft Coast tour in September. Toss in what’s sure to be an intense set from punkish bluesy lo-fi garage trio Lantern and the one-two punch of DJs Dennis Wolffang & Captain Marbles spinning between band set; Flash Mob Productions has put together an evening that will make you forget that it’s still just Tuesday night. Damn this is a fine week of music for Philly! Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $7, 21+ – Bill McThrill
As an artist formerly known as Hellmouth, Andrew Gray has achieved modest success while touring with the venerable folk outfit Hoots & Hellmouth. But after years of boot stomping rollicking shows with the group, Gray made the tough decision to leave the already established and much-beloved band to venture off alone to perform his own music. The end result is stripped-down acoustic acoustic that does justice to his folk background, as well as songwriting in its purest form. And when Gray opens for William Elliott Whitmore tonight at Johnny Brenda’s, it will be his biggest show to date while embarking upon the new chapter in his musical career. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Bill McThrill
