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The Decemberists bring pageantry and passion to the Academy of Music
A gust of drums and a deluge of syllables packaged in an ever-expanding novella of a song. These were my feelings when I first heard The Decemberists’ “The Infanta” back in 2005. The opening track to...
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A Study In Contrast: Damien Rice goes from a whisper to a scream in his...
It’s been 7 years and 10 months and two weeks since Damien Rice last played Philadelphia. It’s taken him that long to release only his third album, My Favorite Faded Fantasy. The gorgeous Academy of...
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Ivy Trippin’: Learning life lessons from Waxahatchee at Union Transfer
There’s something extremely powerful in surrender. Something about finding oneself in the losing of self. There’s a track on the new Waxahatchee record called “<” where Kate Crutchfield just repeats...
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I have seen the face of rock and roll and, yes, it’s called Diarrhea Planet
No, I get it, I totally get it. I used to think the same thing. “Diarrhea Planet? That’s a stupid band name. Why would I listen to them?” Really, I was once like you. But then I heard them. And …...
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Illumination: Sufjan Stevens at Academy of Music
Have you ever seen truth so real that it physically hurts? A burning brand, slowly pressing into your chest, purifying the cavern of your existence? I have—and truth came Thursday night, not with angel...
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Free At Noon Flashback: Turbo Fruits show off No Control at World Cafe Live
Nashville garage rockers Turbo Fruits took the stage today following an electric set from The London Souls. The four-piece showed Philly what they were made of with their catchy rock ballads. Guitarist...
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Public Service Broadcasting brought their imaginative Space Race to Philly
When J. Wilgoose Esquire and Wrigglesworth of Public Service Broadcasting took to the stage at World Cafe Live last night, I wasn’t sure how their live act would translate from their recorded work. For...
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From ballads to rock, Paula Cole showcases variety at World Cafe Live
About half way through Paula Cole’s set at World Café Live on Friday, she arose from her piano to move to the middle of the stage. An audience member loudly exclaimed, “oh there your are,” since she...
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A bunch of old dudes rocked Philly last night. You may have heard of them;...
Here’s what you need to know about The Sonics: The band is a highly influential garage rock band from the 1960s, who laid the roots for many punk and garage rock bands after them. Without The Sonics,...
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Danced Out and Super Satisfied: The Ting Tings at Union Transfer
Rocking a wild pony tail and a t-shirt that read “Good Vibes”, The Ting Tings‘ frontwoman Katie White really brought serious energy (and, as advertised, good vibes) to Union Transfer on Friday night....
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All The Jangley Energy You Want: The Feelies return to World Cafe Live
Two sets. Three encores. 35 songs. Three-plus hours. By the numbers alone, The Feelies put on a triumphant show this past Saturday at World Café. To watch the band seamlessly transition between songs...
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A scandalous night with Of Montreal at the Chameleon Club
“I like the name Lancaster… maybe I will change my name to Lancaster!” Mad Max, a character dressed in a red and black body suit adorned with a cape and top hat, mulled this over in the midst of a …...
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Action Bronson crushes at the sold-out TLA
At capacity and straining under the crushing weight of Action Bronson’s massive personality, the sold-out TLA’s stage shook under punishing bass and rose to meet the gregarious Queens MC on his Mr....
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One Big Neighborhood Party: Hop Along celebrates Painted Shut at Union Transfer
The last week has been full of excitement for Hop Along‘s new album Painted Shut, released Tuesday on Saddle Creek. It’s the Philly band’s third full-length album, but in a way, it was almost like its...
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Ben Folds and yMusic bring impeccable musicianship to World Cafe Live
Singer/songwriter/pianist Ben Folds and NYC instrumental sextet yMusic played a sold out show at World Cafe Live on Tuesday night as part of Folds’ three-night Philly residency. From the start, it was...
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Recap: Elle King kicks off NonCOMM with some southwestern twang
Los Angeles singer-songwriter Elle King brought NonCOMM 2015 to a rollicking start with a set of twangy countrified rock and roll. Playing a set centered around her new album Love Stuff, released in...
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Recap: Best Coast showcases California Nights at NonCOMM
Best Coast brought the fuzz to World Café Live to continue 2015′s NonCOMM convention. The Southern California band powered through new material from California Nights, their latest album released on...
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Recap: Ryley Walker brings soulful-folk to the upstairs stage
When NPR’s Bob Boilen introduced Ryley Walker to the PRX Stage of NonCOMM, he commented on the Chicago singer-songwriter’s “soulful fingertips.” And while his Takoma Records style of playing is...
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Recap: Folk icon Buffy Sainte-Marie surprises NonCOMM with a rager of a...
Buffy Sainte-Marie began her career in the the 1960s and 70s North American folk scene, but the performance she brought to the NonCOMM stage was intensely louder than that might lead you to believe....
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Recap: Meg Mac dazzles at NonCOMM
Say hello to Meg Mac, a.k.a Megan McInerney, the sleeper hit of NonCOMM 2015. Hailing all the way from Melbourne, Australia, Mac soared over to the states to give Philly a soaring vocal performance. It...
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