Laser Background: Paisley-Popping Child’s Play.
Text by Kevin Doran. Top images by Timothy Becker. Lower images by G.W. Miller III.
The bouncer at Kung Fu Necktie deliberately checks IDs at the front door for everyone who steps in from the Friday evening rain. But it’s a mystery that Andy Molholt got in so easily. The founder of paisley-pop project Laser Background wears an oversized white tunic that hangs nearly long enough to cover his shorts. Despite his beard, he resembles a child playing dress-up in his parents’ bedroom.
That’s fitting given the ethos he’s crafted for Laser Background and its upcoming full-length, Super Future Montage. He calls the album his life’s work, including songs whose roots date back to five years ago, when he was working with idiosyncratic psych-rock group, The Armchairs.
Johannes Persson From Cult of Luna: We Are In Music To Make Experiences.
Cult of Luna is a Swedish post-metal band originating in Umeå, the relatively small city that spawned other notorious acts Meshuggah and Refused. The sound this huge band (seven full-time members) makes is difficult to describe as it balances harsh and beautiful textures equally in unusual and evolving song structures.
Tonight, they will play at TLA with Katatonia (we spoke with Katatinia guitarist Anders Nystrom last time Katatonia was in town). Cult of Luna lead singer Johannes Persson took some time to speak with our Chad Sims about the tour and their new album, Vertikal II.
How is the tour going thus far?
There is almost no tour to speak of. We have only done two shows thus far. We played one show in Reykjavik, Iceland and we did Boston Monday. It is what it is after two days. You always make some mistakes. It takes about three shows before I get warmed up. So by Philly, we should be great. By then we will have no excuses.
Koji: An Emo-Punk Proponent of Positivity.
Text by Beth Ann Downey. Images by Abigail Reimold.
About a dozen kids wait outside The Barbary at 4 p.m. in 90 degree heat.
They wait to enter the only Philly date on rhythmic-acoustic punk artist Koji’s summer tour with Turnover, supporting the release of his first full-length album, Crooked in My Mind, which came out in April. A few carry cans of food, which Koji put out a call for earlier in the week to counteract the growing problem of food insecurity in Philadelphia. The first 10 to bring cans win a free copy of his 7-inch record.
Koji has become known for more than just his music. His activism and awareness of social issues, for everything from child soldiering in Uganda to Pennsylvania’s problems with hydraulic fracking, have labeled him as some sort of punk scene Gandhi – a proponent of selflessness and positivity.
Austra @ Union Transfer.
Text by Laura Fanciullacci. Images by Grace Dickinson.
Some new wave electronic music came all the way from the great white north to rock out at Union Transfer on Friday night. The venue hosted two Toronto bands, with Austra headlining to perform tracks from their recently released album, Olympia.
After a quick opening session by DIANA, unmistakable Austra front-woman Katie Stelmanis came out to a stage illuminated by oversized cocktail umbrellas. She wasted no time getting the audience to dance.
Brendan Mulvihill: Why I DIY.
Brendan Mulvihill, who plays in Norwegian Arms and DRGN KING, writes about his experiences running DIY shows. Brendan co-founded and lived at DIY space The Ox. He books at Johnny Brenda’s and puts on DIY shows at PhilaMOCA, West Kensington Ministry and elsewhere. The images are from The Ox, courtesy of Brendan’s former Ox-mate, Daniel Hughes.
Last night a guy with a goatee and backwards hat broke my heart.
I had just started breaking down all the equipment and locking the doors at a DIY space in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. I had just started putting on shows here two days ago.
This goateed guy, who was at this show for an anti-folk legend and an author reading from her book about gender and sexuality, walked up to me at the end of the night and asked me who ran the show. I told him I did, and then he said the first of two things that hurt my feelings
“Why was this show $8?”
I was taken aback. He said it in a tone that is best described as condescending, like he knew better. Later, he would break my heart again when he posted to his Facebook that “it was the worst show ever.”
He also friended me, but I’m not sure why.
Hank & Cupcakes and City Rain @ Johnny Brenda’s.
Text and images by Darragh Dandurand.
Ben Runyan and Scott Cumpstone of City Rain hit the stage at Johnny Brenda’s a little after nine last Thursday night.
Their set was short but full of pumped-up electric energy, just like their music. Runyan bounced around the stage like a plaid-clad rubber ball while Cumpstone was absorbed in his guitar riffs off to the side. The two rocked out for only a few songs before premiering their new music video, “Join the Human Race” on the venue’s huge, dual screens. Read more…
Get Commonwealth Choir Music. See Chris Carrabba, Too.
Our pals at Commonwealth Choir officially release their new album on Monday and they are giving the music away for FREE if you purchase a ticket to their show next Thursday at the North Star Bar.
Oh and that show next Thursday? They’re opening for Twin Forks. You know, Chris Carrabba’s other band. Yeah, the guy from Dashboard Confessional.
To get tickets and the album, click here.
Clinic, Grooms and The Cobbs @ Johnny Brenda’s.
Text and images by Naveed Ahsan.
Johnny Brenda’s welcomed Liverpool natives Clinic Tuesday night. With their identities hidden via surgical masks and scrubs, the band opened with “I Ching” before moving on to hits like “Shopping Bags,” “I.P.C. Sub-Editors Dictate Our Youth” and “Porno.” Bongos, an Akai, melodica and a harmonica were but a few of the instruments that the post-punk revival group utilized during their set.
Philly’s The Cobbs opened the night with their unabashed rock, playing tracks like “Climb on Top” and “This Heart.” Brooklyn avant-garde trio Grooms followed, opening with “Lion Name” and “Susie Jo” and finally culminating with their hit “Foster Sister.”
Third Thursday Live and Local: Chill Moody and Talent Island @ The Race Street Pier.
Chill Moody brought the full Talent Island crew out last night for the final Third Thursday Live and Local event of the season at the Race Street Pier.
He took the stage after performances by Joe Jordan and Osiris Rex. After doing a few of his own tracks, Chill was joined by Suzann Christine. Then she performed her song “Adrenaline.”
Tye James then collaborated with Chill, followed by a Chill combo with Beano. Beano also performed some of his brand new material, including a song that had some pounding rhymes from Teff.
The Third Thursday Live and Local series ran all summer, featuring great Philly acts like Dice Raw, Bardo Pond, City Rain, Nicos Gun and more.
Catch Beano performing at the Painted Bride on Monday, October 7, as part of the new JUMP series, The Rub-Up.
Batcave Studio: Underground Leaders.
Text by Chris Malo. Images by Kevin Cook.
After ringing the bell, stepping through the black door past the security camera and into the green-walled world of Batcave Studio, you will likely be greeted by co-owner/producer/engineer Rug or co-owner/studio manager Biz.
Rug likes to talk. Biz likes to listen. Not that Rug talks too much and Biz has nothing to say. It is almost the opposite.
Both spent years in the trenches of Philadelphia and in the rap game, not only to survive, but to try to pass on their knowledge and experience to those who walk through their studio door.
JUMP: The Philly Music Project 