Unknown Mortal Orchestra @ The First Unitarian Church.
Text and images by Dana Ricci.
Back in the Spring of 2010 music bloggers heard an anoymous track called “Ffunny Ffriends” released on a bandcamp profile and they were determined to find out who was behind this song.
The band turned out to be Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and the indie-rock, psychedelic trio made a stop at the First Unitarian Church on Friday as part of their biggest U.S. headline tour yet. The tour promotes their sophomore album, II, released February 5. Classic rock and experimental pop group Foxygen has joined them on the tour, and the two together makes for quite the night of music.
After Foxygen closed with “San Francisco,” UMO took the stage and got right down to business opening with “No Need for a Leader,” a lively track off their self-titled debut album. Almost immediately, a palpable wave went through the crowd in the basement of the church. Lines of fans in the front began head-banging as circles of dancing erupted throughout the room.
Beach Fossils @ Johnny Brenda’s.
Text and images by Grace Dickinson.
“Everyone here tastes like butterscotch, with a hint of lavender,” said Dustin Payseur, frontman and founder of Beach Fossils. “Very sweet crowd tonight.”
It’s more likely the beanie-heavy audience tasted like bitter pale ales and hoppy red ryes. However, it certainly wasn’t a crowd lacking any enthusiasm. Beach Fossils’ delivered an energetic show this past Saturday night before a sold-out crowd, packing both floors of Johnny Brenda’s.
Payseur kicked off the performance by throwing himself into a semi-emerging mosh pit. Soon after returning to the stage, he invited his fellow dancers to come join him.
“Feel free to come up here and jump on stage and shit,” said Payseur. “That’s what Saturdays are for.”
Payseur started Beach Fossils in 2009 as a solo project. He started gaining recognition for his concert performances, which felt much more lively than the first self-titled record he released. Joining him for the tour were Cole Smith (from DIIV) and John Peńa (from Heavenly Beat), who later left to work on their own projects.
Payseur’s drummer, Tommy Gardener, however, stayed to become a full-time member of the band and went on to collaborate with Payseur for Beach Fossils’ latest album, Clash the Truth. Released only a few weeks ago, it was this album that Beach Fossils drew heavily on for the show.
While Clash the Truth feels a little less dreamy and a little more up-tempo than Beach Fossils original albums and EPs, it’s still not until their live performance that you’d feel really inclined to dance. At the show though, there wasn’t any lack of that. Some unexpected crowd surfing was even attempted within the very last song.
The next stop for Beach Fossils will be Brooklyn, Payseur’s hometown.
“This is the last night before we go back to New York, so you guys are really special,” he said, a sweet goodbye for his sweet, sweet crowd.
Waxahatchee, Cayetana & More @ Golden Tea House.
Text by Ed Newton. Images by Jessica Flynn.
Upon entering the less-than-subtle door into the Golden Tea House, one is greeted by the unmistakable odor of spilled beer and sweat. A first-timer to the West Philly venue may be disappointed when the realization hits that there is no concession area pushing pretzels, and then even more so after learning that there is no one to tip for checking your coat. But what does make itself fairly evident is that this is a place built with music in mind. Though bare in amenities, it’s rich in spirit.
Tightly packed bodies gather round the leveled area of what is referred to as the stage. Amplifiers, a drum kit and microphones are left in an opened area lending itself for the performers of the night.
On the bill Friday were local favorites Cayetana, the Michigan transplants from Radiator Hospital, West Philly’s own Swearin’, and the main event, Waxahatchee. The occasion was a modest celebration for Waxahatchee’s upcoming sophomore release, Cerulean Salt. Katie Crutchfield, the songstress behind the Waxahatchee project, commemorated this experience amongst 150 or so peers in a similar scene that influenced her so deeply.
Cold Fronts SXSW Kickoff Show @ Kung Fu Necktie.
Cold Fronts played a going away show at Kung Fu Necktie Thursday night with TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb.
The show marked the second night of Cold Fronts’ SXSW Kick-Off tour before they headed down south to Austin. The energy was high on stage (and off, by default). This is an exciting time of year as groups from around the world head to SXSW for two weeks of networking, performing, drinking, sunning, taco eating, more performing and little sleeping.
Dead Flowers is an independent group of artists and performers who have formed a circus troupe of sorts. They feature fire breathers, burlesque dancers, sword swallowers, comedians and aerialists. They’ve been organizing events and putting together eclectic shows since 2009. Tonight, the crew will be at The Station, with Bunny Savage and the Handymen performing between acts.
Our John Clements spoke with Dead Flowers leaders Jason Lutz and Christen Rhoadarmer (right).
What exactly is Dead Flowers?
Lutz: We are a small circus company that lives and performs in the city of Philadelphia. We strive for the unique nature that is accompanied by unique people and the strange yet amazing talents they have. The Dead Flowers provide a venue for performers of various talents such as burlesque dance, comedians, musicians, artists, sword swallowers and pretty much any other kind of performer that can provide great entertainment to an audience. It’s all about the entertainment factor and the passions in each and every one of us that drive us to do what we do, and we are absolutely in love with what we do.
Weekend Music Picks: Where We’d Be Partying If We Didn’t Have To Work All Weekend.
We’ll be super busy this weekend prepping the next print issue of JUMP, which will start hitting the streets in about three weeks. So, we won’t be going too crazy this weekend … but that doesn’t mean you can’t. Here are a few really great things to experience.
FRIDAY
Ryan Tennis and the Clubhouse Band, Up the Chain, The Beanstalk Library and Carl Anderson at Milkboy
We recently heard that Ryan Tennis throws music shows at his home in South Philly and in the summertime, they are outside in his courtyard. Dang. Kind of wish it was summer. For now, catch him at Milkboy.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Foxygen and Wampire at The Church
Unknown Mortal Orchestra is the combination of New Zealand indie music and Portland, well, Portlandianess.
Brandy and Gogo Morrow at the TLA
Kobe Bryant’s date to his prom is known for her acting as much as her music but she still has a powerful voice. We caught her at Penn’s Landing last summer and she was fantastic.
Grandchildren, Son Step and Buried Beds
This is a great Philly lineup with orchestral indie pop rockers Grandchildren as the headliner. And it’s only $8. This show makes a great one-two punch with Saturday’s Man Man show at Union Transfer.
WIN FREE TICKETS: The Night Marchers at Underground Arts Thursday!
Want to see SoCal rockers The Night Marchers on Thursday at Underground Arts? They’ll perform alongside fellow San Diego rockers, Mrs. Magician, and Southern boy Don Sartain.
Like us on facebook and email us at FreeJumpStuff@gmail.com to enter to win a pair of tickets (give us your name and put “Night Marchers” in the subject line). We’ll announce winners Wednesday afternoon.
If you want to play it safe and get your own tickets, find details for the show here.
Conor Oberst and Desaparecidos @ Union Transfer.
Text by Megan Matuzak. Images by Jason Melcher.
“Can you shut the fuck up?! Shut the fuck up!” Conor Oberst, lead singer of the Desaparecidos, screamed at the crowd on Saturday night at Union Transfer.
JUMP: The Philly Music Project 
