Text and images by John Clements.
Some of Philly’s finest brought their best out for the opening night of the Northern Liberties Winter Music Festival on Tuesday. The evening was a tribute to the great Van Morrison, with local artists performing covers of some of the best material from his catalog.
“Van Morrison is one of the better song writers of all time,” said veteran singer-songwriter Reverend T J McGlinchey. “There is this connection through osmosis that channels his influence through each of us.”
McGlinchey paid tribute to Van Morrison’s classic “And It Stoned Me” off of the Moondance album and bellowed “Oh the water” through the venue with his box with six strings.
Other acts included Small Houses, Brad Hinton, Griz, Swedeland (in the top image), Slowey & The Boats and Ben Arnold.
“I grew up on Van Morrison!” said steel guitar player Issa Stanford of Slowey & The Boats.”There are endless songs that have influenced me as a guitar player and as a musician. It is his knowledge for music that is what really inspired all of us to do what we love to do.”
WIN FREE TICKETS! See Pissed Jeans Celebrate Their Record Release at Underground Arts!
We’re working with the folks at one of our favorite new joints, Underground Arts, and we’ll be giving away a ton of tickets to their shows in the coming weeks. The show on Friday should be pretty special. And loud.
Pissed Jeans will headline an all-local lineup of rock and punk bands in celebration of their record release launch. Lantern and Leather will open the show.
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 “Pissed Jeans” in the subject line).
If you want to play it safe and get your own tickets, find details for the show here.
Toro y Moi @ Union Transfer.
Text by Grace Dickinson. Images by Rick Kauffman.
Toro y Moi filled both floors of Union Transfer on Monday, bringing summery chillwave to a damp February night.
“We did not expect a packed house,” said South Carolina native Chaz Bundick, the brainchild of Toro y Moi. “This is awesome, so thank you.”
On tour to support his latest album, Anything In Return, Chaz took center stage in his signature circular spectacles and with two electric keyboards, and delivered a 75-minute set.
Musiq Soulchild: Blessed With The Perception Of Love.
Senior staffer Sofiya Ballin caught up with Philly’s own Musiq Soulchild before his show at The Blockley last month. Check out their conversation about Musiq moving down south, developing multiple personas (in a good way) and being back in Philly. Thanks to Michael Bucher for shooting the interview.
A Word with Cradle of Filth Guitarist Paul Allender.
Cradle of Filth is probably the most well-known band in the world that could be called black metal. This mantle does not translate into being a band that your granny would be familiar with, but almost any heavy music fan knows this band.
While being well known, fans will probably cite the band’s outrageous look and stage show for their popularity as much as the music. This view of a band is to be expected as their music has gone through such a huge but divisive progression over the years. Cradle helped define the more popular form of black metal in the mid-90s but eventually went on to innovate in the realm of symphonic black metal as well.
The band’s latest album The Manticore and Other Horrors has gone in yet another direction. The symphonic and gothic elements have been moved to the back, while hardcore punk and industrial influence has come to the fore.
Our Chad Sims talked with Cradle guitarist Paul Allender (right) about the new album, martial arts and the current tour, which has the band at the TLA on Sunday, February 24.
UPDATE: Cradle of Filth’s US tour has been canceled due to immigration problems.
So now that the new album is out and you have been touring it for a while what is the fan reaction?
It is really good actually. When a couple songs got released from Manticore you get the usual moaning from hardcore black metal fans, which doesn’t bother me at all to be honest. But now that we have played it live and the album’s out everyone loves it. Which is intense, because the intention behind the album was to make it different. I got bored playing the same old stuff over and over again, so it was time to switch it up a bit.
I have heard you say the album has a punk influence but I am hearing an almost industrial feel like My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult or something. Are you influenced by any of that sort of stuff?
Yeah that’s all in there. What I really wanted to do with this album is really emphasis the groove. Give it like the old school feel like when we first started off as a band. The band evolved into what it was and it kind of lost its roots.
Brothers of Brutality Tour: Emmure, Whitechapel and Unearth @ The TLA.
Text and images by Rick Kauffman.
Blood was shed, beer was spilt, fists were flung, feet were stomped, heads were banged Sunday night at the TLA for the Brothers of Brutality Tour where Emmure headlined alongside Whitechapel and the shredtastic Unearth.
The Music Lover’s Other Passion: John Vettese, The Homebrewer.
As part of our partnership with Philly Beer Scene magazine, we’re documenting Philly’s relationships between music and beer. For the most recent issue of Philly Beer Scene, G.W. Miller III hung out with John Vettese, the social media coordinator at WXPN and editor of the station’s website, The Key.
Nude Beach: Vacationer’s New Party @ Underground Arts.
The guys from Vacationer threw a party, dubbed Nude Beach, at Underground Arts Saturday and it was really, really fun. There was a volleyball net, lots of free rum and cheap beers, Hawaiian leis, beach balls and a world of good music.
Former Belle, Commonwealth Choir, Geology and Market East @ Milkboy.
Text and images by Grace Dickinson.
Andy Molholt, the frontman for Laser Background, announced to the crowd at Kung Fu Necktie last night that the relatively new band is working on new tracks for a forthcoming album.
“We love your tracks, Andy,” a woman yelled from the crowd.
“We love you too, audience member,” Andy replied. Read more…
JUMP: The Philly Music Project 