New Year’s Day On Tuesday Means Five Days To Party.
It’s a four day weekend, which means there is a lot of partying to be done this weekend. And there is a ton of fun stuff happening in Philly. At this point, we suggest you go to the liquor store and stock up on refreshments for pre-gaming. This is going to be fun.
FRIDAY
Chill Moody, Mic Stew, Jade Alston, Mont Brown and Pate at The TLA
Chill Moody has been a staple in JUMP mag pretty much since we first met him in 2010. We’ve loved watching this young man from West Philly do great things (like blow away the crowd at The Roots Picnic this summer). And now he’s getting his first major headline event.
The best part about Chill – aside from his smooth flow, is that he is all about taking Philly with him to the top. This show features some real Philly talent (Mic Stew won the national Red Bull emcee competition this year). And who knows who else might show up to see Philly’s next big hip hop star? It should be a pretty special night.
Modern Inventors album release show with Hezekiah Jones and Shark Tape at Johnny Brenda’s
Matt Kass and Josh Benus, the duo behind Modern Inventors, covered a Paul McCartney song. Then they got an email from Sir Paul. He loved their version. On Friday, these talented guys will drop their debut album and the local folk stars from Hezekiah Jones will get the party started.
SATURDAY
Black Thought with JPeriod, Reef The Lost Cauze, Mic Stew and Rowboat Casino at The Blockley
This is an amazing opportunity to see The Roots frontman up close and in person (rather than on your TV set). And the lineup is full of Philly hip hop talent.
OCD: Moosh & Twist at The First Unitarian Church
Our summer issue cover boys get millions of hits on YouTube and they have fans across the country. Now you can see them in one of the great party spaces in Philly.
SUNDAY
The War on Drugs at Johnny Brenda’s
The thing is way sold out (as is their Monday concert). But it should be a great show.
The Starting Line at the Electric Factory
Yeah, this one is totally sold out too. These local pop punks don’t play here that often so sneak in if you have to.
Rebirth Brass Band at The Blockley
Let the hipsters have their War on Drugs. The suburban teens can jam with The Starting Line. But the best party in town on Sunday will be at The Blockley where second-line legends Rebirth Brass Band will have everyone dancing.
MONDAY
Nicos Gun, El Malito and The Fleeting Ends at Milkboy
What a great way to end 2012 and start the new year – by dancing the night away with three great Philly bands.
Philly Bloco at World Cafe Live
These guys are a party any time they perform. The show starts at 10:30 so you’ll definitely be dancing when the bell rings.
TUESDAY
The Mummers Parade on Broad Street
Love them or hate them, the Mummers are a good party. And be sure to run down to Two Street for the party after the party.
The Arts Garage: Still Steady Rocking But Up For Sale.
Text and bottom image by Christopher Malo. Top image by G. W. Miller III.
Nestled on a swath of property between the expanding gentrification north of Center City and south of Temple University, rests an old garage on Ridge Avenue that has hosted a variety of entertainment acts, art expos and performances.
The Arts Garage is the result of one man’s colossal effort to bring something novel to the city of Philadelphia.
When Ola Solanke’s job as a corporate risk manager at Cigna, the health insurance company, moved him from Wall Street in New York City to Liberty II in Philadelphia in 1990, the self-described house head noticed a void in the arts community.
There seemingly was no venue that could serve various artistic groups under one roof and provide professional caliber equipment for each element to be able to shine. The fragmentation and lack of support that he saw not only hurt each individual segment, but the community as a whole. He began buying and selling properties, laying the groundwork to open the Arts Garage.
“I don’t see myself as a pioneer,” says Solanke, sitting at the bar, long before his 11 employees or any patrons arrive. “I saw a need and rolled up my sleeves to fulfill that need.”
But like any explorer who blazes a trail and plants a flag, they don’t simply remain there. There comes a time when it is necessary to move on. Read more…
Band Name: The Culinary Rockers.
Text by Brian Wilensky. Image by Matt Hindman.
A band that lives together sort of sounds like a cliche. Maybe it happens a lot. But for the three members of Band Name, who have been living together in a North Philly loft above a warehouse for a few years now, cohabitation wasn’t exactly intended. Nor was meeting and playing in a band together.
“The house brought us together,” says guitarist and singer, Jeremy Jams. “We all moved in separately and just started playing music together.”
Hard-hitting drummer Gregory Labold says he was the last to move in and he gave them fair warning – he has a lot of stuff. But in the grand scheme of the loft, it doesn’t look like it would’ve made a difference.
The number of people living here is somewhere in the double digits. Most are musicians or artists or both, and they all fuel each other’s muse. So naturally, there’s a myriad of stuff around the room, ranging from faux slot machines with piles of trinkets on it to stacks of VHS tapes from decades ago, to random, displaced items on their kitchen table, including the plate to press an Algernon Cadwallader record.
“This place is about constant ebb and flow and just making whatever changes you need to make it work,” says Labold. “You can see there’s a lot of stuff in this place. It’s organized chaos.”
Which is a bit like Band Name’s riff-laden, needle-past-the-red-line punk music about youth and lost jobs that they displayed on their 2010 full-length debut, Breakfast, released on Jams’ own Soft City Records label. Since then, they put out King of Surfers, a split 7-inch with D.C. punk band Shat Shorts. Read more…
Wanna Party And Bullshit With Rita Ora at The Troc on Thursday?
More than 25 million people have watched this video. Crazy, eh?
You can experience Brit popster Rita Ora live at The Troc on Thursday for free with a friend. To enter to win a pair of tickets, drop us a line at FreeJUMPstuff@gmail.com. Please type “Rita Ora” in the subject line. We’ll announce winners Thursday morning.
By the way, Rita has an interesting story – she was born in war-torn Kosovo. Her parents split for London when she was a baby. She grew up in multicultural Notting Hill. She met Jay-Z a few years ago and everything exploded from there. She’s now a Roc Nation artist with a bunch of top ten pop hits. And she’s on the cover of Glamour’s UK edition in January.
If you don’t want to take a chance and miss the show, you can purchase tickets here.
UPDATE: The show has been canceled as Rita Ora is ill. Refunds are available for those who purchased tickets.
Uniquely BriaMarie.
Text by Sebastian Ade.
BriaMarie Moss-Wilkerson wears gold earrings and a white T-shirt with the word “SHINE” painted in bright highlighter hues as she prepares to host and perform at the annual Uniquely You Summit. Uniquely You is an event that brings together hundreds of young girls to discuss positive female values. Right before the eager young women flood into the Kurtz Center at Philadelphia University, BriaMarie can’t help but smile with anticipation.
She takes to the stage alone, armed with a microphone. She had not expected to be singing in a venue that size. The girls in the crowd warm up to BriaMarie within moments of her first words, almost as though she was a friend they have known for quite some time.
And that’s because she’s not far removed from these young women.
BriaMarie works around her busy college schedule to chase after her dreams. This 20-year-old R&B songstress attends 8 a.m. classes at Temple University, stays fashionable throughout the day and then manages to workshop songs with Grammy-nominated producers Carvin & Ivan until it’s time for her head to hit the pillow. And then she wakes up early and does it all over again.
“Sometimes I have to wake up at 6 a.m. to do homework,” BriaMarie laments.
BriaMarie is working on her debut album which includes “French Fries and Apple Pies,” a single she released this past summer featuring DJ Jazzy Jeff. The track reminds listeners of a time when lyrics were silly and fun, while DJ Jazzy Jeff coats the tune with old-school vibes. The singer describes her sound as hip-hop and R&B with a pop feel.
After high school, the DC native knew she needed to go to a city where the music scene is vibrant and well-connected.
“God was leading me to Philly!” she exclaims. “Every website, every college, it was all leading me to Philly.”
When she moved to Philly, the first order of business was to produce YouTube videos that showcased her songwriting, singing and dancing. Her sassy rendition of Jay-Z’s “Who You Wit” garnered more than 8,000 views.
“I think social media is one of the most powerful tools ever,” she stresses. “It has the power to create a bond and allows you to be more approachable.”
While scanning the web investigating different notable musicians from Philly, she stumbled upon Carvin Haggins and Ivan Barias. The duo, more commonly known as Carvin & Ivan, have produced artists like Musiq Soulchild, Jill Scott and Justin Timberlake. BriaMarie knew she had to work with them.
“I stalked them,” she says with a laugh.
BriaMarie is now the first artist signed to their label, Ethical Music Entertainment.
Her days are hectic as she meanders through the music scene but she refuses to worry.
“Wherever God wants me to be, where I will be,” she grins.
Tutlie Through The Looking Glass.
Text by Megan Matuzak. Images by Marie Alyse Rodriguez. Make up design by Amber Haze. Make up art by Sarah Kane.
When fans and unassuming spectators experience a Tutlie show, they are dazzled by the flower crowns, the colorful set, the face paint and, most of all, the glitter.
Tutlie has been crowned “that fairy band,” and they’ve been said to have the echoes of “peace, love and glitter” ringing in their ears. They put on quite a show, with a pair of powerful female vocalists, well-written indie pop and unbridled energy.
But in order to grasp the full picture of Tutlie, you must look deeper into the looking glass. Read more…
The Downtown Club: New Wave Redux.
Text and images by Greta Iverson.
The Downtown Club is a darker New Wave band, with influences drawn from the punk and New Wave scenes of the 70s and 80s.
Singer/guitartist/keyboard player April Harkanson, who was raised by an 86-year-old former nun, admits she’s influenced by the vocals of Siouxsie Sioux. Harkanson says she is very impressed by the sounds Sioux makes without actually singing. Bassist Travis Regan, who served as Schoolly D’s road DJ, remarks with a smile that he’s most influenced by The Clash and other dance-oriented punk musicians.
“He’s obsessed,” Harkanson whispers before Regan can say anything else.
Harkanson and Regan experimented with other drummers before finding Dan Welsh. “When Dan entered the picture, he really helped define our aesthetic,” Regan says.
“I like to play music that I like, with people who I like,” Welsh demures.
The familial vibe from the young, Fishtown-based band, which formed in 2011, is overpowering. Regan and Harkanson, in particular, have a brother/sister-type relationship, with definite “I hate you” moments.
“Travis can be really into it,” Harkanson says of their music, “but I’m much more laid back about it. Dan is the moderator. He’s in the middle.”
They dropped a five-song, self-titled EP in June that is full of dreamy, danceable, richly-layered, post-punk melodies and Harkanson’s commanding vocals. It was co-produced by Jeff Zeigler, who has worked with Kurt Vile and The War on Drugs.
The bandmates admit that their first EP was not very definitive to their message or their genre but they felt rushed to produce something. Now that they have a better idea of who they are and what they want to say, they’ll return to the studio with Zeigler in December.
DJ Damage: Spinning With Philly Pride.
Text by Niesha Miller. Image by G.W. Miller III.
Hailing from the heart of North Philadelphia, Abdul Muhammad, better known as DJ Damage, says he was a DJ before he actually had his equipment.
“I just loved the technical side of being a DJ,” he says. “I just love going up there and touching the vinyl and playing records.”
The 23-year-old launched his music career when he was 11-years-old. He started out as half of a rap duo with his brother, Fese Muhammad. That ended when he realized he was a horrible rapper. By 13, he was working the turntables with friend DJ Young Shizz. Damage soon began DJing events around the city while attending Girard College High School.
Damage moved on to Temple University, where he built up his brand and honed his skills. In 2008, he shared the stage with one of the most respected hip-hop artists of his generation – Nas.
“I came from being a freshman DJ on campus,” Damage recalls, “to actually DJing in front of a crowd that’s gonna rock to Nas.”
Now, Damage pumps out beats on Hot 107.9 every weeknight. He started spinning at the station back in 2009 when the station was 100.3 The Beat. Damage was just a sophomore at Temple at the time.
Last year, he walked out of the third annual Philly Hip-Hop Awards with best radio DJ and best mixtape DJ honors.
Damage sees his mixtapes as a way to promote the city’s up-and-coming artists, and as a platform where local musicians can work together.
“It’s good to unify and stay positive,” he says. “Collaborating and supporting each other only makes it bigger for everybody.”
One artist Damage has collaborated with is West Philly rapper Chill Moody. Last summer, Damage helped curate the first annual Let It Bump Music Festival at the Wall Street International with Moody and Mic Stew.
The event spawned from a track by the same name that the three made together.
“Mic was like, ‘I really like this record. I think it’ll be good on the radio,’” recalls Moody. “We didn’t really have a hook for it, so we was like, ‘We’ll get DJ Damage to scratch on it.’ He’s another up-and-coming person in the city like us and he represents Philly really well.”
In 2011, Damage launched the All Hamm Back to School Tour, where he spoke to Philadelphia’s youth about being a positive force in their communities.
“I was going around talking about higher education, life skills, learning how to be determined, hard work and why it’s important to know your skills,” remembers Damage, who sold drugs brielfy as a teenager when his family hit hard times. “I feel like if you’re popular and people put you on a pedestal, you have to give back some way.”
Damage keeps himself busy. He says when one thing slows down, he makes sure he’s jumping on to the next thing.
“If I’m not doing mixtapes, then I’m doing events,” he says. “If I’m not doing events, then maybe I’m working on a TV show or working on a website. You gotta just keep it going.”
Last year he was given an opportunity to host and DJ for BET’s influential music countdown, 106 and Park.
Damage dropped his latest project, The Caution Tape 2, in August. It was hosted by fellow Philadelphia-native DJ Drama. The album features a slew of local artists including Marsha Ambrosius, Cody Kahmar, Chill Moody, Freeway and Young Chris.
Damage prides himself on uplifting his city, whether it’s working with the city’s youth or spinning for his fellow Philly musicians.
“It’s not always just about talent, “ he says. “It’s how you connect with people. I was always good with connecting with people. I always found myself in the right place at the right time.”
Marissa Cianciulli: The Art(ist) of Union Transfer.
Behind the bands you see up on stage, there are countless people who work long hours behind the scenes to make sure events go off without a hitch. One of those people is Marissa Cianciulli, a new graphic designer at Four Corners Management. Our Bree Wood talks to the young artist.
What is your job now exactly?
I am a graphic designer, venue liaison and marketing guru. I design menus, calendars and logos, etc. I make sure shows run smoothly with certain venues by contacting the bands and getting all of the proper information to have a great show. I update the website to whichever venue I am assigned and I help construct the creative focus for the company as part of the marketing team.
How did you get this awesome job?
One of my best pals who used to book shows for R5 hooked me up with work at some shows at the First Unitarian Church a little over a year and a half ago. Working shows at the Church, I learned about ticket taking, will call, etc. With that experience, I got an easy in working at Union Transfer. One day I was working in the box office at Union Transfer and one of the owners asked to see something I created in school or at my internship. I showed him and he hired me on the spot. For a week and a half, I was the freelance graphic designer. After that week and a half, he approached me to work in-house. It was pretty cool. I wasn’t really looking for a job fresh out of school because really, I went to school for video game design. But I love creating posters for bands and working in the music scene.
Where did you go to school?
I studied illustration at Moore College of Art & Design. I had an internship with World Cafe Live making poster designs. I had no experience with graphic design but I was hired to create illustrations of the artists for promotional posters. I had some friends who worked for R5 Productions and I made a few posters for them as well. Through working with R5, I got a job at Union Transfer taking tickets, working the box office, doing merchandise sales and concessions. That led to some freelance graphic design work with Four Corners Management (which operates Union Transfer). They eventually hired me as an in-house graphic designer.
How did you get involved in the art world?
I always made art but never took an art class until my senior year of high school. Toward the end of high school, I spent my time making art and going to shows instead of partying. My GPA was god-awful and art is something I really enjoy doing, so I decided to apply to art schools versus normal universities and got accepted into Moore.
Any plans for the future?
My dream job is to create video games, video game characters and turnarounds. I do plan on doing that a few years down the road. But in the meantime, I plan on staying here in Philadelphia and creating art having to do with music and shows. I am a music nerd, so this is just as fun for me to work in and out of venues. I will eventually move to Norway… one day.
Sunny Ali & The Kid: Our Fans Would Kill For us.
Text and image by Matthew Albasi.
There is a certain nonchalance to Hassan Ali Malik and Abdullah Saeed, the singer/guitarist and drummer, respectively, who make up Sunny Ali & The Kid. And it doesn’t just come from the joint they’re rolling. This insouciance is something that runs much deeper than that. It carries through everything either one of them does – their wild, unkempt hair, the jaunting, long steps of Malik or the mismatched clothes they wear, which still, somehow, looks good on them.
And it especially shows in their approach to their raw, lo-fi psychedelic punk music.
JUMP: The Philly Music Project 