Jaguar Wright: Soul and Spoken Word @ Warmdaddy’s.
We caught Philly girl Jaguar Wright last night at Warmdaddy’s, where she performed the first of two shows in two days (see here for details about tonight’s show).
She had the packed crowd singing along and dancing in their seats as she worked through her own repertoire as well performing some Philly classics. Between the raucous sets, poet Ingrid B performed spoken word.
Reservations are recommended for tonight, especially if you want to dine. Jaguar, who has performed around the world, draws a crowd. And for good reason.
Jim Breuer, the Heavy Metal Family Man, @ The Troc on Saturday.
Metal and family. Jim Breuer says those are his two loves and he’s celebrating that lifestyle with his upcoming music and comedy performance at the Trocadero on Saturday, January 14.
Breuer says his “Heavy Metal Family Man” show delivers the excitement of an 80’s rock concert that the whole family can enjoy, complete with a supporting band and crowd interactive songs.
“I want to have the electricity of an 80’s metal concert, like Judas Priest or Iron Maiden, but without all the strippers,” Breuer says. “You don’t have that these days. Katy Perry doesn’t have that.”
Breuer has showcased his metal-infused brand of spastic comedy with a live band in the past but says “Heavy Metal Family Man” will eschew profanity for the first time. Although he’s pulling the four-letter words, the weathered Breuer still has plenty to talk about with Jump‘s Jimmy Viola – from hosting Metallica’s 30th anniversary concert in December 2011, to being a self-appointed spiritual warrior.
What can people expect when they see your “Heavy Metal Family Man” show on Saturday night?
I’m not trying to launch a singing career, so I make the songs really, really silly so people don’t think I’m being serious. There’s definitely humor to be made from metal music. Most rock guys have a huge sense of humor. Like, I got to host Metallica’s 30th birthday show and I hosted three segments with the audience – Metallica’s worst haircuts over the years, name that riff and pick Metallica members’ wedding songs.
What was the first metal album you heard?
“Scream for Vengeance” by Judas Priest. That’s the first one that changed it all. I was at the tender age of 14, so I could have went the other way toward Flock of Seagulls, whose album I had also bought at the time. But I heard the first riff on “Scream for Vengeance” and I didn’t look back. And then my friend played me “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Metallica and I said, “What is this? This is something different.” And then I got into Anthrax, Dio. It was a great time until the hair metal started. Read more…
Even More New Music to See and Hear (and Download).
Here are two brand new releases from a pair of Philly bands.
Above, it’s Market East, who drop their self-titled debut album today. They are having an album launch party at Kung Fu Necktie on Friday, January 27 (see details here). You can download the six-track album for free here:
Below, it’s the Chelsea Kills‘ new EP, Have Guns Hear Voices. The band will play at The Fire on Wednesday with Yip Deceiver, Fast Car and The Absent Center (see details here).
New Music You Need to Hear (and See), Part II.
Check out the latest work from Dewey Saunders, aka Dewey Decibel or Emcee Unless. We profiled him in the winter 2011/2012 issue. Check out the story here. And download the track for free below.
Also, check out the latest track from DRGN King:
New Music You Need to Hear (and See).
Check out the above video by Willie See and try to figure out which came first – the video or the song.
You might recognize Willie’s voice from here (seriously … click the link). He just dropped an 18-track album that you can listen to and download for free below.
Shorty Boy Boy has been working hard on some new music, including creating the trippy new video here. Shorty Boy Boy will perform at PhilaMOCA on January 13.
Gogo Morrow (above) has traveled the world as a backup singer/ dancer with Lady Gaga. Now she’s jamming on her own thing. You can download the song for free here.
Michael James Murray, who has contributed to JUMP, just formed a new band, Edison. The crew is recording and pumping out new music, like this:
What Are You Doing for New Year’s Eve?
Still not sure what you’re doing on New Year’s Eve? Here are a few options, music-wise.
The Fire: Nicos Gun (above) will headline with Lady, Black Stars and DJ Greg D. Champagne. Tickets are $10. See details here.
Kung Fu Necktie: Prowler (left) plays with Busses and Hott Tub, with DJs Jeffrey and Jay Yo keeping the party moving. Tickets are $5. See details here.
World Cafe Live: Chris Turner, Rocki Evans and U.City play the LVRS Lane indie-soul show. Tickets are $20. Details are here. Download a free mixtape of the artists here.
World Cafe (downstairs): Philly Bloco, who put on a great party at every show, will ring in the new year like it’s a Brazilian Carnaval. Tickets are $30 to $40. Details are here.
The Level Room: Phonographic Arts presents Bleeding Rainbow, Creepoid, Pink Skull, Slutever, Fire in the hearts and minds, and Exploding World at 21st and Market. Tickets are $15. Details are here.
The Barbary: Hands + Knees (below) on the main floor with Ian St. Laurent and JHN RDN, with Cool Hand Luke and Scotty Too Dope. Upstairs at Barbarella features WILDSTYLE with DJs Def Janiels, Mr. Nice Guy and Playboi. On the third floor, DJs Suga Shay, Gab Bonghi, Phil & Romes, JJ Bearz and Dennis Wolf.Fang spin for TIGERBEATS. Tickets are $15. Details are here.
Union Transfer: Making Time is holding a multi-room dance party with open bar all night. This will likely be a blast but it’s sold out, even with the $45 tickets. The truly desperate are begging for tickets here.
The TLA: Philly boys Good Old War (below) take the stage with River City Extension. Tickets are $15. Details are here.
See more concert listings at The Swollen Fox.
Rapper WAX @ The Troc Balcony Next Wednesday.
WAX
called our staff writer Sofiya Ballin from his home in Los Angeles the other day. From his bedroom, to be precise. The casualness of his voice exuded instant likeability as he introduced himself.
The week prior, he did shows on the East Coast and a few in Seattle, Los Angeles and Oakland. The Maryland-born rapper started humbly on YouTube with his twin brother Herbal T and has now grown to become one of YouTube’s most prominent offspring.
He recently released his second project as a Def Jam signee, Eviction Notice, a lyrically solid yet free-form mixtape. WAX will perform at the balcony at The Trocadero on Wednesday, December 28. Check here for details.
What’s the meaning behind the name WAX?
The substance wax can be molded into different things and can be a solid as well as a liquid. It represents versatility. And musically, I can do a lot of different things.
Eviction Notice was released last week how is it different from your previous mixtape Scrublife?
Scrublife actually has a bit more of a mixtape feel. It had a lot of long free-style type tracks on it where Eviction Notice is more songs. It’s more like an album. It was put out in a shorter period of time. Scrublife was like the culmination of a year whereas Eviction Notice was put together within the last 2 months. Read more…
The Pietasters and The Slackers @ Union Transfer.
Text by Chad Sims. Top images by Stephanie Sikorski. Bottom image by Dana Lucchine.
For those of you who needed a time machine to the mid 90s via third wave ska, The Pietasters and The Slackers played Union Transfer last Thursday.
The show was so good it broke my camera (special thanks to the lovely Dana Lucchine and Stephanie Sikorski for the pics, all of which are of The Slackers).
The Snails opened the evening with a good set. The Pietasters, who I have seen a number of times but not since the late 90s, were always one of my favorite ska bands. They were fun without being overly silly, and great for dancing.
In that respect, The Tasters have not changed much since the old days but their sound has matured over time and now focuses more on traditional reggae and soul (as have on their last few releases). As their sound has become more sophisticated, the one problem that has stood out has been vocalist Stephen Jackson’s somewhat limited vocal range. But during a live show, Jackson’s enthusiasm more than makes up for any of his technical limitations.
Of course, The Pietasters played old favorites like “Maggie Mae,” “Freak Show,” “Girl Take It Easy” and “Dollar Bill.”
While I had seen The Slackers before, they had never left much of an impression. This time, however, I was completely blown away by how far this band has come. This band is the most musically proficient ska band I have personally ever had the pleasure to witness. They played songs ranging across their prodigious output and ended with some holiday favorites.
If you are music fan – even if ska is not you cup of tea, see this band at least once. They are a blast.
Eww Yaboo @ Kung Fu Necktie.
Text and image by Brittany Thomas.
Yes. They’re called Eww Yaboo.
Of course, we have to discuss this first. You might be asking yourself: Eww Ya who? What the hell kinda band name is that?
It’s unavoidable. Drives them nuts, actually.
But before you pass any judgment, might I observe that completely inventing a phrase that means pretty much nothing is pretty close to band naming brilliance. Consider this: they’ll never be confused with any other band, film, book, event in history, animal, mental condition, or any other thing at all. The best part is that their music is as unique as their name.
When asked what genre they fall under, their responses were mixed: “Rock…crack rock…sex rock… crunchy pop with a drug-fueled edge?”
That was a joke, obviously. This crew of four, hailing from the northeast PA small town of Sugar Notch, had heads turning in all good ways last week at Kung Fu Necktie with their always-catchy and upbeat approach to modern pop fuzz-rock. Read more…
The Homophones and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. @ Johnny Brenda’s.
Text and images by Kevin Brosky.
Philly quartet The Homophones (above) opened last Tuesday’s bill at Johnny Brenda’s with trademark jangly guitar pop. Dubbing it their “Christmas Show,” the group had decked out the stage with strands of lights, a Christmas tree, balloons and, naturally, ghosts. Singer/guitarist Jason Ferraro switched between acoustic and electric guitars while airing out his distant croon.
The set, ripe with dazzling new tunes, included “Sweater Weather,” a song released on the band’s Bandcamp page a few months ago. “You’re the reason, my favorite season/ You’re my sweater weather,” echoed Ferraro over vibrant electric guitar picking.
JUMP caught Detroit duo Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.’s sold-out Kung Fu Necktie gig a few months back. Like that show, elbow room was at a premium when they took the stage on this night, with dance-ready fans wall-to-wall at the slightly larger venue. The duo, along with a live drummer, ripped through most of the material on their acclaimed debut It’s a Corporate World. Effects samples and fuzzed out electric guitars accompanied the endless supply of danceable rhythms and hypnotic melodies.
“It’s a corporate world/ I’m a corporation, cutting back,” they bellowed on the record’s title track. The enthusiastic packed house seemed to get the satire.
Jr. Jr. returned, wearing rainbow-checkered suit jackets (above, right), for an encore that included an explosive cover of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Sombody” and the magnificent “Nothing But Our Love,” bringing the show to a close with breezey vocal harmonies.
JUMP: The Philly Music Project 