The Rapture & Metronomy @ Voyeur.
Text and images by Kirsten Stamn.
I’m crushed against the barricade in front of the stage at Voyeur, ribs pressed uncomfortably against the metal bars as the crowd impatiently bops along to the house music.
Metronomy (right) has just finished playing and the sweat is still dripping off people’s faces, their eyes bright with the insane high one gets from dancing like a maniac nonstop for an entire set.
After wordlessly rocking out in their skinny pegged trousers and bizarre lighted globes, the England-based electronic group has gotten the entire club more than ready for The Rapture, for whom everyone is waiting for.
I hear someone say, “I’d hate to follow that act. Metronomy was so sick.”
And it’s true. They were indeed sick, playing trance-like synth beats that are both laid-back and intensely danceable at the same time. Helmed by Joseph Mount – who acts as composer, singer, keyboardist and guitarist, the band also features Anna Prior, Oscar Cash and Gbenga Adelekan. Known for their live appearances, the band didn’t disappoint with their jaunty dance routines and choreographed light shows.
But the headliner of this Friday night event, hosted by dance party experts Making Time, is The Rapture, the much-lauded comeback group who has reassembled after a much–publicized extended absence from the music world.
Crossing genres such as dance punk, acid house, electronic and rock, the band best described as indie is back with a vengeance. Comprised of Luke Jenner, Gabriel Andruzzi and Vito Roccoforte, the group who has reunited with DFA Records for their newest album, In the Grace of Your Love, filled with sexy crooning and intense synth beats.
Before they left for their European tour, The Rapture was kind enough to stop by Philadelphia where they put on hands-down one of the best shows I’ve ever seen in my life. It was one those shows that you have trouble recollecting the day after, remembering only the feeling of being drenched in sweat, dancing in a sea of limbs, and ecstatically screaming repeatedly, “This is amazing!”
Needless to say, take some Advil the next day for your aching feet, kids.
Creepoid Gets the Shaking Through Treatment.
Since January 2010, Weathervane Music and WXPN have collaborated on a music and video web series, Shaking Through. Led by Brian McTear of Miner Street Recording studios, they provide opportunities to rising, independent artists. The series has included several Philly bands, including, Hezekiah Jones, Party Photographers and Reading Rainbow.
The latest installment features one of JUMP’s faves, Creepoid, whom we profiled in the summer issue of the mag (check out the story here, complete with nudey pictures – for real).
We also profiled Weathervane in our summer issue. Learn about the amazing project here.
Photo by Brandee Nichols.
Minus The Bear @ The Electric Factory.
Text by Ashley Hall. Images by Rick Kauffman.
Philly helped Seattle-based Minus The Bear celebrate their 10-year anniversary this weekend at The Electric Factory.
The band played their 2001 Highly Refined Pirates, in full, mixed with a c
ouple newer favorites off their more recent album, Menos el Oso (2005) and an encore decked-out in Omni (2010).
The night was all about music. With not much more than a few words said between songs, the five-man band played straight through.
Opening for MTB was The Velvet Teen, an indie group from Northern California.
After the show, Minus The Bear sang Philly’s praises via social networking, saying how nice it was to be back. The last time the guys stopped in Philly to play at The Electric Factory, they shot their video (below) for “Hold Me Down.”
Here are a few more pics from this weekend’s show.
Check out all the stories from the fall 2011 issue online here.
Find a print copy here.
Follow JUMP on facebook and twitter.
Occupy Philadelphia: Get Away From Your Televisions. Become the 99 Percent With a Voice.
Images, video and text by Brittney Bowers.
It was a gorgeous fall morning in Philadelphia, the type of morning that I take advantage of to walk around the city and photograph. However, Thursday was different. I had a nervous pit in my stomach as I walked down South Broad Street. My destination: City Hall for Occupy Philadelphia.
I am a supporter of the movement but after watching video clips of police’s treatment of protesters in New York City, I didn’t know what was going to happen or what I was getting myself into.
As I turned the corner, I saw the crowd and realized this is where I was meant to be. People from different economic and social backgrounds formed together in a group of unity, love and determination. We all stood together, made up of our differences, but for this moment we were all the same. We are the 99 percent and we demand change.
As I walked around City Hall amongst the 99 percent, I realized I have nothing to fear. This is the City of Brotherly Love at its finest. This isn’t the same city that is plagued with flash mobs and murders.
Maybe Occupy Philly is a change the city needs.
Couches are set up around the concourse where college students discuss politics. Revolutionaries take a break by doing yoga. I spotted a family with three children under the age of 9, all holding protest signs. I saw a young man give his leftover French fries to a homeless woman. Drivers beeped their horns as they circled past City Hall to show their support. I heard guitars and a tambourine and my ears led me to the sound. I found myself standing in the center of a musical jam session, dancing with strangers.
The day rolled on and the unity grew stronger. Sitting through the first general assembly of the day, shivers went down my spine with each speech. I started the day as a supporter from a distance, but as the day drew to a close, I proudly became a part of the movement.
Get away from your televisions. Back away from your laptops. Leave your home and head to City Hall. Become the 99 percent with a voice.
This is history and it’s happening right before your eyes. Get educated. Get involved.
The Revolution Needs a Soundtrack.
Of course, this weekend, you should be occupying Philadelphia, rooting for the Phillies and celebrating Yom Kippur. Satisfy your soul, stand up for your rights and practice your civic pride.
But also appreciate the local music scene.
There’s lots of good stuff this weekend, including tUnE-YarDs (above, playing the 2nd Street Festival over the summer), which will play at Union Transfer on Sunday. Also on Sunday, the Philadelphia Orchestra (below, playing at MLK high last January) will play al fresco for free on Penn’s Landing. The show begins at 6:30. 
Here are a few other interesting shows this weekend.
Friday:
Ska legends The Toasters play the North Star Bar.
Beatallica, a Beatles/ Metallica mash-up, play live at the Grape Room.
Rapper Kuf Knotz and his troupe perform at Milkboy Philly.
Saturday:
Electro superstar Skrillex (below) plays the Electric Factory.
Midnight Mob (below) plays The Legendary Dobbs.
Sunday:
Ladytron plays the TLA with VHS or Beta.
And if you feel bad about not supporting the revolution, read this. You can revolt against the machine by appreciating music.
Emily Pukis Sells Pistachios at the Stadium.
The Philadelphia Inquirer discovered that Emily Youcis, of Emily Pukis and the Vagrants, is a pistachio vendor at Phillies games. We profiled Emily and her bandmate Leanne Mertz in the fall issue of JUMP.
This is from the Inquirer:
Pistachio Girl knows nothing about baseball. She wouldn’t know Cliff Lee from Bruce Lee, honestly. The game is merely the backdrop to her own theater each night. The only players she knows or cares about are relievers Mike Stutes and Antonio Bastardo.
During the summer, on warm nights, when the mood in the ballpark is more playful, casual, she will yell down to the bullpen, “Hey, Cutesy Stutesy, want some nuts?” This sends the fans wild in Section 102. They love the show, and of course this helps with sales.
“She yells out my name every day,” Stutes said in an interview before the playoffs. “I have no idea why . . . I’m sitting there and I can always hear, so I wave back at her. I don’t think it would be very nice if I ignored her.”
This is from the fall issue of JUMP:
In April, a local baseball blogger discovered that his pistachio vendor at Phillies games, Youcis, is also an irreverent artist and musician. He warned his readers to avoid buying pistachios from her due to her “creepy and disturbing” off duty activities.
Summer Jam: “This Year” by East Hundred.
This video by East Hundred has been floating around for the past week or so. But it has such a great summer feel that we thought we’d post it here, especially since it’s in the low 60’s today.
Oh summer 2011, you seem like so long ago.
By the way, we were there when Beril and the crew jammed on stage at the 2nd Street Festival, where some of the above footage was shot.
Freeway & Mac Miller @ the Electric Factory.
Check out the behind the scenes video of Freeway (whom we profiled in the premier issue of JUMP) with fellow Pennsylvania rapper Mac Miller at the Electric Factory.
Check out all the stories from the fall 2011 issue online here.
Find a print copy here.
Were You at Deadmau5 Last Week?
Our Rick Kauffman photographed the hell out of the Deadmau5 show last week at Festival Pier, part of the Philly FM Fest. Today, we’re dropping a bunch of party people pics. Enjoy. Read more…
Weekend Fun: Electro, 80s, and Lots of Local Talent.
There’s a lot of great stuff happening this weekend. Here are our picks:
Friday: Zeds Dead (above) will have Union Transfer shaking. Local funk rockers Da Rezarekt (below) will hold their record release party at The Legendary Dobbs on South Street.
Saturday: The Midtown Village Fall Festival will run from noon until 8, with live music on 13th Street near Chestnut.
The Bangles (in the video at the top of the post) will party at the TLA like it’s 1985. And that’s pretty cool.
Fishtown-based East Hundred will play Johnny Brenda’s as part of JB’s ongoing 5th year anniversary celebration.
JUMP: The Philly Music Project 