Black Landlord Wants You To Dance.
Text by Kevin Stairiker. Images by G.W. Miller III.
“I knew as soon as I went to take a dump, you would call!” MAxx Stoyanoff-Williams bellows into the phone. “Can you call back in, like, two minutes? You can totally use this as the article intro if you want.”
The sole proprietor of this wondrous statement is a bartender at Standard Tap and Gunner’s Run who also happens to be the frontman of one of Philly’s most energetic and entertaining bands, Black Landlord. Over the past few years, the talented collection of Philly All-Star musicians has turned neighborhood events and daylong music festivals into raucous, funkadelic/ rock and roll/ hip hop parties.
“I wanted the music to be party, dance stuff,” MAxx explains two minutes later, “and for the lyrics to have almost a contrary meaning. You know, lyrics come in secondary and that’s just the truth. So if I can have music that people want to move to and then take in the lyrics later, that’s awesome.” Read more…
The Camaraderie of The New Connection.
Text and images by Brandee Nichols.
The New Connection originally began as a three-piece band formed by a group of high school friends – Gerald Busz, Todd Mecaughey and Michael Winkler. Then Winkler moved to China, the others ran off to different colleges and the band sort of fizzled, temporarily.
Four years later, when Mecaughey was an audio engineering student at Drexel, he met classmate Alex Baranowski. They needed a senior project, so they revived the old band, previously known simply as The Connection. Read more…
Good Old War: A Close-Knit Family.
Our Jillian Mallon spoke to Tim Arnold, the percussionist and vocalist from the Philly band Good Old War.
You were in the band Days Away before forming Good Old War with Dan (Schwartz). What made you decide to switch from the sound of Days Away to the harmonies and acoustics of Good Old War? Was it a conscious choice to adopt a folkier sound?
I think the choice was no necessarily to adopt a folky sound, It was kind of just to simplify things, you know? And, you know, tone it down, use acoustic instruments. We kind of talked about just simplifying things and then other things kind of took shape, like the harmonies, for example. But we weren’t really, like, saying, “Hey, let’s make a folk band.” We were kind of just like, “Let’s just turn the volume down and concentrate on writing songs.” It kind of evolved naturally that way.
What did you think about your sound when you first started? Did you like your new sound or did you want to go back to the old music?
Oh, no, we love the new sound. We’re never going back. Once you make a decision like that, it’s kind of like, you’ve got to go for it. And if you don’t love what you’re doing, it’s kind of pointless, isn’t it? Read more…
The Mystery Of Bella Vista’s Little Bar.
Text by Kim Maialetti. Images by David Maialetti.
Sitting outside Little Bar on a recent Friday night, owner Michael D’Addesi excuses himself from the table as a young, leggy brunette approaches.
The two embrace at the corner of 8th and Fitzwater streets before she disappears inside to order a drink and he returns to light another Camel.
She walks outside and sits quietly next to D’Addesi as he talks. She’s a bit of a mystery, this woman who is reluctant to reveal her name.
But Little Bar itself is still sort of a mystery. Read more…
Logan Neubauer Wants To Get You Involved in Hardcore.
Logan Neubauer (above, fist-pumping) has been involved in Philadelphia’s DIY punk/hardcore scene since 2009. Besides singing and playing guitar in two local bands, Backslider and Gash, Neubauer, 23, books shows throughout the city, primarily in the cellars of fellow musicians and supporters. But Neubauer sees a future for his scene that goes beyond the basement.
Our Mary Kinsley spoke to Neubauer shortly before a hardcore show he organized at the D.B.A.J. (Don’t Be A Jerk) House in Point Breeze.
Why do you think it’s important to keep Philly’s punk/hardcore scene alive?
The city has potential to have a fucking great scene. Like every city, there are enthusiastic, creative individuals who can and do contribute to scene, and deserve an outlet for their frustration. It always bums me out when I meet someone in a sick band that’s had trouble finding shows or hospitality in Philly. I want to change that. Read more…
Paging Dr. Beatbox.
David Gudis overheard a kid in high school making cool noises with his mouth. He was drawn to the rhythmic sounds – it was music, and the only instrument was that guy. Gudis decided right then that he had to learn how to do the same thing.
“I didn’t even know it was beabtboxing the first year I was doing it,” he says now with a laugh.
He continued making beats when he went to Columbia University as a pre-med student. In New York, he began performing at open mic nights under the name MC Squared. He met DJs and rappers and they started inviting him to their shows.
Then, Gudis went big time. He made it onto Showtime at the Apollo (above), and won. He performed numerous times on the program. He started making appearances with legendary beatboxers like Doug E. Fresh and Kenny Muhammad. Over the last decade, he’s performed in Spain, Germany, Kenya, Rwanda, Cambodia, Japan, and all across the United States.
“Beatboxing is a great outlet,” Gudis, now 30, says. “If I have any thought in my head, I can make people feel it. There’s just a mic between you and the people. It’s so raw. There’s nothing else like it.”
Despite all the perks of being in show business, Gudis always knew that medicine was his calling. In 2004, he entered medical school at the University of Pennsylvania.
He has continued performing though. One of his most memorable nights, he says, was at Transit on Spring Garden Street. He was on the same bill as M.I.A. and Diplo. Gudis took the stage for soundcheck after M.I.A. went through her sound. So while testing the system, Gudis did a beatbox version of M.I.A.’s hit “Galang.”
“She loved it,” he recalls. “She came up on stage and started singing. Diplo came up and started scratching.”
They repeated the routine later during the actual performance.
Gudis is currently a resident at Penn, and he works often with people suffering from hearing loss. His two worlds now collide.
“I can be a doctor and help people hear?” he says. “Shit. That’s what I want to do.”
Gudis will perform as part of the Philly FM Fest on September 24 at Invincible Pictures Sound Stage (1600 N. 5th Street) before the screening of the documentary Beatboxing: The Fifth Element of Hip Hop (below).
– Text and image by G.W. Miller III.
Hezekiah Jones, Cheers Elephant and Nicos Gun @ The Piazza.
Hezekiah Jones played as part of the WXPN/ PW free concert series at the Piazza at Schmidt’s, along with Cheers Elephant (below) and Nicos Gun (bottom image).
All three bands will be taking part in the Philly FM Fest, which runs from Thursday, September 22 through Sunday, September 25.
Badges to see all of the shows in the festival, with more than 100 bands over four days, cost $80 for the general public. For fans of JUMP, it’s only $50. To get the discounted price, check here.
Save $30 on Philly FM Fest Four-Day Passes.
Fans of JUMP magazine are being treated to a massive discount on tickets to the Philadelphia Film & Music Festival, the four-day event featuring more than 100 bands.
All-access badges for the general population are $80. For JUMP fans, they are only $50.
Click here to purchase tickets.
Badges get you into all Philly FM events, from September 22 through the 25th, including Riot Fest:
Here’s the poster for the four-day festival:
Learn about some of the local bands who will perform at the event in the fall issue of JUMP, which drops on September 6.
Click here for tickets.
Grrrrrrrl Power Night @ Johnny Brenda’s.
If you are looking to have fun after the wicked humid day today, head over to Johnny Brenda’s for some loud, brash, irreverent and fun music from a pair of all-female bands.
Slutever and Bedroom Problems, along with The Sniffles (comprised of three dudes) start around 9. Details are here.
Download Bedroom Problems’ EP for free here.
The fall issue of JUMP will hit the streets on September 6. We’ll begin posting teasers for the next issue next week. We have some awesome stuff for you.
Stay in touch with JUMP by following us on facebook and twitter.
Shaking Through: Sweet Lights.
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 Party Photographers, Reading Rainbow (our summer issue cover band) and Hezekiah Jones.
The latest installment highlights the talents of Shai Halperin, formerly of The Capitol Years, who now performs as Sweet Lights.
Want to learn more about Weathervane? Check out our story about the organization from the summer issue of JUMP. And download the Sweet Lights track below:
JUMP: The Philly Music Project 