Cold Roses Record Release Show @ Milkboy.
Text and images by Michael Bucher.
Cold Roses released their album No Silence in the City last weekend before a full room of fans at Milkboy. In the crowd were two people still rocking Halloween costumes and another man who couldn’t look more like “The Situation” from MTV’s Jersey Shore.
To mark the occasion, the band – which includes Rob Clancy on guitar and vocals, R.M. Webb on drums, Brandon Porter on bass guitar and Alex Ayala on keyboard – played the 11-track album in its entirety. Tom Petraccaro (saxophone), Rick Rein (trumpet) and Matt Keppler (upright bass) provided the crucial bursts of melody that filled the room. And thanks to Clancy, the audience learned just how close they were to missing it.
“Our trumpet player was arrested last night and we were afraid he couldn’t make it,” said Clancy between songs.
Rein just smiled and said, “The City of Philadelphia cares a lot about their stop signs.”
Sweat formed on their foreheads and soaked through their solid-color button-up shirts as the room heated up with whaling, blues guitar solos in the song “Someplace to Go.” A woman in the audience actually found the heat to be uncomfortable and tried propping up a window with an empty beer can but as she turned around, an alert bouncer removed the can and closed the window.
Clancy told the crowd how appreciative the band is for the help over the years, whether through supporting their Indiegogo campaign or coming out to shows.
“It means the world to us,” said Clancy.
He also thanked The Rivals, who got the night started with masterful guitar work by Rob Swift.
Family Vacation: Barely Legal Indie Hustlers.
Text and image by Rachel Barrish.
Family Vacation says Philly never really had an indie scene, which is fine by them.
“If there’s no indie scene then it’s ours for the taking,” says Luke Harsel, vocalist and guitarist of the indie pop rock outfit.
The band is gathered on a quiet Friday evening on Temple University’s campus, where all members currently attend, at the Saxby’s coffee shop before closing. Family Vacation formed inside their freshmen dorms when they all started jamming together.
Though they stay true to their dreamy rock sound and fun, vivacious style, Family Vacation takes some of its musical inspiration from local punk-leaning bands like Hop Along and Little Big League.
“I listen to music that sounds nothing like us,” says drummer Adam Shumski.
Harsel says he’s proud that the Philly music scene is more punk-based right now, because that gives Family Vacation the opportunity to stand out. And the other members agree.
Bringing the (Heat) Thunder to Doylestown.
Text by Beth Ann Downey. Images by Chris Fascenelli.
Joe Montone is what you would call a “hometown guy.”
It’s a cool summer night in downtown Doylestown and Montone – the frontman for eerie, atmospheric rock band Heat Thunder – is afraid to be interviewed outside. He knows too many people will stop to greet him.
“See, this is what’s going to happen,” he says from inside LA Tacos after a friend taps on the restaurant’s glass and offers a wave. “It’s gonna be wild.”
His hometown feels small to Montone but he’s managed to do a lot for it. Montone is integral to the compact but flourishing music scene that’s cropped up downtown, playing in a local band and booking shows at both Siren Records and Maxwell’s on Main, more commonly known as M.O.M.’s.
“It felt like the hierarchy of people invested in the scene not disappeared … but nobody was able to hold the ropes up,” Montone says of a previous lull in Doylestown’s live music offerings. “So it was super dead for two years. I remember walking around and being like, ‘It’s so quiet.’ Then I started booking shows.”
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Text and images by Mina Lee.
Last weekend, local neighborhood indie rockers Young Statues celebrated the release of their new album The Flatlands are Your Friend with an intimate show at Kung Fu Necktie.
Opening band Mohican filled the venue with loud instrumental rock as the night’s audience shuffled in to nod their heads with the beat. Indie rockers Dryjacket followed with surprisingly well-executed ease. The band has only been together since February.
Headliners Young Statues took the stage to much applause and excitement. One member of the audience murmured to her group of friends, “I love these guys. I’m so stoked.”
Opening their set with “Natives” off the newly released album, Young Statues created a seamless body of synchronized energy out of a ragtag audience composed of friends, family members and die hard fans. The small venue’s stage space was utilized to its fullest extent, with immense stage presence exuding from every member of the band. An intimate setting was appropriate, as lead vocalist Carmen Cirignano could interact with the crowd.
“Someone brought me water. I don’t know what that means. I’d prefer an alcoholic beverage.” Cirignano said jokingly in between songs. “Oh, it was my mom? Well, that makes sense.”
The set was comprised of a majority from the new album, The Flatlands are Your Friend, but also included popular hits from their older albums such as “Spacism” and “Half Light.”
Nearing the end of their night, Young Statues invited the audience to stay a bit to have drinks with the band, showing no lack of clear humility or humor.
Wet @ Boot and Saddle with Ami Dang.
Text by Jay Mohan. Images by Grace Dickinson.
Wet came through Boot and Saddle on Tuesday with Ami Dang and made everyone cry … in a good way.
Opener Ami Dang popped Boot and Saddle’s cherry as the first to play sitar in the venue. Although no Ravi Shankar or Vilayat Khan, what Dang lacked in her sitar playing was filled in by her creative blending of Hindustani classical ragas, almost new wave electronic beats and experimental samples from her Roland sp-404. The reverb from her set seemed to fill in the space for the audience that was holding off at the bar for Wet.
Wet took the stage to what appeared to be a set for a glamorous magazine photo shoot. Three umbrella lights behind the trio went from dim to blindingly bright throughout the show. It was a subtle set up that reflected the mood and energy of their music. Vocalist Kelly Zutrau did nearly no pandering to the audience and kept her voice consistent with the R&B grooves of their electro-pop jams.
Wet had everyone, including former JUMP cover artist Spank Rock, swooning by the end of the night.
WIN FREE TICKETS! See Eric Hutchinson @ The TLA on Saturday.
DC pop/folk artist Eric Hutchinson will perform at the TLA on Saturday and we are giving away tickets to see the show.
If you want a pair of tickets to see Eric Hutchinson with Tristan Prettyman and Nick Howard, like us on facebook and email us at FreeJumpStuff@gmail.com (give us your name and put “Hutch” in the subject line).
If you want to play it safe and get your own tickets, find details for the show here.
Temples and The Districts @ Union Transfer.
Text and images by Jason Melcher.
The Districts made their way back to Philadelphia on Saturday night to open up for UK psych-rock band Temples (above) at Union Transfer.
With two albums under their belts, Kitchen Songs (2011) and Telephone (2012), the young four-piece band originally from Lititz, PA have been drawing a lot of attention and establishing a growing fan base. Lead by Rob Grote on vocals and guitar, The Districts took to the stage with tons of energy and immediately got the crowd moving. They played songs off of their self-titled EP, which was released earlier this year, including a crowd favorite “Funeral Beds.” Whether it’s Grote’s powerful voice, brimming with emotion or the great deal of charm in their performances, it’s hard not to cheer for these guys.
The local favorites have had a busy year touring all over the country and will be making their way back to Europe next month to perform in the UK and France.
Following the release of their debut album Sun Structures in February, Temples have been winning fans over with their psychedelic rock showcase.
Hailing from Kettering, England, Temples began touring all across the globe just a year after they formed in 2012. The packed crowd at Union Transfer could barely contain their excitement on Saturday night as the four-piece band was welcomed back to Philadelphia with open arms and a barrage of deafening cheers.
The audience was hooked as soon as they opened their set with “Sun Structures.” As dense fog billowed from the stage, frontman James Bagshaw lead the audience on a hazy trip back to the ‘60’s. Their music calls to mind The Byrds and The Beatles, along with more contemporary artists like Tame Impala, while providing something new and refreshing.
Temples put on a great show and sounded incredible live, closing the evening with a captivating encore performance of “Mesmerize.”
WIN FREE TICKETS! See Dirty Loops @ The TLA Tonight!
Dirty Loops will perform at the TLA tonight and we are giving away tickets to see the show.
If you want a pair of tickets, like us on facebook and email us at FreeJumpStuff@gmail.com (give us your name and put “Dirty Loops” in the subject line).
If you want to play it safe and get your own tickets, find details for the show here.
Big Gigantic @ The Tower Theater.
Text and images by Dan Drufovka.
Big Gigantic, the jazz/hip hop/electronic duo turned it up last Friday at The Tower Theater. On tour to celebrate their fifth album release, The Night is Young, Big G brought a stellar show to Philadelphia.
The Colorado EDM duo have been busy – from touring Australia and selling out double-header shows to playing Coachella and the Mad Decent Block Party series.
The big moment of the night was their remix of Aloe Blacc’s “I Need A Dollar” and Notorious B.I.G’s “Notorious Thugs.” Their DJing combined with live instruments created a great, fun show.
The amazingly talented and entertaining Johnny Showcase will perform at Connie’s Ric Rac on Halloween (Friday) and we are giving away tickets to see the show.
If you want a pair of tickets to party with Johnny with PCX and Josh Hey, like us on facebook and email us at FreeJumpStuff@gmail.com (give us your name and put “JOHNNY” in the subject line).
If you want to play it safe and get your own tickets, find details for the show here.
JUMP: The Philly Music Project 