Well Philly, it’s been real. Along with the bittersweet conclusion of my final year at college comes the unfortunate end to my internship at JUMP and the final weekend concert preview that lies here before you. It has been an amazing couple of months and I couldn’t be more grateful. I’d personally like to thank George Miller, Christopher Malo, Jessica Flynn, Brendan Menapace, Chris Fascenelli, the rest of the JUMP staff and all the bands and artists I’ve had the chance to talk to for being so open, patient and totally awesome.
So, this is it. I don’t know what the future holds but I do know Philly will always have a place in my heart. Make sure to treat yourself to some great live music this weekend and continue to keep your eyes and ears open for all that this great city has to offer. But more importantly, continue reading JUMP because all the corporate magazines can pretty much suck it. – Derrick Krom
FRIDAY
The Warhawks and Bacio at Kung Fu Necktie
A four-piece rock band straight out of New Jersey, The Warhawks blend an array of influences from “the 80s college alternative scene, the garage rock revival of the new millennium, as well as from the mid-20th century pioneers of rock” to produce powerfully driving tracks. The Warhawks will be releasing their latest EP Exodus at Kung Fu Necktie this Friday night with support by diverse and instrumental-driven outfit Bacio.
Jazz Residency Artist Bobby Zankel’s Works in Progress at Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Join Jazz Residency artists for a FREE interactive public workshop that incorporates your own creative input to help expand and develop original concepts into new and complete works. Alto saxophonist Bobby Zankel, percussionist Francois Zayas and choreographer Raphael Xavier will “explore the constant, fundamental elements of African American culture that transcend discipline, time period, style, and place of origin.
SATURDAY
Mo Lowda & The Humble, Air is Human and Modern Colour at Bourbon & Branch
Since signing with Bell Tower Records and releasing its debut full-length Curse the Weather last year, Philly alternative rock trio Mo Lowda & The Humble has been garnering high praise and popularity throughout the local music scene. Soulful and dynamic, the three-piece is bound to put on a great show at Bourbon & Branch. Philly indie collective Air is Human and local rock trio Modern Colour will play support.
Nevada Color, Queen Jesus, Tippy and the Shy Guys and Plainview at Ortlieb’s Lounge
Since forming in 2012, Nevada Color—an indie five-piece out of Pittsburgh—“has eaten a lot of pizza, met a lot of cool people, and played a lot of music since.” The band will be bringing some of that music to Ortlieb’s this Saturday night, only a few days after releasing its debut LP Adventures. The second date on the band’s American tour, Nevada Color will be joined by Philly acts Queen Jesus, Tippy and the Shy Guys and Plainview.
SUNDAY
Howler, Frankie Teardrop and The Retinas at North Star Bar
Howler, an indie band hailing Minneapolis, Minnesota, will be hitting North Star Bar this Sunday night while on tour in support of their latest full-length World of Joy, released in March. An internationally critically acclaimed four-piece, Howler will play a slew of new material along with songs off its home-recorded debut, America Give Up. Psychedelic rockers Frankie Teardrop and raw and local Philly outfit The Retinas will open.
Terrible Things, Happy Body Slow Brain, Gavin Castleton and Modern Suits at MilkBoy
Terrible Things, the rock outfit helmed by Fred Mascherino (ex-Taking Back Sunday), is back and hitting the ground running on its very first headlining tour. With Steve Curtiss on drums and Aaron Van Allen on bass and backing vocals, the revived and energized three-piece will be supported by progressive R&B/rock band Happy Body Slow Brain, prog-pop singer-songwriter Gavin Castleton and Philly rock quintet Modern Suits.
Want to see Liars on Wednesday at Underground Arts for free with a friend?
Hit us up at FreeJUMPstuff@gmail.com (please give us your full name and put “Liars” in the subject line). We’ll announce winners in a few hours.
If you don’t want to take a chance, you can purchase tickets here.
Our Day With SteveO From The Holy Mess.
Text and images by Jessica Flynn.
Stefan Wieslaw Niemoczynski, aka SteveO, is a novice cigar smoker and amateur historian. He was a one-time field artilleryman. He was recently rejected for Miley Cyrus’ Philadelphia concert guest list. He is a social butterfly, perhaps even Franklin-esque. He’s appalled by the bastardization of iconic childhood figures.
SteveO, a semi-professional lush, is 30 years old (though he says feels like a 14-year-old) and plays bass and sings for The Holy Mess. He also has an acoustic solo project, Foul Weathered Friend.
We followed him around one day during the winter as he recorded and partied.
Text by Naveed Ahsan. Images by Michael Bucher.
Percussionist Gregg Mervine began sitting in with New York City gypsy/Balkan band Romashka back in 2006, when the troupe became a staple at the Bulgarian bar Mehanata on the Lower East Side. Their live shows regularly erupted into drunken dance parties.
“The dancing and drunkenness were insane,” Mervine says with a laugh, thinking about one night in particular. “Hundreds of people packed in and started dancing in circles around my drums. Then, WHAM! A girl in a skintight mini-skirt crashed over my bass drum like someone shot out of a cannon. Brian Dawkins couldn’t have tackled me any better.”
But the band never paused and the dancing swirled on.
“That’s when I had the realization that starting a Balkan band in Philadelphia would be a good idea.”
Mervine started collecting Balkan rhythm recordings and transcribing the songs. Thus began the genesis of the West Philadelphia Orchestra.
Eight years since its conception, the band has transformed into a 15-piece ensemble whose repertoire traces roots from Klezmer to big-band jazz and everything in between. Labeling the group as just a Balkan-influenced band is a gross misrepresentation. Their catalog has layers of influences that synthesize gospel, techno, funk, jazz, hip-hop and even dub.
“Our original compositions and arrangements of traditional tunes are strongly influenced by Balkan brass styles,” says clarinet player Larry Goldfinger. “But our overall approach to writing and playing has always been to take those traditional forms and combine them with other musical styles that interest members of the band.”
David Fishkin harkens back to the days when the West Philadelphia Orchestra would play their monthly installments at the now-defunct South Street bar, Tritone.
“I used to come to West Philly shows and dance like a maniac,” reminisces Fishkin. “I remember feeling the wooden floorboards start bouncing underneath the weight of everybody dancing. Sometimes I thought that the floor would crack.”
Fishkin appeared so often that eventually, West Philadelphia Orchestra trumpeter Adam Hershberger encouraged Fishkin, an alto saxophonist, to start coming to rehearsals at the band’s West Philly pad. Now he’s regular part of the band.
Since their humble beginnings at Tritone, the Orchestra has moved their monthly parties to Underground Arts. Though the venue has changed, their ability to connect the Western populace to Eastern musical arrangements has not wavered.
Bulgarian, Serbian and Romani languages are incorporated into vocalist Petia Zamfirova’s lyrics. Despite a sizeable portion of the crowd likely not understanding the various languages of the southeastern Europe region, there always seems to be a supernatural synergy between them and the band.
At a show this past February, the band performed three one-hour sets. By their second set, WPO moved off the stage and into the crowd. This, Mervine says, is vital to the band’s ethos.
“The best place to hear us is under a bridge or in some stank corner bar,” Mervine explains. “Anywhere up close and personal. That’s why we never stay on stage at a show. That’s why we get down on the floor with you and bump asses.”
There is no clear explanation to the band’s longevity. There have been numerous lineup changes and many of the current members have other projects on the side. What is clear, though, is that after eight years, they still know how to bump ass.
“People in the band have always had wide-ranging musical interests, and have been involved with many diverse projects,” says Fishkin. “But this does not reflect a lack of commitment to WPO. What keeps WPO going strong is our love for the music, and our joy in playing and sharing it with people.”
Want to see Matt Pond PA tonight at Underground Arts for free with a friend?
Hit us up at FreeJUMPstuff@gmail.com (please give us your full name and put “Matt Pond PA” in the subject line). We’ll announce winners in a few hours.
If you don’t want to take a chance, you can purchase tickets here.
Get Up: Art Makes the DJ.
Text by Tyler Horst. Images by Michael Bucher.
No matter how many years he spent in San Francisco, Mike’s accent will always betray him. Even as he reminisces about the California sunshine while sitting in the cramped mixing room of his Philly basement, speakers thumping with the sounds of his soon-to-be-finished album, he casually drops a“yous” and it’s all over. It’s eminently clear where Mike was born and raised.
Mike (who asked us not to use his full name for reasons you’ll find out later), is in the middle of carefully reviewing the tracks for his next release as the genre-bending DJ Get Up. He moved back to his hometown after several years on the West Coast, which is part of the reason the forthcoming album will be titled Pickin’ Up Where I Left Off. Mike switched from digging in crates to digging through his hard drive, revived old ideas that he abandoned a little too soon and fleshed them out into the songs spilling from his speakers.
WIN FREE TICKETS: See Against Me! @ The Troc Next Week.
Want to see punk veterans Against Me! next week on their first swing through Philly since releasing their latest album? They’ll perform at The Trocadero on Tuesday, May 6 with Tony Molina and Big Eyes.
Drop us a line at FreeJUMPstuff@gmail.com (give us your full name and put “Against Me!” in the subject line). We’ll announce winners of a pair of tickets on Friday morning.
If you don’t want to wait, you can purchase tickets here.
Vacationer @ Underground Arts.
Text and images by Mina Lee.
Last week, chillologists Vacationer gave their fans an early dose of summer.
Fueled by both drinks and positive vibes – resulting in zero inhibitions – bodies packed into the venue and danced against each other, creating a singular wave of energy. Vacationer relieved their crowd of all worries and stress and dedicated fans hoarsely sang every lyric. Sweaty limbs moved with every beat.
Vacationer gave fans a much appreciated preview of their upcoming album, Relief, by performing new track “The Wild Life.”
The dancing then peaked in a furious frenzy.
Intern Derrick’s Weekend Picks: Music Is Your Medicine.
Philly, I have a simple question for you: What are you planning to do with yourself this weekend? I’ll give you a second to think about it. No seriously, go ahead… Now if all you could come up with was watching Netflix with your cat while drinking wine out of a box, I’m here to help.
Luckily, the thriving musical metropolis you call home is once again putting on a packed weekend filled with record release parties, free all-day events, fundraising shows and a number of other live concerts in some of your favorite local bars and venues throughout the city. So get out of bed, put on some pants and treat yourself to a night out on the town. In Philly, music is always the best medicine. Trust me, I know a guy who knows a doctor. – Derrick Krom
FRIDAY
Worshyper, Power Animal, Dream Safari and Shraf at Bourbon & Branch
Blending R&B vocals with electronic instrumentation, Philadelphia psychedelic soul trio Worshyper will be throwing an intimate LP vinyl release show in support of their latest album KEEPS at the upstairs venue Bourbon & Branch in Northern Liberties. DJ Chris Clark, DJ Bear Bait, Power Animal, Dream Safari and Shraf will open.
A Brood of Vipers, The Spirit World and The Gang Age at Kung Fu Necktie
The eclectic Philadelphia four-piece A Brood of Vipers will be bringing its experimental blues punk sound to Kung Fu Necktie this Friday night for a record release show in celebration of the band’s newest album Ghosts of Bedlam. Local trio The Spirit World and riot grrrl inspired grunge pop outfit The Gang Age will play support.
SATURDAY
Come out to Underground Arts and support local artist Mat Burke, whose home was broken into late last year resulting in the loss of thousands of dollars worth of borrowed studio equipment. Every dollar made from ticket sales will go towards replacing the stolen equipment. Supporting Burke are fellow Philadelphia musicians TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb, Ali Wadsworth and Satellite Hearts, Penrose and Levee Drivers.
South Street May Festival featuring FREE Live Music at The Legendary Dobbs
The 2nd Annual South Street Headhouse District Spring Festival will be taking place this Saturday, bringing food, beer and free music to the iconic Philly street. The Legendary Dobbs will be hosting a number of local acts—from BlackRue to Brooks Long & The Mad Dog No Good—beginning in the early afternoon and continuing late into the night.
SUNDAY
Leopold and His Fiction at Ortlieb’s
A revolving group of friends led by lead singer and guitarist Daniel James, Leopold and His Fiction is a raw garage rock/blues/folk outfit that will bring its powerful show to Ortlieb’s Sunday night. Having played support slots for bands like ZZ Top and The Cult, Leopold and His Fiction—along with James’ killer mustache—is bound to be great.
Michelle Lewis and Don McCloskey at World Café Live
World Café Live will be hosting an album release party this Sunday for “uniquely intimate and surprisingly polished” Boston Americana singer-songwriter Michelle Lewis in celebration of her newest full-length The Parts of Us That Still Remain. Independent Brooklyn-based songwriter and performer Don McCloskey will kick off the night.
Text by Kyle Bagenstose. Images by Jason Melcher.
Philly picked the wrong version of Fire and Ice to entertain themselves with on Sunday night.
At about the the same time Game of Thrones (based on the A Song of Ice and Fire book series) was rolling onto HBO, the Detroit based Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas were unveiling a song titled “Fire and Ice” to a small crowd at Boot & Saddle.
“This is a new song, so we’re going to try it out on ya,” said Hernandez before an ominous opening guitar riff kicked off the new material.
Like the rest of the six-piece band’s set, the song contained elements of many different genres, built on a traditional rock core, but using the trombone of John Raleeh and keyboard of Taylor Peirson to create a unique sound.
However, it’s Hernandez’s powerful vocals and high energy that are the main attraction of the band, and the Detroit native put both on full display despite playing to no more than a few dozen listeners. With a mesmerizing hip sway and emotive delivery, Hernandez quickly drew in on-the-fence listeners from the Saddle’s bar area.
JUMP: The Philly Music Project 