Ars Nova: From The Margins.
Text and image by Ed Newton.
In the early evening, the main dining room of City Tap House is packed with your typical happy hour patrons. Loosened ties, unfastened top buttons and the clean-cut office crowd greet visitors with polite glances and nods as one makes their way into the well-lit bar. Among those inhabiting the bar, Mark Christman waits patiently for his next round of Port Brewing Company beer.
“I can assure you, this is not my scene,” Christman politely jokes.
Carrying his drink, he leads the way to the outside seating area that overlooks a University City street congested with rush hour traffic. Below, a group of circus performers juggle and teach fascinated children on a practice tight rope.
“Believe it or not, I actually hired them,” Christman points out, referring to the jugglers, as he sips from his chilled tulip glass.
Until very recently, Christman, a Drexel University alum, was the acting communications manager for the University City District, a civic program aimed at community revival and development. But for the last 13 years or so, he has also commanded the reigns of his own brainchild, Ars Nova Workshop.
Similar to UCD, Ars Nova is a nonprofit organization based out of West Philly that has a renewal task of its own: promoting jazz and experimental music in contemporary culture.
“[Philadelphia was once] a jazz town that bred these amazing, not only jazz artists, but American artists,” explains Christman. “Over time, popular music changed things. DJ culture has changed things. Disco changed things. Jazz has definitely become a more marginal art form. But I found myself at a youngish age very interested in music that was exploratory. I was interested in the changing American landscape, and a lot of this music embodied those certain progressive directions. It was all very seductive to me.”
Christman began to find opportunities to host concerts in Philadelphia under what he describes as “very DIY-type settings.”
“Maybe this music doesn’t belong in a club,” he recalls thinking. “So I created an environment in which I hoped that mission would be clear.”
Acting as and intermediary between audience and artist, the project has found itself boasting lineups with some of the biggest contemporary names associated with the art form, bringing these names to somewhat unconventional venues around the city, like the Art Alliance, International House and the Shivtei Yeshuron-Ezras Israel synagogue in South Philadelphia. Partnering with Hidden City Philadelphia, Ars Nova recently brought its favored styling to many rehabilitated landmarks around the city as a part of the Hidden City Festival. The series coordinated events that combined both organizations’ inventive ideas of contemporary artistry allowing the visual to overlap with performance.
With more than 500 events under its belt, Christman’s vision has been incredibly successful in creating a haven for jazz, experimental and improvisational musicians alike. Over the winter, Christman left the University City District to work on Ars Nova full-time.
“We’ve been able to present the biggest names in jazz and improvised music in the last fifty years,” he says, “everyone from Cecil Taylor to Anthony Braxton.”
Intern Derrick’s Weekend Picks: Give Me Cheap Music!
It’s really hard being a music fan on a budget. I should know. There have been plenty of times when I’ve seriously contemplated skipping a meal (or three) just to save up the dough for a new album or tickets to a show coming through town. We here at JUMP feel your pain and have a solution. This weekend’s concert preview features shows all under $15.00—not bad considering a few beers at any arena show will likely cost just as much. So look under the cushions and take a hammer to those piggy banks. There’s local music to experience and cheap tacos to eat. Yes, cheap tacos. You’re welcome. – Derrick Krom
FRIDAY
Mo Lowda and The Humble, SpareChange and Treehouse at MilkBoy
After gaining a strong following through Temple University’s house party and campus bar scene with only a demo and EP under their belt, Mo Lowda and The Humble released their first full-length, Curse the Weather, last fall on Temple’s Bell Tower Records. With powerful, soulful and precise songs, this is an up-and-coming band you’ll regret missing. Philly rockers SpareChange and Williamsport indie septet Treehouse will round out the bill.
JUMP Magazine Spring Issue Launch Party featuring Likers and SteveO at Ortlieb’s (FREE!)
Come on down to Ortlieb’s for happy hour this Friday and celebrate JUMP’s newest issue, which features The Menzingers, RJD2, Zilla Rocca, Man Man, Get Up, Modern Baseball, NONA and so much more. Not only are we an awesome crew to hang out with, but there will also be half price drinks, $1.50 tacos (from 5:30-7:30) and great live music by Likers and SteveO from The Holy Mess.
SATURDAY
The Kalob Griffin Band, Ali Wadsworth and The Visitors at Boot & Saddle
Witness the energetic and unique “KGB family” experience this Saturday night when The Kalob Griffin Band rolls through Boot & Saddle. Bringing an Americana rock ‘n’ roll sound and flavor along with them, the Philadelphia based outfit taps into a number of different genres and influences to create something memorable. They’ll be supported by local soulful songstress Ali Wadsworth and “neo-gospel cowboy alien band” The Visitors.
Rye Coalition, Fight Amp, Whores and School Girl at Kung Fu Necktie
Jersey City post-hardcore band Rye Coalition is widely seen as a seminal band that helped shape the early 90s New York/New Jersey punk scene. Since their inception, Rye Coalition has recorded with Steve Albini and Dave Grohl (who produced their latest album) and toured with the likes of The Mars Volta, Queens of the Stone Age and Foo Fighters. Joined by fellow punk acts Fight Amp, Whores and School Girls, Rye Coalition will be playing its first Philly show in 8 years this Saturday night.
SUNDAY
Banquets, Ma Jolie, Quiet Arcs and Podacter at The Fire
Coming off the release of their self-titled debut LP last year and the recent release of a split record with Nightmares For A Week, Jersey City punk rock band Banquets will be playing at The Fire this Sunday night. An extremely solid and straightforward melodic punk rock band, Banquets provide a refreshing take on the genre with passionate and powerful hooks, vocals and compositions. Banquets will be joined by fellow local punk acts Ma Jolie (above), Quiet Arcs and Podacter
Porches., Hermit Thrushes, Hello Shark and Rasputin’s Secret Police at Golden Tea House
There’s really no better way to end your weekend than by spending a night at the Golden Tea House. Fantastically written, emotionally drenched and moody throughout, New York’s Porches. shine on their latest release Slow Dance in the Cosmos and will undoubtedly bring that same talent and energy to the wonderfully intimate venue Sunday night. The “constantly evolving perfect, dissected pop” of Hermit Thrushes, Philly lo-fi minimalists Hello Shark and indie alt duo Rasputin’s Secret Police round out the bill.
Pusha T & 2 Chainz @ The Tower Theater.
Text by Fredric Fresh. Images by Teresa McCullough.
Sometimes it’s unfair to view an artist, or even a genre, through the lens of YouTube views or radio play. You’ll get nicely packaged bits and pieces that get stuck in your head, but the actual experience of seeing them live is what turns those musings into reality. 2 Chainz brought the reality to The Tower Theater this past Saturday night with friends August Alsina and Pusha T.
Right from the get go, this show was about the G.O.O.D Music experience. As a fan, it’s easy to forget that performers put it all on the line when they’re on stage. It’s just them and the crowd. There are no second takes. I think this is one of the main reasons August Alsina was so impressive live. He was the first act on the bill, and really set the mood for the rest of the evening. With super crisp vocals, and a little bit of slick improving, August really tore the roof off the Tower with his last song, “I Luv This Shit.”
Buried Beds: Stories Told (And Retold) In Spirit.
Text by Kevin Doran. Image by Timothy Becker.
In the beginning, there was … well, not much.
But humanity has a way of filling in the blanks. Every civilization has its own origin stories, myths held so close to the heart that we put them on par with empirical discovery.
Buried Beds knows a thing or two about origins and apocrypha. The West Philly-based chamber pop band’s name dates back to a youthful 1793 Philadelphia, when panic from a yellow fever outbreak led citizens to bury the beds of the infected underground. With Buried Beds, as with cultural apocrypha, there’s always a story behind the story.
Nowhere is that more apparent than with the band’s newly released full-length, In Spirit, which dropped in October with a Boot & Saddle record release show. Eliza Jones, who splits songwriting and lead vocal duties with lifelong friend Brandon Beaver, describes the follow-up to 2010’s Tremble the Sails as a challenge that forced the band to break down walls in their songwriting style. Instead of having the freedom to write about whatever they wanted, the band decided to write songs that were rooted in the mythology of various cultures.
“With this album specifically, we really challenged ourselves to essentially write a concept album where every song on the album had to be a story that was being retold,” Jones says. “So it started with folktales and then it got into other things that we consider modern folktales.”
Mindless Self Indulgence @ The TLA.
Text by Gabi Chepurny. Images by Jesse Marass.
We weren’t exactly sure what to expect when Mindless Self Indulgence came to the TLA on Sunday, but overall we were more than happy with what we got.
DeathMaschine opened up with grinding guitars and vocals angsty enough for any teen to get down. Each member looking like their own version of a very angry Edward Scissorhands.
“We’ll be gone in a second,” DeathMaschine’s guitarist said in a sad and dreamy voice that was reminiscent of Him from the Powerpuff Girls. “Don’t worry.”
It was hard to tell if he was being ironic or reacting to the so-far listless crowd.
The Bunny The Bear, currently performing as a six-piece, brought their odd mix of screamed and falsetto-clean vocals to a crowd that almost everyone was into (except for the one kid in the back who kept yelling, “Fuck you!” throughout the entire performance). Both lead singers, Matthew Tybor and Chris Hutka, wore rabbit and bear masks, respectively. While this would be considered weird anyplace else, it fit right in with the Invader Zim backpacks, satin shirts and the group of attendees wearing dark grey suits doused in baby powder.
New Bums @ Johnny Brenda’s Tonight (CANCELLED).
Text by Michele Zipkin. Image by Jason Quever.
Donovan Quinn of psych-folk group Skygreen Leopards and Ben Chasny of Six Organs of Admittance have found in each other a surprisingly rewarding collaboration, making music as a new entity under the moniker New Bums. As part of a tour supporting their debut album, Voices in a Rented Room, they were supposed to sing and strum at Johnny Brenda’s tonight, with Nick Millevoi opening.
The show, however, has been cancelled due to travel issues.
Quinn and Chasny first met in San Francisco in the midst of musical gatherings facilitated by an older, more seasoned musician friend, Willem Jones. Though the two had initially gone through a rocky start to their creative collaboration, they warmed to each other throughout the course of their songwriting journey.
“It takes a bit of trust to become friends, but sometimes making music is itself a trust-building exercise,” Chasny said.
It stands to reason that an art form as intimate as music, especially when creating it with someone else, requires some easing in. They slowly became acquainted with each others’ musical approaches and then wrote songs together.
Carvin & Ivan: Inside The Dash of Life.
Text by Ashley Coleman. Images by Michael Bucher.
On an adverse trip to Baltimore for a funeral, Grammy-nominated producer Ivan Barias remembers being confronted with one of the most important questions of his life.
“How are you living your life inside the dash so that you are making a difference in the world?” Barias recalls the minister asking at the funeral.
The minister went on to explain that when a person dies, there are two dates on their tombstone – the day they were born and the day they died. But more important than those dates was what the person did in the dash that separates them. Prior to his encounter, Barias, along with writing and production partner Carvin Haggins, were approached by their management team about how they could give back and leave a legacy bigger than the records they were creating.
So they decided to really focus on getting a program for students off the ground.
The result is Destined to Achieve Successful Heights (D.A.S.H.), a non-profit organization that is the collective work of both Barias and Haggins, along with Michael McArthur, Jerome Hipps and Brandon Pankey. The program gives high school students insight into careers behind the scenes in music, sports and entertainment.
“Most kids want to be in the spotlight, and want to be the stars,” Haggins explains. “But there are some keynote positions that they can play in this game for the rest of their lives – and get richer or as rich as the artists.”
Ex Friends For Life.
Text by Brittany Thomas. Images by Darragh Dandurand.
When a history teacher, a woodworker, an illustrator and a music therapist combine creative musical forces, you find a project that’s been carefully carved from multiple, colorful backgrounds. That’s the makeup of Ex Friends, known best for their pop-based punk songs that are aggressively captivating and totally “gritty Philadelphia,” with a layer of scariness over them.
Joel Tannenbaum and JP Flexner got to talking about starting a band while at Riot Fest in 2011. Flexner was filling in on drums for the band Weston and Tannenbaum was playing his first show in 13 years with his band, Plow United. They decided to combine Tannenbaum’s songwriting with Flexner’s drumming and design skills, promptly forming Ex Friends with bass player Audrey Crash and guitarist Jayme Guokas. Two years and two 7-inch records later, the band has no plans of slowing down.
They’ve opened for Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg with Andrew W.K., Doc Hopper and The Dead Milkmen. Noisey recently endorsed their latest music video for “Dirty Ben Franklin,” a song that showcases the band’s local roots.
Sofar Philly: Sounds From A Room.
Text by Naveed Ahsan. Image by G.W. Miller III.
Sofar Sounds brings together music lovers of all kinds and exposes them to artists in small, intimate gathering spaces, usually in private homes.
“It definitely gives people a chance to experience music in a different way,” says Carolyn Lederach, who brought the international movement, which originated in a London living room in 2009, to Philly in November 2011. “A lot of musicians have had positive experiences because the audience is attentively listening, which is something that doesn’t always get to happen.”
The name Sofar is an acronym for “songs from a room,” which is the title of a 1969 Leonard Cohen album. Musicians usually perform acoustically with people sitting at their feet. There are rarely any other sounds competing for attention during shows.
Lederach, a Penn State graduate, now organizes events with Ken Winneg and Davis Jameson Howley. Winneg picks the house venue and handles donations. Howley acts as the show host.
“It allows me to meet people on tour and anyone who loves music,” says Howley, who is also the lead vocalist of Commonwealth Choir.
Among the local acts that have performed are The Lawsuits, Toy Soldiers, Satellite Hearts, Turning Violet Violet, The Districts, Kwesi K, Maitland, DRGN King, Commonwealth Choir (in the image above), Satellite Hearts and many more.
The Sofar Philly team continuously receive requests from bands – local and touring – to play shows. Venues are often volunteered by someone who’s been to a past show. Fans are notified of show dates and general neighborhoods but details are withheld. About a week before shows, the team reveals the address. However, they don’t make public the bands that will play.
“That adds to the intrigue,” Winneg says.
Since 2009, the Sofar movement has expanded to more than 40 cities around the world, from Atlanta to Auckland, and from Buenos Aires to Barcelona.
The trio in Philly hope to continue building on what they’ve done the past two years. They’ve held shows nearly every month since the series began and attendance has steadily increased.
“I love the music and I love being part of the Philly music scene right now,” Winneg says. “I want to help bring people together. We’ve had 17 shows so far and they all have been phenomenal.”
Cassavetes: The Band To End All Bands.
Text by Beth Ann Downey. Image by Jessica Flynn.
It would be metaphorical if Fishtown’s Kung Fu Necktie was fixed with a revolving door. That’s what Cassavetes, the Philly-based band who is playing there tonight, has become for to various punk musicians in search of ’90s rock nostalgia.
Cassavetes began in 2004, when founders Josh Agran and Pat McCunney started writing melodic, grungy rock ‘n’ roll as an outlet different from the punk bands they’d performed with since elementary school.
“We were writing this stuff from being influenced as guys that were in punk and hardcore bands, involved in the West Philly Stalag 13 scene,” says McCunney, Cassavetes guitarist and former member of Kill The Man Who Questions. “But the type of stuff we were writing was completely removed from that, so it felt fresh and reminded us what we listened to before we got into punk.”
JUMP: The Philly Music Project 