nickstropko – Page 9

Ladyfest Philly Brings Music and Activism Together

By Nick Sukiennik

At a time when inequality and discrimination are rejected by current societal standards, what is the real state of women’s rights in this country? Ladyfest Philly, a festival of music, arts, and activism, challenges the notion that equality is a reality for all individuals, and aims to take some of the necessary strides to make it so this weekend, Friday, June 7th, through Sunday, June 9th.

A primary issue in this fight for justice, and one that Ladyfest intends to vocalize, is the notion that women, in addition to other underrepresented groups, should have the right to choose what is best for themselves.

I asked Sara Sherr, who co-organized the event and was active in the public relations and booking committees, about this standpoint. She explained: “On paper we have more opportunities than we’ve ever had, but there are people trying to take away that freedom.” This relates to the issue of “reproductive rights”, one of the most controversial topics of the past decade.

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In-Studio: Restorations Live @ WKDU (5/23/2013)

Before playing First Unitarian Church with The Menzingers, local punk favorites (and friends of the station) Restorations stopped in to perform an acoustic in-studio set.

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Click here to see more photos from the session.

Concert Review: Sun Ra Arkestra @ Johnny Brenda’s (May 25, 2013)

Courtesy of Ars Nova Workshop // Ryan Collerd

By Nick Stropko

Last Saturday, I stood on the balcony of Johnny Brenda’s, watching a pretty unusual setup—a couple dozen old men, adorned in sequin-covered outfits and strange hats, setting up chairs, music stands, and sheet music on the cramped stage. As they continued to stick chairs in an increasingly claustrophobic-looking formation, musicians actually began setting up beside the stage, lining the floor with percussionists, the keyboard player, and a dancer. Yeah, it was pretty bizarre. However, it was also a fitting tribute to Sun Ra, the namesake and deceased former leader of the Sun Ra Arkestra.

See a full gallery of pictures after the break

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Top Played Artists 5/21/13 – 5/28/13

1    DEERHUNTER    Monomania (4AD)
2    RESTORATIONS    LP2 (SideOneDummy)
3    THEE OH SEES    Floating Coffin (Castle Face)
4    LAURA STEVENSON    Wheel (Don Giovanni)
5    TERA MELOS    X’ed Out (Sargent House)
6    MIKAL CRONIN    MCII (Merge)
7    TELEKINESIS     Dormarion (Merge)
8    WILD NOTHING    Empty Estate (Captured Tracks)
9    WAVVES    Afraid Of Heights (Warner Brothers)
10    BORN RUFFIANS    Birthmarks (Yep Roc)
11    SAVAGES    Silence Yourself (Matador)
12    IRON AND WINE    Ghost On Ghost (Nonesuch)
13    ALPINE    A Is For Alpine (Votive)
14    KURT VILE    Wakin On A Pretty Daze (Matador)
15    FLAMING LIPS    The Terror (Warner Brothers)
16    SHE AND HIM    Volume 3 (Merge)
17    BLEACHED    Ride Your Heart (Dead Oceans)
18    GRANDCHILDREN     Golden Age (Earnest Jenning)
19    JAMES BLAKE    Overgrown (Republic)
20    BROTHERS IN LAW    Hard Time For Dreamers (WWNBB)
21    MAL BLUM    Tempest In A Teacup (Betterweather)
22    GENERATIONALS    Heza (Polyvinyl)
23    KATE NASH    Girl Talk (Have 10p)
24    NO JOY    Wait To Pleasure (Mexican Summer)
25    BLACK ANGELS    Indigo Meadow (Blue Horizon)
26    PISSED JEANS    Honeys (Sub Pop)
27    YOUTH LAGOON    Wondrous Bughouse (Fat Possum)
28    FRONT BOTTOMS    Talon Of The Hawk (Bar/None)
29    THE KNIFE    Shaking The Habitual (Mute)
30 STILL CORNERS    Strange Pleasures (Sub Pop)

Interview with Charli XCX (May 17, 2013)

By Shannen Gaffney

Charli XCX‘s accessible British electro-pop sound is what makes her fan base so varied. Her new release True Romance is well written, has some awesome production, and is extremely addicting. I got a chance to speak with her via phone:

Shannen Gaffney: So your latest album True Romance got an 8.3 on Pitchfork and has been doing well at college radio. Though your music is definitely very pop, your style is unique and you have been successful in a bunch of different markets. How would you describe your music?

Charli XCX: I definitely describe it as pop music. I went out to make a pop record, not like a hipster record or anything like that. I really wanted to make the record sound super lush and like, very angelic in terms of the production. So I think I’d probably describe it as angel pop music or the way that I see the record – I often see my music in colors – when I think of this album I see the color purple, so I guess I’d kind of describe it as purple pop music, too.

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Concert Review: Deerhoof @ Union Transfer (April 15, 2013)

By Kirsten Becker

Deerhoof played the last show of their tour right here in Philadelphia at the Union Transfer. Known for their bombastic, jarring, noisy sound, Deerhoof performed a very distinct set, living up to the playful and weird image they’ve created for themselves over the course of their 19 years as a band.

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Photos: Restorations Live @ WKDU (5/23/2013)

Before playing First Unitarian Church with The Menzingers, local punk favorites (and friends of the station) Restorations stopped in to perform an acoustic in-studio set. Here are some pictures, courtesy of Ally Newbold.