Concert Review: Devendra Banhart @ Union Transfer (June 10, 2013)

Image Courtesy of Nonesuch Records
Image Courtesy of Nonesuch Records

By Kirsten Becker

It’s been awhile since folk-­rocker Devendra Banhart performed a show in Philadelphia. June 10th marked his return to the city, playing a show at the Union Transfer. The night was one of only a handful of shows he will be playing in the US this year. His eighth record, Mala was released back in March and has been highly praised by many. His live shows are something of a spectacle and I was eager to see one for myself.

Continue reading “Concert Review: Devendra Banhart @ Union Transfer (June 10, 2013)”

Top Played Artists 6/4/2013 – 6/11/2013

1 WILD NOTHING Empty Estate (Captured Tracks)
2 DEERHUNTER Monomania (4AD)
3 RESTORATIONS LP2 (SideOneDummy)
4 MIKAL CRONIN MCII (Merge)
5 LAURA STEVENSON Wheel (Don Giovanni)
6 THEE OH SEES Floating Coffin (Castle Face)
7 BORN RUFFIANS Birthmarks (Yep Roc)
8 GRANDCHILDREN Golden Age (Earnest Jenning)
9 SAVAGES Silence Yourself (Matador)
10 TERA MELOS X’ed Out (Sargent House)
11 MOUNT KIMBIE Cold Spring Fault Less Youth (Warp)
12 FRONT BOTTOMS Talon Of The Hawk (Bar/None)
13 ALPINE A Is For Alpine (Votive)
14 WAVVES Afraid Of Heights (Warner Brothers)
15 MAL BLUM Tempest In A Teacup (Betterweather)
16 KURT VILE Wakin On A Pretty Daze (Matador)
17 FLAMING LIPS The Terror (Warner Brothers)
18 IO ECHO Ministry Of Love (Iamsound)
19 BROTHERS IN LAW Hard Time For Dreamers (WWNBB)
20 IRON AND WINE Ghost On Ghost (Nonesuch)
21 TELEKINESIS Dormarion (Merge)
22 SHE AND HIM Volume 3 (Merge)
23 JAMES BLAKE Overgrown (Republic)
24 THERMALS Desperate Ground (Saddle Creek)
25 AKRON/FAMILY Sub Verses (Dead Oceans)
26 STILL CORNERS Strange Pleasures (Sub Pop)
27 GENERATIONALS Heza (Polyvinyl)
28 ELEANOR FRIEDBERGER Personal Record (Merge)
29 SHANNON AND THE CLAMS Dreams In The Rat House (Hardly Art)
30 BOMBINO Nomad (Nonesuch)

Ladyfest Philly Brings Music and Activism Together

Courtesy of Ladyfest
Courtesy of Ladyfest Philly

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)

Courtesy of Ally Newbold
Courtesy of Ally Newbold

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.

[bandcamp width=350 height=559 album=3139386144 size=large bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 notracklist=false]

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
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

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

Top Played Artists 5/28/13 – 6/4/13

1 DEERHUNTER Monomania (4AD)

2 WILD NOTHING Empty Estate (Captured Tracks)

3 RESTORATIONS LP2 (SideOneDummy)

4 MIKAL CRONIN MCII (Merge)

5 LAURA STEVENSON Wheel (Don Giovanni)

6 THEE OH SEES Floating Coffin (Castle Face)

7 BORN RUFFIANS Birthmarks (Yep Roc)

8 TERA MELOS X’ed Out (Sargent House)

9 SAVAGES Silence Yourself (Matador)

10 GRANDCHILDREN Golden Age (Earnest Jenning)

11 MOUNT KIMBIE Cold Spring Fault Less Youth (Warp)

12 WAVVES Afraid Of Heights (Warner Brothers)

13 ALPINE A Is For Alpine (Votive)

14 IRON AND WINE Ghost On Ghost (Nonesuch)

15 TELEKINESIS Dormarion (Merge)

16 KURT VILE Wakin On A Pretty Daze (Matador)

17 FLAMING LIPS The Terror (Warner Brothers)

18 IO ECHO Ministry Of Love (Iamsound)

19 BROTHERS IN LAW Hard Time For Dreamers (WWNBB)

20 FRONT BOTTOMS Talon Of The Hawk (Bar/None)

21 MAL BLUM Tempest In A Teacup (Betterweather)

22 SHE AND HIM Volume 3 (Merge)

23 JAMES BLAKE Overgrown (Republic)

24 THERMALS Desperate Ground (Saddle Creek)

25 AKRON/FAMILY Sub Verses (Dead Oceans)

26 STILL CORNERS Strange Pleasures (Sub Pop)

27 GENERATIONALS Heza (Polyvinyl)

28 KATE NASH Girl Talk (Have 10p)

29 SHANNON AND THE CLAMS Dreams In The Rat House (Hardly Art)

30 BOMBINO Nomad (Nonesuch)

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)