Some photos from this past Sunday's Bag Of Songs night at the M Room in Philadelphia. Fantastic sets from RunRunner, Secret Life Of Sofia, New Motels and Adam & Dave's Bloodline for an enthusiastic and appreciative Sunday night crowd. If you missed this you missed a hell of a good time. Big, big, thanks to all of the bands, the M Room, and everyone who came out on a Sunday for making it a hugely successful and fun night.
RunRunner
Secret Life Of Sofia
New Motels
Adam & Dave's Bloodline

Some photos from Sunday, June 22, Day 3 of Philadelphia's Popped! Festival at World Cafe Live. The home team made up the bulk of the lineup today with some of Philly's best bands playing. I arrived in plenty of time time to grab a Grimbergen Dubbel Abbey Ale from the bar and stake out a prime spot to catch Cheers Elephant kick off the days proceedings with a dazzling set in the upstairs bar, showing why they are one of Philly's hottest bands right now. Spent some time chatting with Jessica from Popwreck(oning) in between sets. Next up were The Vandelles, a band I had not only not seen before, but had never heard of. Well, I won't be forgetting them anytime soon because their reverb laden psychedelic laced sound was amazing, with a sound falling somehwere between Jesus And Mary Chain and The Black Angels. They also delivered the "girls can rock too" moment of the festival in the powerhouse rhythm section of Suzanne Pagliorola and Lisha Nadkarni on drums and bass respectively. Then it was downstairs for Gildon Works who delivered one of the best sets of the weekend, their shoegazey psychedelic blend was absolutely massive sounding. Then it was back upstairs for one of my favorite Philly bands The Swimmers, who despite having to use a fill in bass player for the afternoon, sounded as fantastic as always. At this point the downstairs stage took a weird turn toward the performance art side with one man avant garde poet guitarist PWRFL Power up next. Three songs and it was back upstairs for me where I spent some time hanging out with Carly and Royce from Girl About Town for a bit while Takka Takka prepared to play. Caught most of Takka Takka's interesting set before heading back downstairs to see the much buzzed about Tickley Feather. More avant garde performance art tinged music that continued the theme started earlier. Although much more great music still remained, it was at this point I had to jump ship and make my way across town to the M room for my Bag Of Songs night, more on that coming soon...
Cheers Elephant The Vandelles Gildon Works The Swimmers PWRFL Power Takka Takka Tickley Feather The Downstairs Stage

Shawn Fogel Live At The M Room 5-25-08
Shawn Fogel's excellent One Day In The Desert EP has been in the constant rotation here at Bag Of Songs since I got a hold of it last fall. Shawn was also one of the artists who played for us at a recent Bag Of Songs Presents night which happen monthly at The M Room in Philadelphia. So needless to say, we love us some Shawn Fogel here.

So I'm proud to bring you an exclusive track today from Shawn's upcoming as-yet-unnamed new album which was mixed by Peter Katis, who has also worked with artists such as Spoon, The National and Interpol.

Shawn Fogel - The Fight At The End Of The Tunnel
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]

Backtracking a bit today to catch up on a few photos from the beginning of my 20 bands in 3 days musical weekend that started off Friday night at The Millcreek Tavern in West Philadelphia. The Annuals, Hymns and Philly's own East Hundred all played outstanding sets on a steamy first official night of summer.

East Hundred
Hymns
The Annuals
The Annuals
The Stage Setup

Some photos from Day 2 of the Philly Popped! Festival for you. The Ting Ting's kicked off the Saturday portion with a high energy set that had the crowd who had arrived early for one of the day's most anticpated acts, up and dancing from the first note. One of the best sets of the day left no doubt they won't be an opening act much longer. Up next was Philly hometown favorites Hoots and Hellmouth whose countrified stomping hoedown also went over extremely well with the largely indie rock crowd. Mr. Lif despite having some doubts about his place on the bill "I wasn't sure if you all wanted to hear this rap shit" expertly turned the crowd into a chanting, arm waving, house party. Next on was Dan Deacon, who set up right in the midst of everyone instead of on the stage and in an amazing display of audience participation that I can best describe as a mix of Romper Room and and all night rave party, despite having to cut his set a bit short to make up time, worked the place into a totally insane, dancing, crowd surfing frenzy. As the crowd seemed to suddenly double at this point in the day, Gogol Bordello went on. Sounding like what I would imagine The Pogues would be if they chose to play gypsy music instead of Irish music. It was at this point the blazing sun had taken it's toll and we made the tough call to opt out on the rest of the day, which had Crytsal Castles, Mates Of State and Vampire Weekend yet to come. Thanks to Flickr users ellectricity & adjust the aperture their photos. Be sure to check in with my friends at Girl About Town and Pop(wreckoning) for their coverage of the day as well.The Ting Tings Kick it off

Mr Lif Has A House Party
Dan Deacon Works The Crowd
Crowd Surfing
Golgol Bordello

This Sunday, June 22, M Room in Philadelphia is where you'll want to be when Bag Of Songs Presents three of Philly's finest: Adam & Dave's Bloodline,New Motels and RunRunner along with Brooklyn's Secret Life Of Sofia. This should be one amazing night of music that you don't want to miss.

To commemorate this special event I have copies of the limited edition signed and numbered silk screened posters(shown above) designed by artist Jason Kochis, FREE, for first 25 people to arrive. Check out more of Jason's awesome poster and design work at his website (www.jasonkochis.com) He's created posters for Superdrag, Nada Surf, The Donnas and more.


RunRunner - One Trick Pony
Buy RunRunner

Secret Life Of Sofia - Outside
Buy Seven Summits

New Motels - Drama Of The Hollywood Scene
Buy Domestic Life

Adam & Dave's Bloodline - Missing Person
Get New Age Boredom EP

Adam & Dave's Bloodline, New Motels, Secret Life Of Sofia, RunRunner
Sunday June 22nd
8PM
The M Room
15 W Girard Avenue, Philadelphia PA

The big golf weekend reminded me I've been sitting on this one way too long without posting about it. The rather non descript painting of a child golfing overlaid with some plain type that adorns The Swedes new album cover nowhere alludes to the guitar/keyboard driven punch of the music within. Never judge a book by it's cover, or so the saying goes. Nothing Says Rich Like Golf Clubs is ten songs filled with plenty of sixties garage rock and seventies glam and power pop overtones that you'll be singing along to in no time. Perfect for popping in your car cd player and cranking up on those summer weekend drives to the beach.


The Swedes :
Chris Edwards - keyboards
Phil Crain - bass
Tony Dilella - guitar
Kevin Garcia - drums
Jon Gray - vocals/guitar






The Swedes - Julie Walker
The Swedes - Burning Fever
Buy Nothing Says Rich Like Golf Clubs

[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]

Celebrating the 500th post today at Bag Of Songs with 50 of the many reasons why the Philadelphia music scene is so amazing right now. Why, on any given night you can head out to places like Johnny Brenda's, The M Room, The Khyber, The North Star Bar, Tritone, World Cafe Live, The Fire, Mill Creek Tavern and more to see great live music. Almost all of the bands on this list I've personally seen play over the last year or so. If you're in a Philly area band, make sure I know who you are and when you're playing and feel free to send me your music. A BIG thank you to all of the bands here, and all of the bands to come in the next 500 posts. Rock on. See you at a show soon.

The A-Sides - Cinematic [Silver Storms]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Action Set - Silver Lining [Longer Days]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Adam & Dave's Bloodline - Corner Sloop [Adam & Dave's Bloodline]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Aderbat - Talk About Her [Man Overboard EP]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
An American Chinese - Blaine Wiggins Failed Magician [Panic Pilgrim]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Ar Duvall - Sugar Plan [Roughs]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
The Beloved Infidels - Trompe L'Oeil Girl [Demo]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Beretta76 - Black Beauty [Black Beauty]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Birdie Busch - Go Go Gadget Heart [Penny Arcade]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Bitter Bitter Weeks - Lo-res [Peace Is Burning Like A River]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
The Brakes - Into the Ground [Tale of Two Cities]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Canadian Invasion - My Swashbuckling Days are Over [Three Cheers For The Invisible Hand]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
The Capitol Years - It's Not Okay [Dance Away The Terror]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Cheers Elephant - Here We Are [Here We Are]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
The Chimeras - Good Friday [Party Of God]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
The Cobbs - Say You Never Knew Me [The Cobbs Sing the Deathcapades]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Creeping Weeds - Eternity Is A Long Time [We Are All Part Of A Dream You Are Having]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Dark Horse and the Carousels - Hard To Die [Meet Dark Horse and the Carousels]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
DeJesus - Bliss [From The Subconscious]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Dr. Dog - Worst Trip [We All Belong]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Drink Up Buttercup - Young Ladies [Demo]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
The Frantic (now Moscow Girls) - Something New [A Story Of Betrayal And Lust]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Gildon Works - Artful Rifle [Gildon Works EP]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Grammar Debate - I Stab Myself To Sleep [Cheetah Vs. Helicopter]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Hezekiah Jones - Nothing's Bound [Hezekiah Says You're A-OK]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Illinois - Alone Again [What The Hell Do I Know?]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Illuminea - Homewrecker [Out Of Our Mouths]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
It's A King Thing - My Minivan Just Died [It's A King Thing LP]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Jotto - Backyard Circus [Jotto]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Jukebox The Ghost - Victoria [Let Live And Let Ghosts]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Man Man - Doo Right [Rabbit Habits]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
New Motels - Modern Thinker [Domestic Life]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Nicole Reynolds - We Could Be Dancing [This Arduous Alchemy]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
The Novenas - Search Engine [The Novenas]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Pawnshop Roses - Goodbye Sara K [Demo]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
The Peace Creeps - Girl In A White T-Shirt [Autumn Of Love]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Photon Band - Words (get in the way) [Get Down Here In The Stratosphere EP]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Ports of Call - Washout [Like Thieves...]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Public Record - Comfortability [Public Record]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Rarebirds - Caffeine Heartbeat [Burial At Sea]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
The Roots - I Will Not Apologize [Rising Down]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
RunRunner - That's What You Get [RunRunner]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Scary Monster - Julianne Francis [Makeout Party At Werewolf Club]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
The Shots - Do Me Wrong [Demo]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Slo-Mo - Aramingo Take Out [Smokey Mountain]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
The Sparklers - Mercy, Mercy, California [Demo]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Surefire Broadcast - When I Need Someone [SFBC Single]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
The Swimmers - It's Time They Knew [Fighting Trees]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Thinking Machines - Return To The Red Sun [A Complete Record Of Urban Archaeology]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
The Tights - You Shook Me [Carried Away]
[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]

Synchronicity is an amazing thing, sometimes just being in the right place at the right time is all that matters. I needed something to post today right at the same time the excellent music of New Jersey's lovely and talented Miss Cailan Callahan (pronounced "KAY-LEAN") hit my inbox with a very nice note attached. Thank You Cailan ! . So her lucky moment of timing is now your lucky moment. Enjoy, and stop by her myspace to hear more, including a cool cover of Social Distortion's Ball and Chain, or go see her play live and experience it all in person.

Cailin Callahan - Fell First
Buy Next Time
Cailin Callahan - Next Time
Buy Next Time

Upcoming Shows
Jun 13 2008 10:00P Cailin & Christian @ TRINITY PUB Atlantic City, NJ
Jun 19 2008 7:00P Cailin & Brian @ Coffee Comedy Sea Isle City, NJ
Jun 21 2008 12:00P Great Adventure: Live & Local Music Festival Jackson, NJ
Jun 26 2008 8:00P The Hinge Cafe Philadelphia, PA
Jul 3 2008 7:00P Cailin & Brian @ Coffee Comedy Sea Isle City, NJ
Jul 10 2008 9:00P Busch’s Sea Isle City, NJ
Jul 17 2008 9:30P UnWined (with LANCE DOSS) NY
Jul 24 2008 9:00P Busch’s Sea Isle City, NJ
Aug 14 2008 9:00P Busch’s Sea Isle City, NJ
Aug 23 2008 7:00P Bogart’s Cafe Millville, NJ

[MYSPACE]

Some brand new music today from Adam & Dave's Bloodline. A couple rocking songs from their just finished New Age Boredom EP which was mixed by Bill Moriarty who has also worked with Philly's Dr Dog and Man Man. They're playing the NXNE Festival in Toronto this weekend and will be back in Philadelphia to headline the Bag Of Songs night at The M Room next Sunday, June 22 along with New Motels, Secret Life Of Sofia and Run Runner.

Adam & Dave's Bloodline - Hard To Know
Adam & Dave's Bloodline - Runt
Download New Age Boredom EP

Upcoming Shows
June 14th- NXNE The Kathedral Toronto, Canada
June 22nd- Bag Of Songs Night @ The M Room Philadelphia, PA Buy Tickets

[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
[PHOTO BY ALEXA JONES]

Wow. When was the last time you dropped on an album for the first time and it instantly transported you to another place ? Tacoma, Washington's Mono In VCF have created a majestic masterpiece for their debut album which does just that. With a name cobbled together from Phil Spector's Wall Of Sound(Mono) and Moog Synthesizer tones(VCF), their music has been described as "Drifting in space between psychedelic Beatles and Massive Attack"*. Cinematic in scope, with lush orchestration and the smooth, soaring vocals of Kim Miller, it sounds fearlessly futuristic and reminiscient of the great film soundtrack music of the sixties all at once. But don't just take my word for it, pop on a pair of headphones, turn it up and let one of the year's best records take you on a trip and make you a believer.

Mono In VCF is out June 17th in the US and available digitally on iTunes now. The album was produced by Martin Feveyear and also includes a special guest appearance by Terry Jacks.

Mono In VCF - Escape City Scrapers
Mono IN VCF - Death Of A Spark
Buy Mono In VCF on iTunes

Mono In VCF:
Jason Falk- drums
Hunter Lea,guitar - synths & organ,vocals
Jordan Luckman - bass
Kim Miller- vocals
+Live members:
Scott Clarke - drums,percussion,Moog
Martin Feveyear- Fender Rhodes,Moog
George Reid-Harmon -guitars


Upcoming Shows
June 18 LOS ANGELES Live in-studio on Indie 103
June 18 LOS ANGELES Spaceland
June 21 SEATTLE Neumo's
August 31 SEATTLE Bumbershoot Festival 2008

[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]

*Tom Scanlon, The Seattle Times

It may be 98 degrees outside in Philly today but it'll be cool tonight at The M Room. Three great bands, check it out.
It'll be too hot to sleep anyway so why not go out and have a good time.

The Bloodsugars,The Beloved Infidels, & Quintero
Sunday June 8th
8 PM @ The M Room
15 W Girard Ave Philadelphia PA
$8 21+

The Bloodsugars - Purpose Was Again [WEBSITE]
The Beloved Infidels - Trompe L'Oeil Girl [WEBSITE]
Quintero [WEBSITE]

Hot from the inbox, this one's got it all, hand claps to start it off, punchy organ riffs, smoking guitar, all wound up in nice, tight, driving rhythm section of bass and drums. Kicking sixties garage rock meets the sound of modern day Brooklyn for one hot summer single. Take a walk on the wild side and check it out. Great stuff from I Am The Heat, and there's plenty more of it at their myspace page.

What do YOU think Lou Reed would do ? Any thoughts on that one ? Please leave a comment.

I Am The Heat is:
Anthony Dines
Jameson Edwards
Mike Horaz

I Am The Heat - What Would Lou Reed Do
Coming Soon The Future Doesn’t Need Us

Upcoming Shows
Jun 6 2008 8:00P Lit New York, New York
Jun 21 2008 3:00P Make Music New York - 125 N.10th St. Brooklyn, New York
Aug 2 2008 7:00P RECORD RELEASE PARTY - SECRET LOCATION TBA Brooklyn, New York

[MYSPACE] [WEBSITE]

Get on out to The Khyber in Philadelphia this Friday June 6th for an amazing event put together by our lovely friend Kate.
Hear some excellent music and help support a great cause at the same time.

For Mia Fundraiser
Friday June 6th
The Khyber
8PM $10 21+w/ID
56 S 2nd Street Philadelphia PA

5 Bands Downstairs
The Cobbs - Say You Never Knew Me
Dark Horse And The Carousels - Hard To Die
Ar Duvall - Sugar Plan
It's A King Thing - My Minivan Just Died
An American Chinese - Blaine Wiggins Failed Magician

3 DJs Upstairs
DJ Deejay
Mighty Mike Saga
Monica Sharp

1 Cause : To raise awareness and find a cure for childhood cancer.

All of the money made will go to Alex's Lemonade Stand
http://www.alexslemonade.org/

more info myspace.com/formiafundraiser

If you can't be there you can still donate online : www.firstgiving.com/formiafundraiser