My apologies to Lillie Ruth Bussey for missing her set as I arrived at Johnny Brenda's this past Thursday Night for Aderbat's Cd Release party just as Bitter Bitter Weeks was taking the stage. They opened with one of my personal favorites of theirs, Lo-Res and the night was off to excellent start. Bitter Bitter Weeks jangly shimmering guitar pop sounded excellent despite the fact that Brian McTear was having some trouble with his voice going out early into their set. Next up was an hotly anticipated set by East Hundred, the crowd in the room seemed to double as they prepared to play. Fronted by the charismatic and charming Beryl Guceri their audience seems to be growing everytime I see them. They have a keyboard driven sound with an early eighties feel that would not sound out of place alongside bands like Echo and The Bunnymen or Siouxsie And The Banshees. Aderbat was up next, kicking off their set with We Belong To The Sea, the title track from their brilliant new album. Aderbat's music is a finely woven tapestry of melody and soft dynamics that draws you in deep and keeps you there. Frontman Matt Taylor has a look similar to a young Bob Dylan and voice I can best describe as somewhere between Jeff Buckley and Nick Drake. Imagine all that together and you'll have an idea of what they kind of sound like. An excellent night of music all around.

Bitter Bitter Weeks

East Hundred
Aderbat

Some photos from last night's show at Johnny Brenda's In Philadelphia. Opening the night was Philly's own Aderbat whose lead singer and bass player could pass for a young Bob Dylan and Kris Kristofferson respectively. It was my first time seeing them and they played an excellent set of music with a sound that falls somewhere between My Morning Jacket and Wilco. Great stuff, definitely add them to your list of must see Philly Bands. Up next was Brooklyn's Via Audio, who played a high energy set of dance music with a distinctly eighties new wave overtone that the crowd couldn't get enough of. Expect them to rise hot on the heels of fellow Brooklynites MGMT and Yeasayer real soon. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin closed the evening with their brand jangly guitar pop. After a rousing finale of their song Oceanographer, the boys came back out for an encore joined by the members of Via Audio for a "we didn't practice this but we're going to try it anyway" version of Nirvana's Heart Shaped Box which, despite a few ramshackle moments, really rocked. See the lyric cliff notes they had on stage along with a scan of the setlist below. A great night of music all around.
Aderbat
Via Audio
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

Still debating what to do tonight in Philadelphia ?
Former BOS Artist Of The Day, Public Record, with their exciting blend of instrumental jazz/ska/rock takes the stage at Johnny Brenda's to celebtrate the release of their new CD on High Two Records. I'll Be there, come on down and say hi.

MP3: Public Record - Mermaid's Purse
Buy Public Record

Public Record CD Release Party
w/ Mahogany, Ravens and Vultures, and Arc In Round (members of Relay)
Wednesday April 16
Johnny Brenda’s
Frankford & Girard Ave
Philadelphia, PA

[MYSPACE]

Catching up on some backlog today, here's a few photos from last Thursday night's show at Johnny Brenda's in Philadelphia with Gildon Works, A Place To Bury Strangers, and Holy F*ck. First up was Philadelphia's Gildon Works, this was the sceond time I had seen them and it was even more impressive than the first. Since the last time I'd seen them they added a couple additional members including a female percussionist/backup vocalist. Their blend of psychedelic shoe gazey, noisey, pop really kicked the night off on a high note. Their new cd is being released soon , watch out for it. Next up was a band whose live show I had heard numerous raves about including a number of blistering appearances at SXSW, A Place To Bury Strangers. They did not disappoint. Taking the stage in total darkness, coming on like the bastard children of Jesus And Mary Chain and Sonic Youth, they proceeded to tear into a mind numbing aural assault of what can best be described as melodic white noise. Fueled by powerhouse drumming with guitar and bass turned up well past the distortion point, it was as mesmerizing as it was loud. The only real lighting during the show was some black and white film footage projected onto the stage, the mostly dark atmosphere only helped to increase the intensity. They ended their set with a strobe light flashing the whole time as the guitar player literally tore all the strings from his guitar in a haze of feedback drenched sound. Do not miss them if you get the chance, it was absolutely amazing. I would not have wanted to be the band to have to go on after them they set the bar incredibly high. Holy F*ck rose to the challenge however and drove the energy level even higher by working the crowd into a dancing frenzy with their instrumental and highly rhythmic songs. Go see these bands on tour if you can. For another take on the show be sure to read Carly's review over at Girl About Town where you can also see some great photos of Holy F*ck by SinABox Camera.

Gildon Works - Artful Rifle
Buy Gildon Works EP
A Place To Bury Strangers - My Weakness
Buy A Place To Bury Strangers
Holy F*ck -Lovely Allen
Buy Holy Fuck LP Gildon Works
A Place To Bury Strangers



Holy Fuck

While most of the music world was converging on Austin, Texas for the SXSW conference, Philadelphia was still asserting it's place as a music city to reckoned with last night at Johnny Brenda's. First up in a preview of next month's Bag Of Songs night April 20th at The M Room were the Thinking Machines with an amazing set of songs from their brand new cd, A Complete Record Of Urban Archaeology. A guitar oriented rhythmic sound sound I can best describe as sort of like Gang Of Four meets Fugazi. Next up was folk-edelic stylings of The Chimeras playing songs from their new disc, Party Of God, a loosely conceptual rumination on war and religion in the middle east. Baltimore's Squaaks were next, tearing through a tight set of their blend of high energy rock. Jotto closed the evening with a set of dancey music that fans of current buzz bands Yeasayer or MGMT would love.

MP3: Thinking Machines - Return To The Red Sun
Buy A Complete Record Of Urban Archaeology
MP3: The Chimeras - Good Friday
Buy Party Of God
MP3: Squaaks - Be Dry My Bleeding Heart
Buy Rock Control
MP3: Jotto - Backyard Circus
Buy Jotto EP


Thinking Machines
The Chimeras
Squaaks
Jotto

A few pictures from last nights dazzling, sold out Black Mountain and Bon Iver show at Johnny Brenda's in Philadelphia. Bon Iver's hushed acoustic numbers took on an even greater intensity as they opened with a set that held the audience in silent rapture for the whole thing. It reminded me a lot of the shows Ryan Adams used to do with just himself and a guitar in his early post Whiskeytown days. A powerful quiet intensity. Black Mountain then turned it around 180 degrees with their thundering psychedelic juggernaut of sound. Playing a set consisting of mostly material from their new In The Future disc and closing out with a blistering encore of Don't Run Our Hearts Around from their first disc. A stunning live band not to be missed if their tour comes near your city. Check out more photos from SinABox Camera along with Carly's excellent writeup of the show over at Girl About Town.

Bon Iver Black Mountain

Some photos of the Photon Band from last night's CD release party at Johnny Brenda's in Philadelphia. It was an all Philadelphia night with excellent opening sets by The Novenas and Canadian Invasion capped off by the Photon Band's amazing set of psychedelic-funk-power-garage-pop featuring plenty of songs from their brand new Get Down Here In The Stratosphere EP.

Just so no one is left out as I can't honestly saw I saw too many sub par shows this past year, the list above is all of the bands I've seen at the roughly 75 or so shows I've seen since January. A couple I didn't get to see were Arcade Fire and The National, two I would really have liked to.

The Philadelphia music scene is just amazing right now and my favorite venue of the past year hands down goes to Johnny Brendas, where I saw over twenty shows. Rolling Stone magazine named it in their recent Hot issue as Hot Music Club and it is well deserved, it is outstanding on all counts.

The list below represents my standout shows of the year in roughly chrononlogical order.

The Hold Steady @ The Stone Pony and The TLA - The Hold Steady is out playing good old sweat drenched rock and roll, and the communal experience at one of ther shows is amazing. One of the best American bands playing live today.

Snow Patrol @ The Tweeter Center - Snow Patrol's album was one of my favorites of 2006, this was my second time seeing them and although the first was in a smaller club this one delivered.

The Clientele @ Johnny Brendas [More]- Went to see this on a whim on a Monday night, mostly songs from their excellent new God Save The Clientele cranked up a notch for a live setting.

!!! w/ Holy F*ck @ The TLA - I expected a non stop funk filled dance fest from !!!, but Holy F*ck was one of my great surprises of the year and were as good as or maybe even better than !!!

LCD Soundsystem @ The TLA [More]- a free Myspace sponsored show in a club. They took one of the best albums of the year to an even higher level live.

Ryan Adams @ World Cafe Live Free At Noon - Ryan Adams return to form with a breathtaking all acoustic set.

David Vandervelde w/ Blitzen Trapper @ Johnny Brendas [More]- This was on a Monday night coming after three days in a row at the WXPN music fest having just seen some 25 or so great bands and it still blew my mind.

The Cribs @ Johnny Brendas [More]- Do not miss this band if you have the chance, one of the true "holy shit !" performances I saw this year. A three piece band that comes at you with the in your face live fury of The Ramones.

Illuminea CD release party w/ The Swimmers @ Johnny Brendas [More]- Two of Philadelphia's finest playing stellar sets on the same night.

The Format @ The Trocadero - The Format have one of the best high energy fun shows going.

Josh Ritter @ World Cafe Free At Noon [More]- Josh Ritter kicks it up a notch with a band for this tour and just absolutely delivetrs apon all counts. Phenomenal. An acoustic cover of Springsteen's The River was one of the single best performances of any song I witnessed all year by any band.

The A-Sides CD Release Party w/ The Capitol Years,Bitter Bitter Weeks @ Johnny Brendas [More]- Philadlelphia bands sharing a bill know how to bring out the best in each other and this was no exception. Top notch performances by all three of the bands.

Bruce Springsteen @ Wachovia Center (10/6/07) - The second night of two for Bruce in Philadelphia, while the first night was marred by horrible sound and an average performance, this night was classic Springsteen and just tore the roof off.

Black Mountain @ Johnny Brendas [More]- I've been waiting nearly two years for Black Mountain to head back out on tour, and this was worth the wait. A rhythmic, psychedelic tour de force. A friend I took with me who had never heard of them walked out saying it was one of the best club shows he'd ever seen.

The Creeping Weeds @ The Khyber and Johnny Brendas [More & More]- Another of Philadelphia's finest, the opening and closing nights of their summer tour were both brilliant.

Jealous Girlfriends @ The Khyber,Tritone & Johnny Brendas [More]- The first time I saw the NYC's Jealous Girlfriends I was blown away. Every show after that lived up to the high standard set by the first one. An excellent live band.

The Shots @ The Khyber [More]- Another Philadelphia band, I just happened to catch these guys on an opening slot in which they blew the two bands that followed of the stage.
My newest Philly band to watch out for.

Some photos from last night's show with The A-Sides, Say Hi(to your mom), and The Velvet Teen at Johnny Brenda's In Philadelphia. The Velvet Teen kicked it off with an extremely loud but excellent set and a sound that falls somewhere between Radiohead and Mission Of Burma. Say Hi was up next with an enjoyable set of their catchy pop. A couple months on the road since I last saw them has only made the A-Sides even better. A blistering version of Sidewalk Chalk from their first record being one the amazing highpoints of ther set.
The Velvet Teen Say Hi



The A-Sides

If you're a regular reader of the is blog you know that The Swimmers have been one of the absolute favorites here since I received a copy of their as yet unreleased cd Fighting Trees back in January. I even boldly proclaimed it "the first truly important release of 2007" and talked it up relentlessly to anyone who would listen. Well folks "all the new sounds" are here, Fighting Trees will be seeing a national release on March 4 of 2008 on Mad Dragon Records and distributed by Ryko/Warner.
The lucky Philly peeps get a jump on the rest of the world at a special local release party this Saturday October 27th at Johnny Brenda's, recently named Rolling Stone Magazine's "2007 Hot Music Club". It's going to be a special night you won't want to miss.

See the new cover artwork above by Janell Olah, but better yet see it in person, as anyone who comes to the show gets a copy of the cd right then and there with admission. I'll be there so should you, and you, and you and you and you.

MP3: The Swimmers - It's Time They Knew

Saturday October 27th
Y-Rock on XPN Welcomes - Swimmers CD Release Show
The Swimmers, Audible, Adam & Dave's Bloodline, Denison Witmer
9:30 PM
$10 includes a copy of the CD! - Door Sales at 8pm

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