Spring is a wonderful time of year. Not only does it fight away the blistering cold, but it also brings sweet, sweet music to people’s ears. And I’m not talking about chirping birds. This past May was a generous month for music lovers as far as album releases go. For those looking for fresh indie [...]
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We Were Promised Jetpacks treats fans with a spellbinding performance at Union Transfer
We Were Promised Jetpacks stepped onstage May 5 at Union Transfer without any lead-in music or introduction. They grabbed their instruments and promptly started their first song, “Short Bursts.” The Scottish quartet didn’t spend time trying to coerce the crowd into engaging in their set. They didn’t ask anyone to clap or sing along. They [...]
Empires brings indie rock vibe back to Philadelphia
The real rock ‘n’ roll dream is not fame; it is the ability to do something you love for a living. Music is about sharing what you create and building something bigger than just the men with the instruments. There doesn’t seem to be a present-day band that understands this more than Empires. The Chicago-natives [...]
Howard plays sold-out set at World Cafe Live
“Never thought we’d make it to this side of the pond,” singer-songwriter Ben Howard said after expressing to the audience how good it felt to address a crowd as “Philadelphia.” Communion’s “Austin to Boston Tour” stopped at World Cafe Live March 27, selling out the upstairs venue. Communion, a record label that started as a [...]
Albums to look forward to this spring
Almost a quarter of 2012 has passed by, and so far the year has been generous with new album releases. The end of winter also means an overwhelming amount of spring tours. Here are some bands with new records that will be stopping in Philadelphia in the coming months. Dry the River — “Shallow [...]
Pa. natives Punchline begin 2012 tour in Philly
“This is our first show of 2012, and we wanted it to be in Philadelphia.” While Pittsburgh and Philadelphia have their sports rivalries, there is nothing but love between Western Pennsylvania’s Punchline and Philadelphia. Punchline started a short tour March 3 at the Barbary in support of an EP they released in January. The low-key [...]
Wombats surprised with U.S. fans
The Wombats are currently touring the U.S. for the first time with a surprisingly large American fan base. The recently released “The Wombats Proudly Present…This Modern Glitch.” The Liverpool natives offer fun, clever lyrics. If you don’t think the lyric “I like girls, girls and fast cars” can somehow be transformed into a profound and [...]
Two Door Cinema Club delivers dance music to sold out audience
Since Two Door Cinema Club last made a stop in Philadelphia back in January, the band’s popularity has exploded. Their songs are now heard regularly on the radio and stores such as Forever 21 and H&M now include the Northern Irish trio’s music on their soundtrack. The band’s music is infectious and spreading fast but [...]
Emmy The Great: ruler of comedic performances and soulful content
London-based songwriter Emma-Lee Moss, known by stagename Emmy The Great, performed for a 21+ audience at The Trocadero Aug. 17. She brought an abundance of laughs in between serious and gracefully constructed songs. Before stepping off the stage at the Trocadero balcony, Emma-Lee Moss confidently delivered the lyrics to a song titled “Dinosaur Sex.” As [...]
‘Vans Warped Tour’ brings new bands across America
Vans Warped Tour, a yearly fixture of many music fans’ summers, is notable for its variety of rock music, but what makes the festival stand out is the fact that it is a tour. Chicago has Lollapalooza, Tennessee has Bonnaroo and California has Coachella, but Warped Tour belongs to all of North America. There are [...]
BBC’s ‘Torchwood’ faces rough transition to U.S.
“Torchwood” is a mythology-heavy set, but still easily digestible by new and established fans of BBC’s “Dr. Who” spin-off show. Strangeness sometimes has its appeal, and if “Torchwood,” the BBC spinoff of the television series “Doctor Who,” is one thing, it is strange. The television program follows the trials and tribulations of the Torchwood Institute, a present [...]
Manchester Orchestra knows how to please a crowd
“We might as well get the new shit out of the way so we can get to what you all came to see,” frontman Andy Hull stated bluntly. Knowing what the audience wants from a performance is key in putting on a successful show, and Atlanta group Manchester Orchestra demonstrated that they know what to [...]
English band sells out TLA
South Street was overflowing May 5 for Cinco de Mayo, but the Theater of Living Arts was packed for a different– and decidedly British – occasion. With instruments tuned, bottles of water and Corona scattered around the stage and a red Solo cup of tea placed by the center microphone, the stage was ready for [...]
BBC favorite ‘Doctor Who’ returns
“Doctor Who” is a television program about a human-looking alien that travels through time and space in a blue police box. It sounds crazy and bizarre, and, to a certain extent, the show is. However, it is also one of the most beloved television shows in the United Kingdom and has been since its start [...]
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