The music industry is building a conglomerate of the synthetic: mannequins whose concerts revolve around putting on a spectacle with bright lights, robotic dance moves and outfits that look like they belong in an abstract art exhibit rather than on a human being. However, Free Energy proved to be as real as it gets after [...]
Tag Archives: music
You Should Be Celebrating
A common theme among great musicians and their albums is that they are rarely directionless. If an artist fails to change his or her tune for years, it’s going to become stale no matter how good it really is. An evolving sound — and with that, an image — turns a good band into a [...]
Sam Sparro delivers the funk to World Cafe Live
Sam Sparro, the Australian musician whose electro-funk hit single “Black & Gold” made waves back in 2008, visited Philadelphia for the first time April 23 to perform at World Cafe Live in front of a small but enthusiastic crowd. Sparro rocked an ivory coat, retro wayfarers and his finely groomed mustache during the performance, which [...]
Neon Trees’ sophomore album has plenty of funk
Hailing from Provo, Utah, Neon Trees is an alternative rock band who gained recognition from touring with The Killers. “Picture Show” is the band’s second album. The music industry just got a lot funkier and wavier with the sophomore album “Picture Show” by Neon Trees, released April 17. The band gave a preview of what [...]
RRE at World Cafe Live
The idea of a band playing two consecutive nights in one city is hardly anything new in the world of music. Most often, bands will do this simply because they are popular and want all of their fans to get a chance to see them perform. Typically, fans choose to attend one show, assuming both [...]
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 [...]
Mord Fustang treats Philly to an electronica extravaganza
To be honest, I am somewhat of a newbie to electronica, only first dabbling into it in college. Prior to this, listening to Wired 96.5 and Q102 was the closest I had come to experiencing the genre, so I hardly knew of its existence. Luckily, for the sake of my street cred’ in the music [...]
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 [...]
Motion City produces singles with Drexel label
Drexel University’s student-run record label, MAD Dragon Records, is currently working with the band Motion City Soundtrack to produce a curated series of 7-inch record single releases titled Making Moves, according to a press release issued Feb. 23 by the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. The recording sessions, which took place last [...]
Snow Patrol chills fans with new album ‘Fallen Empires’
2011 seemed to be the year of taking chances in the music scene, from Florence and the Machine’s “Ceremonials” to Coldplay’s “Mylo Xyloto.” 2012 seems to be getting off to the same start with Snow Patrol’s sixth album, “Fallen Empires,” released in the U.S. Jan. 10 with Island Def Jam Recordings. The album was released [...]
Hip-hop stars back at it in 2012
Rick Ross will be releasing his fifth studio album “God Forgives, I Don’t” in the spring 2012. After an amazing year of music, it’s finally time to move on and take a look at what’s next in the world of hip-hop. Hopefully 2012 will bring us as many hits, exciting collaborations and breakthrough albums as [...]
Florence and the Machine new album haunts fans
Oftentimes when fans anticipate the release of a new album from a well-respected artist, they are worried sick that the album will sound like it went to pop-music boot camp. Does anyone remember Avril Lavigne? Rest easy, Florence and the Machine fans, lead vocalist Florence Welch went to no such camp. Florence and the Machine [...]
Jeff Mangum performs rare concert in New Jersey
Jeff Mangum, reclusive frontman and songwriter of beloved indie band Neutral Milk Hotel, played a rare concert Nov. 6 at The Landmark Loews Jersey Theatre in Jersey City, N.J. Mangum is notorious in music circles for shying away from fame after releasing his magnum opus, “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea,” in 1997. Since disbanding the group [...]
James Blake breaks out at The Troc
Dubstep has shuffled its way into pop music in recent months. Earlier this year I was actually a big fan of the kick-and-snare patterns, modulated bass lines and manic drops, but I have gradually lost interest in the music. The main reason I developed a distaste for hardcore dubstep was because I thought that the [...]
Drexel University’s new music venue Flux set to open this fall
While it’s been two years in the making, Drexel’s new music venue is preparing to launch. The venue’s name is Flux, and it represents the change and continuous diversity in music. The student-run venue is located on the lower level of the James E. Marks Intercultural Center at the corner of 33rd and Chestnut streets. [...]
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 [...]
A first start for annual festival
As a big-city girl from a small-town kind of place, imagine my excitement to learn that the maiden voyage for a massive (and soon to be annual) event was coming my way. After witnessing months of advertising across the Kansas/Missouri area, thousands of ticket-holders flooded the gates of the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan. [...]
What’s Happening in Philly
Smooth Jazz Summer Nights The Smooth Jazz Summer Nights Concert Series returns for the 14th season every Friday night in Aug. at the Waterfront. An evening summer breeze off the river, the cool sounds of smooth jazz in the air: a perfect way to spend a hot summer night. The Sax Pack, consisting of signature [...]
‘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 [...]
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Senior featured on reality show
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Dragons flex muscles in Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta
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Drexel softball waves goodbye to it’s all-time home run leader
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Motion City Soundtrack joins forces with MAD Dragon Records for series
- Philly’s hip-hop summer lineup looks promising
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