Music Philadelphia Weekly

For OCD: Moosh and Twist, There's No Future in Their Frontin’

By Anthony Trivelli — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:40:53 PDT

Whether or not that alleged Illuminati-esque meeting of the minds back in 1991 that set hip-hop on its gangster-ific path ever took place is debatable, but the fact that it is on that raucous road is not. In 2013, amidst a lyrical sea of street bikes and shootouts, one wouldn’t expect a...

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On the Record: Talib Kweli, Lady Antebellum, Little Boots and More

By Bill Chenevert — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:49:57 PDT

Talib Kweli Prisoner of Conscious (Javotti Media/EMI/Capitol) Sounds like: A really mixed bag from Kweli’s fifth, and not in a pleasant, mixed-nuts kind of way—all over the place, too many guests, not angry enough. Free association: Let’s be real: Dude’s almost 40. Maybe his...

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On the Record: !!!, Natalie Maines, Neon Neon and More

By Bill Chenevert — Wed, 08 May 2013 08:03:11 PDT

!!! (Chk Chk Chk) THR!!!ER (Warp Records) Sounds like: They’re back!!! If you thought they’d lost steam, maybe they did, but it’s returned—and their characteristic funk is danker and tighter than ever. Free association: Slick production = a headphone masterpiece and party...

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An Englishman in Philly: James Blake Playing TLA

By Bill Chenevert — Wed, 08 May 2013 07:45:52 PDT

He sits atop a swiveling stool behind two decks of keys at a perpendicular angle and hums the first few measures of “Retrograde” into the mic, and he’s recording it, unbeknownst to the audience, to loop it for the rest of the song. Without even opening his mouth, he’s simply...

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Philly’s Own Grandchildren Celebrate the Band's "Golden Age"

By Sean Corbett — Wed, 08 May 2013 07:40:32 PDT

Friday night at Johnny Brenda’s, the Philadelphia-based electro tribe Grandchildren celebrated the release of their new album, Golden Age, which cloaked in green lasers and thick fog. They take the party to Brooklyn next week and, on May 25, reunite in Baltimore with Man Man, with whom they...

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Head of the Class: The Irrepressible Danny Brown

By Bryan Bierman — Wed, 01 May 2013 06:07:40 PDT

When XXX, Danny Brown’s second album, dropped in 2011, it was clear that this was something different. Here was a guy with a wild mane, missing his two front teeth and sporting a Frank Zappa T-shirt, tearing up every bar with a voice all his own. Brown confesses on “XXX” that the...

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Oh, the Places He’ll Go: John Medeski Hits World Cafe Live

By Bill Chenevert — Wed, 01 May 2013 05:56:35 PDT

My adoration for John Medeski and his group, Medeski, Martin & Wood, goes way back to the summer of 2001, between my high school graduation and first year of college. We lived two hours north of New York City. Our environs were idyllic, nestled in the Hudson River Valley and surrounded by the...

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On the Record: Major Lazer, The Thermals, Ghostface Killah and More

By Bill Chenevert — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:02:53 PDT

Major Lazer Free The Universe (Secretly Canadian/Mad Decent) Sounds like: It’s here! And it’s a little flat. The much-anticipated sophomore from Diplo’s dancehall project sees new personnel and a slew of bizarre guests. Free association: There are a few keepers, but nary a...

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It's The Hooters' 33-and-a-Third Anniversary

By Stephen H. Segal — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:27:05 PDT

Five tracks to remind us just how great Philly's favorite rock heroes actually are. This month marks 33-and-a-third years since the Hooters played their first show in the suburbs of Philadelphia, and they're celebrating with a blowout show Saturday night at the Electric Factory. It's a safe bet...

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Dillinger Escape Plan Gets Better With Time

By Bill Chenevert — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:04:08 PDT

With their fourth LP, 2010’s Option Paralysis, the Dillinger Escape Plan cemented themselves in an elite class of metal monsters. With company like Mastodon, Isis, Converge and the Deftones, DEP is chugging along as one of the most brutal and towering titans of that magical mixture of metal,...

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DJs Spinderella, Rich Medina and Cash Money Know Their Art

By Bill Chenevert — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:12:21 PDT

There’s this funny little reality show on VH1 that used to be on BET called Master of the Mix. It’s a DJ competition in which DJs from around the country, popular in their small pond, come to play short sets and get read by Kid Capri. It’s kind of fun. Mostly because, as a pop...

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Hip-Shaking Coronation: Backstage at the Philly Elvis Fest

By Bryan Bierman — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:51:51 PDT

“Did you know Elvis Presley is the second most famous person to ever walk the face of the Earth?”, Philly Elvis Fest organizer Charlie Luecke asks me. “Who’s the first?” “Jesus Christ.” Although there’s probably no way to judge the accuracy of that...

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Matt Costa’s Music Goes to Glasgow and Back

By Reyan Ali — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:37:12 PDT

At age 19, Matt Costa’s skating career looked like a sure thing. At that point, the Orange County native was skilled enough with a board to be very much en route to going pro. Then, during one one fateful session, he miscalculated a staircase jump. Wrecking the landing left with him with a...

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On the Guest List: More PIFA Productions, Robert Glasper Salutes Stevie Wonder and More

By PW Staff — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 08:33:30 PDT

Songs in the Key of Life: Robert Glasper Presents a Stevie Wonder Salute Sun., April 14, the Kimmel Center. pifa.org Overall vibe: Oddly, disturbingly sedate for an audience full of Wonder-philes. Glasper’s mellifluous, laidback piano stylings threatened to turn a little muzak-y—yes,...

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On the Record: James Blake, British Sea Power, Tyga and More

By Bill Chenevert — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:13:30 PDT

James Blake Overgrown (Universal Republic) Sounds like: The follow-up to the U.K. producer/singer’s debut is a sad and thoughtful new batch that brilliantly fuses soul, R&B, hip-hop and dance beats. Free association: Amazing that he got RZA; these two together’s a revelation. For...

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Toots and the Maytals Personify Real Reggae Rockstardom

By Bryan Bierman — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:07:39 PDT

In the same way every teenage garage band must run through Zeppelin or Stones songs to truly be inducted into rock ‘n’ roll, every ska or reggae group has to learn some of the Toots and the Maytals back catalog. “Monkey Man,” “Funky Kingston,” “54-46...

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On the Record: Kurt Vile, Bleached, Tyler and More

By Bill Chenevert — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:37:08 PDT

Wire Change Becomes Us (Pink Flag) Sounds like: As their members approach 60, and their debut’s over 35 years old, it’s mind-blowing how hard they still rock and how modern this record sounds. Free association: Here’s hoping we’re still this current pre-/post-retirement. For...

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Call Them Maybe: Toy Soldiers Set for Film Screening, Show

By Bill Chenevert — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:14:59 PDT

Ron Gallo and his Toy Soldiers crew met Seth Klinger when he was assigned to them as an intern for Ropeadope Records, where, in 2011, they issued a one-off EP called Get Through the Time. They hit it off. Klinger started filming and making videos for them, and then suddenly, he was making a...

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On the Record: The Strokes, Lil Wayne, Dido and More

By Bill Chenevert — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 07:02:51 PDT

The Strokes Comedown Machine (RCA) Sounds like: The fifth by the ultimate American modern rock band is their final contractual obligation to RCA and a stirring, excellent finale of sexy glamrock. Free association: The perfect mix of L.A. and NYC, punk and pop, scuz and swag. For fans of: Franz...

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Kurt Vile's Musical Forecast: "Pretty Daze" Ahead

By Bill Chenevert — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 06:20:49 PDT

“What band is that?” Kurt Vile abruptly stands, upstairs at One Shot Coffee in Northern Liberties, peering at bookshelves that wrap around the room. He walks toward an erect, stand-alone book that appears to picture a group on the cover. Vile’s more than just Philadelphia’s...

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