Our friend Bryan Bierman wrote a great story for the Philadelphia Weekly this week about cult bands. But before we force-feed you his thoughts, here are some other thoughts. Did you know about this film that’s playing at the Ritz called Sound of My Voice? It’s a wild one and, truly, a bit unsettling and leaves you wondering for days afterwards about what you’ve seen. It’s about a young couple in Silver Lake who hear about a woman who claims she’s from the future and the ‘cult’ that’s been growing around her. Maggie is gorgeous, a wispy hippie-like blond who says she’s from 2054 (isn’t it funny how the year that people have to say they’re from has to jump by huge numbers as the world continues to make future movies?). Peter and Lorna, a suspicious and adventure-seeking duo, want to check it out and that’s about all you’re gonna get. Needless to say, the cult mentality is explored: there are people who truly, deeply believe in it all. Your cult leader asks you to shave your head? Gimme the clippers. Wear these Nikes? I’mma size 10. Ask no questions? Yes, ma’am. It’s these people that died in Heaven’s Gate. Cult leaders can, and generally should, be regarded as dangerous creatures. And that’s something Mr. Bierman touches on here, and wonders why all those robe-wearing Polyphonic Spree singers are always so damn happy:

When a band has a small, yet very devoted fan base, some people—mainly music writers—describe them as having a “cult following.” Presumably, this analogy upset actual cults in the late ’60s, as a few then began flirting with the music biz (Charles Manson, the Process Church of the Final Judgment, Peoples Temple) before realizing they should stick to their crazy day jobs. Whether or not it was a conscious decision, over the years a handful of groups have highlighted the similarities between rock bands and cults. In advance of Friday’s Polyphonic Spree show at the TLA, here are a few artists who truly blur the line.

The Polyphonic Spree
The most famous “cult” band around, this choir-pop act features almost two dozen members, including “leader” Tim DeLaughter. Although New Jersey’s Danielson Famile did it first, the Spree have adopted the matching robes synonymous of religious groups, consider themselves a “family,” and are always happy. Sunshine-y pop tunes? Identical garments? An appearance on Scrubs? Definitely a cult.

Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band
During the year leading up to the recording of their über-unique and essential Trout Mask Replica album in 1969, the Magic Band lived on a commune in California, where they would rehearse for 14 hours a day with barely any food or contact with the outside world. Captain Beefheart, aka Don Van Vliet, would routinely attack the band members mentally and physically until they obeyed his commands. Oddly enough, it worked—the group was so tight that they recorded most of the double album, which would go on to be viewed by most as an avant-garde masterpiece, in a little over six hours. So if you look past the deep emotional scars, it was worth it.

Up With People
Since forming in 1965, teenage song-and-dance group Up With People have spread their squeaky clean pep all over the world, performing for popes, presidents and at Super Bowls. Designed to provide an upstanding, red-blooded American alternative to the hippie-ridden ’60s, the group was backed by the ultra right-wing group Moral Re-Armament (which purportedly had Nazi ties), as well as giant corporations such as Exxon, Enron and Halliburton, which benefitted from their “everything is perfectly fine” message. According to the 2009 documentary Smile ‘Til It Hurts , the rotating casts of young members (who pay a large tuition to join) were not only barred from sitting next to the opposite sex, but were persuaded into joining arranged marriages that controlled the number of children they could have. In other words: Cult!

The Ramones
Think about it: They looked the same, their names were the same, even a lot of the songs were the same. Any new recruits were forced to obey these rules, brainwashed by the chants of “Gabba Gabba Hey!” “I Wanna Be Sedated” is a song about accepting, zombie-like, these rules. Honest.

Polyphonic Spree perform Fri., May 25. 7pm. $18. With Sweet Lee Morrow. TLA, 334 South St. 215.922.1011. tlaphilly.com

In another edition of Stash vs. Qream, the free Tuesday night alt-queer weekly party joined forces with the monthly drag family that is Qream. There are always a handful of usual suspects in the Qream lineup: hosted by Oscar Wildchilde and supported by Tammy Faymous, Ginger Alley, Chaz Casz and, last night, with a new girl, Sooshi Harajuku. But last night they threw in an extra-special guest, the sassy spitting duo of davO and Krylon Superstar. They were nasty (good nasty) and it was a refreshing taste of queer hip-hop.

And you should hear this EP called Hey Girl. Prior to last night, we’d been exposed to “bang my coochie,” a sickening hybrid between Big Freedia’s brand of sissybounce and our own Sgt. Sass’ outright queer sensibility. It’s real high-energy. There’s a little Spank Rockness in there, too, especially in those Baltimore-flavored club-banger beats. The energy is pretty infectious and they were feeling Philly last night in their first visit to the Gayborhood. The music itself was significantly awesome and fun, but that wasn’t even the half. You should’ve seen how they looked.

They both wore a black lace booty short unitard kind of number. Krylon had her braids up in some kind of Star Wars prom up do and davO’s big plastic glasses complemented his tattoos. They wore makeup and jewelery – Krylon had a big ole’ gold coin necklace but mid-performance she lost the jewels and the buns. That would get in the way of dropping to the floor like you’re dead. That’s how they do in Paris Is Burning, most certainly an influence on these queens. There was much vogueing and “WORK!”s. The main upstairs dancefloor room has these crazy neon lights along the wall and a little stage – it looks like a bootleg Hype Williams video. The stage is a workable stage and these two ran it like Naomi Campbell wannabes with struts and poses.

Anyway, check out their site for reference and like em’ on Facbeook. And don’t pass up another chance to see them ever again.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Are the people with doughnut heads a reference to the late, great J Dilla? What are we to make of the live chicken in the picnic basket? We have no idea. We just know it’s very important to know that that’s Styles P rapping the first verse …

Wilmington, Delaware is where these guys hang their hats. Their third “worldwide-released” LP, Shy Pursuit, came out on May 1st on their own Spintonic records and it’s a delight. Their band homepage has three absolutely charming videos, but the animated “The Living Things” will make you smile real big. They’re poppy, kind of, more folk rock, funk and Americana than anything else. And, sweet baby Jesus, that video for “Take It” is brilliant, too. How perfectly does it capture the spirit of youth and board games together? I have often felt like that young boy.

This is their first in about four years but what’s most exciting is that they’ve taken their time to do things right (the way they want them done). They’ve pooled, collected and Craigslist-hunted down all kinds of recording equipment to write, record, mix and engineer Shy Pursuit. It’s their ‘lil baby. So they’re pretty pumped about sharing it and selling it. They’ve already done two Tuesday nights at Kung Fu but there’s still a chance to catch them at their residence before it’s too late.

This is a case of a local band doing things right and we’d be thrilled to see them take off. Well, they’ve already taken off, but you’re picking up what we’re putting down. They deserve success and their YouTube presence is on point. Here’s a live performance of “Direct to Helmet”:

Click here to view the embedded video.

PHILADELPHIA (May 22, 2012) –  Shawn “JAY Z” Carter, Budweiser and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey today announced the first line-up of award-winning artists who will perform at  “Budweiser Made in America,” the two-day music festival in Philadelphia this Labor Day produced by Live Nation.

JAY Z is curating and headlining the exciting roster of talent, which will include Pearl Jam, Skrillex, Miike Snow and Afrojack among the 28 artists embodying the American spirit who will perform across three stages on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park on Saturday, Sept. 1, and Sunday, Sept. 2.

The exciting slate of talent cultivated by JAY Z will include an eclectic mix of acts ranging from rock, hip-hop, R&B, Latin and dance. Musical acts confirmed to perform in addition to JAY Z are:

Pearl Jam
Skrillex
Miike Snow
Afrojack
Maybach Music (featuring Rick Ross, Wale, & Meek Mill)
Odd Future
Calvin Harris
D’Angelo
Passion Pit
Santigold
Dirty Projectors
X
Janelle Monae
Prince Royce
Rita Ora
Savoy (DJ set)
The Knocks

Additional artists will be announced at a later date.

Tickets for the “Budweiser Made in America” music festival go on sale to all fan Wednesday, May 23 at 10 a.m. ET through Ticketmaster.com and Livenation.com. A limited number of two-day tickets will be available for $99 (plus service charges). Budweiser Facebook fans will have access to pre-sale tickets today, Tuesday, May 22, from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET.  To become a Budweiser Facebook fan, please visit www.facebook.com/Budweiser.

The festival in Philadelphia will culminate a summer of music parties in cities all across America, when Budweiser will invite its Facebook fans to experience talented local bands and artists. Budweiser, brewed across America, has a decades-long history of celebrating great American music.

“‘Budweiser Made in America’ is built around a legendary performer in JAY Z, but what sets this festival apart is having him curate and invite renowned musical talent across several popular genres to share the stage,” said Rob McCarthy, vice president of Budweiser for Anheuser-Busch. “Fans at this festival are going to be treated to a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience.”

This concert will benefit United Ways in Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, Lancaster County, PA.  A primary goal of this music festival is to have a positive impact on the communities involved. As a result of this concert, the money invested into these communities will positively impact the education, income and health of the most vulnerable and most needy citizens in these regions.

“Budweiser Made in America” also will be available for consumers around the country to watch via live-streaming. Details will be announced at a later date.

The event is the latest chapter in Budweiser’s long association with music, which includes memorable Rolling Stones tours and Budweiser SuperFest, which was headlined by Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and other music legends.

About SHAWN “JAY Z” CARTER
Since 1996, 14-time Grammy award winner, Shawn “JAY Z ” Carter has dominated the evolution of hip-hop. Between multiple businesses and accolades spanning the recording industry to global investment leaders such as Warren Buffet, JAY Z personifies the “American Dream.” The Founder and Chairman of Rocawear is a co-owner of the NJ Nets and has a major interest in Carol’s Daughter skin line, as well being involved in a partnership with the Iconix Brand Group. JAY Z served as President and CEO of Def Jam Recordings, where he fostered the careers of international stars Rihanna, Ne-Yo and Kanye West before entering into a partnership with Live Nation, forming the entertainment company, Roc Nation. With his collaborative effort with Kanye West, WATCH THE THRONE, his 12th #1 album, he has secured the record for most #1 albums by any solo artist. JAY Z continues his philanthropic work through his Water For Life initiative and the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation.

About BUDWEISER
Budweiser, an American-style lager, was introduced in 1876 when company founder Adolphus Busch set out to create the United States’ first truly national beer brand – brewed to be universally popular and transcend regional tastes. Each batch of Budweiser follows the same family recipe used by five generations of Busch family brewmasters.  Budweiser is a medium-bodied, flavorful, crisp and pure beer with blended layers of premium American and European hop aromas, brewed for the perfect balance of flavor and refreshment.

Budweiser is made in America at 12 U.S. breweries using time-honored methods including “kraeusening” for natural carbonation and Beechwood aging, which results in unparalleled balance and character.

About Live Nation
Live Nation Entertainment is the world’s leading live entertainment and ecommerce company, comprised of four market leaders: Ticketmaster.com, Live Nation Concerts, Front Line Management Group and Live Nation Network. Ticketmaster.com is the global event ticketing leader and one of the world’s top five ecommerce sites, with almost 27 million monthly unique visitors. Live Nation Concerts produces over 22,000 shows annually for more than 2,300 artists globally. Front Line is the world’s top artist management company, representing over 250 artists. These businesses power Live Nation Network, the leading provider of entertainment marketing solutions, enabling nearly 800 advertisers to tap into the 200 million consumers Live Nation delivers annually through its live event and digital platforms. For additional information, visit www.livenation.com/investors.

About United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, an organization that will be formed July 1, 2012 as the result of a merger of 7 local United Ways, is part of a national network of more than 1,300 locally governed organizations that work to create lasting positive changes in communities and in people’s lives. United Way engages the community to identify the underlying causes of the most significant local issues, develops strategies and pulls together financial and human resources to address them, and measures the results. United Way is advancing the common good in Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey by focusing on education, income, and health.

We’d be forever a loyal customer if you did. [Wu Tang Clan facebook.]

After a trip down Piazza way last year, this summer we’re bringing our Concerts In the Park back to where it belongs: Rittenhouse Square. We’ve just finalized the lineup for the three shows, which will be held on Wednesdays Aug. 15th, 22nd and 29th.

The final lineup is:

Aug. 15 – Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band with special guests TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb

Aug. 22 – Ground Up featuring the Lawsuits

Aug. 29 – the Strapping Fieldhands / the Spinning Leaves

For those who want to research further, here’s some help.

>>Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band are from Brown County, Indiana, and their song “Clap Your Hands” will make you, appropriately, clap your hands. We have no doubt they’re going to turn the Square into a raucous barn burner. Opening for them are Philly fun-time Idiots TJ Kong & the Atomic Bomb, who have never met a stage they didn’t outright own.

>>On Wednesday, Aug. 22nd, Ground Up—who, as you may recall, we wrote about in our Hip-hop issue— will take the Rittenhouse stage. Ground Up will—on some ole Meek Mill shit—explode in the next year or so, and this is a perfect opportunity to see them FOR FREE before they’re playing giant festival shows. The Lawsuits open, and will back also back Ground Up. Call them the White Roots. The two groups are no stranger to collaborating with one another (see their video embedded above) and this should be a pretty cool gig. If you want to see what the Lawsuits are about, we suggest this wonderfully creative video for their song “Baby, Don’t Go.” One final note on this show: Ground Up frequently collaborate with Philly rappers of note. We wouldn’t at all be surprised by a special high-profile guest appearance or two. Hint hint.

>> Finally, to close out this year’s series we’ve booked a group that’s reached Philly Icon Status: The Strapping Fieldhands. Check their Wiki for the lowdown, and watch their episode of Shaking Through to see the legends do their thing. Yes! Local yokels The Spinning Leaves open, and that ain’t a bad thing either.This show goes down on August 29th.

So there you have it, your 2012 Concerts In the Park! Remember, all shows are free. We’ll see you there.

1. His opener, Tristen, a midwest-gone-Nashville girl with a similar Americana throwback style, and the lovechild of indie rock and motown, is one to watch. Her “Avalanche” was the highlight of the set.

2. When you leave the honky tonk circuit, you don’t have to play for tips anymore. In response to excited fans hollering and requesting “Slippin’ and Slidin’” shortly after he took the stage, JTE just smiled and said, “Don’t tell me what to do.”

3.  Sometimes it pays to move into an apartment in Brooklyn sight unseen.  JTE did, and though he expressly warned against it, saying he was treated to the company of all kinds of vermin, he got the kickass song “One More Night in Brooklyn” out of the experience.

4.  “Hank Williams didn’t make up the 12 bar blues,” said JTE, in all seriousness. Though several of the night’s songs including “Ain’t Glad I’m Leaving” featured truly top notch pedal steel that lent the set a distinctly country western vibe, the blues reigns supreme in JTE’s heart.

5. It’s important not to take songwriting too seriously. “I have several musician friends whose songs I love,” said JTE, “but I can’t go see their shows because I wanna go blow my brains out when I leave.” JTE followed this remark up with a song supposedly inspired by fried chicken.

6. If you’re looking for a genuine, 100% pure sexy song, JTE’s cover of “My Starter Won’t Start (Bad Gasoline)” is for you.

7. When you’re famous and you go back to your home town and you see your ex-girlfriend walking down the road, don’t pick her up. “The world is full of whats ‘er names,” advises JTE.

8. It might be fun to chill with JTE, but it might not be so fun to date him. See #7 above, also, on dedicating a song to another ex, he said “You can burn my clothes all you want, but you’re stuck with this song for the rest of your life.”

9. JTE has a heart, and it’s full of feelings about his Mom and Dad.  “Momma’s Eyes” was a focused, poignant note in the set, rife with the contradictions—”I am my father’s son,” sang JTE, and also, “we just don’t see eye to eye.”

10. A song sounds better when you’ve waited all night to hear it. Despite waving aside requests for it earlier (see #2), JTE surprised us all by playing just what we wanted to hear, but not until the very last song of his encore: “Slippin’ and Slidin’,” a ballad of trying and failing to escape the clutches of heroine addiction.

—Emma Eisenberg

[Photo by Emma Eisenberg]