popwreckoning

It’s not always easy to get on board with who Rolling Stone dubs as an Artist to Watch, no make no mistake that Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros more than live up to all the hype surrounding their raucous and friendly alt rock, selling out shows across the country. I’d been spinning their debut record Up From Below for weeks and was amped to see how their eclectic sound translates live.

Openers Fool’s Gold, comprised of much of Foreign Born, wholly impressed with their bouncy groove rock that incorporates elements of African soul, tropicalia, ’80s dance jams and Hebrew to create a glorious sound scape perfect for partying to. It’s hard to imagine that the collective’s front man Luke Top is a paralegal by day. The band nailed a hot set gearing up the sold out house for the main act

The First Unitarian Church isn’t a huge venue; sure it holds a hell of a lot of music lovers, but it’s by no means a large venue. Rather, it’s a dark, unventilated church basement that has continuously put on some of Philadelphia’s greatest shows for years. I had myself convinced that the show was at Johnny Brenda’s — how could a ten piece band perform on the Church’s stage? Especially one with the wild amounts of energy that Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is known for.

When a ragtag looking bunch took to the stage, my hopes of an elaborately dressed ensemble were dashed, but nothing about their stage presence was lacking. Their energy, which was mirrored by the crowd, rivals only that of the couple shows I’ve seen Tilly and the Wall perform at the Church. ES&TMZ opened with their bounciest tunes, whipping the crowd into a cheering frenzy for each song that followed the one before it. Front man Alex Ebert nailed every note, sounding just as polished as on the record. Pixie-ish front woman counterpart Jade Castrinos‘ are transfixing and beautiful; she surely would have stolen the show if her mic had been turned up slightly.

What was a show stopped was the band’s performance of crowd [and my personal] favorite “Home.” Alex and Jade stared into each other’s eyes, belted out the love song with vigor and ad-libbed the spoken word bridge that on the CD recounts when Alex fell “deep, deeply in love” with Jade. While the below video of the Magnetic Zeros at the NPR offices in DC doesn’t do their on-stage show justice, catch a glimpse of what you missed if you couldn’t snag tickets to the hottest event in Philadelphia this past Sunday night.

If you miss Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros when they head your way, I am sorry for and disappointed in you in advance. You will not have [and haven't had] a better time at a concert this year.

Tour Dates:
Nov 21 - Pearl Street Downstairs / Northampton, Ma.
Nov 22 – Metronome / Burlington
Nov 23 – Cafe Campus / Montreal
Nov 24 – El Mocambo Club / Toronto
Nov 25 - El Macambo Club / Toronto
Nov 27 – Lincoln Hall / Chicago
Nov 28 – High Noon Saloon / Madison
Nov 29 – The Varsity Theater / Minneapolis
Dec 01 – Boulder Theater / Boulder
Dec 02 - Sheridan Opera House / Telluride, Co.
Dec 04 – The Bell Tower / Pullman, Wa.
Dec 05 – Neumos / Seattle
Dec 08 – The Biltmore Cabaret / Vancouver
Dec 09 - Doug Fir Lounge / Portland, Or.
Dec 10 – WOW Hall / Eugene, Or.
Dec 12 – Great American Music Hall / San Francisco
Dec 14 – The Mayan / Los Angeles

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros: website | myspace | @ monolith 2009
Fool’s Gold: myspace |

It seems Zee Avi has outgrown the First Unitarian Church’s Chapel. I can attest to the because, despite having the 9:30 show cancelled after the 7:30 show sold out (9:30 tickets were honored at 7:30), I arrived just ten minutes after doors and was forced to sit on the chapel’s stone floor as all the pews were packed. Sitting on the floor isn’t a complaint — I’d lay on a bed of nails if that’s what it took to have to see Zee perform — but, listen up R5 Productions, I’d like to recommend either keeping the second show or moving down the basement next time.

It was a nice surprise when Philadelphia locals The Mural and the Mint took stage to open for Zee; I’d been expecting Patrick Keeler (Zee’s drummer, whom you may remember from such bands as The Greenhornes and The Raconteurs) to open, which, sure, had confused me because he’s a drummer, but I’d merely misread an email. It was a delight to have the no-frills native indie pop quartet grace the pulpit providing catchy hooks with the occasional lapse into cacophony. If front man Michael Kiley’s use of the ukulele isn’t enough to win you over (it should be), you can’t not love that The Mural and the Mint gives away all of their music for free. Head over to the band’s official page to score their debut record, Private Pockets, for nothing more than a suggested donation. Catch The Mural and the Mint on MySpace to sample some tunes and, if you like what you hear, please do donate even a small something so they can continue to make beautiful, sincere music.

A short standing intermission was rather welcomed during the set change as lower extremities took to falling asleep as my concert companions and I sat on the floor, but we were excited for Zee to take the stage. She was greeted with a burst of applause upon taking her seat on the pulpit. The set started off with some technical difficulties for her bassist which was more than worth the wait when the heavy, jazzy thumping finally resounded through the amp. With the voice of an angel, if you believe in such things, Zee kicked off the set with the jazzy “Poppy,” a eulogy about the deadly results of opium use; “My baby he don’t act like himself no more: / He lost that smile I use to adore. / He spend his nights slapping his veins / He lost that glow he used to have on his face.”

After a heartfelt cover of Interpol’s “Slow Hands,” the set took on a joyful tone as Zee performed “The Traveler,” a hook-filled song which she’s only performed live. “I Am Me Once More” brought back that beautiful jazz sound Zee excels at before she teased the crowd about performing “Honey Bee,” her only love song and crowd favorite. There’s so much beauty in the seeming simplicity about a bee rescuing its love from the mindless drones of the beehive: “Oh my darling honey bee / I’ll come save you / Even if it means I’ll have to face the queen.”

The remainder of the set was largely a party with a musical triumvirate of single “Bitter Heart” preceding “Just You & Me” and the Manglish (= Malaysian + English) “Kantoi.” “Kantoi,” Malaysian for “busted,” is a fantastically poppy song despite its unsettling subject matter of a woman catching her boyfriend cheating on her, but it’s not so bad since she was cheating on him, too. Ah, love.

Discontent with a short eight song set, the crowd demanded another from the petite Malaysian songbird. Fortunately, she obliged and played a song that has been stuck in my head going on three days, Morrissey’s “First of the Gang.” It needn’t be said that Moz is a legend and while he doesn’t have a reputation for being the sweetest fella, I can’t imagine he’d be at all mad at Zee’s sweet, delicate vocals doing eons of justice to this 2004 hit track. Taking another cue from Morrissey, Zee performed this as her solo encore song as Moz did at the end of many of his shows during his 2009 Tour of Refusal.

Last night, Zee Avi stole our hearts away.

Set List:
Poppy
Slow Hands (Interpol)
The Traveler
I Am Me Once More
Honey Bee
Bitter Heart
Just You & Me
Kantoi
//
First of the Gang (Morrissey)

Head over to Popwreckoning’s YouTube page to catch some footage of Zee during her previous stop through Philadelphia.

Zee Avi: website | myspace | @ webster hall
The Mural and the Mint: website | myspace

Taking a night off from touring with Pete Yorn, Zee Avi stopped through Philadelphia last week to play the chapel at the First Unitarian Church. The petite Malaysian singer songwriter, who reminds me of so many of the best aspects of my favorite female musicians (think: Basia Bulat, Mirah, Regina Spektor to name a few)

Watch a video of Zee performing a cover of Interpol’s “Slow Hands”:

In addition to a smattering of stellar original songs, Zee also played a fantastic cover of Morrissey’s “First of the Gang to Die”. We’ve fallen hard for Zee and we’re sure you will, too. Head to Popwreckoning’s YouTube page to see more of Zee at the First Unitarian Church.

Zee Avi: website | myspace | @ webster hall

Thumbnail photo: Dese’Rae Stage

During my tenure as a library desk attendant in college, I’d find a good deal of things returned by accident in rented overhead projectors. One major score was a mystery mix CD with a Bishop Allen track on it; “The Same Fire”, a historical tour of a love hooked my attention after one listen. Nothing else from that mix made it onto my iPod after the Great Mac Crash of 2008 except Bishop Allen– a good omen for the show at the First Unitarian Church.

After a rough start with the first act, the show picked up momentum with an amazing showing from Seattle’s Mt. St. Helen’s Vietnam Band. Von Trapp Family Singers-style vests aside, their sound was great and made up for the incomprehensible slowness of the opener, Singsing and Marmar. “Who’s Asking” and “Anchors Dropped” stood out for me and played in my head over and over the next day at work without a shred of irritation.

Shortly thereafter, Bishop Allen popped onstage and put on an adorably solid performance. I use the term “adorable” in the least snarky way possible– the evening was filled with dance-y songs that made me smile and melt more than a little on the inside. Justin Rice, Christian Rudder and “friends”, Darbie Nowatka, Michael Tapper, and Keith Poulson formed the incarnation of Bishop Allen for the night. The ensemble started out with a few selections from their March 10th release Grrr…, “Rooftop Brawl” and “The Ancient Commonsense of Things”.

Bishop Allen is known for their catchy tunes that are rife with information; historical, literary or otherwise– a quality that drew me to them in the first place. The dancing and other stage antics continued through other songs and then the band switched gears a bit to play a few female voiced songs that can be described as nothing less than lovely. “Butterfly Nets”, a song from 2007’s Broken String was a highlight of an already delightful set list. The set ended with the popular, “Middle Management” from last year’s indie music teen rom-com Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist and got the room moving some more and begging for more. The band obliged and came back for a few more numbers.

The positive energy set out by the band made the Thursday night show feel like a Friday night and made me forget in the nicest way possible that I had to wake up for work in the morning. I kept the love going on my headphones for the ride home and fell a little bit more in love with Bishop Allen.

Tour Dates:
Mar 31 – Subterranean / Chicago
Apr 02 - Iron Horse / Northhampton, Ma.
Apr 03 – Middle East Downstairs / Cambridge, Ma.
Apr 04 – Music Hall of Williamsburg / Brooklyn
Apr 05 – Bowery Ballroom / New York City

Bishop Allen: website | myspace

Photo: Sebastian Mlynarski

Not long ago, a night of raucous folk country dominated the basement of the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia. New York state’s The Felice Brothers came to town on their current fall tour to show Philadelphia how to party country style, along with sixth brother and tour mate AA Bondy.

Bondy, whom I’d gotten to see for the first time at this year’s Austin City Limits, played a beautiful set on his acoustic guitar, telling tales and conjuring early Dylan. He mumbled through his stage banter, amusing the crowd with anecdotes and telling them to call him “Gus.” He introduced “I Killed Myself When I Was Young” by telling the audience that “this is a children’s song” before springing the title on them. He flatpicked his acoustic guitar through a set of lovely and moving folk songs with soothing vocals that instantly put a listener at ease. I highly recommend getting to know AA Bondy.

The tireless Felice Brothers took the stage next to a full Church and were met with raucous cheers from the crowd. Simone Felice pounded the hell out of his drum kit, often standing for better leverage and at time jumping on top of the kit and reaching out to the crowd. Blood brother Farley frantically played the fiddle, occasionally putting it aside to scratch away at an actual washboard, an instrument not typical seen on the indie rock scene.

Another uncommon instrument, the accordion, was played by James Felice, who also took a seat at the keyboard on certain songs. Bass player and blood brother Christmas exhibited a cool demeanor, yet played with energy and passion, especially when AA Bondy came out for a few songs. The most hyperactive Felice brother on stage that night was front man Ian. He was jumping all over the place when not sweetly singing into the microphone.

The crowd ate up the band’s energy and fervently sang along on upbeat numbers such as “Whiskey In My Whiskey,” “Frankie’s Gun” and “Where’d You Get The Liquor.” I noticed several women in the crowd overcome with emotion during the band’s set and push their way up, hoping just to touch Simone Felice’s hand and making eyes at him. One older woman in particular passed her flask up to him on stage when he asked if anyone brought one while introducing “Where’d You Get The Liquor.” Shocked but eagerly accepting the flask, Simone asked if she’d bake him a cake with a file in it, were he sent to jail. The woman responded with an enthusiastic “yes!” and Simone told the audience, “That’s love.”

The Felice Brothers always put on a great show so be sure to visit their MySpace page to find a show near you. They’re touring through the end of November, so no excuses for missing a set.

AA Bondy: myspace
The Felice Brothers: website | myspace

New York City’s The Virgins are out to have a good time and a good time is what they have every night on stage. Currently touring as support for Florida natives Black Kids. A great deal of the set reminded me of We Are Scientists with some fun distortions on guitar. Front man Donald Cummings had an intense energy that the crowd fed off of and they returned the band’s enthusiasm threefold.

Set List:
Private Affairs
Radio Christiane
Hey Hey Girl
Murder
Teen Lovers
One Week of Danger
Fernando Pando
She’s Expen$ive
Rich Girls

Ending on the high note of energetic single “Rich Girls,” The Virgins had gotten the crowd excited for headliners Black Kids. Touring their major label debut Partie Traumatic, Black Kids hit the road hard this fall taking their dance rock jams to kids all across the nation. The energy from the five piece was infectious and the entire Church basement was a great big dance party.

Set List:
Look At Me (When I Rock Witchoo)
Hit The Heartbrakes
Partie Traumatic
I’ve Underestimated My Charm (Again)
Listen To Your Body Tonight
I Wann Be Your Limo
Love Me Already
My Christian Name
Strange Power (Magnetic Fields)
I’m Making Eyes At You
I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance
\\
You Only Call Me When You’re Crying
Hurricane Jane

The Virgins: website | myspace
Black Kids: website | myspace | Partie Traumatic review

I’ll admit that I was mostly ignorant of the sounds and theatrics of Monotonix and Silver Jews prior to attending their show. Despite a little research beforehand, I didn’t know what I was getting into, and while I definitely entered the First Unitarian Church with high expectations (David Berman, an unbelievably awesome poet is, after all, the front man of Silver Jews), I was for the most part completely (and pleasantly) surprised.

Monotonix, a group from Tel Aviv, began the night with their set up in front of the stage instead of on it. Their curly fros and short shorts immediately engaged everyone, and when they started playing, the crowd went crazy. Although slightly hesitant at first, perhaps due to the unexpected mooning of the crowd by singer Ami Shalev, gradually the intensity of the music and talent of all three of the musicians had everyone clapping and dancing.

Ami Shalev, Yonatan Gat

After a short while, they moved their set up further into the crowd; over and over they dragged the carpet square with the drums on it towards the back of the room as the crowd circled around them. As Shalev repeatedly put things on the drummer Ran Shimony’s head, from the snare drum to a trash can, the drummer seemed totally unphased while guitarist Yonatan Gat smiled on, and they played just as well all along. Songs included, “Set Me Free” and at least two others I didn’t understand any words to but could tell when they were different songs.

Ran Shimony

Although a very different kind of band with a very a different sound, it didn’t seem incongruous to have Monotonix open for Silver Jews. If anything, they complimented each other, as the energy radiating from both groups was contagious. After throwing candy into the crowd, Berman began singing “Smith and Jones Forever” in his voice that reminds me of a cross between Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler but reminded my friend sweating along side of me in the church basement of Leonard Cohen.

David Berman

Their stage performance consisted largely of standing around while playing, but the crowd was wild for them anyhow. Keeping with my expectations of poetics from Berman, he introduced several songs with poignant lines; before playing “Sometimes a Pony Gets Depressed” for example, Berman appropriately said, “No one gives a damn so you have to give a damn,” and before “My Pillow is the Threshold” he said, “If you’re out there trying to be an artist or something, don’t wait for affirmation. You won’t get it.”

Cassie Berman (right)

Despite the negativity of his comments, however, Berman and his band mates were clearly having a blast on stage. At times Berman nuzzled the bassist, his wife Cassie, during the love songs, and each member of the six-person band played with intensity and energy throughout. Great show. Go see both bands if you can. Seriously.

Silver Jews: website | myspace
Monotonix: website | myspace

Words and Photos by: Rebecca S. Brown

New Zealand duo The Ruby Suns have proved that the third time really is a charm. I had the pleasure of first seeing them perform this past Spring at the Barbary in Philadelphia following the release of Sea Lion. That night the venue, which self-proclaims it’s got the best sound system in the city, experienced many technical difficulties during The Ruby Suns’ set, causing the then trio a great deal of frustration.

I later caught the Ruby Suns opening Day 2 of Sub Pop’s 20th birthday party/music festival where the now duo also facially expressed their discontent with certain aspects of their performance. Everything sounded superb and the audience was totally into the performance, but Ryan McPhun and Amee Robinson would cringe occasionally. betraying a goof that went unheard by the crowd.

This past Sunday at the First Unitarian Church in the heart of Center City Philadelphia, the Ruby Suns played an outstanding set in between Pony Tail and Tilly and the Wall that McPhun, Robinson and the crowd were more than delighted with.

Ryan McPhun

The pair’s reverb-rich set featured exotic beats both synthetic and created by the Ruby Suns. Ambient and airy melodies remained grounded thanks to Robinson’s hot and pulsing bass lines. Despite the heat in the air conditioning-less basement of the Church, the audience, all smashed up against each other, danced frantically to the Ruby Suns’ funky sounds taking cues from McPhun’s non-stop energy as he obliterated his free standing floor tom.

A long standing joke in the concert world, someone in the crowd shouted “FREE BIRD!” during a brief pause as Robinson and McPhun prepared to play their last song. The request, perhaps a new phenomenon to the Down Under duo, caused McPhun to pause in bewilderment before saying, “Are you saying Free Bird? …We haven’t got any guitars.” He and Robinson then proceeded to finish out their refreshingly guitar-less set with nothing but infectious smiles on their faces.

Amee Robinson

You can catch the Ruby Suns on tour with Tilly and the Wall for another week. In November they head overseas with another PopWreckoning favorite, The Dodos.

Tour Dates:
Jul 31 – Paradise Rock Club / Boston #
Aug 01 – Mohawk Place / Buffalo #
Aug 02 – Mod Club / Toronto #
Aug 03 – Hartwood Acres / Pittsburgh #
Aug 05 – The Magic Stick / Detroit #
Aug 06 – The Abbey Pub / Chicago #
Aug 07 – Sokol Auditorium / Omaha, Nebraska #
Aug 09 – Daytrotter Session / Rock Island, Il.
Nov 14 – Point Ephemere / Paris *
Nov 17 – Nachtleben / Frankfurt *
Nov 18 – Headcrash / Hamburg *
Nov 19 – Voxhall / Aarhus *
Nov 20 – Loppen / Copenhagen *
Nov 21 – Knaack / Berlin *
Nov 22 – kropolis / Prague *
Nov 23 – 59-1 / Munich *
Nov 24 – Chelsea / Vienna *
Nov 25 – Stalker / Padova *
Nov 26 – Casa 139 / Milan *
Dec 04 – King’s Arms / Auckland
Dec 05 – Spectrum / Sydney
Dec 06 – Northcote Social Club / Melbourne (w/ Pikelet and AIH djs)
Dec 29 – Rhythm & Vines Festival / Gisborne

# w/ Tilly and the Wall
* w/ The Dodos

The Ruby Suns: website | myspace | Sea Lion review | live review | Sub Pop 20
Sub Pop Records: website