Tonight: The Key Studio Sessions LIVE feat. Graham Alexander and Find Vienna at World Cafe Live

Find Vienna

WXPN and The Key are happy to present the fourth show in our Key Studio Sessions LIVE concert series, which will feature Graham Alexander and Find Vienna TONIGHT at 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live. Tickets to the show are SOLD OUT, but we will have audio of the performances and photo galleries on the site tomorrow morning. Below, you can watch a video from each of the performing acts.

Go here to listen to and download our new The Key Studio Session Compilation Volume 4, featuring exclusive tracks recorded at the WXPN studios by 16 local acts, including Lushlife, Chill Moody, City Rain, + more..

Watch the May episode of Shaking Through featuring Purling Hiss

This month’s episode of Shaking Through—the online audio and video collaboration between Weathervane Music and WXPN—features a song by Purling Hiss called “Lolita.” This month’s episode was recorded in early April at Miner Street Recordings, and guest curated by The War On Drugs’ Adam Granduciel.

From the folks at Shaking Through:

We’ve been hearing about Purling Hiss and its creator, Mike Polizze, for some time now, echoing within the inner circuit of Philadelphia’s most esteemed music elite: Kurt Vile, Richie Charles, The War on Drugs. Local promoters can’t seem to get enough of band as well — their enthusiasm fueled by The Hiss’ huge sound, out-sized energy and classic rock n’ roll vibes.

Adam Granduciel, frontman and guitarist for the Philadelphia-based band The War On Drugs, curated the episode. Of everyone he knew, Purling Hiss was the one he believed would seize the opportunity and create something remarkable, and so he and the band converged at Miner Street in Philadelphia to record “Lolita” over the course of a warm weekend in early April. The result: Polizze’s swirling guitar riffs, and the band’s rebellious rhythm (Mike Sneeringer on Drums and Kiel Everett on Bass), take the listener into a triumphant rock-n-roll landscape, one that can’t be passively pushed aside in today’s music.

You can listen to the track and watch the video below; visit Shaking Through’s website to see photos, interviews, and more from the session.

This Week’s Contest: Win a pair of tickets to see Citizen Cope at Electric Factory in October

This week, we’ve got a pair of tickets for each of Citizen Cope‘s performance at Electric Factory on Friday, October 26th, and Saturday, October 27th. The tickets don’t go on sale until this Saturday at noon, so this is your chance to win a pair before they even become available to the public. All you have to do is leave a comment below by 5 p.m. Thursday, May 17th. We’ll select the winners at random that evening and notify them via email; once you’ve confirmed that you and your guest will be attending the show, your names will be added to the venue’s guest list. (Just make sure to use a valid email address when posting your comment; we promise not to sell your contact info or sign you up for anything—we just want to be able to get in touch with you if you win.)

Below, you can listen to the title track from Citizen Cope’s upcoming album, One Lovely Day (due July 17th).

The Key Studio Sessions: Hurry

Out today in the self-release world of Bandcamp is the latest EP from Hurry, the dreamy noise pop / shoegaze project from Philly’s Matt Scottoline. He typically plays bass in the comparatively amped up pop punk band Everyone Everywhere, buy that’s “amped” in terms of tempo and energy. There was plenty of pure volume filling the room when the live lineup of Hurry recorded its Key Studio Session. Joining Scottoline was Brendan McHugh of Everyone Everywhere on second guitar, and Rob DeCarlois of Univox on drums; I dig the raw immediacy they bring to Scottoline’s songs, which are deliciously lush and layered on the album. Download the session below, compare / contrast with Hurry’s music on Bandcamp, and keep an eye fixed on Facebook for news of their live appearances.

My Morning Download: “Brothers” by Adam Granduciel of The War On Drugs

Photo by Graham Tolbert


The War On Drugs are performing this summer at WXPN’s XPoNential Music Festival and they are also performing tomorrow evening, Thursday, May 15th, at World Cafe Live as part of this year’s Non-COMMvention broadcasts. The War On Drugs perform on the NPR Music Stage featuring Polica, Father John Misty and Beth Orton. The complete schedule of broadcasts, starting with tonight’s Key Studio Session with Graham Alexander and Find Vienna followed by Grace Potter and The Nocturnals is here. Lead singer and guitarist of The War On Drugs, Adam Granduciel, did a Key Studio Session last August that you can listen to here. During the acoustic session Adam performed a version of “Brothers” from the band’s recent album Slave Ambient. Download the song below.

Download a new song by Nothing, “Downward Years To Come”

Photo via http://wearenothing.tumblr.com/


Nothing have just released a scorchingly blissed out new song called “Downward Years To Come.” These guys sound like they’re on a mission with this powerful shoegazing beauty of a new song. The walls of guitar noise are dripped in ethereal reverb, the drums pummel with dexterity and the vocals float right on top of it all. Sort of like the Foo Fighters meets My Bloody Valentine. The song, produced and engineered by Kyle “Slick” Johnson, is from an EP coming out in August.

Philadelphia Folk Festival announces lineup including Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, Wanda Jackson, Steve Earle and more


The lineup for the 51st annual Philadelphia Folk Festival, August 17th through August 19th at Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford Township, near Schwenksville, PA.was announced today. Highlights include Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, Steve Earle and The Dukes, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Wanda Jackson, and Little Feat. Other performers include Strand Of Oaks, City & Colour, The Secret Sisters, The Holmes Brothers, Arborea, Chris Bathgate and more. Go here for tickets and more information about the weekend and the lineup. WXPN’s Gene Shay will once again host the festival.

Market East debut new video for “Elena” (playing North Star Bar on Thursday, May 24th)


Market East have debuted a new video for the song “Elena,” from their self-titled debut album. You can download the album for free here. Market East play at the North Star Bar on Thursday, May 24th, opening with Lucy Stone and Henry Wolf for Brad Hinton. Watch the video below for “Elena,” and download Market East’s cover of The Everly Brothers’ “Bye Bye Love.” Go here for tickets and more information about the show.

Tonight: WXPN Welcomes The Spinto Band with Nightlands to Kung Fu Necktie


Tonight WXPN Welcomes The Spinto Band to Kung Fu Necktie at 8 p.m. with Nightlands and Brooklyn’s Via Audio. Nightlands is bassist Dave Hartley’s (of War On Drugs) solo band; tonight Adam Granduciel of War On Drugs will be joining Nightlands for some guest guitar shredding. This is the second show of a four show residency at Kung Fu Necktie throughout the month of May. Go here for tickets and more information about tonight’s show. Below, listen to “Take It” from The Spinto Band’s excellent new album Shy Pursuit.

Just announced: WXPN Welcomes Citizen Cope to the Electric Factory for two shows in October


Citizen Cope has announced a North American tour that brings him to the Electric Factory on Thursday, October 26th and Friday, October 27th. Tickets go on sale next Saturday, May 19th at 10am. Cope will also be performing this Thursday for a special Free At Noon during the WXPN Non-Comm music conference with Joseph Arthur. The Thursday Free At Noon will be broadcast live. Go here to purchase tickets to Cope’s October shows at the Electric Factory.