Blog Archives

January 5, 2013 | 5:22 PM | By

Call of the Wild: Cheatahs (playing Johnny Brenda’s 3/7)

Cheatahs, one of the best new acts emerging in London, have announced a US tour for this spring accompanying Veronica Falls. The four-piece punk outfit, which is the new project of ex-Weird Dreams member James Wignall, have yet to release a full-length album, but their two 2012 EPs made waves this summer. The title track from their Coared EP, which you can stream here, has a nostalgic fuzzpop vibe that’ll leave you wanting more beyond the album’s four tracks. Grab tickets to their March show at Johnny Brenda’s here, and below you can watch the watercolor inspired video for “Swans,” the first single from their new Sans EP.

FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Previews, Events, Cheatahs, Johnny Brenda's, Veronica Falls
January 5, 2013 | 3:32 PM | By

Watch two new videos from Angel Olsen; hear her Folkadelphia session

You’ve got to give it up for our compatriots at NPR Music for this cool collaborative music and film project featuring the music of Angel Olsen.  A group of artistic minded friends- Angel Olsen, Randy Sterling, Ashley Connor, and Zia Anger- worked on producing two music videos, one for “Tiniest Seed,” a track from Olsen’s buzz-inducing HalfWay Home (2012), and one for a new rockier song “Sweet Dreams,” which is available on her forthcoming “Sleepwalker” 7”. Both videos almost perfectly encapsulate the mood and feel of the tracks, a necessity for a musician who lives and dies expressing emotions.

Last year, the Internet was abuzz with glowing reviews of Olsen’s sophomore release Half Way Home and rightly so, for her emotive singing, honest lyrics, and rawness of spirit resounded with many listeners (including this one). Folkadelphia was lucky enough to capture to record a few songs while Angel was in Philadelphia, which is available here for streaming and download.

FILED UNDER: Artist Profiles, Artists, News, Angel Olsen, Folkadelphia, NPR Music
January 5, 2013 | 1:02 PM | By

Tonight’s Concert Picks: Sun Airway at Johnny Brenda’s, Ruby the Hatchet with Attic Dancers at MilkBoy, Brethren at The Grape Room

Photo by Shawn Brackbill | ShawnBrackbill.com

Glittery pop outfit Sun Airway play Johnny Brenda’s tonight with Historics and Cruiser.  On last year’s expansive sophomore release Soft Fall, Sun Airway washed their synths and vocals in the waters of some faraway cascade and dried them in the echo-y halls of a sky-high cathedral, creating an all-together other-worldly aura around the project.  Tickets and information for the 21+ show can be found here.  Below, watch the video for “Close” and dig deeper into Soft Fall with The Key’s Unlocked series here.

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FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Previews, Events, Scene, Attic Dancers, Cruiser, Historics, Johnny Brenda's, Milkboy Philly, Ruby The Hatchet, Sun Airway
January 5, 2013 | 11:30 AM | By

Photos: Lee Ranaldo at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Guitarist Lee Ranaldo, an alum of XPo Fest ’12 and a founding member of Sonic Youth, performed a program of John Cage pieces last night as part of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Dancing Around the Bride exhibition. On display since the fall, the interdisciplinary exhibit celebrates the work and interactions of 20th century artists Cage, Marcel Duchamp, Merce Cunningham, Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg.

Ranaldo has long drawn influence from Cage – read Elliott Sharp’s interview with him here - and last night performed several abstract guitar pieces while dancers from Cunningham’s dance company performed on the stage in front of him. The sound was imaginative and somewhat mystical, mixing in audio from radio and a player piano with Ranaldo’s exhilarating guitar work. He suspended his guitar from the ceiling and played it with a bow, waved it atop his upturned guitar amplifier, swung it like a propeller around the room and allowed the air and motion the shape the sound how it would. Ranaldo performs again today and tomorrow, beginning at 1 p.m.; more information can be found at the museum’s website.

FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Photos + Videos, Concert Previews, Events, News, Lee Ranaldo, Philadelphia museum of Art