Author Archives: Beth Ann Downey

April 5, 2013 | 3:45 PM | By

Unlocked: Meet Carlin Brown, Philly’s punk-drumming foodie (recipes included!)

When Carlin Brown isn’t making sweet beats behind the drum kit of Philly punk band Restorations, he’s making sweet eats inside the kitchen of some of the city’s most popular restaurants and bars.

Currently a cook at The Industry Bar, Brown’s restaurant resume is almost as long the list of serious bands he’s played in. He said these two jobs are also surprisingly quite similar.

“Being in a kitchen, you’re trapped in this weird, strange little environment with this one group of people, and you can only rely on this one group of people. These are the only people you have to do this job with you, so you just figure out strengths and weaknesses and go ‘OK, we’re going to make this work.’ We’re going to figure this out,” Brown said. “The band stuff translates just as well. In music and in food, in the same way, sometimes egos get out of check. You’ll have these [musicians] that think they deserve things and that sort of thing. The same thing with chefs. Every now and then, you’ll see a chef get out of line. He’s drinking too much or doing this sort of thing, and everything fails eventually because they don’t care about what the original purpose was in the first place, which was making good music or food. You’re supposed to take care of your friends and make something good happen.”

Today’s post details Brown’s experiences from working in some of the top-rated bars and restaurants in the city, along with a few of his favorite recipes. Brown figures that many musicians in Philly have also picked up the same trade due to flexibility with taking time off to tour.

“When you’re in Philadelphia, if you walk into a kitchen and the people who are working in the kitchen don’t have tattoos, the food is probably going to suck,” he said.

Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Artist Profiles, Artists, Concert Previews, Events, Interviews, Restorations, Unlocked
April 4, 2013 | 4:18 PM | By

Unlocked: Restorations and the ever-improving sound of new punk

_MG_9457_V1_FilePhilly punk outfit Restorations seems to have carved out its own little corner of Fishtown.

Right across from Miner Street Studios, where the band recorded its last three releases, is their warehouse practice space. A series of doors open into cold, dank space, then to a homier environment with a kitchen and sofas. Someone there has jokingly crossed out part of the “Restroom” sign so that it now bears the band’s name. The five-piece squeezes into a tiny, sealed-off room, sometimes also visited or accompanied on a fourth guitar by their producer, Jon Low.

Tonight, songs like “D” and “Let’s Blow Up the Sun” off the band’s newly released LP2 are blaring – seeping through the walls and wafting out on to the adjacent street. Past favorites like “When You’re Older” join the new ones, as do laughs and the spontaneous 30-second launch into a cover of “Slide” by the Goo Goo Dolls.

This little corner of Fishtown is where the fun and the magic happen, but a far journey from where Restorations started with the project in 2008.

“We had all come in as defeated, resigned musicians being like, ‘Who cares, we’ll play for a couple of beers and gas money,” said frontman Jon Loudon, who started the band with guitarist Dave Klyman after the split of their post-hardcore band, Jena Berlin. “That’s all we really wanted. If we recorded, great! Cool! And that was it, we’d have something to do on Thursday nights. That was the M.O. of the band for the longest time.”

In the beginning, it was never the intention for Restorations to be the band they are today — one with an extensive and constantly maturing discography, a new record deal and the ability and opportunity to soon tour the country. They agree that the August announcement of their signing to SideOneDummy Records — home to bands like Anti-Flag and The Gaslight Anthem — was a “we made it” moment for this collection of musicians who had given up on that dream multiple times before.

“We finally just got the job that we wanted,” said drummer Carlin Brown. “So now, it’s actually time to work.” Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Artist Profiles, Artists, Interviews, Restorations, Unlocked
April 3, 2013 | 4:53 PM | By

Unlocked: Let’s talk about Fest – a live video chronology of Restorations

restorations-8In 2011, Gainesville’s annual Fest proved to be a defining moment and performance for Restorations. The Florida hardcore festival showcases both the big and the upcoming-and-coming acts in punk rock, pop punk, post-hardcore and metal music. For those who have never heard of it, think of it as the South by Southwest for the non-ironically tattooed.

The 2011 installment (Fest 10) was Restorations’ first, aside from a one-off house show at Fest 7 before guitarist/keyboard player Ben Pierce was even in the band. It was one of the only out-of-the-Northeast shows the band was able to play with most members carrying full-time jobs. They took on the small club at the festival called Loosey’s. And to that small but packed house, they must have played the set of a lifetime because, after Fest 10, everyone started to take notice.

Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Artist Profiles, Artists, Concert Photos + Videos, Events, First Unitarian Church, Restorations, Unlocked
April 2, 2013 | 6:07 PM | By

Unlocked: The Key’s review of LP2 by Restorations

11298_fullsizeYou can’t do a Restorations album justice listening to it just one way. When you hear one of the Philly punk band’s sprawling songs for the first time, it rushes over you like a waterfall, seeps into your ears, muddles every single one of your senses, and most likely leaves you breathless.

This band’s ability to generate a wall of sound is what made the generation of “grown-up” punks gravitate toward Restorations, building their reputation after the release of their self-titled LP in 2011. But close listeners of any Restorations song will pick up on more than just the overview, the surface. They’ll hold on to a subtle but notable guitar lick, a slamming bass note or a simple, poignant lyric that in turn gets stuck in your head for days.

This week’s release of LP2 will not disappoint long-time fans. The sophomore full-length not only crashes over the heads of listeners, but sweeps you away into the sea of complexity, maturity and the band’s full-blown ability to rock. They’re brand is much different from the fuzz rock phenomenon of today. The crispness and thoughtfulness behind each layer and effect are heightened under the direction of producer Jon Low, who mixed self-titled and produced Restorations’ last two 7-inch records. These also aren’t the loud-and-fast, two-minute bursts that often characterize a “punk song.” They’re sometimes slow and steady, with hills and valleys that still lead you somewhere very, very loud by then end. Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Artist Profiles, Artists, Concert Previews, Concert Reviews, Events, Recordings, First Unitarian Church, Restorations, Unlocked
April 1, 2013 | 3:30 PM | By

Unlocked: Download “Kind of Comfort” by Restorations

_MG_9985_V1_File

Philly punk band Restorations prides itself on a certain type of simplicity.

The band was formed out of the ashes of not just one failed project, but probably about half a dozen across its five members. Vocalist Jon Loudon, guitarists Dave Klyman, bassist Dan Zimmerman, drummer Carlin Brown and guitar/keys player Ben Pierce came together with the simple goal to restore their faith in music, the industry, consumers and fans.

They make albums with straightforward titles, including 2011’s self-titled LP, last year’s A/B 7-inch, and now, tomorrow’s release of LP2. But the music made by Restorations is anything but simple. The band mixes the energy of punk music with the complexity of shoegaze and the tradition of classic rock. Steady build-ups and loud break-downs take any listener through waves of instrumental and emotional highs and lows. Loudon’s deep, scratchy vocals and growls come in at just the right moment to rattle you to the core. Harmonies and guitar parts layer in ways you would have never thought possible.

Despite initial humble intentions, Restorations is blowing up among mature punk listeners, and even beyond the punk world. All this week, The Key will look into LP2 to find out what all the buzz is about as part of our weekly Unlocked series.

Today, you can download “Kind of Comfort” for free, which highlights Restorations’ inclination toward snarly guitar solos and spacey effects. Several of the album’s tracks have also been digitally pre-released to build the hype for tomorrow and Friday’s album release show at the First Unitarian Church. And check back later in the week for a review, video, interview and more.

FILED UNDER: Artist Profiles, Artists, Concert Previews, Downloads, Events, Recordings, First Unitarian Church, Restorations, Unlocked
March 29, 2013 | 5:00 PM | By

Restorations go acoustic for charity at Yards’ Brewery’s Philly Beergasm

Photo by Beth Ann Downey

Restorations | Photo by Beth Ann Downey

Collaborate Philly hosted its first annual Philly Beergasm charity fundraiser last night, and the event proved to be just as exciting as its title.

The networking collective for the local creative community joined up with Beer Cakes Philly to throw the beer and food tasting party at Yards Brewing Company, with proceeds benefiting Philabundance.

Though the chill hang and networking vibe permeated throughout most of the evening, live acoustic sets from End of America and Philly’s own Restorations were the highlight of the entertainment.

Restorations played through some of the stripped-down stock from their new album LP2, which drops on Tuesday. They serenaded the slightly craft beer buzzed audience with tracks like “New Old,” “A” and even old favorites like “Nonlocality.”

A raffle of beer-related apparel from Triumph and other local breweries ended the event. Whether it was the beer, the prizes or the live music, few in the small audience seemed to leave unsatisfied.

FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Photos + Videos, Concert Reviews, Events, Restorations
February 25, 2013 | 12:45 PM | By

At Union Transfer, Desaperacidos rocks out like it was 2002 (photos, review)

It seems as though Philadelphians will take Conor Oberst any way they can get him.

After playing a stripped down and intimate solo show at the Kimmel Center in November, the singer-songwriter and Bright Eyes frontman returned to Philly Saturday to play quite a different batch of his material – that of his incredibly loud, politically fueled and recently reunited hardcore band Desaparecidos. Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Photos + Videos, Concert Reviews, Events, Desaparecidos, Joyce Manor