Photo By: Rachel Del Sordo
Photo By: Rachel Del Sordo
Ten time Grammy winner Bobby McFerrin gave a stellar performance at this afternoon’s Free at Noon concert. McFerrin just released his 22nd studio album spirityouall last month. Check out the photo gallery above, the set list below and listen here (via the WXPN media player). Also check out McFerrin’s performance with Philadelphia legends The Roots on Wednesday’s episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Continue reading
The Chester County-based folk group Tin Bird Choir performed in a stripped down two-piece configuration for this weeks’ installment of the WXPN lunchtime buskers’ series at The Porch at 30th Street Station. The band mixes poppy harmonies with the acoustic troubadour tradition, and is releasing its Kickstarter-funded second record next month. The band’s CD release party will be June 15th at Steel City Coffeehouse in Phoenixville. Watch a video of them performing below, and be on the lookout for next week’s installment of the series featuring The Districts.
Tin Bird Choir busking at The Porch at 30th Street Station from WXPN FM on Vimeo.
Local saloon-style rock band Low Cut Connie found themselves at the center of attention in a Chicago bowling alley a few weeks ago after getting a call from President Obama’s media staff. Fans of Low Cut Connie, campaign staffers Mia Sorensen and Christopher Markos offered to film the band performing a couple of live, pop-up songs at Diversey Rock N’ Bowl near Logan Square. “Boozophilia” (which charted at #31 in Rolling Stone’s top 50 songs of 2012) takes place in the crowded North Side alley while the boys serenaded a line of traffic in the parking lot for “Cat n’ Cream.” You can catch Low Cut Connie at a pair of non-pop-up shows this summer, first at Appel Farm on June 1st and then at Underground Arts on August 3rd. Tickets and information for both shows can be found here. Watch the Chicago videos below.
Photo by Joe Del Tufo | JoeDelTufo.com
Photo by Joe Del Tufo | JoeDelTufo.com
Photo by Joe Del Tufo | JoeDelTufo.com
Sharply-dressed gospel-funk ensemble The Relatives wrapped up this year’s Non-COMM with a Friday night set of sweet harmonies on the World Cafe Live stage. Hailing from Texas and performing together since 1970, the group just released its first album of original material in 30 years, The Electric World. Check out photos from their performance above, and see more of Joe Del Tufo’s coverage of Non-COMM here. Listen to David Dye’s World Cafe interview with The Relatives here.
Photos by Joe Del Tufo | JoeDelTufo.com
Photos by Joe Del Tufo | JoeDelTufo.com
Singer and songwriter José James and his his impressive backing band brought smooth, jazzy and eclectic sounds to Non-COMM last weekend. James released his album No Beginning, No End on Blue Note Records in January and worked through an assortment of songs from it during his set, as well as a winning cover of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” (the second cover of it we heard during the Non-COMM weekend). Check out a gallery of photos from his set above, and see more of Joe Del Tufo’s Non-COMM coverage here.
Photo by Joe Del Tufo | JoeDelTufo.com
Photo by Joe Del Tufo | JoeDelTufo.com
Photo by Joe Del Tufo | JoeDelTufo.com
Boston bluegrass five-piece Della Mae got Non-COMM attendees warmed up for three days of music with a lively set during the convention’s opening cocktail hour on Wednesday. Their new album, The World Oft Can Be, is out next Tuesday on Rounder Records. Check out photos from their set in the gallery above. For more of Joe Del Tufo’s Non-COMM photos, go here.
Gospel-rock legend Mavis Staples played a powerful set accompanied only by a guitarist for the downstairs Non-COMM crowd at World Cafe Live. Her performance touched on Staples Singers staples such as “The Weight” and “I’ll Take You There” along with selections from her new Jeff Tweedy-produced LP One True Vine. Check out photos from the performance and see the setlist below. Continue reading
