The Key » Concert Photos + Videos

Non-COMM Recap: Going introspective with John Murry (photos, audio, setlist)

John Vettese — Sat, 18 May 2013 03:04:42 +0000

With just his guitar and his voice, Bay Area by way of Mississippi songwriter John Murry played an emotional, powerful set Wednesday night at Non-COMM. Playing an assortment of songs from his current LP The Graceless Age, he also threw in a stirring cover of “What Jail Is Like” by The Afghan Whigs. See Murry’s setlist below and listen to his performance in its entirety here (via the WXPN media player).

Setlist
California
Miss Magdalene
Things We Lost In the Fire
Southern Sky
What Jail is Like (Afghan Whigs cover)

Non-COMM Recap: Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside dabble in retro rock (photos, audio, setlist)

John Vettese — Sat, 18 May 2013 02:43:48 +0000

Portland retro group Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside showed the Non-COMM crowd its rockability in a feisty set that closed out Wednesday night. The band is touring behind its latest LP Untamed Beast; check out the setlist below and listen to the performance in its entirety here (via the WXPN media player).

Setlist
Shivers
Devil
Lip Boy
Do Me Right
Rockability
They Told Me
Addicted
Party Kids

Non-COMM Recap: Robert Randolph makes steel strings sing and the crowd dance (photos, audio)

John Vettese — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:00:53 +0000

Slide guitar wizard and XPN favorite Robert Randolph got the downstairs crowd at World Cafe Live dancing in his Non-COMM set. Randolph’s latest project was producing The Slide Brothers, though he recently released a single called “Amped Up” that will be on his forthcoming LP Lickety Split, which comes out in July on Blue Note Records. Listen to Randolph’s set in its entirety here (via the WXPN media player).

Hurricane JEFF the Brotherhood rages through Kung Fu Necktie (review, photos)

Kate Bracaglia — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:13:49 +0000

Nashville duo JEFF the Brotherhood raged through Kung Fu Necktie like a hurricane last night, leaving nothing but scorched eardrums and satiated fans in their wake. The show marked the first of a two-show mini-residency that continues tonight at 8 pm.

It was an epic night for JEFF fans, as the band—who for the past ten years has toured as a duo—debuted their expanded line-up for Philly, playing half their set as a two-piece, and half as a quartet. Early numbers were brash, rash, and frenzied, as the band tore through songs with abandon—while later ones were thick, heady, and dripping with psychedelics.

The brainchild of brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall, JEFF the Brotherhood came together 12 years ago in 2001, and gigged extensively before breaking through on the indie front in 2009. Early songs were released through their own Infinity Cat Recordings label; in 2011 they signed with Warner Bros. Records to release their seventh LP, Hypnotic Nights, produced by the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach.

Both early and later tunes were represented last night, as the band took the stage without a setlist, responding to crowd input and their own whims. The first half of the set saw the brothers shredding through ragers like “Heavy Days” and “Noo Sixties”—Jamin’s beats providing a solid foundation for Jake’s wily guitar licks—as well as easygoing jammers like “Mellow Out.” Clad in all white, with unshakable focus, Jamin was the band’s beating heart, while the devilish Jake, dressed all in black, with long hair and a custom-built, three-string guitar, was its impish, mischievous soul.

For the second half of the set, JEFF expanded its line-up to include a second guitarist (a regular six-stringer) and a keyboardist, whose added power allowed them to tackle more complex numbers, like the motorik-turned-electropop grower “Wood Ox” and the sludgy, Weezer-meets-Nirvana-esque “Dark Energy.” Single “Sixpack” was an easy highlight, with its fist-pumping chorus of “oohs”—while older tune “Heavy Krishna” allowed for maximum psychedelic indulgence, both brothers rocking with abandon for the equally hyped-up crowd. We love JEFF as a two-piece, but last night they proved the brotherhood includes all those who believe.

JEFF the Brotherhood might have tore the (metaphorical) roof off KFN, but early sets from Brooklyn’s Hunters and Philly’s The Bad Doctors were likewise shred-tastic. Hunters blew through the space like a wildfire, front woman Isabel Almeida shrieking and flailing like a pink-haired Karen O.—while The Bad Doctors combined metal riffs and Matt McDermott’s schreechy, impassioned vocals with electronic, new wave grooves to surprising effect. We can’t wait to experience it all over again tonight!

JEFF the Brotherhood plays Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., tonight, May 17, with Hunters and Bad Side. The 21+ show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $15. More info can be found at the venue’s website.

Non-COMM Recap: A lively David Wax Museum wins over the cafe crowd (photos, audio, setlist)

John Vettese — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:48:08 +0000

David Wax Museum brought its lively blend of traditional Mexican music and Americana rock to a packed crowd in Non-COMM’s upstairs cafe last night. Drawing heavily from their 2012 offering Knock Knock Get Up, the seven-piece group played a variety of instruments including horns, accordion and a percussive jawbone. Check out the setlist below and listen to the performance in its entirety here (via the WXPN media player).

Setlist
The Rumors are True
Vivian, Won’t You Take Me In?
Yes, Maria, Yes
Will You Be Sleeping?
A Dog In This Fight
The Persimmon Tree
Born With A Broken Heart
Harder Before It Gets Easier

Non-COMM Recap: Strums, stomps and crowd participation with The Last Bison (photos, audio, setlist)

John Vettese — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:07:06 +0000

Massive in sheer numbers, the Virginia folk revival ensemble The Last Bison packed the upstairs stage at Non-COMM in period dress (if we gave out awards for best costume design, they would have won) and a lively and engaging performance. Their LP Inheritance is big on percussive crescendos and chant-along refrains, which created a great opportunity for crowd interaction – which peaked when singer-guitarist Ben Hardesty taking the microphone out into the crowd on the closing “Distance.” Check out the setlist below, listen to the performance in its entirety here (via the WXPN media player) and see The Last Bison again this summer at the XPoNential Music Festival.

Setlist
Inheritance
Quill
Castles
Switzerland
Take all the Time
Dark Aml
Distance

Non-COMM Recap: Mr. Tom Jones puts his own twist on the classics (photos, audio, setlist)

John Vettese — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:30:14 +0000

Incomparable crooner Tom Jones put his voice to songs written by some of his musical heroes on his 2012 release Spirit in the Room. For his outstanding Non-COMM set, the seasoned performer drew from this album and then some, also hitting on songs popularized by Johnny Cash, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and John Lee Hooker. Check out the setlist (along with the original artists of each song) below, and listen to Jones’ performance in its entirety here (via the WXPN media player).

Setlist
Tower of Song – originally by Leonard Cohen
(I Want To) Come Home – originally by Paul McCartney
Hit Or Miss – originally by Odetta
Dimming of the Day – originally by Richard Thompson
Soul of a Man – originally by Blind Willie Johnson
Burning Hell – originally by John Lee Hooker
Just Dropped In – originally by Mickey Newbury
If I Give My Soul – originally by Billy Joe Shaver
Traveling Shoes – originally by Ethan Johns
Run On – traditional, inspired by Elvis Presley
Didn’t It Rain – traditional, inspired by Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Non-COMM Recap: Wild Belle struck a cozy vibe with the Cafe crowd (photos, audio, setlist)

John Vettese — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:01 +0000

Sibling-led Chicago band Wild Belle played a well-recieved set upstairs at non-comm, mixing electronic rhythms and synthesizer-crafted vibes with live instrumentation. Engaging frontwoman Natalie Bergman commanded the crowd, dancing with them to a selection of songs from the band’s 2013 debut Isles. Check out the setlist below and listen to the band’s set in its entirety here (via the WXPN media player).

Setlist
It’s Too Late
Love Like This
Happy Home
Another Girl
Keep You

Non-COMM Recap: Mount Moriah’s moving country-rock starts night two (photos, audio, setlist)

John Vettese — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:30:51 +0000

North Carolinian country-rock band Mount Moriah made its Non-COMM debut and kicked off the second night of music at World Cafe Live. The band played a selection of songs from its latest Merge Records LP Miracle Temple; check out the setlist below and listen to the performance in its entirety here (via the WXPN media player).

Setlist
Bright Light
Eureka Springs
White Sands
Miracle Temple Holiness
Lament

Watch Alex Shaw of Alo Brasil perform WXPN’s Philly Local lunchtime busker series

Julie Miller — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:42:27 +0000

Local multi-instrumentalist Alex Shaw performed at The Porch at 30th Street Station earlier this week for the XPN Local Show busker series. You may recognize Shaw as band leader of Philadelphia’s eleven-piece Brazilian troupe Alo Brasil (check out their recent Key Studio Session here) but for this week’s afternoon set he performed solo, accompanied only by a guitarist. Watch a video of the duo below and check out other busker series videos here.

Alex Shaw of Alo Brasil busking at The Porch at 30th Street Station from WXPN FM on Vimeo.