Photos by Abi Reimold | AbiReimold.22slides.com

Other highlights of the season include: The Philadelphia School of Circus Arts on June 19, Illstyle & Peace on June 12, Dice Raw & Company on August 7, and the series closes with a special performance from Kurt Vile. Go here for more information and the complete schedule.

The label will also be releasing a 10th Anniversary compilations of previously released and unreleased material from bands that have recorded for the label. The CD will be distributed at the show and will be made available for sale following the concert. Track listing below:

MDR 10th Anniversary Compilation
1. Hoots & Hellmouth- You & All of Us (from the Holy Open Secret)
2. Matt Duke- Tidal Waves (from Winter Child)
3. Andrew Lipke & The Prospects- Get It Over With (from Motherpearl & Dynamite)
4. Kuf Knotz- Fame Us (from Boombox Generation)
5. The Redwalls – Modern Diet (from The Redwalls)
6. Motion City Soundtrack- Severance (from Making Moves)
7. A Great Big Pile of Leaves- Writing Utensils (from Making Moves)
8. Goldrush- Settle Down (from Making Moves)
9. The Skies Revolt- For Your Health (from Making Moves)
10. The Company We Keep- Right/Wrong (from Making Moves)
11. The Swimmers – Hundred Hearts (from People Are Soft)
12. Toy Soldiers – Throw Me Down (from Whisper Down the Lane)
13. Trisha O’Keefe- Never Enough (from Star Burns Brightest)
14. Jules Shear- Used To It (from Dreams Don’t Count)

Bonus Tracks – New Tracks – Previously Unreleased by MAD Dragon Artists
15. Hoots & Hellmouth- Off to Sea (previously unreleased)
16. Kuf Knotz- Runnin’ (previously unreleased)
17. Matt Duke- Dead Meat (previously unreleased)
18. Andrew Lipke- The Old Man and the Sea (previously unreleased)
19. Andrew Gray- Take It Easy (previously unreleased)
20. Sean Hoots- Boy of Leaf (previously unreleased)

Last Call at the Downbeat (4/5-4/13, Red Room at the Society Hill Playhouse):  Learn about Philadelphia’s jazz scene in the forties with this staged retrospective of trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie.  Watch a short video about the play from show producers Jazz Bridge below.

Prima! Rufus! Judy! (4/21, Verizon Hall): Rufus Wainwright reprises Judy Garland’s return to the stage with selections from her 1961 Carnegie Hall performance.  The evening will begin with excerpts from Wainwright’s own opera Prima Donna.  Watch Wainwright perform “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart” below.

SENDMSG (4/12, Perelman Theater): Tech-saavy musician and DJ Dan Deacon celebrates the first email, sent by Ray Tomlinson in 1971.  Deacon has created an audience-participatory evening that will feature smartphone technology.  Watch a trailer for Deacon’s free interactive app below.

Songs in the Key of Life (4/14, Verizon Hall): Robert Glasper presents a Stevie Wonder Tribute with his band and special guests, re-imagining and reflecting on the work of Wonder with new arrangements and compositions.  Watch Glasper perform Stevie Wonder’s “Golden Lady” with Derrick Hodge below.

The Arc of Curiosity (4/5, Rose Recital Hall, University of Pennsylvania):  The invention of ENIAC at Penn and the computer’s subsequent influence on both electronic and instrumental music forms are explored in this multimedia concert, opened with a talk by the composers.  Below, listen to John Chowning’s Stria (part II of the program).

In addition to the many featured performances throughout PIFA, there are over fifty free concerts and events happening in the Time Travel Plaza.  Some highlights include:

The Hundred Acre Woods with Brooke DiCarlo (3/28, Philly Night)
Andrew Lipke with Travel Songs (4/4, Philly Night)
The Heat Run with Sharon Katz and the Peace Train (4/11, Philly Night)
Robert Drake (4/12, 80s Night)
Talain Rayne with Lucy Stone (4/18, Philly Night)
Cold Fronts with The Swinging Foxes (4/25, Philly Night)
The Fleeting Ends with WC Lindsay (4/26, The Future)

Tickets and information for all events can be found here.

Over a dozen local favorites are joining to together for a go at Song Reader: Twenty New Songs by Beck tonight at World Cafe Live upstairs.  As previously reported, influential music man Beck Hansen released his latest album in the (not so) traditional format of sheet music, intended for individual interpretation by those who wanted to hear the otherwise-unrecorded songs.  Tonight’s bill is a near-comprehensive list of Philly’s major players including Sean Hoots, Andrew Lipke, The Districts, Toy Soldiers and Kuf Knotz.  Tickets and information for the event can be found here.  For a full list of participating bands go here.  Below, watch local singer-songwriter Ben Smith perform his take of “Last Night You Were a Dream” from the Reader.

Elk Rhythms will perform tonight at the North Star Bar‘s New Music Showcase.  The folk project of Andy Ellison, Elk Rhythms’ audible influences on 2012′s self-titled EP range from The Grateful Dead (“Forty Days“) to Fleet Foxes with some unexpected Animal Collective playfulness thrown in (“Sleepwalking“).  Also playing tonight are Twenty Minute Tango, The Pretty Dittys and Devil’s Triangle.  Tickets and information for the 21+ show can be found here.  Below, stream and download Elk Rhythms’ “Gone Away.”.

The following represent my five favorite concert photos I took this year.

1.Wild Flag, Tuesday, April 3, 2012, Trocadero Theatre, Philadelphia, PA

Very little in contemporary rock is closer to perfection than bringing together Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony, Janet Weiss, and Rebecca Cole in one space. The aural ecstasy that is a Wild Flag concert oozes forth from this shot: Brownstein’s leg-kick, Timony’s guitar crouch, Cole as keyboard-extraordinaire, and Weiss at one with drumming.

Photo by Chris Sikich

2. The Baseball Project, Thursday, June 5, 2012, City Winery, New York, NY

As a musical compendium of eccentric baseball knowledge, The Baseball Project, which is composed of Steve Wynn, Scott McCaughey, Peter Buck, and Linda Pitmon, truly rock and roll the listener, with a dash of pure fun for good measure. This night they took the fun to one extreme in this faux shot of anger between rival (at least in the 1991 World Series) Minnesota Twins fans Craig Finn (providing vocals to his song “Don’t Call Them Twinkies”) and Pitmon and Atlanta Braves fan Mike Mills (pinch-hitting for Peter Buck on this night).

Photo by Chris Sikich

3. Andrew Lipke and The Azrael Quartet, Saturday, August 25, 2012, Christ Church, Riverton, NJ

The music of Andrew Lipke lent itself quite well to the reverential surroundings of Christ Church for the concert this photo was snapped at. With help from his Azrael Quartet, Lipke, one of Philadelphia’s most underrated musicians, filled the space with works as varied as apocalyptic tales from his 2011 record The Plague and his lengthy, multi-movement work “Siddqah.”

Photo by Chris Sikich

4. Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, Saturday, September 8, Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

Despite witnessing The Boss four times in Philadelphia and once in New Jersey during his Wrecking Ball tour, I found myself at Chicago’s Wrigley Field with quite a bit of luck in hand: a spot up close in GA. Springsteen certainly did not disappoint, playing his heart out in pouring rain and with the help of not only the magnificent E Street Band but also guests Tom Morello and Eddie Vedder. This shot, taken at the end of a three-hour master class on rock ’n’ roll, brims with the joy of experiencing The Boss.

Photo by Chris Sikich

5. The Minus 5, Yep Roc 15, Saturday, October 13, 2012, Cat’s Cradle, Carrboro, NC

Scott McCaughey, complete with his trademark bushy white hair and baseball cap, leaps in this shot, putting a final rush of energy into The Minus 5’s bristling garage-rock set. He is far from done on this third and final night of celebrating Yep Roc Records, as he later joins The Sadies.

Photo by Chris Sikich

Photo by Theresa McCullough | tresmackproductions.tumblr.com

To celebrate its one-year anniversary, Fishtown recording studio Boom Room has booked a monster of a show.  Headlined by hip hop group Camp Lo, The W.E. featuring R&B singer Jaguar Wright, psych-jazz trio Grimace Federation and Kuf Knotz, the event will have an outdoor stage, an indoor dance party and an after party.  Complementary food and beverages will be provided by Vitamin Water, Pabst Blue Ribbon and the Local 215 food truck so really, you have no excuse to not dance your feet off.  Tickets are $30 and can be purchased here for the 21+ party, which kicks off at 1:00 p.m.  Below, watch a promo video for Boom Room Studios.

Nick Zammuto is back with a new band called…Zammuto.  Formally of the avant-garde duo The Books, the Vermont-based guitarist pulled in three new band members for his new project and subsequently released a self-titled album in April.  The experimentalists will take the stage tonight at Johnny Brenda’s with Lymbyc Systym and Hermit Thrushes.  The show is 21+ and tickets are $14 here, with doors opening at 9:30 p.m.  Stream tracks from Zammuto’s album below via Soundcloud.

WXPN welcomes Maysie’s Farm Fest to Ludwig’s Corner in Chester County.  Autumn is a time for celebrating the last good days of the year, and Maysie’s Farm wants to help you do just that.  Featuring some of the best in local music, food and art, the festival will showcase sets by Cheers Elephant, Kuf Knotz, Andrew Lipke, Hezekiah Jones and many more.  There will also be children’s activities, local artists’ tents and local food vendors.  Tickets are $20 at the gate, $16 after 6:00 p.m.  Children under 13 are free and the event begins at 1:00 p.m.  Watch Cheers Elephant’s video for “Doin’ it Right” featuring the streets of Philadelphia below (and you can download their latest album for name-your-own-price here).

If there’s one breakout song that took the world by storm in 2012, it’s Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know.”  Locking in a performance on Saturday Night Live and playing many sold-out shows across the country, the Australian singer certainly made his mark.  Tonight, WXPN welcomes Gotye back to Philadelphia for a show at the Tower Theatre with Missy Higgins.  Tickets for the all ages show are $20 to $45, available through Live Nation.  Doors are at 8:00 p.m.  Watch the viral video for “Somebody That I Used to Know” below.

WXPN welcomes Melody Gardot to The Merriam Theatre tonight.  The Grammy-nominated singer culls influences from jazz singers of yore like Ella Fitzgerald and Judy Garland but puts an Astrud Gilberto spin on the traditional sounds.  Following a period of international travel, Gardot released her latest album The Absence in May.  She returns to her hometown tonight to perform at The Merriam Theatre.  For tickets and information visit the venue’s website here.  Watch a documentary short about The Absence below.

Aaron Brown of Aaron and the Spell

Every year, the Saturday concerts at Philadelphia Folk Fest get moving with Helen Leicht’s Philly Local Showcase on the festival’s Camp Stage. This year’s lineup spans styles from soul to chamber rock, kicking off with Aaron and the Spell at 11:00, continuing with Carsie Blanton at 11:45, Harper Blynn at 12:30 and Andrew Lipke at 1:15. Today, Helen gives us a look at the homegrown talent she has in store.

Aaron and the Spell is the impressive acoustic soul project of Harrisburg’s Aaron Brown, an emerging songwriter who in the past has dabbled in punk rock and (in high school) jazz music. His songs are neither punk nor jazz and that’s totally fine, since his singing voice is warm and welcoming, styled after Otis Redding and Sam Cooke. “As soon as I heard him sing, I said ‘wow!’” says Helen. “At our Philly Local showcase, I try to feature different styles of music, and he’s a great representation of soul music, the soul sound of Philly. Plus, his cover of ‘Purple Rain’ blew me away. When I heard him do it, I said ‘seriously, this guy is for real.’” Aaron and the Spell will be featured in tomorrow’s Key Studio Session, and you’ll be able to hear the tracks debut on tonight on the Philly Local Hour on 88.5 FM. Below, check out a recording of Brown singing “God Bless America” at Citizens’ Bank Park for a Phillies game.

Virginia native Carsie Blanton has been a player in the Philadelphia scene for six years, and has released two albums since arriving here – 2009′s Buoy and this year’s Idiot Heart. In that time, she’s also appeared several times on the Folk Show on WXPN, as well as the Philly Local Hour. “She’s an exciting artist, an exciting live performer,” Helen says. “She’s also had lots of great opportunities – she toured with Paul Simon and worked with producer Oliver Wood. I think she’s one of the talented female artists from our area.” Carsie was featured in a Key Studio Session earlier this year; watch her video below.

The Key Studio Session – Carsie Blanton from WXPN FM on Vimeo.

The songwriting duo that fronts Harper Blynn – Pete Harper and Jay Blynn – have been featured on the Philly Local Show in various forms since they were teenagers. Blynn’s middle school jam band, Pea Soup, was a Philly Local Pick once upon a time, and Helen has enjoyed following their career. “That’s what’s exciting for me as someone who supports local music,” she says. “You’re able to find these artists, they send in a homemade CD, and you get excited, play it on the radio and watch them grow.” Blynn teamed up with Harper in Pete and J, a folksy duo, which evolved into Harper Blynn, a pop-rock oriented project that played the XPoNential Music Festival in 2010. “Their harmonies are amazing,” says Helen. “If you’re looking for harmonies, Harper Blynn is your band. That’s why I thought they’d fit in well with the Folk Fest crowd.” Listen to the song “Knife” from Harper Blynn’s most recent record, Busy Hands, below.

Capping the showcase off is an appearance by Andrew Lipke, who last year released an ambitious album about the end of the world, The Plague, his latest in a string of impressive recordings that have been spotlighted on WXPN. “He’s grown so immensely, he’s so talented,” Helen says. “He’s recording, he’s producing. He worked with Chris Kasper on his record, and Chris Kasper is playing Folk Fest. He’s become one of the go-to artists for the local community.” In November, Lipke recorded a Key Studio Session with a full rock band and a string quartet, before a live studio audience – watch a video from that session below.

The 51st Philadelphia Folk Festival begins on Thursday Aug. 16 and runs through Sunday Aug. 19 at the Old Pool Farm in Schwenksville. Check back throughout the week for continuing Folk Fest coverage; tomorrow, we’ll see who the don’t-miss artists from our in-house folk music authorities – Gene Shay of WXPN’s Folk Show and Fred Knittel of XPN2′s Folkadelphia.

Poster designed by Ryan Psota

Local singer-songwriters Dani Mari and Reverend TJ McGlinchey have teamed up to host a monthly concert series in a popular South Philly park this summer. The FDR Park Summer Series kicked off on June 8th with performances by Griz and Kevin Killen, as well as sets from the hosts. The next concert in the series is this Friday featuring Toy Soldiers and Thom McCarthy. I sat down with Dani Mari and Reverend TJ McGlinchey to chat about the FDR Park Summer Series, what they’ve been up to, their new band, Lovers League, and the pair recorded a couple of acoustic songs for us.

McGlinchey and Mari first met about seven years ago through the local open mic scene and  reconnected in 2010 when Mari was the featured artist for Hezekiah Jones‘ open mic at JD Mc Gillicuddy’s in Ardmore. Since then, the pair have collaborated on recordings and performances: McGlinchey had Mari open for his CD release show at World Cafe Live in January. Now, in addition to hosting the FDR Park Summer Series, they are getting ready to record an album for their band, Lovers League.

Mari explains how the FDR Park Summer Series came about when she met Greg Jacovini, a member of the FDR Park Board. “He mentioned that they’re looking to have more live music there. I told him I had hosted a couple of festivals on the roof of Whole Foods a couple years ago. We were talking about it back and forth and finally decided to move forward and try to put something together for the summer.” They decided to put on a show once a month in the park. Mari contacted McGlinchey to co-host the concert series with her and he brought in his connections.

“Both my brothers are audio engineers,” he explained. “So it was easy to get sound. My little brother is doing the sound for it and bringing the PA. And just hanging out in the Philly scene I got to know some of the better musicians and had some connections to use there to get some good headliners.”

When asked about the vibe they were going for, McGlinchey laughed and responded, “Not heavy metal.” Each show will have a solo acoustic opener, followed by a set by Dani Mari and her band. McGlinchey will join her for a couple tunes, then McClinchey and his band will play a set, and a full band will close out each show, with the pair introducing each act. When asked about their hosting style, McGlinchey responded, “We have slightly awkward stage bits that we do. Mostly we kinda look at each other funny and go ‘uhhh..what?’ It’s a bit of a schtick.”

This Friday local singer-songwriter Thom McCarthy will open the show and the band Toy Soldiers will close out the night. McGlinchey says of Toy Soldiers, “They’re really good… it’s upbeat, dancey, and that’s what I go for [to] get the crowd going.” To make it more of an event, the pair have booked artists to show their works and the South Philly Food Co-Op will be participating for the concert this Friday. Since the series is free and open to the public, McGlinchey says, “there’s no excuse not to go.”

The August Summer Series show features opener Johnny Miles and headliner Ben Arnold. McGlinchey booked Ben Arnold, who he knew from hanging out in Manayunk and Rocksborough (and from opening for Arnold’s band US Rails). Mari brought in Johnny Miles, who she knows from the local music scene, to round out the line-up. For the September show, the pair booked local singer-songwriter Andrew Lipke and Philly folk rock band Railroad Fever. McGlinchey recorded his new album, Tell Me to Stay, in Lipke’s basement. As for the other bands, McGlinchey explains, ”a lot of people I know in the [Philly] folk scene I met through Raph in Hezekiah Jones…He used to do a lot of living room shows, so I’d go there and meet a ton of people and not really know who was who until I started going out and playing. But Railroad Fever is one of those bands.”

The pair also hope to put on a second FDR Park Summer Series next year. McGlinchey says “I’m hoping we make an impression this year and then next year they’ll recognize that we’ve done a good job and we can expand.” McGlinchey mentioned doing a longer show or extending the event and adding a punk rock stage at the skate park in FDR Park.

McGlinchey came to the interview on Tuesday with some pretty exciting news of his own. The musician had just found out that morning that he had been selected by the Philadelphia Folksong Society to play the main stage at the Philadelphia Folk Festival. McGlinchey explains, “I won a contest. It was called the Unsung Heroes Competition, it’s for campers and volunteers. They pick ten bands all together and then two out of that. So I get a spot on the main stage…I’m also gonna be playing keyboard with Griz that weekend so I’m gonna be busy. It’s the first year in maybe fifteen years that I’m not volunteering. I’ve been going my whole life so I’m really really excited. I think I have a built-in crowd just from camping.”

The pair were nice enough to record two songs they’ve been collaborating on while in our studio at World Cafe Live. The first, “That Man,” is off of Dani Mari’s album, Impulsive, and the second track is called “If You See Her”  off of Reverend TJ McGlinchey’s album, Tell Me to Stay. You can listen to and download both tracks below. Check out the free FDR Park Summer Series this Friday, July 27^th with Toy Soldiers and Thom McCarthy, August 31^st with Johnny Miles and Ben Arnold and September 28^th with Railroad Fever and Andrew Lipke.

• That Manby Dani Mari and Rev. T.J. McGlinchey, Acoustic at The KeyDownload

• If You See Herby Dani Mari and Rev. T.J. McGlinchey, Acoustic at The KeyDownload

Also Playing: This Will Destroy You + Mountains, Amen Dunes, Power Animal at First Unitarian Church (8 p.m., all ages, $12); Ryan Cabrera + Jennings at Tin Angel (10:30 p.m., all ages, $15); Vintage Kicks + Clone Justice, Bulletproof Tigers at Milkboy Philly (9:30 p.m., 21+, $8–$10)

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11th

Andrew Lipke performs with Exit Clov and Marc Silver at 9:30 p.m. at Milkboy Philly; tickets to the 21+ show are $10–$12.

Also Playing: Umphrey’s McGee + Work Drugs at Electric Factory (8:30 p.m., all ages, $25); The Summer Set + The Cab, He Is We, Days Difference, Paradise Fears at Union Transfer (6:30 p.m., all ages, $15); Man The Fire + Scoop The Freak, The Naked Sun at North Star Bar (9 p.m., 21+, $7–$9)

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12th
Woollen Kits + Pet Milk at The Level Room (9 p.m., 21+, $7); Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe Presents The Rolling Stones “Sticky Fingers” at Union Transfer (8 p.m., all ages, $20)

Andre Lipke

Andrew Lipke, Nicole Reynolds, The Bailey Hounds, Levee Drivers and nine other Philly bands have covered Bob Dylan songs on a new compilation called Dylan 70: Philadelphia Pays Tribute To A Legend. The album is a celebration of Dylan’s 70th birthday. Download the album here. Below, listen to Andrew Lipke’s cover of “Just Like A Woman,” “North Country Girl” by Nicole Reynolds and “All I Really Wanna Do” by Anna Christie (of Sisters 3).

Singer-songwriter Andrew Lipke and The Prospects recorded a Key Studio Session this past December that you can listen to here. During the session he recorded songs from his new album The Plague in front of a live studio audience with his backing band, The Prospects, and the Azreal Quartet. Below, download “Sleep Like A Child” recorded for the session. It also appears on our new Key Studio Sessions, Volume 3 that you can download here.

• Sleep Like A Childby Andrew Lipke and The Prospects from The Key Studio Sessions, Volume 3Download

DRGN King

The Key Studio Sessions Compilation Volume 3—which you can download for free here—features one exclusive track recorded at the WXPN studios by 18 local acts, including DRGN King, Blayer Point Du Jour, Plow United, Weston, Surgeon, Break It Up, Black Landlord, Crills Wilson, Psychic Teens, The Bad Doctors, Ben Smith, The Tressels, Saturn Never Sleeps, White Birds, Andrew Lipke, Ports Of Call, mewithoutYou, and Young Statues.

Special thanks to all of the bands for coming to our studio, and to John Vettese for recording them. We’d also like to thank volunteer production assistants Zachary Deveraux Fairbrother, Jake “Rabid” Nisenfeld
Jeremy Quattlebaum, Joshua Pannepacker, and Maureen Walsh, as well as photographers Eric Ashleigh, Michael “Kraus Phade” Béon, Kate Bracaglia, Michelle Holshue, Mattias Nilsson, Eric Schuman, and Rachelle Lee Smith for sharing their work.

Click here the download the 18-track compilation in its entirety as a .zip file. Want to hear more? Click here to listen to the full sessions by all 18 local acts; you can also download The Key Studio Sessions Compilation Volume I and Volume 2.

Track listing:

DRGN King, “Holy Ghost”
Blayer Point Du Jour, “Mansion Party”
Plow United, “Martin”
Weston, “Love And Rockets”
Surgeon, “Greed”
Break It Up, “Subterranian”
Black Landlord, “Last Night”
Crills Wilson, “Grifter”
Psychic Teens, “Red”
The Bad Doctors, “Sisyphus And The Gate”
Ben Smith, “Love Potion No. 10″
The Tressels, “Cold Blue Eyes”
Saturn Never Sleeps, “Hearts On Fire”
White Birds, “Floating Hands”
Andrew Lipke, “Sleep Like A Child”
Ports Of Call, Ballinora
mewithoutYou, “Tie Me Up! Untie Me!”
Young Statues , “Athens”

1. Amos Lee, Mission Bell (Blue Note Records)

2. Matt Duke, One Day Die (Rykodisc) Listen to Matt Duke’s Key Studio Session

3. Hoots And Hellmouth, Salt (self-released)

4. Andrew Lipke, The Plague (self-released) Listen to Andrew Lipke’s Key Studio Session

5. Dana Alexandra, Wash Your Mouth Out (self-released)

Photo by Michelle Holshue

Last week, we posted nine tracks from Andrew Lipke’s recent Key Studio Session, as well as a gallery of snapshots. Lipke and his band just dropped us a line to let us know that they’ve also made a couple of videos shot during the session available via YouTube. You can watch both videos (one for the songs “Holy War” and “Reunion”, the other for the song “Up To Here”) below.

Late last month, WXPN favorite Andrew Lipke dropped by our studios to record tracks from his new album The Plague for a Key Studio Session. Lipke performed in front of a live studio audience and alongside both his backing band, The Prospects, and the Azreal Quartet, the string section he recorded the album with. This week’s session was engineered by Nick Bookbinder; photos are by Michelle Holshue. Andrew Lipke And The Prospects With The Azreal Quartet performs with The Codes, The Heat Run, and Claire Wadsworth at 9 p.m. Saturday, December 17th, at North Star Bar; tickets to the 21+ show are $10.

• A New Startby Andrew Lipke from The Key Studio Sessions, 12/7/11Download

• Holy Warby Andrew Lipke from The Key Studio Sessions, 12/7/11Download

• Mindgamesby Andrew Lipke from The Key Studio Sessions, 12/7/11Download

• On My Wayby Andrew Lipke from The Key Studio Sessions, 12/7/11Download

• Reunionby Andrew Lipke from The Key Studio Sessions, 12/7/11Download

• Sleep Like A Childby Andrew Lipke from The Key Studio Sessions, 12/7/11Download

• The Raptureby Andrew Lipke from The Key Studio Sessions, 12/7/11Download

• Up To Hereby Andrew Lipke from The Key Studio Sessions, 12/7/11Download

• Your Worthless Tearsby Andrew Lipke from The Key Studio Sessions, 12/7/11Download

Popped! is at the Liacouras Center at 1776 N. Broad Street on Temple’s campus. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. Lineup for Popped! is:

Nikki Jean 11:25am
Anamanaguchi 11:50am
Patty Crash 12:15
Black Landlord 12:40
Zee Avi 1:05
Mates Of State 1:35
Cults 2:15
Sun Airway 2:55
Budos Band 3;35
Charles Bradley 4:15
Titus Andronicus 4:55
Rakim 5:35
Kreayshawn 6;15
Foster The People 7:00
Girl Talk 8:00
Pretty Lights 9:30

Today’s Philly F/M Fest highlight is the two stage Riot Fest at Festival Pier. Gates open at 11:30. Purchase tickets here.

Riot East Stage
12:00 p.m. – The Heels
12:40 p.m. – Brothers From Another
1:40 p.m. – Population Zero
2:40 p.m. – The Holy Mess
3:40 p.m. – The Menzingers
4:40 p.m. – Samiam
5:40 p.m. – 7Seconds
6:40 p.m. – Suicide Machines
7:50 p.m. – Hot Water Music
9:10 p.m. – X (plays “Los Angeles”)

Riot West Stage
12:20 p.m. – Lionize
1:10 p.m. – The Claw
2:10 p.m. – Larry And His Flask
3:10 p.m. – Shot Baker
4:10 p.m. – Weston
5:10 p.m. – Excitebike
6:10 p.m. – Naked Raygun
7:10 p.m. – Plow United
8:30 p.m. – Dead Milkmen
9:50 p.m. – Descendents

Other highlights:
Meg Baird + Glenn Jones, Watery Love at Johnny Brenda’s (9:15, 21+, $10); Andrew Lipke And The Azrael Quartet at Tin Angel (10:30 p.m., 21+, $10); Ted Leo And The Pharmacists + Dry Feet at Johnny Brenda’s (1:30 p.m., all ages, $15); Black Landlord at Milkboy Philly (9 p.m., 21+, free); Revolution, I Love You (record-release show) + Penrose, Panic Years at World Cafe Live (8:40 p.m., 21+, $11)

• Sleep Like A Childby Andrew Lipke from The PlagueDownload

For more photos by Eric Ashleigh, visit eashleigh.com.

Speaking of the Key Studio Sessions, we just released The Key Studio Sessions Compilation Volume 2, which you can download for free here. The compilation features music from Arc In Round, Dutch, The National Rifle, Denison Witmer, Hop Along, Matt Duke, Catnaps, Penrose, Arches, Lantern, Nicos Gun, Restorations, Ages, Sisters 3, The War On Drugs, Sonni Shine And The Underwater Sounds, and Work Drugs.

Also playing: Chillwave poster child Chaz Bundick (a.k.a. Toro Y Moi) crafted the sounds of last summer with his 2010 debut, Causers Of This. Bundick set the tone not just for a season, but also for a throng of his contemporaries (including Washed Out, Memory Tapes, and Ariel Pink). The South Carolina native continued his prolific output of side projects this winter with the release of his follow-up album, Underneath The Pine, which marked a departure from his earlier work. But fans were pleasantly surprised by the complex and lush recording, which challenged any assumptions Toro Y Moi might have been saddled with. Toro Y Moi performs with Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Coma Cinema at 8 p.m. at First Unitarian Church at 8 p.m.; tickets to the all-ages show are $14. —Kiley Bense

]]> http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/09/12/this-monday-night-join-us-for-a-free-show-with-work-drugs-hezekiah-jones-with-andrew-lipke-and-black-landlord/feed/ 0 http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/08/30/just-announced-andrew-lipke-to-celebrate-the-release-of-the-plague-at-tin-angel-on-sept-24th/ http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/08/30/just-announced-andrew-lipke-to-celebrate-the-release-of-the-plague-at-tin-angel-on-sept-24th/#comments Tue, 30 Aug 2011 17:39:18 +0000 The Key http://thekey.xpn.org/?p=18212 WXPN favorite Andrew Lipke is gearing up for the release of his long-in-the-works third full-length, The Plague, and has scheduled the record-release show for September 24th at Tin Angel. He’ll be backed by the strings of West Chester’s Azreal Quartet (which also appears on the album). Earlier this summer, Lipke appeared on our Key Studio Sessions 2011 Sampler and performed alongside Hezekiah Jones at the XPoNential Festival (you can listen to the audio of the full performance here); next month, Lipke will perform with Hezekiah Jones at our inaugural Key Studio Sessions Live concert at World Cafe Live, which you can register for here. Andrew Lipke performs at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, September 24th, at Tin Angel; tickets to the 21+ show are $10.

]]> http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/08/30/just-announced-andrew-lipke-to-celebrate-the-release-of-the-plague-at-tin-angel-on-sept-24th/feed/ 0 http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/08/22/download-a-new-work-drugs-song-swimmer-girl/ http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/08/22/download-a-new-work-drugs-song-swimmer-girl/#comments Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:27:34 +0000 Bruce Warren http://thekey.xpn.org/?p=17679 Just in time for the end of the summer, Philly’s Work Drugs have a breezy new jam “Swimmer Girl” that you can download here. Check out the video below by video producer Cai who recently did the video for Blood Orange’s “Forget it.” Work Drugs are playing a few live shows in September including The Key Studio Sessions Live on Monday, September 12th at World Cafe live with Black Landlord, Hezekiah Jones and Andrew Lipke. The show is free and you can sign up here.

]]> http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/08/22/download-a-new-work-drugs-song-swimmer-girl/feed/ 0 http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/08/11/register-for-the-inaugural-%e2%80%9ckey-studio-sessions-live%e2%80%9d-local-music-showcase-on-sept-12th-at-world-cafe-live/ http://thekey.xpn.org/2011/08/11/register-for-the-inaugural-%e2%80%9ckey-studio-sessions-live%e2%80%9d-local-music-showcase-on-sept-12th-at-world-cafe-live/#comments Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:45:14 +0000 The Key http://thekey.xpn.org/?p=17209

Black Landlord

In conjunction with our first Key Studio Video Session—featuring the Downingtown PA-based indie/folk trio Sisters 3—we’re happy to announce our inaugural “Key Studio Sessions Live” concert. The local music showcase will feature three XPN favorites: Black Landlord, Work Drugs, and Hezekiah Jones + Andrew Lipke. The performances will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, September 12th, at World Cafe Live; registration is free.

Funding for The Key Studio Sessions, The Key Studio Video Sessions, and The Key Studio Sessions Live comes from a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, as part of its Knight Arts Challenge, a $9 million initiative supporting innovative projects that inspire and enrich Philadelphia’s communities.