Philadelphia indie rock duo Bridge Underwater was featured on this month’s edition of Bands in the Backyard, which premiered last week. They preformed the title track off their latest EP Dead Man; check out the video below.

I knew that I dug what these guys were up to as soon as I saw their video of Ages playing in the back of Johnny Brenda’s. In the year and a half since then, they’ve faithfully documented the Philly scene in videos that range from lo-fi immediacy to multi-camera productions, showcasing the town’s up-and-coming acts as well as buzzing national bands that make their way through. I’m happy to welcome them to this space to talk about what they have in store for the December Tune-Out. All events are at PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th Street), start at 7:30 p.m.

From Kyle and Dave:

After hearing about the series from John V. at XPN and checking out Pet Milk when Herbie curated we thought it was a really cool idea and contacted Eric at PhilaMOCA about getting involved. We were offered December, so here goes…

Tuesday 12/4
Nightlands performing to 2001: A Space Odyssey – $14 admission

Nightlands is Dave Hartley from The War on Drugs. All of us at BITBY love Nightlands so naturally he was the first person we asked. Dave was super excited to do this when we asked him to participate and he knew right away he wanted to do 2001: A Space Odyssey. Yes, the whole movie, on the big screen, with the dialogue from the film accompanied by an original score performed live by Nightlands. There will be an intermission and we will be serving Narragansett Beer. Jeff Ziegler will be joining Hartley as well. We really wanted to be able to bill the show as Nightlands doing a score to 2001:A space Odyssey and in order to that we had to buy the rights to screen the film for the night which is costly, that is the only reason tickets are a bit pricey for this show. It will be well worth it, though. The super talented Mikele Edwards from Arc In Round will perform a short set before the screening as well.

Tuesday 12/11
Thee, Idea Men with Katie Frank

Two bands we have been seeing a lot of at BITBY lately are going to make this show a fun night. Thee, Idea Men are awesome and we love having them play shows. They are always full of energy and get the crowd going. Katie Frank is the latest release on our BITBYmusic label and her debut Coverd Bridge Road EP will be available at the show. Katie rocks and you will instantly fall in love with her, trust us. After two quick sets from the bands, a classic Cusack film will be shown.

Tuesday 12/18
Ex-Friends

Last in our series we have Ex-Friends (featuring members of Plow United). Awesome punk rock from awesome people. The movie will be announced the day of the show.

Hope to see everyone out at the shows!

Thanks
Kyle, Dave and the rest of BITBY.tv

The group, which opens for Man in a Crowd at The Balcony Bar at The Trocadero on November 30, was recently featured in a Bands in the Backyard BKSTG spotlight which shows them performing at Fleisher Art Memorial. Singer/songwriter Drew Harris sways and croons beneath the venue’s giant wooden crucifix, eyes closed, moving to the group’s stripped down performance.

The Naked Sun challenges the listener to break free from social restraints and provides the audience with the opportunity to question the world, and more importantly, the people in it. Their claims of honesty and authenticity is less of a motto and more of a mantra. As their name implies, the band encourages its listeners to think freely, embrace humility and to step out into The Naked Sun.

“Television” is a poppy, clap-happy track from Cambridge, MA band You Won’t.  The indie-pop duo of Josh Arnoudse and Raky Sastri released their debut album Skeptic Goodbye earlier this year on Old Flame Records and, as you’ll hear in the song below, they have a knack for catchy hooks and insightful lyrics.  Download “Television” below; You Won’t play Johnny Brenda’s on November 30th.  Tickets and information are available here.

If you still haven’t gotten your fill of Halloween vibes yet, check out these two tracks from Philly goth-rock outfit Night Sins.  The trio released their debut LP New Grave last week on Avant! Records and made the melodic (though still quite gothic) songs “Playing Dead” and “The Eternal Giver” available as free downloads.  Night Sins will play Kung Fu Necktie on November 13th with Cult of Youth and Hot Guts; go here for tickets and more information.

Funk It music blog unearthed this 1996 audio documentary featuring The Roots last week.  It was included in a multi-part project called “The Music Makers” produced by Philadelphian Steve Rowland and follows the now-legendary hip hop group on tour immediately after the release of their album Do You Want More?!!!??!  You can stream a few clips of the documentary below, and then head over here to download the complete episode.

On the brink of releasing a new LP in February 2013, Lancaster-born singer-songwriter Denison Witmer has unveiled an EP called The Ones Who Wait Part 2 and you can download “In Your Hands” below.  Witmer, who has been spending time in Philadelphia and Brooklyn as of late, will return to his hometown for a special holiday show at Live from The Cellar on Friday, December 14th.  More information about the show can be found here.  Download “In Your Hands” below and then check out Witmer’s contribution to The Voice Project with Devin Greenwood here.

• In Your Handsby Denison Witmer from The Ones Who Wait Part 2Download

Last night The Brian Jonestown Massacre brought their cranked amps and billowing fog machines to Union Transfer on tour in support of their latest album (their 13th!), Aufheben. Check out a photo gallery above, shot by Bands In the Backyard‘s Kyle Costill.

First up will be OFF! on October 19th at First Unitarian Church. The super troupe of punk rockers is made up of members of Black Flag, Burning Brides and Hot Snakes. Opening bands include The Spits and Double Negative. Gear up your vocal chords and get stoked for one raging performance.

BOO! A super ghouly and ghostly show will be happening on Halloween (Oct. 31st) featuring The Dead Milkmen, MC Lars and Philadelphia’s own Psychic Teens. The show will be happening at Union Transfer; trick-or-treaters are welcome! Psychic Teens filmed Bands in the Backyard episode recently, watch it below.

On November 8th, Tame Impala – the magnetically-charged, frenzy-friendly boys from Australia – will be venturing over water and sea to play a performance at Union Transfer. They will be touring in support of their forthcoming album, Lonerism. Get a glimpse of the album by listening to the song “Apocalypse Dreams”, courtesy of NME.

Punky indie rockers Title Fight bring a pinch of sounds resembling Taking Back Sunday but with less of a “Cute without the E” complex. They will be touring along with the Scranton five-piece Tigers Jaw, with additional sets from Pianos Become the Teeth and Single Mothers at Union Transfer on November 30th. Below listen to the song “Smile” from Tigers Jaw.

Photo by Rachel Barrish

And returning to Philadelphia after an incredible sold-out show at Johnny Brenda’s, Canadian rock and roll duo Japandroids will be playing the stage at Union Transfer on December 8th. With a little more wiggle room, this show is sure to be a sweatier, livelier, and all around action packed performance.

Tickets for all of the above performances go on sale this Friday, August 17th at noon.

The band is playing a 21+ show at North Star Bar tonight featuring E. Joseph and the Phantom Heart, Kill the Broadcast, The Kiera Plan and Preston Hull. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are available here for $10.

Echo Orbiter play with Break it Up and Trouble Everyday (reunited!) at Kung Fu Necktie. Bands in the Backyard recently did a short backyard session with Echo Orbiter, which you can view below, and Trouble Everyday was featured in this week’s Key Studio Session. Tickets to this 21+ show are $8, doors at 8 PM.

Over at the Troc, El-P plays with special guests, Killer Mike and college boy, Asher Roth. This show is all ages and starts at 9 PM, tickets are 20 smackeroos.

Roger Waters “The Wall” tour makes a stop at Citizens Bank Park tonight. You can purchase tickets to the show here, show starts at 8:45 PM.

Hop Along recently had their CD release show for Get Disowned at First Unitarian Church; they play tonight at Johnny Brenda’s with Secret Mountains and DRGN KING. Tickets to this 21+ show are $10.

The Saturday free concert series at Morgan’s Pier continues this evening with a performance from The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. This 21+ show is free and starts at 5 PM.

Photo by John Vettese

• Camden (Red Light)by Trouble Everyday from The Key Studio Sessions, July 11, 2012Download

• Written In Snakesby Trouble Everyday from The Key Studio Sessions, July 11, 2012Download

• Days Vs Nightsby Trouble Everyday from The Key Studio Sessions, July 11, 2012Download

• Kidsby Trouble Everyday from The Key Studio Sessions, July 11, 2012Download

• Untitled New Songby Trouble Everyday from The Key Studio Sessions, July 11, 2012Download

• Downward Years to Comeby NothingDownload

Photo by John Vettese

• Mass Hysteriaby Faux SlangDownload

Little Berlin is a non-profit arts and community organization founded in 2007. A gallery located in the heart of Kensington, it features local artists curated monthly by a different Little Berlin member. This past year, they received a $10,000 grant from the Knight Foundation to fund the Little Berlin Fairgrounds project, transforming a vacant lot across from the gallery into an open community art space and sculpture garden. The fairgrounds will be designed around featuring live performances, film screenings, children’s workshops, musical events, and more.

To help raise the matching money they need for the Knight Foundation grant, BITBY, Bands in the Backyard, is creating a 12″ vinyl, featuring all of the artists from the bitby.tv monthly series over the past year. Some of the proceeds funded by the vinyl will go towards the fairgrounds project. The acts on the album include: Break it Up, Wigwams, Heyward Howkins, Pet Milk, Oh! Pears, Arc in Round, Faux Slang, Psychic Teens, Ports of Call, Summer Fiction, Blayer Pointdujour, and Streetwalkers.

The kickstarter will run until Monday, July 23rd to raise their goal of $5,000. Watch the video for the kickstarter here. Below, you can watch BITBY videos from: Ports of Call and Oh! Pears

Listen in at 88.5 HD-2 or XPN2.org during the 8 p.m. hour of tonight’s Philly Local Show to catch Goodnight Lights’ set; you can also tune in early to catch Pet Milk’s Key Studio Session during the 7:00 hour, and stick around for the 9:00 hour, when we’ll showcase new music from Young Gliss, Everyone Everywhere, Curly Castro and the BITBY Tape Club compilation.

From Turning Violet Violet‘s record-release show for their new album, Double Cure, on May 26th at Kung Fu Necktie (via Bands In The Backyard). The band recently recorded a Key Studio Session (featuring songs from the new album), which we released just last week; you can check it out here.

Tonight at Silk City, the folks over at Bands In The Backyard will be premiering their tenth episode, which features Heyward Howkins. The Philly-based singer-songwriter will release his debut LP, The Hale & Hearty, on June 26th; you can listen to a few of the tracks from the album below. Heyward Howkins performs with Juliet Hope Wayne, Proexibitors, and Will Chambers at 9 p.m. at Silk City; tickets to the 21+ show are $5.

Cheers Elephant

As we mentioned last month, Cheers Elephant spent Record Store Day on the road for a series of pop-up concerts at area record stores. The local psych-pop quartet performed short sets at Repo Music on South Street, Main Street Music in Manyunk, and Siren Records in Doylestown. Philly’s Bands in the Backyard was along for the ride and capture the day’s festivities. You can watch BITBY’s video below.

[BITBY BITS] CHEERS ELEPHANT RECORD STORE DAY 2012 from BITBY on Vimeo.

Tonight, minimal Philly psycheduo Bridge Underwater plays at the latest Bands in the Backyard showcase – the No Alternative video party at Silk City. Joining them on the bill of this free show are sludge rockers Spirit Animal and harmonizing folkies Market East. To give you a taste of what’s in store, dig in to today’s Philly Local Phile – the latest Bridge Underwater single, “Take A Piece of Me.” The the 808-esque drumloop and odd samples peppered throughout give this a nice Flaming Lips vibe, but note bandleader Pat Mellon’s melodious voice and jangly playing underneath. It gives the song such appeal that – as with most Bridge Underwater singles – I’d be just as eager to hear it stand-alone, without the stylizations, as I am to listen to it all warped and weird. We’ll see which way they swing tonight. Bridge Underwater plays the BITBY No Alternative Party at Silk City tonight a 8 p.m. with Spirit Animal and Market East; admission to the 21+ show is free.

10:45 AM – Repo Records, 538 South Street, Philadelphia PA 19147 (Center City)
1 PM – Main Street Music, 4444 Main Street, Philadelphia PA 19127 (Manayunk)
3:15 PM – Siren Records, 25 East State Street, Doylestown PA 18901

Cheers Elephant will be performing a short set at each stop, signing merch, and celebrating our local record stores along with WXPN. Each shop will be carrying a wide selection of Record Store Day 2012 limited-edition releases. Philly’s fantastic Bands in the Backyard will be along for the ride on the musical caravan to capture all of the festivities that day. Go here for more information about this year’s Record Store Day Free At Noon and pop-up concert tour with Cheers Elephant.

Also from the BITBY site:

“Baby Ain’t Nobody” appears on the BITBY TAPE CLUB Volume ONE cassette, along with new tracks from BREAK IT UP, STREETWALKERS, SPIRIT ANIMAL, FAUX SLANG, OH PEARS and PSYCHIC TEENS.

Buy a copy of the cassette at the BITBY TAPE CLUB release party on April 13th at Kung Fu Necktie Event info:https://www.facebook.com/events/390587660965848/

www.attiataylor.bandcamp.com @BITBYPhilly www.BITBY.tv GO OUTSIDE.

[BITBY Episode 008: Pet Milk] from BITBY on Vimeo.

[BITBY - AUSTIN SAVOIR ADORE] from BITBY on Vimeo.

Our video-blogger friends at Bands In The Backyard are big supporters of Philadelphia music, even when they’re in Austin. For its inaugural (and unofficial) SXSW showcase—which was presented by WXPN and The Key—BITBY put a half dozen Delaware Valley artists on a backyard stage (more like a back porch) in a quiet neighborhood just outside of Austin’s bustling downtown. The vibe was tremendously positive, from next-door neighbors extending warm welcomes early in the day, to Key favorite Attia Taylor performing her first-ever solo electronic set (which was mesmerizing). South Jersey rockers The Warhawks even stopped by to check out the show and squeezed in an unplanned set at the encouragement of the BITBY crew. Also on the bill were Brooklyn post-rockers The Veda Rays, Denmark indie folkie Dad Rocks!, and Spain experimentalists Za!. Check out a gallery of the afternoon above, and listen to greetings recorded by each of the artists below.

• Greetings from Break it Upfrom the BITBY unofficial SXSW showcase presented by The Key and WXPNDownload

• Greetings from The Veda Raysfrom the BITBY unofficial SXSW showcase presented by The Key and WXPNDownload

• Greetings from Oh Pearsfrom the BITBY unofficial SXSW showcase presented by The Key and WXPNDownload

• Greetings from Shorty Boy Boyfrom the BITBY unofficial SXSW showcase presented by The Key and WXPNDownload

• Greetings from Attia Taylorfrom the BITBY unofficial SXSW showcase presented by The Key and WXPNDownload

• Greetings from Za!from the BITBY unofficial SXSW showcase presented by The Key and WXPNDownload

• Greetings from The Warhawksfrom the BITBY unofficial SXSW showcase presented by The Key and WXPNDownload

• Greetings from Dad Rocksfrom the BITBY unofficial SXSW showcase presented by The Key and WXPNDownload

[BITBY AUSTIN - Delta Spirit Live at WXPN showcase from BITBY on Vimeo.