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Heavyhitters Jay Z and J. Cole join Solange, Sampha, Lizzo and more at Made In America 2017

Photo by John Vettese

Christmas comes only once a year? False. See: Made in America announcement day. Philadelphia’s Labor Day party is back for another round, and with the announcement of this year’s lineup, we imagine the entire city is excited.

Headlining performances from Jay Z (obviously), J.Cole and The Chainsmokers top of the list of 50+ artists, with featured performances from Run The Jewels, Solange, Lizzo, Sampha, Migos, and a heck of a lot more. The local scene is also well represented, as PNB Rock, Beach Slang, Mannequin Pussy and Queen of Jeans nab some earlier spots.

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Japanese Breakfast, Modern Baseball, Beach Slang and more Philly artists to contribute to Polyvinyl’s Single Series

Japanese Breakfast | photo by Rachel Del Sordo

Since 2014, Illinois-based label Polyvinyl Records’ Single Series has been putting out monthly exclusive singles from their favorite artists, all recorded on the same Tascam 4-Track cassette recorder. We’ve already gotten dual singles from Ra Ra Riot, Tim Kasher, and Joyce Manor this year, and we just got word that Philly favorites Japanese Breakfast are this month’s featured artist will be featured in the series later this year.

In addition, Modern Baseball, Beach Slang, Owen, Jay Som, and more are coming out with singles in the next couple months.

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XPN’s Gotta Hear Song of the Week: “Fever” by Purling Hiss

purling hiss
Purling Hiss Photographed by Constance Mensh

We’re highlighting new music from Philadelphia’s Purling Hiss this week, so get ready to rock out.

The trio released their new LP High Bias this past Friday. They’re a band that seems to keep a steady stream of material flowing, as this marks their third record for Drag City in just four years. And yet they never feel thrown together or haphazard – everything Mike Polizze and comany put to tape is patiently coaxed out of a collection of years-old riffs and spur-of-the-moment jams. For its part, “Fever” showcases Hiss’ layered, full sound that is still nuanced. We get scuzzy guitars and a barrage of percussion right out the gate, with Polizze’s garage-fi vocals slinking in amidst howls and solos. Continue reading →

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Wye Oh Wye: Flock of Dimes, LVL UP and Beach Slang on the Indie Rock Hit Parade!

Flock of Dimes | Photo by Paley Fairman, courtesy of the artist
Flock of Dimes | Photo by Paley Fairman, courtesy of the artist

Tonight’s Indie Rock Hit Parade has just the thing for you. That is, if the thing you need happens to be a wide variety of brand new music tunes. Listen in at 11pm ET on WXPN for a full two-hour show that, among other things, will feature TWO spotlights on newly released albums. First up is If You See Me, Say Hello, the debut album from Flock Of Dimes. Flock Of Dimes is the on again-off again solo project of Jann Wasner, better known as one half of Wye Oak. We’ll also hear tracks from the Sub Pop debut of NY’s wooly guitar crushers LVL UP. The band has been making retro-minded and forward-thinking music for several years, and Return To Love is easily their best record yet. Also in the mix, new things from Philly punks Beach Slang, eclectic shoegazers Slothrust and jangle purveyors EZTV. Preview some of those below…

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Beach Slang makes A Loud Bash Of Teenage Feelings on their sophomore LP

Beach Slang | courtesy of the artist
Beach Slang | courtesy of the artist

On September 23rd, Philly punks Beach Slang will drop their second album in two years, A Loud Bash Of Teenage Feelings. You can stream the album now via NPR and check out the video for new single “Atom Bomb” below. A Loud Bash comes less than a year after their commercial debut, The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us.

Fans of the band’s earlier output still have a lot to be excited about this time around, as they continue to deliver one anthemic, fuzzed-out banger after another. Beach Slang has punk energy in spades, and they put all of it on display over the album’s compact thirty minute run time. Where The Things We Do had calmer moments in tracks like “Too Late To Die Young” and “Porno Love”, A Loud Bash gives no such breathing room. Continue reading →

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Beach Slang release new music video, play Project Pabst in October

Beach Slang
Beach Slang at Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company | photo by James Breslin for WXPN

Oh, the liberation of summer — walking around with no discernible destination, the sun shining above melting away all responsibilities. Philadelphia’s Beach Slang aimed to capture this free spirited energy on their latest music video for “Punks In A Disco Bar,” creating a fuzzed, home movie which follows a group of misfits as they take on the town, along with a bout of debauchery. Continue reading →

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Beach Slang announce sophomore album, drop lead single “Punks In A Disco Bar”

Beach Slang
Beach Slang at Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company | photo by James Breslin for WXPN

The debut LP from Philadelphia’s Beach Slang, The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us, came out just last year, but already the rockers are back with a follow up. Their sophomore album A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings is due out September 23rd via Polyvinyl, and its lead single “Punks In A Disco Bar,” is available now. Continue reading →

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Tonight’s Concert Picks: Beach Slang at Union Transfer, Ground Up at Bourbon and Branch, Live From The Lot at Electric Factory, and more…

Beach Slang
Beach Slang at Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company | photo by James Breslin for WXPN

There might have been some rumors that punk rockers Beach Slang were going to break up recently, but their response? “If you’re still in, we are.” Well so are we. The band returns to Union Transfer tonight to light the venue on fire with blood, sweat, and rock and roll. Opening the show will be Potty Mouth, Dyke Drama, and Positive No. For tickets and more information, check out the XPN Concert Calendar. Continue reading →

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Circa Survive, Beach Slang, and more to appear on Nirvana tribute compilation

Doused in Mud, Soaked in Bleach cover art

Over the past couple years, Robotic Empire has made their way backwards through Nirvana‘s short but dense catalog of music by releasing tribute compilations of their entire albums. Their next undertaking will be the grunge pioneers’ first LP, Bleach, and they’ve enlisted Circa Survive, Beach Slang, and many more to cover songs from the album.

Doused In Mud, Soaked In Bleach will also feature bands such as Defeater, Basement, Daughters, Young Widows, and many more. Robotic Empire also released the first single from the compilation, Circa Survive’s cover of a cover of “Love Buzz.” Anthony Green and crew remain faithful to the original while at the same time beefing up the instrumentation and adding extra noise to the mix.

The tribute compilation, which also features Beach Slang covering the classic “About A Girl”, will be released for Record Store Day on April 16th. Continue reading →