The Key » Blues Control

Get psychedelic with the music video for Blues Control’s “Opium Den / Fade to Blue”

John Vettese — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:00:43 +0000

Localish experimental duo Blues Control go all kinds of psychedelic on their latest music video, which mixes animation with classic oil-and-colored-dye projections. The song, “Opium Den / Fade to Blue,” is pretty wild too – moving away from the proto-blues and drone that the Coopersburg, PA-based duo have explored in the past, it incorporates elements of raga and eastern classical music for a general ethereal vibe. Check it out below; Blues Control’s latest LP, Valley Tangents, is available now on Drag City Records.

Photo Recap: Kensington Picnic

Rachel Barrish — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 18:01:33 +0000

On Saturday afternoon, the greenest grass in Kensington was occupied by neighbors and music fans checking out performances from Steve Gunn, Birds of Maya, Blues Control, and others. People sat outside on their blankets and lawn chairs grilling corn and hamburgers, drinking sweet tea and coffee, and enjoying a summer day. That is until the rain came in and washed some of the crowd out. Above check out a photo recap of the picnic including the performances by Steve Gunn, Mary Lattimore, and Jeff Zeigler.

Tonight’s Concert Picks: Kensington Picnic, Aloe Blacc, Oldermost, Sharon Little, and Spring Standards

Rachel Barrish — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 14:30:37 +0000

Summer time is for being outdoors, eating ice cream, and enjoying time with friends. You can experience that all today at the Kensington Picnic on Frankford Ave. between Susquehanna and Dauphin Street. It’s a folk-y phenomenon with performances from Meg Baird, Steve Gunn, Birds of Maya, Blues Control, and more. This free show kicks off at 1 p.m. and will go till’ it’s over. Bring your picnic baskets, blankets, and lawn chairs for a perfect summer day. You can find more info on the picnic’s event page.

American descendant of Panamanian parents, Aloe Blacc grew up in Los Angeles and became invested in the California hip hop scene. He worked in troupes such as Emanon and Jazz Liberatorz, and began his solo career in 2006. He has released two LP’s that evoke his R&B style underneath his eclectic singing and rapping skills. He plays tonight at the TLA at 7 p.m. Tickets to this all ages show are $20. Below watch Aloe Blacc’s video for “I Need A Dollar”.

Philadelphians Oldermost produce beautifully-crafted melodies drizzled with soft-spoken vocals, delicate piano strokes and steady rhythmic drumming. You can listen to their EP Lose Your Mind on their bandcamp page. Their warm energy will be flowing tonight at Johnny Brenda’s, along with Capewrath and Daniel Ryan Belski. Tickets to this 21+ show are $10, grab yours here. Doors open at 8 p.m.

The Candlight Concert for Epilepsy Awareness is a concert series taking place in Pennington, NJ. It is a chance to raise funds and awareness about the effects of epilepsy. Tonight’s feature is righteous soulful singer Sharon Little. She recently released her sophomore album, Paper Doll. Catch her tonight at the concert while donating to a worthy cause at the same time. Doors are at 7 p.m., show at 8; tickets are $15. And if you can’t make it out to the show, you can stream it live on StageIt.com.

WXPN welcomes The Spring Standards CD Release Show to World Cafe Live at the Queen in Wilmington, DE. They released their double EP Yellow // Gold, and it reflects their memories of growing up as folksinger children and provides a snapshot living life today in the big city. Also playing tonight is Wilmington’s own, The Spinto Band. The show starts at 8 p.m, tickets are $18-20. Below watch The Spring Standard’s official video for “Heavy Home” off the EP.

Kensington Picnic throws a free outdoor concert with Meg Baird, Birds of Maya and more

John Vettese — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 12:45:59 +0000

The new Kensington Picnic block party announced its lineup yesterday, and for fans of the city’s burgeoning art-folk / proto-blues scene, it’s a doozy. On Saturday, Aug. 11 on Frankford Ave. between Susquehanna and Dauphin, folk luminary Meg Baird (who recently played a breathtaking set opening for Sharon Van Etten at Union Transfer) will perform solo, as well with Watery Love, the garage punk band she drums in alongside TestosterTunes Records founder Richie Charles and members of New Jersey’s Home Blitz. Also on the bill are Blues Control and Birds of Maya, who reportedly ruled at PhilaMOCA this past Friday, guitar experimentalists Chris Forsyth and Steve Gunn, and the Virginia transplant Dan Bachman, whose nimble acoustic playing recalls Jack Rose and John Fahey. Watch video of the artists below, and follow the festival’s Tumblr page for more details.

Tonight’s Concert Picks: Blues Control at Institute Of Contemporary Art (+ Kuf Knotz’s BoomBox Collective, Schoolly D)

The Key — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:41:25 +0000

You’re not going to beat tonight’s lineup of over at ICA. For starters, you’ve got a rare performance by Blues Control, a Philly-based experimental rock duo that cranks out waves of atmospheric electronics (and has released albums on Siltbreeze, Holy Mountain, and Woodsist). Prior to the band, there will be a 6:30 p.m. lecture by ICA Senior Curator Ingrid Schaffner titled “The Artist As Curator”; following the performance, there will be some kind of “DIY Valentine project.” Then, there are the pierogi—mounds and mounds of pierogi, as far as the eye can see. (Well, maybe not that many, but there should be plenty.) All of which can be washed down with bottles of Yards beer. The best part? The art exhibitions, lecture, musical performance, and pierogi are all free; the beer, meanwhile, promises to be cheap. Blues Control performs at 8 p.m. at Institute Of Contemporary Art; tickets to the show are free.

Also playing: Kuf Knotz‘s BoomBox Collective featuring Lefco, Ras Arcane, Swift Technique, and LP Stiles at World Cafe Live (8 p.m., free); 2011 Northern Liberties Music Festival featuring Schoolly D, Reef The Lost Cauze, Verso, Dru Chris, and Alien Architect at The Fire (8 p.m., 21+, $10)

Oh yeah—there's a lot more where those came from