XPN welcomes Charles Bradley to Union Transfer tonight.  The “Screaming Eagle of Soul” entertained the crowd during a recent Free at Noon performance with his exuberant showmanship and knock-out funk / R&B songs.  Following up his 2011 full-length debut, the 64-year-old crooner released Victim of Love earlier this year.  Tickets and information for tonight’s show with Paul & the Tall Trees can be found here.  Watch the former James Brown impersonator perform “Why Is It So Hard?” live on the Public Radio Rocks stage at SXSW below.

Morning River Band celebrate the debut of their new album at MilkBoy tonight.  The Philadelphia-based country group recorded To Suzie at Gradwell House in New Jersey and will release it on May 21st as the follow-up to 2011′s Between the Ocean and the Blues.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ release show with The Miners and John Train can be found here.  Stream “Lefty’s Last Blues” below and check out their Folkadelphia session here.

XPN welcomes Mary Chapin Carpenter to the Keswick Theatre tonight.  With her long-time friend and cohort Shawn Colvin by her side, Carpenter continues to tour in support of her 2012 LP Ashes and Roses.  The singer-songwriter made a name for herself with a string of of successful country / folk crossover records in the nineties and five Grammy Awards over the course of her career, resulting in her induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame last October.  Tickets and information for tonight’s show can be found here.  Below, watch a performance of “Chasing What’s Already Gone.”

MAD Dragon Records caps off its 10th anniversary festivities with a show at The Trocadero tonight.  The Drexel University label has been celebrating all week with block parties, free live music and a special 10th anniversary compilation featuring bands that will be performing at tonight’s event.  Among those scheduled are Cheers Elephant, Wild Rompit and Matt Duke.  Tickets and information for the 18+ concert can be found here.  Check out the compilation here and watch Cheers Elephant’s video for “Doin’ It, Right” below.

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)

Grandchildren‘s Golden Age is featured in this week’s Unlocked series [link]

It’s been a big week for show announcements, with The Monkees [link], Patty Griffin [link], Pet Shop Boys [link] and The Olms [link] unveiling Philly dates

Joe Pug played a show at Johnny Brenda’s this week – check out a free download of five tracks from the Chicago singer-songwriter [link]

Khari Mateen will kick-off Brewerytown’s summer jazz concert series on May 15th [link]

Take a listen back to this year’s Key Studio Sessions with Volume 7, featuring Waxahatchee, Pissed Jeans and Ruby the Hatchet [link]

Kurt Vile shares a new video for “Never Run Away” – he’ll be at Union Transfer on May 18th [link]

Dave Hartley presents an overview of the NBA playoffs in a new edition of Top of Key [link]

Mount Moriah highlighted their sophomore album Miracle Temple during this week’s Folkadelphia session [link]

Download a compilation of music from local bands including Cheers Elephant, Roof Doctor and Norwegian Arms c/o Beat the Indie Drum [link]

Matt Marchinowski of Big School Records is moving out of Philadelphia.  To celebrate his time here, Marchinowski has pieced together a snapshot of the local music scene with a 27-track mixtape called Philamixington II, available as a free download via his Tumblr.  The second installment in the local music mixtape series, this collection samples various genres, circles and side projects with tracks from radio favorites like Cheers Elephant (pictured), basement staples Roof Doctor and The Hundred Acre Woods and new-projects-from-old-buddies like Avery Rosewater.  From Marchinowski:

Although April will see my moving out of Philadelphia for the peaceful confines of the sticks I will still consider its scene ‘home’. It wasn’t easy narrowing this collection down to 27 jawns but I can assure you it won’t be the last notch in the Philamixington series.

Download the full mixtape for free on Beat the Indie Drum here and stream a sampling of the tracks below.  The first Philamixington set can be downloaded here.

Legendary folk musician Richie Havens is remembered for his soulful voice and historic set at Woodstock [link]

Mike Kinsella of Owen previewed new material in this week’s Folkadelphia session [link]

In celebration of Earth Day, The Key took a look back at Philadelphia’s Earth Week in 1970 [link]

Suzie Brown, Cheers Elephant and more to play the 65th Annual Pastorius Park Free Summer Concert Series in Chestnut Hill [link]

Ryan Tennis brings his nine-piece band to XPN for a Key Studio Session [link]

Make Music Philly brings DIY concerts to the streets on June 21st [link]

Johnny Marr gives advice and talks about his new solo album in an interview with Nikki Volpicelli [link]

Get a look inside Pattern is Movement‘s recording process with an “album screening” at PhilaMOCA [link]

Bad Braids‘ upcoming Supreme Parallel is featured in this week’s Unlocked series [link]

Download “I Had Love” from Chicago’s Fort Frances [link]

Kennett Square’s Friday Nights Under the Stars announces their line-up with New Sweden, Ryan Tennis and more [link]

Cheers Elephant at Pastorius Park, 2011

The Chestnut Hill Community Association has released details for their annual free concert series, kicking off on June 19th with Suzie Brown and running through July 31st with John Train.  The shows will happen every Wednesday evenings and will feature top local acts in indie rock, Americana, jazz and more.  The full schedule is listed below; go here for more information.  Check out a photo recap of Cheers Elephant’s appearance at the park in 2011 here and watch Suzie Brown on NBC’s 10! Show below.

June 19 Suzie Brown
June 26 The John Byrne Band
July 03  The Dukes of Destiny
July 10  Aaron & The Spell
July 17  Cheers Elephant
July 24  Phyllis Chapell & SIORA
July 31  John Train

For more information on the Pastorius Park Free Summer Concert go here.

The Cave Singers headline Johnny Brenda’s tonight.  Splitting their four full-length releases between Matador and Jagjaguwar, the Seattle based band are celebrating the March release of Naomi with this current tour.  The Cave Singers have a jug-and-washboard-folk style that is at once mysterious and authentic, walking a line between old-soul and modern sensibilities.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Bleeding Rainbow and Wrong World can be found here.  Watch the Cave Singers perform “Swim Club” at Pickathon below.

90s hard rock outfit Living Colour plays The Keswick Theater tonight, celebrating the 25th anniversary of their breakout album Vivid. The show begins at 8 p.m. with the School of Rock allstars opening, tickets and more information can be found at the venue’s website. Below, watch the music video for Living Colour’s “Cult of Personality.”

Bleeding Rainbow at SXSW 2012 | Photo by John Vettese

The music portion of the Austin’s annual South by Southwest festival kicks off today, and many of our city’s finest up-and-coming bands have been spent the last week crammed in hatchbacks or vans with amps and instruments, making their trek to Texas. Several have, over the past couple years, recorded Key Sessions in our studio, and today we present you with a downloadable sampler of artists who are repping Philly in in Austin this week.

Beginning with a snappy performance of “Jackie” by Philly pop-rockers Cold Fronts, who won a JanSport competition to be a SXSW featured artist, all the way to the doom-y “Downward Years to Come” from Nothing, it showcases some of the rock (Cheers Elephant), hip-hop (Lushlife) and punk (Lantern) Philly bands on the various bills across Austin. Listen to the set below, download at Soundcloud. And check out some bonus video after the Jump – West Philly’s Waxahatchee performs a ton of shows this week, including an NPR Music showcase with Nick Cave tomorrow, while Bleeding Rainbow is making the rounds as well. See videos of the former playing “Dark Moon” in our studio and the latter tearing up “Get Lost” at Johnny Brenda’s.

Waxahatchee “Dark Moon” – Key Studio Session at WXPN from WXPN FM on Vimeo.

Folk-influenced Philly five-piece Black Horse Motel celebrates the release of its full-length debut Red Summer Spirit tonight at Kung Fu Necktie. The album comes after two years of revamping and reinvention for the band, which began when singer / guitarist / banjo player Josh Cradic came into the fold in fall of 2011, immediately gelling with the other players. A whirlwind of writing, shows an a successful Kickstarter campaign followed. Tonight the band will be joined by Hezekiah Jones and The Bailey Hounds; tickets and more information can be found here. Below, listen to “Miles for Days” from the new album.

Up the Chain plays MilkBoy tonight. The project of singer and multi-instrumentalist Reed Kendall is a cinematic collusion of styles, from folk to jazz and Brill Building pop. The band released the album Holy, Open, Drying Road in 2011, and just a couple weeks ago released a music video for a song from the album called “Here I Haven Meet.” Check out the video below; get more information on the show here.

Also tonight, Waxahatchee celebrates the release of its album Cerulean Salt at Golden Tea House (download their Key Studio Session here and look for a new video later today); XPN Welcomes Keepers opening for Cheers Elephant at Steel City Coffee House (read our Keepers / Cheers interview here), and XPN Welcomes Foxygen and Unknown Mortal Orchestra to the First Unitarian Church (read our UMO interview here).

Last night, tireless Philly rock four-piece Cheers Elephant headlined Johnny Brenda’s. Opening sets were performed by South Carolina’s The Explorer’s Club and Bucks County folk ensemble Honeychurch. Check out a recap of the show in the photo gallery above.

XPN welcomes Jeff Mangum to the Strand Theater.  The reclusive frontman of indie leaders Neutral Milk Hotel announced plans for a final tour this past fall, stating a desire “to play to all the silver citizens dwelling in citys [sic] that he has yet to sing in.”  Following the dissolution of Neutral Milk Hotel in 1998, Mangum continued to make periodic solo appearances and released the live LP Live at Jittery Joe’s.  Though his elusiveness is certainly intriguing, its Mangum’s poetic lyrics and sincere delivery that keep his shows selling out in seconds.  Tickets and information for tonight’s show with Tall Firs in York, PA can be found here.  Below, watch a live video of Mangum performing “Oh Comely” from In the Aeroplane Over the Sea at Penn’s Irvine Auditorium.

XPN welcomes Rufus Wainwright to the McCarter Theater in Princeton, NJ.  The singer-songwriter continues to tour in support of last year’s Out of the Game full-length and will be performing a special solo acoustic set tonight.  Though songwriting is his primary craft, Wainwright has branched out to work in other artistic media over the years including film and opera - elements of which are discernible in his charismatic and sometimes dramatic stage presence.  Tickets and information for tonight’s all-ages show with Lucy Wainwright Roche can be found here.  Watch the video for “Out of the Game” featuring Helena Bonham Carter below.

Philly outfit Cheers Elephant play Johnny Brenda’s tonight.  The upbeat rock band released their third record Like Wind Blows Fire last May.   Growing up in the Philadelphia area, the band was exposed to local scene anchors Dr. Dog and The Teeth during Cheers Elephant’s formative years.  That exposure, both to the style of music and work ethic of the two bands, has definitely informed Cheers’ psych rock / pop sound, though they make it their own with hints of Arctic Monkeys-like Brit alt-pop.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with The Explorers Club and Honeychurch can be found here.  Below, watch the video for “Doin’ It, Right.”

Jordan Del Rosario performs with Cheers Elephant | Photo by John Vettese

Jordan Del Rosario remembers when his band was starting off in the mid aughts, and its role models were just an arm’s-length away. The Cheers Elephant guitarist and his bandmates were in their early 20s, barely able to get in to venues like The Fire and Johnny Brenda’s, but nevertheless enthusiastically taking in shows by The Teeth and Dr. Dog.

“This was before we started playing shows professionally,” he recalls. “We were just like, ‘woah, these guys are where it’s at.’”

Certainly it’s a better scenario for an emerging band than never getting to see your heroes because they don’t tour through your town; or worse yet, never getting to see your heroes because they’re long gone. Del Rosario recalls sneaking backstage at shows, slipping CDs to the band when they could, trying hard to break into their inner circle.

But while Cheers occasionally crossed paths in the studio world with The Teeth, Dr. Dog toured so heavily that they were never more than mentors by example. Del Rosario, on the other hand, went on to be something of a mentor-direct for the next wave of Philly-area bands, teaching at School of Rock in Downingtown and working directly with emerging local musicians, including exciting young four piece Keepers.

The band – Pat Cassidy on guitar and vocals, Korina Dabundo on bass and vocals, Brian Thomas on guitar, Alex Held on drums – released its debut LP New Waves over the summer, on CD and digitally on Bandcamp. It’s a bright and poppy collection of loosely psychedelic indie rock, with distinctive vocal harmonies that you can trace down the line – from their big brother band Cheers, to their big brother’s big brother.

“I was wearing a homemade Dr. Dog t-shirt at rehearsal,” Thomas remembers. “We all connected over that.”

Del Rosario has taught at Rock School in various capacities for seven years, and as a working musician on top of it, says that kids who try to start bands on their own without having been in that sort of environment are playing catch-up in a way. “They don’t really get the exposure that they really need [playing in front of crowds], you know?” He continues, “We kind of get all that stuff out of the way for them, just so they can just progress without all of the friction of figuring it out on your own.”

He met the group that would become Keepers in a Rock School showcase that he directed. Their assignment: perform a set of songs by classic southern bands. Lynyrd Skynard. Allman Brothers’ “One Way Out.”

“It was great,” says Dabundo.

Cassidy says mentors like Del Rosario make it a good place to learn music. “There were people like Jordan, or our friend Bryan Davis, who we didn’t feel weird taking our ideas to,” he says. “So while the program isn’t designed to help you in songwriting necessarily, there’s plenty of opportunities, and the teachers are all really willing to help.”

Keepers knew the sound they were collectively bonding over – new psych and Americana, poppy rock and roll, a la Islands, My Morning Jacket and the good Dr. – and it used the downtime between rehearsals to begin working on original material.

Pat Cassidy onstage at World Cafe Live | Photo by Derek Brad | www.derekbrad.com

“There’s a communal aspect of it,” says Thomas. “All these kids are hanging out in the same space, but they’re not going to be rehearsing all the time. They’re going to be conversing about new bands and getting into what everybody else is listening to. It’s just a whole melting pot of ideas, and it just helped us with forming our sound.”

“I was proud that some of our students would get together and actually form a band,” Del Rosario says of seeing Keepers emerge. “It doesn’t happen as often as you think at Rock School. That’s what we’re grooming kids to get towards, really, but it’s rare that a group of all students from the school forms.”

Over the past year, Cheers and the band shared a studio space in Downingtown on the rock school campus, and the mentor band even got to contribute gang vocals to New Waves’ closing track “Your Whole World Is Just A Second Ago.” And both groups are looking ahead to an active winter – Cheers playing with The Mother Hips at The Blockley tonight, and Keepers playing an all-ages show at The Fire with Family Vacation.

“They’re from the Rock School as well,” says Held. “It’s all a big circle.”

Cheers Elephant plays tonight at The Blockley, 3801 Chestnut Street, tonight at 9 p.m.; tickets for the 21+ show are $13 and available here. Keepers plays The Fire on Saturday, December 1, at 6 p.m.; tickets for the all-ages show are $8 and available here.

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.

Now in its seventh year, The Dude Hates Cancer! Charity Bowling Tournament is back and ready to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  If you want to contribute to the cause but aren’t quite ready to showcase those bowling skills you worked on all summer, head over to Johnny Brenda’s where WXPN welcomes the benefit afterparty.  This year’s lineup features local heavy hitters Swift Technique, Cheers Elephant and Orbit to Leslie.  The 21+ event is free for tournament participants and $10 for the public.  Tickets are available here, and you can take a listen to “Route One to Route One” from Swift Technique’s Studio Session below:

Philadelphia-by-way-of-Indiana jam band Lotus bring their string and horn infused electronica to FDR Park tonight for a beat filled hometown event.  Now three albums deep into their career, Lotus’ latest self-titled release was recorded with Bill Moriarty (Dr. Dog, Man Man) at his Philadelphia studio.  Joining them down in the park is electro-funk fusion outfit Ghostland Observatory along with MiMOSA, Michal, Menert and Sonic Spank.  Tickets for the all-ages concert are $41 and they are available through Ticketmaster.  Doors are at 3:00pm, music starts at 4:00pm.  Watch a live music video for “In an Outline” here:

Over at The Blockley, River City Extension headlines the Bombs and Bedlam Benefit to Secure the Planet.   The New Jersey natives, who have toured with The Avett Brothers and were label-mates with The Gaslight Anthem, released their second full-length Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Your Anger in June.  They are joined by supporting acts Illinois, Dangerous Ponies, Brick + Mortar, Juston Stens and the Get Real Gang and Spirit & Dust.  Tickets are available here for the 18+ show, and doors open at 8:00.  You can stream songs from River City Extension’s latest record below:

Down in South Philly, the Pageant: Soloveev Gallery is hosting a showcase headlined by Void Vision.  Void Vision is the title project of Philadelphian Shari Vari, specializing in minimalist synthpop.  Vari, who recently performed at PhilaMOCA’s David Lynch tribute Eraserhood Forever, ventures down to artist Daniel Dalseth’s contemporary and experimental art gallery on Bainbridge along with Black Marble, Unur, The Bad Doctors and Space Trash.  The event begins at 8:00pm, and tickets are available at the door.

Over at Underground Arts, blues-inspired folkie William Elliott Whitmore performs an early set with Santa Fe songwriter Samantha Crain opening. The 21+ show begins at 7:30 p.m., admission is $15, tickets and information are available here. Below, watch Whitmore performing “Hell or High Water” for KEXP.

If you missed Field Report when they played XPoNential Music Festival this summer – and we have a feeling a lot of you did – you’ve got two chances to see them this weekend, beginning tonight at World Cafe Live at the Queen in Wilmington. They open for Melissa Ferrick, tickets to the all-ages show are $30 and available here. Below, watch Field Report performing “Fergus Falls” in the restroom at XPoNential, filmed by Out of Town Films.

Out Of Town Films Presents: Field Report “Fergus Falls” from Out Of Town Films on Vimeo.

WXPN welcomes local psych-popsters Cheers Elephant to the Steel City Coffeehouse in Phoenxiville tonight; they’re also performing their first show of the weekend, and co-headline along with up-and-coming rock act Modern Inventors. Admission to the all-ages show is $12, tickets and information are available here. Below, listen to the title track from Cheers Elephant’s latest record, Like Wind Blows Fire.

Touring in support of her latest record, The Gun in Your Hand, Jersey native Danielia Cotton visits The Sellersville Theater tonight for an XPN Welcomes show. The all-ages show begins at 8 p.m., admission is $24, tickets and information are available here. Below, listen to “Save Me,” the opening track on her new record.

Cheers Elephant

Last night’s rain blew through and it’s a breezy sunny day today, meaning conditions are ideal for two free outdoor concerts. At Headhouse Square on 2nd Street and Lombard, Cheers Elephant headlines Greenfest Philly‘s Earth Jam II. Get the details on the musical eco-awareness-raiser in our article here, and check out a new music video for an old Cheers Elephant song below. Animation on “Captain Crowninshield” comes care of Cheers guitarist Jordan del Rosario.

And over at Penn’s Landing, the Philadelphia Doo Wop Festival – copresented by WHYY’s Connections Festival – lines up Charlie Gracie, Cornerstone featuring Golden Voice Harry, Fred Paris and the Five Satins and others for some smooth streetcorner harmonies on the waterfront. Watch the Five Satins’ signature tune “In the Still of the Night” below.

While planning for their 45th Anniversary this fall, Clean Air Council policy analyst Katie Feeney learned that in 1992, to celebrate its 25th year, the organization put on ‘Earth Jam’ in Chalfont, PA.

“We had a few acoustic musicians play at last year’s Greenfest ,” Feeney said. “But I thought it would be fun this year to really commit to reviving ‘Earth Jam’ 20 years later to celebrate the Council’s 45th anniversary. So we went all out!”

The eclectic bill of local artists for Earth Jam II came together, as Feeney put it, organically. “Personally, I don’t think there’s a more exciting band in Philadelphia right now than Cheers Elephant,” she said. “They’re so much fun to watch and they’re also wonderful people. Whether it’s true or not, I’ve convinced myself that their song ‘Jumbo Shrimp’ is about the BP oil spill. I think the message behind many of their lyrics is relevant and meaningful to those concerned for the planet.”

Mountjoy bassist Bobby Szafranski signed on as a Greenfest volunteer initially, and it wasn’t long before he brought the band with him. Abstract Verses came on board as part of the extended Cheers Elephant family. And  You Do You is Feeney’s new band with members of The New Connection and Crills Wilson.

“So I’ll be singing at Earth Jam,” she says. “In addition to planning it and running the stage.”

When they’re not onstage at Greenfest, the artists on the bill try to apply sustainable living to their work as musicians.

“Over the summer we had a show at a festival up in Maine and because most equipment was supplied at the location, we were able to drive up in a hybrid,” Abstract Verses vocalist Matt Dancis says. “We got up and back using a little more than a tank of gas each way. That said, usually we have to take a van, which is always hectic and expensive.”

Van travel is a difficult reality for touring bands, but Cheers Elephant singer-guitarist Derek Krzywicki says “now we have a van that’s not from the 80′s,” so their miles-per-gallon ratio is a bit greener. “We also tend to camp in national parks and always pack out what we brought in,” he adds.

The cause of sustainability and eco awareness is just as important for the artists when they’re not on the road. Krzywicki says he’s dismayed by seeing so many Philadelphians throw their garbage down sewer drains, in the street and in vacant lots. And Szafranski points out that Pennsylvania was just voted the second most polluted state by the National Resources Defense Council.

“So it’s good knowing there are efforts being made to create some awareness,” Dancis says. “Music is always a good vehicle for getting people’s attention.”

The free event takes place on Sunday, September 9th at Headhouse Square in Society Hill from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2nd street will be closed for Greenfest from Pine to South street. The Main Stage is closest to South St.

Matt Dancis

Philly indie favorites Cheers Elephant with be rocking out at Johnny Brenda’s tonight with local surf rock quartet The Great White Caps and Virginia indie band The Trillions. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9:15 p.m. Tickets for the 21+ event are available for $10 here. Check out the sweet music video for Cheers Elephant’s song “Doin’ It, Right” below.

Started in 2008 by singer/songwriter Justin Trawick, “The 9 Songwriter Series” is a touring show that features a rotation of nine singer/songwriters from various cities and musical backgrounds brought together on one bill. Tonight the Series is coming to MilkBoy Coffee in Ardmore and the line-up features the Series founder Justin Trawick, as well as local artists Dani Mari, Reverend TJ McGlinchey, Jason Ager, and Alexandra Day, as well as
Chris Scanlon, Max Seidman, Sarah Napolitan (of Turnips), and Jon Paul. The show begins at 8 p.m. and admission is $8.

Local reggae act Sonni Shine & the Underwater Sounds are playing tonight at The Blockley, along with Brooklyn-based funk band The Pimps of Joytime. The 21+ show begins at 9 p.m., tickets are $12. Sonni released a new full-length album since she recorded her Key Studio Session. You can listen to it below.

Raphel Cutrufello and the collection of Philadelphia folk musicians who go by the nom de plume Hezekiah Jones play tonight at World Cafe Live. The jammin’ crew was part of Weathervane Music’s Shaking Through series in March of last year, curated by WXPN’s Bruce Warren, when they recorded their song “Borrowed Heart”; check out the episode below. Griz (who just played at Haddon Lake Park on Wednesday with Mike Doughty) is performing a set, and Philly favorites Cheers Elephant round out the bill. This phenomenal line-up of bands starts this evening at 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia. You can buy advance tickets to the show here.

Blessed to have a huge strip of land in Belgrade, Maine owned by his family, Matt Manser (guitarist of the Philly band Flamingo) chose to use it for something more than just a hang-out spot. He joined forces with the guys from Philly rock trio Penrose – Tom, Pat, and Dan Murphy and their manager, Lynne Krohn – to create a a 3-day music festival on his property, which sits right next to a beautiful lake. And he invited bands from the Philly area to make the trip to Maine to party and play music for 3 days. The Caravan Festival has been going on for four years and it occurs again July 27-29 featuring a lineup of mostly Philly musicians; participating bands include Penrose, The Lawsuits, Cheers Elephant, Levee Drivers, and more.

Tom from Penrose says “the bands coming this year are some of the best Philly has to offer.” They are expecting about 25 bands to play and a 350 person attendance. Brian Dale Allen Strouse from The Lawsuits tells us, “The real beauty of this is how everyone is out of their element. When it’s all over and we arrive back home, we’ll have met new people, created new relationships, and through the power of live performance, we’ll have established future opportunities to play in Philadelphia with the people and bands we met in Belgrade Lakes.”

Tonight at Kung Fu Necktie marks the launch party for the Caravan Fest with performances from TJ Kong & The Atomic Bomb, Penrose, and Izzy & the Catastrophics.

“The big news out of the Penrose headquarters … is that we’re going to unleash a whole hellstorm of brand new songs that’ll be on our upcoming record,” says Tom of tonight’s show. “For most of them it’ll be the first time anyone’s heard them, so we’re looking forward to unloading that.”

Tickets to tonight’s 21+ show are $8, set begins at 7:30 PM. After the performance there will be a party upstairs with DJ Matt Manser, the guys from Penrose, and TJ Kong’s Kevin Connor spinning tunes from the ‘Carabands’.

Interested in making the 8-hour trek to hear some of your favorite local bands play in a new setting? Go here to buy your tickets and check out the line-up.

Friday, July 13th WXPN welcomes local bands Hezekiah Jones, Griz, and Cheers Elephant to the downstairs stage at World Cafe Live. Headliner Hezekiah Jones is a folk band made up of a rotating bill of Philadelphia-area musicals centered around singer songwriter Raphael Cutrufello.  Cutrufello and Chris Grunwald of Griz are friends and contemporaries of the Philly folk scene who have collaborated on past projects, such as this cover of David Bowie’s “Ashes to Ashes” by Hezekiah Jones featuring Dow Jones (Chris Grunwald).

Rounding out the bill is psychedelic pop rock band Cheers Elephant who bring their unique flavor to the line-up. In case you missed their recent Free At Noon session at World Cafe Live, check out the link here. Tickets to the all-ages event are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. To purchase tickets click here.

• Doin' It, Rightby Cheers Elephant from Like Wind Blows FireDownload

The Key: Why did you decide to start Loves Local Music?

Monika Julien: Being a musician and having played in bands, I know how difficult it is to get people to come to your shows, buy your records, and even just listen to your music. Today, bands have to get creative about how to promote their music – it’s not always as easy as putting your songs on the internet. Musicians are creative by nature, but I believe a great businessperson is equally as creative. I’m looking forward to using Loves Local Music as a platform to take an artistic and innovative approach to business and promotions for musicians. I have had the opportunity to meet people across the country that have launched local music initiatives in their cities, and because Philadelphia is so community-driven, I felt that bringing together the local music scene and local businesses is something that this city would totally embrace. And it is! I have been inspired by people who have taken a proactive role in promoting local culture and unifying their community, and I hope Loves Local Music inspires others in the same way.

TK: Broadly, what’s the mission of Loves Local Music?

MJ: The primary mission of Loves Local Music is to build relationships with musicians, artists, businesses, innovators, and other visionaries to organize creative events that give local Philadelphia musicians more exposure, bring awareness to Philadelphia’s local music scene, and make local music more accessible to the community.

TK: Philadelphia Local Music Day is on May 12th. This is the first “activity” you guys are doing. What other things do you have planned?

MJ: There are already plans to make Philadelphia Local Music Day an event that occurs multiple times a year, each time featuring new musicians and some new surprises. There are also ideas in the works for a few other events that will give musicians the opportunity to gain exposure in some unique ways. You will hear about them soon.

TK: What would you consider to be a successful outcome of the first Loves Local Music day?

MJ: If one person comes away from Philadelphia Local Music Day and learns about a local band that they have never heard of before, I consider this event a success. My goal is to make people aware of Philadelphia’s music scene – especially people who may not be able to attend a late-night rock show or may not know how to access information on local Philadelphia musicians. I really want people to come away from Philadelphia Local Music Day and remember the local bands being featured for the event. In an effort to make this happen, each of the participating locations will be giving download cards with a song from each of the featured bands to their customers. People will be able take a piece of Philadelphia Local Music Day home with them! My hope is that this encourages people to further explore the featured bands’ music and inspires people to want to know more about Philadelphia’s local music scene.

TK: You’ve been involved in the local music scene for the last several years; what do you like about it?

MJ: First and foremost, the music! Honestly, there wouldn’t be Loves Local Music or Philadelphia Local Music Day if this city wasn’t full of amazing musical talent. On a personal level, most of my best memories in Philadelphia involve playing shows and going to shows, working with local bands and seeing them grow. Loves Local Music is definitely a vehicle for me to tell the world how great Philadelphia’s musicians are and bring attention to the city’s local music scene. I also love the sense of community and collaboration within Philadelphia’s music scene. Of course there are amazing bands, but there are also visual artists, graphic designers, videographers, promoters, venues, bloggers, radio stations, record stores, even the people that are willing to host shows in their basements all working together to help the Philadelphia local music scene thrive.  We couldn’t do it without each other. It’s the DIT ethic – “Do It Together.” While Loves Local Music is primarily focused on promoting musicians, I also hope that an event like Philadelphia Local Music Day encourages people to support the city’s local economy; Philadelphia is home to so many amazing local businesses as well as musicians. I’m trying to bring them all together.

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.