We are pleased to announce we just signed to Warner/Sire records. Big day for Cold Fronts.

Check out the band inking the deal in the Vine player after the jump. Congrats guys!

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.

West Philly’s long-standing punk rock frat Pi Lam threw its annual Human BBQ celebration (35 years strong!) this weekend with a stacked lineup of Philadelphia favorites like Cold Fronts, Norwegian Arms and Ghost Light as well as out-of-town artists like Delicate Steve. Check out scenes from the day-long musical endurance test in the gallery above.

When it comes to both highlights and headaches, Philly’s Cold Fronts have experienced it all. The fun-loving foursome might still be up-and-comers on the local scene, but when it comes to hitting the road, they’re quickly becoming masters, having just completed their second, epic, month-long tour (with a stop at SXSW in mid-March), and already looking to book another. So how does an unsigned band with no manager, no PR firm, and no booking agent, manage to make it work?  I caught up with front man Craig Almquist to divulge his secrets—and share some of his most (and least!) fun moments of tour.

Listening to Cold Fronts’ music, one might initially be tempted to underestimate their drive: their debut EP, Pretty American, is filled with easy-going party jammers about crushes and heartache; on Facebook, they list their interests as “partying and pizza.” But just because they play hard doesn’t mean they don’t work hard too.

“We aren’t worried, we love to work,” writes Almquist over email, when I touch base a week before the tour to ask, Doesn’t 25 shows in a month seem overwhelming? “There’s always a turning point when you’re doing a lot of shows where you get into a rhythm and it becomes an exciting routine.”

Exciting if you know what you’re doing, at least. I asked Almquist what advice he’d give to a new band starting out on tour, and he gave me three suggestions…which should practically be required  knowledge for all bands setting out on the road.

Life on the road. Via the band’s Instagram

1.       Get a reliable van.

For Cold Fronts, it’s a standard 15-passenger, Dodge Ram Primetime in dark green—with a built-in divider half-way back, so that “if we crash, we don’t get whacked in the head by guitars…at least in theory.” A reliable van is necessary because of all the time one spends in the van…and because breaking down can mean cancelled or missed shows.

Also necessary is a belief in the van’s inherent magic, which luckily for Cold Fronts, comes naturally. “There’s something really fun about the van slowly becoming your home,” says Almquist, who also notes that all four band members split driving duties, and have been known to sleep in the van on occasion.  “It’s a special bond you form with your friends when you’re riding in the van together all day,” he continues. “And then there are those special trips that last 16 hours…”

On their recently-completed tour, the band drove from Illinois to New Orleans straight—a journey Almquist describes as “a real bitch.”’Sometimes you just have to slap yourself,” he says with a grin. Long journeys can also mean band member bickering (“Imagine you’re really good friends, and you live with someone…you’re bound to fight. So take that, then subtract all the space, and you have van life”) and the inevitable funky smells that arise from four guys sweating and eating Taco Bell regularly, and showering irregularly. And of course, even the most stalwart vehicles break down occasionally—a fate that befell Cold Fronts when leaving SXSW, forcing them to cancel an upcoming gig in New Orleans.

“That was a real low point for us,” says Almquist, who luckily, was able to get the van up-and-running shortly after with some help. “But we came out alive, so that’s what really matters.”

Broken down and calling for help. Via the band’s Instagram

2.       Seek Sponsorships.

Ten years ago, you could argue seeking sponsorships was akin to “selling out” for many indie bands, who were skeptical of forming alliances with corporations they feared would mis-represent their music. These days though, there are countless youth-oriented companies (like Converse, Vitamin Water, or Red Bell) with money set aside specifically for recording, or helping indie bands tour (kind of like unsigned band scholarships), and cashing in on these opportunities can be a great, practical way to manage expenses.

For their just-completed tour, Cold Fronts found sponsorship with Jansport after winning a battle of the bands; for their prize, the company covered tour expenses. The band also scored free Taco Bell through the company’s “Feed the Beat” program…which led to many a Crunch Wrap Supreme run (and unfortunately, Almquist tells me, those aforementioned funky van smells.)

So how does a band like Cold Fronts find sponsorships? “It’s challenging,” admits Almquist, who searches for companies he thinks share similar philosophies. “But it’s worth it not to have to worry—if only three people come out to a show, you’re not gonna lose any money.”

Cold Fronts jamming at Maggie Mae’s during SXSW, in a Jansport-sponsored show. Via Tilly’s Twitter (@Tillys)

3.       Play as many shows as possible.

On their most recent tour, Cold Fronts played 25 shows in 20 different cities: numbers Almquist would like see to climb even higher. Obviously, the more shows a band plays, the more exposure they receive…and the more connections they make with other bands and potential labels.

I ask Almquist about a particular big label executive, who I had heard the band played for at SXSW. Almquist is tight-lipped about the situation, but we’re hoping for an announcement soon. And when I ask him, if surely, the situation caused nerves, he tells me the group was too caught up in the excitement of the festival for it to really register.

“We were running on such little sleep and it was so early in the morning,” he says, admitting soon after that by “early in the morning” he means, in fact, 12 in the afternoon. “So we just treated it as a show in the middle of the night—we all took a shot, grabbed a beer, then headed on stage.”

The band’s fave SXSW moment occurred just hours later, when they were spontaneously added to a Creep Records showcase, courtesy of their friends in Conversations With Enemies.

“It was the last day of the festival, and we actually had another show scheduled for earlier that day,” explains Almquist. “But we ended up cancelling, just because we were exhausted, and because it was going to be so much of a hassle getting there and loading and unloading all our gear. So we thought we had the afternoon off, and were just relaxing—and then we finally ended up playing a set at midnight. But it was such a fun show—we sounded tight, and we kicked ass.” We’re sorry that we missed it!

So how does one go about booking shows in a city they’ve never been to, or know which venues are legit versus lame?

“At this point, it’s really still a guessing game,” says Almquist with a smile. “On this last tour, we definitely played some questionable places. You just never know. Sometimes, you show up at a venue, and it’s packed with people, and the show is awesome; sometimes you’re playing to an empty room with three people, all of whom are in the other band. But as you keep going, you learn what types of venues are good bets. Colleges and basements are usually great; they usually have a solid fan base. But honestly, we’re still figuring it out.”

Sounds like they’re certainly on their way.

Cold Fronts play two shows this weekend: at 2:00 pm on Saturday as part of Pilam’s Human Barbeque (3914 Spruce St., all ages, $15; tickets are the door), and later that evening at 9:00 at the North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.,21+,  $11–$14.) More information at the venue’s website. 

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.

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.

Local roots-rockers The Lawsuits head out to Lancaster’s Chameleon Club tonight for a sure-to-be-rowdy show with Toy Soldiers, The Districts and People’s Blues of Richmond.  Taking a cue from Philly music leaders Dr. Dog and Man Man (just to name a few), The Lawsuits worked with local engineer Bill Moriarty on their forthcoming LP, following up November’s Numbers EP.  Don’t let the laidback and introspective nature of that recent release fool you though, The Lawsuits are just as loud and lively as always, as evidenced by their on-going collaboration with Philly hip hop outfit Ground Up.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 18+ show can be found here.  Watch The Lawsuits video for “Ebony Rose” below.

New York’s Double King play Kung Fu Necktie tonight.  Formerly of Philly band The Powder Kegs, Double King frontman Ryan Dieringer moved to New York after the band broke up and quickly started work on his new project, which released their debut self-titled LP on Kill the Messenger Records last September.  With a solid rock & roll sound, Double King take jaunts into the many facets of the genre over the albums eight tracks including the surfy “Runaway” and the twangier “Hurricane & Harriet.”  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Cold Fronts and TJ Kong can be found here.  Below, watch Double King’s video for “Monsters.”

Double King – “Monsters” [Official Video] from Couple 3 Films on Vimeo.

Recent Run For Cover Records additions Modern Baseball play The Fire tonight.  Their 2012 debut LP Sports is getting the reissue-treatment by the new label and will be released on March 12th.  The local band also contributed to a benefit 4-way split for Topshelf Records this week along with Philly friends The Hundred Acre Woods, Maryland’s Julia Brown and Old Gray, with proceeds go to global anti-violence charity V-Day.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21= show with Cayetana, Marietta, Smoother and Cool Points can be found here.  Watch a stripped-down version of “The Weekend” from Sports below.

If you, like most of us, missed out on the super fast selling tickets for Mumford & Sons‘ show at Susquehanna Bank Center this weekend, have no fear.  Sit back and enjoy the British invasion event from the comfort of your home or car by tuning into WXPN 88.5 or streaming it online at XPN.org and sing along to favorites from 2012′s stand-out Babel and 2009′s debut Sigh No More.  Opening acts include LA sister trio HAIM and current BRIT Award nominee Ben Howard.  More information can be found here.  Below, watch Mumford & Sons perform “The Cave” live at Bonaroo in 2011.

Photo by Kent Moore

February curators 8static present Saint at PhilaMOCA for this week’s Tuesday Tune-Out. Saint is the moniker of Dain Saint, Philly resident and co-founder of audio game development company Cipher Prime Studios.  Saint’s musical style echoes his day job with its chiptune production and video game soundtrack melodies.  Admission for tonight’s Tune-Out is a $5 suggested donation at the door.  More information for the all-ages music and film evening can be found on the Facebook event page here.  Below, stream “Fog of War” from Saint’s Pieces of 8. More information for the 21+ show can be found here.

Memory Tapes makes a rare live appearance at Johnny Brenda’s tonight.  The otherworldly project of New Jersey musician and producer Dayve Hawk celebrated the release of Grace / Confusion at the end of 2012, an event documented by The Key’s recurring Unlocked series.   Memory Tapes has proven to be an apt moniker for Hawk – he describes his compositions as being “representative of the time and place in my life” and “having an anthropological worth” – and from that viewpoint Grace / Confusion takes on an entirely different level of depth from other electronic / dream pop records.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Gracie and TEEN can be found here.  Download “Neighborhood Watch” here and watch the Grammy nominated video for “Yes I Know” from Player Piano below.

XPN welcomes local acts Free Energy and Cold Fronts to The Depot in York, PA tonight.  The upbeat pop / rock sound of Free Energy was captured in this year’s Love Sign LP, an album that quickly wiggled its way into the hearts of both new and old fans with feel-good, party ready tracks like record-starter “Electric Fever.”  Philly rockers Cold Fronts released their infectious Pretty American EP last spring and followed it up with “Know it All” last week, a rocking tune with great guitar layers and sing-a-long lyrics.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 18+ show with Younger Me can be found here.  Below, watch Free Energy’s video for “Electric Fever.”

This week’s Key Studio Session spotlighted the soulful rock and roll of Juston Stens and the Get Real Gang, who have a slate of regional dates lined up this winter – from Lancaster to Wilmington to right here in Philly. The band played selections from their 2012 LP Trash or Treasure, and dropped a spirited new one called “Blink of an Eye.” Steam or download it below, and get the entire session here.

• Blink of an EyeInsert caption hereDownload

Speaking of Key Studio Sessions, our latest compilation – The Key Studio Sessions Vol. 6 - was released last week. It features 17 tracks recorded last fall, from Ape School and Ethel Cee, to Aspiga and Arctic Splash. Download the entire compilation for free at Soundcloud, and get a taste below with “Witnessed” by Gracie.

Philly’s Brian Christinzio, aka B.C. Camplight, has been living in Manchester, UK, for the better part of the past year, working on his latest LP Grim Cinema. Last week he appeared on BBC Radio 6 Music for an interview and performance of two brand new songs – “Thieves in Antigua” and “Atom Bomb.” Stream and download the session below.

Folkadelphia dug into its archives for a bonus session this week featuring Sacramento singer-songwriter Jules Ann Bee, aka Sea of Bees. Listen to it below, download it at Folkadelphia’s bandcamp.

Looking for more? Visit WXPN’s Soundcloud page to download The Key Studio Sessions Vol. 1 through Vol. 5.

Photo by Brian Hamelman

Pabst Blue Ribbon presents Cold Fronts at Kung Fu Necktie tonight.  Cold Fronts are the energetic rock outfit fronted by Craig Almquist who brought us last week’s stellar Key Studio Session, which you can stream and download here (it includes new song “Sum Girls”).  Tonight’s gig with all-girl Japanese rock band The Suzan and Philly’s Ton-Taun will be Cold Fronts’ last of the year.  Tickets and information for the 21+ show can be found here.  Below, watch the video for Cold Fronts’ “Heart Attack.”

Rule-bending experimental musician Thurston Moore brings one of his latest projects to Space 1026 tonight.  Joining forces with former Howlin’ Rain percussionist John Moloney, Moore recorded Caught on Tape on Feeding Tube Records this past summer and the duo are now taking the noise/drone compositions on the road.  Tickets and information for tonight’s all-ages show with Speedy Ortiz can be found here.  Below, listen to an excerpt of Caught on Tape.

While XPN2 is helping us celebrate the holiday season with Jingle Jams, the weekly Folkadelphia show has moved over to The Key in the form of downloadable in-studio sessions.  This week’s guest was Black Dub vocalist and solo musician Trixie Whitley, a powerful singer with a captivating delivery.  Listen to the full session below and download it via Folkadelphia’s Bandcamp.

Bobby Long premiered a track off of his upcoming Wishbone LP this week over on Paste.  The British singer-songwriter will release the follow-up to last year’s debut LP A Winter’s Tale in February through ATO Records.  Listen to “In Your Way” below and download it here.

Garage-pop four-piece Cold Fronts were our featured band for this week’s entry in The Key Studio Sessions.  The Philly bred outfit recorded four authentic, sweaty rock songs including a new one called “Sum Girls.”  Listen to the track below and download the full session here.  Check out Cold Fronts live when they play Kung Fu Necktie on December 12th; tickets and information can be found here.

• Sum GirlsInsert caption hereDownload

Philly’s White Birds shared a new song called “I Had a Dream I Did Everything Right” earlier this week, a track that frontman James Harvey describes as his apology to the people who mean the most to him.  Give it a listen below and download the track from White Birds’ Bandcamp.

• Strange Architectureby Cold Fronts from The Key Studio Sessions, December 5, 2012Download

• Jackieby Cold Fronts from The Key Studio Sessions, December 5, 2012Download

• Sum Girlsby Cold Fronts from The Key Studio Sessions, December 5, 2012Download

• Primetimeby Cold Fronts from The Key Studio Sessions, December 5, 2012Download

Photo by Kirk Love | kirklove.tumblr.com

We love to see a musical pairing that’s working this well. Electro-pop outfit City Rain and swaggery rockers Cold Fronts first shared the stage at PhilaMOCA in August. Since then, they’ve opened the Work Drugs Endless Summer Kickoff at Johnny Brenda’s last weekend, and now they’ve both been added as openers on the September 28 Vacationer show at Underground Arts. Tickets to the 21+ show are available here; below, check out Cold Fronts’ video for “Blood.”

Cold Fronts – Blood from think/feel on Vimeo.

Photo by Sarah Fry | SarahMakesPhotos.com

It’s Friday and what better way to kick off the weekend than with some good old-fashioned live music. First off, local bands Work Drugs, City Rain, and Cold Fronts are sharing a bill at Johnny Brenda’s for a night of indie vibes. The doors for the 21+ show open at 8 p.m. and the bands start at 9:15 p.m. Tickets are available for $10 in advance here. Listen to Work Drugs’ song “Pluto” in the player below.

Philly alt rock band Kite Party is playing an all ages show at Goldilocks Gallery tonight with punk band Captain We’re Sinking! and support by Luther and Cayetano. The show starts at 9 p.m. and admission is $5. Visit the event page here. Below, listen to Kite Party’s album “Baseball Season.”

Finally, if you’re looking for some free outdoor music, check out Johnny Miles and Ben Arnold playing at FDR Park tonight. The show is part of the FDR Park Summer Concert Series and also features performances by hosts Dani Mari and Reverend T.J. McGlinchey. Check out an interview the Key did with Dani Mari and Reverend T.J. McGlinchey about the FDR Park Summer Concert Series here.

Local rockers Arctic Splash (featuring Joey Sweeney of Philebrity) are celebrating their one year anniversary with a free show at 9PM tonight at Gunner’s Run. Check out the band performing “Denim Tuxedo” for Bands in the Backyard in the player below.

WXPN welcomes Lyle Lovett and his acoustic group to the Strand Capitol Performing Arts Center tonight at 7:30PM. The show is in support of the Grammy-winning artist’s most recent album, Release Me. Tickets prices range from $54 to 64 and are available here.

Finally, Philly bands City Rain, Cold Fronts, and The Mendles are playing a variety show with local comedians Lisa Yost, James Hesky, and Alex Grubard at PhilaMOCA tonight. There is an $8 donation fee at the door and a portion of proceeds will go to the organization To Write Love On Her Arms, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. Doors open at 6:30PM and the show starts at 7:30PM. Visit the event page here for more details. Listen to the title track off City Rain’s upcoming EP, Montage, in the player below.

Cold Fronts will be going into the studio in August and plan to release some new songs in September. In the meantime, catch their set on August 9th at PhilaMOCA with City Rain, The Mendles, and comedians Lisa Yost, James Hesky, and Alex Grubard. There is an $8 donation charge at the door and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the organization “To Write Love On Her Arms.” For more information visit the event page here.

Listen to the new Cold Graves track below or download it on their Soundcloud page here.

Poppy Philly indie rockers Cold Fronts just released a brand new music video for their song “Heart Attack,” which you can watch above. It’s the lead-off track on their great debut EP Pretty American, and was also performed at the band’s recent Daytrotter session – along with a cover of Maxine Nightingale’s “Get Right Back Where We Started.” You can check out that Daytrotter session here, and watch their last video (for the song “Blood”) here.