Co-headliner and Abington, PA native ZZ Ward hit the stage next, leading led her tight band through an exciting hour of her smooth mash-up of Blues, Hip Hop and R and B. Highlights were a touching acoustic “Last Love Song” and set closer “Move Like U Stole It” that had the crowd grooving along.

North Carolina’s Delta Rae closed out the night. They made the full house sweat on a cold wintery night with a powerful performance full of roller coaster emotional highs and lows and glorious harmonies. Early in the set songs “Morning Comes” and “Holding Onto Good” were high points but they saved the best for last. For their encore they headed out into the crowd for an exuberant, sweaty acoustic sing-along version of “Hey Hey Hey” that featured back-up vocals from everyone in the crowd.

It’s a soul-vocal double-header at The TLA tonight with the Southern gospel-pop group Delta Rae sharing the stage with blues-inflected singer ZZ Ward. The former appeared at last year’s XPoNential Music Festival following the release of their LP Carry the Fire, while the latter played a smokin’ headlining set upstairs at World Cafe Live in support of her debut Til The Casket Drops. Tickets and more information can be found at the WXPN Concert Calendar. Below, watch the music video for Delta Rae’s “Morning Comes.”

Experimental Philly noise-rock outfit Drums Like Machine Guns make a rare live appearance tonight at Kung Fu Necktie. While the bombardment of percussion is certainly a part of the band’s sound, so is a nihilistc wall of searing guitar noise and electronic effects. Earplugs recommended, even if you think you’re a total badass and don’t need them. Tickets and information on the show can be found here. Below, watch Drums Like Machine Guns tearing up the Fourth of Destruction at Philly’s Big Rock Candy Vat last year.

Drums Like Machine Guns @ Fourth Of Destruction from Breathmint on Vimeo.

By which I mean songs you just can’t get out of your head, not necessarily because of lyrical content or musical depth, but because of a sound that hooks you.  I suspect it has something to do with repetition and viscerally-felt clapping or drum noise and the other things noted below. There are studies about why music is addictive – read more here and here.

1. Django Django  “Default”  (I especially love the auto tuney parts.)

Django Django – Default from Django Django on Vimeo.

2. Electric Guest  “This Head I Hold” (The trancey rhythm, falsetto singing and catchy lyric: “Don’t think / take drink”)

3. The Avett Brothers  “Live and Die”  (The chorus, tempo, rhymes and simplicity…life and death!)

4.  Lianne LaHavas  “Is Your Love Big Enough?” (“Lo-oo-oo-ve…”)

5. Kopecky Family Band  “Heartbeat” (Claps, finger snaps and “oo-oo’s.”)

Then there’s…
Delta Rae “Bottom Of The River”
The Lumineers ”Ho Hey”
The XX “Chained”
Martin Harley “Mojo Fix”
Ben Harper/Charlie Musselwhite  “I Don’t Believe A Word You Say“

Into It. Over It, the ambitious punk/pop solo act of Damiera member Evan Weiss, will be performing tonight with local punk/hardcore hybrid Restorations at First Unitarian Church. This is the first full-band tour for Into It. Over It. after releasing its debut full-length record Proper in 2011. Prior to Proper’s release, Into It. Over It. recorded 52 Weeks, a year-long effort that involved writing, recording and releasing new tracks every week during 2007; the finished product was released as a collection in 2009. Tickets  for the 7:30 show are available here. Below, check out the title track from Into It. Over It.’s Proper.

Philly four-piece shoegaze band Forest Fools will be playing at Pi Lam tonight with fellow local dream pop group The Tweeds. ”Weakend Guest” from The Tweeds’ 2011 full-length album, Goliath, is available for a free download here. The show starts 8 PM; more details can be found here. Below you listen to Forest Fools’ latest track “The Way Out” from their forthcoming EP.

Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora will be playing at the Electric Factory tonight. During Bon Jovi’s two year hiatus, Sambora took the opportunity to release his third solo album, Aftermath of the Lowdown, in September. Tickets for the 8:30 show can be found here. Check out Sambora’s performance of “You Can Only Get So High” at our own Free At Noon show at World Cafe Live a month ago. UPDATE: Richie Sambora canceled tonight’s show, as well as adjoining shows in Toronto and New York City. Refunds are available at point of purchase, internet and phone orders will automatically be canceled & refunded. From Sambora’s Facebook: “Really, really sorry – I just blew my voice out. I’m on vocal rest and it wouldn’t be fair to give you a less than 100% performance. I promise to more than make it up to you though!”

Below check out a video of Delta Rae performing “Bottom Of The River” before their performance at XPoNential Fest this year.

Field Report “Fergus Falls”

A large crowd of people gathered a couple hundred feet away from WXPN’s XPoNential Festival, looking onward as Delta Rae rehearsed some vocal harmonies in preparation of their ensuing performance. The crowd looked on in anticipation, wondering possibly who they were, who we were with the cameras, and what exactly was about to happen.

Much to the crowd’s surprise, I invited them to come closer to sit in the mix of the band. Although a bit hesitant to make the first move, they happily joined the band along the riverside stairs. The band asked the crowd if they’d like drumsticks, to help participate in the song that required some extensive rhythm.

Again a bit hesitant, however, the band mentioned they had more than enough drumsticks for everyone. With that, about fifteen pairs of drumsticks were passed out, and the following performance of “Bottom Of The River” occurred. Enjoy.

Watch the video below, and check out photos from their Marina Stage set here.

The six-piece group from North Carolina, Delta Rae joined us today on the Marina Stage with an excellent performance. Their debut LP, Carry The Fire was released a few months ago and we were lucky enough to snag them during the end of their tour. The band has only been around for a couple of years but they have developed a prominent hold on their unique sound; folk rock with a twist of gospel and heavy jams. The frontwomen, Brittany and Liz sang together in harmony rockin’ in their Steve Madden six inch heels while Ian, Eric, Mike, and Grant were killing it as well. The best surprise was Delta Rae’s cover of “The Chain” by one of their favorite bands, Fleetwood Mac. Check out a photo gallery above, and the setlist below.

Morning Comes
Holding On To Good
If I Loved You
Whatchu Thinkin’ ’bout Baby
Fire
Dance In The Graveyards
The Chain (Fleetwood Mac Cover)

Delta Rae began in 2009 as a four-piece group made up of three siblings (Ian, Eric, and Brittany Hölljes) and their childhood friend, Elizabeth Hopkins. Soon after they began playing music together, the four became six with the addition of bassist Grant Emerson and drummer Mike McKee. The name “Delta Rae” reigns from a fictional character the siblings mother told them stories about; she was a majestic woman who had the power to summon Greek Gods to the Earth. The six-piece Americana folk group embodies this name into their music by telling tales of their own. After releasing their self-titled EP and becoming well known for their impressive live performances, they came out with their official debut full-length, Carry The Fire, just last month. The album has a little bit of everything: from folk to bluegrass to pop; they incorporate dynamic harmonies and rich melodies full of raw and soulful emotion. Some songs on the album may be deep and dark such as the track, “Is Anyone Out There?” referring to Ian’s lonesomeness when he worked at a desk job 40 hours a week. But their spirit is in full throttle throughout the 12-track album, especially their hit single, “Bottom of the River”; a haunting, gospel tune with a spark of southern roots. You can watch the official video for it below. Delta Rae plays the XPoNential Festival on Saturday, July 21st at Wiggins Park.