The Key » Django Django

Watch Django Django talk about their record picks in an episode of “What’s in My Bag?” (playing Firefly Festival on June 21-23)

Julie Miller — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:34:41 +0000

Recent Free at Noon guests Django Django popped into Amoeba Records in Los Angeles recently to film a segment of the store’s “What’s in My Bag?” series. The London-based psych / pop band picked up an eclectic mix of recordings including The Monkees’ Head, The Feelies’ Crazy Rhythms, John Fahey’s Blind Joe Death, Simple Minds’ Reel to Real Cacophony and about twenty other genre crossing releases. Check out their episode below and listen back to Django Django’s World Cafe appearance here. Tickets and information for June’s Firefly Festival in Dover, DE can be found on the XPN Concert Calendar.

Django Django bring their futuristic desert rock to life at Union Transfer (review, photos, setlist)

Kate Bracaglia — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:30:48 +0000

Scotland’s Django Django are quite possibly one of the most creative bands making music right now. On their debut, self-titled record (which was nominated for a Mercury Prize), they combine classic desert rock and campfire songs with bloopy, electronic accents and lush vocal harmonies—for a result that sounds a little like it was composed by a futuristic robot cowboy. Friday night, the foursome brought their unique art rock to life at Union Transfer, wowing the crowd with their musicality and stage show.

Clad in matching shirts with mysterious symbols, and playing in front of a large projection screen bathed in imagery, Django Django appeared—to the unknowing observer at least—as ambassadors from a faraway planet, here to share their discoveries with Earth. Opener “Hail Bop” then could be an homage to their god—with its choral harmonies, and refrain of “Hail to the Bop”—while follower “Storm,” which followed a trajectory similar to that of atmospheric pressure before it rains—could be that same God becoming angered.

Other songs seemed more like celebrations than incantations: bouncy single “Default” inspired some serious moves from front man Vincent Neff, who proved excellent at riling the crowd AND beating his “egg box” (his words!)—while “Love’s Dart” inspired dance floor gold. Late night campfire dirge “Hand of Man” washed over the crowd like a warm wave—and “Skies Over Cairo” transported everyone to Egypt, let’s say Aladdin era, where belly dancers and snake charmers abound.

The band closed with showdown at High Noon groove “Wor,” impassioned cowbell and woodblock-playing replicating the sounds of horses’ hooves, scurrying off over the horizon. Django Django are a young band with a lot of promise—and we have a feeling that the next time they ride into town, it will be as well-known international heroes.

Set list:
Hail Bop
Storm
Firewater
Waveforms
Love’s Dart
Hand of Man
Skies Over Cairo
Default
Life’s a Beach
Wor

Encore:
Silver Rays

Photo Recap: Django Django played Free at Noon

John Vettese — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 22:39:02 +0000

UK-based psychedelic electropop band Django Django blew the roof off this afternoon’s Free at Noon Concert. Check out a gallery of photos from their set above, and don’t forget – tickets are still available for tonight’s show at Union Transfer. If they have one tenth of the energy tonight that they had today, it’ll be massive (though we kind of imagine they’ll actually have more).

Tonight’s Concert Picks: DeVotchKa at The Trocadero, Django Django at Union Transfer, Norwegian Arms at PhilaMOCA, Brethren at The Grape Room

Julie Miller — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 13:32:58 +0000

Denver’s DeVotchKa bring their chamber orchestra project to The Trocadero tonight. After recording a live album with the Colorado Symphony at Red Rocks Amphitheater, the Eastern European-influenced quartet hit the road with a chamber orchestra to bring the full and intricate layers of an orchestral performance to smaller stages. The band is also testing out new material that will be recorded as a follow-up to 2011′s 100 Lovers. Tickets and information for tonight’s all-ages show with Pearl and the Beard can be found here. Below, watch DeVotchKa perform “All the Sand in All the Sea” live at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony.

Following today’s Free at Noon performance here at XPN / World Cafe Live, Django Django go the other side of town for a headlining appearance at Union Transfer. The British four-piece released their well-received self-titled debut LP last year, placing the psychedelic / electronic outfit at #26 on Rolling Stone’s Top 50 Albums of 2012. Tickets and information for tonight’s all-ages show with Night Moves can be found here. Taken from their incredibly creative collection of music videos, watch a take for “Default” below.

Norwegian Arms play PhilaMOCA tonight for a rare all-ages show. The Philly duo is still riding high after the release of their debut full-length Wolf Like a Stray Dog and members Keith Birthday (vocalist / mandolin player Brendan Mulvihill) and Dr. Awkward (drummer Eric Slick) recently stopped by Brighton Sound Studio in North Wales, PA to record three of their Siberian-inspired tracks including the LP’s title track, which you can watch below. More information for this show with Scott Churchman, Laser Background and Circadian Rhythms can be found here.

Lancaster, PA folk / alternative band Brethren play The Grape Room tonight. The band of brothers and friends has been recording together for ten years and released their Gone a Little Wrong EP in January. Informed by harmonic folk projects like The Avett Brothers, Brethren incorporate tight three-part harmonies with their high energy instrumentation that results in songs that are fun to sing along to. More information for tonight’s show with Lion in the Mane, Illinois and A Better Class of Criminal can be found here. Watch a studio video for “Stepping Stone” off of the latest Brethren EP below.

Watch Django Django’s “Hand of Man” video (headlining Union Transfer in March)

John Vettese — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 17:04:58 +0000

With a spring tour on the way that brings them to Union Transfer on March 8, Django Django just released a new music video shot on the soon-to-be-discontinued Kodak black-and-white film stock at a friend’s London flat in a building that’s about to be leveled for a condo development. It’s all about saying goodbye to the past and moving ahead into the future. Watch “Hand of Man” below. For more information on the show, visit the WXPN Concert Calendar.

Django Django: Hand of Man on Nowness.com.

The Key’s Year-End Mania: Michaela Majoun’s five most sonically addictive songs of 2012

Michaela Majoun — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 16:28:19 +0000

For The Key’s year-in-review, we asked our trusted sources – our writers and photographers, XPN’s on-air staff, fellow bloggers in the Philly scene and even a few musicians – to send us their Top Five Whatevers. Could be the traditional music route – albums, songs, concerts of the year – or it could be only loosely connected. We’ll be sharing these recaps every day through to the end of the year. Today, XPN Morning Show host Michaela Majoun shares her five most sonically addictive songs of 2012.

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“

Just Announced: Django Django playing Union Transfer in March (hear them on World Cafe today)

John Vettese — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 17:28:15 +0000

Buzzing UK four-piece Django Django announced a round of winter tour dates today, including its first Philadelphia appearance. The expansive electronic / psych band will play Union Transfer on Friday, March 8. Tickets are on sale tomorrow at noon, more information is available at the venue’s website. The band’s recent World Cafe session airs on today’s show; you can tune in beginning at 2 p.m. at 88.5 FM in Philadelphia or XPN.org from anywhere. Below, watch Django Django’s alluring performance of “Love’s Dart” from its Blackbox Session.

My Morning Download: “Default” by Django Django

Bruce Warren — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:00:52 +0000

Now based in London, Edinburgh-born Django Django is a four-piece band that defies musical classification. Drawing on psychedelia with a modern and creative twist (in the same way bands such as Animal Collective and the Beta Band do), Django Django is experimental and accessible. The band’s self-titled debut album is an eclectic and friendly collection of indie art-rock with excellent pop songs at the heart of their sound. Below, download “Default.”

Django Django – Default by Django Django