Philly / New York rockers The Walkmen headline tonight at Union Transfer. Replacing a canceled October show, the local favorites return to Philly in support of 2012′s Heaven. In an effort to take the album in a new direction, the band brought in producer Phil Ek for a fresh sound. The ambition paid off, with Heaven being named Magnet’s number one album of 2012 and the title track landing at spot #56 on XPN’s Top 200 Songs Countdown. Tickets and information for tonight’s show with Alec Ounsworth of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah can be found here. Below, watch The Walkmen’s video for “Heaven.”
Grimace Federation
RECENT POSTS
The Boom Room celebrates one-year anniversary with Camp-Lo, Kuf Knotz and more on 9/29
Photo by Grace Dickinson
After one full year of throwing private events and hosting bands in its recording studio and practice space, the Philly venue Boom Room Studio will be celebrating its one-year anniversary with a blow-out party on September 29th. The event will feature food, drinks, and a slew of live performances. Confirmed artists include rap group Camp Lo, former Roots and Jay-Z backup singer Jaguar Wright‘s new band The W.E., Grimace Federation, BAM!, Kuf Knotz, Nex Millen, DJ Lina Luv, Cultureal, and the Magic Message DJs. The indoor/outdoor event starts at 3 p.m. and goes until the wee hours with a late night dance party hosted by the Magic Message DJs. For more background info on the space from owner of the Boom Room, watch this short behind-the-scenes documentary below. Continue reading
Stream the new Circa Surive album; release show(s) this Friday and Saturday at Union Transfer
Locally-rooted post-punk band Circa Survive are releasing their fourth album, Violent Waves, next Tuesday on August 28. The album was a total DIY effort – the band did not bring in outside producers on this one, and are self-releasing it. They will be holding two album release shows in their hometown of Philadelphia this weekend at Union Transfer. On Friday night they will be joined by Bear Hands, along with Birdie Num Num and the Spirit Squad. Saturday features performances from Balance and Composure and Grimace Federation. It has been rumored that their album will be available for purchase at the show, but it is not officially available until Tuesday. If you can’t make it to the show, you can pre-order Violent Waves on the band’s page. Rolling Stone is streaming the album now, and you can listen here. Tickets to this weekend’s shows are $20 per day, doors open at 7 p.m. Below, read a letter from Circa Survive to their fans. Continue reading
Tonight’s Concert Picks: XPN Welcomes the English Beat, Grimace Federation, Here We Go Magic, and Hallelujah the Hills
One of the bands who revolutionized traditional ska into new wave music, The English Beat (also known just as ‘The Beat’), play Philadelphia tonight. Only producing three albums in the 1980′s, they have a vast amount of hit singles including “Save it for Later” and “Mirror in the Bathroom”. The multi-instrumentalists play this evening at the Sellersville Theater. Go here to purchase tickets to this all ages show.
Tonight marks the opening of Grimace Federation and Sonkin‘s bi-weekly residence at Kung Fu Necktie entitled “Popular Science”. They will play with different musicians at each show; tonight includes Starkey b2b Dev79 and The Range. The next few dates include August 1, 15, and 29th. Grimace Federation recently played with Work Drugs, opening for Battles at the TLA and will be opening for Circa Survive at Union Transfer on August 25th. Tickets to tonight’s 21+ show are $8. Doors open at 8pm.
The psychedelic rock band from Brooklyn, Here We Go Magic play tonight at Johnny Brenda’s. The frontman, Luke Temple was previously a solo act and has since expanded it to a full band. They have toured with bigger acts such as The Walkmen, Grizzly Bear, and Broken Social Scene. Tonight, they play with The Spinto Band, who also held a weekly residency at Kung Fu Necktie during the month of May. Tickets to tonight’s 21+ show are $12, the set begins at 9:15pm.
The Americana folk rock group Hallelujah the Hills play with Wailbone, Nicotine and Brown, and Frank Cervantes at North Star Bar. This 21+ show costs $8 and begins at 8pm.
Download a new song by Grimace Federation, “Ghosts In A Mirror”
Grimace Federation have released a new song called “Ghost In A Mirror” that you can download below for free. Perhaps Grimace is getting psyched to open up for Battles at the TLA on June 12th (along with Work Drugs), because this new song is six and 1/2 minutes of pure prog-groove bliss. The song takes off with some powerful, heavy syncopated beats underneath colorful floating cosmic synths. Download the song below. Go here for tickets and more information about their show with Work Drugs and Battles at the TLA on Tuesday, June 12th.
Battles playing TLA on June 12th with openers Work Drugs and Grimace Federation
The Brooklyn trio Battles will bring its math/art/prog rockisms to the TLA on Tuesday, June 12th. Philly’s Work Drugs and Grimace Federation are opening the show. Below, download a song each from Work Drugs and Grimace Federation and watch Battles’ video for “My Machine” featuring Gary Numan. Go here for tickets and more information about the show.
Download the new Key Studio Sessions Compilation Volume One for free
The Key Studio Sessions Compilation Volume One—which you can download for free here—features one exclusive track recorded at the WXPN studios by 17 local acts, including Cheers Elephant, Grimace Federation, Summer Fiction, Moon Women, Prowler, Attia Taylor, 5 O’Clock Shadowboxers, Res, Purling Hiss, The Shackeltons, Soars, Johnny Miles And The Waywards, Creepoid, By Surprise, Lady, Slutever, and American Babies.
Want to hear more? Click here to listen to the full sessions by all 17 local acts. You can also download The Key Studio Sessions Compilation, Volume One in its entirety as a .zip file.