Photo by Brian Hamelman
Tonight’s Concert Picks: Eternal Summers at the First Unitarian Church, Cold Fronts at Kung Fu Necktie, Thurston Moore at Space 1026
It’s A King Thing
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Listen to two progressive/electronic jams from Philly’s Endor Endor and Crozet (playing tonight at Kung Fu Necktie)
Versatile South Jersey indie rocker Tom Ryan busies himself as a player in so many other projects (three, at last count—Young Statues, It’s a King Thing, The Atomic Square), that it’s always a treat when he gets to indulge his own creative whims. Endor Endor is the post-rock outfit Ryan unveiled last December, and it dabbles in tones and riffs reminiscent of Explosions in the Sky and Mogwai. Tonight, the band makes a rare appearance out, a late-night free show at Kung Fu Necktie with synthpop duo Crozet. The night is presented by the Strangled by the Stereo Wire DJs – Mike Maier and John Masino of it’s a King Thing, two dudes with an evident fondness for Archers of Loaf and ’90s-centric Spotify playlists.
Below, you can download free mp3s by both bands on the bill.
From Endor Endor, it’s the new number “Sleepless”, an unexpectedly hushed synthesizer meditation reminiscent of Bon Iver recent work, as well as Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto - don’t let it space you out too much, though, since it blasts off into hyperspace for its third act.
And from Crozet, its a chillwave’d take on the 80s pop hit “Missing You” by John Waite from their covers EP Alterations – where you’ll also hear renditions of songs by Yo La Tengo, Geneva Jacuzzi and Memoryhouse.
Endor Endor and Crozet play tonight at 11 p.m. with the Strangled by the Stereo Wire DJs at Kungfu Necktie, 1250 North Front St. Admission to the 21+ show is free.
Watch the Christmas light-centric new video for Endor Endor’s “Bedford Falls”
Endor Endor is the new instrumental post-rock project of South Jersey’s Tom Ryan: lead guitarist in The Atomic Square, guitarist and keyboardist in It’s a King Thing, bassist in Young Statues. (Yeah, he’s a busy dude.) He’s also the fellow you see wandering around Philadelphia in the video above, taking a walking tour of both city lights and Christmas lights to the tune of his new song “Bedford Falls.” The video was shot by Tommy Oceanak, and the song closes out this year’s Arbor Christmas compilation, Volume 12 in the series. Grab a download of the song below, and find out more about Arbor Christmas (and peruse volumes 1 through 11) over here.
Tonight: Gradwell House Showcase (featuring It’s A King Thing, Ages, and Bacio) at Kung Fu Necktie
It's A King Thing
South Jersey’s Gradwell House Recording has become a hub for some of our favorite musicians in the region: The Atomic Square, By Surprise, In Grenada. There’s even a name for this loose-knit collective: the Diner State Scene. One gets the vibe that this is the type of recording space run by musicians for musicians—and indeed, the space is helmed by Steve Poponi of It’s A King Thing and Dave Downham of Ages. Both of these bands are on a Kung Fu Necktie bill tonight, celebrating recent releases; King Thing is unveiling the vinyl pressing of last year’s Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo (an album title only a linguist could love). Meanwhile, Ages is performing a set of songs from its phenomenal new record Made In The Trade. (You might remember the band from its extensive catalog of Christmas songs, but don’t pigeonhole—this album is awash in all manner of Idlewild-by-way-of-Nada-Surf goodness.) Also on the bill is West Deptford post-rock combo Bacio, featuring sometimes Gradwell House engineer Matt Weber on drums. Call it a scene showcase, or a studio showcase, or a solid bill rooted in South Jersey. Download a track from each act below, and check out the show tonight at Kung Fu Necktie. It’s A King Thing performs with Ages and Bacio at 8 p.m. at Kung Fu Necktie; tickets to the 21+ show are $8.