Mumblr

RECENT POSTS

Embrace the fuzz-punk with Philadelphia’s Mumblr and their new Nutter EP

MumblrA week or so ago, Mumblr dropped their new four song EP Nutter. For those who love fuzzed out guitar riffs sprinkled with nasty bass tones, thriving drums, and a Weezer-esque vibe will enjoy this release. (DISCLOSURE: The Key’s intern Kyle Rossi plays in Mumblr, but we’d like them regardless. -ed.) With four songs, and the longest song being roughly two minutes and thirty seconds, they pack a significant amount of depth into this EP. Not to mention the rock. Oh, boy, the rock.

Mumblr started out as a cooler, punkier version of Modest Mouse when they released their first EPs Rectangle and Rectangle Pt. 2, which were re-recorded and condensed into their White Jesus EP. Then they took a small turn toward the more emotional side when they released their split with Dark Orange Oriole Carving. Now, with Nutter, Mumblr fully embraced the fuzz punk. Each song is visceral, driving, and plain fun. They still bring the jams with this release, and embody the high energy, as well as musicianship, they have had on each release. But Nutter is faster and more raw than any of their previous releases. And it fits them completely. The four songs on this EP fully captures the energy they bring to their live set. From the first song to the last song, Nutter wraps ears inside several layers of heavy sounds and a static, but full atmosphere of sound.

Give Mumblr’s new EP Nutter a listen. Then give the rest of their material a listen. Then learn the words. Then go see them play. They are a great time. Below, check out their song “Space God” off of Nutter.

The Week’s Best MP3 Downloads, incl. Calexico, Quilt, The Naked Sun

Bringing their sunny psychedelic sounds to Philadelphia, Boston’s Quilt recently stopped by the Folkadelphia studios to record a live session full of warmth and color.  The 60s vibe of the band seems so natural it’s easy to slip into a dreamy daze while listening to the five tracks they recorded.  Stream and download “Arctic Shark” below and head over to Folkadelphia’s Bandcamp to get the rest of the session.  Quilt will be back in town this Saturday, February 16th for the 2013 Northern Liberties Winter Music Festival at The Fire.  Tickets and information can be found here.

Continue reading

Tonight’s Concert Picks: Point Breeze at Kung Fu Necktie, XPN Welcomes the Red Cross Benefit for Hurricane Sandy Relief to World Cafe Live

South Philly’s Point Breeze play Kung Fu Necktie tonight.  The punk rock trio released their debut Armchair Activist on cassette this past October, featuring three songs that are powerful enough (and aggressive enough) to knock you out of your chair with spiraling riffs, weighty vocals and crushing drums.  The cassette quickly sold-out on Point Breeze’s Bandcamp page, but the three songs are still available as digital name-your-own-price downloads here.  Tickets and information for the 21+ show with Mumblr, APE! and Ex-Breathers can be found here.  Below, listen to “Saul” from Armchair Activist.

Continue reading

Meet Philly Folk Collective Roof Doctor (playing tonight at Church of the Advocate)

Photo by Abi Reimold | abireimold.wordpress.com/from-all-angles

Last December, Roof Doctor lead guitarist/vocalist Mark Harper looked to his friends’ bands for “the best musicians he knew,” and borrowed them record his own material. It was evident after only two practices with Alex Stackhouse (guitar), Chet Williams (bass), Sean Reilly (bass), and Kevin Paschall (drums) that the group possessed enough chemistry to identify as a band in its own right. Last week I sat down with Harper to discuss Roof Doctor’s path – from starting out at the notorious North Philadelphia Maggot House where Harper and guitarist Alex Stackhouse live, to the band’s current plans, and their recently crushed dreams of beefing with Conor Oberst.

TK: Have you been working on anything new since the release of your EP I Am Going To Die back in July?

MH: Yeah, yeah. I Am Going To Die was recorded from February to May in the basement of Maggot House, but we’ve been pretty busy playing and writing new stuff.

TK: Did starting the band inside Maggot House influence your style?

MH: Absolutely. I never listened to punk at all, I was totally new to the whole DIY thing. The people there had a big effect on me. I want to keep playing house shows—I’m not really big on playing a lot of bar gigs. When you play at house shows and colleges people are more enthusiastic.

TK: What’s your favorite show you’ve played?

MH: Oh, just last weekend we played a show at Rowan University. It was really crowded and super energetic. It was just cool because you could see all these kids from the suburbs who had never experienced shows like this, whereas in Philly kids are used to these kinds of shows and places.

TK: What do you love about smaller performances like that?

MH: When the energy of the band matches the energy of the room Continue reading