Tonight, minimal Philly psycheduo Bridge Underwater plays at the latest Bands in the Backyard showcase – the No Alternative video party at Silk City. Joining them on the bill of this free show are sludge rockers Spirit Animal and harmonizing folkies Market East. To give you a taste of what’s in store, dig in to today’s Philly Local Phile – the latest Bridge Underwater single, “Take A Piece of Me.” The the 808-esque drumloop and odd samples peppered throughout give this a nice Flaming Lips vibe, but note bandleader Pat Mellon’s melodious voice and jangly playing underneath. It gives the song such appeal that – as with most Bridge Underwater singles – I’d be just as eager to hear it stand-alone, without the stylizations, as I am to listen to it all warped and weird. We’ll see which way they swing tonight. Bridge Underwater plays the BITBY No Alternative Party at Silk City tonight a 8 p.m. with Spirit Animal and Market East; admission to the 21+ show is free.

I’m noticing a quasi-trend of Philly-area punk rock bass players who are really into dreampop and shoegaze on the side. In today’s Philly Local Phile, we introduce you to The Only Ghost in Town, the place where By Surprise bassist Dan Saraceni goes to indulge his fondness for e-bow and the tremolo bar, for Hum and Ride. “Waterfall” is the opening track on the band’s new All of the Stars are for You; Saraceni and his fellow ghosts rocked out the three-song set just two weekends ago in a Clarksboro recording studio, and it was digitally released a week later – gotta respect that efficiency! I’m liking the whole EP enough that I’ll just post the entire thing for you to listen to below; for more, check out The Only Ghost in Town’s Bandcamp page.

For the first month in its new location at Kungfu Necktie, Sugar Town didn’t skimp on the lineup. This weekend’s installment of the monthly women-in-rock showcase that local promoter and writer Sara Sherr has organized for over a decade features Key faves Slutever, the post-Post Post popsters Little Big League (who we told you about in last week’s Philly Local Philes), NYC punks Mannequin Pussy and DJ Julia Factorial from WPRB. Rounding out the bill is Dear Althea, a fantastic new Philly foursome that evokes post-riot grrl touchstones like Veruca Salt, 80s punk frontrunners like The Plasmatics, and going way back, foundational acts like The Cramps and Screaming Lord Sutch – some of the people who first made rock n roll freaky. In today’s Philly Local Phile, we dig into their song “Oh Today” – give it a listen or download it below, and catch it in person Saturday night at 8 – tickets to the 21+ show are $8.

• Oh Todayby Dear Althea from We Rob BanksDownload

Last week, West Philadelphia rapper Chill Moody released Who Do You Love?, his third annual Valentine’s Day collaboration with producer Hank McCoy. This time, R&B vocalist Beano was recruited to add some melodic hooks to the mix. You can download the entire mixtape at Chill’s website, and get a taste in today’s Philly Local Phile with “What Took You So Long.” Its soul sample, sharp raps and romantic refrain are a trip back to the days of the Boomerang Soundtrack. Listen below, and catch Chill in concert at Silk City next Tuesday Feb. 28.

After burning bright on Philly’s indie scene for two solid years, local popsters Post Post fizzled out somewhere around late 2010/early 2011. Thankfully, that band’s jangley guitars and uplifting melodies continue in a post-Post Post project, Little Big League. Singer-guitarist Michelle Zauner and bassist Kevin O’Halloran carry the torch, teaming up with friends from Titus Andronicus (Ian Dykstra on drums) and Strand Of Oaks (Deven Craige on guitar). To date their only release has been the single “Tokyo Drift”, today’s Philly Local Phile that you can grab a free download of below. You definitely hear Zauner’s songwriting stylings carry over, from her distinctive elastic vocals to the ever-building structure of the song. But her counterparts have put their stamp on it as well, imbuing the song with a less saccharine, more contemplative tone. To hear what else Little Big League has up its sleeve, check out its next Philadelphia appearance in the monthly women-in-rock showcase Sugar Town, now in its new location at Kung Fu Necktie, on Saturday Feb. 25.

Last week, Philly psychedelic popsters Power Animal premiered the title track from their forthcoming Exorcism EP on Soundcloud. The cassette release, which drops on Feb. 21, is worth seeking out for a few reasons. One, it’s a great collection of the whimsical, imaginative songwriting we’ve come to expect from Keith Hampson and his collaborators. Two, it also collects solid remixes by the likes of Lushlife and Golden Ages. Three, it’s for a worthy cause. The EP is being released on Hampson’s charitable label, Human Kindness Overflowing, and money from each purchase of the cassette – as well as each download of the album on Bandcamp – goes to Philabundance, and providing meals to those in need. Remember, folks – giving isn’t just for the holidays. Power Animal performs Friday Feb. 10 at the First Unitarian Church with This Will Destroy You. Tickets to the all ages show are $12.

You might know Philadelphia’s Tours from “Dirty Dreams,” the track they collaborated on to mark the first birthday of Key favorites Work Drugs. The music they make in their own right is also pretty sweet, as we hear in today’s Philly Local Phile, “IJS,” a song from their recent Stay EP. If you dig on these homegrown chillwave vibes, you’ve got two chances to check them out this weekend. Tonight, the band plays as part of the Philadelphia Bandcamp Hunter showcase at Johnny Brenda’s and Saturday it plays Maxwell’s on Main in Doylestown.

“Our recording process has been somewhat glacial,” jokes Sarah Davis, the singer and keyboardist / glockenspielist for earthy, expressive Philly rock combo Acres of Diamonds. The band’s excellent self-titled EP dropped in summer of 2010, and it has been working on the followup at an extremely measured pace in the time since. But that’s completely fine; if the end result is a collection of songs as rich and inspired as today’s Philly Local Phile, AOD’s brand-new number “Penultimate,” it will be absolutely worth the wait. Stream or download the song below, and catch Acres of Diamonds in concert next weekend when it plays Milkboy Philly on Sat. Feb. 4 with Brown Recluse and recent PHL Bandcamp Hunter stars Instamatic.

• Penultimateby Acres of DiamondsDownload

In just under a month, the Scranton-bred, Philly-based working class punks The Menzingers will release their Epitaph Records debut, On The Impossible Past. Last week, the band gave fans a taste of what’s to come: the slow-burner anthem “Gates,” which we’ve spotlighted in today’s Philly Local Phile. Listen below, pre-order the album at Epitaph’s web store, and catch the band on Fri. Feb. 4 when it plays the Susquehanna Bank Center with Rise Against. Stay tuned for a Key Studio Session from The Menzingers later this winter!

The Menzingers – Gates by Epitaph Records

Don’t adjust your speakers, as the saying goes: Purling Hiss is supposed to sound like that. Across the better part of its recorded output, the Philly shred-core trio offsets hooky, timeless rock and roll songs with caustic, abrasive noise and production values. Which is one hell of a gauntlet to throw down – “we’re going to write this music you’ll immediately love,” they’re essentially saying, “and then we’ll make you work hard to love it.” Fortunately, the payoff is totally there in the end, and if you see the Hiss live before you grab its albums, you’ll find it all the easier to get what they’re doing. This month, the band hits the road with Dr. Dog – getting to play before some well-earned mass audiences – and its last gig before departing is tomorrow night, Jan. 20, at Pi Lam in West Philly. To wish it a good sendoff show and happy / thrashy trails ahead, today’s Philly Local Phile digs into an early favorite from the Purling Hiss catalogue: “Run From the City,” the lead off track on 2009′s Public Service Announcement LP on Woodsist Records. For some compare / contrast fun, see how that number sounds alongside the version Purling Hiss recorded at its Key Studio Session almost a year ago.

• Run From the Cityby Purling Hiss from Public Service AnnouncementDownload

• Run From the Cityby Purling Hiss from The Key Studio Sessions, March 2, 2011Download

It’s a busy month for Philly electro-pop guys City Rain. Last week, we released their Key Studio Session; this Saturday, Jan. 21, they play a show at the North Star Bar. And just before the weekend, the band announced a remix contest for their song “Watch Out.” Click below to download the stem files posted to the band’s Soundcloud page, tweak them to your heart’s content, and e-mail the results to cityrainmusic [at] gmail [dot] com by Feb. 3. In today’s Philly Local Phile, we’ll give you a starting point by revisiting the Key Studio Sessions version of “Watch Out.”

• Watch Outby City Rain from The Key Studio Sessions, Jan. 11, 2012Download

Watch Out (Stems) – REMIX CONTEST – submit by feb 3rd to cityrainmusic@gmail.com by City Rain

Photo by John Vettese

Earlier this week, Philadelphia funk-jam sextetSwift Technique took their punchy horns and racing rhythms to the XPN2 airwaves for a live broadcast with Tuesday night host Adam G. The occasion? Swift’s first Philadelphia show of 2012, which happens tonight at Kungfu Necktie. Opening the show are Key faves Lady, and out-of-towners Dr. Ruckus. Look for the entire performance to be released as a Key Studio Session later this year – probably around the time Swift gets ready to drop their full-length debut album – but in the meantime, today’s Philly Local Phile provides a taste to whet your appetite: an ode to South Philadelphia (and a certain Christian Bale musical) called “Newsies.”

• Newsiesby Swift Technique, recorded live on XPN2Download

There’s no denying that brother-sister synthpop duo She Came Crashing studied at the school of Siouxie, but their nervy, textured sound stretches beyond the conventional boundaries of goth high drama to incorporate Jonny Greenwood style minimalist electronic music ambiances and hooky, danceable structures. All of those elements can be heard in today’s Philly Local Phile, “Doppelganger,” which you can stream below. She Came Crashing performs tomorrow night Jan, 10 at the North Star Bar’s New Music Series. Tickets to the 21+ show are $5.

doppelganger by she came crashing

It’s the first day back to work after a long holiday, so we’re gonna need some Work Drugs. Today’s Philly Local Phile digs into “Daddy Bear,” a deep cut from their debut long-player Aurora Lies; give it a listen below. The band is making some headway outside of the city this winter, playing Glasslands in Brooklyn later this month and House of Blues in Boston in February. Its next Philadelphia show is at the Electric Factory, opening for Umphrey’s McGee on Feb. 11

Sonni Shine And The Underwater Sounds

With the holiday weekend coming up, there’s not a whole lot going on show-wise. However, there are a pair of shows tonight that feature local acts we wrote about over the summer: the reggae-infused funk act Sonni Shine And The Underwater Sounds (opening for En Fuego at Milkboy Philly) and the instrumental prog-metal quartet Serpent Throne (at Johnny Brenda’s). Sonni Shine came into the XPN studios to record a Key Studio Session, which ran back in August; XPN2′s John Vettese highlighted Serpent Throne in one of his Philly Local Philes. You can listen to a track from Sonni Shine’s session and Serpent Throne’s latest album below.

En Fuego (record-release show) + Sonni Shine And The Underwater Sounds, Penrose at Milkboy Philly (9:30 p.m., 21+, $8–$10); Serpent Throne + Gondola, The Pilgrim at Johnny Brenda’s (9:15 p.m., 21+, $8)

• What You Waiting Forby Sonni Shine And The Underwater SoundsDownload

• Headed For An Unmarked Graveby Serpent ThroneDownload

One of several musical pursuits of David Mitchell Esparza – aka (((taco))) – The Love Club deals in steamy, noisy electric blues, raw and right to the point. Today’s Philly Local Phile spotlights “Blow,” an unapologetic cautionary tale from their 2011 EP, Of Love and Other Demons. Stream it below, or take in the racket in person when The Love Club plays a free show at Kungfu Necktie this Thursday, Dec. 22, opening for Arrah and the Ferns and Chandelier Ballroom.

photo by Dan Hugos

Hailing from a few stops up the Northeast Extension – Jim Thorpe, PA, to be exact – Free Range Folk is the musical pursuit of a group of artists, organic farmers and friends who take an easygoing, unfussy approach to their craft. Released earlier this month on Fuzztone Records, the band’s debut long-player Soul Collector rings out with rustic instrumental tones, narratives about country characters and farm life, and warm vocal harmonies. Today’s Philly Local Phile spotlights the title track, which you can stream below – catch the band in concert when their winter tour kicks off this Sunday Dec. 18 at Tritone.

South Jersey power pop / punk trio Aspiga are looking ahead to a busy 2012. In January, they head to Gradwell House Recording in Haddon Heights to begin tracking a new seven-song EP planned for a release in the latter half of the year. In between, tours and festivals are on their radar, and warming up to all that, there’s a brand new 7″ on Philly’s Jump Start Record with fellow locals Hanalei. You can pre-order the single from the Jump Start website here, or pick it up in person when the band plays the North Star Bar with Smoking Popes on New Year’s Eve. The vinyl features one song from each band, but comes with two digital b-sides…we’ve got a premier of Aspiga’s “Thanks, But I Can Throw Myself Out” that you can stream below.

Notable Philly engineer, sonic mad scientist and good-times advocate Josh Pannepacker is resurrecting the moniker he home-recorded under in his early 20s: Shorty Boy-Boy. Earlier this year, he released a snappy new single called “New Yng Cute,” which we’re spotlighting in today’s XPN2 Philly Local Phile. Its raw recording, driving tempo, wry vocals and non-sequiter wordplay remind me of Pavement and Grandaddy in equal parts. Best line, as Shorty serenades the new object of his affection: “If you dismantle the alarm clock, I will buy you coffee and a big bagel.” We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Listen below, and check out Shorty Boy-Boy on Dec. 10 at Little Bar.

Gracie- Sisters from andrew balasia on Vimeo.

Tomorrow night marks the premier of Pangaea: When the Continents Were One, the ambitious new electronic opera by Mikronesia, aka Michael McDermott of Gemini Wolf. You can read The Key’s indepth interview with McDermott about the project here, and check out one of the songs in today’s XPN2 Philly Local Phile. “Ancient Warning” is one of the album’s poppiest moments – it’s soaring, David Bowie-esque melody sounds like nothing McDermott has done in any of his other musical outlets. Give it a listen below; tickets for the opera are available here.

Our recent Key Studio Session with Philly bourbon-folk provocateur Crills Wilson packed a punch — so much so that we had to held back a touch when initially releasing it. Tonight, with the band steamrolling through Milkboy Philly for a show with good buds The New Connection – whose drummer, Todd Mecaughey, mixed and mastered Wilson’s debut full-length Solid Gold – well, we thought it was as good a time as any to unleash one of the outtakes upon the world. Today’s Philly Local Phile, “Black Mail,” is a rockabilly dance party filtered through Mudhoney’s effects pedals. Download the song below and pop it on for the ride to the show.
Crills Wilson plays Milkboy Philly tonight at 9:30 p.m. with The New Connection, Abstract Verses and North End. Tickets to the 21+ show are $10 at the door.

• Black Mailby Crills Wilson from The Key Studio Sessions, Oct. 19, 2011Download

A spirited tune for this Halloween – or one with the word “ghost” in the title, at any rate – today’s Philly Local Phile comes from Elevator Fight, one of the numerous side pursuits from DRGN King frontman Dominic Angelella. This band features the dynamic vocal stylings of Zoe Kravitz (who has Angelella in a headlock in the photo at left). On some numbers, she’s a forceful and commanding rock and roll presence of Joan Jett proportions, but she’s just as apt to go introspective and sensitive, as she does on “Little Ghost,” today’s featured track. Give it a listen below – it comes from the band’s forthcoming Post Empire record, and if you dig what you hear, you can check out a five-song sampler of the album over at Elevator Fight’s Bandcamp page.