It’s a first for R5 Productions and a last for Jeff Mangum: the Neutral Milk Hotel musician will be making a stop during his final tour at The DuPont Theatre in Wilmington, DE on Tuesday, February 5th. It’s R5 Productions’ first show across the Delaware-Pennsylvania border. Mangum, the leader of perhaps indie music’s most esteemed band, will be performing an acoustic show. He had this to say about the tour:
hello friends in a flock of finches unfolding from the face of a foam horse on the phone to inform you that jeff is heading out for one last u.s. acoustic tour, giving him the chance to play to all the silver citizens dwelling in citys that he has yet to sing in.
Tickets are $30 and will go on sale this Thursday, November 15th. Below, watch a live video of Mangum performing “Oh Comely” at Penn’s Irvine Auditorium from this past January.
R5 Productions have called in local artists to contribute to a new poster series for their events. The Philadelphia Posters Guild will feature at least one new poster each month created by an artist for selected concerts.
The list of currently confirmed artist/concert match-ups includes Thom Lessner for The Dead Milkmen show on Halloween at Union Transfer; Ralph Stollenwerk for Sword’s show at Union Transfer on November 13th; Bonnie Brenda Scott for Dan Deacon’s show at Union Transfer on November 15th; Neil Burke for Om/Dan Higgs at Johnny Brenda’s on November 23rd; and JP Flexner for The Hold Steady’s show at Union Transfer on December 29th, with more to be announced.
From the Guild’s website:
Philadelphia Poster Guild project is an effort to merge local artists, musicians, & venues to create quality, affordable art for the masses. With a little luck, one or more posters will be released each month. These posters will be available at selected R5 shows for a fair price. They will also be available online for a reasonable price as well, shipped in a sturdy tube. Proceeds from this project will benefit local artists, musicians, and a few select non-profits. Support your local artists…they will reciprocate. More details to follow.
Images of the posters will posted on the Guild’s website, and you check out a full list of involved artists here.
Experimental Los Angeles singer/songwriter Julia Holter released her sophomore album Ekstatis earlier this year after her stunning debut Tragedy came out in 2011. Her contemporary music plays with vocal harmonies and eclectic instrumental sounds; similar to artists such as Regina Spektor or Elizabeth Ziman. Julia toured with Sigur Ros this past year, and is finishing off her North American Tour with a stop at Johnny Brenda’s tonight presented by R5 Productions. The 21+ show begins at 9:30 p.m. with Hundred Waters opening up the evening. Tickets are $12 and you can purchase them here. Below watch her video for “In the Same Room” off Ekstasis.
The Interest Group draws musical and aesthetic inspiration from 1960′s pop culture. Founded by Yohsuke Araki who was previously in the band Blackhawks (and still continues in the project Banana Symphony), The Interest Group exudes mellow energy and psychedelic vibes. They perform tonight at Little Berlin for the Dream Oven Music Series; there is a $5-7 requested donation for touring bands. The show kicks off at 7:30, go to the facebook event for more information. You can also listen to The Interest Group’s awesomely crafted song “The Passenger” below.
Even though the summer will soon come to an end, don’t feel down – R5 Productions just announced five brand new shows for this upcoming fall season. And let me tell you, folks, they’re going to be chock full of cozy musical performances.
First up will be OFF! on October 19th at First Unitarian Church. The super troupe of punk rockers is made up of members of Black Flag, Burning Brides and Hot Snakes. Opening bands include The Spits and Double Negative. Gear up your vocal chords and get stoked for one raging performance.
BOO! A super ghouly and ghostly show will be happening on Halloween (Oct. 31st) featuring The Dead Milkmen, MC Lars and Philadelphia’s own Psychic Teens. The show will be happening at Union Transfer; trick-or-treaters are welcome! Psychic Teens filmed Bands in the Backyard episode recently, watch it below.
This Saturday’s edition of the R5 Productions free summer concert series at Morgan’s Pier brings indie-dance rockers Nicos Gun to the Delaware waterfront. The Philadelphia quartet released its debut album Plushlast year and have since been featured at the Roots Picnic, played 4th of July on the Parkway, toured and released even more new music. Their new song “Universal Drug” showcases a mellower side to the band; watch its official music video below:
An early version of the song was recorded for the Key Studio Sessions when the band visited WXPN studios last year; check that out below:
When they’re not spacing out, the funky punk foursome brings a wave of energy to their audience, inviting the crowd to feel engaged in their music. Nicos Gun play at 6 p.m. at Morgan’s Pier this Saturday, August 11th. This show is 21+ and awesomely enough, free!
Tennessee roots rockers Old Crow Medicine Show have come full throttle since they began recording in 1998. After the release of their smash hit “Wagon Wheel” in 2004, it was a steady upward slope. Now they have just come out with their most recent album, Carry Me Back; a new step in their raw country rock sound. With four albums under their buckled belts and a slew of sold out performances, these boot stompin’ folksters have made their signature mark on Americana rock music with a slice of bluegrass. They play at the Electric Factory tonight with very special guests, The Lumineers who performed at our XPoNential Festival a couple weeks ago (you can listen to that entire performance here).
R5 Productions summer concert series at Morgan’s Pier continues tonight with a performance from Jukebox the Ghost. This show is totally free but apologies young’uns, you must be 21 to enter. The show kicks off at 6 p.m. Jukebox also played our free at noon in June, you can listen to it here (via the XPN media player). Special guests tonight also include Norwegian Arms, who you can read more about here (and listen to in the player below).
Ian Bavitz, who goes by the moniker Aesop Rock, practices hip hop while jumping the fence to a new wave underground sound. He’s an indie rapper, a hip hop producer, a San Franciscan. And you can catch him tonight at Union Transfer along with Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wiz. Tickets to this all ages show are $15-17; doors open at 8 p.m. Below watch a video for “Zero Dark Thirty” off his latest album Skelethon.
Tonight at the Tin Angel, WXPN welcomes John Francis. He wrote his first album, Strong Wine & Spirits while living in Philadelphia in 2005, and then followed with his sophomore album The Better Angels after relocating to Nashville. Francis takes inspiration from Johnny Cash and other blues rock influences. He performs tonight at 7:30 p.m., this show is 21+ and tickets are $10, grab yours here.
Two new shows have been announced and added to the R5 Productions calendar for shows at the First Unitarian Cburch. Nada Surf play the Church on December 12th. AC Newman performs Thursday, October 25th. Tickets to both shows go on sale this Friday, July 27th at Noon. Nada Surf released The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy last January. Below, listen to one of our favorite all time songs from their 2003 release, Let Go, “Blonde On Blonde.” In case you missed Nada Surf’s performance at WXPN’s Non-Comm music conference at World Cafe Live last May, you can listen to it here.
First up will be 
Tennessee roots rockers