The Swollen Fox has announced a special 3-year anniversary concert at PhilaMOCA on July 11th with TJ Kong & the Atomic Bomb, Swift Technique and Shark Tape.  Since its beginnings, the local music blog has diligently and thoroughly covered Philadelphia music scene happenings and now runs the comprehensive XPN Concert Calendar in addition to hosting shows (like July 19th’s collaboration with XPN).  Tickets and information for the birthday show can be found here.  Check out  the bands below and learn more here.

Mardi Gras may have been last week but Philly funk ensemble Swift Technique are bringing Bourbon Street to The Blockley tonight.  Celebrating their fifth year as a band, Swift Technique have traveled far and wide and have shared the stage with many top-tier acts, including The Meters, Questlove and The Fela! Band.  The seven-piece also recorded a Key Studio Session last summer, which you can stream and download here.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Earphunk, Dirk Quinn Band and Black Stars can be found here.  Listen to “Route One to Route One” by Swift Technique below (it was the most-listened to track of The Key’s Volume 5 compilation last year).

Philadelphia-via-Boston folk trio The Gallerist play Kung Fu Necktie tonight.  The project of singer-songwriter Mike Collins, The Gallerist released their debut album A Falling Waltz in 2011.  The traveling roots of the band may have anchored in Philly’s terra firma for now, but A Falling Waltz betrays The Gallerist’s roaming desires with gypsy-esque rhythms and lyrics of faraway places like the Delta.  In recent months, the indie outfit has been playing a tight show circuit including an appearance at January’s intimate Sofar Sounds event.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Tan Vampires, Old Abram Brown and The Sun Flights can be found here.  Below, watch The Gallerist perform “Old Skin” at Sofar Sounds.

4.  Carsie Blanton “Smoke Alarm” – 6,988 plays

3.  The Spinto Band “Muesli” – 8,463 plays

2.  Heyward Howkins “Sugar Sand Stitched Lip” – 10, 276 plays

1.  Swift Technique “Route One to Route One” – 13,092 plays

If you’ve enjoyed these live recordings, visit the artist links above to support the musicians in their studio and touring endeavors.

Now in its seventh year, The Dude Hates Cancer! Charity Bowling Tournament is back and ready to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  If you want to contribute to the cause but aren’t quite ready to showcase those bowling skills you worked on all summer, head over to Johnny Brenda’s where WXPN welcomes the benefit afterparty.  This year’s lineup features local heavy hitters Swift Technique, Cheers Elephant and Orbit to Leslie.  The 21+ event is free for tournament participants and $10 for the public.  Tickets are available here, and you can take a listen to “Route One to Route One” from Swift Technique’s Studio Session below:

Philadelphia-by-way-of-Indiana jam band Lotus bring their string and horn infused electronica to FDR Park tonight for a beat filled hometown event.  Now three albums deep into their career, Lotus’ latest self-titled release was recorded with Bill Moriarty (Dr. Dog, Man Man) at his Philadelphia studio.  Joining them down in the park is electro-funk fusion outfit Ghostland Observatory along with MiMOSA, Michal, Menert and Sonic Spank.  Tickets for the all-ages concert are $41 and they are available through Ticketmaster.  Doors are at 3:00pm, music starts at 4:00pm.  Watch a live music video for “In an Outline” here:

Over at The Blockley, River City Extension headlines the Bombs and Bedlam Benefit to Secure the Planet.   The New Jersey natives, who have toured with The Avett Brothers and were label-mates with The Gaslight Anthem, released their second full-length Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Your Anger in June.  They are joined by supporting acts Illinois, Dangerous Ponies, Brick + Mortar, Juston Stens and the Get Real Gang and Spirit & Dust.  Tickets are available here for the 18+ show, and doors open at 8:00.  You can stream songs from River City Extension’s latest record below:

Down in South Philly, the Pageant: Soloveev Gallery is hosting a showcase headlined by Void Vision.  Void Vision is the title project of Philadelphian Shari Vari, specializing in minimalist synthpop.  Vari, who recently performed at PhilaMOCA’s David Lynch tribute Eraserhood Forever, ventures down to artist Daniel Dalseth’s contemporary and experimental art gallery on Bainbridge along with Black Marble, Unur, The Bad Doctors and Space Trash.  The event begins at 8:00pm, and tickets are available at the door.

Photo by Kevin Kennedy | theswollenfox.com

Today’s My Morning Download comes from Philly funk collective Swift Technique. On Saturday night XPN welcomes them to Johnny Brenda’s for the benefit afterparty The Dude Hates Cancer. This version of their song “Route One to Route One” comes from their Key Studio Session, and can be found on our latest compilation, The Key Studio Sessions Vol. 5. The free downloadable album collects the best performances from Philadelphia-area artists we’ve showcased here at The Key this summer. You can download the album for free here. (And if you’re looking for more, volumes 1 through 4 can be found here.)

Looking for more? Visit WXPN’s Soundcloud page to download The Key Studio Sessions Vol. 1 through Vol. 4.

Funky Philadelphia jazz collective, Swift Technique will be playing a show tonight at The Blockley. Their ability to combine old favorites of jazz and funk with a modern R&B curvature makes them a group then everyone can enjoy. They recorded a Key Studio Session with us earlier in July which you can check out here. Also playing at The Blockley are  The Stooges Brass Band, a contemporary brass band that is recognized for their high energy and traditional “N’owlans” sounds. Tickets to this 21+ show are $6-8, the performance kicks off at 8 sharp. Check out a video taken by The Swollen Fox of Swift Technique performing at The Blockley back in December.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ecigd9kuOrU&feature=related

Local grunge rock band Rasputin’s Secret Police (RSP) is made up of guitarist/vocalist Brandon Ayres and drummer Josh Phillips. The pair grew up on the same block in Drexel Hill where they’ve been neighbors for 13 years, and have been band-mates for ten of those years. Prepare for a crazy show because the band’s live shows have been known to incorporate, “lighting effects, blood (real and fake), robes, talk of chalices, broken everything, smoke, jokes, barf bags and ear plugs.” They are set to play North Star Bar tonight with Killjoy, Shark Tape, Eureka Driver. The 21+ show starts at 8 P.M. Tickets are $5 to $7 and can be purchased here. Listen to/dowload the song “This is My Cave” from their album Lost Rhino below.

Philly funk ensemble Swift Technique are playing The Blockley tonight with Hamburger Hunt and Black Stars. The band played World Cafe Live last week. Watch a video of their set below or download the band’s Key Studio session here.

If you’re in the mood to watch a movie tonight, World Cafe Live at the Queen in Wilmington is offering a free screening of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The film is a cinematic adaptation of the popular off-Broadway musical about an “internationally ignored” transexual rock singer from Communist Berlin who dreams of making it big in the American music scene. Hedwig features several songs by composer Stephen Trask, who also appears in the film as a member of Hedwig’s band. Check out the trailer below.

Funk: it’s a distinctly American style of music, and it’s great to party to. With this week’s Key Studio Session falling on Independence Day, what better way to celebrate than showcasing some talented local funketeers? Swift Technique are a young six-piece instrumental group with driving rhythms, an energetic flair and precisely one eye-catching plastic red trombone. The guys cut their teeth in the local jam scene before broadening their palette with excursions up and down the east coast and collaborations with prominent Philly MCs – they’ve recorded with Kuf Knotz, and just last night played Dice Raw’s jamhouse at The Legendary Dobbs. This winter, Swift Technique performed live on the air during XPN2 DJ Adam G’s show, showcasing its staple songs (“Newsies” is a popular one among fans) and giving a taste of the album they’re readying for a late summer release. Check out a slideshow of the session above care of The Swollen Fox‘s Kevin Kennedy, download the entire set below and use the tunes to soundtrack your 4th festivities. If you want more, head to Ortlieb’s Lounge tonight at 6, where Swift bassist Jake Leschinsky and guitarist Andy Bree will host an open jam session. Your next chance to catch the full band is Tuesday July 24 when Swift brings the funk to The Blockley.

• Swift Techniqueby Swift Technique, from The Key Studio Sessions, July 4, 2012Download

• Route One to Route Oneby Swift Technique, from The Key Studio Sessions, July 4, 2012Download

• Newsiesby Swift Technique, from The Key Studio Sessions, July 4, 2012Download

• Let Me Get That Bikeby Swift Technique, from The Key Studio Sessions, July 4, 2012Download

• Sir Funkby Swift Technique, from The Key Studio Sessions, July 4, 2012Download

• Jermaine's The Nameby Swift Technique, from The Key Studio Sessions, July 4, 2012Download

Photos by John Vettese

You’ll hear two musical forces of nature from the Philly scene take to the stage at Johnny Brenda’s tomorrow night: the jam-funk maelstrom of Swift Technique, who are getting pumped for their first full-length release later on this year, and the rainy-day torch song comfort of Lady, still riding high off their Ropeadope Records release You & Me from last fall. Both bands have spent some time at WXPN studios, and you can download two tracks that each recorded for The Key below. Listen to Lady’s entire Key Session here, look for Swift Technique’s later on this summer. Lady and Swift Technique play Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., on Sat. May 5. Tickets to the 21+ show are $10.

• Newsiesby Swift Technique from the Key Studio Sessions ArchivesDownload

• Swift Techniqueby Swift Technique from the Key Studio Sessions ArchivesDownload

• How Did You Know?by Lady from the Key Studio Sessions ArchivesDownload

• Ecstasy In Your Outlineby Lady from the Key Studio Sessions ArchivesDownload

You might know him as a longtime affiliate of The Legendary Roots Crew, but Dice Raw also has a sharp ear for up-and-coming talent in the city. Today, his label Raw Life released The New Sound Presents: America’s Next, a thirteen-track compilation of rising stars in the city’s pop and hip-hop scene. It features the charismatic Young Gliss, who just released the incredible Glimmer EP; Patty Crash, Philly’s answer to the pop-star badassery of Robyn; melodic-minded rapper Rone; the suave, dancefloor-oriented tones of Mike Taylor; and many more. You preview the compilation in the Soundcloud stream below, or buy yourself a copy over at iTunes.

You can also catch Dice, Gliss and Rone tonight at The Jam House party at The Legendary Dobbs on South Street – they’ll be joined by Swift Technique and City Rain.

Below, check out a video for the compilation’s lead single: “200 Miles to Philadelphia” by Rone.

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