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Reliving the magic with Brian Wilson at the Tower Theater

Brian Wilson | photo by Kate McCann for WXPN
Brian Wilson | photo by Kate McCann for WXPN

If you close your eyes, it sounds just like it’s 1967 in Santa Monica. Or Pacific Beach or Carmel-by-the-Sea; whichever California beach town you prefer. But when you look around The Tower Theater on this particular fall night in Upper Darby, the room is filled with Beach Boys fans who have certainly been singing along to these surf rock songs for decades. There are also 11 people on stage, instead of the original five, but still creating that same magical, harmonic sound.

Brian Wilson is seated front and center at his piano, like he’s done for weeks as he’s traveled around the country for the 50th anniversary of Pet Sounds tour. Al Jardine, former Beach Boy, is next to him on guitar. The crowd stands and cheers as the band comes out, and they open with “California Girls.” Every song ends in a standing ovation, even gooey ballads like “In My Room” and “Surfer Girl.” Continue reading →

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Just Announced: Temple of the Dog reuniting, kicking off tour at the Tower

Temple of the Dog | via Rolling Stone

Chris Cornell is getting the band back together.

In 1990 the Soundgarden frontman gathered some friends together and formed Temple of the Dog as a tribute to the late Andrew Wood of Mother Love Bone. The supergroup (which featured other members of Mother Love Bone and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam) recorded an album and then called it quits, but now it’s time for a victory lap.

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Missed Gallant at Firefly? Catch him around town this summer

gallant
Gallant | photo courtesy of the artist

Los Angeles R&B artist Gallant wowed the Firefly crowed in Delaware last week, performing two sets of songs from his breakthrough Ology LP. But if you missed out on the three-day gathering (or if you just want more Gallant in your summer) you’re in luck – he’ll be in town a few more times before we say goodbye to hot days and music festivals.

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Tonight’s Concert Picks: Wildhoney at Boot & Saddle, Restorations at Johnny Brenda’s, Mavis Staples at Berks Jazz Fest and more…

wildhoney
Wildhoney | photo by Zach Inscho | courtesy of the artist

Baltimore outfit Wildhoney bring last year’s Your Face Sideways to Boot & Saddle tonight. The album blends bright indie pop with refracted shoegaze for a collection of songs that sound like a prism sitting in sunlight. Listen to “Laura” below and pick up tickets for the 21+ show here.

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Watch Smashing Pumpkins cover Bowie and Hole before their stop at The Tower in April

Smashing Pumpkins | Photo by Kristin Burns
Smashing Pumpkins | Photo by Kristin Burns | courtesy of the artist

Billy Corgan and his mellon collie crew The Smashing Pumpkins recently announced their “In Plainsong” tour, which will feature him and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin playing “an evening of acoustic based music and electronic soundscapes”. Videos from previous tour stop Portland have surfaced online of Corgan covering classics from David Bowie and Hole. Continue reading →

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Just Announced: New Order is playing The Tower on March 12th

NEW ORDER ends with a Joy Division set, as images of Ian Curtis float behind them. It was emotionally stunning.

A photo posted by DJ Robert Drake (@djrobertdrake) on

Get ready: new wave icons New Order just announced a short U.S. tour in support of last year’s impressive Music Complete LP that brings them to Philadelphia on March 12th to headline the Tower. Continue reading →

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Tonight’s Concert Picks: My Morning Jacket at The Tower Theater; Brother Sun at Lansdowne Folk Club; HiSoft at Boot and Saddle

Jim James | My Morning Jacket | XPoNential Music Festival 2015 | Photo by Rachel DelSordo | http://www.racheldelsordophotography.com/
Jim James | My Morning Jacket | XPoNential Music Festival 2015 | Photo by Rachel DelSordo | http://www.racheldelsordophotography.com/

Tonight, My Morning Jacket brings their brand of psych rock to a sold out crowd at the Tower Theater with support from Strand of Oaks. The Kentucky five-piece recently released their sixth studio album, The Waterfall, as well as a video for their song “Compound Fracture.” Get concert info and tickets at the XPN Concert calendar, and watch the cool video after the jump. Continue reading →

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Beirut’s global pop shines at The Tower Theater

Beirut | Photo by Matthew Shaver | brightloud.com
Beirut | Photo by Matthew Shaver | brightloud.com

On paper, Beirut is the most hipster band ever. A dude from Santa Fe names a band after a city in Lebanon cause it’s a bummer, and goes off on world tours fusing pop rock sensibilities with a flair for world music.

In real life, Beirut is a band full of talented musicians that mix and match genres that you wouldn’t think would work, but heck yeah they do. First of all, brass is massively under utilized in popular music. Period. Beirut makes it happen, though. It adds a somber layer to their sound, for sure. Something that is as equally inspired by funeral processions as it is mariachi bands. Continue reading →

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Get ready for My Morning Jacket’s Tower show with a live video for “Compound Fracture”

My Morning Jacket | Photo courtesy of the artist
My Morning Jacket | Photo by Danny Clinch | courtesy of the artist

As we reported earlier this month, rockers My Morning Jacket will be returning to the Philadelphia area with a show at Tower Theater in Upper Darby on November 19. If you didn’t get a chance to catch the band when they completely rocked their headlining performance at the XPoNential Music Festival, then maybe their newest video for “Compound Fracture” off their album The Waterfall will effectively whet your appetite. Continue reading →