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The Tallest Man on Earth will headline the Tower Theater with a full band

The Tallest Man on Earth | via DeadOceans.com
The Tallest Man on Earth | via DeadOceans.com

Kristian Matsson, otherwise known as The Tallest Man on Earth, has just announced an extensive upcoming tour, in which he will grace the Tower Theater come May 16, a few days after the release of his upcoming album Dark Bird Is Home. This is the latest release since 2012′s There’s No Leaving Now. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, Feb. 27.

Comparable to the likes of Bon Iver and Sufjan Stevens, the Swedish singer-songwriter has given us a taste of the upcoming album with “Sagres,” a notably more involved track than his earlier, acoustic-centric material. Continue reading →

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Belle and Sebastian will headline the Tower Theater in June

Belle and Sebastian | photo via facebook.com/belleandsebastian
Belle and Sebastian | photo via facebook.com/belleandsebastian

Scottish indie pop band Belle and Sebastian just announced an upcoming stop at the Tower Theater. Coming June 9, this concert will mark almost two years since the group’s magical performance at the Mann Center. 

Tickets will go on sale Friday, Jan. 16 at noon, just a few days before the release of their ninth studio album, Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance, via Matador Records. Continue reading →

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Rivers and Roads: The Head and The Heart at the Tower

The Head and The Heart
The Head and The Heart | Photo by Jeremy Zimmerman | jeremy-zim.com

“Summer’s gone, now winter’s on it’s way,” cooed Josiah Johnson, lead singer of The Head and the Heart. “I will miss those days we had.” Friday night was rainy and cold, far removed from the days of summertime. Making the chilly trip out to Upper Darby to see Johnson’s Americana-storytelling folksters at the Tower was a great reminder that winter is indeed right around the corner, just like the lyrics of “Winter Song” mournfully recall. Continue reading →

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Cruisr’s “All Over” video will have you marveling over its seamless, engaging animation

Photo via Cruisr Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/cruisrtheband)
Photo via Cruisr Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/cruisrtheband)

Philly indie-pop foursome Cruisr just released their music video for their upbeat anthem “All Over” via BuzzFeed today. The track’s cheerful demeanor is mirrored in the video’s bright-colored aesthetics and seamless transitions. Utilizing snippets from iconic movies, some of which include Pulp Fiction and The Shining, the video animates the scenes with glowing pastels fitting the indie pop music to a T. Continue reading →

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From pensive ballads to punk blasts, Ryan Adams shines at the Tower

ryan - 6160
Ryan Adams | photo by Noah Silvestry | silvestography.com

When Ryan Adams took the stage last night at the Tower Theater, many fans in the area around me stood up ready for some rock n roll and dancing. The crowd immediately behind them began shouting “Sit down! Sit down!” For once in my life, I think the those sitting down may have had a point: this was not going to be a raucous night, but something a little more mellow.

Many songs of the set were from Adams’ latest, eponymous album: a work that not only demonstrates his assuredness as a musician and songwriter but also indicted to me that he’s been listening to a lot of Tom Petty lately. Tom Petty’s got some barn burners, for sure, but it’s not what I put on when I want to rock the hell out.

That is not to say the show was not impressive: Adams’ opening song “Give Me Something Good,” gave me goosebumps and his voice sounded incredible. He and his band then tore into some tunes from his days with the Cardinals, among them “Let it Ride,” a Dead-esque “Magnolia Mountain, ” and “A Kiss Before I Go.” Continue reading →

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Flying Lotus brings You’re Dead to life at the Tower Theater

Flying Lotus | Photo by Morgan Smith | phobymo.com
Flying Lotus | Photo by Morgan Smith | phobymo.com

“Ladies and gentleman, I regret to inform you that you’re already dead.”

These were the opening words of Steven Ellison—aka Flying Lotus—to the crowd at Upper Darby’s Tower Theater, as he stood shrouded behind a prism-like projector screen that could almost pass for a bullhorn. He followed that statement with a swift salvo of beats that sounded anything but dead, certainly never dull. Continue reading →

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Tonight’s Concert Picks: JoyCut at Johnny Brenda’s, Flying Lotus at The Tower Theater, Citizen Cope at The TLA

JoyCut
JoyCut | photo by Eleonora Birardi

Italy’s JoyCut are bringing a world tour to Johnny Brenda’s tonight in support of its latest LP PiecesOfUsWereLeftOnTheGround.  The Bologna-based electronic trio was introduced to wider audiences through tours with Arcade Fire and Modest Mouse, winning over crowds with their optimistically upbeat dark-wave compositions.  Pieces was released on Italian label IRMA Records in 2013.  Watch JoyCut perform “Wireless” and “Domino” live below.  Tickets and information for the 21+ show with Bells and The Silence Kit can be found here. Continue reading →

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Flying Lotus ventures into the great unknown on Tuesday at the Tower Theater

Photo by Timothy Saccenti

To describe Steven Ellison, better known as the Los Angeles-bred Flying Lotus, with traditional signifiers is a pretty difficult endeavor. He’s not quite a jazz artist, although his pieces smack of the heavy-concept, free-form complexity that defines that genre in the 21st century. He’s not quite a hip-hop producer, although his rhythms derive from the canon of that world’s sonic tapestry and ground performances from superstar luminaries like Kendrick Lamar. And he’s not even an electronic artist, despite his heavy use of blippy synths and membership on the genre-defining (and -redefining) Warp Records label. Continue reading →

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Tonight’s Concert Picks: Porter Robinson at The Tower Theater, Sonny Landerth at World Cafe Live, Chalk and the Beige Americans at The Fire and more…

Porter Robinson
Porter Robinson | photo courtesy of the artist

It’s going to be a party at 69th Street tonight when EDM poster boy Porter Robinson will be at the Tower Theater performing his debut album Worlds, which was met with mostly positive reviews from critics. As Rolling Stone states, “Although it doesn’t sound quite like EDM, Worlds manages to retain the thrilling rush of emotions that the best raves inspire.” Robinson’s music may not sound like typical electronic dance music, but there’s something about it that gives you a jolt of positive energy. With songs like “Sad Machine,” which you can check out below, Robinson manages to leave everyone feeling rejuvenated. Tickets and information for the show can be found here. Continue reading →