A three-band bill at Ortlieb’s in Northern Liberties on July 20 offered up moody post-punk, blistering three-guitar rock, and a very funny Midwest screamo set to officially welcome hometown rockers Rat Jester to the Philly music scene.

The night kicked off with Blood. The band originally hails from Texas but now calls Philly home. Blood launched into their set with two fiery tracks.

Singer Tim O’Brien’s intensity on stage is very apparent. He delivered lyrics with such fervor it almost seemed like he was angry at the mic, the words, or something else in the ether us audience members couldn’t — or wouldn’t — understand.

Their third song in the set toned down the energy, coming in with just guitar and vocals. Eventually, the whole band joined in and brought the same energy as their first two tracks. That song ended quietly, however, on a somewhat somber note.

The last two songs of Blood’s set were powerful, driven tracks. Their final song came in like a wrecking ball, with the band slamming their way into the closer. It featured dreamy keyboard work when it slowed down. But the song’s conclusion was electric and ended abruptly, putting quite the cap on Blood’s short but sweet set.

And shout out to Blood’s guitarist, who showed up with a large pedal board that featured just two pedals. The trend of all three bands doing on-stage bits would continue.

Next up was Magic Rockers of Texas. And, well, the name says it all.

My interest was immediately piqued when I noticed their set-up accommodated three guitarists. As a kid raised on the guitar bands of the 70s, like Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Outlaws, I knew the next set was going to be powerful.

Their set exploded with a wall of sound and pure energy.

Two of the guitarists and the bassist were contributing to the vocals, giving the five-piece an even larger sound, something I didn’t think was possible based on how big they sounded.

The guitar work from all three axemen was phenomenal. From ripping solos, crafty leads (even a slide was busted out for a few tracks), and power chords being banged out like the guitars needed to be taught a lesson, this band was cranking out their songs.

At one point between songs, frontman Jim Campo threw out a joke that they saw a rat king before the show. For those unaware, the rat king is a seemingly mythical phenomenon that is very real: it’s when a large group of rats get their tails entwined to become a rat king. A reference to headliners Rat Jester.

After several songs that were so intense, Magic Rockers performed a song that reminded me of Jesse Welles, who has recently been getting heaps of attention and praise for his modern-day, acoustic protest songs on social media. That folk-protest vibe didn’t stick, as the track went into a more traditional pop-rock structure.

Toward the end of the set, Campo broke a string on stage, but it didn’t matter as he powered through the rest of the tracks in the set, one of which featured some amazing arpeggio work from two of the guitarists.

Rat Jester then took the stage for their first-ever hometown show (they had only played live once before and it was in Brooklyn).

Before they went into their set, singer Matt Decaro called out someone celebrating a birthday in the crowd. The band then played “Happy Birthday” in the sloppiest way possible, which made us all realize there was no one celebrating a birthday and the whole thing was a bit. Oh, and there was even one of those party poppers with streamers and whatnot included in the bit. And the bits continued throughout their set, which was jangly, exciting, and all-around positive and fun.

Rat Jester is rooted in the Midwest emo tradition, and laced their songs with guitar harmonies and bouncy riffs and chord progressions, taking the maudlin emo tradition to a much more fun and accessible level.

Breaking out of that style, the band ripped into the track “Doomsday Shuffle.” The song had strong vibes of “Rock Lobster” by the B52s, getting groovy with a surf-rock style that wasn’t like anything else heard earlier in the night. And it was during this track that Decaro was showing off his zany dancing on stage while still pounding away at the drop D chords.

At some point in the song, Decaro, guitarist and sometime singer Jack Alexander, and bassist James Harris paused to tune up. But the tuning process went on. And on. Again, this was one of the many bits Saturday’s show offered up. Decaro and Alexander a few times shouted out “Give it up for Ian!” as drummer Ian Staley kept the beat going during the tuning joke.

The next song was a headbanger of a track, and at one point Decaro and Alexander began singing “The First Cut is the Deepest.” I told you this show was full of bits. Then the next song opened with a quote from a movie or TV show, I wasn’t sure. That’s a classic emo/post-hardcore band trope that was employed very well here.

Then, the Rat Jester itself made its way through the crowd and onto the stage to sit in on a track on violin. The violin coming in at the end contrasted the earlier parts of the frenzied song perfectly.

Rat Jester closed out the night with the song “Supermarket,” which they said will be released soon as their first single. The track ramps up and has an anthemic chorus about making a tough realization while shopping. It’s unclear if the lyrics are sincere or part of Rat Jester’s comedic stylings, but the song is a bop for sure. It ended with either some odd time signatures or syncopation, perfect for that math-rocky emo vibe.

Keep up with Rat Jester’s social media to be sure you catch “Supermarket” when it drops.

Rat Jester

Instagram

Magic Rockers of Texas

Instagram; Spotify; Facebook; Bandcamp; YouTube; SoundCloud

Blood

Instagram; Spotify; Facebook; Bandcamp

A few days ago I had the chance to do an in-person interview with Ash Kernen, the lead singer of  Lovecartel, and Will Brown, who also plays Lovecartel, but is premiering his solo single release tonight at Ortliebs.

I first met Kernen at last year’s Millennium Music Conference in Harrisburg where he was a panelist for the music industry careers discussion. I caught up with him later and we’ve kept in contact since, but this would be my first time meeting Will, so I was super excited!

Kernen dove right in and started telling me about the making of Lovecartel.

Kernen: “We started in 2013 and the original band that essentially became Lovecartel, was Narco Loco. After a while, the band dissipated, but Anthony (former brother-in-law) and I stuck around which is now known as Lovecartel…We released our debut album, Battle Scars, in 2013 and that was primarily done with me, Anthony, and some session cats… we put out some singles in 2015 and 2016. This past year we were sitting on a bunch of records and we wanted to revamp.”

Lovecartel includes Kernen on vocals and guitar, Phillips also playing guitar, and more recently, Dan (or Drago) fills in for bass and Will on drums. Dan was only supposed to fill in temporarily, but he really took to their sound and songs and has been made a permanent member of the band.

Since Kernen and Brown have been friends for a while, they made some of the same connections. Through one of those mutual friends, they linked up, and Brown became a part of Lovecartel. Kernen says that “Will is just as badass on the drums as he is on guitar.”

“Fast forward to this past year…” as Kernen begins to explain their time as a band. “We wanted to get back out there, so we went back to the studio and put out this EP, Sayonara Till Tomorrow… A holdover EP as a reminder to people that HEY we’re still here! We knew it was a solid body of work, but there was so much more to put out there.”

As the interview continued, Kernen talked more about the process of their new musical direction and how they see their future shaping up in the new year.

“Our bread and butter are analog, four-piece, guitar-driven, and forward indie rock,” Kernen began. “The rock sound has so much more that can be done with it. We really want to push the sound of rock. We started moving into some electronic production with some hip-hop and trap influences, while still keeping that core analog guitar sound that we are known for.”

He hinted at some new material that has yet to be released so please stay tuned for it!

That Music Mag: So listening to Sayonara Till Tomorrow and some of your other singles, it feels like you don’t really stay in just one genre. What would you classify yourself as?

Kernen: “So I think to our core, we’ve always been a rock band, but we can move in and out of lanes,” he explains. “The ability to move in and out of those lanes is exactly what Lovecartel is all about. I think our new music is probably best described as high impact and alt-electro. The high impact is an homage to what we do live, and the alt-electro is this new direction that we are taking.”

TMM: And this new direction, do you think you’re taking a different approach to it musically because you think you’ve done all you can do with your initial sound?

Kernen: “Well, I think people are going to be surprised. I’ve always been a fan of stretching, trying and growing as an artist and with the advent of technology, there’s just so much more that you can do. We still have our indie side in the fact that we are independent of a label, and everything we record is still through an analog channel to keep that grit behind our music that people know us for.”

TMM: So what’s the plan for 2020 for you guys?

Kernen: “We are rebuilding and restarting to see where things go. This will be the first show of the new year, so we are trying to build local buzz and possibly span out regionally. Maybe bring on a synth or keys player because I do think we have something to offer.”

When we wrapped up with Lovecartel, I finally got to talk with the infamous multi-instrumentalist, Will Brown, who has played with a bunch of different bands, works as a session player and continues his solo career. He is basically living every musicians’ dream: He eats, sleeps, and breathes music. Tonight’s show will debut his single release and will be sharing the stage with Lovecartel and another band out of Brooklyn called The Big Easy.

Being as established as he is now, I wanted to know what drove him to music in the first place.

Brown: “I started playing drums at a really early age and I’ve always been playing in bands. When I started writing my own shit, I went to record my stuff in a recording studio. I loved being in the studio, but I didn’t like the way the song sounded, and eventually said ‘fuck it’ and started recording in my bedroom. I put out an EP almost a year ago and have put out a few singles since then.”

Kernen did not shy away from humble bragging about his drummer. He says that Brown is “redefining traditional boundaries.”

TMM: Do you see yourself moving in a different direction with your upcoming music?

Brown: “Like Ash, I’m trying to incorporate electronic things but with more of a DIY feel to it, like a sound that is purposely less produced. I want it to sound like your in the fucking room with me.”

He continued sharing his intimate experiences with bedroom recording, and with the company of a very important furry friend.

Brown stated, “I record everything at the house and I play every instrument on the recording… This single’s probably the poppiest song of them all, but still with that lo-fi vibe.”

TMM: So you’ve got your hand in a ton of different projects. How do you find time for your own music and personal life?

Brown: “My free time or relaxing time is doing this shit… If there’s a guitar in the room, I’m playing it and it takes the place of time with Netflix or TV shows, which is why my turnover is super quick because I do it all in my bedroom. I also have a dog, Barny, which is also very important to note. He’s in almost every video I post to my Instagram for different beats I create.”

TMM: So same question for you Will, what’s your plan for 2020?

Brown: “2020? Definitely another EP in the future. I’ll release the single and then the EP and then maybe just keep releasing singles from the new album. I feel like you can’t put out one album every four years and expect people to give a shit.”

Sorry, Ash…

so you have to be constantly putting shit out. Do I have to constantly be like HEY HEY remember me? I’m still here!

Brown added, “I’m also trying to do more projects where I bring other musicians over to my house and record their music for them… with Barny of course.”

Being able to sit down with these two was such a pleasure. We probably sat and talked for close to two hours about everything from their personal lives and accomplishments to everything music-related.

If you’re in town, come out to Ortliebs and see these two badass musicians show Philly a good time!

written by Maria Arroyo

This past Friday, June’s Landing and The Great Enough opened for the rock/indie outfit, Brother Starling, who just released their latest album, The Weight of Change.

We ran into The Great Enough at Philly’s very own Orlieb’s where they opened for PHNTMS! We chatted and they told us about their upcoming show at MilkBoy. I immediately jumped at the chance to see them again. Their stage presence and the way they captivated that room was memorizing. I knew it would make for an incredible show.

Prior to the show, I had the most unique time interviewing the band in the esteemed area of MilkBoy’s very own bathroom. Although completely out of the ordinary, it made for the best time! I got to see them truly transform into this incredible group of musicians that would truly steal the show.

The first band up was New Jersey’s own June’s Landing. You could tell they had a devoted fan-base that followed them to MilkBoy for the show. Throughout their set, they flaunt everything from funk, alternative, indie, and even reggae to tie together this very interesting sound. The band also performed some new songs for us; to have a sneak peek into some of their upcoming material was a nice experience.

The lead singer had a great vocal range that raised the bar that he constantly hit every time. While I loved their music and his vocals, the stage presence didn’t match the music. I expected some more laughs and smiles and overall a higher amount of energy for their music, but it didn’t happen. Sometimes there were a few hiccups, as there are for all shows, but the singer showed it extensively all over his face which only made us notice it more. Their fans really helped to pull them out of that funk but it is definitely something I hope they keep in mind for future shows.

Next to take the stage was the eclectic Philly band, The Great Enough. This band truly has become one of my favorites to listen to. Lead singer, Bright Kelly, continues to astonish me with his wide vocal ability and adaption to his surroundings. All of the band members communicated with each other and let each other shine in the spotlight. Their extensive knowledge of music theory and how to incorporate that into music is evident in their songs. I learned that almost all of them are currently teaching music, but all of them have had music as a massive part of their lives.

My favorite moment of the entire show came from their stripped-down performance where Bright stood at the edge of the stage and truly sang from his heart. It felt like he was individually singing this song to every person in the room. They left everything they had on that stage and left me utterly and completely speechless.

They are able to create such a smooth and unique sound that is edgy and catchy. They ranged from genres of soft and alternative rock, to contemporary and even some metal as well. As their set went on, the room became fuller and the applause only got louder. They managed to keep me captivated from beginning to end and I tip my hat to them. They even shared their new single “Never Run Away” that will be coming out February 14th so please be sure to keep an eye out for it!

Closing out the show is rock and Americana inspired band, Brother Starling, for their new album release! Originally from Philadelphia, the crowd was no stranger to their music as people filled every square inch of that room. They had so many elements going on throughout the show, but it never felt overdone. They had an incredible sense of how important a strong song structure is and they worked well to balance their sound out between all of them. They ended up playing their new album from beginning to end. Then, ending the show with some classics of their earlier music.

Their music is all technically brilliant and their melodies and relatable lyrics were so catchy. They all had solid stage presence that matched their music and the harmonies between them were all was amazing! I truly believe they were completely submerged in their music and they believed in the performance they were giving us. The crowd was so supportive and interacted with the band through their show banter as well.

Their album as a whole is a mix of different emotions and influences that are strung together to create one cohesive end product. Their album release show stuck with the crowd and me and the overall show was one for the books!

Wednesday night at Ortlieb’s, the Philly music community came out in force as a dozen different acts put their spin on a track from Nirvana’s Nevermind album, which celebrates its 25^th anniversary on September 24. This was night two of the tribute, as a completely different lineup played a similar show at Sunnyvale in Brooklyn on Tuesday. Each group also performed an original song to accompany their cover.

Highlights of the evening included a bluegrass version of ‘In Bloom’ from Rare Spirits, an authentically grungy rendering of ‘Breed’ from The Retinas, and a very creative electro-sax interpretation of ‘Lithium’ by Johnny Butler, which featured a partial loop of the original guitar track. Very inventive stuff.

Presented by Brookladelphia, a multi-city live events series that links musicians, artists, writers and filmmakers, and the Philadelphia Folksong Society, of which several of the performers are members, the Nevermind tribute is indicative of the former organization’s bread and butter, using anniversaries of classic albums as a way to bring together passionate and promising local acts. In fact, the genesis of Brookladelphia stemmed from a tribute to Patsy Cline & Willie Nelson, and the idea took off from there.

This evening’s tribute was hosted by Dani Mari, Will Hanza, and Rev. TJ McGlinchey, who truly embody the community spirit of the series. Mari and Hanza perform as Owl and Wolf, and she also joins McGlinchey in the group Lovers League.

The next Brookladelphia event is September 23 at Connie’s Ric Rac, where a fresh crop of musicians take on Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Visit www.brookladelphiamusic.com for more info on upcoming shows.

photos by Joshua Telles

From appearances on national television or selling out historic venues, to almost breaking up, Run River North’s journey has been a wild one. The members of this California-based Korean-American indie folk-rock band had to learn the hard way what being a band means. “We’re being honest and that openness is one of the main thrusts for the album. Embracing the bitter with the sweet, not trying to hide the crappy parts. The crappy parts helped make the good,” says frontman Alex Hwang.

Down-to-earth and self-aware, Hwang found some time off his busy touring schedule to talk about the band’s struggles and bright future. Currently on a seven-week tour through North America, the sextet is stronger and happier than ever. With an overwhelming response to the new material, more interviews and radio coverage, the band is finally starting to see where their career is going.

Next stop on the tour: our very own Philadelphia. Hwang and his bandmates are really excited to show you how far they’ve come since the last time they swung by. Run River North’s frontman says that we can all expect “a really honest look at the band.” He explains: “I think our show is a lot more fun, there is a lot more energy. It is definitely a different show from the last time we came through. (You) can expect a good time and hopefully (you)’ll connect with us on another level.”

Being a six-piece band on tour, driving a mini van, and living 24/7 together, the band still manages to have a hell of a time on the road. Hwang gets particularly excited about “all the food!!” they get to try. Oh man, I feel ya. But on a more serious note, meeting new people, interacting with fans, and getting to see what is great about each town they visit, even if only for a second, is what keep the band going. Because let’s not forget that life on tour is not always the most glamorous one.

“We don’t have a bus or anything,” says Hwang. “We are still driving a small van, so it is usually hard to get away from each other. When you need your ‘alone’ time, there really isn’t that kind of space. You’re kind of forced to show yourself to these people. It is basically doing business with your family, and you get to see every bit of everybody’s personality. You really have to learn to deal with this. It is still a process.”

Looking at the band now, it’s hard to believe not even a year ago, they were on the verge of calling it quits. “What happened is what happens in any kind of relationship,” Hwang explains. “You have to figure out whether you can work with each other. We had one year when we weren’t really making a lot of money and we had six mouths to feed, so we were all wondering separately whether we could keep doing this as a job or not. When you’re in that kind of situation, you are kind of forced to deal with your own personal demons.”

Fortunately for both the band and the fans, they managed to get through this, together. Dealing with the band’s internal problem was difficult. But it was something that helped them grow as persons and as musicians, that helped them realize the music was more important than egos. “ We were just being very honest with each other. When people are honest with each other, acknowledge their weaknesses, and are able to communicate that with each other, they are able to maintain a certain relationship, and things just work. We made really good music out of that.”

What came out of those months of struggles is the band’s sophomore album, Drinking From a Salt Pond, with a change of sound that took the band to a whole new level. “We just wanted to try something different,” remembers Hwang. “I think that really started when I put down the acoustic guitar and we all decided to try something new. We are all in this equally. When everyone else also started figuring out who they were and what their role was in the band, it kind of shook things up with our music.”

Catch a glimpse of Run River North’s evolution at World Café Live on April 10^th. Tickets and info here. They’ll be back in our city on May 1st for the first 104.5 Summer Block Party of the summer.

photo by Julian Master

On a windy, rainy, gray afternoon, I had the pleasure of talking with Michelle Zauner, who you might know as the front woman of Philadelphia-based band Little Big League. However, Zauner was here to discuss her side project, Japanese Breakfast. A side project that might as well be considered a main one, as the talented singer/songwriter dedicates most of her time to it.

Initiating her Japanese Breakfast project in 2013, with the self-released of a tape in June, the first of a series of two, Zauner says: “About three years ago, Little Big League had just finished their second record, and I still felt like I had so much more to say, but it would have undercut the record label and it would have undercut ourselves and that album if we had continuously put stuff out. I had so much work that I wanted to put out there. I wrote a song every day for a whole month, I wanted everyone to hear what immediately comes out of me.”

What is Japanese Breakfast up to, three years later? Psychopomp, first official full-length release, is about to be dropped, after years of work. Already streaming on Hype Machine, it mixes a wide range of sounds, showcasing Zauner’s talent and various interests and influences.

“A lot of the record is about grief,” confesses Zauner. “I just lost my mom when I started writing this record. That was really challenging and I was having a lot of issues, being someone who’s not religious, figuring out my way of grief and how I could accept it and grow from it and move on.”

Having grown up a lot as a person and an artist, through her various projects and touring, Zauner admits she learned a lot over the past couple of years, trying to be a better version of herself everyday. “I also think it’s important to listen to people and sometimes, if you bring a song to a group, instead of just trying to hammer in what you want, it’s best to really listen to what they have to offer first, and accept that, before trying to change it.”

Japanese Breakfast will throw a release show on April 1^st, at Ortlieb’s. Tickets are available on tickeyfly. Please note this is a 21+ event.

A new music video and an upcoming tour are on their way. Keep an eye on Japanese Breakfast’s Facebook page for all the latest info!

photo by Lindsey Brynes

You have probably already heard of Red Sun Rising, a five-piece rock band from Akron, Ohio. If you are not familiar with their name, chances are their song “The Otherside” rings a bell. It was played all over the radio and hit number 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock song chart. The band is still having a hard time believing it is true.

“It’s surreal,” sayssinger and guitarist Mike Protich. “I still remember the first time I heard it. I tried to let it sink in, but I think it just fueled the fire to work harder. This is our chance. We have the ability for people to hear us now. Pressure? Maybe a little, but more of a motivator.”

With member Ryan Williams (guitar), Ricky Miller (bass, vocals), Pat Gerasia (drums), and Dave McGarry (guitar, vocals), Protich is ready to make the band reach the top of the world. Breaking onto the scene in 2012, Red Sun Rising released two EPs, before putting out their debut album, Polyester Zeal, very recently. There is no way the band is going to stop there, after a one-off hit.

“The most difficult part about putting an album out these days is getting people to listen to the whole record,” confesses Protich. “This makes the first single so important to penetrate culture and hope it connects. There are many bands that I have discovered over the years through one song, but then realized I loved or didn’t care for the rest of the record. We hoped that our first single would grab enough attention so people would listen to the rest of The Otherside. We are proud of and worked hard on every song on the record. So, of course, we want everyone to listen to all of the songs. I think we are just starting to accomplish this several months after the first single.”

Protich and his bandmates are very excited about everyone hearing Polyester Zeal, an album on which they worked very hard. To make the best record possible, they were clever enough to surround themselves with la crème de la crème, picking Bob Marlette (Red Square Black, Marilyn Manson, Alice Cooper…), as a producer.

“Bob Marlette showed us, not how to write songs or create hits, but how to use the talents and skills we already had to our advantage. He once said to us, ‘You have all the paint to make beautiful art. I’m going to show you how to use it.’ He also taught us when to stop on an idea and not take it so far into obscurity that no one will get it. He knew when to say, ‘Stop. You’ve got it.'”

Polyester Zeal was released with the label they are newly signed to, Razor & Tie. Becoming a signed band was indeed a huge step in Red Sun Rising’s career.

“The biggest change we noticed right away was from the gate keepers, if you will,” declares Protich. “Signing to Razor & Tie made it a lot easier to get opportunities we did not have access to when we were independent. For example, we were able to get major festivals and tours. We were also able to get a lot of radio airplay.”

Speaking of tours, the band is about to make a stop in our very own city of Philadelphia, at Ortlieb’s on January 28^th, as part of their very first headlining tour. Nervous? Protich is not. “It’s music,” he says, “I get to play music every day. How could I be nervous about anything? Maybe nervous about getting there on time! There is nothing like playing for a room of people that came to see you specifically. So that element of, ‘I have to win these people over’, is not there. It is replaced with, ‘These people came to see you, so you better make this awesome.’ Just that subtle difference creates a vibe and energy that’s unique.”

Whenever the band accomplishes something big, they keep on wanting more and more. “We just want to continue to grow. We also want our live show and songwriting to evolve. I want people to keep coming back because it just keeps getting better. That takes a lot of work but we are prepared for that. Hopefully, we can create something timeless.” Red Sun Rising is for sure a band we all should keep an eye on.

The band will release a music video for latest single, “Emotionless”, a song that is very special to all of them. “It’s been in our arsenal for so long and especially for me. The visual of the song came to me in a dream. I explained this visual and Dylan just seemed to capture it the best. He created his own spin on it and it became the amazing music video that it is.”

Meanwhile, check out the music video for the hit “The Otherside” and grab tickets to the show at http://ortliebslounge.ticketfly.com/event/1024789-red-sun-rising-philadelphia/

The band will also be a part of the MMRBQ festival, on May 21^st. Tickets can be found at http://www.wanatix.com/mmrbq-tickets.aspx

photos by Piper Ferguson

In the early to mid 2000s, Jason Heath formed a band that would lead to his current Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls. The music was much mellower and acoustic; he began asking friends to play with him, such as Wayne Kramer, and the music progressed into something completely different.

“As we started playing the new material live, the other band fizzled out, and became Jason Heath & the Greedy Souls. The only other person that stuck around is Jason Federici,” Heath explains about the early days of the band.

Heath and the band just released their first album, A Season Undone, on Kramer’s Industrial Amusement label earlier this year.

“The music business is so competitive. The Americana genre is a big deal now,” he says. “[With this record], we tried to go towards a more blues, garage rock, ’60s R&B.”

The title track of the record is one of specific importance and inspiration as the title of the song reveals. “It’s about that process, and I think a lot of the songs reflect that. Several times in your life, you’re faced with a deconstruction with everything in your life up until that point. In order to move forward, you have to destroy everything in the past. You know that you can’t use anything you have with you, you just fall. After the hurricane passes, they’ll be room to build again,” Heath explains.

That song and many of the other songs on A Season Undone were inspired by some personal issues that he was dealing with at the time. “A lot of the songs were written during that process for me. I was wrestling with demons of addiction and financial ruin. I literally broke down to nothing and I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

That’s where the truth and the live show come in – the band’s live show is anything but dull. You’re going to get what you paid for in a high-energy live show similar to the likes of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and the E Street Band.

“We give the same level of intensity every night no matter how many people in the audience,” Heath promises.

Heath and the Greedy Souls are slated to rock out Ortlieb’s on Thursday. Be prepared for a banger. “Expect 110% of honest, just, rock and roll with a dash of tenderness,” he says.  He wants concertgoers and fans to come away with one thing after attending one of the band’s shows: “Music is valuable and connections are healthy. We’re all in this together.”

Hemming photos by Pete Murray

The Philly artist and reality show winner is in residency at Ortlieb’s this month.

Hemming may be a relatively new creation, but Candice Martello has been doing the songwriting thing for most of her young life. Before landing a life-changing gig on a VH1 reality show, Martello went to college in West Philly and cut her teeth in the city scene playing punk rock with friend Nick Fanelli and palling around with the girls in Cayetana.

Then, after an unlikely appearance on Make Or Break: The Linda Perry Project transformed Martello from one half of punk band Omar into newly-christened solo artist Hemming, life took a very different turn for the raw talent. As co-winner of the show, Hemming scored a deal with Perry’s Custard Records, and the resulting album drops in July.

Speaking to Martello a couple weeks ago, I asked her what it was like to go from playing basement shows to essentially breaking up with her bandmate in front of a nation of TV-watchers.

“It was intense,” she laughs. “We both cried on TV. Nick is like a golden child… He knew that we wouldn’t make it as this trashy two-piece punk band, but he told me later that he really wanted to go because he thought my solo stuff could make it. He’s my manager now, so we’re pretty much together all the time anyway.”

Martello made sure to take advantage while working in the studio with Linda Perry. “It was a great experience,” she relates. “We got along really well, and I think she kind of sees a little of herself in me.

“She’s a very intense person,” Martello continues. “If I’m not giving enough emotion when I’m singing, she’ll literally stop me and make me explain to everyone what this heartbreaking song is about. The chemistry was there, and we definitely came up with a sound that I’m super happy about.”

In addition to soaking up pearls of wisdom from an accomplished writer and producer like Perry, Martello got a crash course in touring from the lovely Rachael Yamagata, who took Hemming on the road and under her wing last fall.

“I couldn’t have asked to be on tour with a better artist,” Martello sighs. “She was awesome, just totally mothered me through the whole thing. I definitely got a sense of the wear and tear that comes with playing every night.”

Thus, last November, Martello found herself on stage at Union Transfer in front of friends and family, an emotional moment for any artist playing their hometown.

“It was a total trip playing Union Transfer,” Martello admits. “I mean, I’ve seen some of my favorite bands play there, and I’ve seen some of my friends’ bands play there, so it was pretty bizarre being on the other side. Plus it was the first time my mom saw me play live!”

With the success of the TV show, tour, and first single “Vitamins”, Hemming has almost put the cart before the horse. While she has experience playing in bands, Martello is relatively new at standing front and center. Her residency at Ortlieb’s should give her plenty of time to stretch things out and experiment in a smaller setting before things take off again with the album’s summer release.

Ortlieb’s, 847 N 3rd St
Doors 8pm, Show 9pm

Wednesday, April 8
w/ The Dove & The Wolf
Anjuli Josephine

April 15
w/ Dead Tenors
Taco from The Love Club

April 22
w/ Abi Reimold
Mark Lanky

April 29
w/ Augusta Koch from Cayetana
Jeff Riddle and the Bella Vista Social Club