photo credit: Angel Park

Written by Angel Park

If you’re a fan of rap music, then there’s a good chance you’ve heard of 24kGoldn. The Los Angeles-based producer and DJ have been making waves in the hip-hop scene over the past few years. The producer/DJ is currently on tour in support of his latest album, El Dorado, and the tour is proof that he’s only getting better.

Last Monday night marked his debut show at the Foundry in Philadelphia, and it was definitely an experience to remember.

Supporting 24kGoldn on this tour was singer/songwriter, Bailey Bryan. Bailey is an incredible artist in her own right and she brought an immense amount of energy to her set. Bailey is known for her singles, “Own It” and “Hard Drive Home.” In 2017, she released her debut album, So Far, and most recently dropped her album, Fresh Start, last year.

The next performer in the lineup was Chicago-based rapper, Lil Bean. He started rapping at the age of 17 and has been perfecting his craft ever since. His live music was a mix of old-school hip hop and contemporary trap, with a healthy dose of humor thrown in.

Finally, 24kGoldn took the stage. The crowd erupted in cheers, clapping and whistling enthusiastically. The rapper wore a bold two-piece outfit that glittered under the stage lights. 24kGold sang and danced his way through his set, which included singles, “Valentino” and “Mood.” His performance cultivated an encore that left the audience wanting more.

If you have the opportunity to see 24kGoldn, Bailey Bryan, or Lil Bean live on the next few El Dorado tour dates, grab your tickets soon!

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Connect with Bailey Bryan

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Connect with ‘Lil Bean

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Photo Gallery

Singer/songwriter, Lindsey Jordan, (better known as Snail Mail)’s debut album, Lush, was one of my top favorites of 2018. So, needless to say, I had high expectations for her latest follow-up release, Valentine. I am happy to say that it did NOT disappoint. The album is packed with catchy melodies and heartfelt lyrics that will stay with you long after the end of the song, with singles like “Ben Franklin” and “Glory” being the best standouts of the new release. If you are a fan of indie rock or just appreciate well-crafted music, then Valentine should be on your playlist rotation.

In support of Valentine, Snail Mail is embarking on a North American tour spanning major cities across both coasts, with a stop at Philadelphia’s Union Transfer for two nights: tonight, April 5th, and, tomorrow night, April 6th – if you’ll be around the city of brotherly love those two days and are looking for an evening filled with fun, heartfelt indie rock music, then Snail Mail’s shows are a must-see!

Tickets for her Union Transfer show are still available here.

Connect with Snail Mail

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Once you hear his name, you can’t help but think of his grandfather, Bob Marley; however, Skip Marley is his own musician, his own person, and he’s ready to tell his story. Tonight, Skip will be gracing the stage at The Foundry in Philadelphia.

As we all know, he grew up in a musical family, in Jamaica. In an email interview we conducted, he confirmed, “Yes, I grew up in a very musical family, so it was always present from my earliest memories. It must have had a major impact on my life because I chose a musical path too.”

That musical path is a famous one in their family including Damien Marley, Ziggy Marley, Skip Marley, and of course, Bob Marley. Growing up in such a musical family and knowing you have such big shoes to fill can kind of be intimidating. But Skip nonchalantly explained, “Some people who knew him well think of my grandfather when they hear my first name! Bob Marley is an icon, so I’m humbled to walk in his footsteps and bear his name. I’m blessed to grow from such loving and musical roots.”

Skip‘s music doesn’t have a name, but he aims to create it with positivity. “For a song to be successful, the vibe has to be there. The song has to connect with the singer, and the singer has to connect with instruments, and the producer has to connect with the whole arrangement. That type of vibe usually translates to a connection with the audience,” he detailed.

For the remainder of 2022, Skip will be busy. He and his team just left for the Change tour, there is a brand new single and music video in the works, and they’re putting finishing touches on his debut album. It sounds like he will have a full year! He’s working on a lot of new music, so fans can expect a lot of new music.

What’s most exciting for Skip, is that this is really his first headlining tour, so he’s really looking forward to each new experience and every new opportunity to bring the full stage show to the people.

IF YOU GO

Who: Skip Marley
When: Tonight, Wednesday, March 30
Where: The Foundry at the Fillmore, Philadelphia
Time: Doors @ 7 PM; Show @ 8 PM
Price: $20.00-$22.50

Connect with Skip Marley

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Toby & Zach of Dr. Dog

Written by Brian Cronin  Photos provided by Lisa Schaffer

The first annual We Live On benefit concert was held on March 13 and March 15 at Ardmore Music Hall (AMH) in Ardmore, right outside of Philadelphia, and was hosted by Dan Fein. The benefit was set up to raise money for Derek Dorsey, a longtime music promoter, manager, and talent buyer in the Philadelphia music scene.

Sunday’s show brought out many artists and folks to support both Derek and this new foundation.  

I attended Sunday’s show that featured: Dr. Dog‘s Toby and Zach, Hoots & Hellmouth, Hezekiah Jones, John Faye, Anjuli Josephine, Stargazer Lily, Ben Arnold, Illinois, Andrew Lipke, Don McCloskey, Johnny Showcase & The Mystic Ticket, to name a few. It was a great night of music as each one of the artists had been covered by Origivation/THAT MAG at some point throughout the years.

Personally, for me, it was good to reconnect with the artists both performing or showing their support in the crowd. AMH did a great job, as always, with their house sound and keeping the night on a constant flow. Derek has touched so many lives throughout the years, and to see and feel the energy in the room, was electrifying.

I regrettably did not attend Tuesday’s night’s show, as they had another great lineup featuring Talib Kweli, Karl “Dice Raw” Jenkins, Schooly D., Chris and Herb of Fathead, Mike Voss, Flipside Esq., and Wardell Piper. Tuesday night’s festivities were hosted by Elements of Hip Hop. Not only were the funds raised to help Derek with his immense medical bills, but also for his new foundation, We Live On. The foundation has the goal of creating a space for people with rare diseases to network and to provide information on services and providers available. We Live On strives to create that safe community space as rare diseases are isolating and often end in suicide rather than death by disease. Most importantly, the foundation will serve its community of individuals and families who are facing medical adversity, establishing that people are not alone and that there is hope.

photo credit: Angel Park

Written by Angel Park

When Tampa, Florida-based band, Underoath, announced their separation and departure from the growing hardcore music scene back in 2013, fans of their distinct, cutting edge metalcore sound was left with so many questions, myself included. Questions such as, “Was Underoath really done? Would they ever come back? And what are we going to do with all of our past frayed show posters and CD albums we blasted on repeat during our most angst-filled years?”

Those questions and more were finally addressed a few years later in 2015. The band cryptically announced ‘their rebirth was coming’ and soon after, they headlined their first reunion show since they disbanded, alongside A Day to Remember.

Fans came out in droves in unanimous support. Since then, the group has been unstoppable, releasing headbang-worthy singles and even earning a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance for their 2018 lead song, “On My Teeth.”

In 2021, they released their ninth album, Voyeurism, and the band hopped on tour, ready to bring their brutal, hard-hitting, in-your-face stage presence to crowds across the coast. This past Saturday evening, they got the best of that energy to Philadelphia’s Fillmore venue.

With the show starting right at 7:00 PM, fans from all parts of the city waited eagerly in line by the doors to be let in, tickets in hand, sporting their favorite Underoath gear. The most dedicated fans made a beeline for the rail once they were scanned in, while others mingled by the merch vendors or motioned to the bartender for their first night round. I watched the room, my eyes drinking in the vast venue, as I moved to take my entry point by the photo pit.

The chatter of fans and laughter boomed around me, and time seemed to slow as the house lights eventually dimmed down. Then, finally, my ears filled with the ecstatic cheers of the crowd as the first act took their place on stage.

Starting off the show was Long Island-based punk band, Stray From the Path. Frontman, Andrew Dijornio, led the group

photo credit: Angel Park

into their high-energy set, and eagerly used the breaks in between songs to encourage the crowd to jump to the heavy riffs and drum beats or to “open up the pit.” They played a mix of their old hardcore and newest tracks and it was a great way to get things started for the evening. 

Following Stray From The Path was Bad Omens, a metalcore group based out of Richmond, Virginia. Their set kicked off in a sea of red shadows and haze, with frontman, Noah Sebastian, grabbing the microphone, as the crowd grew louder with cheers. Following him were guitarist, Nicholas Ruffolo, and bassist, Vincent Riquier, strapped with their instruments and holding their hands high to greet their fans before the group unanimously shredded their way right into the opening chords of “Like a Villian.” The Bad Omens logo glowed in the background, casting an almost ominous shadow across the band. It fits their music’s dark, riff-heavy tones. Noah’s harrowing vocals backed with the band’s melodic instrumentals made for a grand opening set to kick off the night.

photo credit: Angel Park

Following Bad Omen‘s set was Canadian heavy metal band, Spiritbox, who came in with guitars and vocals blazing as they dove right into the opening chords of their single, “Holy Roller,” from their latest album, Eternal Blue.

The crowd gathered in and screamed along to vocalist Courtney LaPlante‘s commanding stage presence and heavy-hitting lyrics, setting the energy high for the evening. LaPlante‘s fierce growls and pitch-perfect, liquid-like notes combined flawlessly with riffs and beats from bandmates Mike Stringer (guitar), Bill Crook (Bass), and Zev Rose (drums). This group was a hard-hitting, heavy force to be reckoned with, and the crowd headbanged and moshed their way through every minute.

That frenetic environment gave way to even more excitement as the house lights cut off and the bone-chilling opening notes of Underoath‘s “Damn Excuses” reverberated across the venue.

“What’s up, Philly?” Frontman, Dallas Taylor, roared, as he grabbed the microphone, echoed by distorted riffs from Timothy McTague, Grant Brandell, and James Smith (guitarists). He holds his hand high, as the crowd cheers on, and, as he jumps down from his high position on the stage speaker box, the band seamlessly transitions to their single’s first verse.

photo credit: Angel Park

The volume of the crowd couldn’t have been higher. Almost everyone in the room mouthed along to the lyrics. The rail trembles as the entire front row go into headbanging mode, and a small circle pit has formed towards the back of the venue. It’s loud, bold, and almost violent, but this is the experience that metalcore fans live for, to just let go and lose yourself in the music.

Throughout their set, Underoath mixed their performance with new tracks from Vouyerism such as “Cycle (feat. Ghostmane)” and “Hallelujah,” with sprinkles of OG fan favorites such as “Reinventing Your Exit” thrown into the mix.

My inner metalcore fan was immediately reminded of the old days of listening to the band on my CD player. The nostalgia only elevated the listening experience I had with their new songs. Their sound has definitely matured, but they still managed to keep their gritty, complex hitting roots. 

Overall, Stray From The Path, Bad Omens, Spiritbox, and Underoath gave Philly’s hardcore and metal fans a show to remember for months to come. Even as the last song notes died down and security began to holler to usher everyone out by the end of it all, fans left with the widest smiles on all of their sweaty, moshed-out faces.

Connect with Underoath

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Connect with Spiritbox

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Connect with Bad Omens

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Connect with Stray From The Path

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Connect with Gracie Abrams

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Have you ever been to a show that blew your mind? Not for the fact that it was your favorite band, but because each and every musician that played was simply incredible. It’s a rarity finding that, especially these days. Luckily the music gods blessed me with this last week.

Tucked away on 1200 Callowhill Street is Underground Arts, one of Philadelphia’s hidden gems, as far as venues go. Personally, it’s one of my favorite venues due to the fact that it has such an intimate and cozy setting. If you haven’t been there, let me paint you a picture. Imagine a huge unfinished basement with two rooms both equipped with a bar and one has a stage. The other has booths and chairs with a projector (to watch the show). Originally. I was slightly timid on the idea of standing so close to another human being, seeing as it’s wild times out here with COVID and all, but I decided to take a chance. When else would I be able to see Thursday and Cursive at such an intimate setting along with The Appleseed Cast and Nate Bergman? Answer. Never again.

This tour is special because Thursday originally had to postpone the first leg of the tour because of COVID. Instead of starting at the beginning of January, they kicked off the tour on January 19th in Detroit. However, the lineup that was originally set had been changed because of everyone’s new best friend, COVID. Jeremy Enigk, the vocalist of Sunny Day Real Estate, was replaced by Nate Bergman, who is a soul/progressive rock/Americana singer from Washington, D.C.

This was the first sold-out show that I have attended since all of this COVID mess. Anyway, I didn’t know what to expect. The doors opened and everyone started to file in one after another as if staying six feet apart from one another was a thing of the past. Nobody that night gave a shit about masks or how far away one was from another because that night, it was all about the music. It was very evident that was the case as soon as Bergman took the stage.

This isn’t the first time I experienced Bergman perform and each time is better than the last. Bergman is from D.C. and is currently pursuing his solo career as a singer/songwriter that he launched in 2020. Bergman holds a presence that you cannot turn away from (even if you try), he commands your attention with his soulful singing and natural ability to be on stage with just one note. His set was short but nonetheless still amazing and ended with a song called into my arms, which sent goosebumps all over my body.

As I went to pick my jaw up off the floor from how amazing his vocal range was, I noticed how everyone else was mesmerized by his musical stylings. Bergman breaks the glass ceiling with his god-given talent. It doesn’t matter if you’re a metal fan or a country fan, if you’re a fan of music you will be a fan of his. There is no doubt in my mind that Bergman has found where he belongs, which is right on stage with a mic and guitar, belting out ballads and saving lives one song at a time.

Earlier this summer, he was on tour previously with Craig Owens from Chiodos and Geoff Rickly from Thursday. You can catch him on the rest of the tour with Thursday this winter. Keep your ears open for amazing things to be coming out of this guy this spring. I was able to get a quick word with him and he said that this was “the best Philly show I have ever played.”

Following up such a wonderful opener was The Appleseed Cast, which to my shock only Chris Crisci, their founding frontman was able to perform because the rest of the band was out due to COVID, but that didn’t stop him. Crisci took the stage and showed everyone what it was all about (being a musician that is). Crisci stood alone with his guitar, a keyboard, and synthesizer on stage and proceeded to play an entire set that normally requires a full band. You could tell that he’s been doing this for a few shows now because he started to make fun of himself and the situation at hand but still managed to hold it together and rock. If you have ever seen any acoustic sets imagine that, but with the guitar being electric and the rest of the band is programmed into a tiny little box. This said box is connected to the keyboard and synthesizer, which allowed Crisci to play as if everyone was still behind him. It was one of the most brilliant things I have ever seen done on stage.

Later on, during the set, Tim Kasher from Cursive and Bergman joined him to close out and had a jam session for about 5 minutes. Everyone was intently paying attention or jumping up and down and throwing their head back, with Tim Kasher playing drums, Crisci playing guitar, and Bergman on guitar. It was one of those moments at a show where you take a snapshot because things like that seldom happen. It was extremely special to witness.

Next up was the infamous, Cursive. An old favorite that never ceases to amaze me and everyone else for that matter, one of the first waves of emo some may say. They kicked off their set with the start of the track, “A Gentleman Caller” and kept the energy up and went into “Martyr” as every single person in that sold-out show was singing and moshing to them. A five-piece band that came together in 1997 has still continued to bring the same love and fan base l after all of these years. Cursive had a solid set and closed out the night with “Hips” and the rest of “A Gentleman Caller.”

Saving the best for last, Thursday finally graced us with their presence, closing out this phenomenal night of music with the workforce. Geoff Rickly from Thursday was extremely interactive with everyone talking about how much he loves Philly and the energy of the crowd, which in all fairness is the truth. Some may call this one of their “hometown” shows seeing as Philly is right over the bridge. Each song was better than the next. They played all of the fan favorites including “Understanding In A Car Crash,” which is my personal favorite. They closed the show out with “War All The Time” and came back on for an encore.

The crowd was singing along to every word like it was their last breath. The entire night from start to finish was impeccable. It truly reminded me of a show that I would go to when I was younger and I mean that in a good way. A show that involved a basement somewhere and the only thing that mattered was the music and everything else was just white noise.

Connect with Thursday

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Philadelphia fans! After two years of taking time off because of the pandemic, the annual Roots Picnic returns this year on June 4-5, 2022, at The Mann Center in Fairmount Park.

Headlined by no other than this past weekend’s Super Bowl performer, Mary J. Blige, will perform alongside The Roots themselves. Other artists performing include Kamasi Washington, Jazmine Sullivan, Summer Walker, Wizkid, Tierra Whack, Freddie Gibbs, DJ Jazzy Jeff with Rakim, and Robert Glasper Bilal.

DJ J Period is scheduled to make a “live mixtape” that will feature Black Thought, Rick Ross, and Benny the Butcher. A jam session will be hosted by the producer, Soulquarians, and will feature Keyshia Cole, SWV, and Musiq Soulchild.

Tickets for the event go on sale on Friday, February 18 at 10:00 a.m. ET. Get tickets here.

Allman Family Revival

Written by Eric Sperrazza

My childhood had a soundtrack of some of the greatest and most diverse music by the people in my tribe raising me. I have vivid memories of my father’s love of southern rock and how Creedence Clearwater Revival, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the Allman Brothers Band would permeate through the car, as he would shuffle me back and forth to extracurricular activities.

Over the years, I grew an affinity for the sounds that would put wind into my Dad’s proverbial sails and I always keep an eye out, to this day, for moments I can share with him to celebrate the love of that genre he instilled in me. Luckily, for me, I didn’t have to search too hard for the next opportunity to make a memory with him!

On Thursday, December 9th, the Allman Family Revival will be front and center, at The Met in Philadelphia, for their annual multi-hour celebration and tribute to the legendary Allman Brothers Band.

A sheer spectacle of musicianship, I experienced no small amount of pleasure in speaking to Devon Allman, son of Gregg Allman and co-founder of the Allman Betts Band, about how the show got started.

“In 2017, I lost my Dad,” Devon said. “After six months of grieving, I realized I was denying myself of the power of healing through music and invited a bunch of friends to a comeback show. My agent came back and said San Francisco wanted the show at the Fillmore. I thought it was so cool because my Dad lived in San Francisco throughout the 90s and it became a second home to us. They only had one date to offer, though, December 8th,” he explained. “Which also would have happened to have been my Dad’s 70th birthday. I thought ‘Holy Shit! That’s serendipitous!’ So, we decided to make it a birthday present for my Dad and made it a tribute to him. It started off so innocently and then it evolved to where New York, Denver, and then more wanted the show.  Now? We are in our 5th year and we have 31 offers which we whittled down to 18 shows.”

And evolved, it did. Today, everyone from Kenny Wayne Shepherd, G. Love to Lilly Hiatt, and Robert Randolph perform during the Allman Family Revival show. The structure of the actual show was described by Devon best when he said, “It’s amazing that all these musicians put three weeks aside, every year, to be a part of this. So, I modeled this event after The Band’s famous 1976 concert, ‘The Last Waltz.’ The Allman Betts Band will be the house band, and we will play a few songs and then begin introducing guests. The guests perform their take on an Allman Brothers song and then a song they are famous for. So, they can promote their music and then take on one of my Dad’s songs.”

It is truly an epic night honoring one of the greatest American songwriters and musicians in American history, but what of younger music lovers that might be unfamiliar with the Allman Brothers Band.

Devon had a message for them. When asked to give his elevator pitch to the new school of music fans, he was quoted as saying, “It’s a continuation of the wild wild west! We are doing it the way they did it in the ’60s and ’70s. Anyone who is out of their pop phase and looking for good organic music, this is the real stuff. I mean, good God!  It’s a clinic in the electric guitar up there on that stage. If you are a fan of the electric guitar and you missed this you seriously missed the show of the year!”

Here’s the rub; If you miss the show this year, there is no guarantee that Philadelphia may always be on the annual tour stops. As Devon impressed upon me, there are so many markets that want this show and only so many days to perform so they may mix up where they go, from year to year. With great urgency, it would behoove anyone on the fence to get a ticket to the show and be a part of the Allman Family Revival.

As for me? I will be there, celebrating my father’s 70th birthday and celebrating Gregg Allman along with everyone else. As I sing Midnight Rider in the audience along with a cavalcade of stars on stage, I will simultaneously be honoring my dad and the lessons he imparted to me on what fun southern rock can be…even for a Yankee like myself.

Doors open at 7 pm at The Fillmore and the show kicks off at 8 pm. Tickets are still available here.

Hope to see you there!

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