Philly Music Scene – That Music Magazine

An extraterrestrial evening with Puscifer and special guests Moodie Black at The Met

Lauren Rosier — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 12:30:50 +0000

photo credit: Sophia Varoumas

Carina Round gives you full-body chills with her compelling performance, alongside living rock legend Maynard James Keenan at Philadelphia’s The Met.

By Sophia Varoumas

“Phil’s Friends” receive the satirical and theatrical probing performance they anticipated. Maynard James Keenan (vocals) and Carina Round (vocals/guitar/percussion/keys), of Puscifer, performed in divine masculine/feminine post-punk harmony at The Met.

Alongside bandmates, Mat Mitchell (guitar), Gunner Olsen (drums), and Josh Moreau (bass/synths) on this year’s, Existential Reckoning tour, like the hierophant compliment the Empress, Carina Round, and Maynard James Keenan, showcase their voices in the Opera house, achingly beautiful and synthesized with a dusting of retro electronica.

The alternative rap trio, Moodie Black, opens the evening with a dark stage, bright white screen, and the band scattered across the stage, an industrial backdrop eerily hanging behind them, reminiscent of an old Nine Inch Nails video. Moodie Black features the lead singer, Kristen Martinez (she/her), guitarist Sean Lindahl (he/him), and drummer Bentley Monet (he/him).

Moodie Black rage on stage as Martinez’s silhouette haunts, as she towers, and paces in front of the band’s backdrop. She has an enormous voice that demands attention. The band calls it noise rap. It sounds super thrashy and industrial combined with the super-fast spoken word. You may find yourself rocking your head to their set.

Suddenly, the energy shifts dramatically when the TV screens on each side of the stage light up with static, and Maynard James Keenan (MJK), a.k.a. agent Dick Merkin, pops up on the screens with a message about “spam.” He reminds the crowd that, “ignorant entitled outrage,” adds just enough spice to the cynical mix of processed meat, so if you pull out your phone, it will land you in Puscifer’s meat grinders, and dispose of you. The crowd roars at the announcement and then the band walks across that stage.

You see and feel this synergy on stage when Keenan and Round, the alto and soprano dance around each other in an alienesque fashion opening with the tracks, “Bread and Circus,” “Postulous,” and then the crowd-pleasing, “Fake Affront,” giving the audience Max Headroom meets Reservoir Dogs feels with their rude boy, all-black suits, white button-down shirts, and black tie attire.

Dozens of fans dress up like MJK’s personas and some, like MJK, don’t break character. Appearances by personas, Agent Dick Merkin, the agent in training on the Pusciforce, is the audience’s host for the evening probe. ‘Agents’ appear on stage scanning the audience for potential new subjects. It was quirky and entertaining adding an extra element to the night’s show.

Prior to the band’s quick seven-minute intermission and wardrobe change, the six-piece performed the songs “Humbling River,” “Apocalypticical,” “Remedy,” and “Singularity.”

Billy D, MJK’s other Puscifer persona emerges, a glass of alcohol in hand, prepared to raise a glass and run from the aliens on stage trying to probe him.

Puscifer continues in their ever so subtle way to say, “shut the fuck up” with a world in its current state of affairs, masking some rage with video “spam” entertaining the crowd to add a sense of sarcastic comic relief, but still showcasing how social media is evil, and how they may feel about society’s current events that are unfolding.

The most monumental and compelling moment of the evening was by Carina Round in her performance of “Flippant.”

Round singularly dances standing still and waving her arms pointing up, then circling her belly and up again. Suddenly she circles her belly again, points up, then points back down at her other hand circling back at her belly, and silently screams, MINE! Before the stage goes black, they end the night with, “Bedlamite” and tell Puscifer fans that they can break out their phones to take some pictures if they choose.

Want to relive the show? Philly’s Setlist below:

Bread and Circus
Postulous
Fake Affront
Underwhelming
Grey Area
Theorem
Vaginamine
Upgrade
Apocalypticical
Remedy
Personal Prometheus
Singularity
Humbling River
(Intermission)
Bullet Train
Man Overboard
Flippant
Bedlamite

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The Motor City 5 continue to kick out the jams at Philly’s Underground Arts

Lauren Rosier — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 15:15:55 +0000

photo credit: Eric Sperrazza

Written by Eric Sperrazza

The Motor City Five may very well be one of the most important bands in rock and roll history. They have been an influencer to everyone from Led Zeppelin to The Ramones, The Cult, and even Rage Against The Machine. Although teased as a nominee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame a whopping six times, to no avail, real music historians know that a proverbial tip of the hat from a small handful of glorified museum curators is not necessary. The sheer impact the MC5 had and still has, on our world, is proof enough that they will echo into eternity.

Out of Lincoln Park, Michigan in 1963, the MC5 emerged with vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred “Sonic” Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson. Immediately, the band adhered to a counter-culture movement with political undertones and anti-establishment lyrics challenging the system and even supporting the Black Panther Party; all at the forefront of their “back-to-basics” garage rock sound. The band also played mentor to a new up-and-coming Detroit band, The Stooges. But the 1969 album Kick Out the Jams, recorded live in October of 1968, at Detroit’s Grande Ballroom, thrust the MC5 into the history books.

With one opening line, “It’s time to…KICK OUT THE JAMS, MOTHERFUCKERS!” The band gave record stores and radio stations all the fuel they needed to legitimately blackball the band. But, what fans saw was this raw, politically relevant, and foul-mouthed record being censored by “The Man” and thus made it even more desirable of a find!

By 1972, the MC5 had broken up and gone their separate ways. But had sent The Stooges to assail to continue on blazing trails and inspired a group of rag-tag misfits from Queens, New York – The Ramones. With that, the punk movement began to take its roots. Today, Iggy Pop, Marky Ramone, and many others genuflect at the feet of the MC5 as the forefathers of punk rock; a genre still romancing music fans and exacting rebel music onto the world, to this very day.

Recently, Kramer announced that in 2022 he was hitting the road under a project called We Are All The MC5 with a new album firmly on the horizon. Joining b on the road is singer Brad Brooks, guitarist Stevie Salas, bassist Vicki Randle, and drummer Winston Watson.

The project recently stopped at Underground Arts in Philadelphia last month and I had to go and be in the presence of musical greatness to see if that paradigm-breaking guttural sound still fuels those to raise a fist in the air and brave a path unknown.

It was my first time at the Underground Arts and just let me say that there is no better venue to witness counter-culture music take place! Underground Arts is a basement venue decorated with murals that light up with backlights, as you meander through the dark layer of the land. The space still has a punk rock, speakeasy vibe that gives you the impression you are in an exclusive club of music fans.

The show opened with a set from Philadelphia’s all-female rock band, Vixen77. The five-piece offered a lot to unpack. First, I can safely say that these five ladies had more talent in their pinkies than most bands on the road today. With shades of The Runaways, The Slits, L7, and more, their performance was a venerable thrash-fest with the electricity turned up to 11. Every single member of Vixen77 owned that stage like a goddamn lioness claiming her territory and the crowd was there for every second of it. For a moment in time, I thought I was at CBGB in The Bowery, one last time, having my face melted off by the sheer power of a band. Expect to see more of them in the future and you can absolutely expect to see more of them from me.

Next up were Kramer and the MC5. The set kicked off with “Ramblin’ Rose” and vocalist Brad Brooks left nothing to question. He emanated rock royalty, both owning and humbling himself to the gravitas of the vibe of the MC5, simultaneously.

For a stunning 90 minutes, Kramer tore apart his guitar through hits like “Come Together,” “Call Me Animal,” and, “Kick Out the Jams.” As Brooks went corner to corner on the stage and even dove into the crowd, Kramer played on with the fervor of an elated young musician getting his first showcase. At 74 years of age, he outworked musicians young enough to be his grandchildren, ever the essence of rock.

The show encored and closed with “The American Ruse” and “Sister Anne,” putting a period at the end of a sweltering night below the Philadelphia streets, where the tenets of society were still challenged through the majesty of three chords and the truth.

Before the MC5 left the stage, Kramer walked up to me and handed me his guitar pick. On the way home, I thought of a million different ways to frame and immortalize this special piece of rock history that I had been blessed with. But, as I opened the door of my home, my oldest daughter was there waiting for me. My oldest embraced all of my punk music and shared in the spirit of going against the grain with me. My child has been at Blondie shows, and Vans Warped Tours and has been with me while interviewing the next generation of punk rock artists. At that moment, I realized that my revolution is over. I am a middle-aged working stiff. My midlife crisis and Peter Pan complex may differ but the truth is I am the establishment, now. I am the “grown-up” in the room. It’s her generation’s turn to challenge the norms and pushback at antiquated ways of thinking. And so I opened her hand and I put Wayne Kramer’s pick in the center of it and then sent her to bed.

That is the spirit of punk rock. That is the legacy of the MC5. Go forth and break paradigms. That was the message I brought home from the Underground Arts. That is something that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will never get and, quite frankly, I hope those squares never do. This installment is dedicated to Ariana. Never lose the “riot” in you, Grrrl. That is how you change the world.

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Motor City 5 Photo Gallery

Philadelphia native Kurt Vile performed 2 sold out shows at Union Transfer

Lauren Rosier — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 15:45:21 +0000

photo credit: Angel Park

Written by Angel Park

This past Friday evening marked the first of two sold-out shows at the Union Transfer for legendary Philly folk artist, Kurt Vile. These hometown stops were done as part of Vile‘s multicity tour spanning cities across the U.S. in support of his latest album, Watch My Moves. This fifteen-song release is filled with dreamy, psych-inspired rock and features acclaimed fan favorites such as “Mount Airy Hill,” “‘Goin’ on a Plane Today,” and “Thinkin’ About Flyin.”

As the crowd packed the venue floor, the supporting band, Natural Information Society, kicked off the show by diving right into their pleasant avant-garde, long-form set. Despite lacking any introductions, the group’s contemporary sound captivated the audience and touched on a compelling combination of jazz, minimalism, and traditional music genres.

Following Natural Information Society was Vile, who warmly greeted the crowd of cheering fans before riffing into the opening chords of “Palace of OKV in Reverse.” With his bandmates strumming along and his iconic Vile logo glowing behind him, Vile‘s stage presence captivated everyone in the audience. Mixing both his old and new music, his set had a track to please both past and recent Vile fans.

If you’re a fan of folk, Kurt Vile and Natural Information Society are definitely two groups that are worth a listen.

Tickets are still available for the ‘Watch My Moves’ tour here.

Connect with Kurt Vile

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Kurt Vile / Natural Information Society Photo Gallery

Mayday Parade and friends did not disappoint at Union Transfer

Lauren Rosier — Mon, 09 May 2022 18:30:03 +0000

photo credit: Eric Sperrazza | Mayday Parade

Written Eric Sperrazza

In 2011, emo pop/punk wunderkinds, Mayday Parade, released a self-titled album that would go on to be one of their best-selling and most memorable LPs. With that album, the band gave us the classic track, “Oh Well, Oh Well.”

Ten years later, Mayday Parade decided to celebrate that seminal record release with a tour playing the record’s hits for the fans and sharing the stage with the likes of bands, Real Friends and Magnolia Park.

I headed out to one of my favorite venues in Philadelphia, Union Transfer. This old 1800s Farmers Market-turned-music venue still has that solid 19th-century wooden architecture intact on the inside as well as chandeliers of the period hanging from the tall ceiling. It always provides a uniquely vintage backdrop to whatever live act is performing and I can also confidently attest to the fact that, acoustically, there is not a bad seat or even a bad vantage point in the house.

The first to take the stage was Magnolia Park. So a bit of a backstory. In February, my oldest daughter came down to my office, and said, “I have a band I want you to hear. I found them on TikTok.”

photo credit: Eric Sperrazza | Magnolia Park

The video she played before me? Magnolia Park’s video for “10 For 10.” I was instantly blown away and was legitimately excited to see this band perform. Perform they did with the explosive electricity of a pop/punk band that is having just as good of a time as the crowd and is legitimately excited to be there.

Lead vocalist, Joshua Roberts, stayed in constant motion as if being propelled by landmines from point to point, on stage. Playing viral hits like “Sick of it All,” “Back on My Bullshit,” and “10 For 10,” the crowd was energized and in the palm of their collective hands.

Real Friends was the second to perform and I got the biggest ringing endorsement of this band from fans right on the floor. In between Magnolia Park and the Real Friends sets, I began talking to a couple that was equally blown away by Magnolia Park. These two random would-be music historians were filled with excitement about Real Friends, comparing them to some of the biggest names in punk and hardcore. Names like Black Flag and the Descendants. If these two individuals are not part of the Real Friends PR team, they should be. They had me so excited to see this band, I was actually mad at myself for not being in the know, before.

photo credit: Eric Sperrazza

To that, Real Friends ripped into songs like “Me First, Nervous Wreck” and “From the Outside.” I felt like I was wearing my Santa Cruz Skateboards Corey O’Brien t-shirt while reading Thrasher Magazine and listening to kickass hardcore punk once more. It’s amazing how closely music can take you back to an exact time and location in your life and Real Friends did just that.

Finally, Mayday Parade arrived and gave the audience the entirety of their album, A Lesson in Romantics, which was celebrating its 15th anniversary. Every track was performed in chronological order from “Jamie All Over,” “If You Wanted a Song Written About You All You Had To Do Was Ask,” “Take This Heart and You Be the Anchor…,” from start to finish. They even encored with a snippet of “My Hero” in honor of Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters. The set wrapped up with “Oh Well, Oh Well” and a gracious bow out before the lights lit back up Union Transfer.

I’m compelled to first address the fact that there was not a fair-weather fan to be seen in that venue. Every single person from the balconies to the front row came for Mayday Parade. They knew every word to every Mayday Parade song and they came to the party with Mayday Parade. The sheer static electricity from everyone’s excitement on that floor was enough to charge an iPad. That crowd was an essential piece of the success of that show and lead vocalist, Derek Sanders, knew that and was a kind-spoken tour guide through it all. He brought the fans in and the audience claimed the show as a result. It is always like watching a miracle take place when I witness people of all walks of life, united in being a part of a musical experience that moves all of them equally. That is something I will always remember about this show.

The greatest takeaway for me, however, will be getting to say that “I was there” when Magnolia Park broke. Mark my words, they are going to be the future of pop-punk.

Connect with Mayday Parade

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Snail Mail to bring ‘Valentine’ Tour to Philly’s Union Transfer tonight April 5th and tomorrow April 6th

Lauren Rosier — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 13:00:23 +0000

Written by Angel Park

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.

WAXAHATCHEE returns to Philly’s Union Transfer April 10 and 11

Lauren Rosier — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 19:00:19 +0000

photo credit: Johnny Eastlund

Written by Ashley Paskill

We can all remember March of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic was just starting up and the world was shutting down. Unfortunately, for many musicians, this meant touring new material was put on hold for a while. Luckily, things have improved and concerts are happening again, even though there are a few safety measures such as vaccination and mask requirements.

Waxahatchee, featuring Katie Crutchfield, will be performing at Union Transfer in Philadelphia on April 10 and 11, 2022. She had just released her newest album, Saint Cloud, in the spring of 2020 in the midst of the shutdowns. She is performing songs off of Saint Cloud at long last.

Waxahatchee is from Alabama, and Crutchfield got the name from a creek near her hometown. She started performing as Waxahatchee in 2010 and has had much success since. “Can’t Do Much,” a song off the 2020 album release, even landed on Barack Obama’s Favorite Songs of 2020 list.

The album was written in 2018 and recorded in the summer of 2019. The 11 songs deal with topics from romantic love to overcoming addiction and tell of various journeys, both literal and metaphorical. The songs of the album have different styles, with nods to classic country, modern, and folk. The album was released on March 27, 2020, as the world was shut down.

The New Yorker described the album as “A talisman of the self-isolation era… Saint Cloud evokes a sense of freedom and belonging that has been elusive in this era of constraint and distance.”

Waxahatchee is currently on tour with a variety of special guests. She is coming to Philadelphia’s Union Transfer on April 10 and 11 of this year.

Brooklyn Vegan caught a performance of the recent tour dates and said “[Waxahatchee] has the ease of a road-seasoned group and sounded fantastic bringing her songs to life, particularly the Saint Cloud material, which is among her strongest yet. From the pure jolt of energy that came as the band all joined in together, it became abundantly clear to all that they’d been waiting for this moment just as anxiously as we had.”

For Philadelphia’s tour dates, Madi Diaz is the opening act, and during previous shows this tour, she played songs off her latest album, Same History, New Feelings, which was released earlier this year. She was born in Connecticut and grew up in Pennsylvania. Diaz’s music has touches of folk, country, and pop, and she cites Patty Griffin and Lori McKenna as her influences.

RVA described Diaz’s setlist as “vulnerable, quiet tunes, ones that only necessitated a single drummer/keyboardist and Diaz‘s lone guitar.”

Aside from the tour venues, Waxahatchee has recently performed her songs on the likes of Jimmy Kimmel Live and CBS This Morning. She also wrote and sang the song, “Tomorrow,” for Apple TV+’s original show, El Deafo.

For Crutchfield, Saint Cloud is a representation of how much she has grown and really highlights her journey of getting sober. The lyrics highlight places she has been and there is optimism in her lyrics. This has resonated not only on the album but on her recent tour.

RVA cites this growth, saying “The flora seeming to grow up the band’s equipment and the cautious optimism of Crutchfield’s lyrics only served to highlight the signs of life elsewhere inside the National.

For Waxahatchee‘s upcoming shows at Union Transfer in Philadelphia, those attending the show are required to show proof of their COVID-19 vaccinations at the request of the artist. Both shows, on April 10 and 11, are sold out. The doors open at 7 pm and the show starts at 8 pm.

If you go:

Venue: Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia

Time: 8 pm

Tickets: Sold out

You can read about the venue’s COVID-19 policy here.

Devon Allman talks about how the Allman Family Revival began; show set for Thursday at 8 pm at the Fillmore

Lauren Rosier — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 22:15:44 +0000

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!

Connect with Allman Family Revival

Modern surf-pop/punk band, Beach Bunny, unveils a high energy, engaging live show at Union Transfer

Lauren Rosier — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 20:30:51 +0000

photo credit: Eric Sperrazza

Written by Eric Sperrazza

Being a Dad can be easy when your kids are all in lockstep with the music, movies, and sporting events you love.

That is the case with most of my children; sans one. My twelve-year-old is a quiet introvert who doesn’t like being around too much “busy” and isn’t one to share with the proverbial group her thoughts and feelings as readily as the others. At times, you can feel like you’re on the outside looking into her life until you have properly earned, in her mind, the privilege of being let in.

This year, I tried to rectify that gap by taking guitar lessons together with her. The time between class has been spent with her opening up and showcasing the sheer depth of her musical interests.

Enter, Beach Bunny. When she began playing songs from various albums she liked, I assumed it was a fleeting TikTok fad. But she really became a fan of the modern surf pop-punk sound and, quite frankly, so did I. We talked about the band and shared things we learned like how frontwoman Lili Trifilio started the project in her Illinois bedroom and how it grew organically to a seven-year run with multiple albums.

Serendipitously, we also discovered that Beach Bunny was still touring and coming to Philadelphia at Union Transfer. I had a passion to want to share this great music with a larger audience, as it now lived in a special place in my heart. I also wanted to see if, but for a night, my daughter could deal with all the people and the loudness for the chance at being enveloped in the experience of seeing her new favorite band live.

Once we were through vaccination record checks, people flocked to get as close to the stage as possible; a diverse crowd of kids and adults, many cosplaying as Trifilio, herself. Finding a spot to settle in amongst the chaos with an anxious kid seemed like an exercise in futility. But, with my arms filled with her little purse, souvenirs and a Shirley Temple drink from the bar, we found our mark and planted our flag for the night.

photo credit: Eric Sperrazza

The first band to perform was the artist, Miloe. Let me start with this – if anyone says rock music is dead and that it’s all just auto-tune and computers, these days, it is because they have not seen Bobby Kabeya thrash on his guitar and hear his soulful voice fronting this group! There is a modern new wave vibe that echoes through their music and deep emotion pouring out of the vocals like some battle-tested rhythm & blues artist all at once. I was flabbergasted and thoroughly entertained.

Out to plug their newest EP, Greenhouse, the band performed songs, including “Winona” and “Yellow,” with the crowd electrified and hanging onto every word.

In fact, with Kabeya playing his guitar more like a vintage punk rocker and singing with such raw talent, the innocence shocked me when he told the won-over crowd that he was more accustomed to playing basements at house parties than venues such as Union Transfer. As Miloe exited the stage, I knew this was a group I needed to hear more of, and have.

photo credit: Eric Sperrazza

After a short break, Beach Bunny made their way to the stage and we made our way to the front. The band kicked off with their hit, “Prom Queen.” The track absolutely set the pace for the night, and immediately, you saw fans clambering to the front, reaching out to feel closer to Trifilio.

I can’t describe the energy in that room any better than a stadium concert jammed into a boutique venue on a Thursday night. The atmosphere was thick and joyful, fueling the band to add to it and make it more substantial by the note.

Trifilio and Beach Bunny performed “Good Girls (Don’t Get Used)” from their Blame Game record, in addition to the track, “Dream Boy,” from their debut, Honeymoon. They ended the set with their hit singles, “Sports,” and “Cloud 9,” and returned with an encore cover of Katy Perry’s “Hot N Cold.”

photo credit: Eric Sperrazza

Trifilio was a real, organic performer radiating honesty to a crowd that wasn’t trying to be like her but rather she was, in fact, one of them. It may not have been a show that I would have found on my own, but it wound up being one of the best concert experiences I’ve had.

What about my daughter? Well, the longer you’re a Dad the easier it gets to recognize those little impactful moments as they play out. You can relish in them a bit more and look around to really take it all in. That said, in my phone is a video of my 12-year-old wearing the biggest grin I have ever seen on her little Cherubin face while dancing, jumping, and belting out every word of “Cloud 9,” flushed and fatigued with zero intention of stopping.

That was her concert moment; the moment when you are no longer awkward about who you are and feeling alone in a crowd because now you are an army! A mass of individuals sharing in an existential experience of feeling newfound strength in numbers. It’s that concert moment when you first realize you found your people. I was able to bear witness to that.

photo credit: Eric Sperrazza

Walking back to the car from Union Transfer we both realized that we are more similar than we ever knew. We both reconciled early with the idea that not everyone will like our music, our anime movies, our comic books, or even the New York Yankees. But it was worth it to stay strong and be true to who you are because our people were out there waiting for us.

It’s amazing how great music and the right crowd can make one night change your perception of things. We need more Miloe and Beach Bunny shows in our world.

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Philly post-punk band, Full Bush, announce new EP ‘Movie Night’

Lauren Rosier — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 17:00:31 +0000

Movie Night EP to be released Dec. 3 on Brutal Panda

Written by Lauren Rosier

The Philadelphia post-punk quartet, Full Bush, is releasing a new EP Movie Night, due out on December 3rd via Brutal Panda Records.

Of the track, the band said: “‘Movie Night’ is about what it feels like when people project their insecurities onto you instead of addressing their own shit.”

The EP was mixed, mastered, and produced by David Downham (Beach Slang, Low Do) at Gradwell House Recording in Haddon Heights, NJ.

From Full Bush:

“The EP is about change. Whether within ourselves or outside, the past few years have seen a major shift for us individually and as a band. We acknowledge the pain that was caused by our trauma responses, gaslighting assholes, or turbulent relationships. Sitting in and confronting the discomfort of necessary internal shifts and letting go of what doesn’t lift us up, support us, love us in all the beautiful, fucking flawed ways we are as humans. Movie Night is the endcap of self dialogue when you realize you have control and you aren’t dealing with bullshit anymore, you’re stomping on it.”

The four-piece have also collaborated with three artists [Marian Bailey, Theresa Baxter, Eva Martinez-Bond] on a special series of limited edition merch designs, which are currently available on their Bandcamp page. 100% of the proceeds will go towards Morris Home, Loveland Foundation, and The Innocence Project.

Full Bush commented more on this collaboration:

“During the height of the pandemic last year, we decided that whatever we do next, we wanted to do something to help our community in a tangible way. We’ve always been tied to organizing/mutual aid as individuals but last year pushed us to want do something bigger, as a band. So we had three amazing artists design shirts that 100% of the sales will be split among three organizations doing amazing work. Quarantine times might be over but we can only get through together by educating ourselves about each other, empathy, continuously challenging our patriarchal systems, and mobilization through mutual aid.”

Movie Night Tracklisting

01. Spooky
02. Sweet & Low
03. Movie Night
04. Wild Heart
05. One Second

Pre-order the EP here.

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