Standing (Digi)Tall

Philadelphia Weekly
December 19, 2007

Opening Riff

By Joshua Valocchi

Standing (Digi)Tall

Since its inception in 1999, Ropeadope has been somewhat of a maverick among record labels. From the demonstrated propensity to sign unknown acts based on little more than the strength of a single live club set to mixing genres through unlikely artistic collaborations, they’ve never quite subscribed to the conventions set forth by industry wonks.

It’s no surprise, then, that Ropeadope’s venture into the depths of digital downloading brings some revolutionary concepts to the bargaining table. Launched in February with a core group of seven artists, Ropeadope Digital (www.ropeadope.com/digital) marks the first step in the label’s ultimate plan to become a completely digital operation. While the practice of offering exclusive mp3s is certainly nothing new, especially considering it’s the artist-friendly business model that sets Ropeadope apart from the pack.

Artists on Ropeadope Digital essentially retain all rights and ownership of their masters, signing over to the label only a short-term license for exclusive digital distribution. The length of that license is currently one year, during which time the label and the artist share an even split of all profits.

The project is proving to be an early success, offering established acts an easy way to get side projects off the ground in a quick fashion as well as presenting an ideal forum for distributing B-sides and select live cuts. Conversely, new acts benefit from the simple fact that the label is more likely to sign an unestablished band knowing that the lack of production expenses and advances leads to a pure profit situation for them.

Currently boasting an impressive stable of 20 artists, Ropeadope Digital is preparing to march into its first full calendar year of existence.

While it’s unlikely Ropeadope will completely forgo producing physical CDs and vinyl anytime soon—especially considering their more established clientele like DJ Logic and Dirty Dozen Brass Band—they continue to forge ahead, blazing a trail toward digital Valhalla. True to its name, Ropeadope always rolls with the punches.

Valley of the Dollies

Philadelphia Weekly
December 19, 2007

A-List

Valley of the Dollies
Wed., Dec. 19, 11pm. $1.99. Bob & Barbara’s, 1509 South St. 215.545.4511. www.dumpstaplayers.org

Continuing their storied tradition of rude and raucous rabble-rousing, the Dumpsta Players are back, getting all up in your grill with cautionary tales of Christmas toys gone bad. In Valley of the Dollies, the Players take on celebrity endorsements, cleverly weaving a seasonal theme into a naughty narrative that starts debauched and goes rapidly downhill thereafter. And yes, of course there are allusions to GHB-tainted toys from China and the drug-induced holiday-themed hallucinations they cause. The show also features visits from toys of Christmas past—including Strawberry Shitcake and the Lance Bass action figure. As in all Dumpsta productions, drag queens will run wild, chaos will ensue and inhibitions and social niceties will be left in the slush covered in reindeer hooves. (Joshua Valocchi)

Becker's Birthday Bash

Philadelphia Weekly
December 19, 2007

Live Music

Becker’s Birthday Bash
Thurs., Dec. 20, 9pm. $8. With Future Tips, Taggart, Late Night Television + Art DiFuria. North Star, 23rd and Poplar sts. 215.787.0488. www.northstarrocks.com

In the hierarchy of financially rewarding occupations, playing guitar in a local rock outfit ranks woefully low. But while rent checks bounce like frog eyeballs on a tile floor, local rockers still enjoy certain professional perks, like the unassailable certainty of a birthday celebration befitting a rock star, replete with requisite heapings of hooch and hedonism. Armed with such confidence, James Becker, who splits his time pulling six-string duty between Grammar Debate! and Taggart, should be in pretty high spirits (quite literally, in fact) this week. Pop in, have some cake and buy the man a beer. Presumably, the rent fund hat will be passed around between sets. (Joshua Valocchi)

Instrument Drive

December 19, 2007
The Spirit

The Fire and Intercultural Family Services Music and Mentorship Program’s Fifth Instrument Drive. Thurs., Dec. 20, 7pm. Free admission with instrument donation; $7 without. With Super Humble Country Band, Spinning Leaves, Great Unknown, Campbell Apartment. The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave. 267.671.9298. www.iourecords.com/thefire/

Joshua Valocchi

“Without music, life would be a mistake.” While scholars’ opinions of Freidrich Nietzsche’s tenets are as wide-ranging as their interpretations of them, it’s pretty tough to misconstrue or argue against this one.

Isn’t it a bit strange, then, that a whopping 88 public schools in Philadelphia offer no music education at all, while many others have severely curtailed their curricula?

In a collaborative cross-city effort to bring music back to the children, West Philadelphia’s Intercultural Family Services Music and Mentorship program teams up with the folks at the Fire to present an instrument drive and concert.

Thursday’s event – which features a cocktail reception along with a performance by several of the very students who benefit from the program – is the fifth of its kind and has thus far met with great success thanks to strong community support.

Attendees are offered free admission to the show in exchange for a donation of a new or used musical instrument. Although it’s hard to believe that the majority of local households don’t have a long-forgotten guitar or dusty alto saxophone lurking somewhere in an attic loft or basement alcove, a seven dollar cover also guarantees a pass at the door, in lieu of a musicmaker. All proceeds from the door go directly to the Music and Mentorship programs – along with the instruments, of course.

On top of contributing to a worthy cause, audience members can also extract more than a modicum of pleasure from the knowledge that they’ll be serenaded by some of the city’s best up-and-coming music groups such as Spinning Leaves, Citizens Band Radio and the Great Unknown.

The biggest musical draw of the night, however, is the Super Humble Country Band (SHCB). Consisting of anywhere from eight to 18 musicians on any given night, the SHCB is comprised of members of several well-known Philly acts including Hezekiah Jones, Hoots & Hellmouth, papertrees and Andrew Lipke.

Playing almost strictly classic country covers, SHBC projects a love for all things Philadelphia as well as a deep respect for musical heritage. The instrument benefit marks the second-to-last Thursday night SHBC performance in the band’s December residency at the Fire. Don’t miss this one. Do it for the kids. Failing that, get selfish for once during the holiday season and just do it for yourself.

Although Neitzsche may have expertly encapsulated the horror of a musicless life, Harlan Howard conversely nailed down the beauty of one of its genres when he quipped, “country music is three chords and the truth.”

It’s time to testify.

Photos: Michelle Holshue

Weekend Dig! 12/14 - 12/16

DigPhilly
December 13, 2007

Weekend Dig! Dec. 14-16

By Joshua Valocchi

Posted: Dec 13, 2007 1:37 PM

Just because the weather outside is frightful, there’s no need to deny yourself something delightful this weekend.

As is usually the case – thanks to someone’s idea of a cruel joke – the weekend that promises to be absolutely miserable from a meteorological perspective is the same one that’s jam-packed with great concerts and groovealicious dance parties. Armed with the realization that even a light dusting of white stuff can create major distractions, here’s a brief rundown of can’t miss weekend picks. Remember – eyes on the prize, people.

Friday

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

Dec. 14, 9 p.m. $15. With Budos Band.

Fillmore at the TLA, 334 South St. 215.922.1011.

Even though Friday stands tall as one of the biggest party nights of the year (Boys Noize at Making Time, Diplo and Blaqstarr at Fluid), this is STILL the easiest pick of the weekend. With all due respect to German electro-tech and the Dirty, Dirty South, nothing quite compares to what Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings bring to the table.

Perhaps the ultimate purveyors of old-school funk and soul, the Dap-Kings act as the house band for New York's Daptone Records. Boasting an eight-piece lineup of unparalleled masters of vintage soul instrumentalists, they may very well be the hardest-working band in music today. In addition to their tenure as studio players and touring members of several acts in Daptone's stable, the Dap-Kings also lent their talents to DJ Mark Ronson's superb 2007 release, "Version" (Columbia), as well as logging studio and stage time with everybody's favorite queen of rehab, Amy Winehouse.

The Dap-Kings are all about preserving the sanctity of '60s soul. From sharp suits to choreographed moves performed in lock-step fashion amidst blaring brass and rumbling basslines, the Dap-Kings are consummate professionals on stage. Friday's show is billed as a "Super Soul Revue" and it's difficult to believe that Jones and the Dap-Kings will deliver anything less. Expect old-school style introductions of band members complete with grand entrances and solo fills.

And don’t go lunching on the openers, either. The 11-piece explosion of funky Afro-beat goodness that is the Budos Band is truly something to hear and behold. To paraphrase the words of another gang who knew a little something about funk themselves, ain't no party like a Daptone party 'cause a Daptone party don't stop.

Saturday

For the Kids

Dec. 15, 10 p.m. $5 w/ unwrapped toy / $10 without.

Khyber. 56 S. Second St. 215.238.5888.

Local peddlers of the underground steez, 215HipHop.com, catch the holiday spirit and use their strange and wonderful powers of production and persuasion to bring the peeps together for a good cause. For the Kids, a toy and cash fundraiser, mixes the hot beats and sharp lyrical skills of several of Philly’s top hip-hoppers with that warm and fuzzy feeling that comes with making the holiday season a little brighter for some less-fortunate kids out there.

All it takes is an unwrapped toy and a paper Lincoln to gain admittance to get down with one of the best lineups of local talent in recent memory. Outerspace have been flippin’ lids in the Illadelph for a decade now and Reef the Lost Cauze is about the best MC this city has to offer. How he isn’t a nationally recognized rapper by now remains a huge mystery. Toss in four DJs working as many decks and you’ve got one hell of a party on your hands.

If you can’t get out to your local Toys ‘R Us before the gig, don’t sweat it. Just cough up a ten spot at the door and the Khyber is your oyster. It’s all good either way, as all proceeds from the show go toward purchasing more toys for the cause. You know, for the kids.

Sunday

In Woody’s Words

Dec. 16, 11 a.m. $150-$200. With Jonatha Brook, Tom Paxton, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, John Gorka, Chris Smither, Sara Lee Guthrie and Jonny Irion. World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St. 215.222.1400.

All tickets must be purchased through Philadelphia Folksong Society - call 215-247-1300.

After Friday’s soul shakedown party and Saturday’s big-hearted blowout, it might be time to turn things down a notch. As always, World Café Live steps up to the plate and delivers a made-to-order gig.

In Woody’s Words features the debut performances of “new” Woody Guthrie songs by several prominent folk musicians. The selections are comprised of lyrics from the Guthrie archives that Woody had yet to set to music before he died. Sunday’s performers, including John Gorka, Jonatha Brooke, Tom Paxton and Woody’s granddaughter, Sarah Lee Guthrie, married the found lyrics with original music, a la Wilco and Billy Bragg’s excellent Mermaid Avenue series. Woody’s daughter, Nora Guthrie , will be on hand as well to present a special movie about Woody and his contributions to America’s strong folk tradition. The event is tagged as a benefit celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Philadelphia Folksong Society, thus offering yet another chance to boost your karma through musical pursuits.

All in all, the cold doesn’t stand much of a chance. Between the Dap-Kings hot licks and the glow generated by so many charitable efforts, this weekend may turn out to be pretty damn warm and bright after all.

Lake Trout - Daily Dig! 12/13/07

DigPhilly
December 13, 2007

Thursday Dig: Lake Trout

By Joshua Valocchi

Posted: Dec 13, 2007 3:38 PM

Tonight North Star Bar hosts Lake Trout, the band that toured with the Flaming Lips this past September, for only $16 a pop. Go.

Lake Trout

Dec. 13, 9 p.m. $16. With Underwater + What Monsters.

North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St. 215.684.0808.

For years, Baltimore’s Lake Trout toiled in the jamband circuit, playing shows and festival gigs in front of people who either failed to appreciate or didn’t understand their music. It was nobody’s fault, really. Lake Trout never set out to infiltrate the circuit. It just so happened that several solos featured on their 1997 debut were just bubbly enough to hook the attention of some Deadheads and Phish phans and, voila – suddenly Lake Trout was pigeonholed by circumstance.

As they made their bones on the rather lucrative jam circuit, Lake Trout continued to develop their sound, integrating hip-hop-inspired breakbeats to their heavily rock-leaning sound, eventually going full-on live drum ‘n’ bass, thus essentially driving the final nails into their own coffin – at least as far as that circuit was concerned.

As the law of averages would logically dictate, the band still managed to pry at least a small cadre of fans from the scene. Still, it was quite a shock to the system to see Lake Trout playing the bar circuit after years of rocking huge festival stages. Money matters aside, however, the switch certainly suited the quintet well.

In 2005, the band worked with legendary producer Dave Fridmann (Super Furry Animals, Mercury Rev), as they fleshed out the excellent “Not Them, You.” The influence of Fridmann – often referred to as the fifth Flaming Lip – is clearly evident, from the soaring near-orchestral soundscapes scattered throughout the album to their diligently utilitarian version of the Rolling Stones’ “Street Fightin’ Man.”

Not surprisingly, word of Fridmann’s association with the band eventually spread to Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne. Coyne’s ever-increasing deferential attitude toward Fridmann’s choice of clientele led him (Coyne) to check out Lake Trout on his own. Liking what he heard, Coyne invited Lake Trout to tour with the Lips this past September.

Just like that, Lake Trout was playing the big stage again, but this time for a crowd that not only appreciated their music, but truly “got it.” The roller coaster ride continues at the North Star tonight. Even a band that comes highly recommended by the psych rock demi-god Coyne still faces an uphill battle to lure Philadelphians out to the Art Museum area on such a dreary night.

All things considered, this makes for the perfect opportunity to check out Lake Trout live. They haven't abandoned their old drum ‘n’ bass ways, choosing instead to weave new-found aspects around their old influences. Consequently, their once-trademark gut-rumbling basslines will be in full effect tonight with little to get in the way of sonic absorption. Beyond that, the band is still in the throes of creative evolution, ensuring that their live set consists of a delicious mish-mosh of influences and texture. A hint of “Bends”-era Radiohead may be followed with something more evocative of DJ Shadow’s “Endtroducing” before wrapping up with a breakbeat peppered trippy synth underneath a flute loop that sounds like, well, Lake Trout.

Tiger Lillies

Philadelphia Weekly
December 12, 2007

Editor's Picks

Music

Tiger Lillies
Wed., Dec. 12, 7pm. $25. With Our Hollow Earth by Geoff Sobelle and 
Bradford Trojan. Fillmore at the TLA, 334 South St. 215.922.1011. 
www.livenation.com

Trafficking in Brechtian cabaret sprinkled with dark humor and shocking lyrics, Tiger Lillies continue to shatter convention as they tour the world, garnering equal amounts of disdain and acclaim.

With songs like “Shoot Your Load,” “Rapist,” “Abort the Child” and “Jesus on the Windshield,” it’s almost inconceivable that the lily-livered dotards who make up the Grammy-nominating committee would go anywhere near a Lillies release.

Nonetheless, 2003’s The Gorey End found itself on the short-list of contenders for the Best Classical Crossover award. The presence of the highly touted Kronos Quartet doubtlessly increased the album’s viability, but even a Josh Groban appearance couldn’t bring the Tiger Lillies into the mainstream.

The cabaret play Our Hollow Earth kicks off an evening that might best be described as a cross between a 1920s Berlin and a traditional British pantomime, with extra “eccentricity, blasphemy and weirdness.” (Joshua Valocchi)

Human Light Winter Solstice Party

Philadelphia Weekly
December 12, 2007

A-List

spare crib
Human Light Winter Solstice Party
Sun., Dec. 16, 1pm. $25-$30. With Mel Lipman, String Theory + Martha Knox. Williamson Restaurant, 500 Blair Mill Rd., Horsham. 215.794.8548. www.hagp.org

One of the major downsides of atheism is the lack of seasonal invitations. Many Americans simply don’t want to party with folks who question the legitimacy of worshipping a Bronze Age desert god, or of hailing a zombie miracle worker as humanity’s savior.

Fear not, ye godless, the Humanist Association totally has your back. In what sounds like the real-life version of Seinfeld’s Festivus-for-the-rest-of-us, Sunday’s sensibilist shindig features a keynote address by American Humanist Association president Mel Lipman as well as the classical musical stylings of String Theory.

In an obvious attempt to discourage attendance by deranged worshippers of genocidal sky-gods, magician Arlen Zachary will turn some tricks as well. As anyone who followed the Christian backlash against Harry Potter knows, nothing strikes terror in the hearts of a zombie-humper more than a real miracle worker. Shazam! (Joshua Valocchi)

Sharon Jones + the Dap Kings

December 12, 2007

The Spirit

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

Fri., Dec. 14, 9pm. $15. With Budos Band. Fillmore at the TLA, 334 South St. 215.922.1011. www.livenation.com

Joshua Valocchi

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

Fri., Dec. 14, 9pm. $15. With Budos Band. Fillmore at the TLA, 334 South St. 215.922.1011. www.livenation.com

Joshua Valocchi

Making an all-too-rare Philadelphia appearance, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings bring their classic soul revue to the TLA this weekend as the headlining act of a rousing funktasic double bill with the inimitable Budos Band.

Originally formed as the Soul Providers in the mid-1990s, today’s Dap-Kings act as the house band for New York’s Daptone Records. Boasting an eight-piece lineup of unparalleled masters of vintage soul instrumentalists, the Dap-Kings may very well be the hardest-working band in music today. In addition to their tenure as studio players and touring members of several acts in Daptone’s stable, the Dap-Kings also lent their talents to DJ Mark Ronson’s superb 2007 release, “Version” (Columbia), as well as logging time with everybody’s favorite queen of rehab, Amy Winehouse. Not only did the band appear on several tracks on Winehouse’s critically acclaimed and Grammy nominated 2006 blockbuster, “Back to Black” (Island), they also accompanied Winehouse on her first U.S. tour.

Although their association with Winehouse undoubtedly did wonders to raise the Dap-Kings’ profile among mainstream music fans, their work with Jones – both in the studio and on the road – allows the band myriad opportunities to flex their musical muscles in the heart of their comfort zone. Jones, a vocal vixen with incredible range, belts out soul and funk numbers with Aretha-esque conviction. A perfect example of the “real deal” in a field jam-packed with pretenders, Jones stands out as a valid contender for Franklin’s “Queen of Soul” title.

Increasing the authenticity of the Dap-Kings’ profile as detail-obsessed purists, every title issued under the Daptone banner is recorded on traditional analog equipment. This antiquated practice is performed in strict adherence to the label’s devotion to producing a sound that evokes comparisons to soul’s golden age of the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The results are nothing short of astounding. While many tech-obsessed engineers and producers regard the employment of a 16-track analog tape machine as an ill-advised step backwards in recording protocol, the manner in which the finished products perfectly captures the essence of a bygone era stands as testament to the method’s effectiveness.

Apparently not content to merely rely upon recording techniques to promote a more genuine product, the Dap-Kings keep it real with their choice of instruments as well. With few exceptions, all instruments featured on Daptone recordings as well as those played on Daptone related stage shows are meticulously preserved relics of the past, with most pieces dating back to the mid –1960s and earlier.

The crowning detail of the Dap-Kings dedication to preserving the sanctity of ‘60s soul lies in their overly impressive showmanship. From sharp matching suits to the choreographed moves performed in lock-step fashion amidst blaring brass and rumbling basslines, the Dap-Kings are consummate professionals on stage. Friday’s show is billed as a “Super Soul Revue” and it’s difficult to believe that Jones and the Dap-Kings will deliver anything less. Expect old-school style introductions of band members complete with grand entrances and solo fills.

Funk, R&B and soul are clearly more than genre tags to these guys – they’re a way of life, bringing with them the requisite customs, practices and mores espoused by all those who paved the way for the Dap-Kings. The reverence shared among bandmembers for all that is sacred in soul music is palpable when they’re tearing it up on stage.

The addition of the 11-piece Afrobeat orchestra Budos Band to this bill pushes Friday’s gig perilously close to epic territory. Put on your dancin’ shoes and get ready to be funked out to death. To paraphrase the words of another gang who knew a little something about funk themselves, ain’t no party like a Daptone party ‘cause a Daptone party don’t stop.

Photos: Dulce Pinzon

Doug Wallen - Daily Dig! 12/11/07

DigPhilly
December 11, 2007

Tuesday Dig: Cold, Cold Heart

Created By: Joshua Valocchi

Posted: Dec 11, 2007 3:15 PM

Basically, this little shindig is wrapped in an excuse-proof skin. Most of you probably live in Fishtown anyway. If not, there’s a good chance you’re couch-surfing there. It’s a Tuesday, thus highly unlikely that you have anything better to do.

DJ Doug Wallen
Tuesday Dec. 11, 9 p.m. Free.

Atlantis: The Lost Bar, 2442 Frankford Ave. (corner of Frankford and Hagert)

Disclaimer: While Atlantis: The Lost bar may technically own a Kensington address, it’s all Fishtown these days, isn’t it?

Even though a fellow Philly blogger recently postulated that Fishtown’s population is now evenly split between hipsters and obese children, it still stands to reason that while the body count of individuals on either side of the divide may be in a dead heat, the fat kids still hold the edge in mass. Think about it – how much meat could possibly be stuffed into those skinny black jeans that have been all the rage amongst the scenesters since, oh, I don’t know, the late ‘90s? And don’t even get me started on the toothpicks with tits that crowd the dives, the Barbary and any other place that features a never-ending supply of Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Nonetheless, in a thinly-veiled effort to tip the scales, local freelance music scribe, sometimes-DJ and all-around Captain Awesome in civvies, Doug Wallen, plays pied piper tonight, luring music snobs and irony whores alike to Atlantis: The Lost Bar. Armed with a slew of psych, country and old pop on vinyl, Wallen bares his cold, cold heart to the masses as the liquor flows and the fancy feet fly all over Fishtown’s little bar that could.

Considering Wallen’s indisputable status as the consummate country gentlemen, you can rest assured that his definition of country music has absolutely nothing in common with the garbage spewed all over the commercial airwaves. It’s safe to assume that when Wallen threatens to spin country tracks, each and every one passes muster on the Hank authenticity scale. In other words, don’t expect anything from Mr. Williams, Jr. nor the paltry excuse for rockabilly that Williams III is passing off as genuine biker and Bettie Page fare.

As far as the psych goes, Wallen is one of the city’s foremost authorities on the genre, so no worries there, either. Old pop is invariably awesome so that one’s pretty much a non-issue.

Wallen has exquisite taste when it comes to music and even recent pillagings of his vinyl stacks to generate funds to keep his Aussie wife draped in furs and awash in bling did little to diminish his impressive collection. Oh, and there’s an aquarium behind the bar. If that doesn’t clinch it, I guess nothing ever will.

So grab your spurs and Stetson and head out to Atlantis tonight to share in some country love. Hell, if you really want to stay true to the theme, grab your brother, sister or cousin as well. Regardless, Fishtown is calling. Please heed her cry and don’t make her wait much longer. She’s an impatient muse and the fat kids are really getting on her last nerve.

Weekly Dig! Dec. 11-13th

DigPhilly
December 11, 2007

Weekly Dig! Dec. 11-13

Created By: Joshua Valocchi

Posted: Dec 11, 2007 12:42 PM

As the holidays approach and Old Man Winter finally gathers enough gumption to raise an admittedly shaky middle finger to global warming, Philly’s nightlife scene heats up to near-NYC levels, if just for a short spell.

Considering the dampening effect that carpenter’s birthday has on the city’s social life every year, now is the time to get out, get buzzed and get down before the crippling crush of commercialism shames all of us back into our little burrows to store up enough energy and saintly patience to deal with the amateur extravaganza that defines New Year’s Eve.

In fact, why not vow to take matters into your own hands, grab the city by the short ones this week and celebrate the passing of another miserable year a few weeks early? Not only would such a measure confuse the hell out of your friends and family (always fun), but it could be the first shot fired in the war on social mediocrity. Instead of settling on playing dodge the cigar with the frat boys in Old City to ring in 2008, rewrite the rules with no concern for convention.

People, we need to take the power back:

Tuesday

Skeme Richards: Marvelous Shit

9 p.m. Free.

Walnut Room, 1709 Walnut St. 215.751.0201

What better way to commemorate the age-old practice of knowingly spreading bald-faced lies to, of and about yourself in the form of “resolutions” than dancing into such a frenzy that you forget – at least for a moment – that you truly are your own worst enemy? Local product and esteemed member of the world famous Rock Steady Crew, Skeme Richards is one more in a growing list of Philly DJs garnering serious international cred.

Marvelous Shit, Richards’ weekly throwdown at the Walnut Room, offers b-boys and b-girls alike the perfect opportunity to share a hometown hang with a world-class crate-digger and plate-spinner. Featuring rare grooves, vintage soul cuts and hot hip-hop breaks, Richards’ sets are enough to ply even the staunchest of wallflowers out of the background and on to the dance floor. In fact, if every night in ’08 comes fully equipped with a Skeme Richards soundtrack, perhaps we’ll all be able to ignore the fact that we’re ass-deep in an unwinnable war and just dance, dance, dance. Maybe that’s how W gets by … minus the dancing, hopefully. That’s just an entirely unpleasant mental image.

Wednesday

Tiger Lillies

7 p.m. $25. With “Our Hollow Earth” by Geoff Sobele and Bradford Trojan.

Fillmore at the TLA, 334 South St. 215.922.1011.

Because nothing says happy new year like gypsy cabaret, the Tiger Lillies stand at the ready to serenade you into 2008 with class. Crooning ditties with such adorably season-appropriate titles as Shoot Your Load, Rapist, Abort the Child, and Jesus on the Windshield, the Brechtian-inspired trio combine inventive theatrics and inspired musicianship to create a stunning spectacle of a show. In fact, even the troupe’s unapologetic bawdiness wasn’t enough of an obstacle to prevent the traditionally namby-pamby members of the Grammy nominating committee from officially recognizing their efforts with a nod in 2003, placing the Lillies on the short list for the “Best Classical Crossover” award.

Besides, aren’t we all just a little sick of that “Auld Lang Syne” bullshit? Clearly “In My Hearse” or “The Story of the Man That Went Out Shooting” would make fine replacements for that decrepit chestnut.

Thursday

Drake

8 p.m. $10. With Electric City, Zigmat, Downtown Harvest + Monica McIntyre.

Tritone, 1508 South St. 215.545.0475

Expertly bridging the gap between jazz and experimental breakbeats, Drake’s self-described “sophisticated modern music” is a welcome reprieve from the staid and rigid constraints of traditional jazz. Integrating a classically-trained cellist into drum ‘n’ bass-tinged jazz stylings, Drake manage to strike a balance among several genres without collapsing into unstructured chaos.

The local quintet formed three years ago through Temple’s Jazz Studies program. Since then, they’ve crisscrossed the city, establishing themselves as one of the more daring groups on the Philly scene. Not afraid to blur the lines between hip hop and jazz, Drake have no problems keepin’ the heads noddin’ and the fingers snappin’ – even long after that gaudy ball touches down in Times Square. Perhaps the 13th is the new 31st after all.

Grammar Debate - Daily Dig! 12/6/07

DigPhilly
December 6, 2007

Thursday Dig: Grammar Debate!

Created By: Joshua Valocchi

Posted: Dec 06, 2007 2:25 PM

Updated: Dec 06, 2007 2:51 PM

Local power pop purveyors Grammar Debate! (GD!) cart their jangly indie rock sensibilities out to Fairmount Thursday night as part of a four-band blowout at the North Star Bar.

Grammar Debate!

Thurs., Dec. 6, 7 p.m. $10. All ages. With Kaufmann, John Ralston + Modern Skirts.

North Star Bar, 27th and Poplar streets. 215.787.0488.

Locals in the truest sense – all six GD! members call Philly home, with three hanging their hats in Fishtown – the band find themselves enjoying the afterglow resonating from the success of their first full-length, Cheetah vs. Helicopter (Surreal), released this past spring. Joining Fishtown’s favorite sons (and daughters) on tonight’s bill are the Athens, Ga. based Modern Skirts; Vagrant Records’ newest find, John Ralston; and the dreamily aggressive Kaufman.

Although GD! find themselves filling the early slot, their combination of Crackeresque lo-fi twang and blatant odes to the perfect pop that peppered early Psychedelic Furs offerings promises to get the party started right.

In fact, it’s not much of a stretch to presume that regardless of what comes after GD!’s opening set, the crowd leaving the North Star in the wee hours of Friday morning will exit the bar humming tunes from Cheetah vs. Helicopter, even going so far as to subconsciously employ said tunes as synthetic lullabies as they drift off into the ether.

Just two years into their tenure as Philly popsters, GD! seem to have already mastered the art of implanting a tune in listeners’ heads with near-surgical precision and flicking the soft-repeat setting before stealing away, leaving nary a trace of their initial presence. They manage their signature brand of sonic sorcery through the employment of several age-old but delicate techniques. Most impressive is the manner in which band members strike the perfect balance between male and female vocals in intricate harmony.

The beauty of GD!’s vocal patterns, however, lies not in their complexity, but rather in their deceptive simplicity. To hear keyboardist/violinist Carolynne McNeel’s angelic voice entwine itself with frontman Joe Lekkas’ lyrics, one would be hard-pressed to imagine the vocal tracking requiring more than one or two takes. Much like Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys, though, GD! clearly spend more than a little time and effort on crafting heavenly harmonics.

Interestingly enough, the kids in GD! aren’t satisfied with achieving virtual pop perfection and leaving matters well enough alone. Even as they prepare for this evening’s performance, the band members are hard at work on their second release, Broken Heart Deluxe, tentatively slated for a spring ’08 release. According to Lekkas, the follow up to Cheetah vs. Helicopter isn’t apt to foster any tendencies of pigeonholing GD! into a niche market.

“It will be a departure from our Guided by Voices-meets-Death Cab for Cutie guitar based indie pop,” says Lekkas of the new album. “It will be much more mellow, orchestral and chamber poppy … lots of keys, cello, horns and acoustic guitars with our trademark vocal harmonies.”

In the final analysis, Lekkas describes the overall tone of the new GD! songs as “much more downbeat and introspective.”

Armed with that little nugget of info, head out to the Art Museum Area and show a little love tonight. Given the absurdly catchy nature of the Cheetah vs. Helicopter material, you’re unlikely to quickly forget about these guys. The fact that a few new songs are already in the can nearly guarantees a sneak peek (or listen, presumably) of the new album. If that’s still not enough to warrant braving the cold night air, rest assured – their take on the Velvet Underground classic, “Stephanie Says” is simply divine.

Aunt Dracula - Daily Dig! 12/5/07

DigPhilly
December 5, 2007

Wednesday Dig: Werewolves, waffles and weirdos

Created By: Joshua Valocchi

Posted: Dec 05, 2007 2:25 PM

Updated: Dec 05, 2007 2:36 PM

Holy psychedelic freakout, Batman! As if Aunt Dracula’s twisted take on post-punk wasn’t strangely endearing enough, they’ve recently added a waffle-making werewolf to their increasingly bizarre live shows.

Aunt Dracula

Wed., Dec. 5, 9pm. $5. With Enumclaw (members of Golden Ball) + Relay DJs. Silk City, 500 Spring Garden St. 215.592.8838.

This latest stab at kitschy performance art is but another chapter in the wonderfully weird story of this trippy trio. After exploding on to the Philly scene with atomic force earlier this year, Aunt Dracula proceeded to garner accolades from nearly every sector of the local music media. The alt-weeklies were nearly tripping over themselves to crown Aunt Dracula as the new kings of the Khyber set, while the bloggers pointed out – in their typical snarky arrogance – that they had already performed said coronation weeks ago. Such proclamations, while nice and usually well-intentioned at the time, often plant the seeds of decay within an upstart act. It’s just too damn difficult to live up to such high praise.

Nonetheless, Aunt Dracula marched on and, in a fit of near-unprecedented competence, actually exceeded the expectations of the indie intelligentsia. Their heady mix of stuttered-yet-textured guitar work, à la My Bloody Valentine, and the general weirdness of Animal Collective is usually enough to win over audiences in scant seconds.

Apparently not content to rely on mere musicianship to impress their burgeoning fanbase, Aunt Dracula chose to push the proverbial envelope, adding computer-generated visuals and – yes – a lycanthrope wielding a pitcher of batter and a waffle iron, to their live shows. The strange thing about the entire spectacle, though, is how little it affects the music emanating from the stage. Instead of distracting the audience’s attention, the waffle-bearing werewolf somehow makes Aunt Dracula’s music that much more engaging. It’s almost as if the band is subliminally suggesting that their music is so good that even supernatural creatures of the night appear pedestrian against the backdrop of Aunt Dracula’s exotic escapades.

Then again, maybe they’re just keenly aware of the likelihood that half of the audience is just plain hungry after pulling those obligatory pre-show bong hits. Either way, it’s a total win-win situation. Werewolves, waffles and weirdos – what’s better than that?

Weekly Dig! 12/4/07

DigPhilly
December 4, 2007

Weekly Dig!

Created By: Joshua Valocchi

Posted: Dec 04, 2007

In our never-ending efforts to keep our readers ahead of the hip-couture curve, we here at DigPhilly are implementing a new feature today: Dig! Today’s inaugural edition brings you the Sex Mob, turntables and karaoke that doesn't suck.

Comprised of a roundup of concerts, activities and assorted events recommended to enhance your existence in our fair city, the Weekly Dig! will appear on this page every Monday.

The remainder of the weekdays will feature the Daily Dig! which is designed to offer more in-depth descriptions of suggested evening exploits.

Armed with the inherent understanding that the weekends are really where it’s at, we’ll school you with the Weekend Dig! every Friday, laying out the hip happenings and can’t-miss concerts that should rule your weekend.

Think of Dig! as the cooler companion to your Weekly Planner and you’re getting close.

Now that we’ve been formally introduced, let’s get on with the program, shall we?

Tuesday:

Sex Mob

9 p.m. $15. With Billy Martin, Calvin Weston + Andrew D’Angelo Trio. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 Frankford Ave. 215.739.9684. www.johnnybrendas.com

A wise man once told me, “Jazz will always be there – just waiting until you’re ready.” Well, friends, this gig is a perfect example of that sagely advice. Not your grandfather’s jazz by any means, the music that Sex Mob grinds out is aggressive, skronky and incredibly vital. Eschewing the “cool” emanated by early Miles Davis and the aloof arrogance that pervades too many jazzbo recordings to mention, Sex Mob gets down and dirty, never afraid to blur the lines between punk rock and jazz.

Bandleader Steven Bernstein wields his trombone as if it was a Stratocaster, leading the Mob through fiery movements that owe as much to John Lydon as they do to John Coltrane. Simply put, Sex Mob makes jazz fun again. Joining in on the fun, the opening duo of local drummer G. Calvin Weston and world renowned percussionist Billy Martin (Medeski, Martin & Wood), will start things off with a literal bang. These guys are both top-notch beatmeisters. To miss them would border on criminal.

Wednesday:

Marina Rosenfeld

5:30 p.m. $3-$6 (free with Penn ID). Institute of Contemporary Art, 118 S. 36th St. 215.898.7108

(Photograph courtesy of Stefano Giovannini)

It’s pretty easy to classify turntablists in the “non-musician” category. Seriously – who do these cats think they’re fooling? They’re basically making money by spinning the fruits of the artistic labors of those who came before. Is it blatant robbery or subtle stealing? Either way, these heathens must be stopped in their literal tracks, right? Perhaps.

What about Marina Rosenfeld? An avant garde jazz turntablist in the coolest sense, Rosenfeld quotes – through her vinyl, mind you – everyone from ‘Trane to Marclay to Sonic Youth. It’s an interesting query, really, as Rosenfeld imparts such a world of knowledge upon her listeners that her piracy automatically eradicates any qualms of indiscretion and immediately propagates theories of rebirth through the remix. While she continues to “get away with it,” Rosenfeld succeeds in extending her craft and exposing more and more of the general public to its beauty. As her swath widens, Rosenfeld's scope expands. This is a good thing. Just as DJ Shadow ensures that backpackers are schooled in the Stax catalog, Rosenfeld dictates that jazzbos and art snobs alike know what it’s like to hear the world through John Zorn’s ears.

Thursday:

Karaoke Obscura

9 p.m. Free. 12 Steps Down, 831 Christian St. 215.238.0379. www.myspace.com/karaokeobscura

(Photograph courtesy of www.myspace.com/karaokeobscura)

Finally, a karaoke night that doesn’t suck. Karaoke Obscura is specifically designed for the hipsters who always wanted to get drunk and embarrass themselves in front of friends and strangers alike but somehow deemed the usual fare of available karaoke tunes to be “undignified.” Fear not, my postmodern PBR-pounding poseurs, for the kids at 12 Steps Down are totally in your corner. Sporting an unbelievably comprehensive selection of Pitchfork-approved songs, Karaoke Obscura takes over the downstairs den of iniquity that is 12 Steps Down every first Thursday, offering suds-slurping scenesters the chance to challenge their clueless contemporaries’ entries in the “I can’t BELIEVE I did that last night” sweepstakes. Take a gander at the song list HERE and prepare to get your shoegaze on in front of a crowd filled with trucker caps, leggings and unapologetic irony.

That’s about it for now, gang. Be sure to check in every day for updates, additions and more detailed reports on what’s happening in this chill little city of ours.