The National Rifle and Instamatic @ Milkboy.
After a few weeks of touring the country in a van, The National Rifle returned to Philly for a rousing set at Milkboy on Saturday.
It was definitely a homecoming for the crew, as there were many friends in the crowd.
“Buddy, take off your shirt,” one person barked from the front row, referring to drummer Buddy Mazzenga.
As always, the guys from Cheers Elephant put on an energetic, entertaining performance on Friday at The Trocadero as part of the Mad Dragon Records 10 year anniversary party.
But things were a little more difficult at this show.
Clutch and The Sword @ The Electric Factory.
Long-time rockers Clutch blew away the Electric Factory on Friday, with singer Neil fallon striking menacing poses and Jean-Paul Gaster pounding rhythms all night.
Many people in the crowd screamed along with every word of the 16-song set, even “Earth Rocker,” the title track from the band’s March release. After a brief pause, the band returned for an encore of “A Shogun Named Marcus” and “Electric Worry.”
Maryland-based Clutch has been touring non-stop since the album dropped. The day after their Philly show, they played before a huge outdoor show in Columbus, Ohio.
The Sword played before Clutch and they showed an intensity that probably would have satisfied the audience if The Sword were the headliner.
Fellow Marylanders Lionize opened the show.
Text by Chesney Davis. Top image by Rick Kauffman. Bottom image by Jenna Spitz.
To be a great drummer, you have to work hard. You have to put up with sore arms and calloused hands from spending hours behind a set every week. You have to be in tune with the audience while performing and sometimes out of tune with any worrisome inner monologue that might trip you up. You have to be brave to put yourself out on display.
You have to turn yourself inside out.
What happens mentally and physically in those moments before and during performances for many drummers is extremely personal.
Static Mountain @ Ortlieb’s Tonight!
Text by Chesney Davis. Images by Liz Hayes.
Last weekend, rock band Static Mountain performed at House of Hayes and at The El Bar in Kensington. It was their second and third shows since their 2012 inception.
In the roughly nine months the foursome has been together, they have focused on creating songs and recording but now that Static Mountain, their first album, is available and with summer looming near, the guys say they are focused on performing as much as possible.
“We’re about to embark on the crazy show journey,” says drummer Greg Foran.
Text and images by Luong Huynh.
On a warm spring night, the blast of a distant trumpet could be heard from the second floor of MilkBoy.
With the signature sounds of a spaghetti western, The Lonely Wild (above) rambled into town and played their brand of music that masterfully balances between melancholy and spirited.
On Sunday at The Blockley, 11 area songwriters will compete to win the opportunity to tour local festivals and venues with the Philadelphia Songwriters Project over the summer. Four winners will be chosen by a panel of judges, with input from the crowd. One grand prize winner will get to perform at the Firefly Music Festival in Delaware.
Here are the 11 competitors: Amanda Duncan, Angela Sheik, Breaking Tradition, Brittany Ann, Jeanette Lynne, Jeff Thomas & The All Volunteer Army, Joshua Popejoy, Keith Monacchio, Nathan ‘Earl’ Allebach, Rev. TJ McGlinchey (above) and The Vulcans.
