Philthy Mag
  • Band Interviews
    Sunflower Bean’s Julia Cumming Talks Cheesesteaks, Belle and Sebastian, and…
  • Band Interviews
    Dandys Rule OK Turns 30: “It holds up to me…
  • Band Interviews
    Come See Ginger Root 101, Live at The Met (5/15…
    Philthy Mag
      • Band Interviews
        • Sunflower Bean’s Julia Cumming Talks Cheesesteaks, Belle and Sebastian, and…
          Sunflower Bean’s Julia Cumming Talks Cheesesteaks, Belle and Sebastian, and…
        • Dandys Rule OK Turns 30: “It holds up to me…
          Dandys Rule OK Turns 30: “It holds up to me…
        • Come See Ginger Root 101, Live at The Met (5/15…
          Come See Ginger Root 101, Live at The Met (5/15…
        • DAIISTAR Talks New Music and Touring with Legends (5/10 at…
          DAIISTAR Talks New Music and Touring with Legends (5/10 at…
        • Alisa Xayalith: “With this project, I am beginning from the…
          Alisa Xayalith: “With this project, I am beginning from the…
        • Anna Shoemaker Talks Sophomore LP and Joining Mallrat on the…
          Anna Shoemaker Talks Sophomore LP and Joining Mallrat on the…
      • Music Reviews
        • The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection KNOWS Katie…
          The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection KNOWS Katie…
        • Lauren Mayberry’s Return to Union Transfer
          Lauren Mayberry’s Return to Union Transfer
        • Adrianne Lenker Brings the Bright Future Era to a Close…
          Adrianne Lenker Brings the Bright Future Era to a Close…
        • Orla Gartland, As Intimate as it’s Gonna Get
          Orla Gartland, As Intimate as it’s Gonna Get
        • Alice Phoebe Lou Drops “Better” as Clairo Tour Winds Down
          Alice Phoebe Lou Drops “Better” as Clairo Tour Winds Down
        • The Sisters Of Mercy @ The Met Philadelphia
          The Sisters Of Mercy @ The Met Philadelphia
      • Sunflower Bean’s Julia Cumming Talks Cheesesteaks, Belle and Sebastian, and LP #4 (5/16 at JB’s)

        izzy
        May 13, 2025
        Sunflower Bean premiered nearly half of their fourth full-length, Mortal Primetime, right here in the 215, during the second half of their eight-song set on the April 18th edition of WXPN’s Free At Noon at World Café Live.  In the time since, the NYC rock trio (who we last...
      • Dandys Rule OK Turns 30: “It holds up to me quite well, surprisingly well…” (5/14 at Ardmore Music Hall)

        izzy
        May 12, 2025
        Last year Portland neo-psychedelic legends The Dandy Warhols celebrated their 30th anniversary.  After spending much of the year touring their 12th studio LP, ROCKMAKER, they celebrated their third full decade together with a string of West Coast dates last December.  “All of them were super fun…  We did multiple...
      • Come See Ginger Root 101, Live at The Met (5/15 and 5/16 w/ Japanese Breakfast)

        izzy
        May 11, 2025
        The last two times we saw Ginger Root – the synth-heavy, alt-disco/indie soul outfit of Cameron Lew – in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection was just last October, when the Southern California band played a WXPN Free At Noon at World Cafe Live prior to a...
      • DAIISTAR Talks New Music and Touring with Legends (5/10 at JB’s w/ L.A. Witch)

        izzy
        May 9, 2025
        Austin noise-pop/shoegaze outfit DAIISTAR apparently have a lot of phriends in common with PHILTHY MAG.  In 2023 the quartet toured with The Dandy Warhols (keep checking the site for my recent chat with Dandys guitarist Peter Holmström, ahead of their May 14th show at Ardmore Music Hall), last year...
      • Djo plays sold out show at Franklin Music Hall on 5/3

        Morgan Kelley
        May 5, 2025
        Djo, the musical project of Joe Keery from Stranger Things and Fargo, put on an incredible performance this past Saturday at a sold out Franklin Music Hall. His latest album, The Crux, was released just last month. Last year, his song End of Beginning went viral on TikTok, garnered...
      • Alisa Xayalith: “With this project, I am beginning from the ground up.” [5/9 at JB’s w/ Sunday (1994)]

        izzy
        May 5, 2025
        Alisa Xayalith has played the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection a lot over the years, including shows headlining the stages of The Trocadero and Union Transfer.  However, this Friday, May 9th, she will be returning to the 215 to play her most intimate area show ever at...
      • Anna Shoemaker Talks Sophomore LP and Joining Mallrat on the Road (5/7 at The Foundry)

        izzy
        May 5, 2025
        “When I play Philly, it feels full circle because of the people.  My family will be there, my friends will be there,” homegrown indie-pop artist Anna Shoemaker tells me during a recent phone chat.  The last time I spoke to the singer/songwriter, she was preparing for a few performances...
      • “No one will ever see the same Sir Woman show twice.” (5/6 at JB’s)

        izzy
        May 4, 2025
        “It saved my life, for sure…  I don’t know how people survive without writing songs.  I don’t know how to process anything without it,” says Kelsey Wilson, frontwoman and bandleader of Austin soul/funk/R&B outfit Sir Woman (also of Americana band Wild Child).  This February, Sir Woman released If It...
      • Emily Sprague Talks Florist’s Last 10 Years and the Band’s Next Chapter (5/5 at JB’s)

        izzy
        April 29, 2025
        New York minimalist folk outfit Florist have played a number of noteworthy shows in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection.  The summer of 2023 had them double-headlining Underground Arts with Skullcrusher and the previous summer saw them headlining The Lounge and World Café Live.  They’ve also played...
      • SASAMI Gets Back to Headlining (5/3 at Underground Arts)

        izzy
        April 29, 2025
        The last time SASAMI headlined the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection was in March of 2022 at Johnny Brenda’s, which the singer/songwriter told me during a chat last November was an especially memorable experience: “That was a great show!  I think I injured my guitarist at that show…  I...
      • Allison Russell: “We’re really leaning into the power of our voices in harmony on this tour.” (5/2 at TLA)

        izzy
        April 28, 2025
        This Wednesday, Americana artist Allison Russell kicks off the U.S. leg of the All Returners Tour, a jaunt that was originally scheduled for last fall, but was postponed after Russell booked her Broadway debut as Persephone in 8 x Tony Award winning musical Hadestown, by Anaïs Mitchell.  The second...
      • “I think what can be expected most at any Fancy Hagood show is vulnerability.” (4/29 at WCL)

        izzy
        April 28, 2025
        Last May we saw queer country singer/songwriter Fancy Hagood at the Music Hall at World Café Live when he opened the No One Gets Out Alive tour for our phriend, and fellow Nashville-based Americana artist, Maggie Rose (He’s also toured with our pal Kaitlin Butts!)  However, earlier this month...
      • Bria Salmena Talks Solo Headline Touring: “I’m just grateful that anybody’s coming out at all…” (4/25 at WCL)

        izzy
        April 24, 2025
        We first met LA/Toronto-based singer/songwriter Bria Salmena in the summer of 2021, just as live music was making a return.  Bria and longtime musical collaborator Duncan Hay Jennings – in addition to being one-half of Canadian post-punk group FRIGS, at the time the two were also members of Orville...
      • LAKE Talk Criterion, Traveling the World, and Being a “Band-Band” (4/27 at JB’s)

        izzy
        April 19, 2025
        “We are a lot more open now to bringing a more raw song to the group, and knowing whatever they do with it is going to be amazing…  Earlier on, we were more ambitious with our ideas, but maybe had too many ideas, whereas now we’re more efficient,” says...
      • The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection KNOWS Katie Gavin

        izzy
        April 19, 2025
        This past Wednesday, April 16th, all of the proudly “sad girls” of the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection (okay, about 3,000 of them…) were gathered at The Met Philadelphia for opening night of Lucy Dacus’ Forever Is a Feeling Tour, the former Philthy resident’s most profound local...
      • Pet Symmetry’s Evan Weiss on The Church, Being with Buds, and Doing “a full album of love songs…” (5/13 at JB’s)

        izzy
        April 10, 2025
        “I basically grew up in the First Unitarian Church basement,” says Evan Weiss, best known as the man behind Into It. Over It., whose Pet Symmetry – which also features Ratboys’ Marcus Nuccio and Dowsing’s Erik Czaja – are gearing up to release their fourth full-length, Big Symmetry, May...
      • Valerie June: “Ya’ll have not seen me yet!” (4/15 at World Cafe Live)

        izzy
        April 10, 2025
        “Working with a genius, you just soak everything up,” says Americana singer/songwriter Valerie June of her upcoming studio album, Owls, Omens, and Oracles, which drops this Friday, April 11th.  “Like the first record, there’s blazing electric guitar.  We’re kind of returning to it, not that I don’t have blazing...
      • Sammy Rae & The Friends: “Our audience has been waiting for an album forever.” (4/12 at The Fillmore)

        izzy
        April 8, 2025
        Jazzy, folky, funky, soulful, classic rock-infused NYC indie pop outfit Sammy Rae & The Friends have been phriends of PHILTHY MAG for some time now.  I first met Sammy Rae in summer/fall of 2021, prior to a sold-out date at World Café Live; checked in with The Friends’ band...
      • Lyncs Talks Brand-New Single and Coming to Kung Fu Necktie (4/14 w/ The Ivy)

        izzy
        April 1, 2025
        We last saw indie-pop singer/songwriter Lyncs (the musical moniker of Jacqueline Hynes) last August when she double-headlined The Lounge at World Café Live with Laur Elle.  However, the Lancaster-born artist has released quite a bit of music since then, including November’s SICK+SIN EP; “I LIVE IN THIS BODY” single,...
      • Annabel Lee: “I promise to bring fearsome energy.”

        izzy
        April 1, 2025
        *Unfortunately, this event has been cancelled. Los Angeles-based alt-rock singer/songwriter Annabel Lee has a lot of impressive credits.  She’s toured as direct support for PHILTHY phriend Moon Walker; performed on a SXSW showcase alongside our buddies Zella Day and Indigo De Souza; regularly worked with producer Justin Glasco, who’s...
      • flipturn: “We always wanna top the last show we put on for an audience.” (4/11 at Franklin Music Hall)

        izzy
        March 29, 2025
        If my calculations are correct, the last time indie rock quintet flipturn played Philadelphia proper, they were in a venue less than 1/10th the size of that of their upcoming area appearance (And the last time they were openers and this time they’re headlining…)  The Florida band, who we...
      • The Weather Station Returns to Headlining Stages (4/4 at WCL and Underground Arts )

        izzy
        March 28, 2025
        “I’m really proud of the show.  I know it’s the best show I’ve ever put on.  I’m treating it like a performance, instead of just, ‘We have to play the songs,’” says Canadian folk singer/songwriter Tamara Lindeman, AKA The Weather Station, of her tour behind Humanhood, her seventh studio...
      • Blue Hawaii open TLA for Rebecca Black, 3/29: “The magic of a crazy warehouse DJ set with live vocals distilled into a bite-sized piece!”

        izzy
        March 28, 2025
        Tomorrow night queer pop icon Rebecca Black will be playing her biggest show yet in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection… and so will our buddies Blue Hawaii, who will be opening for Rebecca Black this Saturday, March 29th, at Theatre of Living Arts.  We’ve known the...
      • Poppy Brings Her Biggest Spectacle Yet to Philthy’s Biggest Ballroom (4/3 at The Fillmore)

        izzy
        March 27, 2025
        Genre-bending – often metallic, often electronic, often alternative, and often delectably pop – singer/songwriter, performance artist, graphic novelist, and internet sensation Poppy is gearing up to play her biggest-ever headlining show in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection next Thursday, April 3rd.  Her last two local stops...
      • Immersion and SUSS Bring Nanocluster Vol.3 to Johnny Brenda’s, 4/1: “It’s never a jam session.”

        izzy
        March 27, 2025
        Last month electronic duo Immersion (comprised of Wire’s Colin Newman and Minimal Compact’s Malka Spigel, a “life and art” couple) released the third album of their collaborative Nanocluster series (2021’s Nanocluster, Vol.1 saw them collaborating with our phriend Laetitia Sadier, German post-rock duo Tarwater, and electronic musicians Ulrich Schnauss...
      • A Brief History of Fust: “It’s been kind of happy accidents along the way.” (4/2 at JB’s)

        izzy
        March 26, 2025
        “It’s a bit of a riff song.  It started with a riff, and I had that Shakespeare line, ‘Oh what country, friends, is this?’  And I was looking at ‘country’ and the concept of country in the American context… and Harold Pinter wrote Mountain Language, an amazing play about...
      • senses Bring Their First-Ever Headlining Tour to The Foundry, 3/30: “Energy is definitely our middle name.”

        izzy
        March 25, 2025
        “Joe’s Cheesesteaks!” exclaims Nick Sampson, drummer of LA-based, self-proclaimed “emo-friendly, punk-curious” duo senses (who are ineffably friendly, themselves) when I ask the band their favorite thing about Philadelphia.  senses lead singer/guitarist Madison Taylor goes on to explain, “We walk to Joe’s pretty much every time we’re there, and not...
      • An Evening With Ida & Tsunami, 3/28 at Underground Arts: “It will be a very Gen X time!”

        izzy
        March 24, 2025
        “Daniel and I have a 23-year-old daughter, and her friends are interested in music from the ‘90s, and they’re like, ‘You’re parents are in Ida?!  What?!’” says Elizabeth Mitchell of herself and husband Daniel Littleton, co-founders of 1990s indie rock legends Ida.  This past weekend, Ida kicked off their...
      • Franz Ferdinand Return to The Fillmore, 4/8 (Win Free Tickets Courtesy of Y-Not Radio!)

        izzy
        March 15, 2025
        Every week Y-Not Radio, the home of Philthy Radio, gives away a free pair of tickets for a notable upcoming concert to a lucky listener who votes for the Top 3 Y-Not Songs of the Week for Thursday’s weekly Top 11 @ 11.  This week’s tickets are for an...
      • Cloe Wilder Talks EP #3, Lana Del Rey, and “Clearwooder” (3/20 at The Foundry w/ Spencer Sutherland)

        izzy
        March 15, 2025
        “I’m really hoping this is my year.  I’m hoping for some more tours…  I’m really trying to put out as much new music as possible in 2025,” says LA-based, 19-year-old folk/Americana/pop artist Cloe Wilder.  However, she’s already got some touring under her belt, with a European tour supporting Spencer...
      • EMEL: “I feel like I’m stepping into a place that really defines me on many levels.” (3/19 at WCL)

        izzy
        March 15, 2025
        “I think this is the first time I had a unanimous reaction overall from both audience and press…  I wish I would have done this album years ago.  I feel like I’m stepping into a place that really defines me on many levels,” says Tunisian-American singer/songwriter Emel Mathlouthi (better...
      • Basia Bulat: “We’re going for maximum positive vibes…” (3/22 at WCL)

        izzy
        March 12, 2025
        Canadian folk singer/songwriter Basia Bulat is currently amidst a plethora of North American and UK/Europe tour dates that, as of right now, take her through February of 2026 (with a notable break between July and December).  The tour includes the first date the Secret City Records artist will play...
      • ZZ Ward on Getting Back to The Blues (3/16 at City Winery)

        izzy
        March 12, 2025
        “I’ve been wanting to do Liberation for so long.  I knew I wanted to move further into the blues…  The music that really got me started was the blues,” says ZZ Ward, referring to her forthcoming fourth studio album, Liberation, which drops this Friday, March 14th, courtesy of the...
      • Jobi Riccio Takes on Headlining Duties at World Café Live (3/13)

        izzy
        March 12, 2025
        “I love a good listening room…  There’s a certain level of attention and connection that can happen in a listening room…  There’s something special about being able to sit down, take a load off, and settle in,” says Nashville-based Americana singer/songwriter Jobi Riccio, who kicks off her first-ever headlining...
      • Jivebomb Drop “SERAPHIM (MARINA’S SONG)” (3/18 at Underground Arts w/ Quicksand)

        izzy
        March 12, 2025
        Just a few hours ago, Baltimore hardcore outfit Jivebomb dropped “SERAPHIM (MARINA’S SONG),” the third single from the band’s debut full-length, ETHEREAL, which drops March 28th on Flatspot Records (their home since 2022’s Primitive Desires EP).  However, according to Jivebomb vocalist Kat Madeira, we will get a chance to...
      • Lilly Hiatt: “I love the moxie of Philly!” (3/11 at Silk City)

        izzy
        March 7, 2025
        “I love that!  It makes me extra excited!” says Lilly Hiatt when I tell her that her show here next week will actually be in a diner that was once featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.  Next Tuesday, March 11th, the Nashville singer/songwriter will be making her Silk City...
      • Rare DM Returns to The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection (3/9 at MilkBoy w/ Promiseland)

        izzy
        March 7, 2025
        “It’ll be a no computer, lawless and DAW-less setup, Octatrack and Machinedrum.  I’m gonna try to get people to dance… I’m gonna dance… Merriment will be had,” says Erin Hoagg, aka Rare DM, during a recent phone chat.  We’re discussing her three-date East Coast jaunt set for this weekend,...
      • Inhaler Takes on The Intimacy of Nightclubs for Maybe The Last Time (3/8 at The Fillmore)

        izzy
        February 28, 2025
        Late last year, 21st Century pop rock guitar heroes Inhaler announced their biggest headlining show yet, with a May 30th date at 20,000-capacity St Anne’s Park in their hometown of Dublin, Ireland (They’ve also got upcoming shows at massive venues throughout South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.)  However, this...
      • Friko Gets Headlining (3/4 at The Foundry): “We’re trying to combine the raw energy and bombastic-ness with subtleties…”

        izzy
        February 28, 2025
        The last time I spoke with Chicago indie rock duo Friko – comprised of vocalist/guitarist Niko Kapetan and drummer Bailey Minzenberger – was in November of 2023.  They’d just announced their signing to ATO Records (home of phriends of PHILTHY like Deer Tick, Honey Harper, Joseph, Margaret Glaspy, Neal Francis, and Pink Mountaintops),...
      • Morgan St. Jean Brings Her One-Woman Show to the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, 2/28 at KFN w/ Neriah

        izzy
        February 26, 2025
        “It’s like a sleepover party every night!” jokes Morgan St. Jean about her current tour, which kicked off last night in Washinton DC and will find the feminist pop artist playing a rare all-ages show at our very own Kung Fu Necktie this Friday, February 28th.  The jaunt has...
      • Stephen Day: “I wanted to fuse these two worlds of music that I love, but it’s ultimately just me.” (3/1 at MilkBoy)

        izzy
        February 26, 2025
        “I’ve played MilkBoy before and it was one of the best nights of the tour!  People in Philly are the best!” proclaims modern crooner Stephen Day, before going on to characterize the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection as having some of the best energy of any city. ...
      • Lauren Mayberry’s Return to Union Transfer

        izzy
        February 21, 2025
        Lauren Mayberry’s Vicious Creature Tour is highly competitive.  It’s currently in competition for Most Wall-to-Wall Bangers in a Headlining Set, Most Tear-Inducing Cover (a timely take on The Verve’s “Bitter Sweet Symphony”), and Most Impressive Solo Performance From Someone in a Huge Band of 2025.  Although the CHVRCHES frontwoman...
      • Make Them Suffer: “We are coming to fuck shit up. Bring positive vibes and rock out with us.” (3/2 at Brooklyn Bowl)

        izzy
        February 19, 2025
        The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection has become pretty well acquainted with Australian deathcore band Make Them Suffer over the years, with more than half a dozen shows since the release of 2015 sophomore LP Old Souls, most recently with an April 2024 stop at Theatre of...
      • Movements Drop “Where I Lay” as They Prepare for Their Return to The Fillmore, 3/15

        izzy
        February 19, 2025
        Today California post-hardcore outfit Movements released their latest single (and accompanying visualizer), “Where I Lay,” courtesy of longtime home Fearless Records.  “It’s really emotionally vulnerable and it had me revisiting places with my writing that I hadn’t explored in a while.  It’s for anyone else out there who feels...
      • Molly Grace: “For those who saw the last Philly show, it’s gonna be a level up!” (2/21 at The Foundry)

        izzy
        February 5, 2025
        “I do a lot of thinking about when people come to a Molly Grace show, like ‘What do I want them to take away from it?’  The goal is for people to feel empowered,” says the Nashville-based, always sparkling, queer pop artist, before quickly clarifying that it’s just as...
      • The Second Chapter of Sextile: “We’re a whole new band, almost as if we started over.” (2/12 at FMH w/ Molchat Doma)

        izzy
        February 5, 2025
        “Some bands make the best shit in the beginning, but I feel like we’re the opposite,” laughs Melissa Scaduto, co-founder of LA-based trio Sextile.  Sextile are currently amidst a nearly two-month tour, playing the biggest rooms of their career as support for Sacred Bones labelmates Molchat Doma, which will...
      • Ari Abdul: “Every show is super exciting because I get to bring all the music to life.” (2/11 at The Met w/ Nessa Barrett)

        izzy
        February 4, 2025
        Last March, the God’s Watching Tour had emerging alt-pop heroine Ari Abdul (alongside Isabel LaRosa) headlining The Foundry.  At the time, Ari was touring behind 2023 sophomore EP CCTV, the follow-up to the previous year’s Fallen Angel, which featured debut and breakthrough single, “BABYDOLL.”  A year and a handful...
      • Anya Marina: “It feels like the perfect time to take a leap.” (2/8 at JB’s w/ Matt Pond PA)

        izzy
        February 3, 2025
        Singer/songwriter Anya Marina has spent the past half-decade opening sold-out comedy shows for BFF and former roommate Nikki Glaser in theatres across America.  Although I’m picturing drunken bachelorette parties talking over Marina’s indie pop as they fall into their seats, she tells me during a recent phone chat that...
      • Rubblebucket Make Their Underground Arts Debut (2/6): “We’ve got a lot of tricks up our sleeves, as usual!”

        izzy
        February 3, 2025
        A few weeks ago, Brooklyn based, funk-infused, psychedelic indie-dance pop legends Rubblebucket released a cover of The Moldy Peaches’ “Anyone Else But You.”  The song — which opens with the line, “You’re a part time lover and a full time friend” —  seems like the perfect fit for the...
      • Molly Lewis on How to Be a Professional Whistler (1/31 at World Cafe Live)

        izzy
        January 22, 2025
        “Molly Lewis, professional whistler,” (as she’s characterized by NPR) is likely not quite a household name at this point, but there’s a reasonable chance that you saw Lewis last summer opening The Mann for Beck with the Philadelphia Orchestra or perhaps supporting Weyes Blood for her two nights at...
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      Philthy Mag
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