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I wouldn’t normally consider imagery of three women vomiting, nude aliens, and a Grim Reaper as particularly beautiful, but when it complements Noah Lennox a.k.a. Panda Bear, it becomes a fascinating work of art. On Sunday night, some of Panda Bear’s biggest fans crammed into the geodesic VW dome...
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Although I’m generally regarded as equal parts Gloomy Gus and Debbie Downer, I’d like to think that the coverage I do for PHILTHY MAG showcases that there are, indeed, a rather large handful of musicians that I feel a sincere affinity and affection for… And I do actually enjoy...
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There are two kinds of Future Islands fans: the “knew about them before Letterman” and the “became a fan after Letterman.” At this point it doesn’t matter which side you associate with, as long as you’re listening to them. While part of their success stems from the theatrical gyrations...
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Kawehi is a bit of an anomaly. She embraces postmodern methods of putting out pop music (She’s a big fan of fan-funding and is most famous for her fan-requested covers of tunes by the likes of Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, and The Supremes), but also embraces highly “academic,” socio-political...
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I recently reached a milestone… I turned 30… That would seem to mean quite a few things. I think it means I have to stop referring to myself as “a kid.” It probably means I should stop wearing driving gloves as an accessory… as I’m not Joey Ramone… But...
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St. Vincent- St. Vincent : St. Vincent’s weird eponymous 5th release is my number 1 pick of the year – a statement about this year in music, her incredible songwriting, guitar wizardry and a choreographed live show are magnificent. The St. Vincent album is a world within a world. http://ilovestvincent.com/ Tracks to...
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A friend of mine recently received a text from me that read, “I know I’m TOTALLY jaded as a critic and hate ALL fucking music other than Belle & Sebastian and The Smiths, but this Springtime Carnivore record is REALLY fucking good.” The record was Springtime Carnivore’s self-titled debut....
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Like so many of our favorite artists, Via Tania should be much more of a household name than it currently is. Via Tania is the moniker of Tania Bowers, who has been making music professionally for more than two decades, first as a member of noisy indie outfit Spdfgh...
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If you made it to legendary blues and folk singer/songwriter Chris Smither’s most recent Philadelphia appearance, at World Café Live this November, there’s a good chance that you got a chance to catch the organically-enchanting-to-the-nth-degree Caitlin Canty, who served as the evening’s opener. Canty is a singer/songwriter of the...
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The Problem with Living in the Moment is not only my second favorite album title of 2014 (trailing only Moz’s World Peace is None of Your Business) but the concept resonates in a quite profound and scary way, as an art school graduate trying to balance a life dedicated...
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NYC’s Blue & Gold seamlessly blend my childhood’s musical obsessions with my adulthood’s love of the subversive and also acceptance of certain particularly delectable works well into realm of “pop.” Their roots stem back to singers/guitarists Alex Kapelman and Chloe Raynes kicking out covers of songs originally belted by...
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The last time PHILTHY MAG (which was, at the time, Philthy Blog) chatted with Brooklyn indie pop duo Chaos Chaos, in November of 2012, was more or less at the band’s inception. Less than six months previous sisters Chloe and Asy Saavedra had announced the end of their “childhood”...
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Although male/female duos of the indie rock persuasion have become a delightful cliché of recent years — and one that I’m highly guilty of indulging in – mr. Gnome are quite a bit more complex and satisfying than the average boy and girl who boast quirkily sing-along-able tunes based...
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I’m not usually one for popular observances, or really celebrating of any manner – I recently spent my 30th birthday gifting myself a night on the couch with the Criterion Collection – however, this year has had me, uncharacteristically, partaking in the festivities, alongside many equally-fair-skinned and drastically-overly-enthusiastic fans...
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Delaney Gibson is an artist that I’m really annoyed I hadn’t heard until a week and a half ago… Already on her third album, her latest LP, Tall Like the Tree, was released earlier this year. I’ve described my favorite track, “Kiss,” as reminiscent of, “Kate Nash on a...
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Austin’s Bee Vs. Moth, indeed, embody a few of my favorite things: An appreciation for film history and a communal collective of like-minded artists. The band began in 2004 with bassist Philip Moody and drummer Sarah Norris. Since then, the instrumental band has released three full-lengths, featuring an ever-expanding...
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LA-based folk rockers Run River North have gotten to be quite the friends of PHILTHY MAG over the past two years. We first spoke with them about a year and a half ago, when they were recording their Phil Ek (Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes, Modest Mouse)-produced self-titled debut,...
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Earlier this week saw the release of the debut album from yet another brilliantly enchanting male/female electro-pop duo, Celebrine. Celebrine are made up of Katya Logacheva and Ilya Dmitriev. They hail from Moscow and their first LP, Happy Tears, blends distinctly 80’s elements of ethereal wave, synthpop, and goth-tinged...
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Kid Moxie may not yet be a household name, but when you have not only The Gaslamp Killer, but David Lynch’s musical half, Angelo Badalamenti, asking to contribute to your sophomore record, chances are that you’re pretty profound… in some manner or another… This Tuesday, December 2nd, sees the...
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It was more than a bummer for Philly, or Philthy (a city with a history of subculture enthusiasts, with a special fondness for the electronically abrasive), to miss out on Skinny Puppy’s most recently scheduled area appearance, when the industrial legends had to cancel their February show due to...
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Although it’s no news to anyone that I’m not the biggest fan of festivities in celebration of American life, I must admit that there is some undeniable pleasure in sharing them with people of a foreign land… Yesterday I got a chance to chat with Scars on 45 vocalist/guitarist...
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This Monday saw my generation’s simultaneously noisiest and dreamiest shoegazers, Blonde Redhead, play to an unfortunately sparse crowd at Union Transfer. Despite the lack of a turn out, the New York City band’s set far from unimpressed, including a cross-section of the band’s catalogue throughout the past twenty years...
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In nearly every piece of press they’ve received, September Girls’ sound has been characterized as “noise pop,” in addition to a seemingly obligatory, “Jesus & Mary Chain, but with_____.” Comparisons to The Cure and MBV have also been aplenty. However, their latest EP (the follow-up to the band’s debut,...
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2014’s most pleasantly surprising home video release is undoubtedly Eagle Vision’s release of Feast of Friends on DVD and Blu-ray this Tuesday… The short documentary, shot in 1968 and produced by and about The Doors, is the quintessential cinematic documentation of the band at their peak of success… which...
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Although I’m hearing about her for the first time this past Halloween… Apparently Grumpy Cat is a already pretty big deal… Grumpy Cat is an endearingly crabby kitty who went viral on YouTube and has, over the past two-and-a-half years, been featured on the covers of The Wall Street...
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Brooklyn artist, Rush Midnight, took the stage on this cold and windy night where fans were in for a treat on South Street in Philadelphia on Sunday, November 2 at The Theater of Living Arts as openers for Canadian pop stars, Lights. Former talented Twin Shadow bass player, Russ Manning...
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One of my most pleasant musical surprises of 2014 was when Michigan’s Frontier Ruckus took the stage of Boot & Saddle this August… The band has been together for slightly over a decade now, churning out folksy, bluegrassy, country-shaded Americana roots rock… something I’ve become quite a fan of...
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Earlier this Fall I experienced my first arena show in more than six years… It turned out not to be something I had missed… However, sometimes I do crave a live experience with an icon of my youth… someone unlikely to find themselves on the stage of Johnny Brenda’s...
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Toronto’s The Rural Alberta Advantage have always held a special place in my heart. They were one of the first acts that I ever properly “covered” as a “music critic” and I still have the self-released DIY edition of their debut LP, Hometowns… in addition to the “official” version...
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It’s no secret that PHILTHY is a major fan of the sounds of Tennessee. However, while we’re generally most focused on Nashville-based acts, our favorite Tennessee artist at the moment is Nots, based out of Memphis. The four-piece is comprised of Natalie Hoffmann (guitar), Charlotte Watson (drums), Madison Farmer...
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Every so often I have an incredibly touching and meaningful interview and it isn’t because it’s with someone who was necessarily a personal idol of my adolescence, but because I get to chat with an undeniably admirable musician, who actually really seems to open up to me about their...
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Brooklyn indie folk pop outfit Oh Honey began just last year, yet they’ve already, in a sense, come full circle. The quartet, whose core of singer/songwriter Mitchy Collins and vocalist Danielle Bouchard are rounded out by drummer Robbie Ernst and guitarist Ian Holubiak, was named for Collins’ favorite episode...
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If you’re a gen Yer who’s recently entered your third decade on the planet, I suspect that these November “From the Vault” releases of classic Rolling Stones performances might be the absolute perfect Christmas gift for your very favorite Coors-light-drinking uncle (who likely recently entered his sixth decade on this...
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Ex Hex ROCKS: Plain and simple. There is no holding back the urge to jump around and play “raucous” air guitar and drums with a bit of glitter thrown in. My first connection with this power pop punk band, Ex Hex, was earlier this year fronted by Mary Timony...
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Over the past few years Norway’s Highasakite have become some of PHILTHY MAG’s favorite musical acts, international or otherwise. I’d like to think we’ve also gotten to know them quite well. We first chatted with vocalist Ingrid Helene Håvik in April of 2013, and then got the chance to...
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Whether you’re planning on dressing up like a Basic Witch (The cutest costume idea I’ve heard all season, dreamt up by our lovely friend, Cristina Black.), a black-denim-and-leather-clad member of a girl gang (as I plan to dress), or a beloved character courtesy of Wes Anderson (as our LZ...
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The Arden Concert Gild will host two emerging indie rock bands this Saturday night October 25th at 8:00 pm, Fiancé and Soil & the Sun at The Gild Hall in Arden with opener, Maiden Names. The night is sure to be highlighted by some chill producing, updated and rocking...
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Although I rarely leave Center City Philadelphia, the fondness I’ve had in recent years for Americana revivalists apparently suggests that I may actually quite like what’s currently going on in Tucson, Arizona. I recently had the pleasure of meeting Tucson five-piece Run Boy Run… albeit on an unfortunately technologically...
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Dream pop-rock pioneers, The Ocean Blue streams into The World Café Live at the Queen in Wilmington, Delaware on Thursday, October 23rd with Cliff Hillis opening and then at World Café in Philly on Sunday, October 26th with opener Riverside. Having spawned several “modern rock” hits from the late 80’s to...
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I can’t deny that the “surprise” appearance of Jackson Browne and Fiona Apple at Blake Mills’ performance at World Café Live Last week was one of my musical highlights of 2014. However, it wasn’t the tentative possibility of seeing the legendary singer/songwriters, in a 200-capacity setup, that drew me...
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Helen Croome, better known as Gossling, is another one of those actually delightful musical entities that has come to us not via the pages of NME or as a recommendation courtesy of our favorite songstress, but via the soundtrack to the likes of So You Think You Can Dance,...
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As a music critic who often gets bored with contemporary sonic trends and, in actuality, much prefers the world of cinema, Los Angeles’ Milo Greene is quite refreshing. The band characterize themselves as “cinematic pop,” and have claimed that the primary goal in putting the band together was to...
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PHILTHY readers may realize I first became smitten with Leeds’ Black Moth about a year ago… quite smitten in fact… albeit “smitten” would seem an odd word to describe a rowdy group of lads and a lass who regularly don torn and studded black denim and leather and kick...
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Do you have any idea how difficult it is for a radical leftist, genderqueer, humanities professor not to champion people like Lætitia Sadier? So yes, a fondness for the French, postmodern, Marx-influenced chanteuse and composer may be a bit obvious, but I think it’s more than warranted. Although best...
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Lia Ices and Phantogram may be the most perfectly suited odd couple on tour all year. The former, in the support slot, a whimsically ethereal, electro-leaning, beat-making singer/songwriter. The latter, and headliner, a full-blown electro-pop spectacle. The former is best suited for endearingly awkward summer makeout sessions… The latter...
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NYC trio New Myths strike a pretty profound existential chord for me for a few reasons… Not only is their debut LP, Give Me Noise, out on my very own 30th birthday, October 14th… but their morbidly danceable, often-synthetic, sounds remind me of my most lovely angsty teen years,...
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We’re a humble, modest lot here at PHILTHY MAG… We know that our taste might not necessarily hold much sway… but we’re quite the fans of Sweden’s Little Dragon… and so are Damon Albarn, Pharrell Williams, and our very own Questlove, who proclaims them to be his favorite band. ...
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Slothrust are the kind of power trio that you’d assume had played the second stage at Lollapalooza in 1994… The jams they kick out run the gamut from chaotic power pop to lo-fi, introspective art rock… yet they also have a background in jazz and blues. They have both...
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Philthy Mag is proud to announce the 10/3 National Realty Gallery opening reception for the PHL project, designed by local Philadelphia Artist Monica O. O, a graduate of Temple’s Graphic Design program has garnered a lot of attention for her design work that is based on local Philadelphia architecture....
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Is it just me or is there something sexy going on right now where many of music’s hippest entities are returning to their popular sonic loves of childhood in the 1990s? It seems that so many of my favorite bands of recent years are exploring sounds reminiscent of those...
I wouldn’t normally consider imagery of three women vomiting, nude aliens, and a Grim Reaper as particularly beautiful, but when it complements Noah Lennox a.k.a. Panda Bear, it becomes a fascinating work of art. On Sunday night, some of Panda Bear’s biggest fans crammed into the geodesic VW dome...
Although I’m generally regarded as equal parts Gloomy Gus and Debbie Downer, I’d like to think that the coverage I do for PHILTHY MAG showcases that there are, indeed, a rather large handful of musicians that I feel a sincere affinity and affection for… And I do actually enjoy...
