Root Down in the Shadow

Photo by Lindsey Borgman Your band name: Sean Hoots/Hoots & Hellmouth Style: Anything with passion/fire/vibe. My general approach can be expressed by the formula Soul + X, where X represents any number of mixable styles (rock, folk, electronic, noise, etc.). Years on the Scene: Many years, to be sure. 8 with Hoots & Hellmouth , but I've been around a lot longer than that doing a whole host of musical things. Current Project and/or Members:  Hoots & Hellmouth is currently on a bit of a pause. 8 years of hard touring requires a breather at some point! In that space, I am exploring a variety of music, involving a variety of folks, everything from solo singing and soundscape-making to ensemble playing with some of Philly's best (and cutest), including Todd Erk , Jaron Olevsky , Tom Bendel and Carl Bahner . Any new album projects? Sessions in the works? All kinds of stuff in the works...I just did a trio session/show at Carl Ba

Part of the ongoing series of 'Molly Songs' : a weekly look featuring songs that our children will love, but more importantly parents can enjoy as well. Molly & I got two very important presents over the winter holidays.  She picked up a cool ukulele and I got a DVD of Nirvana MTV Unplugged.  Together we've spent many hours watching the DVD as she is constantly deciding which her favorite is, trying to remember who we can go see live and who we can't, and learning as much as she can about her favorite grunge band.  So far the other Curt and his brother Chris Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets are her favorites. The Nirvana MTV Unplugged DVD is a great reminder of what music to listen to with your kids.  You don't want crap that is easy the first time, just because that's "what kids will like".  Good music is really worth the time and effort if it piques their interests.  It took skipping to 'Lake of Fire' and 'Plateau' to get her

#Philly Presents: The Late Ancients by Dan Cooper of Song Dogs Your band name: Song Dogs Dan Cooper of Song Dogs on the drums! Your style: Prairie Heavy/Americana Rock Years on the scene: 4 total; 1.5 with current line-up Current members: Sam Conver : Bass; Vocals Dan Cooper : Drums Ryan McCloskey : Guitar; Vocals Mariama O’Brien : Percussion Emily Southerton : Keys Mike Southerton : Guitar; Vocals Website : wearesongdogs.com ( facebook.com/wearesongdogs ) Current Project: We are going into The HotBox Studios to film a HotBox Session that will be released in a very special, very exciting format that even we have a hard time believing is actually happening! Look for the videos as part of a major release later this summer. We are also in the process of writing new material after releasing our debut LP, Wild Country , this past January. Recent and/or most unique/exciting show : Definitely the most exciting Song Dogs show for me was our album release show i

Your band name : I'm not in a band but I work with a bunch of them. My name is Marley McNamara , manager at Levee Drivers , The Districts and Ali Wadsworth , booker/promoter (independent and for World Cafe Live ) Style : whatever sounds great. Years on the Scene : 4.5 years Current Project and/or Members : Managing The Districts, Levee Drivers and I recently took on Ali Wadsworth. Also, President of For The Record Management . Recent and/or most unique/exciting show : I would have to say it's a toss-up between the Levon Helm Tribute that Ron Gallo ( Toy Soldiers) and I put together last summer downstairs at World Cafe Live, which featured about 17 locals artists who all joined together to commemorate the life and work of Levon Helm and The Band (including Eric Slick of Dr. Dog assisting almost everyone on drums) and the Beck Song Reader show I organized this past January. I asked 20 local bands of all different genres to learn one song out of Beck&

Finally the time had come, nearly 6 months after downloading Kinglsey Flood 's 'Roll The Dice' last November, I had my chance to see Kingsley Flood in all their live and plugged in glory.  When listening to the band, I could just envision the raucous party that would be going on during one of their sets and I couldn't wait to be part of it!  As luck would have it they would be opening for the David Wax Museum , one of the most creative bands of the last five years and one of my favorites to see live. Things started off great at World Cafe Live - Wilmington, DE.  I met up with some music friends and got a great spot at a table equidistant from the bar & stage!  Once the music started I couldn't stifle myself, and I had to get up onto the dance floor.  Kingsley Flood had the whole band jumping around, doing their best David Wax impressions (see previous review s: David Wax is the king of engaging the crowd by going into the crowd and venue during sets).  Naseem

Contributed by Mariel Lorenz With one week away until the (un)official start of summer, it's time to get those summer playlists together. Personally my summer playlist has to be upbeat, fun, and give me the excitement as if I was on my way to a vacation destination. So I was pretty excited to see this song pop up and start mine. I discovered Classixx just recently when NPR featured their album Hanging Gardens  on their First Listen series earlier this month. The L.A. duo is more known for creating other artists' dance remixes like Mayer Hawthorne and Phoenix. Now they are releasing their own material and people are taking notice.  ITunes has made their single 'All You're Waiting For (Feat. Nancy Whang)' the Single of The Week.  It's bubbly, carefree, and fun - just like what summer should be. Did I mention it's free too!? Here's a preview: What's required on your summer playlist?

This is kinda last minute, but for those of you looking for fun tonight I wanted to make sure this was put out there.. TONIGHT AT the GRAPE ROOM   First, closest to my house @The Grape Room in Manayunk (Philadelphia) The Rivals play tonight showing off their new release Divine Lorraine . The Rivals were recently featured in the new #PhillyPresents: feature, by August John Lutz II of Levee Drivers . "They have this amazing 70's blend of Soul, Blues and Rock all combined into one, that hits harder than Chris Brown's fist (yeah!!!)." The Rivals should be taking the stage at 10pm. Divine Lorraine by The Rivals TONIGHT AT MILKBOY Tonight at Milkboy, Philadelphia band The Morning River Band give you a few days advance on their new release To Suzie .  This electric folk country band is eager to bring their wares to the masses. According to my source, Morning River Band goes on around 11 but go for the whole set; John Train goes first, with M

#PhillyPresents: by Ron Gallo Your band name: Toy Soldiers   Style: Rock N’ Roll Years on the Scene: 5 years Current Members:  Dominic Billett - Drums, Vocals Bill McCloskey - Bass Matt Kelly - Guitar Luke Leidy - Keys Ron Gallo - Vocals, Guitar   Any new album projects?  Sessions in the works?  We just finished a full-length album entitled, The Maybe Boys with Philly record-making mastermind Bill Moriarty that’s looking to be out in September alongside a documentary called, The Maybe Trails, that our pal, Seth Klinger made about life on the road.  In the meantime we also did a live session at Converse Rubber Tracks Studio in Brooklyn which we’re releasing as an 7” on July 4th this year!   Introducing : Thom McCarthy Why he's an inspiration.. why you like listening to and watching him? I really think Thom is a genius in every sense of the word.  He’s extremely unique, humble and often a nervous wreck leading up to every performance but onc

New Album In The Works!! Brian Dale Allen Strouse and the Lawsuits were up to their usual shenanigans making music like rabbits fornicate, all the time.  After two EP's in 2012 with the summer party Hot Love and the chill Numbers it was time to take the expected leap into the Philadelphia upper echelon.  To get there, the Lawsuits worked with Bill Moriarty at Waking Studios ( Dr. Dog , Joshua James , Don McCloskey ) and had mastering by Howie Weinberg ( Nirvana , Garbage , Beastie Boys , etc.). Brian Dale Allen Strouse, a producer himeself, was happy to let go of the reins.  "Bill Moriarty didn't try to sell us on his equipment or his records.  He really cared as a friend throughout the process." Eleven new tracks made the complete journey from Brian Dale Allen Strouse's head to the final mixing station.  Some expected tracks, such as 'Ebony Rose' or 'French Roast', which had been in set lists for almost a year now did not make th

For those of you that don't know what Sofar Sounds is here is their story:  "We have created a movement which brings music lovers together in secret living room locations to hear some of the world's most cutting edge artists." May 5 th was a celebration for many in the Philadelphia area.  Many people were out having fun, grilling and chilling Cinco De Mayo style, and enjoying the great spring weather.   For music enthusiasts it marked a celebration of two blossoming organizations; Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia and Tri State Indie.  The two music organizations have crossed paths many times with bands featured on the Sofar shows also gracing the pages of the TriStateIndie site.  Even better, at the 2nd annual Tri State Indie awards many of the Sofar alumni bands were winners of the fan voted Tri State Indie Awards. When it was announced that Tri State Indie was going to host the event, the buzz around the May show was electric.  Although fans didn't know wh

Maybe Boys Finding a Way on The Maybe Trail Artist Feature: Toy Soldiers  By: Carolyn Lederach , Co-Writer/Editor: Dan McGurk Carolyn Lederach is a contributor to Root Down In the Shadow.  Knee deep in the music scene with her work for Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia, Communion Music, and Hey Cole she brings a seasoned view to Root Down in the Shadow   My interaction with Toy Soldiers began as a solo exposure when we had lead singer, Ron Gallo , play our Sofar Sounds Philadelphia show. I had heard nothing but great things about Toy Soldiers from the beginning by alumni like The Lawsuits and other trusted ears.  It wasn’t until Ron actually starting playing that I truly discovered what everyone was talking about.  It’s one thing to hear the songs people send in, but seeing it live and getting the same quality is always a treat for the listeners. Hearing Ron doing a solo set, one can only imagine how it carries over into a full live band sound. For those newly introduced to