Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia - August '13 - The Fleeting Ends / Poor Remy / Mike McMonagle / Maitland / Eric Faust - August 11th, 2013
For those of you who 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. In order to create an intimate and spellbinding
atmosphere, we ask that nobody talk during performances.
We hold these pop-up gigs in over 35 cities across 5 continents"
** All photos from Lindsey Borgman**
August 11th Northern Liberties - Philadelphia, PA
Each Sofar Sounds show is unique. Each Sofar Sounds show has elements that haven’t been seen before and won’t be seen again. Fans keep coming back as they are so intrigued by what incredible experience they might be a part of.
What part of town will the show be in? Who in the crowd will be performing later? What future (or current) star is going to be performing? What unexpected genre will be represented?
Looking back at prior shows, there has always been at least one band that has blown me away by playing in a living room. DRGN KING, Sean Hoots, Kingsley Flood, the Lawsuits, Kwesi Kankam, and that's just the first band that came to mind each month. Epic shows around the world included Boy in Los Angeles, Pearl and the Beard in Austin, and Ayah Marar and Bastille in London.
What could we expect on the gorgeous August day in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia? We were given the tease by the Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia crew that there would be a band from NYC and a band who had just performed at the XPoNential Festival, but that's all we knew, outside of the Sofar Sounds expectations of a quiet room to hear some awesome music!
Eric Faust - STATE COLLEGE, PA
The first act of the August Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia show, the first artist was young Eric Faust, of the band Lenina Crowne. Eric had the burden of playing without his band, facing a surprisingly large and very attentive crowd. For an older music fan like myself, it was endearing when Eric referred to a song written when he was 18 years old as "immature" when the song was written just 3-4 years prior. Don't let age fool you, nor the solo stature, Eric still held his own in front of the music savvy Sofar Sounds crowd.
The set started "with a soft one" 'Queen Jane', but it was his "immature" 'Hummingbird' that caught the attention of the crowd which he built to a mighty crescendo, Dylan style with harmonica and acoustic guitar. Eric was proudly exclaimed his next song a "big deal" as he only writes a few songs each year. The new song (untitled so far), was unveiled for the first time to a crowd.
You could hear and see his growth lyrically and musically as he presented his chronologically organized set list. I can only imagine how good the untitled track and 'Angel Upstairs' could become, as later in the evening, he admitted to constantly re-working his older catalog.
Next was 'Angel Upstairs' a song of love spurned (it seems). It built up vocally and musically to what seemed to be the ending. However, an unexpected modulation teased as the supportive and polite crowd held their applause until Eric Faust finished, rewarding the crowd with a sweet ending.
I'm not sure if he ended up "getting with" the "angel right upstairs" or not, but I do know the Penn State University crowds have a band ready to kick start the local scene, as Lenina Crowne masters these new tracks!
Lenina Crowne
Eric Faust - Vocals, Guitar
Not present: Mike D. Mulligan, Emma Ripp, Dan Collins, Blake Gifford, Nick Rudenko,
Eric Seidle, and Greg Ford
Occasionally Sofar Sounds will bring forth some unexpected style or genre. Maitland brought forth one of those unexpected genre's being exposed with a little bit of indulgent indie folk (think Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago). They are just a simple duo, playing songs recorded in a cabin, but there are layers upon layers to the music. Josh Hines and Jeff Mach make music that is just full of surprises. If you weren't paying much attention to the playing, but just listening along, you were jolted when Josh let out an angelic wail near the end of 'Embers'. If you were paying attention you were amazed as Josh Hines seemingly played both the guitar and bass lines simultaneously while singing the beautiful tune.
The surpise of their next tune, 'Dust of Old Leaves' was the unexpected harmony between Josh & Jeff and the über melodic ooohs. I had heard their album before, but seeing Josh Hines have those notes float effortlessly from him was a sight that had to be witnessed.
The only thing missing from the set was the Radiohead-esque electric guitar parts mid song on 'Drop Down'. The songs were deceivingly long, but pleasantly mesmerizing. Ironically, the last tune 'Sleepyhead' was condensed to about half of its original length (only 6 minutes rather than the full 12). The heavier strum and louder lyrics lead toward a triumphant ending, filled with uproarious drumming, and a serendipitously timed motorcycle roaring by.
MaitlandMusic.net
Josh Hines - Vocals, Guitar
Jeff Mach - Drums, vocals
The middle set of the evening, fulfilled every meme of East-Central Pa folk rock; sun glasses and a tank top rather than the overdone hippie or hipster garb, impressive mustaches, and guitar accompaniment by a cousin. The thing is, that the self-proclaimed 'Folk-Rock dudes with mustaches" by Mike McMonagle and Jerry Bernhardt was anything but cliché. Mike McMonagle brought a Seven Mary Three grungy edge while Mike and Jerry brought some apt guitar playing. The only weakness to the set was Mike's admitted inability to come up with better song titles. The lyric writing had to be the best part with literary gems about the ills of NYC vs. the bonus of being happy at home and a disaster waiting to happen (again) in Centralia, PA.
Mike McMonagle
Mike McMonagle - Vocals, Guitar
Jerry Bernhardt - Guitar,Vocals
** of Juston Stens and the Get Real Gang & of The Bernhardts
Not able to attend - Dominic Billett ** of Toy Soldiers
They sucked the crowd right in, with the popular 'Still Sleeping'. The rowdy-indie-folk-boy choir had simple song construction, but their full throttle harmonies were extremely effective to grab the crowd's attention. If that didn't do it, the free stickers, which the fans gobbled up like candy, certainly did. 'Ghost' was the set closer. Not yet released, there are sure to be fans lined up for that upcoming album, as the pretty guitar ditty makes a turn for an hot and passionate finale.
PoorRemy.com
Adrian Galvin -Banjo, Tambourine,Vocals
Kenneth Polyak - Guitar,Violin, Vocals
Andrew D'Amico - Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals
Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia Set list 8-11-2013
Track RELEASE
-Still Sleeping Still Sleeping EP
Poor Remy - Still Sleeping | Sofar Philadelphia (#448)
The Fleeting Ends - Philadelphia, PA
Locals trio, the Fleeting Ends, have been having a great summer so far touring around the country; getting to play the River stage at XPoNential Festival at the end of July, the 2nd Anniversary show at MilkBoy Philadelphia and the upcoming Brandywine Folk Festival! For their Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia living room set, they brought their Killers-esque indie pop and played all the hits from their 2013 release Our Eyes Are Peeled. Doing their best not to turn into a sweaty mess, it was near impossible due to the heat building up in the apartment and the guys playing an intense set.
The songs were catchy, and lively while the crowd bounced along with The Fleeting Ends. The lyric says "in a limited way I'm like that', but while Our Eyes Are Peeled is a great radio friendly album, they did a great job with a representing their sound to a live living room set. The best part: how they turned a mandolin into a pop instrument is beyond me, but it sounded great on 'Little People'.
TheFleetingEnds.com
Matt Vantine - Vocals, Guitars, Mandolin
Matt Amadio - Vocals, Percussion
Rusty Langley - Bass
Links to earlier SofarSounds: Philadelphia reviews:
June May April March January
We hold these pop-up gigs in over 35 cities across 5 continents"
** All photos from Lindsey Borgman**
August 11th Northern Liberties - Philadelphia, PA
Each Sofar Sounds show is unique. Each Sofar Sounds show has elements that haven’t been seen before and won’t be seen again. Fans keep coming back as they are so intrigued by what incredible experience they might be a part of. What part of town will the show be in? Who in the crowd will be performing later? What future (or current) star is going to be performing? What unexpected genre will be represented?
Looking back at prior shows, there has always been at least one band that has blown me away by playing in a living room. DRGN KING, Sean Hoots, Kingsley Flood, the Lawsuits, Kwesi Kankam, and that's just the first band that came to mind each month. Epic shows around the world included Boy in Los Angeles, Pearl and the Beard in Austin, and Ayah Marar and Bastille in London.
 |
| The Fleeting Ends |
What could we expect on the gorgeous August day in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia? We were given the tease by the Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia crew that there would be a band from NYC and a band who had just performed at the XPoNential Festival, but that's all we knew, outside of the Sofar Sounds expectations of a quiet room to hear some awesome music!
Eric Faust - STATE COLLEGE, PA
The first act of the August Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia show, the first artist was young Eric Faust, of the band Lenina Crowne. Eric had the burden of playing without his band, facing a surprisingly large and very attentive crowd. For an older music fan like myself, it was endearing when Eric referred to a song written when he was 18 years old as "immature" when the song was written just 3-4 years prior. Don't let age fool you, nor the solo stature, Eric still held his own in front of the music savvy Sofar Sounds crowd.
 |
| Eric Faust / Lenina Crowne |
The set started "with a soft one" 'Queen Jane', but it was his "immature" 'Hummingbird' that caught the attention of the crowd which he built to a mighty crescendo, Dylan style with harmonica and acoustic guitar. Eric was proudly exclaimed his next song a "big deal" as he only writes a few songs each year. The new song (untitled so far), was unveiled for the first time to a crowd.
You could hear and see his growth lyrically and musically as he presented his chronologically organized set list. I can only imagine how good the untitled track and 'Angel Upstairs' could become, as later in the evening, he admitted to constantly re-working his older catalog.
Next was 'Angel Upstairs' a song of love spurned (it seems). It built up vocally and musically to what seemed to be the ending. However, an unexpected modulation teased as the supportive and polite crowd held their applause until Eric Faust finished, rewarding the crowd with a sweet ending.
I'm not sure if he ended up "getting with" the "angel right upstairs" or not, but I do know the Penn State University crowds have a band ready to kick start the local scene, as Lenina Crowne masters these new tracks!
 |
| Eric Faust |
Eric Faust - Vocals, Guitar
Not present: Mike D. Mulligan, Emma Ripp, Dan Collins, Blake Gifford, Nick Rudenko,
Eric Seidle, and Greg Ford
Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia
Set list 8-11-2013
Track RELEASE
-Queen Jane future release
Set list 8-11-2013
Track RELEASE
-Queen Jane future release
-Hummingbird future release
-Untitled future release
-Angel Upstairs future release
Eric Faust - Untitled | Sofar Philadelphia (#448)
Maitland - Williamsport, PA
 |
| Maitland : Josh Hines & Jeff Mach |
Occasionally Sofar Sounds will bring forth some unexpected style or genre. Maitland brought forth one of those unexpected genre's being exposed with a little bit of indulgent indie folk (think Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago). They are just a simple duo, playing songs recorded in a cabin, but there are layers upon layers to the music. Josh Hines and Jeff Mach make music that is just full of surprises. If you weren't paying much attention to the playing, but just listening along, you were jolted when Josh let out an angelic wail near the end of 'Embers'. If you were paying attention you were amazed as Josh Hines seemingly played both the guitar and bass lines simultaneously while singing the beautiful tune.
The surpise of their next tune, 'Dust of Old Leaves' was the unexpected harmony between Josh & Jeff and the über melodic ooohs. I had heard their album before, but seeing Josh Hines have those notes float effortlessly from him was a sight that had to be witnessed.
 |
| Maitland |
MaitlandMusic.net
Josh Hines - Vocals, Guitar
Jeff Mach - Drums, vocals
Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia set list 8-11-2013
Track RELEASE
-Embers (from a cabin in the woods).
Track RELEASE
-Embers (from a cabin in the woods).
-Dust of Old Leaves (from a cabin in the woods).
-Drop Down (from a cabin in the woods).
-Sleepyhead (from a cabin in the woods).
Mike McMonagle - Lancaster, PA
The middle set of the evening, fulfilled every meme of East-Central Pa folk rock; sun glasses and a tank top rather than the overdone hippie or hipster garb, impressive mustaches, and guitar accompaniment by a cousin. The thing is, that the self-proclaimed 'Folk-Rock dudes with mustaches" by Mike McMonagle and Jerry Bernhardt was anything but cliché. Mike McMonagle brought a Seven Mary Three grungy edge while Mike and Jerry brought some apt guitar playing. The only weakness to the set was Mike's admitted inability to come up with better song titles. The lyric writing had to be the best part with literary gems about the ills of NYC vs. the bonus of being happy at home and a disaster waiting to happen (again) in Centralia, PA. Mike McMonagle - Vocals, Guitar
Jerry Bernhardt - Guitar,Vocals
** of Juston Stens and the Get Real Gang & of The Bernhardts
Not able to attend - Dominic Billett ** of Toy Soldiers
Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia
Set list 8-11-2013
Track RELEASE
-The News Live From Madsummer Meltdown
Set list 8-11-2013
Track RELEASE
-The News Live From Madsummer Meltdown
-Don’t Light A Match Live From Madsummer Meltdown
-Train Song Live at Grand Salon
-Overdue unreleased
Mike McMonagle - Train Song | Sofar Philadelphia (#448)
Poor Remy - New York, NY
Sofar Sounds: New York veterans, Poor Remy brought their sounds south to Philadelphia. Adrian Galvin has a broken right arm, so a few necessary pre-planned instrument changes later, the trio was stripped down, with an electric bass rather than Ken Polyak on violin or Adrian on banjo, leaving Adrian reduced to tambourine duty. 
They sucked the crowd right in, with the popular 'Still Sleeping'. The rowdy-indie-folk-boy choir had simple song construction, but their full throttle harmonies were extremely effective to grab the crowd's attention. If that didn't do it, the free stickers, which the fans gobbled up like candy, certainly did. 'Ghost' was the set closer. Not yet released, there are sure to be fans lined up for that upcoming album, as the pretty guitar ditty makes a turn for an hot and passionate finale.
PoorRemy.com
Adrian Galvin -
Kenneth Polyak - Guitar,
Andrew D'Amico - Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals
Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia Set list 8-11-2013 Track RELEASE
-Still Sleeping Still Sleeping EP
-North Carolina pending release
-Wrecking Ball pending release
-Ghost pending release
Poor Remy - Still Sleeping | Sofar Philadelphia (#448)
The Fleeting Ends - Philadelphia, PA
Locals trio, the Fleeting Ends, have been having a great summer so far touring around the country; getting to play the River stage at XPoNential Festival at the end of July, the 2nd Anniversary show at MilkBoy Philadelphia and the upcoming Brandywine Folk Festival! For their Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia living room set, they brought their Killers-esque indie pop and played all the hits from their 2013 release Our Eyes Are Peeled. Doing their best not to turn into a sweaty mess, it was near impossible due to the heat building up in the apartment and the guys playing an intense set.The songs were catchy, and lively while the crowd bounced along with The Fleeting Ends. The lyric says "in a limited way I'm like that', but while Our Eyes Are Peeled is a great radio friendly album, they did a great job with a representing their sound to a live living room set. The best part: how they turned a mandolin into a pop instrument is beyond me, but it sounded great on 'Little People'.
TheFleetingEnds.com
Matt Vantine - Vocals, Guitars, Mandolin
Matt Amadio - Vocals, Percussion
Rusty Langley - Bass
Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia set list 8-11-2013
Track RELEASE
-I Feel Cursed Our Eyes Are Peeled
-Operator Our Eyes Are Peeled
Track RELEASE
-I Feel Cursed Our Eyes Are Peeled
-Operator Our Eyes Are Peeled
-Elaine (Until Now) Our Eyes Are Peeled
-Little People Our Eyes Are Peeled
-I'm Like That Our Eyes Are Peeled
-Return Address Revival Single
Thanks to SofarSounds: Philly for the invitation to come out again to the shows!
Video by Bob Sweeney & Nicklas Hughes
Photos by Lindsey Borgman
The Fleeting Ends - Elaine | Sofar Philadelphia (#448)
Thanks to SofarSounds: Philly for the invitation to come out again to the shows!
Video by Bob Sweeney & Nicklas Hughes
Photos by Lindsey Borgman
Links to earlier SofarSounds: Philadelphia reviews:
June May April March January
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