Song Dogs, The Gallerist and the Bernhardts Live at Milkboy Philadelphia review August 9th, 2013

Last Friday night, MilkBoy Philly hosted a stellar line-up of local acts to support national act Desert Noises.  The local line-up itself was solid in its own rights and here's what you need to know:

Mike Southerton of Song Dogs

The Bernhardts  

Jerry Bernhardt / Kate Bernhardt

The Bernhardts have to be one of Philly's biggest buzz bands right now.  Members have been all over town in as parts of other bands.  Kate Bernhardt is often found backing Ali Wadsworth, Ben Plotnik plays bass now for Levee Drivers, and Jerry Bernhardt can be found with Juston Stens and the Get Real Gang or sometimes with Mike McMonagle.   Regardless of whom else they team up with, when they get together the Bernhardts have an unmistakable draw.  In fact, the whole crowd stopped to watch just on the sound check they did right before their set.

The songs are simple in nature, but it's not just a pretty voice and face playing with her bro.  The harmonies are great, even with two guys doing the backing.  Kate draws you in with her great voice, and keeps you there with her song and lyric compositions.  Whether songs of travel or relationship, she has you sucked in the whole time.  I'm still trying to figure out who the super guy she's singing about in 'Bare Bones' is.

Kate Bernhardt - Vocals, Guitar
Jerry Bernhardt - Guitar, vocals
Ben Plotnik -  Bass, vocals

The Bernhardts       Set list 8-9-2013 
           Track                                  RELEASE  
-If You Want Me                 upcoming album   

-Wake Up Slow                  upcoming album   

-Dandelion                          upcoming album   

-Motorcycle                        upcoming album   

-Fire Fighter                       upcoming album   
-Bare Bones                       upcoming album   
-Old Wind                          upcoming album   
-Moonlight                         upcoming album   

The Gallerist 

The second act on the bill doesn't play in other bands or have a bombshell as the lead, but The Gallerist is everyman-folk.  The songs hit home with their lyrics and the tunes bring you back for more.

The set for the 3 piece band mixed in songs from their debut EP, Falling Waltz, with 3 new tracks and some covers to treat the crowd.   From the standby tracks 'Crumbs' was a little funkier on the guitar part and 'Falling Waltz' was sans banjo, meanwhile 'Washed Away' was a steady as it is good. 

Each time I hear new tracks 'Helium' and 'Old Skin' I can't wait to hear a new recording.  However, it's Hometown Blues' that has me most excited for the band.  Mike Collins' lyrics truly resonate, for anyone who moved away for a while and tried to go back home thinking it would be anywhere close to what it was when they left. 


The Gallerist
Mike Collins - Vocals, Guitar, Banjo
Kai Carter -  Bass,   vocals
John Holback -  Drums,   vocals

The Gallerist  Set list 8-9-2013 
           Track                                         RELEASE  
-Songbirds                                    A Falling Waltz  

-Crumbs                                       A Falling Waltz   

-Hometown Blues                        unreleased track   

-When My Name is Spoken         Spirit Family Reunion - Spirit Family Reunion

-Helium                                       unreleased track 
-Yesterday's News Today             A Falling Waltz  

-Tonight I'll Be Staying Here       Dylan
-A Falling Waltz                           A Falling Waltz    
-Old Skin                                      unreleased track 

Song Dogs - Philadelphia, PA 

Ryan McCloskey

After Utah band Desert Noises wrapped up their national tour set, locals Song Dogs took the closing set spot.   Playing a majority of new songs, the six-piece was able to keep the attention of the crowd despite the late slot. 

Song Dogs were able to mix in a lot of new songs, with the best of their self-titled Song Dogs.  New songs started off the set, featuring 'You Are My Rock' a heavy rocker and 'Grandaddy's Gun' which had Clutch-like riffs, solos by Mike Southerton and Sam Conver taking over on vocals.   Song Dogs totally shredded 'Two Stars' their Neil Young-ish classic rock song, with a harder edge.

They briefly came back to fan favorites, such as 'Buffalo Crossroads' featuring a cool little choir-like intro, while Mike Southerton told a story about the genesis of the song.


An even older song 'Holy Ghost and Run' is text book classic rock; it had guitar riffs by Ryan McCloskey, cranking it up one more notch each time.  Another new track, 'At the Foot of your Love' also featured Sam on vocals, while Dan Cooper took a rare drum solo.  After Dan's rockin' solo, they played 'Song Dogs'  I was a little stumped at first with the choice of the slower song for what I thought was the finale, but watching it unfold they clearly knew what they were doing.  Ryan McCloskey was very animated to watch and Mike replaced Emily Southerton's trumpet part from the album with an incredible solo.

At the crowd's demand Song Dogs played one more, taking 'Careless' for a stroll as their encore song.

Song Dogs:
Sam Conver: Bass, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Dan Cooper: Drums
Ryan McCloskey: Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals
Mariama O’Brien: Percussion, Vocals
Emily Southerton: Keyboards
Michael Southerton: Guitar, Vocals,  

Song Dogs      Set list 8-9-2013 
           Track                                         RELEASE  
-You Are My Rock                  unreleased track   

-Grandaddy's Gun                    unreleased track   

-Two Stars                               unreleased track 

-Buffalo Crossroads                Wild Country         
-Anyways                                unreleased track 
-Wild Country                         Wild Country      
-Holy Ghost and Run   Song Dogs and the Nightjar  
-Catch A Tiger              Song Dogs and the Nightjar 
-At the Foot of your Love               unreleased track 
-Song Dogs                             Wild Country     
ENCORE
-Careless                                 Wild Country

Emily Southerton, Mike Southerton, Mariama O'Brien, Sam Conver and Ryan McCloskey

Mariama O'Brien on perscussion

Mike Southerton, Mariama O'Brien, Sam Conver and Ryan McCloskey