Root Down in the Shadow

Last week for #COVERCLUB , The Rivals selected Birdie Busch for our introduction to Nomad Recording Studio !  The relative newcomers to the Philadelphia music scene, The Rivals , did an intense take on the delicate Birdie Busch favorite 'Be The Arrow'.   Like with most things that the Rivals do they overwhelm your senses, leaving you stunned and amazed.  Unlike a black-out that leaves you wondering what you missed when from the night before, The Rivals leave you plenty aware of what hit you, whether it's Rob Swift 's intense guitar, Wayne Gallagher 's rollicking keys, or Tom Williamson 's funky bass.  Don't let their unassuming rock star attitudes confuse you.  Although they are clearly having fun, don't mistake their enjoyment of the moment.  These guys are hard at work with their songs.  To complete their Cover Club session, the fellas stripped back down to their three piece form for their new song 'The Confessor'! Cover Club | The Riva

Earlier this year here at the indie Philly blog, Root Down In The Shadow, we started the fun series #Philly Presents ...bands writing about other bands. The most common reaction from bands to this project: "Wait? Are we covering other bands?" And so #CoverClub was born!  We started the series on with an acoustic focus, taking on four local bands at Break Neck Studio and we caught up with national recording artist, Joe Fletcher before his sound check at MilkBoy!   The newest installment of the series takes us to a new location, our second featured studio, Nomad Recording Studio.  Tucked in the University City section of Philadelphia, Nomad was our host for the session recorded just over a week ago.  This session features a full band for the first time in the series, with the Rivals taking the helm.  With the wide open spaces of the Victorian home that houses Nomad, it was time to switch things up and plug in! When Wayne Gallagher , Rob Swift , and Tom W

Joe Fletcher at Milkboy recording for #CoverClub This week, the session of the new Philadelphia-centric music series #CoverClub, features a national act, Joe Fletcher , covering a local Philly band the Toy Soldiers .  It's an unexpected pairing of sorts with the road veteran covering the enterprising young bucks from Philadelphia, but there's more than meets the eye ear.   As Joe detailed their connection in the earlier post , it's clear that Joe gets a boost from these rockers.  After seeing the Toy Soldiers for the first time, " I believe they pushed us to give our best performance of the SXSW week." With Fletcher's tour dates in 2013 shared with many incredible artists such as Brown Bird , Deer Tick , Jason Isbell , Band of Heathens , Christopher Paul Stelling , Birdie Busch, and Patrick Sweany , hopefully there's a little push from each of the bands that Joe crossed paths with this year. With Joe Fletcher now based on Nashville, TN, the

The 40th Anniversary Innervisions #Revisited show "was initially inspired by a Facebook comment made by Robert Drake , on-air host and producer for WXPN , in which he said, “The #XPNfest has just started and I already have a new favorite band!! Philly's own Aaron & The Spell ... it's like listening to vintage 1970s Stevie Wonder .” After reading that comment, it struck lead singer and songwriter Aaron Brown that it would be great fun to actually cover a Stevie Wonder record. After looking into it further, Aaron realized that it was the 40th anniversary for one of his favorite albums, Innervisions, and the rest was easy after that. He enlisted some great friends to help play and promote the shows." The idea for the show was well conceived on so many levels.  It is a perfect reason to get familiar with a classic album, another reason to go see Aaron & The Spell, and all the proceeds of the event went to charity!  The show in Philadelphia took place at Wo

Earlier this year here at the indie Philly blog, Root Down In The Shadow, we started the fun series #Philly Presents , ...bands writing about other bands. The most common reaction from bands to this project: "Wait? Are we covering other bands?" And so #CoverClub was born!  Rewinding back a few months, Joe Fletcher the road warrior extraordinaire, was down in Austin, doing one of many SXSW shows!   At the showcase he heard the scrappy but bangin' fellas from Philadelphia, Toy Soldiers ! Joe Fletcher, explained,  "I first met Dom Billett and Matt Kelly at a show of mine in Lancaster, PA last fall, and after hanging out awhile after the show I could tell we were speaking the same language. I never got a chance to see Toy Soldiers until we were booked at the same SXSW showcase this past March. It was an event called Northern Exposure at The Taproom on 6th and Toy Soldiers went on right before my band. I was immediately floored by their spirit and t

  What's the point of making friends with the best music fans in Philly if you can't invite them to come hang for a year end house concert. For a suggested donation of $15-20 we're going to supply 3 incredible artists for one last house show of the year! The artists include the beautiful songstresses Jeannine Hebb & Lily Virginia each from Brookyn, NY and Jake Lewis and the Clergy from Lancaster, PA. You can check in on the event on facebook, but the official list will be held by RSVP-ing at RootDownInTheShadow[at]gmail. com ****You can invite friends, but we're limited to 50-60 peeps, so RSVP asap**** "doors" at 7:30pm.. music will start promptly at 8pm. Don't be left out in the cold! Be sure to RSVP so you get the address for the West Phila/University City location. Lily Virginia - Yuriko "Run Around" Jake Lewis & the Clergy JEANNINE HEBB - THESE DAYS - Balcony TV Session

Earlier this year here at the indie Philly blog, Root Down In The Shadow, we started the fun series #Philly Presents , ...bands writing about other bands. The most common reaction from bands to this project: "Wait? Are we covering other bands?" And so #CoverClub was born!  Coming up this Saturday, #CoverClub sessions are being recorded at Nomad Studio with our friends at RLS Video!  Starting at 10am, we will bring in artists for one-hour sessions throughout the day. The line-up includes: Aaron Brown of Aaron & The Spell the Rivals Ron Gallo of the Toy Soldiers the Fleeting Ends How would you like to catch some hot Philly bands, in studio while they record the their #CoverClub session?  Just imagine you and a friend, hanging out a the studio while the bands work on their Philly-centric cover and an original.  Wouldn't it be better with YOU watching? Here's how you can make this work: For each session you would like to attend, blow-up Twi

Photo by Jeff Coon This week, the session of the new Philadelphia-centric music series #CoverClub, features Brian Strouse & Vanessa Winters at Break Neck Studios where the members of Philadelphia band, the Lawsuits, covered Ween !  Ironically, just as I lamented here are week ago, that 'Fine Quality' covered by Chelsea Mitchell was being rescued from the growing stack of incredible songs by the Lawsuits on the new album Cool Cool Cool .  Brian and Vanessa dug further into the Lawsuits catalog for this week's original session track! 'Dancing In Church' is a Lawsuits throwback.  In fact, it's technically on a solo Brian Dale Allen Strouse album, 18 South Main.   The 2010 album was early tinder for Strouse, as several tracks made it onto other releases.  Two songs became tracks on the subsequent Lawsuits album Darleen ('Hot Water Blues' and 'Mermaid').  The dark 'Hurricane Blues' a lament of a broken relationship, became a ste

Earlier this year here at the indie Philly blog, Root Down In The Shadow, we started the fun series #Philly Presents , ...bands writing about other bands. The most common reaction from bands to this project: "Wait? Are we covering other bands?" And so #CoverClub was born!  This week, the featured #CoverClub artists are Brian Strouse and Vanessa Winters of  The Lawsuits .  On a very chill afternoon in October, Brian and Vanessa came in to Breakneck Studio for their session.  Coincidentially they came in right as Chelsea Mitchell was recording her version of the Lawsuits' 'Fine Quality'. The band Brian Strouse chose cover was Ween.  Ween ?   Ween is just one of those bands.  You'll never hear them on the radio.  You didn't see them on MTV or VH1, but maybe once in their lengthy career.  Someone had to introduce you to Ween.  For Brian Strouse it was his older brother.  My experience was through an older brother too, not mine, but my frien