Root Down in the Shadow

The final #CoverClub entry from Nomad Recording Studios session 2.0 is here at last.  We're proud to present Up The Chain covering The Lawsuits .  Rounding out an intense line-up of Sean Hoots covering Boyz II Men 'It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday' , DRGN KING 's Dominic Angelella covering the iconic Dead Milkmen , and The Bernhardt Family Band covering Toy Soldiers, Up The Chain takes on the most challenging cover of the session. Originally known as "Walk You Home", the song was originally a track by the Lawsuits frontman Brian Dale Allen Strouse on his solo release Peace, Turkey!, "Walk You Home" is one of many love songs written by Brian Strouse through the years and featuring Brian on piano with a little harmonica.  Unfortunately, the song was not well-known as the album was overshadowed by the more successful Lawsuits release Darleen , put out in the same time period.   Here's the original track by Brian Dale Allen Str

In just under two weeks, a very special edition of #CoverClub will take place live at Church of Kong .  This is the monthly series featuring TJ Kong of TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb and a selection of rotating friends.  The series is a wonderful way to wake up on a sleepy Center City Philly morning.  The combination of the Nodding Heads killer brews, yummy menu and live tunes are great.  When you allow the Kong touch on the lineup to be applied and it's a fantastic morning. LIVE AT CHURCH OF KONG The Cover Club crew is eager to capture some new TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb for our Philly-centric cover series.  The original track stands to be one of their brand new songs, while the Philly-centric cover is yet to be announced.  Come join us to see the tapings before they are released in the upcoming months on YouTube. Be sure to stay for the intense line-up.  Ron Gallo returns for another Church of Kong, as he selects from new solo work and his library of Toy Soldiers tune

by Mariel Lorenz & Dan McGurk When you pull up to East Coast Recording Studio at 780 Falcon Drive, tucked away off of a Street Road industrial park in a Warminster, PA, you’ll see FUGE in huge letters above the entrance of the building. This was once part of the Naval Air Development Center Johnsville .  The centerpiece of this park was a centrifuge where future astronauts came to experience what the force of gravity felt like on their bodies. Technologies, like GPS, that we depend on so much today saw its development here too. Although the Navy has left the facility more than 20 years, the centrifuge is still there as part of an event space. Many companies have also moved in to set up shop, but one company here could raise a few eyebrows – a recording studio ran by a Grammy Award winning producer. Levee Drivers at N.A.S.A. control? East Coast Recording boasts an 1100 square foot live room. Not only could a band fit in here, but 50-70 of their friends as well

We're back for more from brand new band Leaf & Tree via #CoverClub.  Earlier this week, we debuted the Leaf & Tree cover of Levee Drivers' "Bourbon Coated" recorded at Breakneck Studios .  Today we debut original track "Hunter's Ridge" and spend some time getting to know Leaf & Tree creator Peter Joseph . Cover Club | Leaf & Tree 'Hunter's Ridge' In the last year you've produced & played on Chelsea Mitchell's "Married In The Aviary" and are producing and mixing Philly singer/songwriter Liam Gallagher's new album. What keeps you the most motivated: your own work, playing with others, or producing others. I would say working with someone else on a project keeps me more motivated because I don't want to let anyone down. I have more of a sense of responsibility when I feel like someone else is counting on me. Which seems backwards, but it is why I haven't finished my own pro

Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia - February 2014 The Art Dept welcomed Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia Photos by Lindsey Borgman Photo by Lindsey Borgman, Poster by Jennifer Prough Going to Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia on a monthly basis is a chance for renewal.  It's always a fresh start as you head to a place you've never been, to open yourself up to four bands you might not have listened to yet, and be ready for an unexpected set of emotions.  I found my destination - the bright, open gallery known as the Art Dept. I walked into the space and was immediately drawn to artwork displayed of these characters.  Part of the current exhibition Everybody Dates: New work by Ellen Haines , the figures were charming and their thoughts were interesting and funny.  Before bands had begun it was already a good night, I chatted with a few folks as the crowd gathered in and soon enough it was time to take our seats on the hardwood floor.  I was ready to let the Sofar Sounds experience b

August John Lutz II & Kyle Perella - Levee Drivers - photo by Dan McGurk Levee Drivers love two things: playing live music and setting up another chance to play live music.  Regrettably another key ingredient for bands is selling albums and merch.  For a long time, putting out new music got pushed aside.  It wasn't the perfect time, it wasn't ready yet.  After the band-aid was pulled off last fall with the Speakin' Bourbon Coated Blues EP and the Live Studio Session- East Coast Recording, things changed for the Levee Drivers.  Next they added a Key Studio Sessions and #CoverClub session.  Clearly, August John Lutz II & Kyle Perella had a change of plans and recently they've been in the studio aggressively recording their long-awaited full length album.   For this special show at Ortlieb's , they announced they'd be playing their new album for the first time front to back. The set was intriguing as I imagined the finished product fo

It's # CoverClub time again and this week we unveil the final artist from our Breakneck Recording Studios / Cover Club session 2.0: Leaf & Tree covering Levee Drivers .  Leaf & Tree is the fourth of four artists we invited to record for this session, including Levee Drivers covering Chris Kasper , Lucy Stone covering Cruiser , and Mat Burke covering the Menzingers .  Recorded on a chilly January day, we took to the cozy confines of the intimate Breakneck Studios. Leaf & Tree at Breakneck Studios As sole founder and mastermind, Peter Joseph is no stranger to the angular attic space lovingly known as Breakneck Studios. Under his care and guidance, Breakneck has quickly become the fountainhead of fine-tuned Bucks County folk rock, including that of Peter’s own project, Leaf & Tree. It’s also the birthplace of Cover Club, which likely would never have come to fruition if not for Peter and his seemingly unremarkable - yet somehow magical - attic.  A few months

Wednesday March 12th, The Bernhardt Family Band will be on at World Cafe Live with The Keys , The Dawn Drapes and August John Lutz II (of Levee Drivers ).  To get you ready for the show, we move up #CoverClub a day early, as we release an original track by The Bernhardt Family Band.   Outside of a few rough videos on the net, there is limited info about the band Kate Bernhardt & Jerry Bernhardt have formed.  So, to prevent from any further missing-out on this band, here is an interview with Kate and their original song "Moonlight" recorded at Nomad Recording Studios for Cover Club. The Bernhardt Family Band "Moonlight" Some folks will be surprised to find you listed on the liner notes for Ali Wadsworth's album, any other surprise credits to know about? We did some harmonies for Ron Gallo ’s solo project last fall, so that’s in the works. Jerry recorded on Mike McMonagle ’s album a few months ago and did a keyboard session with Chris Kasper ,

Welcome back to # CoverClub .  This week we are rotating back to Nomad Recording Studio , after last week's session at Breakneck Recording Studio with Lucy Stone covering Cruiser .   We pick up where we left off at Nomad continuing to release sessions from a very snowy January weekend.  So far, we've hit you with  Sean Hoots covering Boyz II Men 'It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday' and DRGN KING 's Dominic Angelella covering the iconic Dead Milkmen .   This week we introduce to you, The Bernhardt Family Band:  Cover Club | Bernhardt Family Band  'Tomorrow to Today' (Toy Soldiers) Photo by Bob Sweeney Truly a "family band" Kate Bernhardt & Jerry Bernhardt have been crafting "blood harmonies" for years.  Dubbed "Bernhardt Family Band" by Ron Gallo ( Toy Soldiers front-man, soloist, and all around show-man), it's no coincidence that they chose to cover Toy Soldiers.  Kate explains, "We ha

Contributing writer Michael Southerton is back with more details on the Philadelphia scene.  One part writer - one part musician, Mike brings his unique voice to Root Down In The Shadow for a point of view only a musician could explain.  On assignment for his view on the Katie Frank release show, check out his assessment of openers Kevin Killen and the Lawsuits ; and headliners Katie Frank & The Pheromones : Kevin Killen Eventually on the Highway to Hell the vagabond will find himself at Robert Johnson ’s Crossroads. There, he must make his decisions; though not in haste: a soul is terrible price to pay for a fruit tree, however bountiful, after all. So rather than press forward to Rosedale, the vagabond may benefit from a few minutes listening to cautionary tales and wary words from Philadelphia’s Kevin Killen, who seems to have found a home at that very crossroads. With an old Ephiphone bluesbox and a voice that subtly hints of Brian Johnson , Killen blends vintage vib

The #CoverClub series was created to showcase the Philly music scene in all aspects.  Current bands covering other current bands.  New bands covering older bands.  Soon to be legends covering already legends.  Unlike one the inspirations for the series the AV Club Undercover , these sessions had to include some original music as well.  Showing off the current band has to be just as important as honoring the others. Getting to hear these superb new cover versions has been fantastic.  What has been unexpected was hearing, often for the first time, new original material being showcased for the series.  In fact ten of the last twelve sessions have included exciting, new, non-album released material.  For Lucy Stone and their Cover Club session at Break Neck Studios, after they covered pals Cruiser and their "Moving To Neptune" they unleashed their soon to be hit "Ten Below."  Moving further away from their pop/Singer-Songwriter pigeonholing labeling, Lucy St

After dinner and a beer at Boot & Saddle recently, crossing the threshold of the venue was more than going to a concert; it was a chance to go back in time.  For the evening, the talented outfits of Foxhound, Hezekiah Jones , and Ali Wadsworth transformed themselves into Nirvana , the Lemonheads , and Pearl Jam .  On any ordinary night, this would be a stellar line-up without any covers, but just talent alone.  But for this Saturday night, it stood to be an incredible night; recreating a night that many music fans wish they would have ever been a part of. First up was Foxhound.  Normally the duo of Chris Kasper and Kylie Ryan , they recruited some friends to make Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York happen.  Sean Hoots, complete with ripped jeans and a tied on flannel, played an acoustic bass and Tom Bendel was on drums.  Just as Nirvana took some liberties for the live recording, Foxhound made this their own as well as they played the whole album end to end sans &qu

All Photos by Lindsey Borgman Jonas Oesterle February 16th, 2014 at World Cafe Live , TRI STATE INDIE threw one hell of a party.  The day of the Third Annual Tri State Indie Awards day was filled with celebratory fun and killer music.  Jonas Oesterle hosted the event with The Living Sample as the house band, who by the way are a much better combo than Seth Myers and The 8G Band with Fred Armisen on Late Night .  The event showcased so much of what is awesome with the Philly music scene. The camaraderie in the building was impressive.  Tri State Indie really captured it well, when co-founders Rich McKie & Stephanie Seiple-McKie explained "the event is not solely Tri State Indie's award show.  It is the award show for the whole scene."  They are completely spot-on, as there were an impressive number of bands playing and being nominated, not to mention all the presenters representing a huge cross-section of the local industry.  To further their point, the n