Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia –Dirty Dollhouse / Caleb Hawley / Rosu Lup / City Rain - February 23, 2013
Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia - February 2014
Photos by Lindsey Borgman
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 begin! Who could be next?
Dirty Dollhouse
First act of the night was folk-pop trio Dirty Dollhouse. Chelsea Mitchell leads with her acoustic guitar and ukulele and is accompanied by vocalists Amber Twait and Vanessa Winters. I know these ladies have some beautiful voices all by themselves from hearing them previously solo and with other bands (The Lawsuits, Levee Drivers) and I was eager to see how they harmonize and perform as a group. The answer came less than a minute into the title track of Chelsea's solo EP Married In The Aviary; their harmonies were a joy to hear.
Sofar Philly | Dirty Dollhouse 'Married In The Aviary'
Sofar Philly | Dirty Dollhouse 'Married In The Aviary' from Bob Sweeney on Vimeo.
Chelsea’s original songs for Dirty Dollhouse are folk/Americana - reminiscent of Kate McGarrigle, especially with “Old Fires.” After the first two classically mature songs, Dirty Dollhouse took it in a completely unexpected direction, covering a one-hit-wonder from 2000. The intimate crowd couldn’t help but giggle when they realized it was Wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag,” particularly with Chelsea’s crisp pronunciation of the line "her boyfriend's a dick." Listeners were hooked by the build up and went wild when Amber and Vanessa added a powerful punch to the chorus. It was awesome how Dirty Dollhouse could rearrange a cover and make it better than the original. Going out on a limb was impressive and the result was sincere and effective. To lock in the Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia crowd as sure fire fans of Dirty Dollhouse, the ladies wrapped up their four-song set with a roof-rattling rendition of “Shake All Over." A staple of Chelsea Mitchell solo sets from the last year, this is just a powerhouse with the trio at full strength.
Dirty Dollhouse - Teenage Dirtbag | Sofar Philadelphia (#640)
Setlist:
1. Married in the Aviary Married In The Aviary EP
2. Old Fires Unreleased Original
3. Teenage Dirtbag Wheatus - Wheatus
4. Shake All Over Live At Johnny Brenda's
Caleb Hawley
Caleb Hawley usually performs with his full band, featured on his Side 1 EP, but for this set he was solo with just his guitar. He was one of the most interactive performers I’ve seen at a Sofar show. At one point he dropped to his knees singing directly to a lucky audience member during "I Just Want You." On "Look At The Pretty Lady" he had the entire crowd be his backup singers. Caleb Hawley has a pop-soul style akin to Allen Stone, but not all were fun love songs, taking a serious turn for “We All Got Problems.”
Caleb Hawley - I Just Want You | Sofar Philadelphia (#640)
Setlist:
I Just Want You Side 1 EP
Look At That Pretty Lady
Take Back The Night (Justin Timberlake cover)
We All Got Problems
Caleb Hawley will be playing Milkboy Philly April 2.
Rosu Lup
Rosu Lup is considered a four piece, but for this set they had two friends join them on cello and trumpet. Rosu Lup is from Philadelphia, but their songs and arrangements are reminders of Head and the Heart, Calexico and Beirut. Although somewhat on the sleepy side, don't nap through their nautical theme set, the buzz about the band is growing with a newly completely Kettle Pot Tracks session and a Communion Tour Club tour stop under their belts.
Setlist:
Sleeping Sail Unreleased Original
Currents Currents EP
Safer Place Unreleased Original
Shorelines Shorelines
Rosu Lup returns from South by Southwest Festival to play Johnny Brenda's Saturday April 5th, opening for Joshua Stamper on a line-up with Liz & The Lost Boys
City Rain
For the final act - the electro-pop duo City Rain came ready to rock.
These guys have been gaining some notice
with their video for “The Optimist” appearing on MTVU and soon to be releasing their
album “Songs For A High School Dance.” Ben Runyan on vocals and keyboard and Scott Crumpstone on guitar played a stripped "acoustic" set without their mics and standard heavy reverb, but Ben's voice still expressed the intense emotions that their songs carry especially in "The Dreamer" and "The Optimist." Something the angst-filled teenagers in all of us could understand.
City Rain is going to play the Red Gorilla Festival in Austin March 15.
Setlist
The Dreamer
Where the Street Have No Name – U2 cover
Mama I Wanna To Go Home
The Optimist
 |
| 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 begin! Who could be next?
Dirty Dollhouse
Sofar Philly | Dirty Dollhouse 'Married In The Aviary'
Sofar Philly | Dirty Dollhouse 'Married In The Aviary' from Bob Sweeney on Vimeo.
Chelsea’s original songs for Dirty Dollhouse are folk/Americana - reminiscent of Kate McGarrigle, especially with “Old Fires.” After the first two classically mature songs, Dirty Dollhouse took it in a completely unexpected direction, covering a one-hit-wonder from 2000. The intimate crowd couldn’t help but giggle when they realized it was Wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag,” particularly with Chelsea’s crisp pronunciation of the line "her boyfriend's a dick." Listeners were hooked by the build up and went wild when Amber and Vanessa added a powerful punch to the chorus. It was awesome how Dirty Dollhouse could rearrange a cover and make it better than the original. Going out on a limb was impressive and the result was sincere and effective. To lock in the Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia crowd as sure fire fans of Dirty Dollhouse, the ladies wrapped up their four-song set with a roof-rattling rendition of “Shake All Over." A staple of Chelsea Mitchell solo sets from the last year, this is just a powerhouse with the trio at full strength.
Dirty Dollhouse - Teenage Dirtbag | Sofar Philadelphia (#640)
Setlist:
1. Married in the Aviary Married In The Aviary EP
2. Old Fires Unreleased Original
3. Teenage Dirtbag Wheatus - Wheatus
4. Shake All Over Live At Johnny Brenda's
Caleb Hawley
Caleb Hawley usually performs with his full band, featured on his Side 1 EP, but for this set he was solo with just his guitar. He was one of the most interactive performers I’ve seen at a Sofar show. At one point he dropped to his knees singing directly to a lucky audience member during "I Just Want You." On "Look At The Pretty Lady" he had the entire crowd be his backup singers. Caleb Hawley has a pop-soul style akin to Allen Stone, but not all were fun love songs, taking a serious turn for “We All Got Problems.”
Caleb Hawley - I Just Want You | Sofar Philadelphia (#640)
Setlist:
I Just Want You Side 1 EP
Look At That Pretty Lady
Take Back The Night (Justin Timberlake cover)
We All Got Problems
Caleb Hawley will be playing Milkboy Philly April 2.
Rosu Lup
Rosu Lup is considered a four piece, but for this set they had two friends join them on cello and trumpet. Rosu Lup is from Philadelphia, but their songs and arrangements are reminders of Head and the Heart, Calexico and Beirut. Although somewhat on the sleepy side, don't nap through their nautical theme set, the buzz about the band is growing with a newly completely Kettle Pot Tracks session and a Communion Tour Club tour stop under their belts.
Setlist:
Sleeping Sail Unreleased Original
Currents Currents EP
Safer Place Unreleased Original
Shorelines Shorelines
Rosu Lup returns from South by Southwest Festival to play Johnny Brenda's Saturday April 5th, opening for Joshua Stamper on a line-up with Liz & The Lost Boys
City Rain
For the final act - the electro-pop duo City Rain came ready to rock.
These guys have been gaining some notice
with their video for “The Optimist” appearing on MTVU and soon to be releasing their
album “Songs For A High School Dance.” Ben Runyan on vocals and keyboard and Scott Crumpstone on guitar played a stripped "acoustic" set without their mics and standard heavy reverb, but Ben's voice still expressed the intense emotions that their songs carry especially in "The Dreamer" and "The Optimist." Something the angst-filled teenagers in all of us could understand.City Rain is going to play the Red Gorilla Festival in Austin March 15.
Setlist
The Dreamer
Where the Street Have No Name – U2 cover
Mama I Wanna To Go Home
The Optimist
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