Root Down in the Shadow

Welcome back to # CoverClub .  For this special Thursday edition of we continue our journey abroad in Philadelphia by taking the team out to Church of Kong .  For those not in the know, Church of Kong is not a church in the typical sense, but it's an early afternoon of healing via Nodding Head Brewery beverages, wonderful music including TJ Kong , and the best congregation anywhere.  This curated monthly event is a great time for new music each month.  For this occasion we found ourselves in the presence of three sirens in the form of Laura Szklarski, Cecilia Ferneborg , and Sarah Larsen as Ladybird. Doing a Cover Club recording at a live event such as Church of Kong, doesn't allow all the safeguards that an in studio session would allow, but with three talented ladies like those of Ladybird it's amazing how smooth the recording went.  Re-listening to the set later, there wasn't a pang for an edit or re-take.  Ladybird is natural when performing and capturing the

Band Name : Christopher Davis-Shannon Photo by Kettle Pot Tracks Style : Dance Music for the Old at Heart Years on the Scene : 3 performing under my own name...a lifetime performing with others such as Lover's League and Bill Haley Jr. and the Comets. Members : Yours Truly Any New Album Projects : Currently in the studio hashing out the first of a series of recordings witha full band, with the first bits intended to trickle out this summer with a full length to follow in the fall. Recent or Most unique Show : So many to choose from, but I think most recently has to be in Auckland. We were about halfway through our second set when a 60 year old man in a leopard print jacket decided he should hop up on the five foot stage and have a dancing contest with me. Life is an odd thing sometimes. He won. Upcoming Shows : I'm at the Twisted Tail the 13th and 20th next month solo! Also there is the Lover's League CD release on June 26th with Hezekia

Photo by Allie Wofarth If you read the 'XPN The Key article about Katie Frank cutting her musical teeth, you see there was a certain amount of push needed to get The Pheromones party started.  If you've been following along any of the recent festival lineup announcements, you will also see that there is no stopping this Katie Frank train from rolling.  Once you spend a little time with Katie Frank & The Pheromones or the Counting Your Curses album it's easy to see why they've been surrounded by so much buzz. See for yourself as we share Katie Frank and bandmates Josh Werblun and Joe Bisirri in an intimate take on their single "Misery" from Counting Your Curses . The recording is from their Sluice Box session in March for Cover Club when they recorded the great cover of Joan Jett & The Blackhearts "I Love Rock 'n' Roll." Cover Club / Katie Frank & The Pheromones "Misery" To see them live and see wh

Band Name : Jake Lewis and the Clergy Style: Indie Folk Rock . We like to take it down, real low. Years on the scene : 2 Members : Jake Lewis - Guitar/Vocals, Josh Gibbel - Bass, Katie Seifarth - Drums/Vocals, Anthony Harnish - Keys, Taylor Brandt - Violin/Guitar * GOSSIP by Jake Lewis & the Clergy Any new album, projects or sessions in the works? We’ve been working on a new album for a while now. This past winter we started writing some of our darkest/danciest songs yet, and just about a month ago we started tracking. You can hear it around the end of summer. Most unique show? Most recently, Cafe 49 in Annapolis MD. We had just finished playing a packed out show with Marshall Crenshaw at the Rams Head , and 15min later the booker was leading us out the backdoor, down an alley and in through another back door and pushing us on stage at Cafe 49. She had arranged for us to play ANOTHER show to a packed house. Such a kind, fun, pretty city. Philly Music Hero:

Welcome back to # CoverClub .  Back in late March we ventured away from the studios and headed out into Bucks County to the Sluice Box, home of Joshua Britton (Pslamships) and Brad Hinton ( Brad Hinton Trio , Hezekiah Jones .)  Not only do Joshua & Brad make a lot of music at home at the Sluice Box, but they also bring in friends from time to time for more creativity.  Root Down In The Shadow was invited over for a #CoverClub session and together we invited Katie Frank & The Pheromones to play! Of course we did sessions with Brad & Joshua, but first let's present our guest: Katie Frank & The Pheromones: Cover Club | Katie Frank &t the Pheromones "I Love Rock n Roll" (Joan Jett) Since getting my first listen of Katie Frank & The Pheromones, I was stuck on what the "sound" was like?  There seemed to be a little country, there was a lot of Grace Potter , but I couldn't put my finger on it of what that "it" was.  

Hoots & Hellmouth are back at their rightful place, the stages of Philadelphia, as they have begun a residency throughout May on Wednesday nights in at Philadelphia’s Boot & Saddle .   The event marks a first for both band and venue, as this is the group’s first-ever hometown residency and the club’s first since local concert promotions agency, R5 Productions , reopened the South Philadelphia landmark's doors in September 2013.   Now that the first ever residency week at Boot & Saddle is in the books, it's a great time to check out Hoots & Hellmouth as they go through new material in front of fans and friends alike in anticipation of their upcoming recording sessions this summer. The band—led by founding members Sean Hoots and Robert Berliner —will be debuting new material each Wednesday night in May.  One such song, "Move Me" was first presented with the Root Down In The Shadow series Cover Club earlier this year and will be amongst

Yet again, the peeps at Communion brought a festival sized lineup to Underground Arts for the monthly club series.  With a mix of local, national, and international bands, the tour brought a diverse line-up to the masses.  Let's take a look at some of the highlights: Brisbane, Australia natives Cub Sport made their first Philadelphia stop a memorable one as the four-piece band played tracks from both of their EP's Paradise and Told You So.  The quirky medley of "Independent Women", "Jumpin Jumpin," and "Crazy In Love, " a little Destiny's Child/Beyoncé covers mix certainly was notable, although perhaps it was the irony of Tim Nelson doing the vocals for "Independent Women" rather than Zoe Davis, that made it stand out .  "Pool," an ode to one particular swimming pool they liked to take late-night hops into, was flashback to my own risky youth.  Whether ironic cover or relateable lyric, from over half the world away

What a perfect day for music. The scene was set in downtown Baltimore’s Druid Hill Park, next to the historic Rawlings Conservatory. Next to that picturesque Charm City structure is a natural amphitheater that the organizers of the festival used to create an intimate space. At 10:00 a.m. with trees beginning to green up after a long winter, one of bluegrass music’s up and comers took the stage, introduced by the kilt-clad John May - our Master of Ceremonies for the day. Grand Ole Ditch Grand Ole Ditch was a pleasant surprise. While they didn’t make the original festival poster and weren’t listed until a week or so before, they did however open the show in style and set a tone of fun and super-high quality music for the day. Polished, smooth and authentic, “Team Ditch” has a sound that is as iconic as it is wonderful, and every member of the band fits perfectly. According to their bio, they came together as six friends who simply wanted to play and explore bluegrass, b

Friday night at Connie's Ric Rac the folks of Yes! And... CAMP are making dreams come true.  For me, it's a chance to see Johnny Showcase and the Lefty Lucy Cabaret , with guests Chris Kasper (solo acoustic) and Birdie Busch on one line-up.   For the kids of low-income neighborhoods in and around the Philadelphia area, it's a chance to make dreams of summer camp come true.  As a kid who never had a chance to go to summer camp, but get to see the excitement in my daughter when I signed her up for camp this summer, I'll gladly spend my concert funds on an event like this!!! So here's the details:  Inner Monologues: A Benefit Concert featuring Johnny Showcase & The Lefty Lucy Cabaret with special guests Chris Kasper (solo acoustic) and Birdie Busch Friday May 2nd , 8pm (Door opens at 7pm). Connie's Ric Rac, 1132 South 9th St. Phila PA 19147 Get your tickets here Not sold? here's more: Sensual Pts 1 & 2 by Johnny Showcase Birdie Busch