photos by Dan McGurk
Last Tuesday, rising folk stars Haunt The House came to town for their first Philly show. Tagging along to Bourbon and Branch were two more out-of-towners; Amanda Glasser and Anna Coogan.
Anna Coogan
Anna Coogan, the veteran of the line-up, was up first at the always interesting Bourbon and Branch. The gritty songstress was ready for her set no matter what, even if it meant disobeying doctors' orders after a recent broken bone.
The best/most ironic part of her set was the ease with which she was able to switch back and forth between love songs and break-up songs. She explained this may have to do with the break up songs, such as "Cricket Sea", being mostly about the man she eventually married. However, there was that extra oomph of grit and passion on the love songs. Before turning over the reins to the next artist, she left the crowd seeking more with some brand new tunes, including "Meteor."
Amanda Glasser
Amanda Glasser was next to the Bourbon and Branch stage. A Baltimore native, Amanda spent
some time in the Philly for med school and was excited to be back in Philly, but not as excited as she was to enjoy the Baltimore "local" beer Natty Boh from the Green Room.
Amanda Glasser, who opted to play her guitar instead of continuing med school, impressed the crowd. She also had break-up songs in her "sad-mode," but for the final song she switched to "angry-mode" for her newest and most passionate track, "Surgery."
RIYL: Chelsea Sue Allen
(recommended if you like)
Amanda Glasser - Live at Bourbon and Branch
Haunt The House
For any band, their first show in Philly is always a difficult one. The Philadelphia music fan is a spoiled breed having numerous venues to choose from on any given night. Despite, the meager crowd, the sky is the limit for this folk-trio. With a Newport Folk Fest slot on the horizon, the band is touring in support of Jack Rabbit Jones, an album with a great folk-pedigree. The album was recorded, engineered, and influenced by The Low Anthem's Ben Knox Miller and Jeff Prystowsky at the Columbus Theatre, plus mastered by Machines with Magnets who have done many Root Down In The Shadow favorites such as Brown Bird, Deer Tick, and Joe Fletcher and the Wrong Reasons, plus Philly favorite Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's eponymous debut. Their sound is reminiscent of other folk-sters such as Blind Pilot and Head and the Heart.
The set started off with stellar renditions of Jack Rabbit Jones' first two tracks, future-hits "Mosquito Coast" and "Little Bird." Not being limited to JRJ, the third track was the haunting "Vampyre" from Rural Introspection Study Group, including a crisp extrapolation of The Animals "House of the Rising Sun." One song that was wonderfully true to the album was "Jealous Vow" (see video clip below); while overall the band was fantastic to see. Will Houlihan, Amato Zinno, and Bessie Bessin have a bright future together as Haunt the House.
The set wasn't all straight-forward album renditions, or even as expected. Hearing the album for the first few times, I half-expected harmonium based on the Miller/Prystowsky-Low Anthem influence, but I was surprised to see Bessie Bessin with an accordion instead. Also differing from the album was the lack of mandolin. The set list also showcased other highlights new & old. Will Houlihan had a whistle intro on "Raven" that Tarantino could get into, and "Jesus" was another solid new tune with a bit of an "Amazing Grace" twist.
Haunt The House - Jealous Vow (clip) Live at Bourbon & Branch
Haunt The House - Bourbon & Branch 3-17-2015 setlist
Philadelphia, PA
song Album
1. "Mosquito" Jack Rabbit Jones
2. "Little Bird" Jack Rabbit Jones
3. "Vampyre" Rural Introspection Study Group
4. "Hymnal"
5. "Raven" brand-new/unreleased original
6. "Black Butte" Jack Rabbit Jones
7. "Jealous Vow" Jack Rabbit Jones
8. "Pity Creek Ravine" Jack Rabbit Jones
9. "Emerson" Jack Rabbit Jones
10. "Knife of Love" Jack Rabbit Jones
11. "Jesus" unreleased original
12. "Arrow" Jack Rabbit Jones
Haunt The House / Amanda Glasser / Anna Coogan
Last Tuesday, rising folk stars Haunt The House came to town for their first Philly show. Tagging along to Bourbon and Branch were two more out-of-towners; Amanda Glasser and Anna Coogan.
 |
 |
| Haunt the House |
Anna Coogan
 |
| Anna Coogan |
The best/most ironic part of her set was the ease with which she was able to switch back and forth between love songs and break-up songs. She explained this may have to do with the break up songs, such as "Cricket Sea", being mostly about the man she eventually married. However, there was that extra oomph of grit and passion on the love songs. Before turning over the reins to the next artist, she left the crowd seeking more with some brand new tunes, including "Meteor."
Amanda Glasser
 |
| Amanda Glasser |
Amanda Glasser was next to the Bourbon and Branch stage. A Baltimore native, Amanda spent
some time in the Philly for med school and was excited to be back in Philly, but not as excited as she was to enjoy the Baltimore "local" beer Natty Boh from the Green Room.
Amanda Glasser, who opted to play her guitar instead of continuing med school, impressed the crowd. She also had break-up songs in her "sad-mode," but for the final song she switched to "angry-mode" for her newest and most passionate track, "Surgery."
RIYL: Chelsea Sue Allen
(recommended if you like)
Amanda Glasser - Live at Bourbon and Branch
Haunt The House
For any band, their first show in Philly is always a difficult one. The Philadelphia music fan is a spoiled breed having numerous venues to choose from on any given night. Despite, the meager crowd, the sky is the limit for this folk-trio. With a Newport Folk Fest slot on the horizon, the band is touring in support of Jack Rabbit Jones, an album with a great folk-pedigree. The album was recorded, engineered, and influenced by The Low Anthem's Ben Knox Miller and Jeff Prystowsky at the Columbus Theatre, plus mastered by Machines with Magnets who have done many Root Down In The Shadow favorites such as Brown Bird, Deer Tick, and Joe Fletcher and the Wrong Reasons, plus Philly favorite Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's eponymous debut. Their sound is reminiscent of other folk-sters such as Blind Pilot and Head and the Heart.
The set started off with stellar renditions of Jack Rabbit Jones' first two tracks, future-hits "Mosquito Coast" and "Little Bird." Not being limited to JRJ, the third track was the haunting "Vampyre" from Rural Introspection Study Group, including a crisp extrapolation of The Animals "House of the Rising Sun." One song that was wonderfully true to the album was "Jealous Vow" (see video clip below); while overall the band was fantastic to see. Will Houlihan, Amato Zinno, and Bessie Bessin have a bright future together as Haunt the House.
The set wasn't all straight-forward album renditions, or even as expected. Hearing the album for the first few times, I half-expected harmonium based on the Miller/Prystowsky-Low Anthem influence, but I was surprised to see Bessie Bessin with an accordion instead. Also differing from the album was the lack of mandolin. The set list also showcased other highlights new & old. Will Houlihan had a whistle intro on "Raven" that Tarantino could get into, and "Jesus" was another solid new tune with a bit of an "Amazing Grace" twist.
Haunt The House - Jealous Vow (clip) Live at Bourbon & Branch
Haunt The House - Bourbon & Branch 3-17-2015 setlist
Philadelphia, PA
song Album
1. "Mosquito" Jack Rabbit Jones
2. "Little Bird" Jack Rabbit Jones
3. "Vampyre" Rural Introspection Study Group
4. "Hymnal"
5. "Raven" brand-new/unreleased original
6. "Black Butte" Jack Rabbit Jones
7. "Jealous Vow" Jack Rabbit Jones
8. "Pity Creek Ravine" Jack Rabbit Jones
9. "Emerson" Jack Rabbit Jones
10. "Knife of Love" Jack Rabbit Jones
11. "Jesus" unreleased original
12. "Arrow" Jack Rabbit Jones
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