Root Down in the Shadow

Arc Iris returns to Philly this Wednesday, at Boot & Saddle with friends Superhuman Happiness and Birdie Busch.   To catch you up to speed, here's a little review of Moon Saloon to get you excited about the show.   If a well crafted album is meant to be a journey and an exploration, Arc Iris' Moon Saloon manages to accomplish both for its musicians and listeners. Opening with a simple four-tap count-off from a gently gated hi-hat, "Kaleidoscope" kicks Moon Saloon off with Ray Belli (drums) and Zach Tenorio-Miller (keys) digging into a syncopated boom bap groove as Robin Ryczek (cello) surges in with her own sonic undertow. With a single, shimmering guitar chord, Jocie Adams is introduced as the narrator. Her lyrical foundation is paved with questions and reflections. As the track pushes forward, the original lines are spliced with slight variations and embellishments as a larger form takes shape. The track grows exponentially as single-line ...

Arc Iris may be from Providence RI, but, for me, their front-woman, Jocie Adams , has always been a part of my Philadelphia listening experience. At one of my first shows in Philadelphia six years ago, she was a shy multi-instrumentalist with The Low Anthem. Over the next two years I would catch The Low Anthem every time they came through town It was Jocie’s evolution that really had me hooked. It wasn’t just what new instrument she would play next, as she moved between crotales, hammered dulcimer, clarinet and so many more instruments, but as a vocalist you could see her emerge. This emergence was most stark with the cover of Jack Kerouac “On The Road”/ Tom Waits “Home I’ll Never Be.” Through the years, the vocal duties on the song moved over to Jocie taking the reins. It was so uplifting and exciting, to see this tiny sun-dress-folkster of a free spirit wailing away, channeling some Janice and bringing the whole crowd to their feet. As Jocie’s career has progress...

Photo by Lindsey Borgman Fresh off of a stunning Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia performance Anthony D'Amato joins Arc Iris at the Tin Angel , this Thursday.  Before the show, here are five things Philly music fans need to know about Anthony D'Amato. 1. Anthony hails from Blairstown, NJ and has spent lots of time in the NJ & Philly area.  His first show in Philly was actually at the Tin Angel, featuring Francis Dunnery and David Sancious with Birdie Busch opening." 2.  D'Amato was featured on a World Cafe Next from WXPN in 2011 with David Dye . Anthony D'Amato: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert 3. The second show Anthony ever played as a solo artist was at the Tin Angel opening for Jesse Malin. Anthony D'Amato - Good and Ready [Official Video] 4.  Anthony's favorite show in Philadelpahia was Bright Eyes at the Academy of Music touring for I'm Wide Awake It's Morning 5.  His favorite "now" Philly band is Strand of Oak...

Next Thursday, Arc Iris is featured on a co-bill with Anthony D’Amato at the Philadelphia intimate venue The Tin Angel . Having caught Arc Iris now five-or-so times in Philly, each time they conceptually get more expansive and bolder, I couldn't wait until Thursday to find out what Arc Iris had in store for the Tin Angel guests. With all of the wonderful buzz circulating around Arc Iris seemingly focusing on the bands matriarch Jocie Adams , I felt it was time to get some perspective from the other half of its creative mind Zachary Tenorio-Miller .  Zachary and I chatted about meeting Jocie, the birth of Arc Iris, and what is coming next! Zachary Miller-Tenorio or Storm Trooper? Root Down In The Shadow :  When did you first start making music with Jocie Adams? Zachary Tenorio-Miller : It all started when I first met Jocie.  We had like a million mutual friends back when I had been playing with members of Elvis Perkins in Dearland in an off-shoot band Diamo...

Last Friday at Johnny Brenda's it was The Freeman Tour , bringing Aaron Freeman 's new band Freeman back to Philadelphia with Providence, RI buzz-band Arc Iris.  The sold-out crowd was completely amped, with local hero Aaron Freeman a.k.a. Gene Ween making his return to the hip Fishtown neighborhood venue.  With his new self titled album dropping just over a month ago, the excitement of his return was electric.  Many fans arrived dejected to find out the show was sold out, but the hardcore fans were ready with tickets in hand, ready for the show. Loading @arcirismusic #amazeballs #FreemanTour #JocieAdams #SoldOut View on Instagram After what seemed to be a long delay to get upstairs, Arc Iris went on stage on time to start the show.  It has been a great year for Arc Iris, releasing their eponymous debut album earlier this year, getting major buzz on the SXSW circuit and major coverage all year round.   The Freeman tour would be an exc...

In late January, a seed planted with Jocie Adams nearly two years ago, as the idea to come back to Philly to do a house concert, was finally ready to bloom.  Jocie was scheduling some tour dates with her outfit, Arc Iris , and had the perfect opening for a two day stop in Philadelphia.  Before all was said and done, there was a XPN session in the works and a house concert at the home of Root Down In the Shadow !  Although, the first Philadelphia day held an outstanding studio session taping by Folkadelphia for Arc Iris, co-billed with The Bailey Hounds , it was day two that was going to be outstanding!  For the band, they were already in town so there was no night-time drive, no late arrival; and fortuitously since the studio session was the day prior, five members of Arc Iris were on hand rather than the originally planned three! With the show being in a Philly row house, Arc Iris went on first.  After all, they had trumpet, trombone, cello, and two ...