Root Down in the Shadow

Bandade Music is very aware of the power of music in our lives. Formed in Nashville in 2015 and now located in Philadelphia, Bandade works to build community, raise awareness, and fight cancer through music. So far, they’ve had support from Alabama Shakes , Jason Isbell , Florence Welch , Sam Beam of Iron and Wine , and more; and since their move to Philadelphia, local artists are playing a major role in the Bandade community, helping to raise funds to fight cancer, and transforming an ordinary Wednesday night into an opportunity to be part of a larger purpose. Last month, Philly artists the dove & the wolf and Dirty Dollhouse highlighted the most recent Bandade benefit, and Root Down in the Shadow was there. Learn more about Bandade and see their calendar of upcoming shows at MyBandadeMusic.com . the dove & the wolf the dove and the wolf - photo by Dan McGurk Upon first listen, Paris turned Philly expats the dove & the wolf stir something gloriously familiar...

Holly Miranda at Boot & Saddle - Photo by Lindsey Borgman Every national tour has its share of disasters, whether it's tour van break down, or equipment theft.  The tour featuring Holly Miranda with Ambrosia Parsley + Chris Maxwell seemed to get it all out of the way, before Miranda ever made the stage at Philadelphia's Boot & Saddle .  Looking past Ambrosia Parsley's wardrobe malfunction (went missing off a MegaBus) and the paltry crowd (I'm looking at you Philly music fans), Holly Miranda and band had everything rocking in the right direction. Ambrosia Parsley + Chris Maxwell To start the night the Chris Maxwell warmed up the crowd, only to be joined by partner Ambrosia Parsley (formerly of Shivaree & Kill Bill 2 Soundtrack fame) for her first show in quite a while.  With her soft and affected voice and his skillful guitar playing, they warmed up the crowd despite some terribly sad songs. “This is the most honest thing I’ve ever m...

As a editor of Root Down In The Shadow, I make all the decisions about deadlines and features and such.  I also get stuck sometime and fail to put a piece out.  Maybe it wasn't the right time, maybe a "dealine" is missed.  Whatever the case is sometimes things just don't happen.  But, the musicians didn't fail to play the show, the contributors don't fail to show up.  There's always a good time to post a review, even if it is eight months later.  So, I present another piece "FROM THE NOTEBOOK." Divers, now know as Arc Divers play tomorrow for what stands to be an amazing show with Israel Nash at the Malvern Summer Stage.  So, there's no better time than now to share Wayne's free flowing piece.  Arc Divers - Photo by Wayne Gallagher Presented in it's original form: Divers. Johnny Brenda's. Friday night in Fishtown Philadelphia. I arrive early, too early. The sun is still out, the street bounces with people on thei...

The view for most fans in the PACKED Main Street Music   With the help from a friend, here's a shoulder view of the In-Store session of Dawes  Los Angeles band Dawes has a love affair with Philadelphia's WXPN and Main Street Music . This summer they are attempting their 4th appearance at XPoNential Festival , after releasing ALL YOUR FAVORITE BANDS . In the meantime, a trip back to Main Street Music was in order, to get fans ready for the new album. The band played 6 favorites in the store, but peaked out of the store onto the steps to play for the dedicated fans that didn't get into the event. Here's most (sorry I missed a few seconds) of "How Far We've Come". Mainstreetmusicpa.com/ Pledgemusic.com/projects/dawes Dawestheband.com/tour/  www.Xpnfest.org/ Dawes "How Far We've Come" Live at Main Street Music In-Store Session #SuperFans #ShareMoment with Caitlin Phillips of Pancakes and Whiskey #Best...

"From the Notebook" is a new series at Root Down In The Shadow, that will explore great experiences with bands and events that didn't make it to the web within a normal deadline, but were too good not to share.  If all goes well we'll let that original moment simmer and provide some additional insight beyond our first take.  Our first subject: Dirty Dollhouse. Chelsea Mitchell All Photos by Lindsey Borgman unless noted  Chelsea Mitchell Dirty Dollhouse Who is Dirty Dollhouse ? Who is Dirty Dollhouse ?  Officially Dirty Dollhouse is the all-beautiful, all-female Chelsea Mitchell-Amber Twait-Vanessa Winters trio.  The lush harmonies of these long-time friends are the crux of any Dirty Dollhouse tune.  But which band is really Dirty Dollhouse?  Is it only the trio? Or, is it a full-band extravaganza?  Chelsea Mitchell Some fans already caught their first glimpse of Dirty Dollhouse at one of their rare shows in 2014. ...

Poster by Jennifer Prough All Photos by Lindsey Borgman It’s been a long time since I've gone to see bands at a college, let alone step foot into a fraternity house. Nearly two decades of shows since I've been enrolled in college, I never really imagined I would ever find myself back at one for some musical entertainment. For the May Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia show, there we were at the most improbable of locations, a Jefferson Univ. Med School fraternity in Center City attending a show. Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia curated a fabulous five band in the nicest fraternity house I've ever stepped foot into. (Disclosure, I never really did go to many true fraternities in my college days, and this was a hardly a frat house with all the studying going on.) For the Sofar Sounds show we discovered the bands as they took their turn at the stage. The first to make an appearance was BFA the band from NYC. BFA the Band The evening started off with BFA the Band (Bachel...

Philly electro-dream-pop band Cheerleader has been bouncing around the world the last few months.  They played Philly's Kung Fu Necktie in March, were off to Austin for SXSW, back to Philly again to play MilkBoy in April, and off across the pond to the U.K. playing shows with the likes of The Hold Steady and Alvvays.   Like a teenager, the five-piece band comes and goes so frequently, you never really know when you'll see them next at home in Philadelphia.  With all the cool stuff going on for Cheerleader, it's a must see event. Last Saturday night at Boot & Saddle was their highest profile local show yet, playing a bill with a hodgepodge of area bands Dream Safari and Langor .  Dream Safari was an easy match on the bill with some electro pop sounds.  Langor, while not quite a sonic fit, is like Cheerleader in that you have to see them in person to truly appreciate. In the headlining slot, could Cheerleader stand up to the studio cuts...

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...

artwork by Jennifer Prough So just a few weeks back, two hot U.K. bands with brand-new releases played Philadelphia together.  The supporting acts were two exciting bands that have been tearing up the local scene.  The room was packed.  The mood was high.  The crowd was comfortable??? Photo by Lindsey Borgman Yeah, this super dope line-up of To Kill A King, Prides, Worshyper , and Maitland was in a local living room.  Once again Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia raised the bar on the increasingly popular house-concert scene here in town.  The Sofar Sounds crew has asserted their dominance in the movement, bringing quality music to homes and studios for an experience that can't be matched. You see, you can't just add people and bands to a living room and expect success.  While it takes the right fans, the right bands, and the right hosts for everything to work it also takes that little bit of allure that only a Sofar Sounds show can provide wi...