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...

Somehow Sofar Sounds : Philadelphia is hitting their 4th Anniversary. The now world-wide phenomenon was a few shy of twenty cities world-wide when Philadelphia joined the ranks. These days, the shows are all over the globe and it seems like there are just shy of twenty dates in NYC alone each month. It all started in London, back in 2009, and slowly spread during the next two years to New York, Paris, DC, Los Angeles, Pune India, Houston, Brighton, Seattle, New Dehli, Sydney, Madrid, Berlin, Toronto, Dallas-Forth Worth, and Glasgow before hitting the City of Brotherly Love.  During the next 10 days I'm going to look back at four years of Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia trying to give my version of the best videos. Please comment and share what were your favorites! #4 Dirty Dollhouse - "Teenage Dirtbag (Wheatus Cover)" On a brief list of things that are cool are:  1. Being friends with musicians 2. Being cool enough friends with a musician that they take y...

"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. ...

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This Friday, stands to be the final house show at 3701 Spring Garden.  The home of many kick-ass house shows in the past few years, has really been on the map with 3 Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia shows, 2 Root Down In The Shadow & Swift Guitar Lessons Presents, 3 Cover Club sessions and numerous Live At The Rivals House shows! Rumor has it that after recording some tracks for upcoming albums of The Rivals and Song Dogs , Nomad Recording Studio headed by Rob Swift , is packing up and moving to a new location.  To celebrate this final show at the studio space, we've got a Live At The Rivals House Line-up that looks to be a spectacular. The lineup features songstress Chelsea Mitchell of Dirty Dollhouse, followed by Jake Lewis & The Clergy, who are coming in from Lancaster; and the Bernhardt Family Band.   Come out and show your appreciation for the Rivals House and all the wonderful show's they've hosted for us!!!  #BYOB #NoDouches #NiceMix #S...

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:...

In just under two weeks, a very special edition of #CoverClub will take place live at Church of Kong .  This is the monthly series featuring TJ Kong of TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb and a selection of rotating friends.  The series is a wonderful way to wake up on a sleepy Center City Philly morning.  The combination of the Nodding Heads killer brews, yummy menu and live tunes are great.  When you allow the Kong touch on the lineup to be applied and it's a fantastic morning. LIVE AT CHURCH OF KONG The Cover Club crew is eager to capture some new TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb for our Philly-centric cover series.  The original track stands to be one of their brand new songs, while the Philly-centric cover is yet to be announced.  Come join us to see the tapings before they are released in the upcoming months on YouTube. Be sure to stay for the intense line-up.  Ron Gallo returns for another Church of Kong, as he selects from new solo work and his...

by Mariel Lorenz & Dan McGurk When you pull up to East Coast Recording Studio at 780 Falcon Drive, tucked away off of a Street Road industrial park in a Warminster, PA, you’ll see FUGE in huge letters above the entrance of the building. This was once part of the Naval Air Development Center Johnsville .  The centerpiece of this park was a centrifuge where future astronauts came to experience what the force of gravity felt like on their bodies. Technologies, like GPS, that we depend on so much today saw its development here too. Although the Navy has left the facility more than 20 years, the centrifuge is still there as part of an event space. Many companies have also moved in to set up shop, but one company here could raise a few eyebrows – a recording studio ran by a Grammy Award winning producer. Levee Drivers at N.A.S.A. control? East Coast Recording boasts an 1100 square foot live room. Not only could a band fit in here, but 50-70 of their friends as ...

Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia - February 2014 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 Sou...