Root Down in the Shadow

Earlier this year here at the indie Philly blog, Root Down In The Shadow, we started the fun series #Philly Presents ...bands writing about other bands. The most common reaction from bands to this project: "Wait? Are we covering other bands?" And so #CoverClub was born!   The first sessions for #CoverClub were recorded in October, at the intimate Break Neck Studios under the sonic helm of Peter Joseph!  The posts here at Root Down In The Shadow have featured the excellent videos by director Bob Sweeney with Paul Lorenz and Jeff Coon also behind the lens. Since the audio tracks are soooo good, it was decided they had to be shared!  Now at SoundCloud with permission from the bands we have switched the audio files to be a free download !!   Download them and share them.  Make sure all your friends hear them.  All we ask of you is to listen, watch, and share!  The Lawsuits members Brian Strouse & Vanessa Winters - photo by Jeff C...

I w as very excited to see a new sampler from  Merge Records  on Amazon. It features The Love Language, Telekinesis, She & Him, Mikal Kronin, The Mountain Goats, and more. While you are there, check out the 2012 Summer Sampler.

Contributed by Mariel Lorenz With one week away until the (un)official start of summer, it's time to get those summer playlists together. Personally my summer playlist has to be upbeat, fun, and give me the excitement as if I was on my way to a vacation destination. So I was pretty excited to see this song pop up and start mine. I discovered Classixx just recently when NPR featured their album Hanging Gardens  on their First Listen series earlier this month. The L.A. duo is more known for creating other artists' dance remixes like Mayer Hawthorne and Phoenix. Now they are releasing their own material and people are taking notice.  ITunes has made their single 'All You're Waiting For (Feat. Nancy Whang)' the Single of The Week.  It's bubbly, carefree, and fun - just like what summer should be. Did I mention it's free too!? Here's a preview: What's required on your summer playlist?

I don't know why I didn't post this earlier.  yeah, i would have liked to say a few words about each band.  The important part is that you get to hear these 10 awesome FUN songs !  Enjoy 1. DayDream Vacation – "Clever’s Not My Best Excuse" 2. The Bamboos – "Medicine Man" FREE SONG ALERT 3. Deep Sea Diver - "You Go Running" 4. David Wax Museum – "Harder Before It Gets Easier" 5. Bahamas – "Caught Me Thinking" "Caught Me Thinking" by Bahamas FREE SONG ALERT 6. Gabriel Teodro s –"Mind Power" Powerful lyrics.. "I will not be defined by where I'm from" 7. Chill Moody "Cotton" FREE SONG ALERT 8. Mark Foster + A-Trak + Kimbra – "Warrior" 9. Shana Halligan – Paper butterfly Also featured on the super cool Knock And Rock web video series Shana Halligan - "Paper Butterfly" 10. Coco Morier – "Explosion...

IAMDYNAMITE "Stereo" from SUPERMEGAFANTASTIC This Detroit duo released their debut album this spring, and has been leaving their mark across the country ever sense. Just check your local alt radio station website, and chances are there is a studio session. Just don't miss them when they come through town . FREE SONG ALERT Yukon Blonde – Stairway Found via CMJ FreePlay:March 2012 and previously posted as a Free Track These United States – Dead & gone Looking at the Boston scene, I stumbled onto Music Savage and it's killer mixtapes I found These United States on the April '12 mix. Although the album released in '11, it kicked butt in '12!!! Diamond Rugs – Tell Me Why via American Songwriter's MUSE JULY SAMPLER Rivaling only Jack White , Dan Auerbach (Black Keys, Grace Potter, Dr. John), or Steve Moore ( of Zombi, Titan, Miracle. a/k/a Lovelock, Gianni Rossi.) for amount of projects, Deer Tick' s John McCauley ...

Song #9 on my quest to share free music once a day until I run out of sources. Today's band is Hospitality Today's post includes three songs I obtained, fortunately 2 of the 3 are still readily available FREE! Hospitality is a guilty pleasure kind of a band. Kinda like Kimya Dawson or The Breeders ; bands who aren't by far the best but just a load of fun to listen to. Ones that you keep to yourself, only to find that your friends also secretly enjoy them too! &lt;p&gt;&amp;<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">lt</span>;a <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">href</span>="http://hospitality.<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">bandcamp</span>.com/track/friends-of-friends"&amp;gt;Friends of Friends ...

Song #8 on my quest to share free music once a day until I run out of sources.  Today's band is Pujol! Today's post however is a triple header of FREE! (download only from sources you trust... Keep on reading for a trustworthy source for 'Too Safe') I first heard of Pujol back in October with the FREE download of 'Too Safe'! The song has been a Spinner.com mp3 Song of the day free download and STUCK IN MY HEAD.  I was worried that this might be just magic caught in a bottle and the band might lack the energy for a whole album, but that's simply not the case! In December I found the October edition of The Muse American Songwriter Music Sampler.  Amongst the great FREE DOWNLOADABLE tracks from Shovels and Rope, Deer Tick, and Lisa Hannigan you can find another Pujol song 'Mayday' Click through this widget to find PUJOL <p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://americansongwriter-...

Day 7.... A week's worth of free music so far on my quest to share free music once a day until I run out of sources.  Today's band is the Barr Brothers.  There have been limited comments on the free songs so far, but I'm thinking it's just because you're overwhelmed by the excellent tracks you are receiving.  But, maybe you don't feel the same way I do about what you are hearing.  I know how you feel though.  On the March 2012 installment of Amazon artists on the Rise , I only found one song out of nine that I enjoyed. That lone sonic winner was 'Old Mythologies' by the Barr Brothers.  The song sits amongst a quartet of beauties on the Barr Brothers self titled debut, joining 'Beggar in the Morning', 'Ooh Belle', and 'Give The Devil Back His Heart'. The Barr Brothers - Old Mythologies (Live on KEXP) The song combines Brad Barr's calm Garfunkel-like vocals, with Sarah Page's soothing harp playing.  While, the l...

Day 6 of my quest to share free music once a day until I run out of sources. Be sure to tell me what you think here or at the Facebook site .  Today's artist is Laura Gibson.   Today's song is a eerie haunt carrying the sexiness of Portishead while keeping simple folk sensibilities.  The song is free from two sources.  First and foremost it's available through Spinner.com's MP3 song of the day.  More recently at the KEXP song of the day .  Laura Gibson 'La Grande' I know little about Laura Gibson, apparently missing a January show of hers at Philadelphia's Johnny Brenda's. I am planning on spending some quality time, watching her new NPR Tiny Desk Concert in the very near future. (La Grande starts @3;27) Turns out this is her second tiny desk concert, with this being the first: A collection of songs can also be found at the D aytrotter site Happy hunting, be sure to post what you think!!!

Day 5 of my quest to share free music once a day until I run out of sources. Be sure to tell me what you think here or at the Facebook site .  Today's band is The Peach Kings Though limited on songs, that hasn't stopped the Peach Kings from getting Hollywood's attention, namely Drew Barrymore.  It has also garnered the attention of being a KCRW Today's Top Tune (only available day of posting).  If they haven't caught your attention yet, try the video.  What you can't do is go buy the album as it's not out yet, just the single. The Peach Kings 'Thieves and Kings' from Thieves & Kings (Single) Wait a sec right, this isn't free?  Well, you could also stumble over to their bandcamp site for a download of their Trip Wop EP.   This three track E.P. is anchored by 'Little Things' a groovy little number, that will surely be on their full length album when it's made! &amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&am...

Day 4 of my quest to share free music once a day until I run out of sources. Be sure to tell me what you think here or at the Facebook site .  Today's band is ANDREW BIRD. In recent weeks Andrew Bird has had some free tracks across the web in support of his brand new album.  You may have missed KCRW's Today's Top Tune free download of 'Give It Away' the stellar lead single from Break It Yourself.   (NOTE: Today's Top Tune is only available on the specific day.. subscribe via iTunes now to prevent missing future awesomeness) Andrew Bird performing 'Eyeoneye' on the Colbert Report The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes , Political Humor & Satire Blog , Video Archive You still have the opportunity to download, 'Eyeoneye' via KEXP's Song of the Day .  The track is also available through a Noisetrade for a four track Andrew Bird sampler! via AndrewBird.net If you don't go for the Noisetrade sam...

Day 3 of my quest to share free music once a day until I run out of sources. Be sure to tell me what you think here or at the Facebook site .  Today's band is FIRST AID KIT.   photo credit: Neil Krug I first heard of First Aid Kit in fall of 2010, when I downloaded 'Ghost Town'.  If you didn't heed my suggestion last year in the Best of 2010 Free Music post , don't make the same mistake twice.   This sister folk duo will captivate you with their songs whether from their 2010 debut  The Big Black & The Blue, such as 'Ghost Town' or 'Hard Believer', or their brand new release The Lion's Roar! including title track 'The Lion's Roar' and love song 'Emmylou'! ' The Lion's Roar' is my suggestion to Listen/Watch/Download right now !!  I love the lyric "I'm a goddam coward, but then again so are you" GO GET THIS SONG NOW!!!  via   KEXP SONG OF THE DAY podcast! And catch them on ...

As you may already know, one of my favorite things to do is sharing new music and sources with my friends and music fan cohorts. Yesterday I started a quest to share free music once a day until I run out of sources. Here's day two of the FREE MUSIC, but be sure to tell me what you think here or at the Facebook site. Check out the lyrics for the song@ http://www.songlyrics.com/yellow-ostrich/marathon-runner-lyrics/   The song is actually about running per se, but looking back at what you did eventually getting to the finish!  I'm stuck on it, and have it in my 2012 Best of Playlist to keep me company during the day! Today's song 'Marathon Runner' by Yellow Ostrich is currently available as a free download from at least two sources.  First is a common go to for me, but better than usual this month:  CMJ FREE PLAY: March 2012 !  I've been getting a head start on new music via CMJ since high school learning about such bands as Ani DiFranco, Reel Bi...

One of my favorite things to do is sharing new music and sources with my friends and music fan cohorts. March is a great time of year to do that, as this the time of the year where the concert & festival season has officially kicked off, and everyone and their mother are in full blown publicity mode. So what does this mean for you??? FREE MUSIC . I'll try to post a free song a day, until I run out.... comment here or at the Facebook site with what you think of the songs! The inaugural 2012 FREE SONG ALERT is band as exciting as their all caps name screams: IAMDYNAMITE !  Be warned this is a one-time listen song.  Just one time is all it takes to get sucked in for more.  IAMDYNAMITE 'Stereo' IAMDYNAMITE are Christopher Martin (Guitar, Vox) and Chris Phillips (Drums/Vox).  They are one part W olfmother 's pounding guitar of 'Woman', one part Cage The Elephant irreverent craziness and equal parts energy.  Detroit's IAMDYNAMITE reminds you that y...

This week's edition highlights some free music I've picked up along the way. I apologize for not writing anything for in weeks, I figured December should be the time of year when the music industry slows down.  Yeah right.  There might not be as much touring and shows, but there is a huge push of publicity.  End of the year lists, sales, holiday songs galore, more sales, setting up tours for next year, holiday shows, and even more sales!  Besides sitting back and enjoying the family, I found my self in a music induced tizzy listening to oodles of new music obtained over the holiday and reading list after year end list. With all that said, I have been on complete overload lately.  I finally finished a review from early December's show with Jocie Adams & Co, opening for the Barr Brothers.  I've started plotting out shows to see for next year.  I've been laying the ground work for some interviews.  HOLIDAY MUSIC?  WHAT ABOUT ANTI-HO...

Music News across the land and Concert Updates for the Philadelphia Metro area! - Music News..   It's been a crazy week.  I didn't make it to any concerts.  I would have loved to have gone to David Wax Museum @ Johnny Brenda's or to see Brett Dennen opening for Amos Lee , but life gets in the way sometimes.  Instead, I spent a lot of the week listening to some bands for the first time. Amongst the recent plays were:   Pearl and The Beard : see NEXT CONCERT below.  HoneyHoney : see my recent FREE music post. HoneyHoney - Billy Jack by LostHighwayRecords   Bear Hands : A friend just went to see We Were Promised Jetpacks and she gave a shout out to check out Bear Hands as they were a quality opener.  I went to their site bearhandsband.com and was immediately pleased.  The site's wallpaper is an integrated video player that continues as you browse the site.  'High Society' is the opening track, it's ...

Free Music ALERT: I've been browsing the net a lot this week, searching for some cool places for music to share.  Here's the best of what I found:  Brown Bird - Fingers to the Bone by supplyanddemand This is one of the singles from the new Brown Bird album Salt for Salt, released in October a few weeks ago.  This album and the corresponding E.P.  The Sound of Ghosts are just infectious.  If you start listening to them, it will be very hard to stop. Brown Bird just started touring with the Devil Makes Three another incredibly enjoyable band.  Catch them if they come to your town.  Regrettably this match up won't be coming to Philly just yet.  For more info on Brown Bird , check out the interview with one half of the band MorganEve Swain ! While browsing SoundCloud.com for some free tracks, I came upon more of the Dum Dum Girls. They are currently on tour in support of  Only In Dreams .  Feel free to p...

- Coolest roundabout discoveries on the net.. I was out and about on the net, following up on some leads. I had been turned onto a band Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls, due to their cool cover of 'Crazy Train' found on their debut release The Vain Hope Of Horse 'Crazy Train is an incredible song as you all should know.  Who doesn't know the Ozzy track most recently made famous again on the MegaMind Soundtrack .  But this is the perfect cover as there is a fantastic departure musically from the original. It's only in instances like this that you are forced to get to know the original song, instead of just banging along to a tune you've known for years and never actually listened to deeply. Of course a click or two later, I'm on the video for 'Anarchist Girl' by Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls, from their Packed for Exile (Sampler EP)   A few clicks later, I'm checking out their site ( www.jasonheathandthegreedysouls.com) .  On...