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...

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 ...

In early December at World Cafe Live, I did something I hadn't done in quite some time.  I went to see a band, just based on a recommendation.  I had heard about the Barr Brothers  several times in the last year via a long time friend.  He's a tour manager and he's criss-crossed the country several times in the last few years, getting to meet, hear & see numerous bands. 'Beggar in the Morning' by Barr Brothers Beggar In The Morning by TheBarrBrothers The Barr Brothers were on his list of must see live bands, calling them one of his favorites.  Out of all the other bands he's come across in the last few years, the only other bands I recall him wholly endorsing has been the David Wax Museum and The Carolina Chocolate Drops since he was dead on with those recommendation, I knew I needed to listen. Lately, the Barr Brothers have started to gain some notice performing on David Letterman, as well as in the studio at KE...

DANIEL LEFKOWITZ of FUTUR PRIMITIF Checking in with Daniel Lefkowitz we find another record in the works and plans of a UK tour next year! In the Journey of Dreams by Daniel Lefkowitz BUKE & GASE: Back in May, we reviewed Riposte by Brooklyn-based Arone Dyer and Aron Sanchez. At the time, they were eight months deep into their release and were known as Buke & Gass. Six months later, the duo's name has morphed to Buke & Gase but they are still on the road with the same wonderful sound. They are touring abroad through mid-December and then taking some much deserved time off. What's next for the band? With only a month off at a time in between touring for the last two years, it's hard to imagine a new album coming soon, but a new release in 2012 would be fantastic? JOCIE ADAMS.  Jocie toured a ton this year with the Low Anthem and the Smart Flesh album.  A few times this year she was able to do some shows for her own recordin...

Part of the ongoing series of 'Molly Songs': a weekly look featuring songs that our children will love, but more importantly parents can enjoy as well. Molly's musical experiences lately have been vast.  She's been totally into the  Tangled  soundtrack after a visit to Florida this summer, hanging out with Ella & Liam.  She defiantly ignores the correct lyrics when signing the songs, but loves to sing them.  At this point, they are her second most frequently sung songs being  K'Naan 's  'Wavin Flag'. She loves Foster the People, but also argues with me over which songs are theirs.  It's as if they can only sing one song?  Also, in her bedroom cd player right now is a rotation of  ROME  from  Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi ,  the Civil Wars , and  Annie Lynch & The Beekeepers . Her favorite video lately has been Mary,Mary by  Jocie Adams. the Newest  Molly Song of the Wee...

The very best perk of being exposed as a mega music aficionado, is getting to share in the music.  On my side, I get to share my knowledge and finds.  My friends keep me posted on what they've been experiencing or in most cases looking for. But the best perk of being a known music head is getting copies of albums saved for or sent to me.  Six months ago, I was extremely fortunate to get my hands on Wilder Shores Of Love by Daniel Lefkowitz , Bed of Notions by Jocie Adams , Love is All Around by Twain , and  David Wax Museum, Everything is Saved, all in one night! I was at a Low Anthem show, which Lefkowitz was opening for , with an old school pal who was working that night.  He had been saving me a copy of David Wax Museums newest and before the night was over, he had pulled some strings to have my hands full on the way out the door.  I was in heaven!  Dan Lefkowitz was great that night, so I was enthused to hear more.   Twain (which then...

I got the email recently from the Low Anthem fan list with their big news (amongst a whole bunch of great tour news) that 'Boeing 737' has now seen it's video release. The video/article can be caught at Spin.com commemorating the release, including all the details about creating the video. While sitting and trying to understand the song, I've been watching the "making of" video, recorded at the Pasta Sauce Factory, where Smart Flesh was made.  I find two themes in the song. The first being a hazy look back @ the terrorist attacks of 9-11. Whether it was meant or not, especially since the only 737 involved was one that nearly ran into a 767(one of two) that did fell the towers; imagery of those events are created. Past attempts from other bands thought back to what they were doing, what they felt or where they were. To me, the Low Anthem entry looks at the second theme more prominently.  Looking at the intended step down from the peace keepers side,...

Daniel Lefkowitz is a talented singer songwriter, who once upon a time was in an early version of the Low Anthem .  'This God Damn House' which he wrote endures as one of the best Low Anthem tracks to date.  Last year he got together with former Low Anthem mates Jeff Prystowsky and Ben Knox Miller to produce Wilder Shores of Love , his debut album.  After officially returning to Virginia, Dan Lefkowitz went out on tour in late February and early March with The Low Anthem and band Bobby . Dan McGurk of mcgurkmusic had a chance to meet Dan Lefkowitz at the Philadelphia First Unitarian Church 2-25 show, and later exchange some Questions & Answers. MM (mcgurkmusic: You’ve had a hiatus, before returning to the music scene. How long have some of these songs been percolating? What’s the oldest song on the album? DL (Daniel Lefkowitz): Most were written about a year ago, as I started to conceive of the album. For the most part they formed together. Th...

Tomorrow night, at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia, I will be meeting up with an old friend and watching a band I have really come to enjoy.  The Low Anthem is the headline act, following a band named Bobby and former The Low Anthem band mate Daniel Lefkowitz as a solo act. I came to first listen to The Low Anthem , based on a recommendation from my near & dear friend.   I had started listening to their major debut What the Crow Bring s while exploring the now defunct lala.com site.  At the time it was nothing more than background music for me.   That's no slam against their music as,at the time, it was mostly lighter breathy tracks, such as 'Yellowed By The Sun' with electric guitar and harmonica being featured.  'The Ballad of Broken Bones' is a quintessential Low Anthem track, with lyrics that stick, melodic pump organ, and one of the coolest uses of technology with cell phones echoing Ben Knox Miller's whistling.   ...