Root Down in the Shadow

Wooo Hooooo It's XPoNential Fest Time!!!!  Every year WXPN brings a ton of great bands and artists to the Wiggins Park shore in Camden, NJ.  With so many bands on the line-up it's daunting to figure out which bands to see.  Fortunately, the way WXPN does the line-ups you CAN make it to every band should you choose.  However, we all know it's going to be hot as hell.  Not quite as hot as 2011 with the 100 degree days, but still super hot.   Luckily for us, some of the festival performers have put in their two cents for which bands they are excited about. Rosemary Fiki   starts the fest at 4pm today on the JerseyArts.Com Marina Stage. Let's see what she's recommending: Band Most Excited to Share the Festival Stage with : This is our first time time performing at XPoNential so to be completely honest, I'm super stoked to share the Festival stage with everyone! If I absolutely had to choose, I would say The Districts. We actually shared the stage wit

Swelltone Music's Shana Hartzell interviews Pine Barons Any year where you get main stage your city's NPR station's festival and a split Daytrotter vinyl with The Districts , it's a great year.   The Pine Barons are clearly ascending the indie ranks, but they still have time to chat with their blogger friends.   After their set at WXPN's XPoNential Festival presented by Subaru, the Pine Barons sat down with the Root Down In The Shadow crew and our friend Shana Hartzel of Swelltone Music to discuss the highlights of the show, their thoughts on WXPN, playing live, the new album, and more!   Check out our XPoNential Festival preview , featuring Pine Barons..    Check out the interview below: Pine Barons at XPoNential Festival : Photo by Dan McGurk Pine Barons are back this fall as part of the TJ Kong Halloween Murder Show VI.   Get Tickets now for Pine Barons, TJ Kong, Satellite Hearts and more. Brad Pulley of Pin

Israel Nash at the Malvern Summer Stage : Photo by Dan McGurk Israel Nash @ Non-Comm : Photo by Dan McGurk It's been a busy year for Israel Nash and band.  In support of the timeless Rain Plains album they came to Philadelpia for a WXPN Free At Noon, The 15th Annual NON-COMMvention, Malvern Summer Stage, and XPoNential Festival.  While each of these could have been essentially short promotional sets, that didn't stop the band from giving everything they had each time. After being wowed at Non-Comm and Malvern Summer Stage, we knew we wanted to catch up with Israel Nash to see what the connection is between band and WXPN, the radio support behind these shows.   Check out our XPoNential Festival preview , featuring Israel Nash..    Click the interview below to see Israel's thoughts on WXPN, XPoNential Festival, and what brings them back for more! : To hear their whole XPoNential Festival set... check out the player WXPN's The Key festival reca

Less than a week away, the XPoNential Festival looms large on the summer music horizon.  The schedule has been released and it's time to start plotting out your must see bands, meeting with friends, and where to put your chairs each day! Luckily for us, some of the festival performers have put in their two cents on which bands are worthy of your attention.  Israel Nash Sunday 1:40pm - JerseyArts.com Marina Stage Band Most Excited to Share the Festival Stage with : Courtney Barnett: ( Sunday 3:55pm - River Stage) "Courtney's done so much lately. I’ve been a fan for a little bit, as we keep crossing paths on the circuit, SXSW etc. To keep seeing Courtney, on the lineup, at all these festivals is awesome! Somehow I haven’t been able to catch her set yet, so this will be the first time to see her live. Her new album ( Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit ) is great. Courtney Barnett is such a great poet, while doi

The 21st Edition of WXPN's Summer Music Festival was quite the success!  Just a little lightning Sunday night was the only scare as the entire weekend went off without a hitch. No storm, no sick artists, great crowds, happy crowds , and incredible performances.   There was so much to see, it's near impossible to recap it all.   So, for our best attempt to hit all the high points, here are The 2014 XPoNential Music Festival Presented by Subaru  AWARDS: Photo by Dan McGurk Best Performance :  Hands down this was Man Man .  The JerseyArts.com Marina Stage was overrun by fans to eager to see Man Man, many of whom skipped the entire Lake Street Dive set, even cheering on the band's sound check.  Honus , Pow , Shono , and Brown Sugar put on an inspired show geared toward blowing minds.  Taking all the hits from On Oni Pond and mixing in more of their ongoing collection, the hometown Philly band had the intensity and moves of a luchador wrestler with outfits to match