Root Down in the Shadow

Hey friends!  I know I have a pretty heavy focus on rock & folk here at Root Down In The Shadow, but from time to time I totally dig me some solid Electronica music.  Back in the late '90's, we'd have Electronica nights with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, Deejay Punk-Roc, Propellerheads, The Crystal Method and more!!!   It was the golden age really, drum & bass was live and well with Goldie.  Everyone wanted a Moby or Fatboy Slim remix!   The best albums of many artists dropped at that time.  Many bands have infiltrated our daily lives without us even knowing, such as Chemical Brothers 'Galvanize' on a beer commerical or Massive Attack's 'Teardrop' as the theme music for the widely successful tv show House !! So what does this have to do with Conspirator??  Conspirator's  Unleashed is the best entry I've heard to date since my old electronica days, to get this "old man" turn up his bass and crank the stereo loud. ...

This Saturday, West Chester natives Vatic play a hometown show at   The Note !  It's been a few months since they've played Chester County, this time they join The Hyde and 9 Crown Monarch . I saw the Alt-Metal, Hard Rockers, Vatic a few weeks back at The North Star bar in Philly, and in spite of the late night slot, they completely blew the remaining work night crowd away!!!  I had been impressed by their high level production on their album tracks, but they easily replicated the sound live. My advice, get a spot up front on the left.  Watching Andy Smith on the guitar can be dizzying.  Also, expect songs from their 2009 release machines of hate and grace, some new songs including the recently released on iTunes 'Meat Grenade', and a few deep-cut covers! Doors: 8:00 pm / Show: 9:30 pm $8.00 - $10.00 Other shows this weekend: Friday 1/31:  At the Burlap and Bean in Newtown Square, PA; Sera Cahoone (wth Kelli Scarr) ...

A few days before Saturday's show I found out about the secret Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia house concert.  I saw the lineup was DRGN King , The Gallerist, Aaron Brown and Mo Lowda and The Humble .  They had me at DRGN King; I was in!  Sadly, despite being in Philly for nearly 4 years now, and a big music fan, I didn't know much about the line up.  I knew DRGN King was streaming their new album on the Key as I coincidentally just started listening to them a week prior.  They had a Spinner.com mp3 of the day freebie, and I found  a track from last year on the The Key Studio Sessions Volume 3, I found a Mo Lowda and the Humble album on B andcamp , and a song from The Gallerist on B andcamp .  The only reason I struck out on Aaron Brown was because I didn't search for the correct band Aaron & The Spell .  It didn't matter, I was in. House concerts are the best way to get an intimate look at new bands.  Why not go? There is such a g...

Brian Dale Allen Strouse has a problem.  He can't stop writing new songs.  For years now he has been releasing music in solo form and with The Lawsuits.  Despite the popular Lawsuits album Darleen and the Hot Love EP, released in early 2012 he couldn't be stopped.   He kept writing, and the songs kept coming. to hear Numbers  click here!!! Of these recent new songs six of those tracks have recently been released on the new Lawsuits  Numbers EP.  More are expected to be released in '13 on a full length album.  With 4 of the 6 songs on Numbers already having videos before the official EP release, the band clearly doesn't fear putting too much out there.  Some of those tracks were heading for a solo release, but just as Brian finds it "easier to lay the foundation on his own", the songs "really come to reality faster with the band."  Each time the band would get together to practice and fill out some tunes, the creative jui...

At Manayunk's Grape Room, The Song Dogs invited their friends out for The Wild Country release party.  I took advantage to catch up with Tri State Indie INDIE FOLK/AMERICANA BAND OF THE YEAR nominee The Levee Drivers . Following The Late Ancients set; The Levee Drivers pulled a very brief sound check and went straight into the songs.  Joining August Lutz in a stripped down line up, were Kyle Perella on bass, and Jeff Orlowski on drums. August with his coal miner cap 'n jacket got the party started with their classic 'Tennessee Girl'   They continued their rowdy Americana style with some standard Levee Drivers tunes, a fantastic cover of 'That's Alright Mama' (made famous by Elvis , but done in the style of Johnny Cash ) until they slowed down to dedicate a song to the "beautiful ladies" with 'Stars and Highway Blues'.  The set was capped with 'Seven Nation Army', with a full on Levee Drivers treatment!   I pinned August...

Today's post is the first READER EDITION 2012 Album of the year list! I may have started this blog to share my music finds, but it was never intended to be just my views. Anytime I catch up with a music friend, the first question is "Whatcha listening to these days?" Likewise, while putting together my year end lists, I asked a few of my music enthusiast friends to contribute their lists as well! The first post is from James Ferris, a Pittsbugrh local, college friend, and one of the few people I know with a music collection that puts mine to shame.  He likes The Weedrags, Leadbelly, and Kid Rock. READER EDITION 2012 Album of the year list - JAMES FERRIS EDITION! 1 – 3. The Weeknd , “ Trilogy” The Weeknd emerged into the world so fully realized, so self-aware, it’s hard to believe that Abel Tesfaye was only 21 when he simultaneously released three albums last year, each one a fully formed, unique piece of music. Tesfaye’s delicately balanced falsetto summon...

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 ...