Root Down in the Shadow

Photo by Lindsey Borgman Your band name: Sean Hoots/Hoots & Hellmouth Style: Anything with passion/fire/vibe. My general approach can be expressed by the formula Soul + X, where X represents any number of mixable styles (rock, folk, electronic, noise, etc.). Years on the Scene: Many years, to be sure. 8 with Hoots & Hellmouth , but I've been around a lot longer than that doing a whole host of musical things. Current Project and/or Members:  Hoots & Hellmouth is currently on a bit of a pause. 8 years of hard touring requires a breather at some point! In that space, I am exploring a variety of music, involving a variety of folks, everything from solo singing and soundscape-making to ensemble playing with some of Philly's best (and cutest), including Todd Erk , Jaron Olevsky , Tom Bendel and Carl Bahner . Any new album projects? Sessions in the works? All kinds of stuff in the works...I just did a trio session/show at Carl Ba...

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 & I got two very important presents over the winter holidays.  She picked up a cool ukulele and I got a DVD of Nirvana MTV Unplugged.  Together we've spent many hours watching the DVD as she is constantly deciding which her favorite is, trying to remember who we can go see live and who we can't, and learning as much as she can about her favorite grunge band.  So far the other Curt and his brother Chris Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets are her favorites. The Nirvana MTV Unplugged DVD is a great reminder of what music to listen to with your kids.  You don't want crap that is easy the first time, just because that's "what kids will like".  Good music is really worth the time and effort if it piques their interests.  It took skipping to 'Lake of Fire' and 'Plateau' to get her...

#Philly Presents: The Late Ancients by Dan Cooper of Song Dogs Your band name: Song Dogs Dan Cooper of Song Dogs on the drums! Your style: Prairie Heavy/Americana Rock Years on the scene: 4 total; 1.5 with current line-up Current members: Sam Conver : Bass; Vocals Dan Cooper : Drums Ryan McCloskey : Guitar; Vocals Mariama O’Brien : Percussion Emily Southerton : Keys Mike Southerton : Guitar; Vocals Website : wearesongdogs.com ( facebook.com/wearesongdogs ) Current Project: We are going into The HotBox Studios to film a HotBox Session that will be released in a very special, very exciting format that even we have a hard time believing is actually happening! Look for the videos as part of a major release later this summer. We are also in the process of writing new material after releasing our debut LP, Wild Country , this past January. Recent and/or most unique/exciting show : Definitely the most exciting Song Dogs show for me was our album release show i...

Your band name : I'm not in a band but I work with a bunch of them. My name is Marley McNamara , manager at Levee Drivers , The Districts and Ali Wadsworth , booker/promoter (independent and for World Cafe Live ) Style : whatever sounds great. Years on the Scene : 4.5 years Current Project and/or Members : Managing The Districts, Levee Drivers and I recently took on Ali Wadsworth. Also, President of For The Record Management . Recent and/or most unique/exciting show : I would have to say it's a toss-up between the Levon Helm Tribute that Ron Gallo ( Toy Soldiers) and I put together last summer downstairs at World Cafe Live, which featured about 17 locals artists who all joined together to commemorate the life and work of Levon Helm and The Band (including Eric Slick of Dr. Dog assisting almost everyone on drums) and the Beck Song Reader show I organized this past January. I asked 20 local bands of all different genres to learn one song out of Beck...

Finally the time had come, nearly 6 months after downloading Kinglsey Flood 's 'Roll The Dice' last November, I had my chance to see Kingsley Flood in all their live and plugged in glory.  When listening to the band, I could just envision the raucous party that would be going on during one of their sets and I couldn't wait to be part of it!  As luck would have it they would be opening for the David Wax Museum , one of the most creative bands of the last five years and one of my favorites to see live. Things started off great at World Cafe Live - Wilmington, DE.  I met up with some music friends and got a great spot at a table equidistant from the bar & stage!  Once the music started I couldn't stifle myself, and I had to get up onto the dance floor.  Kingsley Flood had the whole band jumping around, doing their best David Wax impressions (see previous review s: David Wax is the king of engaging the crowd by going into the crowd and venue during sets)....

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?

This is kinda last minute, but for those of you looking for fun tonight I wanted to make sure this was put out there.. TONIGHT AT the GRAPE ROOM   First, closest to my house @The Grape Room in Manayunk (Philadelphia) The Rivals play tonight showing off their new release Divine Lorraine . The Rivals were recently featured in the new #PhillyPresents: feature, by August John Lutz II of Levee Drivers . "They have this amazing 70's blend of Soul, Blues and Rock all combined into one, that hits harder than Chris Brown's fist (yeah!!!)." The Rivals should be taking the stage at 10pm. Divine Lorraine by The Rivals TONIGHT AT MILKBOY Tonight at Milkboy, Philadelphia band The Morning River Band give you a few days advance on their new release To Suzie .  This electric folk country band is eager to bring their wares to the masses. According to my source, Morning River Band goes on around 11 but go for the whole set; John Train goes first, with M...