Root Down in the Shadow

Lots of the collaborators have asked about some covers for this series... well..   HELL YEAH.. why wouldn't we want to do some covers... Keep an eye on the site.. we are in the works!!! 

Inspired by some awesome music being played yesterday at #MakeMusicPhilly, I wanted to share some of the music that I saw and wanted to see!! Tweet me back @RootDownPhilly with your choice for the Philly Music Song of the Weekend!!!  'Song No. 3 from Air And My Sleep , which releases this upcoming Tuesday from September Callup Air And My Sleep by September Call-Up 'I Don't Know' from the Mo Lowda & the Humble teaser... ALBUM COMING SOON!!! The Water's Gonna Save Me by Mo Lowda and the Humble  'Think It Was' by James Hearne **recently released* Think It Was by James Hearne or Kwesi Kankam's Feb single 'By My Side' Recent posts indicate that Kwesi is now IN THE STUDIO!!!! By My Side by Kwesi Kankam

Contributed by Mariel Lorenz "Things are going to get weird." That's one member of our group's sentiments before the Father John Misty show at Union Transfer a couple Saturdays ago. It was possible. The album Fear. Fun highlights Josh Tillman's, the man behind Father John Misty, strange trip to California and the quest to find to his own identity.  It has everything - tales of drug use, reflections on religion, pep talks to himself, and hanging out in cemeteries.  Plus just a few days before the show, it was announced he was soon to release a  woman's fragrance . I don't know too many rock stars who market perfume to women. Then  the roadies set up the stage unfolding a massive backdrop with an array of images - a burning church, a rainbow, skyscrapers, a castle moon bounce, and on the top an arched doorway with a naked man (maybe Tillman) with his backside turned looking straight at the audience. This was sandwiched between two disco balls. Yeah I had a...

Photo by Mat Burke Married in the Aviary by Chelsea Mitchell This Friday, at World Cafe Live Philadelphia, a labor of love will be unveiled.  Married In The Aviary ( Self Release -June 4th) will be showcased with its mastermind Chelsea Mitchell and a collection of her favorite musicians.  Married In The Aviary is a fantastic arrangement by Chelsea Mitchell.  Previously she had been more commonly found with her guitar doing the singer-songwriter thing; this time she takes a turn featuring her ukulele, which kept finding its way into the recordings. The EP starts with 'The Chapel', which is simply Chelsea Mitchell and ukulele.  No lyrics, just Chelsea's angelic voice and careful plucks, amongst the reverb of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Buckingham PA.  I often find myself having an Andy Dufresne type moment (SEE: Shawshank Redemption), locking away the rest of the world while attempting to forget my troubles amongst the operatic notes.  If ...

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...