Root Down in the Shadow

As a editor of Root Down In The Shadow, I make all the decisions about deadlines and features and such.  I also get stuck sometime and fail to put a piece out.  Maybe it wasn't the right time, maybe a "dealine" is missed.  Whatever the case is sometimes things just don't happen.  But, the musicians didn't fail to play the show, the contributors don't fail to show up.  There's always a good time to post a review, even if it is eight months later.  So, I present another piece "FROM THE NOTEBOOK." Divers, now know as Arc Divers play tomorrow for what stands to be an amazing show with Israel Nash at the Malvern Summer Stage.  So, there's no better time than now to share Wayne's free flowing piece.  Arc Divers - Photo by Wayne Gallagher Presented in it's original form: Divers. Johnny Brenda's. Friday night in Fishtown Philadelphia. I arrive early, too early. The sun is still out, the street bounces with people on thei...

Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia, where has the year gone?  Already the June show has come and gone and already the July and August shows are being planned.  Too much time has passed without a recap; so with no further ado: Best of Sounds: Philadelphia 2015 ... so far... (plus Dec 2014). December 2014: Brian Dale Allen Strouse (of the Lawsuits) / Dominic Angelella (of DRGN King) /  The Naked Sun / The Kalob Griffin Band Photo by Julie McGurk Poster by Jennifer Prough Photo by Lindsey Borgman The December '14 Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia show was one of the best on record.  Ugly Sweaters, food donations for Philabundance, and an all local-lineup at this super cool Fishtown  former candy shop turned apartment.  For this holiday show, each band was asked to be prepared with a holiday song each. Just as each Sofar show is typically extra special with stripped down instrumentation and personnel, the holiday song choices for the event ...

Gallo, Bellenoit, D'Agostino @ Fergie's Pub A few years back, I went to Fergie's Pub for a late night music hang.  It was still early into my indoctrination of the Philly music scene and really didn't know just how amazing those nights would/could actually be.  I just knew a friend or two were likely to play and my child and wife were already asleep.  Ron Gallo would be playing that night, and the lanky front-man was flanked by a guitarist who just walked in, a dude on bass, and the host of the night was at the drums.  There's no way it was going to be any good; Gallo and two random dudes?  It couldn't be good, right?  It was a Wednesday night, late as hell, and a bunch of jokers at the upstairs "dive" portion of a great Irish bar were about to rock out without a set list.  What could actually be good about this? What I didn't know was this host Jonas guy, was Jonas Oesterle (of Purples and other projects), the bassist was Phil D'Agosti...

Man, what can you say about Caroline Rose ? She rocks. Really, Caroline Rose and band rock.  There's no banjo/mandolin/violin to be considered folk, too much pedal steel to be punk, somewhere in between rockabilly and old school country, the gritty Vermont rocker doesn't seem to care where she fits.  When describing the tip jar at the merch booth to the crowd, she said "if you don't like us, give us some money so we can go get real jobs."  But seeing as her bandmates were all wearing Caroline's new "FUCK FEAR" t-shirts, I doubt she cares whether if the crowd approves too much.  Fortunately, while opening for Pokey LaFarge on this tour, she's found a lot of new fans.  World Cafe Live - Philadelphia was the 2nd night of tour, criss-crossing the east coast for Pokey and his "nice fans." The band impressed with their singles, jumping right into twanger "Blood On Your Bootheels" and steel heavy "Tightrope Walker....

Brown Bird - James Joiner Today marks the release of the final Brown Bird album Axis Mundi.  The powerful album carries a full band sound filled with songs grappling with the concept of mortality.  While it would be easy to explain why the album is a quality one, it begs to have explained what preceded the album.  So let's go back a few years through the rise of Brown Bird. 2011 Newport Folk Fest Sunday schedule Brown Bird , is an amazing band from Providence, RI.  For many, 2011 was the first notice of this "folk-duo" as they ascended to NPR darlings.  It was an incredible year for David Lamb and MorganEve Swain starting with the release of The Sounds of Ghost ep, peaking with a spot on the widely-known Newport Folk Festival , and wrapping up with expansive touring to support their most impressive album Salt for Salt .   2012 meant more touring, along side fellow Newport Folk Fest newcomers The Devil Makes Three .   201...

The view for most fans in the PACKED Main Street Music   With the help from a friend, here's a shoulder view of the In-Store session of Dawes  Los Angeles band Dawes has a love affair with Philadelphia's WXPN and Main Street Music . This summer they are attempting their 4th appearance at XPoNential Festival , after releasing ALL YOUR FAVORITE BANDS . In the meantime, a trip back to Main Street Music was in order, to get fans ready for the new album. The band played 6 favorites in the store, but peaked out of the store onto the steps to play for the dedicated fans that didn't get into the event. Here's most (sorry I missed a few seconds) of "How Far We've Come". Mainstreetmusicpa.com/ Pledgemusic.com/projects/dawes Dawestheband.com/tour/  www.Xpnfest.org/ Dawes "How Far We've Come" Live at Main Street Music In-Store Session #SuperFans #ShareMoment with Caitlin Phillips of Pancakes and Whiskey #Best...

It can be fairly said, that what we consider today to be the Bluegrass style of music spent its formative years in Baltimore, MD. Still, somehow, Bluegrass isn't the first thing to come to mind when people are asked about Baltimore; the home of America’s national anthem, where Edgar Allen Poe sloughed of the mortal coil, and where Babe Ruth first swung a bat. Many of the components of Bluegrass are at home in Baltimore. In fact, the form is firmly rooted and for many years revolved around the Charm City. Meaning, one of Baltimore’s best secrets is its deep bluegrass roots. Even the name “Banjo” was coined there. It was used the first time in an advertisement for the plucky off-shoot of the original African instrument produced in downtown Baltimore. It's fitting that in its third year, The Charm City Folk and Bluegrass Festival, being held in Druid Hill Park on April 25th, is reclaiming some of that history. Though this year's lineup is a mighty one; besides th...