#phillyindie

[mediabureau]

Good morning. Join us. The #uff has officially kicked off and will have much to say come January. Look for early acceptance letters and notes. Thank you for the ongoing insight and input. Output is always welcome ;) #phillyindie #piff #pifffilms #filmfestival #phillytech (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmTx0kau1Pz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[alleyesonthe215]

Before we bring this workshop to #Philadelphia what's your level of interest? #phillysupportphilly #phillymade #phillymusic #phillysingers #phillygram #phillyindie #phillyrapper #music #sellingyourmusic #alleyesonthe215 - #regrann - #regrann (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

[alleyesonthe215]

Before we bring this workshop to #Philadelphia what's your level of interest? #phillysupportphilly #phillymade #phillymusic #phillysingers #phillygram #phillyindie #phillyrapper #music #sellingyourmusic #alleyesonthe215 (at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

[philly-indie]

Marge's "Not Bad" is actually awesome! 

Marge's EP "Not Bad" is the kind of follow-up recording one would expect from the strikingly talented band that brought us "Marge," their self titled first album. Rather than being not bad, the EP is actually awesome! 

I needed something to get me ready to plod through sludgy city streets to get a tooth pulled (party time!), when I found Marge. "Raincheck,"  the first song on "Not Bad," struck me as an applicable title for how I wanted to deal with the day, so I pressed play. "Not Bad" isn't a long EP but it is brimming with a sound that is so alluringly brash and dulcet, that you will want to play it all the way through in one go, and if you have 15 minutes to get your socks rocked, you can. It's melodic garage punk at it's finest. 

What drew me in first about Marge's "Raincheck" was that their music reminded me a bit of the Shangri Las.... if they decided to get assertive and hit up the indie punk scene. Marge features high lilting vocals which are shot through with punkish enthusiasm, rounded out by killer guitar hooks, distinct solid bass lines and expertly executed drums that add a raucous edge to their music. 

Songs like the reverb ridden "To-Do" have vibe in line with a style more like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, pulling away from the 60s element and the subtle sweetness that goes with it. The congruence of the "Not Bad" isn't hurt at all by the added complexity. Rather the knifes edge of forthrightness with a brush of agitated, creates a captivating tension that rings throughout the EP in the clever lyrics and ragged garage rock sound. There is something enticing about the frankness of the lyrics which are assertive rather than apologetic when it comes to emotional expression. Lyrics like “I’m not worse but I’m not any better" are sung in such a way as to say "This is just how it is, deal with it." The songs tend to offer a realist view of relatable sentiments. There are days when you might feel crazy, or like you want to do more than "just get by" but, as Marge has recognized in the creation of these songs, you aren't the only one. 

They are a great band for a day when you need some energy but don't want to be blasted by anything too upbeat (seriously, sometimes it's ok to turn down a bit.) Give Marge a listen, especially if you find yourself trudging through a long afternoon or soggy streets. You'll be glad you did. 

Better yet, you can check out Marge live at their upcoming gigs in Philly! They'll be playing March 28th at (doors at 8pm) at the Pharmacy and at First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia on May 30th at (doors at 7pm) for Glocca Morra's last show. 

- A.H. 

*We hold no claim to the cover art.  

[philly-indie]

Cyberbully Mom Club will give you a one-two punch right in the feels. Both the good and the deliciously forlorn.

I started listening to Cyberbully Mom Club on the subway, drawn in by their name (Like a club for Moms that are Cyberbullies? Is this like an AA thing for people who talk shit on other people’s Pintrest boards?). I was tired of my playlists but also having that awkward feeling of not knowing what sort of music I wanted to listen to. So, screw it, Cyberbully Mom Club is a killer band name, let’s see. 15 minutes later, I got off two stops early and walked the long way home, so I could keep listening just a little bit longer.

Shari Heck, the lyricist and frontman of Cyberbully Mom Club, writes lyrics that are deeply poignant and personal, yet are utterly relatable. As if the sentiments were lifted from that late night half-drunk kitchen table conversation you had with your best friend. Cyberbully Mom Club tugs at your heart in a way that you can’t quite put your finger on. It’s neither subduedly buoyant or melancholy, rather it interweaves each artfully with a consistent thread of empathy. That being said, as relatable as they are, the lyrics are, in a word, evocative. I challenge you to listen to "Fight Night Champion" and not begin to reminisce about a moment or a person from the past.  

The recordings themselves are the epitome of lo-fi bedroom pop. Heck’s vocals are charmingly unpolished adding to the sense of earnestness. She doesn’t try to belt out her lyrics to show off her range or her trills or anything like that. Rather she sings with a lilting scratchy-ness that is both genuine and comforting. A temperately played guitar (with some great quick riffs and melodies) is often the only accompaniment, being strummed as if it were 3 a.m. and they didn’t want to wake the neighbors. Yet, like the vocals, the guitar with out being mixed to death and fuzzed out under distortion holds an agreeable rough quality. It's like the living memory of the first time you heard that cute girl or boy you liked playing a song in the park.  

The newest release “Friends” features a full band and brings Cyberbully Mom Club out of the bedroom and into the studio. However, none of the sincerity or the singular aspects of Cyberbully’s sound is lost in the less lo-fi single. 

Not going to lie, currently listening to it on repeat. Join the club? 

-A.H.

*we reserve no rights to the above photo.

[philly-indie]

Church Girls: 

Take Me To Church! This Philly based four piece indie band infuses indie folk rock with the twang of a rangy punk edge. The songs are enticingly varied without losing a sense of cohesiveness. Citing influences ranging from Modest Mouse to Lou Reed, Church Girls can put a cheerful, brit-rock sensibility on their punk underpinnings, yet they also, offer songs with a melancholy folksy singer-songwriter spirit.

The guitars played by Mariel Beaumont and Evan Anders  have the perfect amount of scrappy-ness that is neither too dissonant nor too overpowering, and is combined with an unpredictability keeps listeners engaged. Jack Firneno on the drums keeps the music moving at a high velocity when needed, and adds a punk flare by way of cymbal washes. Phil D'Agostino keeps a smooth running bass line, tempering the twang of the guitars which consummately rounds out the sound. The music lays the stage for the vocals by Mariel and Max Beaumont. The melodies and the lyrics are certainly meant to be listened to. This is not "scream in your face, fuck the establishment and your ear-drums," rock. Even the more traditionally indie-punk songs like Young Planes, breaks into harmonies and folksy worldly disenchantment.

The vocals do take center stage. Not only are they lyrically clever, but they are sung with a melodic rawness that is unique. Listening to Mariel Beaumont's voice is a bit like the auditory version of a hot toddy. It carries a raw edge while maintaining a compelling warmth.

Tunes like Powder Keg and Flat Circle would be great additions to kitchen dance/cooking parties with friends or lovers. While Young Planes and Three would be welcome additions to a playlist for an introspective stroll. Even the darker songs carry an energy that saves them from being depressing and rather, lends an air of thoughtfulness to the music.

Also, let's not forget we are some lucky s.o.b's in Philly, and we get a chance to see some great bands right in our own back yard. In fact, we lucked out in this case. Church Girls have two upcoming shows scheduled in Philly!  One at the Nest on Feb 21 and one at Boot and Saddle on March 4. So  take a break from Netflix and come check'em out in person! 

- A.H.

[philly-indie]

Tinmouth: Feel good tunes to tune out the septa weirdos.

Anyone who has ever visited Buzzfeed (i.e. everyone who has ever worked in an office.) knows that we all love a little nostalgia. The 80’s and the 90’s reign supreme as they are the years that all of us 20-30 somethings were born and like to reminisce about. So if you’re the kind of person that blasted through the “25 things you’ll never see again from the 80s/90s list” or the “which 90’s alt heart-throb should you marry” quiz (Kurt Cobain and Robert Smith, yeah I took it twice. But really, holla at me 90’s Sinead O’Connor), you’re going to want to check out Philly’s own Tinmouth, stat!

Tinmouth is a three piece local Philly band that engages the listeners by providing music that crosses back and forth between decades and genres seamlessly throughout their songs. Often, they oscillate between an 80s jangle-pop sound to flirting with a harder edge 90s indie rock. Sporting the versatility and indie vibe of Sebadoh and Yo La Tengo with the ringing guitar riffs and pop-melodies reminiscent of  of R.E.M and the occasional thrashy elements in the vein of Sonic Youth, Tinmouth offers a unique sound tempered with their own rougher DIY garage band aesthetic. What struck me most about Tinmouth, is that you can clearly pick out each instrumental part while they all maintain a cohesive flow. Being a trio, consisting of guitar, bass and drums they have no extraneous members. Nothing gets lost in their playing and each member is instrumental to the execution of their songs. To be brief, they fit together perfectly like a band gig-saw puzzle, each element necessary to get the depth and versatility of their music.

Smooth and seamless, Aaron Sternick’s basslines often temper down the thrashy guitar parts when the  music edges toward the alt-rock side on certain songs. However, the basslines really get a chance to shine distinctively in each song because, rather than hold on to straight forward rock or alternative sound, which can leave the bass masked in harsher guitar parts and quicker drum beats, there are elements of jangle and indie pop snaking through almost every song. You’ll hear a bold manifest bassline, and you’ll totally dig it. Furthermore, the drum beats are held down wickedly by Alyssa Shae. She can hit like Steve Shelley and has impeccable timing and quick hands to prove it. However, She plays in service of the song, with skill that does not go unnoticed. Timothy Tebordo tends to set the tone of the song vis a vis an jangly riffs and twangy hooks on the guitar. Tebordo sounds and even looks a bit like Michael Stipe. He has that same sort of raspy yet somehow pitched tenor that lends itself to standing from the music enough to clearly convey the lyrics. His guitar style is simple yet distinctive, combining a chiming melodies with scrappy power chords, often both throughout various songs. Tinmouth took a risk in making music that weaves together moments of harder alternative and indie influences and it paid off, the music is sure to keep you interested.

I recently got to see them play Underground Arts, opening for Besnard Lakes, on a brutally cold Sunday. I’ve got to say, I was glad I braved the cold to make the show, these guys are a fun to watch! I mean they call it a show because it is entertainment. I watched Tebordo hop up on his toes Michael Jackson style, while playing a guitar riff and bawling out clever lyrics. Are you not entertained? The feel good vibe is more subtle than a lot of bands, it’s not “slap you in the face” happy pop music, but they are definitely a fun friend night/ fun date night band. Additionally, these guys are the kind of band that is perfect to listen to on the way to work, when you need to be both energized and feeling good. They also play loud enough that you can tune out extraneous traffic sounds or the girl who won’t stop yelling at her boyfriend over the phone on the damned subway. (We get it, the whole car now gets it, he sucks.)

That being said, Tinmouth is playing around Philadelphia currently and are scheduled to release a new album in March. If you want to have a fun night out with your buddies or to shimmy dance with a girl or boy you’re into. Check out a Tinmouth show and keep an eye on these guys for their next release in March!

- A.H.  

[philly-indie]

Ladybird

It's always a treat to be traveled somewhere else by a band, and listening to Ladybird will bring you way farther than their West Philly roots. Mixing beautifully blended harmonies with minimal guitar, banjo, and fiddle their sound is sweet but due to a slight raw quality, short of saccharine. Check out their catchy originals and tasteful interpretation of traditional bluegrass songs.

-K.N.