HOT : Tonight BOS Presents North Lawrence Midnight Singers @ The M Room

December 15, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
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NLMS @ JdMcGillicuddy's 08.29.09

NLMS @ JDMcGillicuddys 08.29.09

Come on down to the M Room in Philadelphia tonight for some holiday party fun as Bag Of Songs presents The North Lawrence Midnight Singers. Like a mix of the pop sensibilities of Elvis Costello and the rootsiness of The Band. They deliver a high energy show you don’t want to miss. Bring your dancing shoes !

North Lawrence Midnight Singers – Friend Of Elvis
Buy And That Old Tyme Living Room Sound

North Lawrence Midnight Singers – All Day, All Night
Buy And That Old Tyme Living Room Sound

Bag Of Songs Presents:
North Lawrence Midnight Singers
8PM
at The M Room
15 W Girard Avenue
Philadelphia PA

[MYSPACE]

BOS Presents High Hearts + Matt Kresge Saturday October 3rd

October 2, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
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This Saturday October 3rd Bag Of Songs presents a night of roots flavored music with Lambertville New Jersey’s High Hearts along with Glenside PA’s own Matt Kresge at Jd McGillicuddys, Philadelphia.

Matt Pillischer & Shaun Ellis of High Hearts

Matt Pillischer & Shaun Ellis of High Hearts

I first caught High Hearts at their recent Beta Hifi Festival appearance at World Cafe Live and was duly impressed. Led by Shaun Ellis on Mandolin and Matt Pillischer on guitar plus the recent additions of Justin Pope on bass and John Coursey on fiddle, their music is a potent blend of solid songwriting, soaring high harmonies, and warm rootsy instrumentation steeped deep in the tradition of artists like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Woodie Guthrie while still forging a path all their own.

Also on the bill is Matt Kresge an outstanding guitarist and multi instrumentalist who often uses a loop station to as his own accompaniement as well using band members Jay Rose -percussion, Bernie Gillespie -guitar and bass and Katie Rhodes – vocals.  Matt won the ‘Best Guitarist’ award at the National Emergenza Festival in 2005, has written music for commercials and various television networks and also sometimes plays in area bands B Side Prophets and Shady Grove.

High Hearts – No Moon
High Hearts – Together

High Hearts – Crickets

Matt Kresge – Goodbye Baby (Live @ Soupcon Salon 9.21.09)

Shaun Of High Hearts will also be celebarting his birthday at midnight, so come on out to be a part of what’s sure to be a good time party and wish him a Happy Birthday.

Bag Of Songs Presents:
High Hearts + Matt Kresge
Saturday October 3rd
at
JD McGillicuddys
421 N. 7th Street
Philadelphia PA
9PM | No Cover | 21+Up

High Hearts [WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]
Matt Kresge [WEBSITE]

BOS Presents : Creatures Of The Golden Dawn & North Lawrence Midnight Singers

August 23, 2009 by · Comments Off on BOS Presents : Creatures Of The Golden Dawn & North Lawrence Midnight Singers
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Come on out this weekend when our monthly Bag Of Songs Presents show moves to Saturday nights at our new location, JD McGillicuddy’s (next to Electric Factory). Kicking it all off this month will be Philly’s own North Lawrence Midnight Singers, whose sound runs deep into rootsy, folk, country territory well blended with a healthy dose of good old rock and roll. Imagine Elvis Costello backed up by The Band and you’ll have a good idea of what they sound like.  Capping the night off will be a rare Philadelphia appearance by Bethlehem, PA legends, Creatures Of The Golden Dawn, the Mark Smith fronted psychedelic garage rock combo that also includes the incendiary lead guitar work of the one and only Brother JT. And best of all the whole mind blowing experience is FREE, that’s right, zero dinero, some come on down and get your late summer party on with two amazing bands on a Saturday night.

North Lawrence Midnight Singers – Friend Of Elvis
Buy And That Old Tyme Living Room Sound
North Lawrence Midnight Singers – All Day, All Night
Buy And That Old Tyme Living Room Sound

Creatures Of The Golden Dawn – Hemlock Row
Buy Standing At The Gates Of Time
Creatures Of The Golden Dawn – Don’t Give It Up Now
Buy An Incident At Owl Creek Bridge
Creatures Of The Golden Dawn – Remembering Memory Lane
Buy Keys To The Kingdom
Creatures Of The Golden Dawn – The Darkest Nights
Buy 1000 Shadows
Creatures Of The Golden Dawn – Satan’s Love Slave
Buy 1000 Shadows

Bag Of Songs Presents:
Creatures Of The Golden Dawn
North Lawrence Midnight Singers

Saturday August 29th
9PM | FREE | 21+up
JD McGillicuddy’s Philadelphia
421 N. 7th Street,(right next door to The Electric Factory)

Dinosaur Feathers And Joe Michelini of River City Extension @ The M Room 07.19.09

July 20, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
Filed under: photos 

A few photos from last night’s show at the M Room which featured an amazing performance by Dinosaur Feathers and an absolutely captivating solo set by Joe Michelini of River City Extension. Big thanks to the bands, everyone who came out, and especially to Emma of The World In A Paper Cup for co-hosting the party. If you weren’t there you missed some fantastic music.

UPDATE: Read Emma’s excellent show review here

Dinosaur Feathers




Joe Michelini Of River City Extension


BOS & TWIAPC Present River City Extension & Dinosaur Feathers 07.19.09

July 15, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
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Come on out to the party this Sunday Night at M Room in Philadelphia when Bag Of Songs along with our new friend Emma from The World In A Paper Cup bring you two amazing bands.

First up, Emma’s pick is Brooklyn’s super cool Dinosaur Feathers who whip up a mix of layered percussion, acoustic guitars and keyboards, along with overlapping harmony vocals that’ll have you hooked from the word go. If you’re digging bands like Animal Collective, Yeasayer, Fleet Foxes, or Grizzly Bear, you’ll want in on the Dinosaur Feathers action for sure. 

My pick for the evening is New Jersey’s River City Extension, who I first caught as The Broken Bell‘s pick in the May Battle Of The Blogs at The North Star Bar. Their frenetic live show made me an instant fan, and has been earning them well deserved comparisons to bands like Gogol Bordello, Man Man and The Avett Brothers. A category defying blend of folk,gospel blues, country,even a little punk and pure unadulterated bliss. it’s music guaranteed to make you move, or at the very least it will move your soul.

Dinosaur Feathers – Know Your Own Strength
Buy Ltd Edition Single
[MYSPACE]

River City Extension – Clever & Quickness
Buy Nautical Sabbatical
[MYSPACE]

Bag Of Songs & The World In A Paper Cup
Present
River City Extension (NY)
Dinosaur Feathers (NJ)
Sunday July 19th
$5 | 8PM | 21+UP
M Room
15 W Girard Ave Philadelphia PA

Some Photos From This Past Thursday’s Battle Of The Blogs 2

June 20, 2009 by · 1 Comment
Filed under: photos 

A few photos from this past Thursday night’s Battle Of The Blogs show at The North Star Bar In Philadelphia. The last minute addtion to the bill of the band 100 Monkeys ensured a good crowd of barely 21 year old girls, who while clearly there in adoration of Twilight vampire actor Jackson Rathbone, watched all of the night’s band with rapt attention and much applause. Lima Research Society started it off with an energetic set that kicked the night into high gear with the crowd singing along and dancing and it never looked back. My band Splash1 was up next and I’ll say it went really well from the band’s perspective but I’ll need to leave any review of our set to an unbiased source. Next up was Victor Victor Band, my first time seeing them, they’re an impressive two piece boy-girl combo that unleashed a blistering blend of garage rock in a vein similar to the White Stripes or The Black Keys. 100 Monkeys closed out the night with a bluesy/reggae influenced set of rock that definitely had a west coast beach party jam feel to it.  Big thanks to Heyday and North Star Bar for hosting the party as well as my fellow bloggers Jessica from Popwreckoning and Trip from Teenage Kicks,  the entire night was a blast.

Lima Research Society



Splash1

Victor Victor Band

100 Monkeys

Battle Of The Blogs Round 2 This Thursday June 18th @ North Star Bar

June 14, 2009 by · 4 Comments
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LATE BREAKING UPDATE !!! Just added and playing immediately following The Battle Of The Blogs this Thursday, a special set by the band 100 Monkeys which features Jackson Rathbone of the movie Twilight and friends.
Their recent shows in Philadelphia all sold out quickly, get your tickets NOW ! North Star is 21+Up only, sorry.

[100 Monkeys MYSPACE]

This Thursday June 18th it’s time for round two of the Battle Of The Blogs sponsored by Heyday Entertainment and five of Philly’s favorite music bloggers, Girl About Town, The Broken Bell, Popwreckoning, Teenage Kicks, and yours truly, Bag Of Songs.

One Thursday each month in May, June, and July each blog will showcase their selection of bands with the winning bands/blogs competing in a finals on a Saturday night in August, all at the North Star Bar.

Round 1 was May 21st with Girl About Town vs The Broken Bell vs Bag Of Songs with The Robes/Girl About Town coming up the night’s winners.
Round 2June 18th is Bag of Songs vs Popwreckoning vs Teenage Kicks
Round 3July 16th is a four band/blog night with Popwreckoning vs Teenage Kicks vs The Broken Bell vs Girl About Town

The final round will be held on a Saturday night in August with the three winning bands/blogs from each of the nights.

For this Thursday’s show Lima Research Society will will be the Bag Of Songs representative, Splash1 will be playing for Teenage Kicks, and Popwreckoning will be bringing The Victor Victor Band. It’s going to be an amazing night of music with the most important attendee being YOU, as the winner each night is decided by audience vote.

Lima Research Society @  M Room 04.26.09

Lima Research Society @ M Room 04.26.09

I’ve previously described  Lima Research Society’s sound as a potpourri of influences from soft folk, to prog rock musical acrobatics, to trippy psychedelica, to new wave dance and all points in between. Their live show is an equally engaging and entertaining blend of musicianship and audience participation that is truly a lot of fun to witness, and has often earned them comparisons to bands like the Flaming Lips.

Lima Research Society – Giant Moth – The Beauty of Things
Lima Research Society – NewtLife
Buy Don’t Give Up Don’t Get Down

Round 1 was blast so come on out for Round 2, meet your local bloggers, hear some excellent music, have a really great time, and don’t forget to vote for your favorite band of the night.

Heyday Entertainment Presents:
Battle Of The Blogs Round 2
Bag Of Songs vs Teenage Kicks vs Popwreckoning

(BOS) Lima Research Society [MYSPACE]
(TK) Splash1 [MYSPACE]
(POPW) The Victor Victor Band [MYSPACE]

Thursday June 18th
$8 | 8PM | 21+UP
North Star Bar
27th & Poplar Streets
Philadelphia PA

Philly Battle Of The Blogs : Girl About Town vs The Broken Bell vs Bag Of Songs

May 17, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
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Ok folks nothing like some good friendly competition to bring you some really great music and a guaranteed fun time. This Thursday May 21 kicks off the first round of Battle Of The Blogs sponsored by Heyday Entertainment and five of Philly’s favorite music bloggers, Girl About Town, The Broken BellPopwreckoningTeenage Kicks, and yours truly, Bag Of Songs.

It’s sort of a battle of the bands and blogs all rolled into one. One Thursday each month in May, June, and July each blog will showcase their selection of bands with the winning bands/blogs competing in a finals on a Saturday night in August, all at the North Star Bar.

May is Girl About Town vs The Broken Bell vs Bag Of Songs
June is Bag of Songs vs Popwreckoning vs Teenage Kicks
July is a four band/blog night with Popwreckoning vs Teenage Kicks vs The Broken Bell vs Girl About Town

August will be the three winning bands/blogs from each of the nights as voted by the attendees each night.

For this week’s show I will be bringing you The Shots, while The Broken Bell will have River City Extension and Girl About Town will present Robes.

I’ve talked up The Shots before but I’ll do it again. Anchored by the guitar virtuosity of Alex Blyksun and the rock solid solid bass playing of Colt Morris, they dig deep into the bluesy soul of rock and roll for a live sound that’s can best be described as part ’69 era Led Zeppelin, part Oasis, and part Live At Leeds era The Who.  If you’ve seen them recently you know how good they are, if you haven’t, be sure to get on down the North Star this Thursday and witness it first hand.

Here’s a few songs to give a taste of what they’re all about, but trust me when I say these don’t really do justice to the raw power of their live show.

The Shots – The Worth
The Shots – Stand Up For Your Loving
The Shots – Do Me Wrong

Heyday Entertainment Presents:
Battle Of The Blogs Round 1
Girl About Town vs The Broken Bell vs Bag Of Songs

Robes [MYSPACE]
River City Extension [MYSPACE]
The Shots [MYSPACE]

Thursday May 21st
$8 | 8PM | 21+UP
North Star Bar
27th & Poplar Streets
Philadelphia PA

BOS Presents : Sunday May 10th – Halloween,Alaska, Missing Palmer West, Scott McClatchy @ M Room

May 7, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
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This Sunday marks the start of the second year of our monthly Sunday Night Bag Of Songs Presents series at The M Room in Philadelphia. Huge thanks to Joe Lekkas and Village Green, and M Room for letting me put it together,to all of the bands that played over the past year, and to everyone that came out and showed their support. Adam & Dave’s Bloodline,Beaten By Them, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, Bojibian, Bridges And Powerlines, Canadian Invasion, Cedarwell, Cheers Elephant, Creeping Weeds, Curious Buddies, Dear Althea, DeJesus, Golden Bloom, Hymns, I Am The Heat, In Grenada, JP05, Lima Research Society, Meyerman, Murder Mystery, New Motels, Pico Vs Island Trees, Pow Wow!, Rogue Thief, Run Runner, Secret Life Of Sofia, Shawn Fogel, Sudden Ensemble, Sugar Canyon, Swift Technique, The Figgs, The Shots, The Skyler King, The Swimmers, The Thirteen, Thinking Machines,& Upsincefriday are all of the bands that helped make it happen the last twelve
months.

This week three more excellent acts will grace The M Room Stage for your listening pleasure. Scott McClatchy starts the night off his highly entertaining rock,folk,alt country solo act to the M Room. Scott’s bands have toured nationally with the likes of Steve Earle, the BoDeans and more and people like Willie Nile, Scott Kempner of the Del Lords, and Dion have have appeared on his solo records.

Scott McClatchy – The Reason
Buy Redemption

Missing Palmer West’s new record Shoveling Smoke, is one of my favorite releases of 2009 so far, well written ,achingly beautiful, finely orchestrated pop songs that I can best describe as sounding similar to what I imagine a Paul MCartneyRyan Adams collaboration might deliver. Their live show is equally amazing.

Missing Palmer West – Aftermath
Buy Shoveling Smoke

Minneapolis own Halloween, Alaska is touring in support of their excellent new third disc Champagne Downtown. Following four years after their last, the acclaimed Too Tall to it’s a mix of warm winding synth lines and epic sounding guitars swirled into melodic hook laden pop songs that’ll get trapped in your head for sure.

Halloween Alaska – The Hollywood Sign
Buy Champagne Downtown

Village Green Productions and Bag Of Songs Present:

Halloween,Alaska
Missing Palmer West

Scott McClatchy
Sunday May 10th
$8 | 8PM | 21+UP
M Room
15 W Girard Avenue
Philadelphia PA

Hey !, Is This Thing On ???

April 24, 2009 by · Comments Off on Hey !, Is This Thing On ???
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Despite the relative quiet lately I’m still here so please stay tuned. Between working too many hours a week at the day job and being sick as a dog with an annoying spring time cold the past few weeks, the content here has been a little sparse lately. Well, the cold is just about gone and the work hours seem to be letting up just a bit so I’m going to try and get this bus back on a more consistent schedule. There’s been a lot of great music and news coming through my inbox, new Action Painters, Adam & Dave’s Bloodline‘s hot new record, new Speck Mountain,new Pink Mountaintops, a new EP from I Am The Heat, The Sleepwalking Through The Mekong Soundtrack from Dengue Fever, Missing Palmer West‘s amazing new record to name but a few and so much, much more. Thanks to everyone who’s been sending stuff, I’ve been listening to it all and hopefully can carve out the time to bring a lot more of it here soon.  Also, watch for a new artistic feature coming soon from our friend Melinda The Martian, creator of those ultra cool Canadian Invasion videos. (Mel, if you’re reading, sorry, I still owe you an email reply)

Be sure to try and catch some of the Bag Of Songs sponsored live events coming up soon. This Sunday April 26th at The M Room, it’s Jesse Leyh bringing a special stripped down solo version of In Grenada, along with indie-psych-popsters Lima Research Society and the power pop awesomeness of Meyerman. On Sunday May 10th it’s back to the M Room when Village Green Productions and Bag Of Songs bring you Minneapolis’ Halloween, Alaska along with Philly’s Missing Palmer West and more TBA. On Thursday May 21st it’s Bag Of Songs vs The Broken Bell vs Girl About Town in The Battle Of The Blogs at the North Star Bar where each blog brings you a band, and the audience decides a winner for the night. The Shots will be representing Bag Of Songs, River City Extension representing The Broken Bell and The Robes will be dishing it out for Girl About Town.

If you’re in a band,especially local Philly area artists, and want to be considered for future BOS events make sure I have your music and some contact info. If you want to send me something the info is over on the right sidebar or you can email me at bagofsongs@gmail.com.

Here’s a few tunes to start off your weekend :
In Grenada – Beating Heart(DEMO)
Lima Research Society – Giant Moth – The Beauty Of Things
Buy Don’t Give Up Don’t Get Down

Speck Mountain – I Feel Eternal
Buy Some Sweet Relief
Dengue Fever -March Of The Balloon Animals
Buy Sleepwalking Through The Mekon
The Lemon Treasures – Spaghetti
Buy Mama Bear
Pink Mountaintops -While We Were Dreaming
Buy Outside Love
Action Painters – Supermarket
More Action Painters – Catch them live @ the North Star Bar Tomorrow Sat 4/25 w/ East Hundred

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