Rolling Stone Names Philadelphia a Hot Scene: Well, Duh!

The 2007 Hot Issue of Rolling Stone goes the through the usual list of bands, movies and people that those in know already know about. Band of Horses and Vampire Weekend are chatted up. Gee, where have we heard about those bands? I know, BLOGS!!!!!!

BTW, that Ben Franklin episode of The Office had me in tears it was so funny, that's why it's here. Ben Franklin .. Philly.

In any event, Philly is given a two-page spread touting the great new bands coming from the area. You have Dr. Dog, The Teeth, Diplo and Spank Rock as leaders on the Philly scene. I would like to add these names from the area:

* The A-Sides: Currently on tour with Ted Leo + The Pharmacists, the group just released their second album, Silver Storms. It's indie sounding in every sense, artistic without being pompous, rocking without being harsh and lush and harmonic without being wimpy.

* The Capitol Years: Caught these guys at Mercury Lounge with Office. As I said then, "They play simple, straight-up indie rock with a little ramshackleness you'd find in early Wilco recordings." 

* The War on Drugs: The band bring their war to the Secretly Canadian label, and they are working on their full-length debut to be release next year. Similar in spirit to Dr. Dog, TWOD like their music to sound antique, like from The Depression or the Civil War. Yet, it still appeals to indie crowd.

* The Cobbs: The brother Cobb, Ryan & Paul, are a little bit of everything. They have simple garage rock songs, then they can make a big sweeping sound-scape song in the vein of My Morning Jacket.

* Natalie Walker: Not everything coming out of Philly has to rock. For instance, this singer-songwriter might give Sia and Dido a run their money with her transcendent and haunting voice mixed with trip-hop beats. She actually played Bowery Ballroom a few months ago, which I found out the day afterwords. DOH! Anyway, her music has been used on Entourage and Ugly Betty.

* Sisters3: So yeah. There are three of them. They are sisters. Makes sense. They have a great soul meets indie country rock sound. Think Jenny Lewis if she listen to more classic 70s Philly soul.

What I like about the Philly scene that it doesn't have a particular kind of sound. There's a bunch of everything going on. The magazine mentions the reasons bands like being based in Philly is for the cheap rent. The other side of coin is that salaries in the city are way below New York. I also think the lack of labels (major or indie) and music business cronies gives these bands more freedom to be themselves.

As far music venues, RS gives props to First Unitarian Church and the new Johnny Brenda's. I would to give props to the North Star Bar and Khyber. Now that the Mis-shapes have backed up their back-packs, the new place to be is the Making Time parties at Transit to watch people that you secretly despise.

What I always tell people about Philadelphia is that it's the most under-rated restaurant city in America. The mag mentions the Silk City Diner (which is a few blocks down from Transit) and the Last Drop Coffee Shop.

Now, my major recommendation for the hang out bar is Sugar Mama's. It's divey, but in a cool way. $1 PBRs, pinball machines, .25 pierogies on Wednesdays, plenty of kitchy crap on the wall, the best jukebox in town and pornography wallpapered in the bathooms. Also, it's hidden behind a parking lot in Olde City/Center City so has that secret speakeasy feel. It's the kind of place I would hang every week if I lived down there.

So I'm glad my old stomping grounds have gotten its sunny day. I do miss it, that's why I like to go down every month to get my fix -- a sort of tale of two cities for me. Well, three if you count London. I just wish Philly would have winning sports team -- for once, dammit.

Previous:

• I check out The National at Johnny Brenda's
• Klaxons tear it down at the Making Time Party
• The kids gets sweaty with Tilly & the Wall at The Church
• Smoosh and The Postmarks play the World Music Cafe, home of the popular NPR show.

Comments

[Oliver]

me and my friends nearly got assaulted by a waitress at the silk city diner (many years ago) for not leaving enough tip. she followed us out to our car and yelled at us, at which point we emptied out our pockets and gave her our every last cent. good ole college days.

north star bar is great, but the khyber... yikes. jb's is the best.

[Rob]

Thanks for the Philly love. Just saw Black Mountain at Johnny Brenda's last night. Thank God for that place. Hopefully I'll never have to go to the Khyber again.

[ashley]

So based on the awesomeness of you taste and your affinity for the city of Philadelphia (and guest lecturer/stripper Ben Franklin), I'm like to subtly suggest you go see Muscles when they are in town (10/25/07). I think you will like them. More information:

www.modularpeople.com/uploads/66/MUSCLES_POSTER.jpg
www.musclesmusic.com