October 9-15, 2003
musicpicks
The Trolleyvox
Rock/pop
The Trolleyvox's new CD, Leap of Folly (Groove Disques) sounds just OK on my headphones at work. To listen to their long-overdue sophomore disc properly, you need to hear it sung out of a proper pair of honest-to-god stereo speakers. That way, you can witness the Philly popsters' juggling act resolve itself nicely (and loudly). Guitarist/songwriter Andrew Chalfen's ringing riffs and winsome tunes unfold leisurely (a handful of tracks stretch past the six-minute mark) and naturally. Singer Beth Filla delivers with understated grace, handling witty lyrics like "The queen-to-be has traded in/ Her dalliance with impermanence" with smarm-free ease. And to make sure things kick into high gear when they should, bassist Greg Dubrow and drummers Ken Buono or Bigger Lover Bret Tobias hold nothing back when they want to kick out (their crashing entrance at the 0:24 mark of track one, "Dome of the Sky," is noteworthy). Lately, the current 'Vox lineup (Chalfen, Filla, Buono and bassist Scott Rogers) has been playing out all over the area, making up for lost time, as the group cut back its profile considerably in late 2000 while Filla completed her master's degree. Their record-release show at Doc Watson's should sound great -- after all, they'll be playing into some really big speakers.
Thu., Oct. 9, 9:30 p.m., $7, with The Sixth Great Lake and James Hindle, Doc Watsonıs, 216 S. 11th St., 215-922-3247.
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