If you don’t already consider City Paper your best friend, we’re not opposed to bribing you. We are giving away tickets to go see Philly’s favorite pop-rockers Ike with The Pawnshop Roses, The Kin, and Omnisoul at World Cafe Live’s Beta Hi-Fi Music Festival tonight. All you have to do is play our version of that god-awful TV show Don’t Forget the Lyrics. Just fill in the next five words to Ike’s song "Into Philadelphia." The first two people to answer correctly win a pair of tix (each!) and will be congratulated by Wayne Brady himself (that’s a lie — but the tickets are legit). Doors are at 6 p.m. Show’s at 7:30 p.m.  So hurry up and sing, er, ummm, type your hearts out!

Episode 037 of Local support starts off with some sad news given to us by DJ Jon Solomon. Trevor Butler from local bands Coyote and Bottom of the Hudson was killed in a van crash on July 29th. City Paper offers condolences to his family and friends. This episode pays tribute to him by playing great stuff by both those bands. The first set also includes the mysterious minute-music of Crisco Thunder and the grimy grind of Sanitized.

Set two begins with just the right amount of catchiness from The A-sides. I am totally into what Mr. Solomon calls their "New Ordery jangle." But if jangling just doesn’t suit your mood, Illuminea uses a good amount of people power to achieve that languid, drowsy drone thing. And how about The War on Drugs with "Arms Like Boulders?" This Dylanesque tune makes me want to look at some mountains.  Where are the goddamn mountains? 

I also love the blue-eyed innocence of Excerpt After Sea and the can’t-sing-but-can-sing voice of the dude from Circles. He’s got a David Berman thing going on. Very nice. But the highlight of the third set has to be Burndown All Stars. This song makes me want to get my white ass moving. I’m going to go pretend I have 22-inch rims on my pretend car. "This shit is so hot." Episode 037 closes with Dr. Horsemachine and The Moneynotes representing my hometown with some Scranton-twang. This big city could use some country flair.     
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Coyote – "Half The Time" – S/T
Crisco Thunder – "Mr. Hood Checks The Weather" – Demonstration
Umlaut – "Themelaut" – S/T
Satanized – "Satanized Jam No. 2" – Sickness & Hellth: The Secular Chansons Of…
Bottom Of The Hudson – "Bee Hive" – Fantastic Hawk
(more…)

We here at CP thought you might be getting tired of dragging out the stale cheeze-puffs and renting the same Keanu Reeves movie every night. That’s why we are classying things up a bit by giving away a pair of right-up-close tickets for The Philadelphia Orchestra’s performance of From the New World at The Mann Center, featuring the NPR-hosting/piano-playing genius Christopher O’Riley.

This O’Riley dude has covered Radiohead and Elliot Smith which automatically makes him cool even when he’s playing stuff by Dvorak, Wagner and Beethoven (who are, y’know, cool in their own kinda way). The tickets are for TOMORROW, THURSDAY AUG. 25, so act fast and be the first to answer our trivia question (that’s it over there on the right). You might just win an evening out. We’re sure Keanu won’t mind.

10 tracks, 10 takes, 10 opportunities to represent interns everywhere

1.) Black Rebel Motorcycle Club,  “Ain’t No Easy Way” (Howl)
I just saw these guys at the TLA about a month ago and they were so good.  Their set was probably about two and a half hours long and toward the end they did the folk thing with acoustic guitars and harmonicas.  When they played this song everybody (including the obnoxious drunk guy in front of me) immediately began to do a stomping thing.  It’s just really good and bluesy.  Sure the name might be intimidating, but this band is worth listening to.   

2.) The Watson Twins, “Shoot the Lights Out” (Southern Manners)
Ok, I’ll admit it.  I am one of those people who have a lot of songs on my iPod that I’ve never really listened to.  This is one of them.  But it is a pretty cool song.  This is The Watson Twins pre-Jenny Lewis.  It has that curl-up-in-a-corner,I-just-broke-up-with-my-boyfriend-and-my-mascara-is-running kind of feel. Wait, I think I just got depressed.

3.) The Strokes, “Ize of the World” (First Impressions of the Earth)
I still like the Strokes.  I can listen to Julian Casablancas whine and mumble about the problem-causing “ize” of this world for a very long time without getting bored.  I wasn’t sure about this CD when it first came out, but it grew on me and I pop it in my compact disc player from time to time.  This song is my favorite on the album.  I love how it cuts short at the end.

4.) Erin McKeown, “James!” (Grand)
This is a great song by a great singer.  It’s a little jazzy, a little swanky, a little funky, which is different than most of the other songs on this CD.  The way she sings the name “James” is intoxicating.  Erin McKeown has been my go-to-girl this year.  Her music makes me feel like one of those cool hippy kids.  Maybe I’ll go buy a pair of Birkenstocks.          

5.) Dirty Pretty Things, “The Enemy” (Waterloo to Anywhere)
This band is The Libertines.  I don’t know who these guys are trying to fool.  Three fourths of the members played in The Libertines before joining this band.  It is fronted by Carl Barat who also fronted The Libertines.  They sound exactly like The Libertines with their drunken babbling lyrics, British accents, and badass attitudes.  If you liked The Libertines you will like this song and this band. (more…)

After an agonizing two weeks, City Paper’s down-home DJ Jon Solomon is back with Episode 035 of Local Support. So if you’ve spent the past 14 days ripping your hair out and screaming "Give me my music!" don’t worry — this one’s soooo worth the wait.

Bottom of the Hudson starts things off with an ethereal, twinkling number that begins sweet and slow and then riles things up with hand-claps halfway through. Clapping along is encouraged. Hermit Thrushes are up next with a twangy, enigmatic track followed by the sinister pleading pluck of Fan of Friends. Also in the first set is the ambient beat of Alka and the swanky, punk-jive of Faux Slang.

The second set begins with CPs faves, A Sunny Day in Glasgow. (Their Tout New Age EP has been streaming on our playa). The Spinto Band proves to be the highlight of this set with the cinematic "Late," a song I imagine playing in the background of some indie flick driving scene or a Kevin Bacon gymnastics number (ok, maybe not, but you get the point).  

The Three 4 Tens have that dragging-out-the-last-syllable thing down, which is totally rock-and-roll. Flowchart’s "Another Word Explodes" has a prison-break, avoiding-the-floodlights feel, which is also rock and roll (even if it’s actually downtempo electronica). And if you’re in the mood for something even stranger, look no further then Gogreengo, whoser discordant screeching beats will throw you for a loop.  Or how about some foreign flair?  Nicki Jaine’s got it with her short and sexy caberet crawl.  

As this week’s episode ends Suffacox brings some southern-sounding noise with "Snake River" and Windsor For The Derby closes 035 with their mezmerizing foray into eerie soundscapes.  It’s all really quite lovely.

So don’t wait another minute. Download Episode 035 now! 

Do the download: Local Support 035

Bottom Of The Hudson – "Fantastic Hawk" – Fantastic Hawk
Hermit Thrushes – "Yarn" – Benaki
Fan Of Friends – "Larks Are Card Keys" – 45
Alka – "Dayone" – Principles Of Suffocation
Faux Slang – "Ha Ha Bang Bang" – The Dirty Dream (more…)

Jon Solomon is back this week with Episode 034 of Local Support.  Our favorite DJ thinks he can stump us by calling it "The Bob Scrabis Episode," and sure enough, I had to look it up.  But don’t spend too much time with the title because the music is what really matters.  

Episode 034 gets underway with Philly’s own Pissed Jeans, who were recently signed to Sub Pop.  Sure, these guys might be poor, but they know how to deliver a muddled vortex of punk-rock noise.  Then there’s Tuff Crew, busting out rhymes and scratching it old-school style followed closely by the lazy, otherworldly plunge of Remote Islands.  Good stuff.  The first block also includes the ambient folk of Gemini Wolf and Bunnydrums‘ party-rave, techno groove.

Like A Fox begins the second set with their cyber-pop opus which is so sunny it will make you want to buy a bathing suit and slap on some shades.  On the darker side, however, is the Genghis Khan Experience.  Their frightening, crazed night-core makes me want to hide under a blanket, but they’re cool if you like it loud.  Can’t get behind the noise?  The enchanting, Siren-like sounds of Fursaxa are sure to soothe.

This episode also includes the mewling catchiness of Eastern Conference Champions and the theatrical, carnival maneuvers of F!, not to mention the strobe-worthly clamor of Stabalizer.  And the whole thing ends with a series of bleary beeps and incoherent noises from M. Ace that sound something like malfunctioning machinery and robotic cat-purrs. 

So don’t be like Bob Scrabis and miss your shot.  Download it now.  

Do the download: Local Support 034

Pissed Jeans – "People Person" – Hope For Men
Tuff Crew – "My Part Of Town" – Danger Zone
Remote Islands – "King Elvis" – Smother Party
Gemini Wolf – "Phantom Digits" – Josiah
Bunnydrums - "Sleeping" – PKD

Like A Fox – "Nobody Knows You" – S/T
Someone Else – "Hedroom Eyes" – Pen Caps & Colored Pencils
Genghis Khan Experience – "This Is Goodbye" – 45
Fursaxa – "Alone In The Dark Wood" – Alone In The Dark Wood
Bitter, Bitter Weeks – "Writing Letters" – Peace Is Burning Like A River

Eastern Conference Champions – "The Box" – Ameritown
F! – "Me And My Raygun" – An Adonis
Artificial Intelligence In Texas – "One Two Three" – Time Remembers
Stabilizer – "A Beginning" – A Fuse Slowly Burning
M. Ace – "Cthulhuoid Invocation" – The Sonic Six Sessions

I’m totally crushing on Jon Solomon.  And you will be too when you hear Episode 033 of Local Support. Our favorite DJ jams the best local music of the past six months into this special episode for your listening pleasure.

This week kicks off with the erratic dance-rock of Prowler then transitions into the countrified, honey-tinged voice of Stacy Brown from The Classic Brown which will have you wishing for a pair of pretty cowboy boots. Not in the mood for line dancing?  It’s cool, because this first set gets down with Mountain High sounding like a more up-beat version of The Offspring and Gideon Works, who have conquered that wonderful space fuzz sound.

If you feel like busting stuff up, let Hulk Smash be your background music with their eerie, splintering screaming, or if you’re feeling more like that typical sad-sack guy/girl, Creeping Winds hooks you up with the perfect mope music. And how good is the seven-minute Lewis and Clarke strum?  So good.  

Other mentionable moments from Episode 033 include the pensive puttering of Illonios, the electronic fun of Mose Giganticus, and the back-you-up beating of Doses. And who can help but fall for the crackly croon and tambourine sprinkle of Dr. Dog’s "Die, Die, Die?"  I’m swooning.  As if that weren’t enough, The Teeth sing about tight pants and make great use of the word "smashing," which is just so damn endearing.  

You’re still reading? What are you waiting for? 

Do the download: Local Support 033   

Prowler – "Prowler Theme" – Communizzle
The Classic Brown – "The Body Politic" – Down With Fun
Mountain High – "Life Coach" – Cd5
Gildon Works – "Fourth But First" – Cdr
Golden Ball – "Oxen Free" – The Antique Barking Swirls Of Dawn

Hulk Smash – "Heart Mountain" – The Hulk Smash Album
Creeping Weeds – "Part Of A Dream" – We Are All Part Of A Dream You’re Having
A Sunny Day In Glasgow – "Things Only I Can See" – Scribble Mural Comic Journal
Lewis & Clarke – "Comfort Inn" – Blasts Of Holy Birth
Grammar Debate! – "Dr. Tiger" – Cheetah vs. Helicopter

Illinois – "Alone Again" – What The Hell Do I Know?
Meg Baird – "Dear Companion" – Dear Companion
Mose Giganticus – "My Machine" – The Invisible Hand
Dr. Dog – "Die, Die, Die" – We All Belong
Melquiades – "The You In The Shadows" – We Were What We Ate

Public Record – "Look How Dead The Reeds Get" – Cdr
The Teeth – "Walk Like A Clown" – You’re My Lover Now
Shellito – "We Stick Together" – Benevolent Laser
Doses – "Hong Kong Ruby" – S/T

Oh Jon Solomon, you’re too good to us. Episode 032 of Local Support (should we call this the "Steve Carlton episode"?) once again throws the best new and classic local music your way. Things kick off this week with an eight-minute change-happy number by Mega Mega, which will have your head spinning by song’s end. Representing Scranton, My Dad is a Dinosaur makes meat sound sexy with their stripped-down ditty "Saucy Sausages."  

Eltro and King God bring plenty of stripped-down bleepy beats to the party; Meg Baird’s pretty croon will tempt you to put flowers in your hair; Han Soom captivates with his slightly off-sounding voice and tambourine tinkering. And it doesn’t end there.

Car Commericals and The Blow Goes liven things up with some scratchy screaming vocals and spasming guitars. Velvet Crayon recites poetry over bluesy riffs making sure you "Mind Your Mellow."  And then there’s local favorites Stinking Lizavetta. By now, you know what they’re all about. Episode 032 ends with Bladder Control who repeat the word "exciting" a lot, which you’d think might be a tad boring, but totally isn’t. It’s actually kind of exciting. Are you excited?  I’m excited!

Local Support 032: Do the download thing.

Mega Mega – "Demo #3" – Humanoid
The Funstigators – "Leave It To Beaver" – WPRB Studio Tapes
My Dad Is A Dinosaur – "Saucy Sausages" – The Devil In The Playhouse
George Glikerdas – "Untitled" – S/R
Eltro – "Lady Of The Highway" – Past & Present Futurists (more…)

Jon Solomon has done it again.  Episode 031 of Local Support, which we have dubbed the Wilbert Montgomery Episode, dedicating it to a number-31-jersey-wearing athlete, per Jon's request, certainly packs a punch.  And like Montgomery, who broke a multitude of Eagles' rushing records, this episode may hold the record for most diverse episode of Local Support to date. 

Kicking off with the soft explorations of Lewis and Clarke, one might assume they're on a mellow trip, but Animus quickly mixes things up with an eastern-tinged percussion track.  And if you're looking for some political punk, Our Time and La Resistance deliver soon enough.

And yes, there is the slow, down-home strumming of Stephen P. Anderson and the wistful musings of Soft People, but pay close attention to the Brian Jonestown Massacre thing that The Cobbs (opening for B.R.M.C. at the TLA June 1) and On Mono have going on.  It's good stuff, so go get it.  

Local Support 031: Download it. You know you want to.

Lewis & Clarke – “Crimson Carpets” – Blasts Of Holy Birth Animus – “Arapia” – Mediterranean Dreams Our Time – “Wage War” – Wage War Alex Luquet – “Nice” – Cdr Grammar Debate! – “Believe It Away” – Cheetah vs. Helicopter (more…)