#sofar philly

city of the sun- another time

this is so fracking good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lqu7NQKMI0

fun fact: in the link above is my friend's place.  i was there last night for another sofar philly show, and he mentioned this band played at the last sofar show at his place. and hot damn, they are good. i also scored shaggy and st. lucia tickets too. lol

October 19th - South Philly - Philadelphia, PA

photo by Jeff Coon

It's amazing how quickly turmoil and pending disaster can turn around.   Heading to the Sofar Sounds show with, what was expected to be, a nice cushion of time that disappeared quickly.  South Philly traffic was exceptionally heinous due to an outdoor festival.  Normally accessible garages were full.  Rain was intermittent.  On top of that, I realized it was also game 6 of the MLB American League Championship Series.  With the CMJ Festival having kicked off a few days earlier just a few hours away in NYC, would any music fans make it out tonight? But, bam!  Free parking on a side street?  Only two blocks from the host's home!  We get inside and wow this place is cool!  Old Philly architecture and such a warm feeling!  The bands start coming in and are so excited to be there.  And the fans, first a trickle, but then - before all the furniture can be re-arranged - the house is full!  Sitting in Fergie's abode, all angst from the efforts of getting there have all but been forgotten! Nearly two years into Sofar Sounds in Philadelphia, the fans are undaunted, always ready for yet another new experience!  Being show #500 for Sofar Sounds internationally, this was bound to be a special show!  The fabulous thing about the show, that was on display this time, was the openness.  With each act we got to know more about them and share the experience, rather than just be fans.  

Up The Chain - Philadelphia, PA 

All the artists on the Sofar Sounds bills are a surprise to the fans until they arrive.  Reed Kendall, of Up The Chain, was planning on coming, as a fan, until just a few hours before the show!  But when his plans changed, in this case, it wasn't a choice between Sofar Sounds and watching Red Sox vs. Tigers; but that he found out he would be playing as well!  As a last minute replacement he was a fortuitous choice!  Having just released seeds & thornsearlier in the week, this was a great time to show off some new pieces without fighting for a crowd's attention! No keyboards, no electric guitars, no band mates, Reed Kendall took the solo route on this last minute set.  His songs were short and sweet, but a great sampling for new fans!  Three unreleased brand new songs filled out the set, while 'Haverhouse', a drinkin' tune, was a peak into older material.  The highlight of the set was 'Seasick Sailors'!  Appropriately the first song on the new album seeds & thorns, it gave a solid preview of the brand new album.  With smooth vocals and a bouncy tune, it was easy to see why there has been a buzz about Up the Chain's new album. Looking at the lyrics, it's easy to see he's not just another dude with the acoustic guitar.

from 'Seasick Sailors'

take the classroom walls to that big blue bin

trade them in for some clues to the place we're in

the winter's freeze and summer's met

can teach you how to teach yourself

Reed Kendall of Up The Chain Upthechain.com Reed Kendall - Vocals, Guitar

Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia       set list 10-19-2013              Track                                         RELEASE    -'The Prison Break'                       unreleased original

-'Haverhouse'                                Holy, Open, Dying Road   

-'Seasick Sailors'                           seeds & thorns   

-'Sidecar'                                       unreleased original

-'The Hand & Gasoline'                unreleased original

Christopher Paul Stelling - Brooklyn, NY 

Christopher Paul Stelling

Christopher Paul Stelling was my guilty pleasure for the night.  He had been a recommendation by another musician, Joe Fletcher.  Since meeting Stelling in late August, I've been listening to False Cities and his Folkadelphia Session ever since!  Seeing Christopher Paul Stelling walk through the door pre-show was a welcome sight. Christopher started off with some dreamy strums on 'Every Last Extremist'.  Less soapbox screams, more living room eye to eye communication, Christopher Paul Stelling took the next 30 minutes to connect with each person in the room via the "best way to hear & play music".  Next was 'Homesick tributaries' a song written for his father, and dedicated to other fathers; a loving ode honoring the legacy between a father & son.   Stelling turned up the intensity again with the powerful 'Brick by Brick'.  Despite that fiery tune having been my favorite Christopher Paul Stelling so far, it was 'The Ocean Stole My Love Away' that cemented him as premier storyteller. Before performing, he described how 'The Ocean Stole My Love Away' his song about losing someone at sea, was a product of great song writing, not experience.  However, the song had taken new life earlier this year in Belgium, playing in front of a grieving crowd, who had actually lost their loved ones at sea and only found out about it that same day he had played it to them.   Christopher told the Sofar Sounds crowd the story in great detail, before playing it softly to the now emotional crowd.  The scene couldn't have been more well-suited with the crowd taking in the story note for note, side by side with the other fans in the room.  If this wasn't the way music was meant to be experienced, I'm not sure what is!  ChristopherPaulStelling's website Christopher Paul Stelling - Vocals, Guitar

Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia       set list 10-19-2013              Track                                         RELEASE    -'Every Last Extremist'                      False Cities  

-'Homesick Tributaries'                      False Cities   

-'Brick By Brick'                                False Cities    

-'The Ocean Stole My Love Away'   Songs of Praise and Scorn     

-'Hard Work'                                     unreleased original

The Rivals - Philadelphia, PA 

After the break, The Rivals took to the front of the room next.  A complete wild card, they told me before the show that none of the tunes would be from their album Divine Lorraine, but all new tracks!   Even better Rob Swift was wielding a Ukulele for the first tune!  Uke songs should definitely be done with more bass, I couldn't decide to bounce with bass, or sway with the Uke.  Rob's pleasing vocals made it easy to see why he's become somewhat of an internet star with his SwiftLessons channel Throwing a quick curve ball, bassist Tom Williamson took over the vocals, while  guitarist Wayne Gallagher and Rob did the backing oohs and ahhs!  The groove heavy tune featured a finger snapping eliciting bass line, and some fancy finger work on the guitar to support the introspective tune of a prison-bound scorned lover. Throughout the set, the band showed their song diversity.  Wayne Gallagher took over the vocals on the yet to be titled, dark & heavy third song.  Rob Swift stayed serious on the lyrics, but light on the tune on the fourth with another new song 'Castaway'.  To wrap up the set, all of the guys took vocal parts on the final and new song. I'm looking forward as the Rivals continue to evolve.  I hope they haven't abandoned the songs fromDivine Lorraine though!

Wayne Gallagher, Tom Williamson & Rob Swift - The Rivals theRivalsMusic.com Wayne Gallagher - Vocals, Guitar Tom Williamson - Vocals, Bass Rob Swift - Vocals, Ukulele, Guitar

Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia       set list 10-19-2013              Track                                         RELEASE    -'Silently Waiting'                  unreleased original   

-'I'm Awake'                           unreleased original      

-'untitled (Wayne's Song)'      unreleased original   

-'Castaway (Lady Lord)'        unreleased original   

-'The Confessor'                     unreleased original

Turning Violet Violet - Philadelphia, PA 

Holy Crap! Turning Violet Violet was next!! I knew them from their radio friendly single 'Cold Bread' from Double Cure!  The Tri-State Indie 2013 INDIE POP ROCK BAND OF THE YEAR winner was the last band for the evening.  As I re-positioned to a different spot in the room, I was a bit confused.  This didn't look like a Metric-type alt-rock band, it looked like the Decemberists were about to come on next. Sarah Gullish admitted earlier, "A lot of our songs are electric guitar/keyboard driven and don't necessarily translate to a quieter format. The songs we are playing are more vocally driven and tell stories."  She was 100% correct!  First we got to know Barbara, her accordion on the first song, 'When We Were Young'.  Paired wonderfully with Sarah P's viola, Barbara was a great touch, amongst the pounding bass/drum/guitar. The second introduction by story was to an elderly neighbor that passed away during the recording ofDouble Cure.  'Pink Sky', about their last interaction together, was very well captured in this intimate room.  It was even more amazing as we found out, this was the first time these songs were being played live since March! 'There's A Way' an unreleased original, Sarah confessed, to the crowd and the band, was about dating, her band-mate and now husband Brandon.  The band and crowd highlight though was taking advantage of the intimate crowd.  For the last song, they asked for a sing along as they worked a cover of Arcade Fire's 'Wake Up' into their original 'Ivory Clock'.  The crowd obliged and it was a captivating way to end the night!

Jeff Scott, Brandon Gulish (rear), Sarah Gulish, Eric Daelhousen (rear), Sarah P - Turning Violet Violet Turningvioletviolet.com Sarah Gulish -Vocals, Accordion Sarah P - Viola, Vocals, Xylophone Eric Daelhousen - Bass Jeff Scott - Guitar Brandon Gulish - Drums

Sofar Sounds: Philadelphia       set list 10-19-2013              Track                                         RELEASE    -'When We Were Young'                  Double Cure  

-'Pink Sky'                                       Pink Sky single 

-'There's A Way'                             unreleased original   

-'Wake Up/'Ivory Clock'         Arcade Fire cover/Double Cure  

Be sure to sign up on the email list if you want to be part of this magic!  The November show is the 2 year anniversary for Sofar Sounds: Philadephia, so expect the magic to continue! Thanks to SofarSounds: Philly for the invitation to come out again to the shows! Video by Bob Sweeney & Jeff Coon Photos by  Lindsey Borgman  These posts would not be possible without the assistance from the bands, Sofar Sounds, Bob Sweeney, Lindsey Borgman!  Thanks to Jeff Coon for tagging along and manning camera 2! Special thanks to Fergie, the coolest dude on the scene today!

**Unless noted,**All photos from Lindsey Borgman**