Meet Philly’s Lantern

A welcome new addition to the local Philly music scene is Lantern. The trio includes guitarist and singer Zachary Devereux Fairbrother, bassist Emily Robb and drummer Sophie White. While not originally from Philly, Zachary and Emily relocated here last year from Canada where they met White. Built on a strong foundation of blues, rock and psychedelic garage, the band recently cut a Key Studio Session for WXPN that can be downloaded in it’s entirety here.

For those of you in Philly, they perform Tuesday, July 19th at Kung Fu Necktie along with Far-Out Fangtooth and The Asteroid #4, a show that is going to be the psychedelic, punk and garage rock throwdown of the Summer.

Download: You Can’t Deny Me – Lantern

Follow Lantern on tumblr
Listen to Lantern on Bandcamp

Check out this cover of a Willie Dixon classic –

LCD. Philly. Making Time. I Was There

Secretly Canadian Lands Another Philly Band – Nightlands

Secretly Canadian just can’t get enough of local multi-instrumentalist David Hartley. In 2008, the Bloomington, Indiana-based indie-rock label released Wagonwheel Blues, the debut full-length by Philly’s own The War On Drugs (in which Hartley plays bass); the label will also release the band’s upcoming 12″ LP, Future Weather, on October 28th. The label has signed Hartley’s bedroom recording project, Nightlands, to its roster, and will release its debut album Forget The Mantra on November 9th in the U.S. on vinyl and digital formats.

Hartley has worked with a number of other local bands in the past, including Buried Beds, BC Camplight, and The Lindsey Buckingham Appreciation Society. So it comes as little surprise that, while putting the tracks to tape, he opted to invite a few pals over for feedback and collaboration. A listen to the two songs made available on Secretly Canadian’s website reveals the end result to be warm, pastoral dream-pop with hymnal qualities. If Hartley’s work with The War On Drugs feels like the perfect soundtrack for a drive through one of Bruce Springsteen’s working-class neighborhoods, Nightlands would make a great accompaniment for a post-six-pack stroll through the starlit fields that lie just beyond the edge of the city.

Download these two new songs:
Suzerain (A Letter To the Judge) by Nightlands

300 Clouds by Nightlands

via The Key

New War On Drugs

Philly’s War On Drugs drops a new EP/mini album on October 26th called Future Weather on Secretly Candian. Word on their site is a “full” second album is being worked on, but for now, we’ve got this beautiful burst of neo-psychedelia to soak in to our souls.

The band has half a dozen select dates in New York. Virginia and North Carolina through October. To follow the latest War On Drugs news check out their blog here. Definitely love the VU/Fleetwood Mac vibe of this new tune

Download Comin’ Through – War On Drugs

The Wrens: Just Because We Love Them

The Wrens.
Still waiting.
But, believe it or not there’s some progress. Meanwhile, here’s a trip worth taking down memory lane.
Download em all, if you don’t already have them.
Complexion – The Wrens
Behold Me – The Wrens
Everyone Chooses Sides – The Wrens
This Machine – The Wrens
Dance The Midwest – The Wrens
Built In Girls – The Wrens

One of many highlights from the new Ra Ra Riot album

Here’s one of the many highlights from the new Ra Ra Riot album The Orchard. Below the MP3, in case you missed it, check out the band’s live broadcast from WXPN and NPR Music that you can listen here.

Download: Boy – Ra Ra Riot

So, is it now or was it always Capitol Year? (no “s”)

Folks in Philly may know Shai Halperin as the lead singer of the indierock band The Capitol Years. Well, he’s decided to step out with a solo record called Sweet Lights which you can stream below, download some songs for free or even drop the 5 bucks to support your local musician with. Consider for heavy rotation the following songs: “Are We Gonna Work It Out,” “Ballad of Kurt Vile #2,” and the Roy Orbison-esque “You Won’t Be There.”

And check out this absolutely incredible video for “Are We Gonna Work It Out”

Classic Soul Asylum (c. 1986)

I been on an early Soul Asylum kick lately.

This one’s from their 1986 album While You Were Out

Download this: Lap Of Luxury – Soul Asylum

New Real Estate 7-inch single comin down the Jersey Turnpike

From a forthcoming 7″ single from Real Estate out 10/12/10 on True Panther.

A Classic Education

What’s that saying – everything that’s old is new again? Well, here’s some newness you might dig.
The part-Canadian, part-Italian six piece A Classic Education mostly bring to mind the Go-Betweens & The Chills (80’s), but also remind me a bit of Okkervil River – themselves neo-traditionalists. The jangle brings the power, and Hey There Stranger, a five song EP will be out September 21st on Lefse Records
Download: Gone To Sea – A Classic Education
Download: What My Life Could Have Been – A Classic Education