“And now for something completely different…” the husky voice of tall, thin lead singer Nick Mehalick, 25, promises the crowd at Bordz Skate Park in Southampton.

With a drum stick in one hand, the other stroking the keys of the unofficial third band member, Cynthia the Synthesizer, a bull horn by his feet and his younger, self-taught 16-year-old guitarist brother, Mike, wielding his axe like he’d been playing longer than twice his lifetime… made the promise quite delivered.

It’s not easy to compare This Temper to anything else going on in the Philly local circuit, or mainstream music either. In fact, as cliché as it sounds, there really is nothing out their quite like this band of brothers, especially in terms of a live show. The best way to describe a performance in a word is explosive. As Nick sings transcendent lyrics, he rocks his drum kit so hard the show momentarily pauses so he can place a cinderblock in front of his bass drum.

While drumming and singing he plays Cynthia simultaneously. Both artists engage the crowd as well during theirperformance, Nick making his way into the crowd to free style lyrics to their song “The Romantic” to an entranced audience as Mike wails mercilessly on his guitar. The energy poured from the stage as on lookers tucked away in corners of the skate park weasel their way out to take a closer look at the undiscovered, local musical phenomenon.

At the end of the show, a box of free CD’s are placed at the bottom of the ramp off of the stage.

It’s a mad dash to grab a treasured freebie, and within seconds demos are swiped. Currently they’re working on developing album art which both Nick and Mike have created themselves, as well as diving into a hands-on experience with their entire production process. This Temper plans to bring their lively show across the country this summer, with dates already booked from New York to Chicago.

If you want to have an experience rather than see just another show, try to follow these brothers (literally) on their nationwide tour. It will surely be something completely different.

What began as a duo between lead vocalist and guitarist Ron Gallo and drummer Mike Baurer turned into a much larger project when Gallo employed the help of several more friends to play on their album in the studio.

Image courtesy ohnotoysoldiers.com.

“I guess they just never left,” Gallo joked. “We’ve been a big happy family since then.”

The group, which has included ten plus members for some live performances, released its debut LP, Whisper Down the Lane last fall. The smattering of influences that permeate the band’s sound include traditional country, folk, bluegrass, southern soul, delta blues and rock ‘n’ roll.

“Old-timey styles of music,” Gallo summed it up.

The group’s instrumentation often incorporates lively piano, banjo, acoustic guitar, brass instruments and a barrage of vocal harmonies. Gallo explained that the increased size of the band only aids its creativity.

“The addition of so much instrumentation has taken any limitation away that may have been there before,” Gallo said. “We can really go anywhere at this point, musically.”

Over the past month, Toy Soldiers have indeed gone somewhere: up and down the East Coast on a tour that will finish up tonight, back home.

Tonight:

Toy Soldiers. 9pm. Johnny Brenda’s. 21+. With The Great Unknown and TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb.

For more on Toy Soldiers, visit ohnotoysoldiers.com.

Kevin Brosky

Photography by Josh Douglas Smith

Long time no see, Philanthem readers! I apologize for the unexpected hiatus for the past month. If you’re wondering where I’ve been (of course you have!), Lauren and I have been in the process of bringing in some more writing muscle to the team. So get used to seeing a few new faces around here shortly and we’re sure you’ll enjoy what they plan to bring to the table. Until then, let’s see some of what’s going on this weekend, shall we?

Saturday, October 10:

Our friend Brian Dibiagio will be crazy busy this Saturday as he’s playing two shows in two very different locales. First, he’ll be with Bill Monaghan in Allentown, NJ (yes, there is an Allentown in Jersey) at the Allentown Fall Festival, which seems to be a free event that starts at 9:30 a.m. After a bit a travel, Brian will be at the Edgmont Country Club with Round Tower in Newtown Square, PA for a show that begins at 8 p.m. and is also presumably free.

The New Divide will be headlining a show at the Cherrywood in Clememton, NJ with Jason Ager and the C.O.P.O, Open the Sky and Boss 302. Unfortunately for those under 21 (or without a fake I.D., but you didn’t hear that from us), the show is for those that wield that magical number of years. Tickets are $7.

A slow weekend in terms of quantity, but most definitely not in quality! Remember, if you are a in band or know one who would like to be featured in our concert previews, tip us off either on our Mypsace, Facebook group, or at philanthem@gmail.com. Also, if you want to see our posts as soon as they happen, subscribe to the Philanthem Twitter feed.

Image courtesy matadorrecords.com

Born and raised Philadelphia native Kurt Vile’s do-it-yourself grit fits perfect with the blue collar town he calls home.

The imaginative guitarist and songwriter, dubbed “Philly’s Constant Hitmaker,” has been working on finding unique sounds since he first picked up a banjo, and, later, a guitar. And with his brand new record Childish Prodigy (Matador), Vile may have found his mark.

The loud, pounding opener “Hunchback,” begins the album with a bang and the frenzied first single, “Freak Train,” showcases the unpredictable nature of Vile’s work. On the harmonica-infused groove “Inside Looking Out,” Vile’s volatile howling reminisces Jim Morrison over a distant jungle beat.

Deep cuts like “Blackberry Song” and “Overnite Religion” display Vile’s mastery of layered acoustic and electric guitars, which blend into a complex musical texture.

Prodigy is a complex web of songs, woven together into a tapestry of twisted brilliance from the mind of one of the most ingenious Philadelphia musicians. Perhaps unfortunately for Vile’s hometown fans, he may be on his way to bigger stages elsewhere.

Kurt Vile celebrates the release of his brand new album with a CD release show tonight, playing with his live band, the Violators, at Kung Fu Necktie in Fishtown. The show is set to start at 8 p.m. and tickets are $10.

Kevin Brosky

This Friday was a celebration of sorts for Nancy Micciulla.

After more than a decade of writing music and performing everywhere and anywhere, the Philadelphia singer-songwriter released her first fully-produced, full-length album, The One to Shine, at an intimate CD release show at the Tin Angel.

Micciulla’s new album, which she spent much of the summer working on finishing, is an eleven track folk rock diary, wrought with honesty, passion, hurt and restlessness. Her hard work has paid off in a big way on a glimmering album that combines her melodic acoustic playing and sweetly enchanting vocals with doses of soulful piano and tip-toeing percussion.

Friday, Micciulla returned to the Tin Angel, the venue at which she previously outshined other local musicians at a “Songwriters in the Round” event. This time around, she had the opportunity to perform some of her new material with the company of  friends Irene Molloy and Kyle Swartzwelder, who contributed to the album.

Shine has been some 12 years in the making, but during that time, Micciulla has blossomed into an accomplished songwriter. It may be her time to be in full bloom.

Kevin Brosky

August 21:

The New Divide, an alternative rock band with some unique vocal work by Ray Ray Pine, are playing St. Pauls in Levittown. The show starts at 8 p.m. and for $8.00 a ticket you can see them along with these guys. Check out what’s going on the rest of this weekend after the break.

August 22:

If you’re looking to chill out to some trippy tunes on Saturday, Stellium is playing the Red Stallion in Warminster with Groove Train Riders and Deadbolt. The trip show begins at 8 p.m. and is free, but unfortunately the Red Stallion is a bar venue so we can assume this is a 21+ show. Sorry, young ones (being of age rocks!).

August 23:

Our old friend Nancy Micciulla is playing the Citizens for a No-Kill Philadelphia event down at the Rotunda on Walnut Street if you’re interested in some relaxing acoustic tunes with strong vocals. The event will be free, but do check out the crafts for sale!

Remember, if you are a band or know one who would like to be featured in our concert previews, tip us off either on our Mypsace, Facebook group, or at philanthem@gmail.com. Also, if you want to see our posts as soon as they happen, subscribe to the Philanthem Twitter feed. Thanks everyone!

August 14:

A good friend of ours, Braxton Parker, is playing the Hard Rock Cafe on 12th and Market at 8 p.m. If you’re into a bit of what they call “Crunk” (what does that even mean?) on their Myspace, why not go for dinner and see a show for free? I can almost %100 guarantee it’ll be a good time. More previews after the break!

August 15th:

Our old friend Rivers Monroe is playing an acoustic set at the Flyers Skate Zone in Vorhees, New Jersey at 7 p.m. with a $12 cost to get in. If you’re into some synth heavy pop-rock (who isn’t?) then get over there and show your love.

August 16th:

For those who like to relax to some jazz infused rock, Brian DiBiagio is performing at Kenny’s Spirited Eatery in South Hampton at 7 p.m. for free. So take the girl or guy for a bite to eat at Kenny’s and see a show (got to love those twofers!).

Remember, if you are a band or know one who would like to be featured in our concert previews, tip us off either on our Mypsace, Facebook group, or at philanthem@gmail.com. Also, if you want to see our posts as soon as they happen, subscribe to the Philanthem Twitter feed.Thanks everyone!

(Images via Myspace)

Hello there readers! Yes, the Philanthem team is finally back and cooking with gas (a brief month in another country set us back a wee bit). So, please do keep coming back to the site for news on upcoming shows and much more! Now, let’s see what’s going on this weekend around this beautiful city.

July 17th:

The Ruining, Static Radio and Make Do And Mend are playing The Fire tonight starting around 6:00 pm. Tickets are $7.00 and you can pick them up here (or probably at the door). A good ole Jersey punk show (with some friends from Connecticut) should be a rip-roaring good time. More previews after the break.

July 18th:

Jay D Clark is hosting an open mic night tonight at the Edge Hill Tavern out in Glenside starting at 10:00 pm. We know it may be a bit far for some of you, but if Jay D Clark decides to play a few tunes, it’ll be worth the trip. Besides, how could you pass up a free night out?

July 19th:

LO Power Plane, Midlife Krisis, The Mean and the Elliot Garland Ensemble are playing a benefit show for the Philadelphia Orchard Project (POP) with the first band starting at 3:00 pm. The POP asks everyone to donate $10.00 upon entry, but for four bands that’s a steal and you’ll be helping a good cause. Also, pay another $10.oo for a cup of beer from the Philadelphia Brewing Company. Now at a charge of 10 big ones you can assume that refills should be free, but we can’t make any promises.

Do you either play in a band or know one that would like to be featured in either our Weekend or Work Week Concert Previews? Then send us email at philanthem@gmail.com or add us on our Myspace page. Remember you can also subscribe to our twitter feed to know exactly when our Philly Concert Previews as well as other features go live!

Drummer Adam Cohen and guitarist Matt Cannon don’t make up your typical band. Adam and Matt form As Opposed to Dead, which was formerly known as Try Angles.  Fusing different types of music, As Opposed to Dead will surprise you with their originality and experimental music.  The band has been playing gigs around the area in venues as small as hookah lounges and as large as the Crocodile Rock in Allentown.  Recently I sat down with Adam and Matt to talk about the band and what lies ahead for them.

Philanthem: How did you guys meet each other?

Adam Cohen: Matt played in a band called Cataclysmic Collision and a friend of mine took me to see them. My friend actually joined that band, and Matt became a different kind of Matt.

Matt Cannon: Yeah, I was doppelganger Matt. When I first met Adam, I didn’t know him, aside from a few parties I had went to.  I remember Adam was at one of the shows we played and I didn’t know him. I didn’t talk to him.

Adam: It was one of the first times I had ever been to a local show, and I found it incredible.

Matt: We had first met musically when Adam was at an open mic show I was playing with a band called Red and Orange.

Adam: Basically, Matt dropped out of Cataclysmic Collision for film school and then dropped that and was in Red and Orange. I talked to him and went to see them and told them “If you ever need someone on drums, I’m your guy.” He said “Oh no, not really.”

Matt: Yeah, we tried it out but it didn’t work.

Adam: What we ended up doing was really creating a new sort of energy, which at the time was a very immediate inflection.

Matt: We started things a little quick and were just trying to do something different. I wanted Adam to do something with Red and Orange and it didn’t work out, so I was like “Let’s do something completely different than this and do a natural band.”

Philanthem: Are you guys going in to do any recordings any time soon?

Adam: Right now we just have a basement recording. One microphone, live drums, guitar and vocals.  We’re going to do some real recording once we find somebody we feel can capture what we want at the time. We’ve got a lot of foundations and structures for things and in some distinct places where we don’t want to stop, maybe ever.

Philanthem: What do you mean by not stopping?

Adam: As far as writing, we want to continue to grow as musicians, like trying stuff we’ve never really tried, such as playing with a stripped down drum set.  You know, when you’re eight months into a band with one other guy and you’re trying to grow as musicians, doing different things is something worthwhile.

Philanthem: Are you guys looking to expand, or are you planning to remain a two piece? Or are you considering bringing in musicians when you decide to record?

Matt: We’ve talked to a few people.  People are always asking “Can we join your band?”

Adam: Right now we’re planning on staying a two piece but we’ve been talking to some people who we believe share some ideals with us.

Matt: It’s a real risk being a two piece

Adam: It is, but it’s interesting to kind of have that risk. There are some people we might work with in the future, and we hope that what comes from that would be quite interesting.

Matt: We worked with a keyboardist not too long ago and it sounded great, but their schedule didn’t really work out. It was fun, and we’d love to do something like that in the near future.

Philanthem: Do you find it hard as a two piece band to make the music sound full?

Adam: Sometimes. We’re kind of used to it though. Certain things so far, just with guitars, drums and vocals still have a lot of energy. We’re not looking to have any preconceived ideas about anything, so we’re just trying to accomplish something with what we have.

Matt: We both really try to fill in every single piece or space in the song. We’ve sat here and discussed the feelings of a song together.

Adam: A few of our songs, we kind of have set as a cinematic piece. There’s a loose story going on with the music that we’re still shaping.

Matt: I’ve come through different ideas about writing a story. [The song “Sea Shapes” is] about a woman who’s a manager of a factory that loses her little girl when they’re on a vacation at the beach.  It’s pretty much about what happened and the identity of the mother. It’s weirdly sinister.

Philanthem: What genre of music would you guys consider yourselves in?

Matt: We like a lot of things. I used to play in a hardcore band a long time ago, and at one point we played a basement party with Between the Buried and me, and that totally blew me away. I was too nervous to talk to them because they blew me away. Now look at them.

Adam: I try to give everything fair chance as a musician. We kind of evolved from the stuff Matt did in Red and Orange. We started off sort of like a dark folk group, but we’ve been playing things that are inspired by jazz and hardcore.

Matt: We’re like folkcore. [laughs]

Adam: Is that what we’re going to be called? [laughs]

Philanthem: Who would you guys say are your biggest influences?

Matt: Pink Floyd was one. One of the first songs I ever learned to play was “Mother.” It wasn’t even the right way to play it, but it sounded right.  One band I really like a lot that inspired me to do stuff like this is Refused. The Dillinger Escape plan is great too. My biggest influence would probably be Refused and this band called Headphones.

Adam: There’s one band I’m new to, called the Pax Sicilia, they’re pretty cool.  I’m really into Dave King from The Bad Plus.  I have to throw Bill Bruford [of King Crimson and Yes] in there too.  I saw him give a drum clinic and he improvised the whole thing. That was pretty cool. There’s times when I’m really into The Mars Volta as well. Gavin Harrison from Porcupine Tree is really cool too.

Philanthem: Well guys, that should do it for me. Good luck with everything you do in the future and keep in touch.

As Opposed to Dead can be reached at their new myspace, and will be playing their next show on August 15 at the Wounded Healer in Pitman, New Jersey.

05/20/09: Dive with Duff McKagan of Guns N Roses, Crocodile Rock, Allentown, PA, starts at 7 p.m., $12.

05/21/09: Soraia, Tom N Jerry’s, Milmont Park, PA, unsure of start time and price.

Shovelhook, Rock Bottom Brewery, King of Prussia, PA, starts at 8 p.m., free.

05/23/09: Brian DiBiagio with Bill Monaghan, Michael Loro Memorial Scholarship Concert, Southampton, PA, starts at 7 p.m.

05/24/09: Soraia with Preston Swift, The Blockely Pourhouse, Philadelphia, PA, starts at 10 p.m., $6.

Support local music, and be sure to come back soon to check out my upcoming feature on Try Angles.

Mike Novak

Photo via www.rollingstone.com