It was a great year for music, in my opinion. Here's a list of albums and songs that I loved this year. If you haven't previously heard something on the list, take a chance and give it a listen. And please, let me know some of your own favorites in ...

We've waited quite some time to see one of our top groups from 2008 show up in Philly. At Johnny Brenda's this past Thursday we were treated to one big surprise by Gildon Works and a performance we had been anticipating for quite some time following French Kick's Swimming album dropping this past year. Gildon Works The big surprise was the first act, Gildon Works , the Philly band from "fishtown" comprised of [...]

We've waited quite some time to see one of our top groups from 2008 show up in Philly. At Johnny Brenda's this past Thursday we were treated to one big surprise by Gildon Wortks and a performance we had been anticipating for quite some time following French Kick's Swimming album dropping this past year. Gildon Works The big surprise was the first act, Gildon Works , the Philly band from "fishtown" comprised of [...]
If you are ready to sing along 'til your hearts content then head on down to Rams Head Live in Baltimore to catch Ben Folds and Miniature Tigers tonight. If you're looking for a smaller event but still just as solid the Talking Head has one of our favorites Eureka Birds as well as Karmella's Game, Dead Mechanical, and AV Club. Down in DC the Black Cat has a good one with (The Sounds of) Kaleidoscope and Big Gold Belt. Philly ain't too shabby either with the French Kicks, Ferraby Lionheart, and Gildon Works at Johnny [...]

Tonight is fairly slow around Baltimore but if you head to the outskirts there are some sweet events. Down in Arlington, Virginia Iota has Cobra Collective, March To The Arctic, and Nate Ihara. Philly has a ton of shows this evening. First Johnny Brenda's has East Hundred, Gildon Works, and Jotto. The North Star Bar has Radio 4 and Head Automatica. The Smithereens are playing World Cafe Live , and finally Toy Soldiers, Perkasie, Slimfit, and Conversation With Friends all play The Khyber . Enjoy! mp3: Cobra Collective - Hannibal at [...]

Tonight marks day two of the Smashing Pumpkins performances at Constitution Hall in DC. Also in DC are Colour Revolt and Rose Hill Drive who play DC9 while Diplo's tour rolls into town at the Black Cat with No Age, Abe Vigoda, 8 Bit Boy, and Telepathe. Over at the Velvet Lounge , The Sounds of Kaleidescope perform with Gildon Works while Arizona, The Shackeltons and Prisms take on the Red and the Black . Up in Philly don't miss Little Joy and The Dead Trees at the Khyber . Finally [...]

Gildon Works, a 6 piece up and coming band from Philly, have recently released their debut album, Artful Rifle . Spacey guitars coupled with lush organs really set the tone for each song and almost come across as a grand string quartet at moments. This gorgeous sound reminiscent of Pink Floyd carries over precise rhythms that climb mountians and slide into valleys on each track. Slithering their way in between all of these elements are soft vocals that drum up feelings of The Walkmen and Editors. Make no mistake about it, Gildon Works' Artful Rifle marks a [...]

Photo of Gildon Works by Kristie Lee Krause When we asked vocal and guitarist Cody Ferdinand of Gildon Works earlier this week if this was the band's experimental "White Album" , he responded modestly by explaining that they just wanted to "keep it simple" with the red lettering on white artwork for the band's latest release, "Artful Rifle" . The band are anything but simple, and "Areanum Ghost" is a great example of what is to come with its slow-buildup, wash of cymbals and [...]

Hey Philadelphia music fans you'll want to be sure not to miss this week's Wednesday Night's FREE Concert In The Park at Rittenhouse Square with Gildon Works and Capitol Years . Gildon Works just released an amazing new CD called Artful Rifle and also turned in one of the best sets at this year's Philly Popped! Festival. Capitol Years are a long time Philly favorite and recently backed up Daniel Johnston on a number of his tour dates. Should be a fantastic night of music for a [...]
A few weeks ago, the city of Philadelphia hosted a wonderfully eclectic indie festival called Popped! Taking place over the entire weekend, artists from all points on the genre spectrum made an appearance. Philly is an old, northeast urban environment and the available space for a large festival is hard to find. The organizers decided to bring each day of Popped! to a different venue, leading to a diverse group of environments for the attendees to visit over the weekend. Being that the festival was on a smaller scale than some of the more famous [...]
I really can't think of a stranger place for a music festival than the University City section of Philadelphia. To add to the weirdness, the main two days are at different locations, one outside and one inside. The good thing is that the line-up makes up for the other quirks. It is a good mix of local flavor and national acts. Saturday, the action starts at 1 PM on Drexel's campus (33rd and Market)and the last act takes the stage around 8. Kicking off with The Ting Tings , the first day just explodes from there. [...]

There's a new booker-promoter in town. Say hello to Village Green Productions , "A Philadelphia-based company that is trying to give you more reasons not to move to NYC." Here's hoping they do just that. By the looks of their kick-off party at The 941 Theater tonight, they will be doing great things. Here's the Skinny: It's $10 and all you can drink. Show starts at 9. Keeping with the home town feel, all bands are Philly-based and encompass numerous genres. Get there early and stay for them all: Dreamy indie-pop performed by [...]

It is a packed weekend of shows again. Here are some of the highlights: Friday 80s superstars Crowded House are back. How this works without one of the Finn brothers, I don't know, but I am sure those radio hits you remember will be on the set list. See them at the 9:30 Club in DC. David Ford is back in town doing an XPN Free at Noon at the World Cafe Philly. [...]

This is a super packed day for events. Here in Baltimore be sure to check out a great art opening down at Velocipede Bike Project that features the work of Alyssa Dennis, Charlotte Benedetto, David Cunningham, Kathy Fahey, Laurent Hrybyk, and Orlando Johnson. There will also be a performance by Yeveto. After that you can head right next store to Metro Gallery and catch the one and only Protomen or across from that you can swing by the Charles for the Maryland Film Festival. Maybe you might want to travel a bit more downtown to the [...]

Catching up on some backlog today, here's a few photos from last Thursday night's show at Johnny Brenda's in Philadelphia with Gildon Works , A Place To Bury Strangers , and Holy F*ck . First up was Philadelphia's Gildon Works , this was the sceond time I had seen them and it was even more impressive than the first. Since the last time I'd seen them they added a couple additional members including a female percussionist/backup vocalist. Their blend of psychedelic shoe gazey, [...]

TONS OF SHOWS! In DC there's Bodies of Water and Ra Ra Rasputin at the Black Cat and Panther and Nancy at DC9 . In Philly there's Holy Fuck, Gildon Works, and A Place To Bury Strangers at Johnny Brenda's , The Most Serene Republic, Miracle Fortress, and Liam Finn at the North Star Bar , and Le Loup, The Ruby Suns, and The Private Sea at the Barbary . mp3: Bodies Of Water - It Moves --> website --> buy mp3: [...]

There are some marvelous shows around town tonight. Here in Baltimore make sure to catch Abby Mott, Pulaski (CD Release), and The Jennifers at the Ottobar . In DC you might not want to miss Exit Clov, Dengue Fever, and Cordero at the Black Cat . If you're Philly bound, makes sure you stop at the Khyber to see Gildon Works, Beat Jams, The Tundra Toes, and The Sunshine Recorder. Finally if you happen to be in Skippack, PA(where ever that is), there is a quality show at the Village Coffeehaus [...]

Once again the end is here...of the week that is. The pain behind my left eye is slowly fading. In turn the headache that has been brewing all week has peaked...and maybe...just maybe...will go away. Enough about me though. Let's talk about you the readers/listeners/lovers/hater s. How are you? It's friggin' cold where I am, but it looks like it's colder in many other regions. Green Bay? COLD! Massachusetts? COLD! Brazil? Not cold...but you thought I was gonna say cold...didn't ya? Anyway I've got something that will warm [...]