Author Archives | Caylie Landerville

Local indie rockers RFA party it up at PhilaMOCA

Photograph courtesy of Dylan Eddinger

Photograph courtesy of Dylan Eddinger

If you haven’t heard of Philadelphia-based alternative band RFA, I highly suggest becoming familiar with them while they are still a primarily local band. Personally, I sometimes have a difficult time enjoying a show when I do not have much knowledge on the band or their songs. However, this was not the case for me when attending RFA’s recent show at PhilaMOCA.

All four members are college students in the Philly area: Alec Powell (percussion) attends school at Temple University, Christian Turzo (guitar) attends University of Pennsylvania and Brendan McHale (bass and backing vocals), along with lead vocalist and guitarist Dan Cousart, are both in the Music Industry Program here at Drexel University. Although they each may still have a year of school left, they have been using their time wisely as they conquer the Philly rock scene.

Together, they craft a sophisticated yet edgy rock ‘n’ roll sound full of energy, supported by catchy and relatable lyrics. This sound strikes me as an interesting yet delightful combination of Kings of Leon and Arctic Monkeys. To put it simply, RFA has enormous potential written all over them.

The band took over the PhilaMOCA May 31 to headline a show with support from Michigan indie rock band Coax and local vintage grunge band Dear Forbidden. Coax and Dear Forbidden started the night off on a strong note with refreshing indie rock vibes, but it wasn’t until RFA took the stage that the energy in the crowd raced to a high.

They started out with “I’m Not Telling You,” one of the tracks on their second EP, “Something New From RFA.” This playful song quickly had the crowd rocking out, dancing and singing along to the catchy chorus. After this, Cousart took a moment to introduce the band and the others gave shout-outs to friends in the audience. They then continued with another upbeat song, “What’s Your Name.”

RFA didn’t hesitate to express their energetic aura throughout their set, especially when they began their most popular track, “Teenage Love Song,” which was released on their first EP, “Freaking Out.” This track has almost 100,000 plays on Spotify, and is definitely one of those songs that is constantly running through your head.

The four of them went crazy, spazzing out during the guitar riffs that came after the chorus, and Turzo on electric guitar slayed his solo in the bridge. After this, they slowed it down by covering a Beatles classic, “Ticket to Ride,” which had everyone enthralled. As they continued to play songs released on their EPs, the last few songs were some of their favorites and new releases.

“Freaking Out,” their second most popular song, gives off more of a moderate rock vibe, as the song begins with Cousart and McHale whistling the main melodic motif in unison. The carefree approach to this track contradicts the title in an interesting way, which really showed in their performance. To end the set, they played their most recent release, “Suzie Lee.” This is the kind of song that could easily be a big radio hit. It exemplifies all of the qualities of a classic rock song, as the addictive beat is outlined by the guitar parts and consistent upbeat drums throughout the song. Not to mention, Cousart’s vocal control and projection in the choruses were exceptional live.

Overall, the band put on quite a show, exceeding my expectations. They all stayed in sync consistently, while nailing every single song with an incredible amount of energy. Another big factor in RFA’s performance was their ability to showcase the invigorating personality they contain altogether while up on the stage, making it difficult not to be entertained or to enjoy the music.

I’m not the first person to say that I believe this band has quite a bright future ahead of them. If you’re looking to see them live, they will be playing in Philly June 17 at MilkBoy. I know I will definitely be there to see them again.

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Paramore changes aesthetic for new LP, ‘After Laughter’

Photograph courtesy of Fueled by Ramen LLC

Photograph courtesy of Fueled by Ramen LLC

The rise of streaming services have provided a wealth of new shows that bring new viewpoints and ideas to the table. Netflix has been a blessing, providing shows as varied as depressed horse comedy “Bojack Horseman” to the women’s prison show “Orange Is The New Black.” But the most subtly ambitious of these was revealed to be Aziz Ansari’s “Master of None,” its second season finally dropping May 12 after its 2015 premier.

The show initially followed Ansari’s Dev, an actor trying to make a living in New York, as he fell into a relationship with Rachel, played with magnificent chemistry by Noel Wells. While their central relationship formed the bulk of the serialized plot, it was the little things that made “Master of None” such a delight: the performances of Dev’s friends (Eric Wareheim, Kelvin Yu and MVP Lena Waithe), his casting of his actual parents, the way it could confidently switch between romantic comedy and a deeper social issue like “Parents” or “Indians on TV.” Not to mention the show is consistently unique and funny. Somehow, Season 2 has gotten bolder, more ambitious and even more confident and self-assured in its voice. This is truly a masterpiece of television that can’t be missed.

Season 1 was a naturalistic, even cinematic rom com whose boldness came out in the aforementioned episodes. The latter delved into the issues of Indian representation on TV, simultaneously rebuking the idea that too many characters like Dev make it an “Indian thing.” As socially conscious as it could be, it wasn’t too dissimilar from dark comedies like “Louie” or even “Girls.”

The first episode of this season sets out to tear down any preconceived ideas the audience might have: the premiere breaks from the format by shooting in black and white, while paying homage to Italian classic “Bicycle Thieves” through a plot in which Dev gets his phone stolen.

Afterwards, it becomes the kind of show that feels confident enough to give us an episode that not only follows characters completely unrelated to the main cast; it also drops us into an eight-minute stretch following a deaf character that features no sound and is entirely subtitled. What’s even more incredible is that Ansari and co-creator Alan Yang are able to sustain their voice and make these sidestories into characters we wish could have their own show.

The magic continues in the other season standout “Thanksgiving” — co-written by Ansari and Waithe — that follows the friendship between Dev and Waithe’s Denise as the latter comes to terms with being a lesbian over the course of several Thanksgivings with Denise’s family.

The performances from Season 1 could vary from great to a little creaky in their naturalism, and Ansari’s here follows suit (though he has gotten a little more confident). Perhaps the most unexpected has been that of Ramesh, who is played by Ansari’s actual father Shoukath Ansari. It’s easy to see where Aziz’s sense of humor comes from when you see his dad on screen. Blessed with expert timing on lines like “What is this, Fox News? Why am I being attacked?!” Season 1 gave us an insight into their relationship and the trials Ramesh faced coming to America, but here, he’s free to just be as funny as he wants. This leads to some of the most laugh-out-loud moments in the series, next only to Denise.

The one low note among all this is that of Francesca (Alessandra Mastronardi), Dev’s paramour from Italy who briefly travels to New York City. She gives a pleasant enough performance, and the two have decent chemistry, but she pales in comparison to Well’s performance from last season, and one can’t help but compare the two. It doesn’t help that she never quite gets as much character as Rachel, even with an hour-long episode devoted to their relationship. Still, if that’s the only thing to complain about, there’s a pretty great series wrapped around it.

Ansari has gone back and forth on whether he wants to make a third season. If he did, it would be wonderful to see what new places he and Yang could take the show and what stories they could tell.

If not, then they’ve left a pretty great legacy in these 10 episodes. You would be remiss to not catch this while it’s hot, but any time you watch it, it’s a humanistic and frequently funny season, equally comfortable in confronting being a non-religious Muslim or the woes of the first date. Not to mention all the pasta you get to see on-screen.

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Entertainment and Arts Society to host showcase at URBN Annex

Drexel University student organization Entertainment and Arts Society will be hosting their second annual Night of the Arts event May 19. The event will take place on campus in the URBN Annex, located at 3401 Filbert Street, starting at 4 p.m.

Night of the Arts is an event focused on showcasing various kinds of art such as visual art, performing art, music, comedy, film and poetry. The Entertainment and Arts Society has gathered numerous campus organizations involved in the arts to present their art and participate in the event, in the hopes of an incredible night reflecting on the many talents our campus holds.

The greater Philadelphia community has also been encouraged to come out and support the event, allowing it to also be an essential networking opportunity in which industry professionals, community members, alumni and faculty have all been invited.  

There will be a raffle including special donations from Sony Music Entertainment, Live Nation, Eagles, Flyers, Shake Shack, Saxbys, Arden Theatre, Magic Gardens, Franklin Fountain and more.

Visual art will be on display throughout the Annex lobby, films will be playing in the screening room and there will be plenty of free food for guests to enjoy. The first performance will start with the Drexel Players at 5:30 p.m. After that, other student acts will take the stage including bands and artists such as Blueroom, Henri Tyler, TIOGA, Grayling, along with comedy and acapella groups such as 8 to the Bar, Drexel Football Team Comedy Improv and Drexel Cleftomaniacs.

The event is free for Drexel students, alumni and faculty, $5 for non-Drexel students with a valid student ID and $10 for community members. It will be sponsored by the Alumni Association, The Good Idea Fund and the Entertainment and Arts Society.

Be sure to come out and enjoy a great night celebrating Drexel’s artistic community!

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Clean Bandit, Zara Larsson play sold out show at UT

Photograph by Tosh Farrell for The Triangle

Photograph by Tosh Farrell for The Triangle

Though Clean Bandit puts out great music, the fact that they had a very big following here in the United States was surprising. Though they have had a couple radio hits, it didn’t seem likely that they had enough name recognition to sell out a show here. As it turns out, they absolutely did. The trio played to a sold out crowd at Union Transfer April 22, lighting up the stage with their unique sound.

Clean Bandit’s set was preceded by two opening acts, the first of which was Starley. Starley is a new artist hailing from Australia with only one single of her own officially released. That song, “Call On Me,” has cracked the Billboard Hot 100 and she has ridden that wave straight into this opener slot. Her performance was engaging from the start.

She had one man with her acting as her band via synths and guitar, but her vocals and energy were intriguing enough to get the audience moving and in the mood for a fun night. Perhaps the most captivating moment in her set was when she covered the classic “Fast Car,” originally by Tracy Chapman. The song highlighted her unique voice in an acoustic setting unlike the more electronic atmosphere of her own songs.

After Starley left the stage it was time for Zara Larsson. Larsson grew up in Stockholm, Sweden, where she made a name for herself at 10 years old as the winner of “Sweden’s Got Talent.” Since then, the 19-year-old has only furthered her career, and she signed to Epic Records in 2013. Her first album, “1,” went Platinum in Sweden but didn’t grab as much attention in the U.S. It wasn’t until the single “Lush Life” dropped in June of 2015 leading up to her second album, “So Good,” that she gained international success. She has since seen tremendous success with hit after hit, and been nominated for various awards on the Teen Choice Awards, Kids Choice Awards, VMAs, Brit Awards and more.

Even though Zara Larsson wasn’t the main act of the night, many attendees of the show could argue that she was. Some may believe that she is still in the process of blowing up, but her Spotify numbers and number of successful hits say otherwise. However, it wasn’t these things that led her to appear to be the main act of the show; but rather her unbelievable performance.

Larsson came out on the stage with her background dancers behind her, and began to sing her first and most popular hit, “Lush Life.” In an instant, the energy in the audience legitimately went from zero to about a million. Her stage presence was captivating in a way that made everyone want to be up there with her dancing and singing. She even paused midway through her song to ask the audience who came to the show with their best friends to have a good time.

After this song, she took a minute to introduce herself, making a point to encourage the crowd to forget about all of their real life problems while they were there. She just wanted us to have the best time enjoying the music and not worrying about anything. This started off the show on a pretty great note by putting everyone in the right mood, because my friends and I all had the time of our lives dancing and singing along to every song. When the first chord to “I Would Like” started to play, the crowd all went wild. Her most recent single “So Good,” that features Ty Dolla Sign, was another performance that was extremely powerful in energy within both the vocals and dancing. The catchy beat throughout the song had everyone swaying uncontrollably.

After singing hit after hit with never-ending stamina, Larsson saved her second most popular track for last. “Never Forget You” is one of the first songs that really drew me to her music, and it was an incredible way to end her set on a high note leaving the entire audience enthralled.

Zara Larsson proved that she is that artist who makes sure there is never a dull moment while she’s up on that stage. This is a unique quality to have as an artist, especially within mainstream pop singers, and led many in the crowd to be even bigger fans than before the show. If you are a fan of Larsson’s music, catching one of her live shows is an absolute must.

After Larsson, Clean Bandit took the stage with their assisting vocalists and violinist, all wearing various ensembles made from the same splatter-painted fabric (except for Grace Chatto, cellist and occasional vocalist, who’s outfit did not match the other but remained in the color scheme). This seemed to indicate her as a de facto lead member. The other two members of the trio are brothers Jack and Luke Patterson. Oddly, neither brother uttered a single word during their show, leaving the conversation up to Grace and the two female vocalists.

Though the recorded versions of their songs feature a slew of various notable vocalists, they left the performance up to their two tour guests. And they delivered. At times, the vocalists became the focus of the show and one could forget that they were here to see the three people behind them. They acted as each other’s hypemen and duet partners. Chatto stepped out a couple times to sing, but her voice was so heavily filtered that it was almost impossible to tell what she was even singing.

Their unique genre of classical instrumentation meets electronic dance music sounds too complex to make a good live performance. But, it was in fact extremely entertaining and the audience was down to dance around. A portion of the crowd knew a surprising amount of the songs played, but everyone joined in for the radio hits “Rockabye” and “Rather Be.”

The crowd was also pretty excited to hear their new single, “Symphony,” which features Zara Larsson who came back out to sing it. The fear at an electronic music show is that drop after drop will get monotonous, but Clean Bandit kept the hype relatively high. Chatto and the two vocalists had a couple choreographed moments that bordered on cheesy but still got the audience to cheer.

From opener to encore, this concert was entertaining. The sold out crowd remained entertained and screamed for more at the end. This three-pack was full of acts to keep your eye on.

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Adele takes it all at 59th Annual Grammy Awards

Photo courtesy: The Grammys

Photo courtesy: The Grammys

Full of phenomenal performances and unpredictable winners, the 59th Annual Grammy Music Awards took place Feb. 12.

Adele kicked off the show with a breathtaking performance of her hit song “Hello.” After experiencing audio issues during her big performance at the show last year, she came back stronger than ever and started the night off on a great note.

Aside from beginning the night with a strong performance, Adele ended up going home with five Grammys, beating out critical competitors like Beyonce, Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, who were all nominated for many of the same categories.. She was proclaimed the big winner of the night, attaining the awards for best pop solo performance, record of the year and song of the year with “Hello.” She also won best pop vocal album along with album of the year for “25.”

Although the British popstar had a bit of a mishap during her George Michaels tribute, it’s hard to deny that she had an incredible night. Moments after she began the song on the wrong key, she stopped and requested to start over explaining she couldn’t “mess this up for him.” It wasn’t looked down upon — essentially because she’s Adele, but also because she killed it with another accomplished performance.

Another huge moment for Adele during this year’s Grammys show was when she graciously dedicated the album of the year award to Beyonce’s “Lemonade” rather than accepting it for herself. This alone exhibited how shocked she, like the rest of the world, was that “25” had taken the trophy over “Lemonade.” She expressed her gratitude towards all of the meaning behind Beyonce’s album and how important it was to her, while in tears and barely accepting the award.

Although Beyonce didn’t win this projected award, “Lemonade” took home the Grammy for urban contemporary album of the Year and “Formation” won best music video. Upon accepting the award for “Lemonade,” she gave a heartfelt speech consisting of her mission statement and the issues she intended to voice throughout the album. In addition to this, she gave us an invigorating performance while pregnant with twins and looking flawless in her sparkling gold outfit and headpiece. She sang “Love Drought” and “Sandcastles,” incorporating the emotionally dramatic element that is displayed in both of these tracks from “Lemonade.”

Other big winners of the night included David Bowie and Chance the Rapper. Bowie had only won a single Grammy while being alive, and yet was able to sweep four awards during this year’s ceremony. Although this was long overdue in many people’s opinions, I think we were all happy to see him receiving at least some of the recognition that he deserved before he passed this last year. Chance the Rapper, only 23 years old, made history at the Grammys this year by being the first artist to ever win an award having only released an album via streaming platforms. He took home three major awards — best rap song with “No Problem,” best rap album with “Coloring Book” and best new artist of 2017.

After what has been quite an eventful year for our country, celebrities that appeared on the show didn’t fail to find ways to incorporate political moments. Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, Beyonce, A Tribe Called Quest and even Recording Academy President Neil Portnow were only some of the few that brought up political ideologies throughout the show. As you can probably guess, they were all not exactly in favor of our current president in the White House.

Overall, it was quite an engaging night for the most part. Other performances included Ed Sheeran, Pentatonix, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Chance the Rapper, duets from Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood, John Legend and Cynthia Erivo, Alicia Keys and Maren Morris, The Weeknd and Daft Punk, and many more. There were a few dull moments during the show that seemed never-ending, but in general there was nothing I wouldn’t expect to see watching the Grammys.

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Synth-pop act MUNA emerges with delightful debut

Photo: RCA

Photo: RCA

American girl band MUNA just dropped their debut album “About U” Feb. 3 and I’ve had it on repeat since. The group, consisting of lead vocalist and producer Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin on lead guitar and Naomi McPherson on rhythm guitar and synths, expresses a unique dark indietronica sound that is hard to beat. The band has been together since they met in 2013 at the University of Southern California, where they all attended college.

MUNA released their first EP in 2014 through SoundCloud and Bandcamp on their own, which grabbed the attention of many and eventually led them to get signed to RCA Records under Sony. They released another EP called “Loudspeaker” in May 2016 through RCA.

“About U” starts out with a few of the tracks they previously released on their EP “Loudspeaker.” The first is the catchy synth-pop track “So Special,” which kicks off the album with heavy-hearted lyrics that tie into the deep love and dark emotion-filled theme portrayed throughout the album.

The next track, “Loudspeaker,” exemplifies more of a mellow tone while digging even deeper into the theme, as it is about women being able to speak out and is referring specifically to cases of sexual assault or feeling violated. This track was one of the biggest hits off “Loudspeaker.”

“I Know A Place” is by far my favorite track on the album. This catchy and enjoyable song blends somewhat of an ’80s pop sound with futuristic synths, while the cohesive lyrical element makes it relatable to anyone listening. MUNA wrote this about an imaginary place where nobody had to be afraid of freedom and where peace could exist rather than just as an idea.

Specifically, the three girls in the band each identify themselves as queer. With all of the events that have affected the LGBTQ community within the past year, they felt that this song was very relevant in trying to push themselves to imagine America being somewhere they can be at peace and not need to live in fear.

Another one of the best tracks on the album is “Crying on the Bathroom Floor.” This synth-filled song features upbeat drums and a dark guitar sound. The lyrics dig into the concept of an abusive relationship and feeling like it is impossible to get away from it.

“Around U” brings a bit of a different heartfelt vibe to the table, as the song is about learning how it is possible to not revolve around someone who made a large impact on your life. This track gives off more of a laidback and less dark-sounding pop feel, adding to the experimental element that MUNA presents throughout the album.

MUNA’s biggest hit to this day is the track “Winterbreak,” which debuted on the “Loudspeaker” EP. They also released a single featuring a deep house remix by Tiesto, which became very popular with about 30 million plays on Spotify. This track brings a unique electronic and pop sound with creative percussion sounds in the background contrasting the melody. It is about wanting to find a special love with someone that you know hasn’t worked out and most likely will never.

Overall, I see an immensely bright future for MUNA. This album displays their fresh and groundbreaking style to an extent that is not likely to go unnoticed. What’s even more exciting is that they are playing in Philadelphia at Johnny Brenda’s Feb. 25 and I can’t wait to see them live.

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Mad Dragon partners with genre-defying band Jutaun for new EP

Photo courtesy Mad Dragon Music Group

Photo courtesy Mad Dragon Music Group

Drexel University’s own Mad Dragon Music Group is partnering up with up-and-coming artist Jutaun to release the band’s newest EP titled “Back to Life.” Hailing from South Jersey, the band brings a unique sound combining different genres including classic soul, folk, ’80s rock and reggae.

This sound will be exemplified in “Back to Life,” which will be released Nov. 18. The inspiring lyrics accompany the genre-defying style of their music, allowing them to appeal to a wide variety of listeners, and to connect with a diversified demographic. It is fair to presume that people with various tastes in music and of all ages will be able to relate to these uplifting messages that Jutaun relays.

Jutaun is a band consisting of six current members: Jake Evans, Samoeun Cheng, James Evans, Steve Honsberger, Carter Fox and Butch Serianni. . They have gained a passionate following due to their distinct quality of music, as their deep-rooted love for music is embodied in each of their songs. The band believes that music is not just simply a career for them, but a way of life.

Leon Huff, an American songwriter and record producer for Philly International Records, has mentored the band, and featured them in his music. They currently serve as the backing band for famous soul singer Freddie Jackson. In the past, they won the “Best Male R&B Group” award at the Underground Music Awards, were featured in Billboard Magazine’s “Top 10 New R&B Artists” and were also voted R&B Showcase Magazine’s “Artist to Watch.” Recently, the band was selected to perform for MTV’s Top Pop Group hosted by Mario Lopez.

Jutaun has traveled the world to find new influences for their music in order to truly identify their sound. The group of singers, songwriters and musicians, joined by their musical compatriots, claim that their album will truly reflect their diversity and passion. Their songs can be streamed via Pandora, Spotify, MTV and VH1.

Although the band is still in the beginning stage of their career, they are continuing to gain a solid fan base following on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. A few of their singles have recently premiered on WXPN radio in Philadelphia and they have played at many local venues including Underground Arts and Kung Fu Necktie. With the release of this EP, it is predicted that the band will gain even more popularity and a larger following. Be sure to check them out!

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The Dirty Heads provide solid open for Sublime with Rome

Even if you think you haven’t heard of the band the Dirty Heads, you’ve probably heard their stuff. When asking my friends if they knew of them, some said no originally until I asked if they knew the songs “Lay Me Down” or “Stand Tall,” which they did.

The Dirty Heads are straight out of my hometown in Huntington Beach, California, where some of the leading reggae and beach rock music comes from. The band has a tremendous fanbase out there, and to my surprise, at the concert in New York there were almost as many people wearing Dirty Heads shirts as there were people in Sublime with Rome shirts. I’ve always been a fan of their popular music, but it wasn’t until I heard they were on tour opening for Sublime with Rome that I really began to listen to some of their other songs.

The band made a big comeback in 2016 by joining the Tribal Seeds and Sublime with Rome on a vast tour all over the country, and hyping everyone up for the release of a hot new album. After listening to a few songs off of this new album, “Dirty Heads,” I couldn’t help but enjoy the diversified feel-good rock and reggae vibes, mixed with a bit of ’90s hip-hop sound that they brought to the table. I knew this would be a concert that I couldn’t miss, especially with Sublime playing too.

The concert was at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater right outside of Long Island in Wantagh, New York. The ambiance of the venue was perfect for this kind of concert. As the sun was just starting to slowly make its way down to set right on the water, the Dirty Heads went on stage and began with singing “Burn Slow” off of their previous album, getting everyone in the crowd pumped with the energy from their rap-based song. After that, they played one of the biggest hits from that same album, “Sweet Summer.” This one instantly had the crowd moving along to the beat and dancing crazily during the drop in the chorus. A few songs later, they played “Stand Tall,” the classic and extremely catchy reggae rock song that happens to be one of their biggest hits.

By now, the audience was put in a feel-good kind of mood and everyone was just singing along and having a blast. One thing I love about reggae concerts is how the mood is incredibly laid-back and people around you are all savoring every moment of the music.

To end the set on a high note, they played their most well-known song “Lay Me Down,” and had everyone out of their seats indulging in the music and singing along to every word. After that, they astounded the audience by performing the up and coming song from their new album, “That’s All I Need” as their last song. This song has a bit of a funky twist to it, diversifying the style from a lot of their other music, but in a great way. It’s the type of song in which you can’t help but move along to the rhythm and feel the liveliness spring upon you. It was a satisfying way to end their set and left the crowd on a cheerful note.

When it was time for Sublime with Rome to come out, the lights on the stage dimmed and then came back on unexpectedly aiming the spotlight on Rome Ramirez, who began singing the famous Sublime song “Date Rape.”

Everyone couldn’t help but wonder which old Sublime hits they would actually play, so every song was a bewilderment in a way. Next he sang “April 29, 1992 (Miami)” and had the crowd instantly swaying and anticipating rocking out to the famous guitar riff in the chorus. Towards the middle of the set, it was time to play one of Sublime with Rome’s own hits, “Take It or Leave It.” One of my favorites was next: “Doin’ Time,” and it was completely invigorating to hear it live. I felt the same towards the end of the set when they played “Badfish.”

I don’t know if I’ve ever been to a concert where almost everyone in the audience had giant smiles on their faces. The band’s authentic sound and sweet-toned rhythm to support it was hard to beat and allowed the crowd to be easily consumed in the music. They ended their set and encore with “What I Got” and “Santeria,” leaving the crowd overjoyed from rocking out to the intense guitar solos and screaming every word soulfully.

If you are into reggae, rock or just enjoy great music, the Dirty Heads and Sublime with Rome are the kind of bands you should go see live.

The post The Dirty Heads provide solid open for Sublime with Rome appeared first on The Triangle.

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BORNS gives Electric Factory a ‘Dopamine’ rush

Philadelphia was in for a big treat  May 27 as the hot new indie pop artist BORNS made his stop at the Electric Factory on his “Dopamine Tour.” Originally from Grand Haven, Michigan, Garrett Borns, the main singer-songwriter in the band, eventually moved out to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of being a professional musician. He released his debut studio album, “Dopamine,” October 2015, which caught the attention of many music lovers. His catchy hit song that raced to the top of the charts, “Electric Love.” is the type of song that will not leave your head once you hear it. I discovered BORNS last summer after I saw the name on a lot of festival lineups. Listening to his music instantly got me hooked and I had it on repeat for weeks after. When I saw that BORNS was coming to Philly, I immediately found tickets and was looking forward to the concert for months.

The two opening bands, Beau and Coast Modern, started the night off strong with their unique rock sounds. Beau, consisting of two trendy female singers, opened up first with an embellished soul and folk rock flair. I for one was very impressed and enjoyed their unique sound, as they somewhat resembled an interesting combination of Lana Del Rey and Gwen Stefani with a little bit of soul. After them, Coast Modern, a male duo from Los Angeles, made their way onto the stage. The crowd was instantly captivated by their laid-back, delightful indie pop and rock sounds flavored with their unique West coast vibes. I couldn’t help but compare their style to a pop, synth-based production similar to that of the band Cage the Elephant.

Finally, when the luminescent backdrop with a scenic mountain range and colorful clouds and the name BORNS impressed on it lit up, it was time for the band to dominate the stage. Garrett Borns walked out in a black leather jacket and baggy ripped jeans outlining his unique chic look, and began with the sweet rhythmic song “Dug My Heart” off of the “Dopamine” album. After starting out with a euphoric vibe, he shifted gears and sang the song, “Seeing Stars,” from his first EP, “Candy.” It was hard not to smile and dance during the electro-pop infusion that brought a lively ambiance to the crowd. He continued to sing songs off both albums, enthralling the crowd as the band’s authentic tone acted as a distinctive foundation for his voice. This tone was very prominent during the band’s entire performance and could probably not be felt as thoroughly just by listening to the recorded version of the songs. Garrett Borns’ dreamy vocals were emotionally rich in a way that allowed his feelings behind the lyrics to connect with the crowd and had everyone mesmerized by the end of every song. One of my favorite performances in which I felt this was embossed in the most was “The Emotion.” The band exemplified the dynamics of each verse and chorus to reveal the tenderness behind the lyrics and the song’s sentimental value. The ambient vocals supported this and moved the crowd in a surreal way.

The band saved two of the best songs for last: “American Money” and “Electric Love.” “American Money” demonstrates the reoccurring theme of symbolic love encounters that the album divulges, and the colorful aura of the band was immense in the sounds coming from the washed out 808s, bold background vocals and guitar and synths amplifying the catchy melody. His closing song was what we all anticipated: “Electric Love.” The guitar riff in the beginning of the song instantly had the crowd ecstatic as everyone sang along to every word. The band demonstrated radiant dynamics and energy while performing the anthemic song. But to everyone’s surprise, BORNS came back out to the stage after and finished up the set with a breath-taking encore, covering the song “Heroes,” as a tribute to David Bowie. After the final performance, you could definitely say that “Dopamine” was rushing through the crowd, leaving an epic end to quite an amazing concert.

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