The A Side:
Knightlife – Let Us Escape (Side One)
Knightlife are a true live band. Prior to COVID, you could find members Bruce MacKnight, Rich Guidick, and Anthony Angelina grinding it out, perfecting their show in environments like: police swarmed basements, biker bars (that you can still smoke inside), Fran Chismar’s living room and more! Their level of intensity for performing is unmatched in town. These guys just want to play. The 4-song EP serves as the first part of their Sophomore LP, Let Us Escape. Side 1 has been an integral part of their setlist. Focus tracks include “Catastrophe” and “Broken Wings.” Producer Aaron Van Allen (Terrible Things) provides lead vocals for the record while MacKnight and Guidick take on vocal responsibilities live. While their line up is unconventional, Knightlife remains one of the hardest working bands in Philly. –Kevin
The Knightlife gang is back. With their first release since 2018’s Forever Fight, The Grape Room’s house band kicks in the door with a high energy collection that reflects the gigs they play: a familiar yet intriguing brand of rock n’ roll. The first half of Let Us Escape mixes classic rock (Van Morrison! The Stones) with 90’s alternative (Built To Spill! Matchbox 20!). Even without the presence of live music in our lives, you can hear how much fun they’re having. –Tyler
thepostgradband – “Our Place”
College graduates, thepostgradband, are pressing on! They’re taking a gap year to find their place in the world by moving to Manayunk and rolling on down the hill to support Main Street’s small businesses. The “Our Place,” music video features: Pitchers Pub, Volo Coffee, Ryan’s Pub, Winnie’s, and La Roca. The group also frequents the Grape Room and even played their reopening this past July. Welcome to the neighborhood! –Kevin
As a ‘yunker myself, this music video is like catnip for me. I had not heard of thepostgradband, but a new band in the Manayunk area (especially one with chops like these!) will eventually reveal itself to me. While “Our Place” could refer to anywhere the listener considers home, the twists and turns this song takes (the horns!) echo the tiny alleyways and vertical hills of the place we go to drink. –Tyler
Bad Sleeper / Marcelyn – “Empty Room”
I love this concept. You’ve heard of an a-side/b-side single (it’s how we organize this column), and you’ve heard of bands covering each other’s songs, but you’ve probably never seen two songwriters writing a song together and bringing it to their respective bands to create two interpretations of the same song. “Empty Room” is a “dark-pop” song written by Marcelyn and Bad Sleeper’s Juliet Eve, but where one is slinky neo-noir synth-pop, the other is heavy and riff-laden (but they somehow both sound like Evanescence). You never know what ideas will come out of COVID. –Tyler
Temple of the Dog was a supergroup of Pearl Jam and Chris Cornell. Eddie Vedder wasn’t officially in the band, but was hanging around when he heard a demo of Temple of the Dog’s “Times of Trouble.” He wrote his own lyrics to the riff and PJ would release it as “Footsteps,” later as a B-side to “Jeremy.” Bad Sleeper and Marcelyn similarly gave us two different takes on the same song, “Empty Room.” Bad Sleeper delivers an angsty, alternative, emo-pop version while Marcelyn’s is unrecognizable as a synth-pop, soul jam. Lyrically, both songs are the same, but take on different meanings, respective to each band’s interpretation. –Kevin
Bad Sleeper:
Marcelyn:
Thantophobe – “In The Place Where You Were Young”
When I first saw Thantophobe play live back in December, I didn’t know what to expect. Five minutes into their first song, however, I said to myself, “Oh, they sound like The War On Drugs. I’m 100% in on this.” While the music does have that forward-propulsive feel and synth-drive that TWOD are known for, singer Thomas Johnsen’s decision-making and self-awareness when it comes to songwriting set Thantophobe apart. It’s also more in line with The Cure’s brand of darkness, and that’s what permeates the seams of “In The Place Where You Were Young,” the band’s newest single that came out this past Friday. –Tyler
Thantophobe’s songwriter, Thomas Johnsen, shared the airy, indie rock single, “In The Place Where You Were Young,” with the Phila Globe. He goes on to share the song’s meaning. “It is a song dealing with suicide and the devastation and ripple effect it has on family and friends.” You can read more about the track HERE. –Kevin
The Side B:
Corey Flood – Hanging Garden
The debut album from Philly up-and-comers Corey Flood combines elements of shoegaze and post-punk to deliver a modern spin on both genres. Hanging Garden is a perfect transitional album for late summer/early fall; bright tones mixed with dark themes that keep creeping with the slow embrace of existential dread. Time to unpack those jackets. –Tyler
Declan McKenna – Zeros
UK songwriter, Declan McKenna, gained notoriety at the Glastonbury Festival’s Emerging Talent Competition in 2015. “Ground control to major Tom, this is Declan McKenna!” – The sophomore release, Zeros, depicts him as a modern day David Bowie. Focus tracks “Be an Astronaut” and “Life on Earth” draw heavy comparisons to Ziggy Stardust. In 1971, the notion of life on mars seemed like an oddity, but the socially conscious activist in McKenna proves that life on earth is seemingly stranger today. –Kevin
It was a lazy Labor Day release week. Here are some other releases…
Hannah Georgas – All That Emotion
Josiah Johnson – Every Feeling On A Loop
Dirty Projectors – Super João
Every week, Kevin & Tyler will take a look at 5 singles (The A-Side) and 5 albums (The B-Side) and report back on Kev & Ty's Record Club! - Reviewing last week's records today!
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