Live Music Reviews

The Morelings WXPN The Key Studio Session

If you’ve followed Sisters Dissonance adventures over the years you are aware that we have had some amazing experiences doing what we do. The Morelings WXPN The Key Studio session was no exception. On 2-6-16 I had the opportunity to photograph their performance while they did a live set.

I have been to the WXPN venue many times hanging around and photographing shows. But this was my first time in The Key Studio. It is great! The walls leading into the studio are signed by all the names of the bands who’ve walked the halls and played the stage there, adding to the ambiance which is timeless and very cool. The studio session sounded amazing from where I listened in the recording booth with John Vettese (yes! I got to meet and kinda hang out with John Vettese. He’s as cool as you’d imagine). The dreamy ethereal sounds combined with stormy visuals created a session that only The Morelings could bring to WXPN. Trust me, you don’t want to miss the live broadcast of the show — 3/15 at 9pm EST on 88.5 FM, or on the web at XPN.org. While you listen live you can view the photo set here.

On Thursday you can find The Morelings live at a WXPN curated, Red Bull Sound Select sponsored show at The Foundry at The Fillmore opening for Good Old War and Gabriel Garzon Montano.

The link on Facebook is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/949858278403066/

You can RSVP for $3 advance tickets

https://www.redbullsoundselect.com/events/2016/03/red-bull-sound-select-presents-philadelphia

~Ady

The Morelings Johnny Brendas Philadelphia 9-24-15

The Morelings, a Philadelphia foursome comprised of Kedra Caroline (vocals, bass) Matthew William (guitar) Shawn Riley (drums) and Jake Detwiler (keys, bass, guitar) played at Johnny Brendas this past week on 9-24-15.

Being able to have creative freedom behind the camera lens for The Morelings is such an honor. The dreamy, electric swirl of sound that Matt, Shawn and Jake’s instruments create along side the always stunning, smokey-smooth dreamy voice of Kedra is truly thrilling to hear. I found myself during the show at a few points with my camera at my side, taking in the sounds and the scene- forgetting my mission to capture the night because I was drawn in. It was a unique photography moment for me, the mix up of sound, the visuals, and the lights all creating a cocoon of musical magic and I didn’t want to miss it all while behind the lens. But I did get shots, phew! You can see them here.

The Morelings opened with Before and ended with Same Century. They played a set full of mostly new material except No Sign from the previously released EP, which you can hear by clicking here. And one last link to check out to their New Order cover of Lonesome Tonight .

I hear that they have been working on an album since June, I hope to see that sometime soon. So, keep your eyes and ears on the look out for more to come including a Q & A of the band with Sisters Dissonance.

~Ady

Desaparecidos 8-7-15 Union Transfer Philly

I wanted to get this photo set out there for everyone- click here– , but I haven’t paired my words to my set yet. Stay tuned for a short review/vibe from the show, which was phenom!

~Ady

AA Bondy | Tin Angel Philadelphia, PA – July 15, 2015

Listening to AA Bondy’s music or seeing him play live is one of those joys in life that just makes everything feel right with the world. My sister Ady and I both agree on this. As it happens, Bondy is ever elusive—he will come out of the woodwork and release a masterpiece out of nowhere, disappear into the sunset (just long enough to make everyone wonder if he’s left us for good), and then to our delight return again. He operates on his own system of time, which I can only assume is called Bondy Time. He’s like the tide, ebbing and flooding, and you quietly come to rely on this natural cycle. This past May high tide returned in the form of an unassuming Tweet announcing a summer tour: Bondy was back. He reappeared with no warning or fanfare, and the long wait only made it that much sweeter when he did.

The last time Ady and I saw him was almost four years ago at the now defunct First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia (November 2011) where he performed as the front of a four piece band, a wall of glorious sound in support of the lush and beautiful album, Believers. Flash forward to July 2015, and our evening at Tin Angel is a very different experience. This is a stripped down, solo performance that is part revisitation of older songs that are reworked and played from the gut, playful and full of experimentation; part wicked funny social commentary comedy hour (I would gladly pay kindly to see a full standup Bondy routine, or throw my full support his way if he decided to, say, run the country); and a full dose of Bondy “giving birth” to a new record he is in the process of creating as he embarks upon a voyage of America. The audience, filling every inch of the tiny but comfortable venue, hangs on his every word and every note, listening as we are treated to glimmers of the new album to be. We are assured that a new album is coming along with more touring in the near future. I can tell you that both Ady and I are waiting patiently-yet-impatiently for what is to come.

Joseph Arthur live at The Tangier (Akron, OH 11/26/2014)

Photos by Ady
Words by Shan

Thanksgiving tradition is now my sis and I cozied up in one of the slinky booths of the Tangier to be part of Joseph Arthur’s evening there. He plays host to the town . . . one man and his guitar and red pork pie hat, Akron body back in his homeland just as we are taken back to a piece of ours. Market Street falls dark and cold but inside is festive lights and warmth. It’s been a long journey but we have returned to our bunker, the cradle of the big booth we’d been yearning for, and fall in love with the golden voice all over again. Song comes out of every pore of Arthur’s body, arms, legs, mind, heart. He towers above and yet climbs even higher to stomp on box and pummel us in the face. A glass of wine and The Devil’s Broom. Lou Reed is there in spirit, too. People packed in like sardines to be in his presence. Octaves spill from his lungs. Joe’s lungs. They must be massive. He loops and he runs circles around our minds. He is his own wall of fame.