Saturday, July 12

JerseyArts.com Marina Stage

Dean & Britta

As members of the band Luna, Dean and Britta have been working together since the late '90s. From 2003, Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips have collaborated on albums and composing for films like The Squid & The Whale. Both Dean and Britta have had their share of success outside the music world as well. Britta starred in Satisfaction with Julia Roberts and lent her voice to the '80s cartoon character JEM while Black Postcards: A Rock & Roll Romance, Dean's new memoir, was published in March 2008. The Back Numbers lineup, the Dean and Britta band, lists Matt Sumrow on keyboards and Anthony LaMarca on drums. Back Numbers was released in 2007.

Set List:
Singer Sing / Night Nurse / Words To Say / Bavaria / Ginger Snaps
You Turn My Head / Bonnie & Clyde

Website: deanandbritta.com | MySpace: myspace.com/deanandbritta
Recent Release: Back Numbers | Release Date: February 2007
Label: Rounder
Origin: New York, NY
World Cafe: Dean & Britta, Sweetly Swooning
Song Clip: Things You Used To Say
Purchase Dean & Britta on Amazon.com

Ezra Furman & The Harpoons

Listen

Ezra Furman & The Harpoons aren't your typical college students. Since 2006, the band has gone from recording their debut in various dorm rooms at Tufts University to signing with indie label Minty Fresh Records. After writing a series of songs, lead singer Ezra felt an utmost urgency to lay down the tracks with bassist Job Mukkada, guitarist Jahn Sood and drummer Adam Abrutyn hence the band's start. Produced by Brian Deck (Josh Ritter, Iron & Wine, Modest Mouse), Banging Down the Doors marks their 2007 national debut.

Set List:
We Should Fight / The Stakes Are High / My Soul Has Escaped From My Body
The Worm In The Apple / Take Off Your Sunglasses / Big Deal
Halloween Snow

Website: EzraFurman.com | MySpace: myspace.com/ezrafurman
Recent Release: Banging Down the Doors | Release Date: August 7, 2007
Label: Minty Fresh
Origin: Boston
World Cafe: Ezra Furman and the Harpoons: Punk Meets Folk
Song Clip: How Long Diane
Purchase Ezra Furman & The Harpoons on Amazon.com

O'Death

Citing both Bill Monroe and Prince as influences, New York musicians O'Death create a raw, eclectic mix of gothic folk, gospel fervor, and punk rock exuberance. Formed in 2003, the group has cultivated a congregation of fans with their riotous and captivating live show that has been likened to a "moonshine-fueled hoedown," full of stomping, hollering, and general uproar. While their second LP, Head Home, does well in capturing the group's raucous dynamic, O'Death's live performance remains a must-see.

Set List:
Adelita / Spider Home / Only Daughter / On An Aching Sea / Peshtigo
Boss / Hogtie / Lowtide / Down To Rest

Website: odeath.net | MySpace: myspace.com/odeath
Recent Release: Head Home
Label: City Slang (Europe) / Ernest Jenning Records (US)
Origin: New York, New York
Purchase O'Death from Amazon.com

The Shackletons

It's not often that a band as refreshingly dynamic as The Shackeltons emerges from a town described as having virtually no music scene. And yet, since they formed in 2004, their music's infectious raw power and the energetic fury of their live shows has captured the attention of tastemakers across the nation, earning them glowing praise from Rolling Stone, Spin, and just about everyone else who's heard their self-titled debut LP. Garnering well-earned comparisons to The Pixies, early White Stripes, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Fugazi, it's safe to say The Shackeltons are not just another indie band; they're a group actually worth the hype.

Set List:
Kind / Get Out / The Breaks / Your Movement
Saturday / Umbrella / Emergency / The Ship

Website: theshackeltons.com | MySpace: myspace.com/theshackeltons
Recent Release: The Shackeltons | Release Date: 2008
Label: Loveless Records
Origin: Chambersburg, PA
Song Clip: Get Out
Purchase The Shackletons from Amazon.com

Fooling April

Catchy melodies mixed with humor have been winning over fans all over the country for Philly local band Fooling April. "Firefly," the first single from their debut album, spent four months at number one on Clear Channel's unsigned Top 10 helping them gain a spot on American Idol Underground, the online version of the hit TV show. Print campaigns and appearances on Fox-TV and NBC-TV followed bringing in new fans like Teddy Geiger and Comedian Karith Foster. The band has also performed with top musicians like Nellie McKay, Franz Ferdinand and John Mayer. Fooling April is currently on a campus tour, and their album In The Now was recently named one of the Top 10 Most Overlooked Albums of 2007 by Phillylist.com.

Set List:
breaking the skin / 2nd chair / pretending / chuckie
ordinary / H&O / c-4

Website: FoolingApril.com | MySpace: www.myspace.com/fa
Recent Release: In The Now
Origin: Philadelphia, PA
Notes: Named one of the Top 10 Most Overlooked Albums of 2007 by Phillylist.com; their song is featured on the new XPN Local, Volume 2 CD
Song Clip: Ordinary
Purchase Fooling April on Amazon.com

Jesse Ruben

Since starting piano at age seven and guitar at sixteen, it's no wonder fourth-generation musician Jesse Ruben is already a recording artist before even graduating from college. After playing guitar for only nine months, he was accepted into Berklee College of Music, the only school he applied to. By his 2004 move to Boston, Jesse had a record worth of work reflecting his life in relation to those around him. Before long the Pennsylvania native was selling out shows from Boston to Philly. His album Aiming For Honesty debuted earlier this year and was recently featured on the just released XPN Local CD, Volume 2.

Set List:
Love, Don't Turn Your Back on Me Now / Advice
Standing Strong / Impossible to Find / Ace of Spades
Point Me in the Right Direction / A Lack of Armor

Website: JesseRuben.com | MySpace: myspace.com/jesserubenmusic
Recent Release: Aiming For Honesty | Release Date: January 2008
Origin: Maple Glen, PA
Listen: Live in Concert with Madi Diaz, XPN Free At Noon
Song Clip: Standing Strong

Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer

Since 2000, Philadelphia's Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer have been blasting fans with their high-energy, pepped-up power pop. Fueled by crunching staccato guitar riffs and cascading synth lines, Zolof's sound brings to mind current mainstream favorites such as Motion City Soundtrack and The Click Five. Frontwoman Rachel Minton's strong pep-rally vocals make the perfect match for the band's irreverent but fun sound.

Set List:
mean old coot / moment / how bout it / argh...i'm a pirate
crazy ='s cute / can't stand it / the way it goes / death or radio
i did it / the hot situation

Website: ZolofTheRockAndRollDestroyer.com
MySpace: myspace.com/zoloftherockandrolldestroyer
Recent Release: Schematics | Release Date: September 25, 2007
Label: Reignition
Origin: Philadelphia, PA
Notes: Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer were the winners of the Y-Rock on XPN vs. City Paper Philly Rock Shootout Contest
Song Clip: Can't Stand It
Purchase Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer from Amazon.com

Cheers Elephant

Combining Philly's raw, do-it-yourself ethos with the psychedelic folk-rock of the British Invasion, Cheers Elephant (named after America's first pachyderm import, famous for opening beer bottles and consuming their contents) perform songs full of rich three-part harmonies and spiraling guitar lines. Bearing a flattering resemblance to The Kink's keen and daring pop exploration, Cheers Elephant's music takes listeners on twisting journeys that visit melancholia and exuberance alike. Though unbefitting to their namesake, the band's musical innovative nimbleness and flexibility sets them apart creatively from the large majority of indie-rock acts today.

Set List:
Dharma / Sunshine Spaceships / Captain Crowningshield / Mr. Marvelous
Wide Eyed / Space & Time / Slide Jelly

MySpace: myspace.com/cheerselephant
Recent Release: Here We Are
Origin: Philadelphia, PA
Song Clip: Mr. Marvelous