Covering the Bucks County Music Scene (2005-2007)

In the past two years, I wrote quite a few articles on the music scene in Bucks County and the Philadelphia area for Philly Edge. This publication lost its funding a few months ago for its print (newspaper) version, and because of this I'm not covering local music for it anymore. Considering this, and that I haven't contributed to this blog in almost a year, I thought it would be a good time to look back over the past two years at some of the articles I wrote for the Edge. Believe it or not, PE wasn't all T&A all the time...

Although I covered the entire Philly area, I've only included articles below that mentioned bands from Bucks County, as this is what this blog is all about. The majority of of the writing I did on local music was through a Q&A feature called Edge Exposure. Looking back at my records, of the 40-plus bands I interviewed, a dozen were Bucks-based bands, including: Illinois, The Writing Birds, The Andy Browne Trio, Playwright (who would become Drink Up Buttercup), Peasant, Except After Sea, The Cobbs, Witness, Ponieheart, Mike Pfieffer, and Birdie Num Num & The Spirit Squad. A few of these Edge Exposures are below.

I also wrote a handful of cover stories for Philly Edge. Besides for bigger pieces on Eastern Conference Champions, Zolof The Rock And Roll Destroyer, Aderbat, and Illinois, I also penned a couple of round-up stories on local music, including a 2006 Year in Review (Peasant) and 10 Bands To Hear Now (Drink Up Buttercup, Witness). All of these articles are included here.

Since moving to Doylestown from Chicago over three years ago, I've done my best to get involved in what I always thought was an impressive music scene, whether it was by writing articles about music I liked or by playing shows with my own band The Administration. It's been really fun to watch some of these bands I've written about and played with go on to bigger local (and national) recognition.

So, without further ado, here are links to some articles on PhillyEdge.com, as well as links to pdf files of the print versions. If I covered your band, and it's not included here, send me a note or leave a comment, and I'll do my best to get you a copy.

Enjoy!
Joe Simek

Cover Stories

Bucks County Bands On The Edge (PE | PDF)
2006 Year In Review (PE)
Illinois (PE | PDF)
10 Bands To Hear Now (PE | PDF 1, PDF 2)

Edge Exposures

Ponieheart (PDF)
Playwright (PDF)
Birdie Num Num & The Spirit Squad (PDF)
Andy Browne Trio (PDF)
Upstairs Underground - Cigar Parlor (PDF)

Songwriter behind Ponieheart and Crane Orchard moves to Doylestown

As of this winter, Doylestown is now home to another talented musician, Paul Fugazzotto, who recently moved to Bucks County to “pursue school and continue to play music.” As the main guy behind the lo-fi folktronica of Ponieheart and as a co-contributor to the indie rock of Crane Orchard, Fugazzatto is a busy man. The songwriter just released a double full-length album featuring both projects and has been touring the entire country in support of the release. Fugazzotto also brings some impressive credentials with him: he's opened up for the likes of Mountain Goats and Bonnie "Prince" Billy, and the latest Ponieheart disc was produced by Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu. Not a bad addition to the BC indie scene, huh?

Check out Ponieheart May 12 at the Cigar Parlor in Doylestown with Drink Up Buttercup.

[Links]
myspace.com/ponieheart
www.ponieheart.com

Doylestown Native Returns To Play John And Peter's

John Verruto is coming home. The frontman for San Diego’s High Rolling Loners will return to his Bucks County roots when his band plays John and Peter's on March 27. High Rolling Loners is supporting its debut EP by crisscrossing the country playing its brand of up-tempo alt-americana. As the Central Bucks East grad Verruto puts it, we’ll be “swinging by John and Peter's to give New Hope some twangy lovin'.”

[Links]
myspace.com/highrollingloners
myspace.com/johnandpeters

Illinois Signs With Ace Fu, Plans Record Release Show

The banjo-lovin' indie-rockers in Illinois made The Big Apple their second home in the past few months, and it looks like the trips north finally paid off. The band has teamed up with New York's Ace Fu Records to release its second EP, What The Hell Do I Know? on March 6. Ace Fu looks like good fit for this Bucks County foursome, as the label has also released albums from such acclaimed acts as The Dears, Ted Leo, and Pinback. Illinois’ local CD release show is slated for March 3 at The Well in Feasterville, PA.

[Links]
myspace.com/illinois
www.acefu.com

Cracker To Play The Moose Lodge

Yes, you read that correctly. Cracker, the popular ‘90s alternative band that gave us “(Teen Angst) What The World Needs Now” and “Low," is playing the Moose Lodge in Doylestown on February 24. Well, not the whole band is playing; it will be the “Craker Acoustic Duo” featuring frontman David Lowery and guitarist Johnny Hickman. Still, how on earth does a band like this end up booking a show at the Moose Lodge? I guess “The Family Fraternity” delivers!

When I find out how exactly this came to be, and how much tickets will be, then I’ll let you know. Until then, I’d plan on being there. Locals The Waltons open the show.

[Links]
www.crackersoul.com
www.waltonrock.com
And hey, what the hell...
www.mooseintl.org

Birdie Num Num, The Teeth at John & Peter's

Bucks County's Birdie Num Num And The Spirit Squad and Drink Up Buttercup will be playing this Friday, Jan. 26, at John and Peter's in New Hope. Also on the bill is Philadelphia's The Teeth, who will be making a rare appearance in Bucks County. Whoever put this bill together was using their noggin, because all three bands play very similar pop-inspired indie rock with a touch of psychedelia.

According to Birdie's website, this will be the band's last show before it breaks to record a new album. For The Teeth, it's one of their last local shows before they hit the road for a national tour with Park The Van Records labelmates The High Strung (in February) and Dr. Dog (in March).

[Links]
myspace.com/birdienumnumandthespiritsquad
myspace.com/teeth

Doylestown Music Compilation Released, Supported

End Of The R5, a compilation of Doylestown musicians, is now available in various locations throughout Doylestown for $10. The brainchild of Cigar Parlor owner J.T. Schaefer, the compilation features songs from Doylestown (area) bands like Mike Pfieffer & The Associates, Aderbat, Drink Up Buttercup, Illinois, etc. You can pick up a copy at Jammin' Juices, Siren Records, Coffee & Cream, Chelsea, and of course The Cigar Parlor -- all fine Doylestown establishments.

Every Wednesday in January, Puck is hosting a singer-songwriter open mic hosted by the songwriters who appear on the End Of The R5 compilation. It's free to get in and starts at 7:30 p.m.

And finally, if you follow Doylestown music whatsoever, then you know that Illinois, Aderbat, Drink Up Buttercup and Peasant are playing Jan. 19 at the Moose Lodge on State Street in Dtown. This all ages show, billed as "The End Of The World, 1st Edition," has been touted by some as the "show of the year in Bucks County." It may prove to be, but judging by the name of the show and considering these bands play together all the time, they will probably do it again real soon.

[Links]
www.classcigar.com
www.pucklive.com

Local Music Year In Review

The latest issue of Philly EDGE features, "Oh Six," an article I wrote about the bigger stories in Philadelphia music this past year. It's a quick read and covers a few things happening in Bucks County. Look for it in the Dec. 27 issue (on newsstands now) or follow the link below to read the article.

[Links]
www.phillyedge.com

Aderbat At Siren Records

I stopped in Siren Records in Doylestown last night to catch part of Aderbat's set and snap some quick photos. This being one of the first shows in the store's new location, I was curious to see how live music would work in the setting. The stage was big, the pa system sounded good, and there was enough space between the CD racks to fit a pretty large crowd. Although certainly not as conducive to live music as a traditional venue, the new location is a vast improvement over the older location for hosting in-store performances and local shows.

www.aderbat.com
myspace.com/sirenrecords_electric

Witness Posts New Track, Plans EP Release

One of the best kept secrets in Bucks County is Morrisville's Witness, an emcee, producer, and the unofficial leader of the Recollective artist group. Although most certainly a hip-hop artist at heart, Witness' indie leaning reminds us that the soul of hip-hop is a far cry from what you hear on the radio.

After a short hiatus, Witness is getting back in the game. He recently posted a new track, "Yesterday's Wake," from his forthcoming EP on his Myspace site. Ever More will be the follow up to 2005's Ever Since EP and will be self-released December 12.

[Links]
myspace.com/witness
www.recollectivent.com

Shows At The New Siren Records

Siren Records begins a new era next month when it starts hosting larger shows at its new location at 22 S. Main St. in Doylestown. The expansion of Buck's County's best record store is good news for local music, as the store is poised to become another essential all-ages venue in the heart of D-town. The first weekend in December will feature three nights of music for the store's "Grand Re-Opening Extravaganza." Here are the bills for each show:

12.01| Aderbat, Honeychurch, Christina Ward, and Drink Up Buttercup
12.02| Illinois, France On Fire, and House Of Fire
12.03| Peasant, Screaming Females, and Univox

All three shows are free of charge!

[Links]
www.sirenrecords.com
myspace.com/sirenrecords_electric

Live Review: Drink Up Buttercup

Drink Up Buttercup | The Cigar Parlor | 11.17.06

No matter how many times I go to the Cigar Parlor to see a show, I'm always amazed at the phenomenon surrounding this living room-sized venue in Doylestown. The Cigar Parlor is the furthest thing from a traditional music venue; it lacks a good PA system, food and drink, and any shred of proper advertising. Plus, at $7 a head, it's not exactly a bargain to get in the door. Still, come Friday or Saturday night, there's a line down Main Street of anxious music fans hoping to get inside.

These days the busiest nights at the Parlor belong to a tight-knit group of (mostly) Doylestown musicians including Drink Up Buttercup, Peasant, Christina Ward, Aderbat, and a few others. This group, which I like to call the "That Works crew," have made the Parlor their own, by mastering the art of online networking and marketing, while playing as many all-ages shows as possible. That Works Records is Peasant's label, and although the only releases on the label belong to him, all these musicians operate like labelmates, bound by similar musical styles and friendship.

This camaraderie is one of the reasons Drink Up Buttercup packed the Cigar Parlor this past Friday, despite only existing as a band for a few months. The group is the latest project of James Harvey, whose last band, Playwright, recently called it quits. Harvey has been playing solo shows under this new moniker, but just recruited a new drummer, as well as the bassist and keyboard player from Playwright. Judging by the size of the all-ages crowd on Friday, it appears the following he built from Playwright has also carried over.

Like Playwright, Drink Up Buttercup belongs to the same indie rock category as The Decemberists or Arcade Fire. Pop-oriented and acoustic-based, it's the perfect setting for Harvey's tenor vocal range and quirky lyrics. The difference as compared to Harvey's past efforts is his (admitted) recent discovery of late-era Beatles' albums. He sounds now as if he's taking himself much less seriously, attempting unorthodox songwriting and experimentation, and at times, ditching Shakespeare for Sesame Street.

At the moment, Drink Up Buttercup's live show is still evolving due to simple fact that the band is so new. Obviously under-rehearsed, Harvey and his cohorts made up for any shortcomings with passion and spontaneity, arming the first row of spectators with tambourines and turning otherwise childlike ditties into rock 'n' roll crescendos. In such an intimate environment, the shorter sing-a-longs, like "Land Of Beers," "Mr. Pie Eyes," and one with a guest appearance from Peasant, translated better than the heavy-handed epic jams. The band's only real miss step was an out of place cover of Weezer's "Say It Ain't So." It was hurt less by the lack of electric guitar and more by the fact that most of the under-age audience didn't seem to recognize it. The song is more than ten years old, afterall. However, the band did scored points for actually singing the guitar solos.

If the Weezer cover was lost on the audience, the rawness of the atmosphere was not. Shows like this provide a chance for these kids to watch their peers pour their guts into their music. They obviously appreciated Drink Up Buttercup and openers Fire After Midnight and Pennylise (both of Doylestown's Cosmic Troubadour Records), as well as The Cigar Parlor as a venue. With the city's music scene out of reach and the suburbs filled with martini-laden venues like Puck, it looks like the phenomenon will continue.

[Links]
www.drinkupbuttercup.com
myspace.com/cosmictroubadourrecords
myspace.com/thatworksrecords

Borough upholds live music ban

The Intelligencer reported today that the Doylestown Borough Council decided against allowing the Freight House Café in Doylestown to expand their ability to host live music. The train station restaurant agreed a few years ago not have live music other than a piano player as part of an arrangement with local residents. The owners wanted that ban lifted because they feel they are at disadvantage to "other [businesses], closer to residences than ours, with indoor and outdoor music." Although the decision will not be official until council approves it in writing in December, it appears local residents succeeded in their efforts to keep the ban intact.

Now, chances are the Freight House would not host the types of musicians that this writer would be really excited to hear live. However, this ruling is important because it may set a precedent for other establishments in the borough, like the Cigar Parlor, The Moose Lodge or even Muggs On Main, that host bands and are indeed closer to private residences. The borough has thankfully taken a softer stance on live music (especially on weekends), but this could signal a change of heart.

[Links]
Council says no to live music
Some discord over music request

D-town Hardcore

Although the Bucks County hardcore punk community has always been underground by nature -- that’s how these guys and gals like it -- it's a shame when local publications and venues take a pass on the genre. There are a handful of very decent bands dedicated to playing local VFWs and YMCAs and maintaining the DIY lifestyle so important to these musicians.

High on the list of notable acts is Dead Again?!, a Doylestown band that has started to gain recognition in the East Coast hardcore scene. Dead Again?! has a couple of EPs under its belt, but the five-piece just released its debut longplayer, Monolith, in October on Emerald Moon Records. You can see them live December 22 at the Landsdale VFW (802 W. Second St.) with The Progress, Cetus, and Bangarang.

myspace.com/deadagain
www.emeraldmoonrecords.com

This Weekend With Except After Sea

This upcoming weekend is your best chance to see Except After Sea, as this Langhorne indie-rock outfit will be playing two shows in Philly. You can catch them Friday at The Trocadero Balcony with U.S. Funk Team and Overise or Sunday at The Manhattan Room with Like Lions and Deleted Scenes. If you’re totally lazy and miss both those shows, you can see them December 7 at The Khyber with Days Away and Unlikely Cowboy.

EAS has also made three tracks from the band’s recently released debut record, What Buildings Are Made Of..., available on their Myspace site. Do note the Bob Dylan clips from No Direction Home. Nice touch boys.

[Links]
myspace.com/exceptaftersea

Peasant Joins Fanatic Promotion's Roster

Doylestown singer-songwriter Peasant, a.k.a. Damien DeRose, has joined the roster of New York’s Fanatic Promotion. Peasant recently released a 4-song 7-inch called The Wind, and you can expect Fanatic to help him push the record and plan any future tours. Peasant was also scheduled to play Fanatic’s Acoustic Afternoon showcase at the CMJ Festival in New York earlier this month. It remains to be seen if DeRose will make a move to an another record label or continue to release his music on his own That Works imprint. You can see Peasant on December 15 at the new Siren Records location at 22 S. Main St. in Doylestown.

[Links]
www.myspace.com/peasant
www.thatworksrecords.com
www.fanaticpromotion.com
www.sirenrecords.com

Great Minds Think Alike

Make sure you check out Doylestown Sounds, a Myspace site dedicated to Doylestown music, and The Indie Café, a radio show on WYBF (Sundays 5-7 PM). Both have featured a handful of Bucks County musicians. Melissa from The Indie Café recently interviewed James Harvey from Drink Up Butter Cup, as well as Birdie Num Num and The Spirit Squad. You can hear the interview with Harvey at Drink Up’s Myspace site. Doylestown Sounds has been faithfully tracking the efforts of Peasant, Christina Ward, Aderbat, Drink Up Butter Cup, and a few other Doylestown artists for the last few months.

Also, Allie from Doylestown Sounds recently started booking music for First Friday in Doylestown, so if you’re interested in booking a show, contact her through her website.

[Links]
www.myspace.com/doylestownmusicians
www.myspace.com/the_indie_cafe
www.myspace.com/drinkupbuttercupband