WXPN Radio

The premier guide for new and significant artists in rock, blues, and folk - including NPR-syndicated World Cafe ®

Listen Xpo

24/7 Musical discovery. A unique mix of emerging and heritage blues, rock, world, folk, and alt-country artists.

Singer Songwriter Radio

Featuring classics from heritage troubadours to new musicians and bands in the singer-songwriter tradition.

Folk Radio

Folk music radio streaming on the web; Americana, Roots Music, recordings, and stories from folk's best.
Listen Live

Marah - If You Didn't Laugh You'd Cry - Yep Roc Records

Since their 1998 debut "Let's Cut The Crap And Hook Up Later On Tonight", the Philly-based band Marah have won fans across the world with their eclectic, rootsy rock & roll. Fronted by the Bielanko Brothers - singer/songwriter/guitarist/banjoist Dave and guitarist/vocalist/harmonica player Serge, they also count as their fans author Nick Hornby, Bruce Springsteen (who played guitar and sang on their 2002 release Float Away With the Friday Night Gods) and Steve Earle (who signed the band to his label and released the band's 2000 release Kids In Philly).

Marah's two new releases for this year are a studio album of rock and roll; If You Didn't Laugh You'd Cry and a studio album of Xmas songs - A Christmas Kind Of Town. You wouldn't expect Marah to make a Christmas album given their rough-around-the-edges approach to rock & roll, but the album shows a softer and tender side to the band that they often show on their ballads and love songs that makes A Christmas Kind Of Town such a wonderful suprise. They combine some Christmas classics with some originals and as an album it is a fun and joyous collection of tunes.

Their non-Xmas album is a return to form for the band after being sidetracked by the glossy production of their last record. If You Didn't Laugh is a classic rock record in the best sense. Recorded live in their studio, it's a stripped down and immediate sounding record that dons all the great instrumentation of their early releases. Musical highlights include "City Of Dreams," "The Demon Of White Sadness," and "The Apartment." It doesn't matter that they still wear their influences of Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Phil Spector on their sleeves because they synthesize their influences into a unique original sound...long live rock and long live Marah!

Written by Bruce Warren

Click here to purchase this and other great music from WorldCafeCDs.com!

Make Music Philly Spotlight: Vikesh Kapoor

Accompanied by just his guitar and harmonica, folk singer Vikesh Kapoor is a storyteller with a captivatingly gentle and unassuming...Read More

Photos: Cody ChesnuTT gets funky with the World Cafe Live crowd

All photos by Matthew Shaver | www.mattshaverphoto.com Funky, eclectic and unpredictable, Atlanta-based singer Cody ChesnuTT headlined...Read More

Drake announces North American tour (playing Wells Fargo 10/19)

Despite no report of a new album, Drake has just recently announced that he will be embarking on a massive North American tour this...Read More

Photos: Companion and Evangelicals played Kung Fu Necktie Upstairs

All photos by Chris Sikich | countfeed.tumblr.com Brooklyn four-piece Companion visited Philadelphia last Thursday to play Kung Fu...Read More

Photos: Junip and Birdie Busch played Union Transfer

All photos by Rachel Barrish | raddrhapsodies.com Last night at Union Transfer, the Jose Gonzalez-fronted Junip brought its...Read More