The Key Studio Sessions: Lantern

In the handful of cassettes it’s released since moving to Philadelphia, we see a few different faces to Lantern. One deals in pensive, atmospheric heater blues: the stinging slow burn of “You Can’t Deny Me,” which brought its recent Key Studio Session to a haunting close. Another blows out the room with raucous, chaotic garage-punk, while another still works in snarling cover versions of early rock standards. Of those last two faces, “I’m Not Alright” is a little bit of each – it’s the band’s bastardized response to Bo Diddley’s “I’m Alright” (a number that, in its original form, has been performed by acts from The Rolling Stones to Redd Kross, and had its playful riff show up in songs by The Monks and The Beastie Boys). Guitarist Zachary Devereux Fairbrother and bassist Emily Robb are the couple at the core of Lantern; they met in Montreal, returned to Robb’s former home of Philly this past year, recruited powerhouse drummer Sophie White and turned their home recording project into a fierce, functioning live band. Hear the trio chat about its journey tomorrow night at 7 on the Key Studio Sessions Hour on XPN2; you’ll also catch its full performance – which also includes blistering renditions of “I Just Wanna Make Love To You” and “Money (That’s What I Want)” – and get the scoop about upcoming appearances at Kungfu Necktie (July 19) and Johnny Brenda’s (Aug. 12).