Indie Rock Hit Parade Live Session: Alvvays

Our latest Indie Rock Hit Parade Live Session takes us out of the studio and into one of South Philly’s new favorite clubhouses, the Boot & Saddle. Joining us for a live session/pre-show soundcheck is the Toronto quintet Alvvays. Get past the hurdle of their slightly perplexing name (it’s pronounced the same as “always”) and you’ll be rewarded with one of this year’s strongest debut albums. Alvvays’ self-titled record was released back in July and quickly became an Indie Rock Hit Parade staple. Jangly, melodic and occasionally noisy, Alvvays is the sound of a young band with both a firm root in the past and a distinct vision for the future.

As heard in these three performances, singer Molly Rankin‘s voice is one of the band’s most dynamic features; playful one moment, heartsick the next. Rankin and Alec O’Hanley‘s guitars get tangled on the urgent “Adult Diversion,” and Kerri MacLellan‘s keyboards shimmer on the mid-tempo “Dives.” The third song, an unreleased new track called “New Haircut,” showcases the propulsive rhythm section of drummer Phil MacIsaac and bassist Brian Murphy. Look for Alvvays next Spring, when they’ll be opening for The Decemberists on a 15-date North American tour (stopping at the Academy of Music here in Philly on April 7th).

Download and stream the complete Indie Rock Hit Parade Live Session with Alvvays, recorded at the Boot & Saddle: