The Key Studio Sessions: Ill Fated Natives
We don’t know a tremendous amount about Philly’s Ill Fated Natives – they’re very new to the Philly music scene – but we can tell you with no uncertainty that they rock, and they rock hard. The local power trio is made up of drummer “Joey Stix” Pointer, singer-guitarist O. Thompson and bassist Bets Charmelus. They first caught our ear in April with their debut single, a bluesy slow-burn called “That Don’t Mean I Don’t Love You.” Our Katrina Murray described the single as “tough love at its finest.”
The guitar serves as the crunchy backbone of the track that compliments the chastising vocal. They even further the sentiment through an age-old thought experiment: “that don’t mean I don’t love you, just because I ain’t always around/ just ’cause you didn’t hear the tree fall, don’t mean it didn’t make a sound.” It’s definitely a cheeky comeback for any lover explaining his/her habitual absence.
In the time since this single’s release, the band has collaborated with Philadelphia electronic artist Ganou as her live band and on the track “Spanish Horses,” and has set to work recording their debut EP Savages. The record is set to drop in January, and the band is kicking off a residency at The Fire in Northern Liberties every Tuesday in December. The band kicks it off this Saturday with a video shoot at the venue on November 29th. Below, listen to them tear up our studio for their Key Session – which features two as-yet unheard tracks, “Living Water” and the searing, eight-minute “Want Me Dead.” Tickets and more information on their shows at The Fire can be found at the XPN Concert Calendar.