Japanese Breakfast | photo by Morgan Smith | phobymo.com | courtesy of the artist

Philly Progress Report 2016: What’s new, what’s next in the music scene

June 27, 2016

06:06 PM

Japanese Breakfast | photo by Morgan Smith | phobymo.com | courtesy of the artist

The halfway point of 2016 is nigh, making this week an opportune time to look back over the past six months and take the pulse of the Philly music scene. But in a way, that’s easier said than done. As The Key’s staff of contributors weighed in on regional releases we dig in a Facebook group conversation earlier today, the names kept on flying – from the hip-hop sphere (Hardwork Movement, Lushlife) to singer-songwriter folk (Birdie Busch, Rosali), indie rock (Swanning, Hurry) experimental (Nick Millevoi, Mary Lattimore) and more.

As our Marc Snitzer put it: “It’s only June and that list is huge. We all know how much talent the city boasts but when you go ahead and list it out, it’s bonafide bonkerz.”

Suffice it to say, the Philly music scene is tremendously healthy – and here’s a look at what’s made it thrive so much this year, along with our prognostications for the second half of 2016. The list is thorough but admittedly far from complete…know of anybody we forgot? Shout them out in the comments.

Japanese Breakfast

To begin with my favorite Philly record of 2016, let’s talk about the stunning Psychopomp LP by the solo outing turned indie rock trio Japanese Breakfast. It’s resplendent, emotionally-driven, and unbelievably catchy; a chronicle of love, loss and personal growth set to dreamy indie pop tones. Plus, they’re a knockout live band. Worth noting, though: my boss Bruce Warren actually ribbed me last week when I got back from Thursday night’s Mitski gig at Boot & Saddle raving about how great Japanese Breakfast was opening the show – he gave me a sneering told-ya-so reminder that I wasn’t crazy about the band at first.

It’s true: when it became clear that this curious and highly personal home-recorded project was evolving into the primary focus of singer-guitarist Michelle Zauner, leaving behind her asskicking punk outfit Little Big League – whom I love dearly – I resisted getting into them. That lasted approximately until I heard Psychopomp in full; one spin was all it took to turn me around and convince me that this band is 1000% what Zauner needs to be doing with her creative energy right now. After a year spent in Brooklyn, she is back in the Philly region, and we’re happy to have the native Oregonian in her longtime second home. The aforementioned tour with Mitski is undoubtedly going to win her new fans, and the Euro-pop dance number they’ve been closing sets is off-the-charts sick. Watch the blissed-out “In Heaven” video below.

Hardwork Movement

Philly rap collective Hardwork Movement has been busy packing rooms around the city this year – from Kung Fu Necktie for their album release party to MilkBoy for Key Fest. Their album Good Problems has a lot to love, from throwback hooks and production reminiscent of Jurassic 5 and Little Brother to a sleek contemporary sheen. And that nine-piece live band? Dang. The whole package was powerful enough that Chill Moody made them the first band he signed to his fledgling nicethingsMUSIC label.

Abi Reimold

Singer-songwriter Abi Reimold is harrowing and honest about personal turmoil and the twisting journey for inner peace on her debut LP Wriggling, released in January on Sad Cactus Records; the talented guitarist / vocalist / songwriter got a strong buzz for the record from Pitchfork and others in the music blog world, and she’s been gigging hard in support. We’ve watched her for a while – since her days interning at XPN – and know her work ethic. She’s totally earned this.

Hurry

Power pop good ol’ dudes Hurry are coming into their own on the new Guided Meditation, released this spring on Lame-O Records. They’ve gone from the crew that sold “I Saw Hurry Open for a Band I Like” t-shirts to the main attraction. Fans of Guided By Voices, Yo La Tengo, Big Star and Teenage Fanclub would do well to take notice; give them a test run at this Friday’s Free at Noon concert.

Pinkwash

The duo of drummer Ashley Arnwine and guitarist-vocalist Joey Doubek lies somewhere between punk and prog, with hammering rhythms and serpentine riffs. PINKWASH has been lighting fires across the U.S. on tour this year and Collective Sigh, released this spring on Don Giovanni, not only hits hard, it’s super catchy to boot.

Rosali

Medatitive singer-songwriter Rosali emerged last month with a great LP called Out of Love . Released on Siltbreeze Records, it takes cues from UK psychedelic folk, American country and western, and classic rock and roll. Get familiar.

Lushlife

Raj Halder spent a few years holed up with Philly production outfit CSLSX, but the resulting Lushlife LP Ritualize (which dropped February on Western Vinyl) has cemented him in the national conversation as a boundary-pushing hip-hop visionary, melding sick rhymes with heavy doses of the experimental and electronic worlds.

Mumblr

Philly punk scene four piece Mumblr can be viewed on the one hand as rock and roll nincompoops; on the other hand, they take their craft incredibly seriously, and it shows on The Never Ending Get Down. Not only is “Microwave” (listen below) a blistering single, the seven-minute closer “Domingo” has been shutting down its live shows in a massive way.

Slingshot Dakota

Lehigh Valley’s Carly Commando and Tom Patterson are infectious, loveable and wear their hearts on their sleeves once again for the new Slingshot Dakota LP Break, a standout release from the Topshelf Records roster this year. Songs detail marriage, the day-job grind and what it takes to persevere.

Lil Uzi Vert

The 21-year-old Philly MC is staking his claim to the title of hip-hop’s Iggy Pop: watch the below video from Lil Uzi Vert’s dynamic Roots Picnic performance for proof of his fearless dynamism as a performer, and check out his April mixtape Lil Uzi Vert vs The World to get a taste of his autotuned melodies, pointed delivery and ravenous pop-culture referencing, a style that orbits nicely around the Young Thug universe. He’ll be one of a small handful on locals on the Made in America lineup this Labor Day Weekend.

Modern Baseball

Philly DIY scene heroes Modern Baseball move beyond the pop punk world with the soaring alternative rock tones of Holy Ghost. The long player is divided OutKast-style between songwriters Jake Ewald and Brendan Lukens, detailing their individual personal struggles with candor. The record came out in May on Run For Cover and last night’s headlining gig at The Fillmore was reportedly lit af.

Thin Lips

Speaking of last night’s Fillmore show, Thin Lips opened it up as a homecoming finale of their big summer tour with the MoBo bros. Their new record Riff Hard dispenses great advice for dealing with personal tragedy – turn it up and get through.

Tunji Ige

This Philly producer and rapper is a master of a crucial post-Kanye skill: balancing lyrical hip-hop on one side and night club bangers on the other. Tunji Ige’s second LP, Missed Calls, dropped earlier this year and he just last week headlined a high-energy gig at The Foundry of The Fillmore to celebrate. Expecting to see him in bigger rooms in no time.

Dr. Dog

Reliably awesome Philly rockers Dr. Dog took a cosmic trip into their past on The Psychedelic Swamp, revisiting some of the very first (and very strange) songs co-songwriters Scott McMicken and Toby Leaman ever wrote together over a decade ago. They’re some of the band’s best.