A new band of longtime friends, Philadelphia’s Song People makes captivating music that straddles the worlds of indie rock and psychedelic pop. Their debut album Like Somebody Calling Your Name was released on Don Giovanni Records back in October, and it’s packed full of sonic callbacks and reference points collected by people who, true to their name, love songs and songcraft. Fairport Convention? Early 80s Cure? The golden era catalog of 4AD Records? Or, for a Philly analog, Fishtown’s beloved Espers? Echos of all of the above and more can be heard in this band.
Song People is comprised of vocalist Shaina Kapeluck, guitarist Darian Scatton, bassist Benjamin Schurr, and drummer Alfie Rosenbluth, artists who connected over a decade ago in the Philly experimental music collective Edible Onion and projects like Hallowed Bells and Still Sweet. Their Key Studio Sessions set recorded live in the WXPN performance space this month strikes a balance between ethereal and explosive. We hear the jangling folk pop of “Jerry & Tony” from the record, two driving new songs fueled by post-punk rhythms (“Unwritten Rules,” “Silver Flag”) and the expansive closer “Bright Spots,” which ends both their last album, this studio session, and many of their live shows.
Speaking of which — Song People is on a terrific bill this weekend at the Lambertville art space Soupçon Salon with the outstanding New Jersey band Those People, as well as revved-up rootsy locals The Swiss Guard. Tickets and more information can be found at the WXPN Concert Calendar; watch their Key Studio Sessions performance above and check out photos from the session in the gallery below.