It’s become a Philly tradition: the first Friday of January ushers in a new year and it marks the start of Philly Loves Bowie Week, beginning with the Philly-based tribute band Candy Volcano rocking a Free At Noon Set to celebrate the music of the Starman. This year was the band’s fifth time bringing the show to the WXPN airwaves, and for the occasion, our weekly midday concert went on location to Ardmore Music Hall where the 13-player ensemble is playing their main Philly Loves Bowie Week gig tonight.

Lately, Candy Volcano’s performances — for Free At Noon, at Philly Loves Bowie Week in general — have centered on album anniversaries, and this year it was a big one: Young Americans turns 50 on March 7th. It’s the iconic “Philly Soul” offering from Bowie recorded in part at Chinatown’s Sigma Sound Studio. It’s the album that cemented Philadelphia’s love affair with Bowie, and Candy Volcano played half of the record — “Fascination,” “Somebody Up There Likes Me,” “Can You Hear Me?” and “Fame” — for today’s Free At Noon crowd. They also delved into last year’s featured album, Diamond Dogs, for “Big Brother,” “Sweet Thing,” and the title track, getting Hunky Dory‘s iconic “Life on Mars” in the mix as well.

Candy Volcano | photo by Paige Walter for WXPN

Led by singer-guitarist and vocalist Kevin Monko, the Candy Volcano players include guitarists Bill Randazzo and John Shaughnessy, bassist Eric Visnov, keys player Rob Lawrence, saxophonist Will Schade, drummer Ned Harrison, percussionist Mark Schreiber, and an array of guest vocalists.

“Y’all like some Luther Vandross vibes?,” Kevin Wayne Jordan asked the revved up room before taking lead on “Fascination.” “That’s what we got for you today.” Highlights include back-to-back show-stopping performances by dynamic vocalists Gina Zo (“Can You Hear Me”) and Keith Souder (“Somebody Up There Likes Me”), as well as Amanda Brizzi’s commanding take on “Life On Mars.” Matt Skoufalos opened the show with the nervy “Big Brother,” Eric13 closed it on the swagger of “Fame,” Monko himself took lead on “Diamond Dogs,” and Peg Talbott-Lane delivered a memorable “Sweet Thing.”

Candy Volcano returns to the Ardmore Music Hall stage tonight for their full tribute set to David Bowie and Young Americans to formally kick off Philly Loves Bowie Week; tickets are available at the festival website. Check out photos from the show below and listen to the show in the player above.

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