Ashley Hans: Philly Music Vocalizer
Bio
Indie music lovers pride themselves on having an eclectic taste in music; so do I. But there are two differences between the pretentious masses and me. One, my taste is better. Two, I'm not pretentious.
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Stories (25/0)
- Top Story - March 2022
Sigur Ros (Concert Review)Top Story - March 2022
If you and I ever attend the same concert, we should hang out. I'm not saying that because I'm fun to hang out with (which I am); I'm saying that because I always meet the most interesting people at concerts, so I should meet you. A Sigur Rós concert I went to at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia's historic Fairmount Park was no different.
By Ashley Hans: Philly Music Vocalizer2 years ago in Beat
Wampire's "Magic Light" (Song Review)
One of my favorite things to do in the spring and summer is to go outside at night, lie on my back, and stare up at the night sky. I used to do this as a kid, and I still do it as an adult kid. Since Philadelphia is finally starting to thaw out, and spring is right around the corner, it won't be long before I'm out on my roof enjoying the sights and sounds of the soon-here vernal season. And when I do go out on my roof, I'm going to bring along Wampire's debut album Curiosity (released on Polyvinyl Records in May of 2013), so I can chill out and spill out to Wampire's psychedelic song "Magic Light." There's no better way to stare into the dark spacey sky than to do it while listening to dark spacey music.
By Ashley Hans: Philly Music Vocalizer2 years ago in Beat
Indie Music Madness: A Seven-Song Playlist of March Minglers
March is a fascinating month, particularly in the Philadelphia region. It's a grab bag of unpredictable weather conditions. The month starts out rather cold and snowy, just like this playlist. But before you know it — like this playlist too — sun starts sneaking through. However, just when you're getting comfortable and relaxing into radiant rays of sunshine (also like this playlist) a surprise snow squall cold snaps you back to reality. But before you can get your thermals back on, the ground thaws again. This time for good. The mingling of snow and sun is over and spring is here to stay.
By Ashley Hans: Philly Music Vocalizer2 years ago in Beat
Junip at Union Transfer (Concert Review)
My first time at the Union Transfer, on a Sunday night a few flips of the calendar ago, was for a Junip concert in mid-June. That Sunday night in early summer started off great and only get better. One of the things that immediately struck me about how wonderful the Union Transfer (aka the former Spaghetti Warehouse) is was the music venue's amazing sound system. I noticed instantly the sound system was just as crisp and clear as that of the now-bygone Tin Angel's. Which says a lot, because the Tin Angel was a completely different kind of music venue. Tin Angel was not a rock venue; it was primarily set up as a listening room for acoustic singer-songwriters.
By Ashley Hans: Philly Music Vocalizer2 years ago in Beat
Eisley Album Review
In tenth grade I had a history teacher who liked to make us believe he was the most intelligent person who ever hobbled the planet. One of the ways he did this was by reciting quotes any chance he got. Which means basically the only thing he did was recite quotes. His all-time favorite and most overused quote was "The only constant in life is change itself." At the time, whenever my teacher said this, I thought he was just being an arrogant groin phalange. And I'm sure he was. But now that I'm older and not-that-much wiser, I can at least appreciate what the quote means. The band members of Eisley and I were not in the same history class, but this is nonetheless a lesson Eisley has taken to heart. The theme of Eisley's album Currents is about movement and change. It's a message that's relayed as listeners are taken on a nautical auditory journey.
By Ashley Hans: Philly Music Vocalizer2 years ago in Beat
Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Concert Review)
If I had just one word to describe a previous Yeah Yeah Yeahs' performance at the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia, I would've said "sparkly." From the confetti that blew like a whirlwind off and around the River Stage, to lead singer Karen O's shiny Michael Jackson-esque studded leather jacket that I wanted to steal, to the way the moonlight danced across the Delaware River Waterfront as if under a sorcerer's spell, everything about that supernaturally spectacular and magical mid-September night was sparkling.
By Ashley Hans: Philly Music Vocalizer2 years ago in Beat
Beacon's "Drive" (Song Review)
I'm not a huge fan of sappy love songs. Before you think I have a heart like Tin Man, let me assure you that's not even a little true. I love love. The world doesn't have enough of it. It's the best thing Hallmark ever created. When it comes to music, though, there's just too darn much of the sugary and syrupy sweet stuff.
By Ashley Hans: Philly Music Vocalizer2 years ago in Beat
Indie Music Madness: A Seven-Song Playlist of Winter Wonders
Some people are beach bunnies. Not me. I'm more of a snow bunny. So here is an Arctic offering to the glacial gods, seven gelid jams, as I pray for just one badass blizzard this year.
By Ashley Hans: Philly Music Vocalizer2 years ago in Beat
of Montreal (Concert Review)
My only gripe about an of Montreal show I witnessed some moons ago at Philadelphia's Union Transfer is that it happened close to Halloween, but not actually on Halloween itself. With the fantastical costumed creatures running across stage, frontman Kevin Barnes' flamboyantly outrageous garb, and the overall carnivalesque nature of the entire night, of Montreal's bizarre theatrics would've been perfectly suited for a celebration of the superstitious.
By Ashley Hans: Philly Music Vocalizer2 years ago in Beat
"Little Numbers," Big Excitement: Getting Cozy with BOY at the TLA (Concert Review)
You know how sometimes you hear a song and immediately it reminds you of a certain event in your life? Maybe it reminds you of meeting an old flame. Or of your eighth grade semi-formal. Or of a particularly debaucherous sorority party in college. For me, whenever I hear the irresistibly catchy indie-pop song from BOY, "Little Numbers," I immediately get flashbacks to October of 2013. That's when I saw one of my favorite and most unique live shows I've ever witnessed at the Theatre of the Living Arts (TLA) in Philadelphia. That's when BOY was headlining for an especially cozy and comfortable concert at the TLA in Philly.
By Ashley Hans: Philly Music Vocalizer2 years ago in Beat
How to Batch Download Massive Amounts of MP3s from MP3 Blogs
If you like to visit the last remaining super cool MP3 blogs that still somehow actually exist in 2022, like Fingertips and Said the Gramophone, then you might spend an inordinate amount of time downloading files if you're downloading your MP3s one by one. If this is something you do, STOP! Get the phenomenal download manager DownThemAll (DTA) for Mozilla Firefox. This browser extension made of magic is best used as a batch downloader for static webpages. It will allow you to quickly strip mass quantities of MP3s off of MP3-hosting music blogs until your little music-lovin' heart is content.
By Ashley Hans: Philly Music Vocalizer2 years ago in Beat
Man Man On Oni Pond (Album Review)
If you go to experimental rock band Man Man's website and scroll down just a bit, you'll see this announcement: "Who We Are: The best, independent band in the world." Them's fightin' words! It's hard to disagree. For sure, the Philadelphia-based multi-instrumental band Man Man is one of the best bands to ever come out of Philly. In all of ever. Did I mention, in ever too?
By Ashley Hans: Philly Music Vocalizer2 years ago in Beat