The North Star Bar is a small venue that has hosted some of Indie Rock's more established bands over the years including; Franz Ferdinand, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Breeders, and Keane, to name a few. It's an excellent setting to see future all-stars including The Features and The Whigs who along with comedian Joel Atwell and Boston band Mean Creek, played their earlier this month.
The Features, an indie band from Nashville have been flying under the radar far too long but for fans that have been privy to their brilliance for a while are very lucky to experience their performance at such intimate venues like the North Star Bar in Philly. The Features draw you in and make you want to drive fast with their combination rock and pop beat. They are masterful with their use of the LaLaLa's and HeyHeyHey's. The bandmates are made up of your typical combo of bearded flannel hipsters and ever-so-slightly nerdy yet appealing "just finished packing up the AV equipment from 4th period," look that seems to be the Indie M.O of late. The band mates are; Mark Bond (keys) Roger Dabbs (bass) Rollum Haas (drums) Matt Pelham (lead vocals and guitar). This band is amazing live and even if you never heard them before you will walk away a fan.
The Features latest album Some Kind of Salvation is in stores now.
The Whigs were the final act of the evening. The three piece band boldly came out to the Atlanta Braves Tomahawk Chop song on Phillies soil and lived to continue with the show. The Georgia boys put on a stellar performance despite the unnecessary use of a smoke machine in such a small venue. Their live performance is solid, loud and true rock n' roll with a tiny bit of southern injection. Parker, the lead singer will amaze you not only with his musical talent, but his ability to balance on one leg for about 90% of the set. You cannot help but be in awe and a bit freaked out by this and maybe a bit intrigued by how his "club dancing" moves may play out. The Whigs spent most of the year on tour with the Kings of Leon allowing them much exposure to the world. Clearly this was a lucky break to see them on a small stage while on the brink of world domination.
Visit The Whigs website and look for their new album In The Dark due out March 2010.
The Whigs just posted new tour dates for 2010; If they come to your town GO you will not be disappointed.
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