Drew, Molly, BH, and well most people who are not jam band fans may have to forgive me for posting this.

The Umphrey’s McGee tune Glory is usually beautiful, but sandwich it inside Amazing Grace and add the Chicago Mass Choir and you have an amazing piece of music. Do it on New Year’s Eve and you have one jealous webmaster.

Also, looks like Umphrey’s has kicked their lighting up a notch.

The Philadelphia arm of the Deli Magazine is holding a poll to find the best in emerging local acts. I don’t really know that they count as emerging but, as of right now, it looks like Blue Sinatra, the Hustle and Jared Costa are racking up the votes, but with a little vote flooding, an underdog like Philadelphia Slick could take the lead. The poll closes tomorrow, so get to their comments section and start a votin’.

The Hustle - Philadelphia @ the World Cafe, May 7, 2008.

Every week, we have a staffer, freelancer or friend/enemy/frienemy of The Clog put their iTunes or iPod on shuffle and tell us about the first 10 songs that come up. The only rules: No skipping, no cheating and you don’t need to be all music critic-y about it. (If you’d like to submit a 10-Track Mind of your own, contact Drew Lazor at drew.lazor[at]citypaper[dot]net.) This week, Phillybits blogger Ray Skwire shares some bits of his music.

1. Roni Size / Reprazent – “Brown Paper Bag”
This is a great track I came to like several years ago when I was more interested in electronica and drum and bass. I’ve never been able to let go of this one. It fits best when I’m in the city and it’s all just crazy out with people everywhere spouting gibberish at each other that I’m trying not to pay attention to in the first place.

2. Pink Floyd – “The Final Cut” (The Final Cut)
There’s something about the voice Roger Waters has, as well as his singing style (which in much of his earlier work was very throaty and raw), that just appeals to me and adds emotional emphasis to his lyrics. I’ve never before heard an artist whose voice cuts straight through a song right to my ears quite like he does.

3. The B52’s – “Love Shack” (Cosmic Thing)
C’mon, it’s “Love Shack” for crying out loud.

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Jon Solomon and Julia Factorial are past the halfway point in Jon’s annual 24-Hour Holiday Radio Show. There’s a webcam, a chat and, you know, more X-mas music than you require.

One day in 1958, 57 jazz musicians gathered for a big old group picture by photographer Art Kane. Ever see The Terminal? The photo’s a classic. Some local musicians — led by Chris Kasper and Jeff Hiatt — are looking to capture Philly’s current music class with a similarly timeless photo on Christmas Eve at the Art Museum steps, to be taken by Lisa Schaffer. This is a call to all music people: metal, jazz, rock, hip-hop, club-owners, sound engineers, music journalists (wait, what?). They’re trying to get will Smith, Dick Clark, Patti LaBelle, Teddy Pendergrass and other big names, but no word on how successful that will be. Here’s the press release:

Philadelphia Music Scene to be photographed December 24th

Photographer Lisa Schaffer gathers members of the Philly music scene for a class portrait

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Inspired by Art Kane’s 1958 “A Great Day In Harlem,” a photograph of 57 jazz musicians, photographer Lisa Schaffer is inviting all area musicians from any genre to join for a group photograph on the Philadelphia Art Museum steps. The photograph will be taken December 24th, 2008, at 7:30 AM.

More info here and here.

It’s that time of the year here at City Paper where we feel it is our duty and responsibility to remind you to listen to Jon Solomon’s annual 24-hour Holiday Radio Show on Princeton’s WPRB. It’s become part of the Howard family holiday tradition and hopefully it’ll become part of yours, too.

The deal is that for 21 years Jon Solomon, WPRB’s Wednesday night DJ (he’s also the guy behind the My Pal God and Comedy Minus One labels) has hosted a 24-hour show starting Christmas Eve and running into Christmas Day. He’s managed to fill it entirely with holiday music. And this year is no exception, as he’s got, he says, 23-plus hours of new holiday tunes at the ready, including a flood of new local holiday music.

You can sneak preview the local stuff, new and classic, in episode 068 of Local Support, Thee Holiday Spectacular, available for FREE download at citypaper.net/podcast.

Which isn’t to say that he’ll be eschewing old standbys. Although Fay McKay passed away this year, her “The 12 Daze of Christmas” remains perhaps in my top-5 holiday songs of all time (with “Fairytale of New York,” “Little Drum Machine Boy,” “Ha-Ha Hanukkah,” and Silkworm’s “Merry Christmas”).

Enjoy, and happy holidays.

Every week, we have a staffer, freelancer or
friend/enemy/frienemy of The Clog put their iTunes or iPod on shuffle
and tell us about the first 10 songs that come up. The only rules: No
skipping, no cheating and you don’t need to be all music critic-y about
it. (If you’d like to submit a 10-Track Mind of your own, contact Drew
Lazor at drew.lazor[at]citypaper[dot]net.) This week, IT hero extraordinaire John Tarng gets random.

1. Blake Babies – “Tom and Bob” (Nicely, Nicely [EP])
Juliana Hatfield definitely did her best work with the Blake Babies. I guess I’m a sucker for the spunk and infectious melodies that are typical of Blake Babies.

2. Marvin Gaye – “Trouble Man” (The Very Best of Marvin Gaye)
One word to describe Marvin: genius. He was blessed with unmatched songwriting skills and devastatingly poignant vocal delivery. On this particular track, he somehow maintains the street-tough persona while using a crooning and seductive voice. I can’t think of anyone today who could faithfully cover this song and not sound inept.

3. Ryan Adams & the Cardinals – “This is It” (Follow the Lights [EP])
It’s hard for me to reconcile the fact that Ryan Adams is both a well-documented jerk and a brilliant songwriter and vocalist. Personality goes a long way, I suppose. There can’t be another reason why he’s not a bigger star. I guess it’s for the best that I remain in denial of his jerkitude. Now I can keep listening to his music.

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After the first Philly DJ Day several months ago, lots of unofficial photos with the faces of Cash Money, Jazzy Jeff, ?uestlove, and many more past and present turntable junkies have been floating around the web. But tonight photographer and co-organizer Jonene Taddei will make it official.

On Nov. 14, she, along with friend and fellow photo phenom Snapkracker, were set to display some of their work at the Arts Garage. Surprisingly (not really), the Arts Garage got shut down that week (again). So Taddei scrambled for another venue and another date.

Tonight from 8 to 10 p.m. at Q-Ba (1176 N. Third St., Third and Girard), her Philly DJ Day pics, as well as some other shots she’s taken around the musical world, will be on exhibit for all to see. Snapkracker will also be showcasing his pictures of local personalities.

If you’re feeling inspired to shake your ass after seeing all the fly DJs featured (more than 200 were captured that day), stay a little later (9 p.m.-2 a.m.) and get down, get down to the sounds of Brendan BringEm. Cover is $5.

Official flyer after the jump.

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We previewed Cansei de Ser Sexy’s Friday night TLA gig in this week’s music section. Now comes this note from Dave P:

THE MAKING TIME $2 BILL HOLIDAY FREAKOUT!!! FRIDAY DECEMBER 19th, 2008

AND TO MAKE THIS HOLIDAY PARTY THE RADDEST HOLIDAY PARTY EVER WE HAVE ADDED VERY SPECIAL LIVE GUESTS….CSS

YES!!! CSS has decided to move their show from the TLA this Friday so that they can play the Making Time $2 Bill Holiday Freakout. This Holiday party will surely be a total RAGER!!! And YES!!! It’s still just $2!!!

9pm-3:30am @ Transit (600 Spring Garden St.)

Rest of the latest Making Time lineup after the jump.

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But he also mighta had a few drinks. He’s not making a ton of sense, except he totally is. Topics discussed:

• How quickly 500 tables can get their orders of hot wings.
• How Philadelphians need to stick together.
• Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Gilly.
• How nobody has a good situation.

Because the next man on the moon will be Chinese.

myspace.com/iammikeywild

Look, I don’t looooooove Mikey Wild — artist, “singer,” poet — like a lot of you do. I take issue with what I’ve heard about some of his personal relationships throughout the last 30 years. Then again, Dylan slapped his wife and Sinatra belted a
few broads (no, I’m not saying Wild hit anyone, so shut the fuck up) and
I don’t hate them. Plus, I feel as if the little guy who wrote, “I Hate
New York,” “Chicks With Dicks,” and “I Was a Punk Before You Were a
Punk” has been objectified by many a punk-scene goon. Not Franny
Scareho, though. And not the Tartaglia Brothers who run Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. Ninth St.). Both parties have given Wild a performance berth and a place to
play it to the hilt. So there.

Besides — no one should get cancer, which
is what Wild has. It’s the reason why his buds are throwing a
benefit called “Fuck Cancer” in his honor on Sat., Dec. 13 at the Ric
Rac. Bitchslicer, Boogie Witch, Live Not On Evil, Cisco
Jeeters, Beast Infection, The Dark Lords of Stonehurst and the
Scareho/Wild collaboration will roar to get Mikey some money (all
proceeds go to him) and aid he and his family with medical costs. Wild’s
scratchy artwork will be on display and for sale. Admission is $10. The
benefit begins at 7 p.m.

If Franny Scareho is asking you to come as
nicely as he’s been asking, this means business. So get busy.

Gnome + Aimee = BFF

Randex Communications

Aimee Mann does not scream happy holidays — that Til Tuesday thing where her top lip gripped the bottom one, how those white spikes angrily framed her narrow visage, how her songs were so deflated and sad. That’s not Christmasy. Then again, no one showed off their holiday cheer in the ’80s. Eventually, her snowy white hair fell flaxen and her songs’ lyrics grew wider and brighter and Mann was ready to be the perfect holiday host. She’s even got a new CD called @#%&*! Smilers. Cheery, right?

For year three of her annual Christmas Party, Mann’s got the good guests to prove her Christmas mettle. Grant Lee Phillips is a fine and wry songsmith and will play the Grinch this eve. Nellie McKay is a frothy nog — a nouvelle jazz piano master and delectably playful vocalist whose darkly humorous and oddly politicized lyrics put the heat on the night’s plum pudding. But having Philly’s Paul F. Tompkins — the new presenter of VH1’s Best Week Ever — as the night’s host will put the “ho” in Hosanna. Cue mistletoe.

Aimee Mann’s Third Annual Christmas Party, Sat., Dec. 13, 8 p.m., $29.50-$39.50, Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside, 215-572-7650, keswicktheatre.com.

The timing on this segment’s a bit off, but the Oates groundswell is officially on.

Format Magazine’s Classic Hop-Hop Album Covers Recreated in LEGO has been making the rounds like crazy since yesterday, so I was glad to see a Philly act earn a hat tip. Presenting the Legofication of Jedi Mind Tricks’ Violent By Design:

formatmag.com

Not the best of the lot but I will take it.

In classic hip-hop fashion, everyone is whining over whether or not some of the albums featured on the list can legitimately be deemed “classic.” But you have to think about it in the proper context. Mos Def’s The New Danger, for example — not even close to a “classic,” in my opinion, but ideal for the purposes of LEGO recreation:

formatmag.com

Thanks Emynd