To say that zaniness occurred at the An American Chinese record release party last Friday night would be an understatement.
“It's like a musical up here, with all this choreography,” remarks a member of West Philly's Grandchildren, laughing as his band mates drop their instruments, leap off the stage, run around to the other side, pick up new instruments and strike a pose expectedly.
Dexterity is the name of the game here, and Grandchildren are particularly adept, setting the stage for an evening of creative experimentation and passion-fueled tunes, in celebration of An American Chinese's debut LP, Utopian Tree.
The first act of the night, Grandchildren kick things off with big, bold tunes, full of shimmering guitars and keys, clangorous beats, upbeat brass and exuberant, choir-like vocals. Fresh off a U.S. Tour, the band—who run West Philly's DangerDanger Gallery along with Rad Racket—kill it, filling the space with full, lustrous sounds.
Next up is Fishtown's the Armchairs, whose signature blend of ramshackle, DIY-pop catapults between impromptu schoolyard antics and tightly-constructed, foot-stomping circus-pop ditties.
