It's been a long time coming, but Philadelphia based band The Mean has finally completed their debut album, Meet Us Here. The group celebrated by bringing bands Johnny Popcorn and The Great Unknown with them, along with a packed crowd, to Johnny Brenda's for an incredible release party.
Johnny Popcorn opened the night, and this group comprised of bass playing producer Tone Whitfield and vocalist Hezekiah, is one of the more interesting combinations playing around these parts. Hezekiah is an accomplished hip hop producer and emcee who has worked with the likes of Freeway, Bilal and Jaguar Wright, but with Johnny Popcorn, Hez trades in his raps for smooth singing and his normal boom bap beats for guitar riffs, creating a style that immediately draws comparisons to groups such as N.E.R.D. or Gnarls Barkley.
The next act was the Great Unknown, a five man rock outfit from Philadelphia. Featuring Tuck Berger on drums, Charlie Landash and Rev. Wallace W. Bubar on Guitar, B.W. Harris on lap steel and Whitt Scott on bass, the group's sound is decidedly classic rock. The Great Unkown also throws everything and the kitchen sink at their audience in terms of instruments, and the audience was definitely appreciative, with each song ending in an explosion of cheers that made it hard to tell if the crowd hadn't really come for them instead of the headliners in the first place.
Front man for The Mean, the ever humble Aaron Livingston, gave thanks to both Johnny Popcorn and The Great Unknown before the featured act got into their set in which the preformed pretty much every song from their album Meet Us Here. Anchored by the steady pace of bassist Justin Haffner and drummer Nim Ben-Reuven, and accompanied by keyboard player Martin Raboteau, what makes The Mean stand out in Philadelphia's crowded rock scene is the three very distinct stylings of the group's guitarists. The previously mentioned Aaron Livingston, whose soulful singing is featured on the brilliant track "Guns Are Drawn" from The Roots' 2004 album, The Tipping Point, leads the band skillfully with his unique reggae/R&B influenced vocals. Fellow guitarist Charlie Raboteau offers a completely different style of singing, and songs that he's featured prominently on such as "Baby Belle" and "Wind" employ his harder style of singing quite nicely. Finally, Michael Gibney offers a more traditional vocal styling that creates a great contrast to Livingston and Raboteau, and works well when highlighted on songs like "Waiting On A Train" and "Hang Up The Phone".
As for the album, if you've been to a show were The Mean have preformed, you've undoubtedly heard a few of these songs and know what to expect. While there aren't many surprises for long time fans, finally having recorded versions of their songs is wonderful. If you haven't heard the group at all however, you're in for a real treat. The Mean put together great, catchy music without being overly pop or dumbed down and manage to blend genres together effortlessly to the point where each song is completely different from the last and immensely enjoyable.
