From never considering herself to be much of a performer to honing an eight year career of music and guitar mastery that is capable of shifting to rock, folk, jazz, and country, Charlotte Littlehales has steadfastly found herself immersed in the local music scene. With Scott Churchman (Ape School, Folklore) and Lux Perpetua’s Jason Wolf (formerly of The Extraordinaires) backing her live on stage, the crew skillfully brings her songs to life. And if you choose to ring in the New Year by seeing her open for bluegrass crooner Joe Brady at The Fire tonight, then you might get treated to some music from her upcoming album that’s currently in the works. Also joining them will be charming indie popsters Arrah & The Ferns, whose album All The Bad in One Place was one of the brightest of 2010. And if you catch their set, then you might be able to find out more on how you can help them with their upcoming music video that’s destined to be filled with unicorns and sombreros. The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 9pm, $7, 21+ (Photo by John Hayes) - Bill McThrill
Being a band with a “thing” or a “shtick” can as easily work against you as it can for you. For The Kominas, their radical Islamic punk ideology was picked up by various notable publications that focused mostly on the disparate image of the defiant Muslims rather than discussing the music they were making. People say that there is no such thing as bad press, and ultimately The Kominas succeeded in opening eyes, rejecting preconceptions and fueling the Taqwacore scene, but writers and critics seemed more concerned with the idea of the band than the actual execution of their music. Now, after a bit of a lull, the band has “reinvented” itself (in a way) on its latest full-length Kominas, and enmeshed itself in the Philly music scene with the addition of Hassan Ali Malik a.k.a. Sunny Ali. With the new line-up, comes an arguably more casual agenda with less direct protest as much as tongue-in-cheek cynicism. They have the same goals; they are just taking a different route.
The album’s opener, “Aviation,” is an instrumental interlude that is punk and anthemic, down to the drum corps-style snare work. It is playful and full of attitude, much like the rest of the album. “Tahrir Square Dance” kicks the album into gear with reckless abandon and plays on the “Walk Like an Egyptian” trope in a way that actually makes the original song seem kind of racist. The following track, and my personal favorite, is “Disco Uncle” which is effectively a song long metaphor about the death of an “era.” The tune, along with the rest of the album, will remind most people of The Clash both lyrically and musically, especially the chorus that sounds like the long lost brother of “Rudie Can’t Fail” and includes the memorable lyrics: “Uncle took us to the show/He even got us blow/Now he’s spinning on his head/Uncle Disco’s dead.” The LP continues in a similar infused punk style with the skittering disco-punk “Left, Right Left” and the rollicking surf rock tune appropriately titled, “No One Gonna Honor Kill My Baby (But Me),” another flash of humor and arguably the best title on the full-length.
The album succeeds by keeping things loose, but making poignant statements within all the mockery and wit. The band is punk with or without the music, so even the more psychedelic backend of the album including “Nafs Said” and “My Friend, My Friend” have jagged edges. The closer, “Bhung Ho,” leaves the album on a clamoring but somewhat serene note. It ambles, it patters, it crashes, it squeals, and it dissolves. Kominas is gone as quickly as it came leaving behind a trail of inflammatory statements and battered eardrums. Once the ringing in your ears subsides though, hopefully some of the message will persist. You can download Kominas for free HERE. - Adam G.
