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It was a Sunday night dance party at Johnny Brenda’s as the post-punk beats of Shopping and new-wave aesthetic of French Vanilla had the Philly crowd jumping and spinning. Check out photos and highlights of the night below.
1. Shopping is a musical time machine.
Playing behind their fabulous new LP The Official Body, three-piece British band Shopping delivered a night full of infectious beats. Sounding like a newly discovered recording from the early 1980s, they have an angular jangle that gets your feet moving and head swaying.
2. Fun is the name of Shopping’s game.
Rachel Aggs leads the charge with her animated kicks, spins and jumps. Her signature guitar sound ignites the dance floor while Billy Easter on bass and Andrew Milk on drums add more layers of musical candy. But Aggs is a force of nature on her own. At one point, she brought an audience member on stage, the next she was jumping into the crowd. She is a brilliant leader of your next favorite band.
3. French Vanilla got the crowd dancing.
Los Angeles quartet French Vanilla brought a blast of new wave to a receptive crowd. Lead singer Sally Spitz mixed her B52s-esque voice with the sax and bass of Daniel Trautfield, as well as the guitars of Ali Day and percussion of Max Albeck to make for a wicked time capsule of sound. Playing selections from the self-titled debut as well as an awesome cover of ABBA’s “S.O.S.” they were a supernova of sound and dance.
4. Philadelphia’s Control Top set the scene
Punk trio Control Top owned the stage with a superb set of rock to open the night. Behind the powerful presence of lead singer and bassist Ali Carter, they put on a set of fiery tunes that whet the crowd’s appetite for future releases and performances.
