Concert Review: Alex G/Snoozer/Roof Doctor/Sales @ the Golden Tea House
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
An evening of indie, standing and moving arms.
[ 6/19 ] Thursday night, the Golden Tea House welcomed the boyish, dedicated and lovable Alex G — aka Alex Giannascoli, an English major at Temple who built up his audience by putting his material out on Bandcamp, featuring art from his sister. He was celebrating the release of his new album DSU, from Brooklyn’s Orchid Tapes, a 13-song set of sketches of indie, garage rock that could quite fit into the bedroom pop category and yet, remains mildly unique. Locals Snoozer and Roof Doctor and Orlando’s Sales accompanied him in West Philly for an evening of indie, standing and moving arms.
Starting was Snoozer with a nasal and repetitive voice, distinct drums and an inclination to punk, and fewer upbeats tunes. Following was Roof Doctor, filling the room with heat and sound-checking with smiles and care to prepare a good set. After 10 minutes, the vocalist let the room in with their dreamy voice making us want to draw on notebooks, as some in the audience did, raise our arms to the melodies of Chester Williams on the keyboards and his spontaneous, infamous saxophone, and drive around the coast of California. Roof Doctor’s melodies make us forget the lyrics evoking fears, issues of betrayal, waiting, blur moments and imagined futures that seem too far away to be realized, and instead, make us think of sweet memories deepened in our minds and want to exchange looks with the rest of the audience.
Sales came in third to a less-crowded and quieter room, with Lauren Morgan, the singer, thanking the audience and announcing that it was their first tour. The audience might be scarce but those who preferred to listen to music rather than smoke in the backyard are not disappointed and afraid to close their eyes and move each inch of their arms to go along the vocals of this two-member band. Morgan has raspy, jazzy, grave vocals. Her voluptuous tones, accompanied by Jordan Shih and his round glasses, transport us elsewhere for a short while, even if it is simply while leaning against the walls. Their description as a pop, electronic, rock band fits well but they should add sweetness because our hearts feel warm inside after they are done.
After bobbing his head and sitting around listening to the previous bands, Alex G comes in the end, not playing solo this time. The little space they have with a full crowd leaves no place for Alex G to move beyond his microphone and barely enough room for the instruments part of the four-piece band. The bass might be unheard but Alex G is fully present, presenting us old and new tunes, playing, literally and figuratively, with his body moving sideways to energetic, happy-like and sometimes somber beats. He delivers poetic, impressionist lyrics about the mundane recalling innocence, a desire of success and a discourse on “black hair.” The people in the audience do not hesitate to jump on each other and shake their heads fervently to certain songs because Alex G has that affect. His music produces a certain incomparable energy.
