Modern Colour - 5/1/2016 Festival Pier in Philadelphia
On a cold wet day in Philly, the music kept playing. Modern Colour opened the Radio 104.5 Block Party at the Festival Pier at Penn's Landing with a great showing of fans baring through the rain which tapered off a bit just as their set ended. The blues-rock quartet from Philly are no strangers to their hometown venues, having played venues like the Trocadero, Underground Arts, the Legendary Dobbs, World Cafe Live, Ardmore Music Hall, The Fire and more since 2011.
Modern Colour has taken a few twists and turns in their musical development which has helped snowball the band on the music radar, going from a three piece to four piece with the latest inclusion of guitar player and songwriter Nate Ridgeway, referred to as their 'secret weapon'.
Modern Colour focuses on their live show, bringing 110% on stage while going through the motions with recordings...the band wants to do it the 'old-school' way of just getting out and playing the bars and clubs. Their debut EP 'Rally at The Summit' was released just over two years ago through the recently closed Sigma Sound Studios, a legendary recording studio founded in 1968 by Joseph Tarsia that has hosted clients like Aretha Franklin, Teddy Pendergrass, the Jackson 5, David Bowie, Billy Joel, ZZ Top, the Roots, Boyz II Men, and Mary J. Blige. But only a short several months after the release of Rally the Summit they pushed on with planning and launching a 30-day Kickstarter campaign, exceeding their goal in raising over $10,000. With the money raised, Modern Colour was determined to prove they could make a DIY rock record without the aid of a record label. The summer was spent writing and rehearsing new material, and the band ultimately decided to work at Forge Recording in Oreland with Ron DiSilvestro, the studio’s lead engineer.
Their changing sound and lyrical adeptness has stepped up and the live show rules the land. A bluesy-rock sound with an extra dash of metal with it, shredding solos and crunchy guitar licks are a plenty. I got the chance to check out Modern Colour at the Radio 104.5 Block Party at the Festival Pier Sunday May 1st to get a listen live with my own ears.
Lead vocalist and guitar player Stephan Sirochman happily greeted fans in the crowd and proved to be a charismatic front-man for the band. Tom Weir on drums as well showed the guns with a positive energy while wailing away on the skins. Bass player Chris Boyle held solid on the line, adding vocals to the mix with Nate Ridgeway bursting out solos and bluesy riffs. The crowd at Festival Pier gave a warm welcome to the band as they jumped into their originals like Mercury(video below) and engaging the crowd, keeping them in spirits through the steady afternoon downpour. I observed a true rock presence with their sound with a soulful blues vibe. Although at times it seemed like the guitars could be higher in the stage audio mix, the overall sound did not disappoint at all. This band rocks the blues and will continue to in Philly. Modern Colour appears next at the South Street Spring Festival on Saturday May 7th and again in Philly at Voltage Lounge on 7th st. on May 12th. Check out our photos and videos from the show at Festival Pier with Radio 104.5.
Modern Colour has taken a few twists and turns in their musical development which has helped snowball the band on the music radar, going from a three piece to four piece with the latest inclusion of guitar player and songwriter Nate Ridgeway, referred to as their 'secret weapon'.
Modern Colour focuses on their live show, bringing 110% on stage while going through the motions with recordings...the band wants to do it the 'old-school' way of just getting out and playing the bars and clubs. Their debut EP 'Rally at The Summit' was released just over two years ago through the recently closed Sigma Sound Studios, a legendary recording studio founded in 1968 by Joseph Tarsia that has hosted clients like Aretha Franklin, Teddy Pendergrass, the Jackson 5, David Bowie, Billy Joel, ZZ Top, the Roots, Boyz II Men, and Mary J. Blige. But only a short several months after the release of Rally the Summit they pushed on with planning and launching a 30-day Kickstarter campaign, exceeding their goal in raising over $10,000. With the money raised, Modern Colour was determined to prove they could make a DIY rock record without the aid of a record label. The summer was spent writing and rehearsing new material, and the band ultimately decided to work at Forge Recording in Oreland with Ron DiSilvestro, the studio’s lead engineer.
Their changing sound and lyrical adeptness has stepped up and the live show rules the land. A bluesy-rock sound with an extra dash of metal with it, shredding solos and crunchy guitar licks are a plenty. I got the chance to check out Modern Colour at the Radio 104.5 Block Party at the Festival Pier Sunday May 1st to get a listen live with my own ears.
Lead vocalist and guitar player Stephan Sirochman happily greeted fans in the crowd and proved to be a charismatic front-man for the band. Tom Weir on drums as well showed the guns with a positive energy while wailing away on the skins. Bass player Chris Boyle held solid on the line, adding vocals to the mix with Nate Ridgeway bursting out solos and bluesy riffs. The crowd at Festival Pier gave a warm welcome to the band as they jumped into their originals like Mercury(video below) and engaging the crowd, keeping them in spirits through the steady afternoon downpour. I observed a true rock presence with their sound with a soulful blues vibe. Although at times it seemed like the guitars could be higher in the stage audio mix, the overall sound did not disappoint at all. This band rocks the blues and will continue to in Philly. Modern Colour appears next at the South Street Spring Festival on Saturday May 7th and again in Philly at Voltage Lounge on 7th st. on May 12th. Check out our photos and videos from the show at Festival Pier with Radio 104.5.