the one with the local bands we love.

have you seen the movie "almost famous"?
because lately, we here at 1302 have been feeling like we're well on our way to becoming the 2011 philadelphia version of the Band-Aides...

live music is the stuff that fills up the gasoline tank of my soul, keeping me running. i like concerts that are big and loud, dare i say—epic? coldplay in strasbourg, france in 2008, for instance. it's hard to compete with chris martin in the spotlight on a stage 10 feet away from me, doing a solo number on the piano. or thousands of fans who don't even speak my language jumping up and down yelling "oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!" during the bridge of "viva la vida."




but then, there is the intimacy of a small concert in a local coffee shop. the kind of show where you can buy the band's 5-song EP for $5 from a suitcase in the back, and meet all the band members and get them to autograph their set list for you. or a show where your friend is friends with the drummer, so you show up at the local bar and discover that your friends' friends have some serious talent. this is a whole different kind of epic; a kind that we are just discovering at 1302. we've been so excited lately about our new local-band friends, i just wanted to share them with you. because not only are they seriously cool people, they are also seriously talented musicians. (and you can listen to their music free! check out the websites below)

Oldermost
http://oldermost.bandcamp.com/track/kensington

don't let the city streets keep you inside all year
no sense in being afraid of the ones who were made
with numbered hairs on each precious head

living in a neighborhood that (just every now and then) causes me to be a little fearful, this lyric grabbed my attention. plus, their music is kinda awesome.

Swear and Shake
http://swearandshake.com/

a brooklyn band, we happened upon them at another show where our friends brown bird blonde bird were playing. we fell in love immediately and joined the "friendsadelphia" mailing list so we could keep up with them!

Lion Versus
http://www.myspace.com/lionversus

every time i see these guys play, there's a new member or new instrument on stage! it's crazy! trumpet, mandolin, toy piano, that weird thing jeremy plays that looks like a keyboard but you blow through a tube... yeah. these guys, mostly from my church, are pretty talented!

so, if you come to philly, hopefully we can find some indie music show for you to attend. because that's what our life has come to consist of... and we love it!!

-rachel h

The One With Our New Roommate

The winds of change are blowing over 1302 this winter. A heavy northern wind blew Crystal back home to Virginia, and a wind from the west blew Amanda to us from the depths of central Pennsylvania. So, here she is: a Messiah college grad and aspiring environmentalist (her recycling ethics have already won her an important place in our hearts), she came to us with a small army of plants to adorn our house, and a collection of Grandma chairs that we already call our own. Her queen size box-spring didn't quite make it up to the third floor (does anyone have a box-spring that's split so it can turn corners?) but she's a trooper. When she has a job, you will find her gorging herself on Philly's fantastic food culture and sharing our love of throwing our money at Anthropologie. Her only downfall is that PC she brought with her... but we'll make her a mac-lover yet! Yes, it seems that she will fare well here at 1302. Stop by and meet her, we're sure you will like her as much as we do!

ps- anyone know of any job openings? she's very versatile :)