Philly occult rockers Ruby the Hatchet had a party on Friday the 13th. The group played on the traditionally unlucky night at Underground Arts, one of the best metal venues in the city. They were celebrating the release of their sophomore album, Valley of the Snake, along with a collective of retro rock power trios including The Golden Grass, Gondola, and Joy. Luck was in all of the bands’ favor, despite the date. The Golden Grass from Brooklyn started off the show to a small crowd. It’s unfortunate they had a small audience because they were my favorite opener. The blues/psychedelic group had a relaxed vibe, with guitarist Michael Rafalowich and drummer Adam Kriney trading off vocal duties. Their song “The Pilgrim” stood out as a groovy, mood-shifting track with a tambourine interlude. “One More Time” was another song with fun riffs and vocal melodies, featuring cowbell (dare I say, could it have used more?). The band seemed to be having a ball despite the small crowd. I spoke with them afterward, and they were really cool guys. The guitarist said that I reminded him of Peter Tork from The Monkees. Funny. Next on the bill was Philly-local Gondola. They [...]
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