Lancaster emo rapper Layul drops debut EP ‘Scene One’ with release shows and Emo Nights
From a press release: Hailing from Lancaster, Layul is an emo rap artist whose journey in music began during her teenage years, though she only fully embraced it later in life. In 2020, she made a life-changing decision to use music as her means of self-expression and as a catalyst for personal growth. Inspired by […]
VIDEO PREMIERE: Alt rapper Animal Tongue and Prick Wolf make you ‘Blush’ with new NEPA sound
Greetings, Campers. This brief but strange tale sets its origins almost a decade ago, in the time of The Rattler. Coiled in Pittston, The Rattler was a rowdy, smoky rock and roll burger joint that was run by a bunch of cool kids and presided over irresponsibly by yours truly. Although it was less than […]
Electric City Music Conference hosts first film screening with live music at Stage West in Scranton on Nov. 19
This year, the Electric City Music Conference will be adding film premieres to its ever-expanding repertoire. On Friday, Nov. 19, the short film “Hometown Boys” will have its Scranton premiere at Stage West in Scranton as part of the event. The film follows “four idiots on a heist, a shit-ton of neon-colored lube, and a […]
Congress declares Aug. 11 ‘Hip-Hop Celebration Day,’ a turning point in American music history
Whenever I teach courses on hip-hop at the University of Virginia, I provide a brief overview of where hip-hop music began. One of the important dates I use is Aug. 11, 1973. That’s when DJ Kool Herc, who was 18 at the time, threw a “Back to School Jam” for his sister Cindy in the […]
Marijuana dispensary Beyond/Hello opens in Hazleton with live performance by hip-hop duo Space Kamp
From a press release: Hip-hop fans can wake and bake with Space Kamp this week. Beyond / Hello is introducing a new medical marijuana/cannabis dispensary to Hazleton, and the grand opening on Monday, June 7 will feature a live morning performance by the Allentown-based reggae rappers. The weed-smoking duo have made their support of legalization […]
NEPA MUSIC NOTES: Brendan Brisk, Kali Ma, Condition Oakland, Sleeplore, Chris Cashmere, White Witch, and more
January may be a slow month for entertainment like movies and television (even slower during a pandemic), but it’s been a busy time for local music, so much so that I have to save a few notes for next week. I even had the pleasure of seeing a band play live in front of a […]
NEPA MUSIC NOTES: Telco, Don’t Panic, Eric Best, 5-7-Zero, Flowers for You, Crooked Ways, John Hahn, and more
After a few years away, the NEPA Music Notes column received a warm welcome back last week, so I’ll take that as a sign that you want to see more roundups of new and noteworthy local songs, albums, and shows. Let’s dive right in! 🎶🎶 Schuylkill Haven guitarist John Hahn, who got his start touring […]
Allentown hip-hop reggae duo Space Kamp streams live from Emmaus Theatre on Jan. 15
From a press release: Following the release of their latest single last month, the psychedelic, genre-bending hip-hop reggae duo Space Kamp will start the new year with a live stream by Scranton-based creative marketing team Ionic Development on Friday, Jan. 15 at 10 p.m. Performing from the Emmaus Theatre in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, the free show […]
MUSIC VIDEO: Scranton rapper Lucas Hex masks up for nu metal-inspired ‘Scapegoat’
Not every artist can find their sound on their first project. It takes some musicians years and various incarnations to really hit their stride. Lucas Hex is one of those artists. Fueled by pure musicianship, the Scranton rapper has genre-hopped and dipped his toes into various hip-hop trends over the years. While producing a litany […]
Scranton emo rapper/ex-Tigers Jaw vocalist releases new Wicca Phase Springs Eternal collab ‘This Moment I Miss’
From a press release: Through an extensive catalog of collaborations, singles, EPs, 2016’s “Secret Boy” LP, and his critically acclaimed Run for Cover debut last year, “Suffer On,” Wicca Phase Springs Eternal has become a celebrated pioneer in a vital new direction of underground music. Wicca Phase is the creative persona of Scranton singer, songwriter, […]
