HOT SCENE: Just try to live like this in New York [1]: Peter MoDavis, bassist for rising Philadelphia indie band the Teeth, spends just $250 a month on rent [2] – and supports himself off-tour by painting houses and slinging pizzas. Meanwhile, rapper Spank Rock pays almost nothing to live in a former warehouse he shares with a hardcore label, two roommates and an indoor skate ramp [3]. Welcome to the diverse, thriving Philly music scene, where everyone knows each other (the Teeth worked with West Philly underground hip-hp producer RJD2), sounds cross-pollinate and commercialism hasn’t intruded on a grassroots DIY ethic [4]: “This town created everything good it has all on its own,” says rapper Amanda Blank. And in the abscence of a grunge-style signature sound [5], the scene is united by its eclecticism and disregard of outside trends. “In Philly, people just do what they want,” says MoDavis. “All the bands are kind of wacky.” [6]

[1] Unless, of course, you’ve already left Williamsburg, moved here, and are already over it. In which case, look into my crystal ball: BALTIMORE.
[2] We bet this place is a PALACE.
[3] We had no idea that Tony Hawk’s Underground was renting!
[4] This last sentence recycled from a 1985 Rolling Stone Hot List item on Athens, GA.
[5] What, “My Parents Always Told Me Everything I Did Was Awesome” isn’t a signature sound? Just one more on the pile of reasons why RS is LIKE SO OUT OF TOUCH.
[6] We refuse to believe that this is a real quote.
RollingStone: Drop It Like It’s (S)Hot (In The Ass) [item not republished online, hat tip to AMEN for the text]

This entry was posted on Monday, October 8th, 2007 at 8:03 am.