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The University of Pennsylvania
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 Clockcleaner
Clockcleaner is like a dirty joke without a punch line. People call the group a hardcore band, but instead of playing the big, shout-along choruses or cathartic mosh parts associated with the genre, Clockcleaner relies on an echo-y mid-tempo churn and deep, stark vocals to build an uncomfortable tension that makes audiences squirm. "My Girlfriend won't let me c*m inside her," guitarist John Sharkey sings, "so I just leave it across her smile." And then it just ends without ever finding release, leaving disgust, frustration and nervous laughter, but also one hell of a great show. – Stephen Potter
 Normal Love
Philly's best metal band is also its best avant-garde classical ensemble. Or possibly it's the other way around. Unlike symphonic metal bands that simply layer cheesy strings over bombastic rock songs, Normal Love writes intricate and difficult instrumental pieces inspired by modernist classical composers, and then play them with death-metal ferocity. The result is music that succeeds at being alternately brutal and beautiful, sometimes both at the same time. By totally shredding and shredding clichés, Normal Love is proving that prog doesn't have to be a four letter word. – Stephen Potter
 Spank Rock
Spank Rock has apparently solved many of the key academic questions of our day. Questions such as: Is "booty" really spelled "B-O-O-T-A-Y?" Does the formula for losing your sh*t on the dance floor merely equal 808? Spank Rock just gives us a wink and a pelvic thrust. We would've pressed further, but we’re too busy dancing. – Stephen Potter
 Freeway
Somebody forgot to tell Freeway that the rap game has moved on since he first appeared on the scene. Crunk happened, Hyphy happened, and the soul sampling, East Coast, street level banger died off. His thin, gruff voice and densely nimble, narrative flows lack the explosive bombast to sit comfortably on a Timbaland track, and he'd just seem comical trying to ride a catchphrase or a dance craze to chart success. But what Free can do, he does better than anyone. He explodes with righteous anger, believing that if he just raps harder, flows sicker and stays gutter, he won't need a big-name producer or a ridiculous dance to conquer the charts. – Stephen Potter
 Pissed Jeans
Pissed Jeans is the band punk rock needs right now: punk for those of us without studded belts or pink Mohawks. Free of fashioncore melodrama or ludicrous anarcho-sloganeering, Pissed Jeans make sludgy, claustrophobic, feedback-heavy songs about everyday life. Instead of love and hate, singer Matt Korvette writes about lust and annoyance. He isn't looking for a soul mate; he just hopes he isn't too weird to "kiss those boring girls." Standing onstage, shirtless and beating himself with his microphone, Korvette is a magnetic, terrifying presence, but most of the time he's just another shy, nerdy office worker. "I don't need smoke to make myself disappear," Korvette sings, "I'll just sit here." – Stephen Potter
 Brown Recluse Sings
Lush and lighthearted, the music of Brown Recluse Sings is the perfect background music for a stroll in the park or a rainy day nap. The six-piece band functions like an American cousin to Belle & Sebastian, complete with soft vocals and the perfect amount of guitar jangle. Singer Timothy Meskers formed the band with drummer Mark Saddlemire only two years ago, but the band has come a long way since then: BRS has a few EPs under its belt and "Western Medowlark" was featured on "Veronica Mars" (RIP) in 2007. All signs point to a full-length dropping this year, no doubt full of carefully arranged, sunny pop. – Ben Rosen
The Roots
The Roots epitomize the artistic intellect of Philadelphia. With their third album, "Illadelph Halflife," they coined the infamous epithet, "the illadelph," for the city. Only in Philadelphia is it possible to synthesize the drums, bass, keyboard, guitar and saxophone with the powerful lyrics of a genius MC. Merging neo-soul, funk, and hip-hop, The Roots continue to defy convention. Having gained both a local and international following, the Grammy Award-winning Legendary Roots Crew continues to evolve in the hip-hop scene. With a recording studio, lofted above the Electric Factory, and permanent residences in Philadelphia, The Roots prove that no matter how big they get, Philadelphia will always be the place they call home. – Ashley Bradley
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This section's contents are produced entirely by student journalists, brought to Billboard.com by UWIRE, the leading provider of student-generated content. UWIRE aims to identify and promote the brightest young content creators and deliver their work to a larger audience via professional media partners such as Billboard.com. Visit UWIRE.com to learn more. |
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- Amherst, Massachusetts
- Athens, Georgia
- Austin, Texas
- Bloomington, Indiana
- Iowa City, Iowa
- Lincoln, Nebraska
- Los Angeles, California
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Nashville, Tennesse
- Omaha, Nebraska
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
This town profile was produced entirely by student journalists from The Daily Pennsylvanian, the leading news source for the University of Pennsylvania community. You can learn more about the individual student contributors by visiting their profiles on UWIRE.com:
Text: Grace Ambrose, Ashley Bradley, Max Hass, Rhaisa Kai, Stephen Potter, Ben Rosen, Frances Wright
Photos: Sheena Allen, Russell Brodie, Oliver F. Cooney, Jen Corsilli, Anthony Esposito, Max Hass, Sarah Kinosian, Gregory A. Perez
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