Power Pop Band ‘The Spanish Channel’ Plays The Grape Room May 5

Here’s a show that Philadelphia power pop fans won’t want to miss. The Spanish Channel, a Brooklyn-based band with a guitar-driven, uptempo sound is making an appearance at the Grape Room on Thursday, May 5. Touring in support of the release of their recent CD, “Brooklyn, Off Atlantic,” the group’s catchy lyrics and hook-laden music tells me they’re a perfect band to see live.

Besides wrapping up their latest CD, the band had a great 2010, performing at a sold-out NY CD Release show and at Atlantic City’s Caesar Palace. In addition, one of their songs is the theme for the minor league hockey team the Danbury Whalers. Their current schedule takes them to Allentown on May 7 at the Crocodile Rock Cafe and to Newark, DE on May 8. Later this month they head north to Buffalo and Albany. In addition, they just announced they are opening for Dave Matthews collaborator Tim Reynolds at Sullivan Hall in New York City on June 4.

The band lives in Brooklyn, NY, and rocks like the Foo Fighters, Weezer, and Fountains of Wayne. Where does the name come from? According to their bio, they all grew up in the suburbs where nothing ever happened, and Telemundo and Univision were their escape to the more dramatic and colorful world of The Spanish Channel.

Coincidentally, their song “War of the Worlds” was an imagined one-on-one conversation with Osama bin Laden. It’s kind of eerie to hear it now, and incidentally has one of the catchiest hooks about Osama you’re ever likely to hear.

Dear Osama, what’s going on?
Did you think I would still be here to write this song?
Hey Osama, where are you?
I’m in Brooklyn, off Atlantic if you’re ever passing through.
So tell me, was it worth it, spending the best years of your life?
Was it worth it, all the Infidels
It must be disappointing that you couldn’t destroy everything in sight

Other songs on Brooklyn, Off Atlantic that stood out to me:

Trivia Night: The new theme song for bar triva fans. I’ve been part of a bar triva team for a decade and this song absolutely nails it.

October Moon: With “Everything’s Gone” one of just two slower ballads on the CD and this one really highlights Jaime Garamella’s voice.

Be a Dog: “I’ll probably live only 10 more years, but they’ll be good ones.” You’ll be singing along before you’re twenty seconds into this song.

Mergers & Acquisitions: Bruce Hordon’s drums drive a song with classic pop hooks.

Doors at 7:30pm, and the show starts at 8:00pm. $5 cover.

FTC Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above might be “affiliate links," meaning if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission. We may have also received a free copy of the book, CD or DVD or product that's being reviewed. Finally, promoters may have have given the writer free admission to the play, concert or other event that was previewed or reviewed (duh!).

Categories: Philadelphia Music