If you were in Philly in the late 90s – early aughts and went to First Friday back when it was almost entirely in old city, you probably have seen the Beach Balls playing on the street. They were the three piece band doing acoustic guitar and cello versions of classic rock songs with a classical trained Opera singer. The band was Robert Fanelli (Split Aura, Wünderband, Action Plus, Shellito) on guitar; Ed Groff on Cello and OperaJames Colabelli (RIP) lead vocals. Derek Ayers (Split Aura, Action Plus) also added persussion on the cd) Check out their cd Ball Sounds with very unique versions of very well know songs.
“Action Plus!” was a Philadelphia band active from 1998-1999. They were often aligned musically with Pavement in the press and described as an “angular indie pop band”. They were featured in the Philadelphia Weekly’s fashion makeover issue, and in this issue the band was compared to the male cast of “Dawson’s Creek” by a jealous music journalist who’s vindictive snarkiness in print was not uncommon in the local alternative music press of the time.
Their members, over the duration of the band’s existence, included Jeff Tanner (lead guitar) and Simon Nagle (drums) of the Photon Band, Mike Shellito (bass, drums) of Shellito, Chris Kubicek (bass)of Baby Flamehead and Gimme, and Robert Fanelli (vocals, rhythm guitar, songwriting) of Wunderband and The Beach Balls.
The band released one EP entitled “Cinco de Five-O” and played about a dozen live shows at venues such as The Khyber and The North Star Bar, usually opening for bigger local acts such as KeN and Latimer.
Self titled cd by Mid to late 90’s Power Pop band Wünderband with Derek Ayers – Drums & Vocals, Robert Fanelli – Bass & Vocals, and Kyle Kelso -Guitar &…
Sounds from Psychedelphia is a ten track, 55 minute sonic excursion into the distorted, frenetic Philadelphia underground music scene. Recorded entirely at Philadelphia’s Deep Space Recording Company, the compilation took…
Hobart was Shane Dilworth, Benjamin Mac, Gary Plowman and Noel B. Shane was Bryan Dilworth’s (Booking Agent & Compulsiv records) brother. Gary and Ben came up to Philly from Columbia…
To the best of my knowledge all of the music links are for recordings that are out of print but if you enjoy what you hear, buy other records and support the artist(s) and/or labels: if you don't approve of having your material displayed and would like to have it down...
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