Big Sound - Philadelphia Grand Jury

Philadelphia Grand Jury use a recording to deliver their between-song patter. “Hello music industry!” it shouts in an excitable stutter. The recording’s a good idea since it means we can actually make out the words, which introduce their new drummer, Calvin. He’s only been drumming with The Philly Jays for a week and is a good deal older than them, but my god is he spry. He keeps up with their energy level handily and that’s no easy feat. Bushy bearded bassist MC Bad Genius could have his blood bottled and sold as an energy drink and I would buy it. Bouncing around the stage and posing like a pro, he switches between bass, guitar and electric piano. He is a renaissance bushman. Lead singer Berkfinger hunches over the microphone – even after someone brings him a taller mic stand – as if to say, “Fuck you, diaphragm!”, while emitting his high-pitched yelps.

‘Going To The Casino (Tomorrow Night)’ may only have about four lines, but every one of them is a winner tonight. The trio slow down the pace briefly for ‘Wet Weather Holiday’ but pick it up again immediately at the song’s end. Soon after the lyrical brilliance of ‘I Don’t Want To Party (Party)’, Bad Genius jumps off the drum kit and climbs a lighting rig before leaving the stage and parting the crowd like Moses with a better beard. Meanwhile, Calvin hits the drums furiously in an epic drum solo that he somehow doesn’t keel over from a heart attack during the middle of. It’s the most rock’n’roll climax to a set I’ve seen in a good long while.

by Jody Macgregor