Whales and Cops

HEAR
Whales and Cops
What: Ex-Man Man bassist and drummer form their own band. Wild and crazy yet ever so pretty.
Why: It’s fun and slightly dangerous, like petting a ferret without the stink and the sharp teeth.
When: Fri. Doors open at 8 p.m.
Where: Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave. (215-739-9684). - Daily Candy

It was Friday night and Johnny Brenda’s was bustling on all floors. While some opted to stay downstairs for a game of pool, the real activity was on the second floor. It was the CD release party for local band, Illuminea and all their fans turned out to support them.

The band was formerly called Illumina; however, after a discovery that two overseas bands shared the moniker, the band added the extra vowel. The new band identity came at just the right time—that is, in time for the release of their second album, Out of Our Mouths. The CD was released on August 21 on High Two Records.

Back to the CD release show. The show started late, opening with Whales and Cops and a very mediocre performance. The band played to a somewhat static crowd; however a few fans found themselves dancing and singing along up front.

Next up were The Swimmers. The local indie-pop quintet seems to have their foot in the local music scene, so anticipation was high for this performance. The first song had a pretty good beat, but after several minutes, longing set in for a different band. Maybe it was the set list or maybe it was an off night. Whatever it was, I couldn’t see what all the hype was about with this band. The performance wasn’t awful—the band can keep a pretty decent beat—but they just didn’t live up to all the great things I’ve heard about them. However, by the end of the set, they had again caught my attention. The band brought up the three ladies from Illuminea on stage and had them participate in their last song, which had people dancing along.

Then it was time for the main event, Illuminea. The seven-piece band packed themselves, as well as all their instruments, onto the stage. As they began to play, my mind continually wandered back and forth, as the vocalists fluctuated. At first, it was hard to adjust to the idea that there wasn’t a uniform vocalist; however, it’s also another distinguishing (and refreshing) feature that adds to the band’s appeal.

The CD, Out of Our Mouths opens with “In Retrospect.” Jen Appel takes over on vocals, with a voice that can be both melodious and commanding at the same time. Just like their stage performance, the CD offers a sampling of instruments and vocalists, giving each song a complete new outlook. Other stand out tracks include “Homewrecker,” “Sleep It Off,” and “I Can’t Wait.”

Just like their unconventional seven-piece band, Illuminea broke the mold by using not only your standard instruments (i.e. guitar, drums, keyboards), but also with incorporating the use of things like a wooden wind chime and a whistle into the music.

Overall, the band put on a pretty decent show and the crowd responded well. If you’re interested in checking out their show, make sure you visit their Myspace page. - campusphilly.com (Brittany Sturges, Temple '08)