Katarina Underwood

Kelcey Ayer belts out the opening lines of “Hummingbird,” Local Natives’ latest album, with such impassioned honesty that one might wonder if he’ll last to the end of the set.
January 31, 2013 at 6:00 am

While Ra Ra Riot’s first two albums were decidedly baroque, its upcoming album, “Beta Love,” takes a sharp turn into the realm of the synth, à la musicians like Passion Pit and Miike Snow.
January 24, 2013 at 5:00 am

Experimental/electronic duo Crystal Castles is not typically remembered for its lyrics, so the focus put on them on their third album, “(III),” is a startling — but not unwelcome —change.
November 16, 2012 at 5:08 pm

Penn's got everything from a capella to DJs, but where's the (non–frat) rap? The "Initiative" provides.
November 8, 2012 at 5:15 am

In previous years, SPEC has brought indie rock groups to campus for its annual Fall Concert, but this year they decided to switch things up with neo–soul singer and all–in–all classy dude, Mayer Hawthorne. When Cheers Elephant, the local opening act, stepped onstage, audience members stayed cool and composed in their seats, waiting for the music to start as if waiting for a movie to play.
October 25, 2012 at 5:09 am

“Some things are better with age / some things no longer remain,” belts out Matt Johnson of indie pop duo Matt & Kim on “Now,” a song from their newest album.
October 7, 2012 at 2:09 pm

Two years after a moderately successful third album, indie rock group Band of Horses have released their fourth, “Mirage Rock.” Fans still yearning for the plaintive and personal melodies that defined the group’s debut, “Everything All the Time,” will be disappointed by this release, which lacks tenderness and memorability.
September 28, 2012 at 12:55 pm

Philly has a long history of concert venue start–u­ps
September 27, 2012 at 5:31 am

It didn’t seem possible for The xx to become more minimalist, but they may have succeeded in doing just that on their sophomore album, “Coexist.” The vocals of Oliver Sim and Romy Madley Croft have not lost their smooth and dreamy qualities, but instead of each song packing its own unique punch as they did on “xx,” the songs run in a nearly unchanging stream, both lyrically and musically, the sounds melting together in an indiscernible mix.
September 18, 2012 at 9:46 pm