MAD Dragon artists, Phila. locals to rock Mandell
Chris Sannino
Issue date: 2/6/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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Recently, MAD Dragon won the 2008 Independent Music Award's "Best College Record Label of the Year" for the second year running thanks to the self-titled release by MAD Dragon artist The Redwalls.
Established in 2003, MAD Dragon Records is completely student operated along with its subsidiaries DraKo Booking, MaDKo Concerts, MAD Dragon Publishing, and MADFire Music Video Productions. The label is housed within Drexel's Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design and is the first college record label in the country to obtain national distribution through Ryko/Warner.
Headlining the MAD Dragon Concert is Delaware based indie-pop group The Spinto Band. Signed to Park the Van Records (Dr. Dog, The High Strung), The Spinto Band has played at major European festivals and worked with award-winning producers, Dave Trumfio (Wilco, Granddaddy) and Tchad Blake (Pearl Jam, Paul Simon, Phish). The band continues to tour globally promoting their latest album "Moonwink."
Also on the bill, local hip-hop/bluegrass band Slo-Mo (Phidelity) features steel guitarist Mike Brenner and the words and rhymes of emcee Mic Wrecka. Another rising Philadelphia star, Illinois (+1 Records) is based out of nearby Bucks County and delivers a repertoire influenced by music from The Monkees to old school hip-hop. They have recently been featured in Spin and The College Media Journal who said the band is "catchy as hell."
Representing MAD Dragon are Hoots & Hellmouth and The Swimmers. Hoots & Hellmouth, whose self-titled album won Drexel the 2007 "Best College Record Label of the Year" award, bring their unique bluegrass sound to the Mandell stage. The band is currently busy working on their follow-up album produced by Bill Moriarty (Dr. Dog, Man Man) and is set to release this coming May. The Swimmers wield their distinct brand of indie pop and have been named one of "Eight Bands to Watch" in 2008 by the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Similar to last year, the show will broadcast live on WKDU 91.7 FM, Drexel's student-run radio station. The show will also be taped for a later broadcast on Drexel's DUTV which is distributed throughout the Philadelphia area by Comcast. The MAD Dragon Concert begins at 7 p.m. in the Mandell Theater. Admission is free to all Drexel students and $10 to the general public.
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