Philadelphia Grand Jury - Hope is For Hopers

Philadelphia Grand Jury are a forced to be reckoned with on the indie-rock scene right now. They kick-started 2009 with summer appearances at the Big Day Out and Laneway festivals and their debut EP Going To The Casino was released to the nation in July. A huge amount of Triple J airplay later, as well as being downloaded and passed between common folk an absolute shitload, a place on Unearthed tour and quite a few months on the road touring with the likes of Manchester Orchestra, Yves Klein Blue and Bluejuice; it’s fair to say there is no rest for the Philly Jays.

Their debut album Hope is for Hopers is packed with crazy, catchy and charismatic tunes and an in your face 60s punk attitude.

Although some of the songs are a little too instantly familiar, with highly quotable lyrics, the Philly Jay’s sure have nailed down their energetic style. These guys make party songs. The kind that stick in your head and trash the place.

So change your underwear, grab a beer and prepare your eardrums for the opener and highpoint of the record, ‘Ready to Roll’. With its obscure guitar sounds and relentless beat, this song will get your juices flowing. Radio favourite ‘Going To The Casino (Tomorrow Night)’ is a hard rocking tune that sums up the manic nature of this band.

I recommend you buy, beg or steal ‘Hope is for Hopers’, grab a crowbar and trash your place. Or better yet, catch The Philly Jays on the road until December for their Hope is For Hopers album launch tour or wait for them to explode into the festival season 2010.

- Tess Robinson