• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Crushing Krisis

Comic Books, Drag Race, & Life in New Zealand

  • DC Guides
    • DC Events
    • DC New 52
    • DC Rebirth
    • Batman Guide
    • The Sandman Universe
  • Marvel Guides
    • Marvel Events
    • Captain America Guide
    • Iron Man Guide
    • Spider-Man Guide (1963-2018)
    • Spider-Man Guide (2018-Present)
    • Thor Guide
    • X-Men Reading Order
  • Indie & Licensed Comics
    • Spawn
    • Star Wars Guide
      • Expanded Universe Comics (2015 – present)
      • Legends Comics (1977 – 2014)
    • Valiant Guides
  • Drag
    • Canada’s Drag Race
    • Drag Race Belgique
    • Drag Race Down Under
    • Drag Race Sverige (Sweden)
    • Drag Race France
    • Drag Race Philippines
    • Dragula
    • RuPaul’s Drag Race
    • RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars
  • Contact!
You are here: Home / Personal / off-topics / music / philly music / Philly Music Monday: Joshua Popejoy

Philly Music Monday: Joshua Popejoy

October 25, 2010 by krisis

A few weeks ago I had the chance to write a guide to Philly’s best songwriters for the new CBS Local website.

One of the songwriters on my list was Joshua Popejoy, an acoustic rocker who emerged from the Dave Matthews mold but no longer fits within it.

I wouldn’t bring Dave up, except the quickest way to orient you to what Joshua is is to explain what he isn’t. Yes, he’s got the acoustic aerobics, the big wailing chorus vocals, and even a full time string player in cellist Andrea Weber. He even plays some Dave covers. But his music gets to a place that a jam mentality usually doesn’t touch. It’s personal. It can be succinct. It’s cutting – sometimes scathing.

And it’s freaking catchy. Sample Till Then I”ll Wait (Live at Buckets).

From the moment I pitched my article I struggled with including Josh on the list. Josh is a friend of mine. That alone wouldn’t be a disqualifier, since I’m friends with a ton of local musicians, but I’ve also played shows with him and written promo material for him.

Probably not kosher I thought, so I went on compiling my list without him.

Joshua didn’t start out a friend, bill-sharer, or client. I originally met him as the host of the open mic at Buckets in East Falls. We weren’t fast friends in the bar environment, too busy drinking and banging out songs to try to catch the attention of the crowd.

It wasn’t until later, when I was hosting an open mic in a cafe, that I truly became a fan of Joshua’s. With the drown-out-the-crowd mentality by the wayside I was actually listening to his songs for the first time, and realizing just how many of them I was a fan of. Suddenly I was the one yelling out requests and singing harmony from the crowd.

Which brings me back to my list. Every time I tried to find another radio-ready singer-songwriter playing acoustic rock with aggressive acoustic guitars, carefully crafted lyrics, killer hooks, and fierce full band arrangements I came up empty. Why? Because in Philly Songwriter Jeopardy “Who is Joshua Popejoy?” is the definitive question to that answer.

After discarding three other potential acoustic rockers to fill that spot I called my contact at CBS to make sure including him was on the up and up, and then Joshua went on the list.

After the Ash

After the Ash, released 10/16/2010.

Last weekend E and I attended the CD release for Joshua’s After the Ash. He and his band were fantastic and surprisingly funky with bassist Gene Orlando and guitar from Jon Glaubitz – witness their shocking cover of Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi” (that’s my trademark yelp at :54).

While the show was rock, the accompanying disc is stripped-down. Ash presents a cycle of songs in the order they were written, solo and acoustic – arranged and recorded DIY-style by Josh with the exception of some of the vocals, plus one track each of mandolin and cello.

I’ve grown accustomed to the band versions of this octet of tunes, but the stripped down acoustic takes on Ash destroy me. They are the Joshua Popejoy I fell in love with in a coffee shop. I’ll still love him when he is filling a room with sound playing with his amazing band, but when it comes to turning on a new listener I’ll play a song from After the Ash, every time.

Both After the Ash and Joshua’s debut EP Runway Lights are available from JoshuaPopejoy.com. You can Like Joshua on FB, but the best way to keep up with him is his mailing list – which offers occasional pithy messages and free downloads. For tons of free music from Joshua, check out his archive of live shows on Archive.org.

Filed Under: philly music

Previous Post: « What I Tweeted, 2010-10-25 Edition
Next Post: In Review: Phoenix, Jenny and Johnny, & Wavves @ The Tower »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Joshua Popejoy says

    October 25, 2010 at 12:09 pm

    peter-

    thank you so much for the kind words! I sweated many months mixing this record, and it’s really humbling to hear such high praise from someone who listens/critiques as much music as you do.

    thanks again

Trackbacks

  1. Crushing Krisis › 2010 Recommended Albums Roundup says:
    February 16, 2011 at 11:05 pm

    […] Joshua Popejoy – After the Ash. An solo indie songwriter record done right; hint: start with incredible songs. (full review) […]

Primary Sidebar


Support Crushing Krisis on Patreon
Support CK
on Patreon


Follow me on BlueSky Follow me on Twitter Contact me Watch me on Youtube Subscribe to the CK RSS Feed

About CK

About Crushing Krisis
About My Music
About Your Author
Blog Archive
Comics Blogs Only
Contact Krisis
Terms & Conditions

Crushing Comics

Marvel Comics

Marvel Events Guide

Spider-Man Guide

DC Comics

  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - DC Universe Events Omnibus Mapping 2025Every Missing DC Universe Event Omnibus, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing DC Universe Event omnibus mapping from DC Comics to prepare for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - DC Villains Joker Omnibus MappingEvery Missing DC Villains Omnibus – Joker, Lex Luthor, Doomsday, & More, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Missing DC Villains omnibus mapping - Joker, Doomsday, Lex Luthor, & more! - for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - DC Solo Heroes Q to Z The Spectre Omnibus MappingEvery Missing Question, Zatanna, Spectre Omnibus & More, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Missing DC Hero Q-Z omnibus mapping - Question, Spectre, Zatana, & more - for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - DC Solo Heroes F to P Martian Manhunter Omnibus MappingEvery Missing Firestorm, Jonah Hex, Martian Manhunter Omnibus & More, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Missing DC Hero F-P omnibus mapping - Firestorm, Jonah Hex, Martian Manhunter, & more - for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - DC Solo Heroes A to E Doctor Fate Omnibus MappingEvery Missing Blue Beetle, Doctor Fate, Deathstroke Omnibus & More, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Missing DC Hero A-E omnibus mapping - Blue Beetle, Doctor Fate, Deathstroke, & more - for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - Superman Family Supergirl Omnibus MappingEvery Missing Superman Family Omnibus, Mapped – Superboy, Supergirl, & More! | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing Superman Family omnibus mapping - including Supergirl & Superboy - from DC Comics for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - Superman Omnibus MappingEvery Missing Superman Omnibus, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing Superman omnibus mapping from DC Comics to prepare for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Every Missing Suicide Squad Omnibus, Mapped – plus, other DC Teams! | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing Suicide Squad omnibus - plus other DC teams - mapping from DC Comics for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - Teen Titans Omnibus Mapping 2025Every Missing Teen Titans Omnibus, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing Teen Titans omnibus mapping (plus Young Justice) from DC Comics to prepare for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - Shazam Omnibus Mapping 2025Every Missing Shazam Omnibus, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing Shazam omnibus mapping from DC Comics to prepare for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - Legion of Super-Heroes Omnibus Mapping 2025Every Missing Legion of Super-Heroes Omnibus, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing Legion of Super-Heroes omnibus mapping from DC Comics to prepare for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - Green Lantern Omnibus Mapping 2025Every Missing Green Lantern Omnibus, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing Green Lantern omnibus mapping from DC Comics to prepare for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - Justice Society Omnibus Mapping 2025Every Missing Justice Society Omnibus, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing Justice Society omnibus mapping from DC Comics to prepare for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - Justice League Omnibus Mapping 2025Every Missing Justice League Omnibus, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing Justice League omnibus mapping from DC Comics - plus Trinity team-ups! - for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]

Content Copyright ©2000-2023 Krisis Productions

Crushing Krisis participates in affiliate programs including (but not limited to): Amazon Services LLC Associates Program (in the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain), eBay Partner Network, and iTunes Affiliate Program. If you make a qualifying purchase through an affiliate link I may receive a commission.