I’m a Code-iac

Last night, I was ramming around New York City for the first time ever. (Caveat: I was in Queens a couple of years ago with a friend of mine visiting her grandmother, but we went to Queens, visited gram for a few hours, and then drove back to Philly. We didn’t go into the city, so I’m not counting that time.) Manhattan to be more specific.

The reason for my big city adventure? What other reason could there be? THE CODES were playing at the Knitting Factory!

Yeah yeah…you’ve read all about The Codes here at TFKoP. You may have even used the handy-dandy link I’ve provided for you on your right to link to their website. I don’t really need to re-iterate that they are friends of mine, and have a really great band.

Last night was their second time performing at the Knitting Factory. The room they played in was deep in the basement of this old building. Deep enough that there wasn’t even cell phone service. They were the second of 4 bands playing, and there were a lot people there to see them.

Their sound, to me, is sort of like Buffalo Tom. You remember them, right? **waits patiently for everyone to say “yes we do”** A rock sound with an alternative bend to it. Together since last summer, they spent 3 months practicing their all-original songs, and since October, have begun to appear at clubs or parties as their name slowly makes its way into the pulse of the Philadelphia (and I guess NYC) music scene.

Last night’s show was a 9-song set, and they actually did a cover (It’s a Shame About Ray) for the first time live. Some of the other songs in the set included: Inspiration (one of my personal faves); Brain Game; Honor Plan; Push Button Nose; Cara; Two Tone Monkey; and Houseboat. There were a couple of more they played, but I couldn’t recall them this morning, the aftereffects of far too many Yuengling Lager drafts imbibed on a work night.

We got back to Philly around 1:30am. It wasn’t easy getting up this morning, but my place in keeping the US economy going required me to go to work. And you know me…I don’t want to be responsible for wrecking the economy.

The Codes will next appear at the Khyber Pass in Philadelphia on Tuesday, February 6. I hope they finally do that cover of “Freebird” I’ve been asking for.

The Codes

You know that Hall and Oates are from Philadelphia. You know that Joan Jett is from Philly also. I’m sure you’ve heard of Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff…..also from Philly. And for those of you who remember The Hooters brief run at musical stardom, they too were from Philly. I’m now letting you know about the next big musical act that will be hitting the national music scene from Philadelphia: The Codes.

I’m biased a bit because I’ve worked with JJ (rhythm guitar) for over a year, and I know Ian (vocals, guitar) from my disc golf endeavors. But the band is really good. Their sound is a mix of rock and alternative, bringing to mind (to me) Buffalo Tom and early Wilco. They are great guys, and the band is really good.

I’m telling you all of this now because when they hit it big, I want all of you to know that I knew them before you did! Ha ha!

They formed in July of 2006, when JJ (drums at the time) and Ian (guitar) left another band they were part of in order to pursue a sound that they found to be more of their style than the band they were in. With Ian on guitar, and JJ moving to rhythm guitar, they recruited friend Jay to pick up the bass, and found Rennie to take over on the skins. Working diligently in the confines of Ian’s South Philly apartment, they began molding Ian’s guitar-based songs into a group sound, and were rapidly getting ready to start playing some live shows. But, they lacked a name. They put out a call to their friends to help them come up with a name for the band. I had my input: Dos Entendres; Flak Jacket; How To Talk Yankee; Pyroclastic Flow; Joe Mason Is Great. All were considered (except the last one!), as were other names thrown at them by other friends before they settled on their own choice, The Codes.

They’ve been getting some stage time lately around Philly, and also did a gig at the Knitting Factory in New York, a location they’ll be visiting again on January 31, 2007. This past Tuesday, on December 19th, they played at The MRoom in Philadelphia as part of a 3-band show. Playing second of the three bands, they rocked the place. They were tight, and the crowd of about 60 people was totally into them. The set included Honor Plan, Cara, Forty-Foot Betty Joe, Nelson Rockefeller, Houseboat, and Push Button Nose, to name just a few of the tunes they rocked out that night.

Rumor is that there may be some studio time coming up soon for the band, so there's hope to be able to get them on a CD real soon. And, with stickers already available, and TShirts on the way, The Codes are set to release their musical genius on the world, and the world will be a better place for it.

If you’re in the Philly area, and have time to check them out, you can follow their show schedule on their website: thecodes.net. If you happen to live in the New York City area, be sure to swing by their show at the Knitting Factory on January 31.

Trust me when I say: Dos Entendres….er……I mean, THE CODES are gonna be wicked huge!