Worldtown Soundsystem has perfected the art of synthesizing global music with EDM and shining the result through the singular lens of Philly soul and hip-hop; and the result is something awesomely unique and uniquely Philly. While the project has served as a platform for each member of the group to spread their individual sets of musical wings, there ain’t nothing like what happens with their powers combined, and on December 20th at Johnny Brenda’s, they presented their hometown crowd with a vibrant and unforgettable performance.
The earliest seeds of Worldtown Soundsystem were sown nearly fifteen years ago, when DJ Ben Arsenal threw an epic DJ party with his Worldtown DJs project and met drummer and producer, Gary Dann, at The Boom Room, Dann’s studio and multimedia performance space. In their earliest collaborations, Dann’s drumming brought an unmistakably human element to Arsenal’s organically warm and soulful beats, and over time, the project grew into a full band, complete with a cadre of expert players wielding live instruments and beautiful voices. Since then, they’ve recorded and toured in a variety of configurations and essentially have grown together, both personally and professionally, like a family.
At Johnny Brenda’s, Pierre Paloma kicked the night off with a DJ set, where he blended electronic beats and live hand percussion to present house music and West African rhythms. He remained on the stage to accompany local artist Seraiah Nicole, whose style and set were both traditional and modern, singing both originals and covers with a voice both powerful and tender. As she left the stage, Paloma was joined by Dann, Arsenal, and a murderer’s row of love and talent who brought festival stage-sized energy to the 250-person capacity venue to offer a show as explosive as it was intimate.
Jules Starr (bass and vocals) employed impressive technique throughout the night, including moments of Stanley Jordan-esque right hand fretboard tapping that brought a percussive layer to the low end. Dan Keller (saxophone) interwove intricate melodic and harmonic horn lines, at times engaging in a call-and-response with Zeek Burse, whose scat at times replicated the sound of an alto sax with astonishing accuracy. (Maybe it was the sparkly yellow genie pants…?) Zeek’s brother, Stephan Burse, brought his larger than life, multi-octave voice to the room and left it all on stage, while Anessa LaRae’s commanding voice and magnetic stage presence left the audience no choice but to dance and dance hard. And Fawziyyah Heart’s mesmerizing voice, performance, and essence embodied soul and sensuality. (‘Nuff said.)
As the band worked through their set, it became clear that there is something primal and eternal about their music, perhaps as reflected in the titles of some of the songs they performed: “One Night” (from their eponymous 2015 EP), “Water” (from their 2023 EP, House of Love), and “Divine Awaken.” The singers left the stage for a time, leaving the instrumentalists to engage in a semi-structured jam with Arsenal conducting. Philly rapper and producer Kow, a member of the extended Worldtown family, joined the group for a few numbers as the singers returned to the stage, while Dann kept the crowd dancing, mixing funk and disco beats beneath his cohorts’ genre-defying music. Then Nicole returned to the stage, and the assembled group brought the house down with their recent collaborative single, “Good Things Take Time.”
The energy and camaraderie of Worldtown Soundsystem were infectious, creating a sense of unity and celebration that extended throughout the crowd. Their ability to seamlessly blend diverse musical influences, while staying true to their Philly roots, serves as a testament to their artistry and their deep connection with their hometown. As they continue to explore new sonic territories and push creative boundaries, Worldtown Soundsystem remains a vital force in the Philly music scene and beyond.
Photos by Alisa Shargorodsky @earth_algorithm
