toy soldiers

the theme of our show on june 16th is PRIORITIES. the goal: you...

Tue, 15 May 2012 19:51:34 -0400

the theme of our show on june 16th is PRIORITIES. the goal: you leave a better person. get ‘em straight! if you see these around town snap a photo and tag us, you can be rewarded! (Taken with instagram)

this guys got his priorities straight! (Taken with instagram)

Wed, 09 May 2012 19:48:19 -0400

this guys got his priorities straight! (Taken with instagram)

philly-indie: TOY SOLDIERS - TELL THE TELLER EP(click photo to...

Wed, 09 May 2012 11:49:01 -0400

philly-indie:

TOY SOLDIERS - TELL THE TELLER EP(click photo to listen)

The buzz around the band Toy Soldiers has been gaining momentum in underground circles in Philadelphia for a few years now. Being the total space-case I can be, this was one of those bands I had “been meaning to check out” for a while. Luckily, I came across their newest EP while scrolling through Bandcamp and remembered to sit down and have a listen. I’m happy to say, Toy Soldiers “Tell the Teller” does not disappoint, these guys are indeed worthy of the buzz. “Tell the Teller” features music that is both soulful and bluesy with an added dash of rock-a-billy flair. The music is beautifully arranged and the use of less tradtional instruments like the organ add a new complexitity to their songs that one does not often hear in today’s rock and country genres.

The song that first drew me (admittedly because it was the first on the EP, duh) was the title track for the EP, Tell the Teller. I wanted to slick my hair back and alternate between trying to swing dance and moshing. It’s the kind of song that would certainly lure your friends on to the dance floor to stomp their feet and clap along in time with beat. However, for the most part, “Tell the Teller” (the EP, to clarify) tends to have a more serious blues vibe. The other tracks would better compliment a smoke, a shot of whiskey and a perhaps a swaying slow dance instead of a party atmosphere. Yet, this ability to stay true to a unique blues/rock sound while offerings songs for different moods and
situations should earn Toy Soldiers a listen. Their versatility will keep you from getting bored and saves them from the pitfall of having songs that “all sound the same.”

Finally, it is notable to point out that this record was produced by Bill Moriarity, well known for his work on Dr. Dog’s esteemed albums “Easy Beat” and “Be The Void.” Toy Soldiers definitely fit the vibe of both of those albums and would generally be enjoyed by fans of both. Whether you feel like strapping on your best suspenders and going out with your buddies or if you feel like you’d rather sit and nurse a double whiskey, Toy Soldiers has your sound.

—A.H.

CLICK FOR TICKETS! poster design by ali wadsworth.

Thu, 03 May 2012 21:43:00 -0400

CLICK FOR TICKETS!

poster design by ali wadsworth.

ahhh! studio update. informativest.

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:08:02 -0400

ahhh! studio update. informativest.

Back in philly! JUNE 16TH. downstairs at WORLD CAFE LIVE....

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:30:22 -0400

Back in philly! JUNE 16TH. downstairs at WORLD CAFE LIVE. tickets on sale tomorrow (friday 4/13) at 10 am! ALL AGES! Get em! save a few bucks! Here’s a video by Seth Klinger taking you on the road with us this past march.

Tour Revisit: “Heart in a Mousetrap” (Live on a...

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:43:00 -0400

Tour Revisit: “Heart in a Mousetrap” (Live on a Porch in Ada, OK) 3/11/12.

Photo's: The Tale of our March Tour

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:41:46 -0400

Photo's: The Tale of our March Tour:

A set of photo’s by Seth Klinger tells the story of our journey all over the U.S. in March.

we’re on the road all of this month! 4 days in. feeling...

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 17:53:31 -0500

we’re on the road all of this month! 4 days in. feeling good. on the way to SXSW, hitting 22 cities. here’s where we’re gonna be and when. also link to all dates here. c’mon down! well give you a reeaaalll goooood tiiiiime.

bandcamphunter: “Post 1001 and it’s rock and roll...

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:27:50 -0500

bandcamphunter:

“Post 1001 and it’s rock and roll with a great slather of blues and a smatter of country, howling guitars, gorgeous melodies, an organ or two and some of the catchiest songwriting I’ve heard this year- Toy Soldiers are electrifyingly awesome! H x”

Tell the Teller EP - Toy Soldiers

&amp;amp;lt;a href=”http://ohnotoysoldiers.bandcamp.com/album/tell-the-teller-ep” _mce_href=”http://ohnotoysoldiers.bandcamp.com/album/tell-the-teller-ep”&amp;amp;gt;Tell the Teller EP by Toy Soldiers&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

Here we are! One of the three new tracks that we’ve been...

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:21:59 -0500

Here we are! One of the three new tracks that we’ve been working on in the studio. It’s called “Maybe”. New record preview EP out early next week with the rest of the new ones. stay tuned!

Video: Studio Update #3.

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:25:56 -0500

Video: Studio Update #3.

Studio Update #1.

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:24:00 -0500

Studio Update #1.

In the Studio: Day One“Feel it Out” Yesterday was...

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:11:06 -0500

In the Studio: Day One
“Feel it Out”

Yesterday was the introductory session in the making of our new record. We are working with engineer/producer Bill Moriarty at his new space in East Falls. Bill has made some of our favorite Philly records.
The day was mostly about “feeling it out”, not getting attached to any one idea and seeing how everyone works together. We focused on 4 songs. Did a bunch of takes, then at the end of the day decided which were the days best and marked them as “greatest step in the right direction” or “best so far buy maybe could be better”.
Now, we’re gonna sleep on it, but all in all a good start.
We’re real excited about this one, got a huge bag of songs we’re gonna try out and hope to have some out to the world by next month before our March tour.

Three sessions next week. More soon as we get into the thick of it. Just wanted to say hey, we’re making a new record!

Valentine’s Day Lover’s Ball with Franks and Deans....

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:13:14 -0500

Valentine’s Day Lover’s Ball with Franks and Deans. Ron and Bill singing the songs of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, also featuring performances by Ms. Alison Wadsworth. Hosted by man about town and all around funny guy, Mr. Jonas Oesterle. This is going to be a event full of class, swaying and swooning and will most likely to spooning with your newfound love. GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

On the Way: Making a New Record, Winter Shows, March Tour

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:35:49 -0500

Happy holidays everyone! Hope you’re all feeling the sugar and spice. Before we all get sidetracked with wrapping/unwrapping gifts, honey-glazed ham and getting drunk on white russians and sleeping beneath the tree want to give a little update on what’s going down in the next few months:

- New Album!?!?!: In mid-January, we will be entering the studio with engineer/producer, Bill Moriarty who has made some of Philly’s finest and some of our favorite records in recent years (Dr. Dog, Man Man, Josh Ritter to name a few). We’re really excited to make this one. We finished 14 new demo’s this past weekend, with more on the way. In a way, this is going to be like our first record all over again and we’re going to post video updates from the studio each week as part of the “Lazy Sunday” video series.

- Winter shows: We are great liars when it comes to taking “time off” from shows. We can’t seem to get away. That being said, got a handful of winter dates to debut some new record tracks and keep the machine oiled. We will be having a record fundraiser show on January 14th at Lancaster Dispensing Co. February 1st we’ll be back in NYC at the Bowery Electric (8pm set) and then Doylestown on February 7th at Maxwell’s on Main as part of the “Craft Culture” event series.

- March Tour: We will be all over the country in March. Starting with dates in VT and NY. Then heading to SXSW with a three week southern tour surrounding that. You can see updated list of shows here. OH, KY, MO, OK, TX, LA, TN, NC and VA are all on the horizon, and more!

Once again happy holidays to all and keep spreading the word!

Thanks much and love,

Toy Soldiers

New Song: “Heart in A Mousetrap” Happy Sunday! and...

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 16:28:00 -0500

New Song: “Heart in A Mousetrap” Happy Sunday! and Happy Holidays. Here’s a new song that will be on our forthcoming record, which we finished demos for this past weekend! Beware of bad trips.

an ode to a great year past, and a even better one to come

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:34:07 -0500

The past year has been a whirlwind. Starting in last October when Toy Soldiers (as it once was) basically crumbled before me, to getting all down and out, hanging on and eventually finding a whole new band of really incredible musicians and people that really have defined this band as it was always meant to be. Shit really does work out if you are willing to keep on. From our first show at last years CMJ in Brooklyn, to making the “Get Through the Time” EP, touring the south and making “Midweek Mountain Getaway” in Nashville, to sharing the stage with Dr. Dog and Justin Townes Earle at the first ever WHYY Connections festival, having a one year anniversary of the new lineup at Bloktoberfest with The Walkmen, to wrapping up the year this past week with a sold-out show with J. Roddy Walston and The Business and Johnny Brenda’s with Jesse Malin, and all the mishaps, madness and ridiculous good times in between… things are finally in the right place. And while, 2011 was the best year to date, 2012 is going to be even more so. We’ve got some amazing record plans that we’ll spill soon as well as a month-long March tour with dates TBA soon, as well as our first SXSW adventure.

We have come across some really great people that have showed such amazing support for what it is we do and we can’t thank you nearly enough for everything. From lending an ear, to dancing your ass off at a show to sharing a song with friends and family. You’re all making this even more lovable.

All that being said, thank you all times a million, everyone have safe and happy holidays, and we’ll be back and better than ever for 2012 (in case the world does in fact end)

wooooohooooooo

Since we got a little too lazy/busy and missed last weeks...

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 12:37:32 -0500

Since we got a little too lazy/busy and missed last weeks episode of “Lazy Sunday with Toy Soldiers”, here’s a new video one day early. This is “Throw Me Down” from last weekends show at Kung Fu Necktie with J. Roddy Walston and The Business. Share it!

TONIGHT!

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:07:36 -0500

TONIGHT!