Jack Firneno, the Wire
For this band of brothers, the key to their success has been their ability to make friends wherever they go.
“That’s the real important part, just getting out and meeting new people. That’s one of the biggest rewards,” said Logan Theirjung, singer and guitarist for The Burgeoning.
The band, a dreamy, indie-rock outfit based out of Bensalem, plays regularly at prominent venues in Philadelphia and New York, including a handful of shows this month as they return to the studio to record the followup to their 2014 EP, Love Alchemy, Life Algorithm
Formed by Logan and his brother, bassist Alex, the band kicked off in 2011. Just two years later, they got the opportunity to play a three-day festival in North Carolina.
It was a pivotal moment for the young band.
“My favorite moment was when we started playing. We started playing, and within thirty seconds people just swarmed the stage,” recalled Logan.
For an unknown group among hundreds of others on three stages that weekend, he said, it was a huge boost: “It made us more aware that we were making a sound that was unique.”
But just as encouraging was the crowd itself, noted Alex: “People were just a lot more friendly down there. You might not know anyone, but they’re just like, ‘Hey, how’s it going?’ “
It’s a sense of Southern hospitality The Burgeoning managed to foster even as far north as Manhattan. The band played the prominent Rockwood Music Hall a few weeks ago, just one of the handful of venues they play when they make it up that way.
New York’s a long way from North Carolina, but, said Alex, they’re able to meet new people nearly as easily there. “The first time we went up, we met Chris Baron from the Spin Doctors. Last time, we met this guy from Germany who really dug us.”
He compared the Big Apple to Philly, just with more people out and about: “You can walk by people on the street and be like, ‘Hey check out the music.’ You can round up ten people in a half-hour and get them in.”
Of course, it’s not always as simple as that — if a band takes too long to set up or plays a weak first song, the crowd can disappear pretty quickly.
But word can spread just as fast, said Alex: “If you start strong and get their attention, it can fill up quickly and you’re playing to a packed room.”
Unfortunately, the band doesn’t get to play as much in their hometown — Alex cites the lack of all-ages and similar venues, but is always looking for a place — but they’re making a name for themselves in nearby Philadelphia.
The group started out playing venues like the Grape Room in Manayunk and The Legendary Dobb’s on South Street. As the lineup solidified to include Brandon Bradley on drums and lead guitarist Mark Menkevich, The Burgeoning graduated to larger venues. To date, they’ve played the TLA three times, and their show on April 9 at Milkboy in Center City is sponsored by WXPN’s The Key and Communion Records.
“We’ve been getting good feedback, pretty much the thing we hear is, ‘We want more,’ “ said Alex. “So that’s what we’re trying to do right now: just getting out to new places where we can share our music to new people.”
While the Love Alchemy, Life Algorithm EP was a strong opening shot, garnering the attention of The Key and a handful of local college stations and earning the band a solid fanbase, Alex said the new offering will be more radio-friendly: “It’s like indie-alternative, but definitely pop: More upbeat and more danceable.”
The band has about five songs picked out, and will begin recording in a few weeks. People who’ve come out to shows recently have probably heard a few of the new tracks already, which to Alex is almost more important than having them on record.
“You can write a song that’s personal to you, but you never know how someone else will get that song. People have different reactions. It could get them through a bad day or reinforce a good one.” he explained. “That’s cool to see, to just cross somebody’s path and meet a new individual.”
The Burgeoning is playing at Milkboy, 1100 Chestnut St. in Philadelphia, on April 9 and Bourbon & Branch, 705 N. 2nd St. in Philadelphia, on April 23. For information, visit www.theburgeoning.com.
