PHOTOS BY JAMES HAMILTON
Filing on stage like an army ready for battle, the seven friends that compose the Most Serene Republic descended upon the North Star Bar last night (Dec. 12). An eclectic group of Philly hipsters and college kids met the Toronto-based collective's artistic melodies with bliss and fervor, while TMSR accented the evening with their exuberant chamber pop prowess.
Frontman Adrian Jewett took command with his uncultivated stage antics, throwing his legs up in the air and backpedaling his way through the band's current LP, Population. And his undying energy was vivid, soaking through the rest of his bandmates' sincere playfulness on tunes such as "Why So Looking Back" and "Sherry and Her Butterfly Net." A mix of Emma Ditchburn's lilting, ethereal vocals and Jewett's high-pitched offerings, joined with the striking versatility of the instrumentals bestowed upon the sea of tranquil smiles and certainly left a literal feeling of inclusion in a Most Serene Republic. Bonus for Philly fans; a cover of Neil Young's "Philadelphia."
We asked: The Most Serene Republic draws its name from the period of history in Venice considered "The Most Serene Republic of Venice" during the time of the Doges. If you were to name your band after a period of history, which would it be and why?
Name: Amanda Cottone
Age: 24
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Occupation: Herpetologist
"I would like to be the Black Plague so I could infect millions in a bad way… like clowns."
Name: Rohan Chadha
Age: 25
Hometown: Princeton, NJ
Occupation: Chef
"Knights of Templar because they were the righteous vindicators of
justice and we would be the righteous vindicators of justice."
Name: Cathy Cavella
Age: 35
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Paralegal/musician
"The Age of Enlightenment
because it is my favorite period due the amazing collection of people
who were coming up with such amazing ideas."
Name: Tyler Mintz
Age: 24
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Occupation: Graphic designer
"I would name my band after
the Victorian Era in America because it was very proper and my music
would be far from proper so it would be ironic."
Name: Dana Ecker
Age: 21
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Occupation: Student
"I would pick early 20th century
America, specifically in Greenwich Village during the time of the first
Bohemian era because I just wrote a paper on it."
Name: Kristen Evans
Age: 22
Hometown: Mansfield, PA
Occupation: Administrative coordinator at Franklin & Marshall College
"The Pleistocene, an era with dinosaurs because I wouldn't be ashamed to be in a band of that name."
Name: Genica Breitenbeck
Age: 24
Hometown: Mansfield, PA
Occupation: Unemployed
"The Reagan years because we're facing such difficulties now because of them."
Name: Dave Painter
Age: 24
Hometown: Wilmington, DE
Occupation: Manager at a Brew Ha Ha! coffee shop
"The Byzantine Empire era because that would sell records."
Vocalist/guitarist Emma Ditchburn / Photo by James Hamilton
Guitarist/violinist Nick Greaves / Photo by James Hamilton
Guitarist Sean Woolven / Photo by James Hamilton
There's no 'Looking Back' for Jewett / Photo by James Hamilton
The Most Serene Republic bring their 'Battle Hymn' to Philly / Photo by James Hamilton
