March 02, 2011

We learned last week that MAD Dragon records received seven nominations for Independent Music Awards.  Since 2007, the label has earned over 20 nominations and in 2007 and 2008 was named college label of the year for the self-titled release of Hoots & Hellmouth (2007) and the self titled release of The Redwalls (2008). In 2010, the label again has two nominations for label of the year for The Swimmers' People Are Soft and for Toy Soldiers' Whisper Down The Lane.  Other nominations range from specific song style releases, like pop song of the year or alternative country song of the year to top concert photography.  Beyond MAD Dragon's seven noms, we also take great pride in the fact that Be Frank Records, a label owned and operated by Music Industry students Fred Knittle and Matt Klein, also received a nomination for best label of the year for its release of Birdie Bush's album Everyone Will Take You In.  Nominees were selected by an impressive panel of judges including Tom Waits, Aerosmith's Joe Perry, Aimee Mann, Judy Collins, Brandi Carlisle and Suzanne Vega. All this great MAD Dragon music can be heard on the IMA's website and we need you to vote for your favorite Drexel nominees if we're to win again. So please vote, by clicking  here.

This Thursday, March 3rd is the annual MAD Dragon concert at the Mandell Theater (33rd & Chestnut St) featuring headliners Free Energy (Astralwerks). Free Energy, named by Rolling Stone as a 2010 artist to watch, will be joined on the bill by MAD Dragon recording artists The Spinning Leaves, Hezekiah Jones, Toy Soldiers and hip-hop MC Kuf Knotz. Doors to the all ages show open at 7 PM and admission to the event is $10 to the general public or free for Drexel students (with valid student ID). Click here to purchase tickets. The annual concert is made possible by Westphal's MAD Dragon Records (MDR) and student-run concert promotion's arm, MADKO Concerts.  The concert will be recorded for broadcast at a later date on DUTV, Drexel's television station that is distributed throughout Philadelphia by Comcast and FIOS. The MAD Dragon concert and the DUTV broadcast are made possible with the generous support of the Kal and Lucille Rudman Institute for Entertainment Industry Studies.