Pep Rally Photo credit: John Welsh
Today, The Big Takeover is pleased to premiere the music video for “Staying Alive” from Philadelphia’s retro-futuristic duo with marching band flair, Pep Rally. One in a series of singles being released by the pair, “Staying Alive,” finds frontman and multi-instrumentalist Tommy Joyner and percussionist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist Emily Roane dressed brightly in marching band inspired clothing while singing, dancing, and playing their way through their current hometown in a burst of vibrant fun.
With a tip of the hat to the original Bee Gees video and the opening scene of the classic film, Pep Rally dances down the streets and up the stairs of iconic Philly landmarks including the Italian Market, the Art Museum, and at the Phillies’ home of Citizens Bank Park. Tommy, while wearing a bass drum and red Sgt. Pepper’s inspired coat, shotguns a beer with a fan who is tailgating in the parking lot and both cheer as they finish in unison.
Primarily known for his work as head engineer and owner of MilkBoy the Studio (Zach Bryan, Meek Mill, Dave Matthews, James Taylor), its two venues, and his work as a drummer for artists like Digable Planets, Tommy is bringing his own music to the local indie scene he has helped foster over the past thirty years.
Alongside tuff girl Emily Roane, Pep Rally relies on a host of “high school band instruments” which is evident throughout their new video as electric and acoustic guitars, synths, a bass drum, and tambourine are played as the duo bops through Philadelphia. It’s not hard to imagine Pep Rally on festival stages while playing their brand of anthemic songs and bouncing around the stage while the audience sings along. Their music is joyful even when their lyrics are expressing darker things like romantic entanglements (“Roll Around”) and staying up all night partying to excess (“Clubbing On The Moon (Staring At The Sun)”). The band has been gaining momentum as their songs have been spun on Philadelphia’s WXPN and they have performed for the station’s “Free At Noon” weekly concert series.
“We’ve always loved this song, with its happy sound and its life-or-death lyrics — a lot of Pep Rally songs have that same DNA,” says Tommy. “It feels really fitting for our home in Philadelphia, and for the video we wanted to show Philly like we see it – gritty, fun, lots of heart, and a little dangerous. The video pays homage to a couple things: Saturday Night Fever, the original Bee Gees music video, and Rocky. Erik Silverson directed it beautifully and shot it with Kristian Summerer and his wife Laurie Silverson driving the dolly.”
Pep Rally will be playing live at MilkBoy on Chestnut Street on August 8th and are planning to add more shows to their calendar this summer. They will continue to release new music this year.
Pep Rally website
Pep Rally on Instagram
Pep Rally on Youtube
