Live from the City of Brotherly Love

Live from the City of Brotherly Love, the first concert album from Philadelphia-based amiable and breezy retro-pop folk-rockers Good Old War, was captured during the trio's 2012 tour in support of their excellent Come Back as Rain LP, so it should come as no surprise that the set list relies heavily on fresh fan favorites like "Amazing Eyes," "Better Weather," and "Can't Go Home." That said, most of the highlights arrive via well-worn cuts like the spirited opener "Window," the bluesy "Weak Man," and the pint-swinging waltz and effective closer "We've Come a Long Way." Recorded in front of an adoring sold-out crowd at Union Transfer, the group's reputation as a stellar live act precedes them, and they do little in the way of tarnishing that status by tearing through a dynamic 11-song set that highlights both their musical prowess and obvious gift for crafting the kinds of songs that make audiences feel less like hand stamps and ticket stubs and more like they're part of the circus. ~ James Christopher Monger