City Rain

Music – Philadelphia

City Rain is an electro-pop duo from Philadelphia consisting of Ben Runyan and Jarrett Zerrer. Taking their cues from artists as diverse as Joy Division, New Order, Depeche Mode and deadmau5, City Rain have created a unique an accessible form of music combining dancefloor beats, soulful vocals, keyboard riffs, and fuzzy, hooky guitar licks. Equal parts space-rock and acid-laced ear candy, the band sits in that comfortable zone between art-rock and liquid electro jams. The former Temple University classmates released their first LP The Running Man in 2010, and immediately began building a following playing clubs in Philadelphia and New York. Their energetic live show featured a rotating set list of album tracks and fresh material, along with spontaneous remixes and re-imaginings of their material. They even bring a punk rock vibe to the stage; frontman Ben Runyan is not afraid to engage and even accost indolent audience members, while guitarist Jarrett Zerrer obliterates the meaning of “electro-pop” with wave after wave of high-volume bombast. With the release of their video for the single I’m Gone and accompanying EP in 2011, City Rain has started receiving nationwide attention from the blogosphere and conventional media alike, recording a live concert for broadcast on Philadelphia’s WXPN 88.5 FM, while continuing to remix and release new material of their own and other up-and-coming artists. Now with plans for a national tour in 2012, City Rain is bringing their music to an even wider audience.