Let us introduce you to the psychedelic sounds of Philadelphia. The Riko and Whaler Collective is a group of musicians (sometimes known simply as Riko and Whaler) in the Philly area. It is known for its high-energy, mostly improvised performances and dreamy, occasionally scary psychedelic sounds.
The group recently released a new single, “Now Is Today,” that extols the virtues of living in the present and breaking out of conformity. It’s a great track that starts with a few verses and a more structured format before giving way to a free-form jam-band feel I loved. It’s got a driving beat and, from what I could detect, some excellent dueling guitar solos in the back half.
Listen to “Now Is Today” below:
The song has recently become a staple of Riko and Whaler’s live performances, adding to their repertoire of psychedelic material. The group is mainly the duo of Kyle Ciarrocchi (Riko) and Brendan McDonald (Whaler), who joined forces in 2018. The band began recording experimental and avant-garde reel-to-reel tape and electronic recordings and eventually gathered a band of friends to play in the West Chester area, a suburb of Philly.
Riko and Whaler have featured a rotating cast of musicians, most of which attended The University of the Arts together. They have since become pillars of the Philly psych community, having formed a little group called Philadelphia Psychedelic that puts on shows and involves an art collective, too.
Riko and Whaler released an EP, Walkie Talkie Eyes, in 2018 and followed that up with a full-length record, Living Earth, in 2019. They draw from diverse influences, including space rock, jazz, funk, blues, experimental, and heavy psychedelic rock. I mention space rock—while the band doesn’t in its bio—because I think their 2022 single “Throughout” has some definite’ 70s-styled space-rock vibes (and it’s an awesome song).
If you’re ever in Philly, look up Riko and Whaler and what they’re doing to create a blossoming psych scene in the City of Brotherly Love. In the meantime, enjoy their new single and the rest of their tunes!
Check out “Now Is Today” by Riko and Whaler on Bandcamp here.
You can support Riko and Whaler by finding them on Bandcamp, their official website, or social media (Instagram, YouTube).
Check out this interview with Philadelphia Psychedelic.
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