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"The next act – Philly’s own Sexcop– is . . . outrageous, irreverent, and undeniably entertaining. Sexcop is the moniker of Josh McIlvain, a Chestnut Hill native with a penchant for parody. Standing tall at at least 6 feet, and clad in a suit, he sings, dances, thrusts out his hips in his best Elvis impersonation, strums his guitar, and spits out funny, clever lines like “I lost my girl to Jesus” and “I am a man. Man FISH!”

"It’s definitely silly, and bordering on over-the-top, but McIlvain commits 100% and because of it, it works. On some numbers, brother Sam McIlvain accompanies on guitar, and [Sweet Soubrette's Ellia] Bisker even joins him on the stage a couple of times, for the kitsch pop ballad “New gorillas at the zoo” and the Walk Hard-esque duet “Let’s hook up.”

"For the most part, Sexcop’s songs are raunchy, rollicking and rocking – but like Bisker, he also uses humor to point out moments of tragedy, like the story of a lover that left him for a younger man. Clearly, both feel that laughing about heartbreak only helps to ease the pain. Sexcop and Sweet Soubrette are both great entertainers, and I’m thrilled to be able to watch them both."-Kate Bracaglia www.philly.com/phrequency

SEXCOP EP

Gather ‘round, it’s snack time - Sexcop has dropped a digital-only three-song EP to tide us over till 2009’s full-length The Supermodel Who Loved Me. Acerbic but soulful, frontman Josh McIlvain offsets sensitivity with wit like a meaner Stephin Merrit. Bouncy opener “Real Estate” pays tribute to infatuation’s way of making boring people seem fascinating. Dramatic backing vocals complement McIlvain’s casual twang on “The Jesus Song,” a laid-back lament for an ex who drops her man for the big J.C., and bluesy, vitriolic “10 Days” examines a fling-turned-personal hell. With its bitingly funny lyrics and bright acoustic energy, this EP will make your mouth water for the main course. - Alexandra Jones, Origivation Magazine

"Elvis, Hank Williams and James Brown are his inspirations for live entertaining, but his musical influences run the gamut from Brazilian to Native American to R&B and even country. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill mixture, but his voice is clean and crisp, and his lyrical storytelling is simple and humorous.--Denise Maher, Chestnut Hill Local

Sexcop’s songs have a flair for the dramatic, telling stories of sex, love, and flying saucers in the epic scope of a blockbuster movie. Insightful, often funny lyrics drive an inventive musical approach that melds rock n roll, 50s r & b, and roots music into a modern pop format.

Sexcop EP is now in digital-only release on itunes, cdbaby.com, and other digital music selling sites. This 3-song sampler features “The Jesus Song,” about a man whose girlfriend falls out of love with him and into love with Jesus; “Real Estate” espouses the faith that love can make any person interesting, no matter where they work; and “10 Days” chronicles a ten day love affair that becomes a prison sentence.

Sexcop is led my songwriter, singer, and guitar Josh McIlvain. Sexcop has spent what seems like the past 10 years recording their second CD, The Supermodel Who Loved Me (coming early 2009!), in New York with with bass player and vocal harmonizer Alec Cumming (also of Jason Trachenberg, The Sharp Things & many others) and the recording specialist Billy (don't call me an engineer) Szeflinski (dub master, and drummer of the Cool & Deadly), featuring a host of guest musicians, from the violin solos of Sarah Crocker of the Metropolitan Opera to the trombone stylings of J. Walter Hawkes, musical genius behind the Wonder Pets, to the vocal gifts of uke songstresses Sweet Soubrette and Kelli Rae Powell, and the lead guitar machinations of Shawn Wolf Wortis (former Slide) and Sam McIlvain (who has played with a gazillion bands from the Davenports to Spank to the Lost Wandering Blues & Jazz band and along with his brother Josh, was in Hot n Hazy & Newark).

Sexcop began in Philadelphia with Josh and the late, great Bruce Langfeld, who, though known for his guitar and his dislike of Ayn Rand, played bass and the “gango” both live and on the first Sexcop CD “ Island of Dreams .” After spending the past few years in New York, where Sexcop performed at such venues as The Triad Theatre, The Belt Theatre, and The Zipper Theatre, as well as some fine drinking establishments like Siberia, The Continental, and The Slipper Room, now Sexcop is back in Philadelphia! Sexcop regularly performs as a duo with special guest soloists and singers—something of the rock equivalent of a traditional jazz band, going anywhere from 2 to 7 people on a given night.