Casual Fantastic draw from 1970s undercurrents on The Wingle and the Wangle

Casual Fantastic, the Philadelphia-based project led by Josh McIlvain, released its third full-length album The Wingle and the Wangle, a double LP featuring multiple collaborators and a patchwork of stylistic references drawn primarily from 1970s and early 1980s American rock. The group, which began performing in 2019 as a duo of McIlvain and drummer Nikitas Menotiades, initially appeared at street fairs, supermarkets, and art festivals between Philadelphia and New York.

Title: The Wingle and the Wangle
Artist: Casual Fantastic
Release Date: 2025-04-18
Genres: Folk Rock, Indie Rock
Label: self-released
Description: Casual Fantastic release The Wingle and the Wangle on April 2024 with guests from Punchline and Sonotropic.

Featured image: Josh McIlvain and Nikitas Menotiades. Photo credit: Jasper Hawk

The new album includes contributions from Caleb Cliff (Sonotropic), Sam McIlvain (Loose and Alright), and Paul Menotiades (Punchline). Across its tracks, The Wingle and the Wangle alternates between Americana noir, lounge-inflected folk, straight-ahead rock, and country blues.

McIlvain describes the album’s title as a reference to unnamed phenomena that destabilize routine or intention. “They are the shadowy little bits, lurking in the background, waiting to turn your world upside down,” he said in a recent statement.

Prior to this release, Casual Fantastic issued two albums, and retained a low-budget touring circuit tied to independent arts communities and fringe performance spaces. The group’s performances have remained primarily regional, with sporadic appearances in New York.

Josh McIlvain is a playwright, theatre director, and songwriter originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His work in live performance includes multiple solo and collaborative projects staged through the company SmokeyScout Productions, which he co-founded. Nikitas Menotiades is a drummer and percussionist with a background in punk and DIY circuits. His brother, Paul Menotiades, was part of the original lineup of Punchline, a Pennsylvania-based pop-punk band that released material through Fueled By Ramen in the early 2000s.

The album is currently available through digital platforms and select physical formats.

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