PHILADELPHIA -- The music is thumping in the Phillies’ clubhouse, and the Armentani Brothers are losing their minds.
This is happening and they can’t believe it.
The brothers -- George, 28; Jimmie, 26; and John, 22 -- grew up in Northeast Philly, attended Holy Ghost Prep and Drexel University. As kids, they learned piano and an appreciation for music from their parents and their grandfather George Giordas, who toured the country for more than 30 years with his Greek orchestra, “The George Giordas Orchestra.”
As kids, they also developed a passion for Philadelphia sports.
“A Phillies win or an Eagles win, or a Phillies loss, Eagles loss, it can dictate my whole entire day or mood -- or week,” John said.
The brothers’ love for music led them into the music business, which led them to creating an anthem that has become part of every Phillies win this year. Like every other fan, their hope is that the season ends with a World Series championship.
“That’s the hope for everything,” Jimmie said. “But we’re big baseball guys, so one game at a time. We’re really superstitious. Let’s take care of the NLDS first.”
The Armentani Brothers are DJs. They make original music. They create remixes of popular songs. They tour together, performing at colleges and nightclubs. Their music and love for the Phillies convinced them to send Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs a message on social media a couple years ago when Stubbs’ “Phils Win” playlist on Spotify was gaining attention because it included the team’s postseason anthem, Callum Scott’s “Dancing On My Own.”
Scott’s version of the song became a staple in the Phillies' clubhouse, and at bars, house parties and weddings in the Delaware Valley and beyond.
But Stubbs wanted something fresh this year. He asked the brothers for help.
The Armentani Brothers jumped at the opportunity. They produced a nearly hour-long mix that the Phillies have played in the clubhouse after wins. It features new spins on the favorites from Stubbs’ “Phils Win” playlist, but there are new tunes and a few Easter eggs, too.
Phillies fans heard the whole mix for the first time on Sept. 23, after the Phils clinched their first NL East title since 2011.
It first blared over the clubhouse speakers and played live over TV. Later, the brothers posted the mix on Soundcloud.
“It’s been insane,” John said about the response. “I’m still trying to capture it all and understand everything that’s going on.”
George added: “It was super surreal. There were moments throughout the season when the media caught them listening to club music, as they referred to it. Even then I was smiling ear to ear. I was texting all my friends: ‘Guys, listen to the postgame show. You can hear what’s going on.’”
But now everybody knows.
“We looked at our phones and were like, ‘Oh, man, this is happening quickly,’” George said.
This is a pinch-me moment for the brothers. George and Jimmie were old enough to remember the Phillies’ 2008 World Series championship. They fondly recall Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard. They loved watching Brett Myers on the mound and Shane Victorino patrol center field. They remained fans during the lean years, too.
Now the Phillies’ current stars are listening to their music in the clubhouse. It’s something they couldn’t have imagined as kids.
“We come from a musical household,” Jimmie said. “Our parents played instruments. Our dad played guitar. Our mom played piano and a ton of other instruments, too. And our grandfather taught us to play piano.”
George started to DJ when he was 13 or 14, after he went to a show. He and a buddy petitioned their school to play 20-minute dance music sets.
It grew from there. It didn’t take long for Jimmie and John to follow in their big brother’s footsteps.
At one point, they had an idea.
“We’re three brothers, we’re all best friends, we all do the same thing,” George said. “One day we should all just do it all together. One, people can connect with that. Two, we’d have a blast to travel around and play our music together as brothers and as performers.”
Now, if the Phillies win it all this fall, the brothers’ music will be blaring from houses, cars and bars.
It makes you wonder if they have anything special in the works.
You know, a special song or two in case the Phillies win it all.
“We’re baseball guys, so we’re very superstitious,” George said, repeating his brother Jimmie. “But as long as we’re playing baseball, we’re pretty much available as the Phillies’ personal clubhouse DJs.”
And what does grandpa, 92, think about all this?
“He’s our biggest fan out there,” Jimmie said. “He’s smiling ear to ear.”