Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, December 17 – 19

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OK – it’s probably going to be crowded and sweaty, but for just two dollars, you’ll get a bunch of great music as well as some free drinks (if you get there early enough) so you really can’t complain too much. It’s Making Time’s 3rd Annual $2 Bill Holiday Freakout! Local favorite sons and former A-siders, Sun Airway, will be headlining the hyperactive dance party. We’re still spinning their recent debut release on Dead Oceans, Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier (you can check out the review of our November CD of the Month here). While the live versions of their tracks may feel slightly different from the ones that you are used to on the album, they still contain the beautifully wonderful songwriting at their core that captivated us in the first place. You can hear for yourself below in the live recording of “Oh, Naoko” that Sun Airway made at Different Fur Studio in San Francisco for their Yours Truly session. Brooklyn’s Light Asylum will also be joining them this evening. Voyeur, 1221 St. James St., 9pm, $2, 21+

Other places to hide out from the cold for an evening… 

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Free Form Funky Freqs and Paper Cat, SAT Ross Bellenoit, Birdie Busch, Zach Djanikian
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Do You Need Service?, Clamfight, Psalmships
 
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) SAT Oud Blues, Consider The Source, Infinien, SUN Robots & Racecars, Ginger Coyle
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Hidden River Construction, American Speedway, SAT (Early) Tigers Jaw, (Late) Controlled Storms
 
M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Nick Krill (of The Spinto Band), SAT Red Masque, Radio Eris, Womb
 
Tritone (1508 South St.) FRI Toys For Tots Benefit w/ The Noid, Pulling Punches, Welter, SAT Buddhafest 42, SUN Aspiga, The Only Ghost in Town
 
Millcreek Tavern (4200 Chester Ave.) FRI Philabundance Benefit w/The Lawsuits, Lightninging, VeNT, Manchilde
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Terrible Things, SAT Mikey Galactic and Dani Mari
 
The Ox (you should know by now or ask a friend) SUN Benefit Show w/Stinking Lizaveta, Buffalo Stance
 
Highwire Gallery (2040 Frankford Ave.) SAT Hermit Thrushes and Eskimeaux
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI Mason Porter, SUN Marah, Mike "Slo-Mo" Brenner
 
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Sweatheart, SAT Discount Heroes, Funkslaw, High Kick
 
Theatre of Living Arts (334 South St.) FRI Good Old War, East Hundred, The Great Unknown
 
First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) FRI A Life Once Lost
 
Ulana’s (205 Bainbridge St.) FRI Carnivolution Christmas w/Squidling Brothers, Bunny Savage, Mary Squeezebox & More
 
2424 Studios (2424 E. York St.) SAT Philadelphia Independent Craft Market w/TJ Kong & the Atomic Bomb, Sisters 3, Toy Soldiers Duo and More
 

 

Philadelphia

Paper Cat Open for Free Form Funk Freqs at JB’s Dec. 17

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Paper Cat‘s provocative instrumental jams reside somewhere between current post-rock and the more "classic" prog gods of yore like Mogwai and King Crimson. Brother and sister Julie Slick and Eric Slick (formerly of the Adrian Belew Trio; Eric now drums for Dr. Dog) teamed up to specialize in pulsing, ominous bass combined with angular, face-melting riffs (from guitarist Robbie “Seahag” Mangano), and crisp drums. Headlining the bill, Vernon Reid (of Living Colour) is a beast on guitar, which means you don’t want miss his free-flowing jazz/funk outfit Free Form Funky Freqs. He’s also joined by legendary human drum machine G. Calvin Weston. You’ll probably hear few other bands that can shred so diligently on their instruments, while still maintaining a crucial subtlety. Just listen to that bass on "The Binds That Tie". Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave, 8pm, $15, 21+ – Joe Poteracki
 
 

 

Philadelphia

Philabundance Benefit w/The Lawsuits at Millcreek Tavern Dec. 17

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With the promise of a full-length and three records already under their belt (2008’s The Antique Sessions EP, 2009’s The Corrina Sessions EP &2010’s A Collection of Love Songs LP), The Lawsuits stir a medley of genres into their scorched Americana sound. From riverside blues sermons (“Talk You Down”) and barroom booty rock (“Hot Mama Blues”) to secluded, forlorn folk (“Beautiful Anger”) and vintage coastal pop-rock (“Heart Grown Cold”), the local four-piece – and idée fixe of singer/songwriter Brian Strouse – wears their sonic influences on their sleeve. But it’s not an ode to what’s been. Instead, The Lawsuits’ workhorses are contemporaries, modernizing a pastoral sound that’s threaded deep into the fabric of America’s sonic blanket. You can watch the outfit weave itself into musical history tonight at West Philly’s Millcreek Tavern for the Philabundance Benefit (also on the all-local acts bill: brooding indie rock troupe Lightninging, female-fronted alt-rock/soul mashup VeNT, and neo-soul rap star Manchilde). Along with the cover charge, bring several canned goods to donate to the food bank and hunger relief organization and help feed the number of hungry families this holiday season. Millcreek Tavern, 4200 Chester Ave, 9pm, $8, 21+ (Photo by Stephanie Juris) – Annamarya Scaccia
 
Philadelphia

Psalmships Open for Do You Need Services? at KFN Dec. 17

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Most bands only strive to release one album a year. But ambitious singer/songwriter Joshua Britton, otherwise known as the mastermind behind Psalmships, dropped a big resolution when he revealed that he’ll be releasing 3 in 2011. One will be Thorns a direct follow-up to his dramatic opus Black Forest Withers, and is even considered its vocal companion. Meanwhile he’ll also be unveiling a split EP with Kettle Pot Black that features Dutch diva Liz Fullerton in wrapping up the big LP titled Hymn of Lions. But even though it isn’t set to be released until September, Britton looks forward to unveiling a special set list that features several songs from it when he opens for Do You Need The Service?, a band whom he’s been looking to play with for a year. DYNTS took a bit of a hiatus after celebrating the release of I Hurl Myself Towards Glory, but they might just perform some of the new music they’ve been unfolding during their last show of 2010. Joining both bands on stage tonight will be metal maniacs Clamfight. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 7:30pm, $5, 21+ – Bill McThrill
 
Austin

Auld Lang Syne: New Year’s Eve with The Sword, or Bob Schneider, or…

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MULTIPLE enticing shows featuring local acts are planned for New Year’s Eve 2010…pick your Austin venue and you’ll most likely find a New Year’s Party headlined by one of our own. Here’s a few options: Bob Schneider plays the Paramount; White Ghost Shivers and Agent Ribbons (above) – and Cake – play the Austin Music Hall; Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears and Grupo Fantasma play La Zona Rosa, The Bright Light Social Hour will be recording a live CD (and celebrating an official vinyl release) at The Parish; The Sword plays the Mohawk; T Bird and the Breaks are at Stubb’s; and The Belleville Outfit and Warren Hood hold down Momo’s. 

L.A.

Local Natives to play Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

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Our previous cover band, Local Natives, has had an amazing year. With raving reviews about their Coachella and SXSW performances, and their killer debut album "Gorilla Manor", they have a lot of expectations for the new year from eager fans. Before going into hiding to write their new record, the band will tour Japan and Australia leaving at the end of January. But before they do, they will have a special performance in New York City for Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. I always did like his taste in music. 

They will also be releasing a special remix album, which is in the works right now, and being made right before our eyes on their Stems website. Also, if you have any appreciation for art, photography, or journalism, then I encourage you to check out their blog. It’s a sort of tour and behind the scenes diary, but some of the photos taken are beautiful. It reflects their music with feelings of nostalgia, weariness, good times, and a true appreciation for life and what they’re doing. These guys are artists in every aspect. 

–Jenna Putnam

L.A.

Wazu release new demo for “Walk All Night”

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Wazu is an interesting beast simply because I think the average group would be hard pressed to release demos all throughout the writing and recording process. With that being said, they just recently posted a demo for "Walk All Night". A bit more upbeat, it still maintains the group’s dark wave sound — think of a more pop sensible My Bloody Valentine — but the new demo doesn’t dethrown my personal favorite "MURDER1".

The band has been making waves with their live shows; recently at CMJ, as well as their show last night with Deli Poll winners Incan Abraham. It’s going to be interesting to see what shapes up with Wazu in 2011.

-Angelo Lorenzo

NYC

New awesome Manhattan DIY-Venue – Life Sized Maps, Gunfight! and Diehard

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If you haven’t had the chance to check out the Showpaper 42nd Street Gallery (in the picture, which believe it or not, is in Manhattan), you should – it’s a pop-up video arcade complete with homemade DIY video games, art installations, live music and more. Tonight the Showpaper/BabyCastles Team and BirdDog present a show of infectious indie rock, country-punk, and electronic pop with Diehard, GunFight!, Life Size Maps (bottom picture), and Magic Man (Boston), all organized by Showpaper, BirdDog Promo and the Babyscasltes collective. Read a Time Out article about the place here.

NYC

From the NYC Open Blog: Hool play convent of St. Cecilia on 12.19

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HOOL has played in office parking garages, shipping containers, hospital rooms, industrial lofts, haylofts, storm drains, in the quiet canyons of California, under the autumn leaves of western New York, and on sheep farms in the green heart of Holland. This Sunday December 19, they play in the abandoned convent of St. Cecilia in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Doors at 7p, Walker Lukens opens at 8p, and HOOL starts at 9p. 21 Monitor Street, Brooklyn. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

 

NYC

Grails announce new album, out in March 2011

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Grails, the long running out-rock quartet from Portland, OR, will release their long anticipated 5th album, Deep Politics, on Temporary Residence Limited March 8th, 2011. The eight song set was conceived during the band’s longest-ever gestation period between albums, a fact immediately reflected in the increased compositional depth, intensified use of fetishistic cut-and-paste production techniques (akin to those employed by RZA and MF Doom), and the striking inclusion of lush string arrangements (courtesy of acclaimed composer Timba Harris). Broadening their already staggering aesthetic palette, the new album bares the indelible stamp of 70’s Italian film scores and obscure occult/fringe library music, cultivating an immersive environment that inspires both an eternal sense of longing and an impending sense of dread.