Whether you’re looking to take care of some last minute Christmas shopping or just want a good dose of holiday cheer, then you don’t want to miss the Philadelphia Independent Craft Market’s Holiday Show. 2424 Studios will be fully stocked with some of the cities finest craft artists selling their goods, and for just a $2 dollar donation, you’ll be able to take it all in while enjoying free PBR-sponsored refreshments. And as always this fun, friendly Philly anti-mall will feature music from four fine acts. Before being a part of Modern Inventors album release show at Johnny Brenda’s, Hezekiah Jones will bring his melodic alt folk to the market. He’ll be joined by his longtime Philly Folk Parade cohorts The Spinning Leaves, who has been celebrating their 5th year anniversary as a band. And since both are in attendance, there could be a good chance that you’ll encounter a Hezekiah Leaves & The Spinning Joneses sighting. The Craft Market will also feature a rare solo performance from The Homophones’ charismatic frontman Jason Ferraro, and the nostalgic Hollywood musical and swing era jazz-influenced sounds of The Swinging Foxes. If you are reading this, then you know that most (if not all) of us survived yesterday (well, it is Philly so I’d put my money on “most”), and the event is still on. 2424 Studios, 2424 E. York St., 12pm, $2, All Ages – Bill McThrill
Sonnymoon comes to Earth
Sonnymoon’s ‘Bio’ page on Plug Research’s website (Plug Research being their record company, an independent west coast label) includes the information that Sonnymoon is a duo consisting of Anna Wise and Dane Orr, and also that they’re aliens sent from the planet Sonnymoon to help earth figure its problems out. Their eponymous record released in May of this year definitely has an otherworldly vibe—dreamy experimental-synth, deep, hypnotic bass tones, washed-out fx, and on one track jazz drums and bass that sound caught off a radio station 10,000 miles away. Anna Wise’s vocals, though, keep reminding me of Rihanna. She has a soulful, hip-hop influenced style, and she’s a really powerful singer, especially on the second track, ‘Greatness’, below. – Geoff Noble
Interview with Matt Pless: DC Deli’s Artist of the Month (December)
Armed with an acoustic guitar, harmonica, and lyrics spit like hot fire, Baltimore based Matt Pless has brought his own brand of folk punk across the nation. His homebase of fans expressed their love and pushed him to the top of our last poll, crowning him Artist of the Month. We wanted to find out more about this fellow with a background in punk, who put out an LP of acoustic pieces a couple months ago (check it out below,) and also pens for the project Kotterpin. Here he talks about Plan It X Records, the family biz, and Guts references. Now onto the interview…
Weekend Warrior, December 21 – 23
Gametime Featured In Clip for Asphalt Beach
Bringing back Rollerblading in the span of a 30-second clip, Fifty50Films debuted their clip, "Rails x Reality," spotlighting Nashville’s Asphalt Beach and featuring local lyricist Gametime on the grind and Ellie Goulding’s "Figure 8" as the soundtrack.
RAILS X REALITY from FIFTY50FILMS on Vimeo.
If 30 seconds of Gametime isn’t enough, you can find him at The End on December 29th, where he’ll be performing songs from his recently-released debut album, Tough Love, avaiable over at Bandcamp. Joining him at The End are fellow hip-hoppers Kaby, Casino Greene, and Joshua Odine. We recommend showing up on time to this one. –Brianne Turner
Free Download: “Mayan Nights” – Man Man
Man Man just shared a sweet little ditty called "Mayan Nights" to go along with this evening’s theme. You can download it for free below. They’ll be performing next in Philly on Saturday, March 2 at Union Transfer with Murder by Death.
Big Damn Christmas Spectacular
If you want to kick off your Holiday weekend the right way than I suggest you head over Tonic Room tomorrow night, Dec. 22nd, for Big Dammit’s Big Damn Christmas Spectacular. This is the 2nd year for this event and this year features music from JT & the Sloppy Seconds, Hollywood Slim, and Clarence Fraher (of The New Messengers) and Ari Vais (of The Campbell Apartment).
However, the night’s very special guest will be Santa Claus himself reading "The Night Before Christmas". There will also be Milk and cookies (from Hoosier Mama Pie Company), presents, carols and holiday fun for all. The goal of the event is "unapologetic joy and Christmas fun for adults".
From Our Open Blog: The Daredevil Christopher Wright @ SPACE
The interns at SPACE and Aware Records present The Daredevil Christopher Wright for their first performance at SPACE on Thursday, January 10th. The indie folk trio will play alongside local folk rock band The Bears of Blue River and Chicago’s newest folk crooners, The Wild Family. The show starts at 7:30pm Doors will open at 6:45pm. Tickets are $10. Drink specials will also be offered at $3 for PBR and $4 for well drinks.
It’s Going to Be a Full House w/Juston Stens and The Get Real Gang, Conversations with Enemies, Exploding World & Much More at KFN Dec. 21
Whether it’s to celebrate the holidays or to have one last hurrah before the end of the world, tonight is a good reason to party and dance like there’s no tomorrow! And either way Juston Stens and The Get Real Gang are fully prepared to be your masters of ceremonies, and have even recently covered the classics Last Christmas and Christmas Don’t Be Late in case it takes the turn towards the holiday party. And they’ll definitely be playing plenty of their rollicking originals. Conversations with Enemies are no strangers to good times and holiday celebrations as evidenced by last year’s holiday revue with The Extraordinaires. And their set list that’s filled with zombies, devils, good times, and secret holiday tracks will be the perfect soundtrack to either occasion. The show will also mark the debut performance of Glow in the Dark, the new project that features members of Algernon Cadwallader. BTW: Exploding World will also be hosting their own showcase upstairs for their record release of Reptilian Revival with Circadian Rhythms, Lux Perpetua and Invisible Hand. It’s going to be a full house at KFN this evening with plenty of entertainment worthy of the last night on earth! Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 7:30pm, $8, All Ages – Bill McThrill
“It’s the End of the World (Again!)” w/S.T.A.R.W.O.O.D. at PhilaMOCA Dec. 21
As we inch ever closer toward our demise, PhilaMOCA is closing out their three-day “It’s the End of the World (Again!)” party tonight showcasing local quintet S.T.A.R.W.O.O.D., whose premise and sound befits the looming apocalypse marrying twisted space, creepy synth and keys with a rhythm section that initially lurks in the distance, before it takes flight hunting you down as you search for a safe haven. However, amid the chase, the effected vocals preached/transmitted to masses provide a sense of calm amid the chaos assuring us that some form of normalcy will be restored. This time-warped band provides a glimpse of the future as the present comes to a close. And, as an added bonus, Philly Brewing Company will provide free refreshments. PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 9pm – 11:30pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita
Where Were You When The Mayan Apocalypse Went Down?
So the last day of the Mayan calendar has come upon us. We should party like it’s the end of the world.
Perhaps the most telling sign of the apocalypse is the Hipnautica reunion. That’s going down at Rusty’s.
At Mohawk’s, we’ve got Hardproof Afrobeat, Money Chicha, and Butcher Bear DJ.
The Red Eyed Fly will welcome the destruction of all that we know with EBM, Drifter, Black Thorn Halo, Hazard Hounds, and Fight Plan.
Deciding to put a positive spin on total annihilation, the good folks at The Parish are having a Beginning of The World party with Nadis Warriors, Blockhead, DrFameus (Allen Aucoin of The Disco Biscuits) plus "Live Painters, Poetry Readings, Live Floral Arrangements, Reiki and Energy Healing, Crystal Healing, other healing modalities; and more!!" What’s not to like?
The Beauty Ballroom is having Christmapocalypse with, oddly enough, Auto Body and Octopus Project DJ.
Over at Holy Mountain, they’re just calling it a party with the Peligrosa 5 Year Anniversary party.
At Frank, they’ll be taking a more somber approach with an Acoustic Night put on by Language Room, The Couch, and Dawn & Hawkes.
The Dirty Dog will do it in metal, with Closed Hand Promise, Dead Earth Politics, Course of Ruin, Truman Syndrome, Immerse, and Abiotic.
While over at Red 7, they’ve calling it Party At The End of The World, and have managed to snag Assacre, Spiritual Wives, Visitors, Pack Of Wolves, Krum Bums, Employer, Employee, At All Cost, and Recover.
So get ye henceforth and enjoy the end of the world!
Noosa lands single on Hypem Top Tracks of 2012 List
The Brooklyn pop duo Noosa (Sky Barbarick and the invisible Matt Buszko) doesn’t seem to ever play live, but this is not preventing them from generating a lot of interest – ah, the power of good music! Their recent single "Walk On By" (Sound Remedy Remix, streaming below) made it onto Hype Machine’s top tracks of 2012 list. The single (a ballad in the original version found here) is a sweetly sad song, where wholly feeling lyrics cut deep with Sky’s ethereal voice. And oh, that voice. It’s Regina Spektor-esque, in that it can be fluttery and throaty at the same time. It’s the perfect grounding component to Noosa’s gorgeous sweeping dream pop. – Corinne Bagish