Blast off into the weekend, as the tandem of Kevin Nickles (Ecstatic Vision, Taiwan Housing Project) and Daniel Provenzano (Purling Hiss, Spacin’) continuously pushes the boundaries, fusing hard-driving, raw rhythms, space-transmitted vocals and blasts of tangential-tracing free jazz into a Krautrock-melting pot of sound. Developing layers of flavor through inventive instrumental combinations, The Writhing Squares cultivates an air of surprise and intrigue as one straps into the sonic shuttle uncertain of what discoveries lie in the future. This Saturday, at PhilaMOCA, the Philly outfit will be opening the proceedings, followed by local punk/reggae-groovin’ legends, Scram. This leads the way to the DC instrumental trio of The Messthetics, which includes former Fugazi members Brendan Canty and Joe Lally, whose debut album is due out later this year via Dischord Records. (Photo by Peter Kerlin) – Michael Colavita
Other places to hang this weekend…
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) FRI Destroying Angel, Void Vision, SAT Scram, The Writhing Squares
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Frankie Vado, Joey Stix Experiment, Jordan Brown, Dolores, Tammi Jean, SAT The Dove & The Wolf, Carroll
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Cold Fronts, Big Nothing, SAT Restorations, Tiny Vices
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI John Dominy, Sun Hat/Purling Hiss, Long Hots/DJ Deejay, SAT Peachy Nightjar, Mr. Lisp/Evil Sword, Necrosexual/Fame Lust/Night Sweats, SUN The Boardwalk Kings, A Day Without Love, Weekend Athlete
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Abbey Road: A Collective Performed by Members of Looseleaf and Other Special Guests, SAT The Pancakes & Booze Art Show
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) SUN A Night of Stardust
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Daniel de Jesús
The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) FRI So Far Gone: Dirty South Joe, Magglezzz, SAT (4pm) PnB Rock, (8pm) PnB Rock, Shawn Smith, SUN Low Energy
The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) SAT Riot Nerd Presents: A Live Music & Burlesque Tribute To Emo
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI West Fire, Think Machine, Rusty Blue, Decontrol, SAT Apex Predator, Near Nightmare, Nasuta, Agents of Aggression, Crown of Earth
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT Osler Circle: A (Hard Day’s) Night For Children’s Hospital
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI The Parsnip Revolt, Katie Barbato
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Sophie Coran, Joshua Chase Miller, Ellen Siberian-Tiger, SAT The Space Cats, Tektonic
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI The People (EP Release), My Son Bison, SAT The Upticks (Album Release), S.R. Frost & The Sanctuary Band, Delmont
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI A Minor Error, It Makes Sounds
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Sylo, Astro 8000, SAT DJ Deejay
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Keystone Mountain Boys, SUN Rusty Cadillac
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI The Russells, Kate Dressed Up
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Royale, SAT Ian Saint Laurent, SUN Thunder Snow Cone: Love Hurts Freak Show
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Sheena & Thee Nosebleeds, Deluxedo, Knightlife, SAT Somethin’ Divine (EP Release), You Do You, The Sly Foxes, Breaklite
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SAT Worldtown Soundsystem
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Hurry, Empath, Knifeplay
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Sunchoke/Crimson Masks, Some Birds, Uncle Dan, SAT The Four Of Us Are Dying, Zombie Shark, SUN Fred Beans, Rabbits To Riches, Kenny 3
Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Mike Mulli & Dead Flowers, Busy Bee, Rachel Andie
The Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Masie Blu
All Nite Diner (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Sun Organ, Coffee, Leadrs, Ursula