As we approach the end of what will be remembered as 2016 – a sea of overwhelming sentiment and saturation – we can reflect on our experience with a resounding NAH. Philly sound sculptor Michael Kuhn captured a devoted following with his work in the explosive rock duo 1994!. In recent years, he has departed in large part from “guitar music” to reemerge into the musical ethos as a harbinger of defiance, affronting musical norms through experimentation and a healthy skepticism of traditional genre boundaries. Shreds of sonic imagery sound out into the whir of Kuhn’s bewitching rhythm section, recalcitrant while bearing a unity that is tangible at a live set. A NAH show creates a space to engage in the reassuring positivity and thrill of being present, as selves and as participants in the greater communities we occupy. He’ll be celebrating the release of his new LP Michael (Ranch Records) this Saturday in Brewerytown at Yung Kandy Collective, where he’ll also be supported by special guests Drums Like Machine Guns, Slums, and What Nerve. Yung Kandy Collective, 7:30pm, $7, All Ages (Photo by Gabe Coffey) – Josh Kelly
More places to hide from this frigid freeze…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Aubreylyn, SUN Bel Heir
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT The 6th Annual Work Drugs Holiday Spectacle: Work Drugs, Mercury Girls, RFA, SUN Irreversible Entanglements (featuring Moor Mother)
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI The Snails, Medusa’s Disco, Something Like A Monument/The Snails, SAT The Lunar Year, HoJun Yu/DJ PHSH, The Bul Bey, SUN Slowburn, South Philly Big Band, Jack and His Saint Clair Allstars
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SAT BEATS500, SUN NoDAPL Space Festivus Benefit: Green Meteor, Space Chumpy
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI MARAH – Philadelphia Holiday Spectacular
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) SAT The Starting Line, Hurry
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Big Mess Cabaret: Featuring The Divine Hand Ensemble, SAT Big Mess Cabaret: Featuring The Divine Hand Ensemble
TLA (334 South St.) SUN Urban Celebrity Presents 6th Annual Philly Hip Hop Awards
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Three Fourteen, Local Smokes, The Ardvark Felon, SUN Josh Nussbaum, Julia Hudak, Amanda Hagenbuch
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Downstairs) The Stray Birds, SAT (Upstairs) Jeremiah Tall, August John Lutz II, SUN (Downstairs) The Peek-A-Boo Revue Holiday Spectacular
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Cerebelles, E.Joseph & the Sparrows, The One2s, SUN Dirty Purple, Jeanette Lynne
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Johnny Popcorn, Keely Sibilia, SAT Argonautic, Las Palabras, Christophonic (DJ Set)
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Lovers League, No Good Sister, SAT Matt Kelly, SUN In The Pines
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Bo Bliz, Low Budget, SAT DJ Deejay
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Railroad Fever, SUN Rusty Cadillac
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Fell Into Yesterday, The Good Mess, Goodbye Sunrise, Dead Robins, Sweet Eureka, Sex With Rollercoasters
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Steve Layman, SAT Dirty Purple / Counterfeit
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Dead Fellow (Release Show), The Sly Foxes, The Primaries, Rob Tomlinson, SAT Whackbat, Route 611, Study Electricity, Flat Mary Road, Anthony Coppa
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Reef’d, SAT Beru Revue, SUN Café Ole’
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Moor Mother, HIRS, E. Grizzly (Release), Carl Kavorkian (Release), Static Brothers (Release)
All Night Diner (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Sports
Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Downtrodder, Motherwhore, Blushed, Patches and Pins, Busy Bee Project, Matt Day, Ellen Siberian Tiger
The Blink (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Dead:Stop