Strand of Oaks has had a helluva 2012, which saw him release another beautiful album in Dark Shores and found him reaching out to the masses on tours with the likes of Bowerbirds, Yellow Ostrich, and The Tallest Man on Earth. Showalter is all set to wrap up his successful year with his first headlining show at Johnny Brenda’s this Saturday, and it will likely be one of the last chances to see him play a hometown show before he heads for a tour of Sweden and Norway with Tallest Man on Earth in 2013. Little Big League will have plenty to celebrate when they open the show since they recently finished up work on their upcoming debut LP that should see the light of day at the beginning of next year. Buried Beds are another band who had a great year and will have some big things in store for the new year, so when they take the stage you might just get a preview of what is to come. It’s going to be a righteous locals only evening. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford St., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Bill McThrill
Weekend Warrior, December 14 – 16
Other things to keep you entertained this weekend…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Serpent Throne, Randall of Nazareth, SAT Strand of Oaks, Buried Beds, Little Big League
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI The Fux, The Missile Toads, Doghouse Swine, The Blessed Muthas, SAT Ape School, SUN Mob Terror, The Cloth
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) SAT Blacklisted, Gypsy
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SAT Alo Brazil
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Goodnight Lights, Rob, Lately & the Haunts, Dirty Cartoon, SAT You Do You, The Bigness, Greg Sover Band, SUN High Council, Robot Hearts, The Gang Age
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The Snails, The Mahlors, SAT True Gold, The Tweeds, The Lift Up
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Former Belle, SAT Mason Porter, The Levee Drivers, The Lawsuits
Ortlieb’s (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Ran Tan Toon, SAT Jampa
M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Spectrums
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SUN Monster Magnet, One Ton Shovel
TLA (334 South St.) SAT Man Overboard, I Am The Avalanche, Motionless in White
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Bryan Seymour, Kyle Morgan, The Donuts, Brittany Ann Tranbaugh, SAT Valkyrians, SUN Rusty Cadillac
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SUN Ashley Leone, The John Salamone Band, Mixed People, iLL Doots
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Dave Watson, Craig Myers, Taz
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Peanutbutter Lovecicle, The Loose Lipz, Schoolly D, Token Prospects, SAT Reverend TJ McGlinchey, Paige Allbritton, The Wounded Healers, Amy Faden, Andrew Jude
Love City Roller Derby (820 Spring Garden St.) SAT Harsh Vibes, Psychic Teens, S.T.A.R.W.O.O.D.
Golden Tea House (Please contact one of the acts or the venue for more details.) FRI Three Man Cannon
Beaumont Warehouse (Please contact one of the acts or the venue for more details.) SAT The Mighty Paradocs
Hong Kong Garden (Please contact one of the acts or the venue for more details.) SAT Cousin Brian, Slutever, Vengeance and the Feral Dogs