NYE 2011, for us, was pretty forgettable. We did enjoy seeing Jordan Knight and Joey McIntyre on the same stage again (woohoo!), and we saved our last 4loko stash for the occasion, but generally it was underwhelming. Tonight’s show at The Ox is offering us something we wished was possible most mornings, which is a second chance at an evening. Tonight is the much-anticipated Chinese New Year rager with Philly’s Sun Airway, Golden Ages and CSLSX, along with various other awesome out-of-town artists. This show is the first local all-ages event for relative newcomers Sun Airway whose effervescent astro-pop is catching on like the flu. The live production of Sun Airway’s stellar debut Nocturne of Exploded Crystal Chandelier is even more stunning than the album itself. The collaboration between the full-band version of Sun Airway and Klip Collective’s Ricardo Rivera (fuckin’ genius) creates an experience that is captivating both musically and visually. The room simply comes alive turning every wall into a canvas. It is what you always wished those lame classic rock laser-light show experiences would be. Joining Sun Airway on this rad bill is Penn student Francis Tseng’s one-man project turned full-blown band Golden Ages, whose tropical electro is hypnotic and danceable. He has been releasing music pretty frequently for the past couple years and garnering plenty of attention already from the major music media outlets for it. Tseng gets a lot of AnCo comparisons, which is flattering and apt. His sound is along the lines of hazy pop peers like Clive Tanaka and Millionyoung, and he has a nostalgically awesome cover of Toto’s “Africa” to boot. Also along for the ride are locals CSLSX who perfectly fit the bill with their dreamy, dancey, vocoder-heavy tunes that will have peoples’ feet moving before their bodies know what is happening. This whole event will be celebrating the year of the Rabbit and is brought to you by Philly blogger extraordinaire Yvynyl a.k.a. Mark Schoneveld and Deerhaus, so make sure to buy them a beer or puff them down when you seem them. Be there or be square! The Ox, (you should know already or just ask a friend), 7pm, $10, All Ages
Other things to do this weekend if you don’t believe your local weather forecaster…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SUN Folkadelphia w/Hezekiah Jones and Spinning Leaves
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Ars Nova Worshop w/Planet Y, SAT Nothing and Atomic Square, SUN Ugh, God and Inzinzac
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Orbit To Leslie and Strange Engineers
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Vintage Kicks
Tritone (1508 South St.) SAT Bandname, Welter, Gunga Dynn, SUN Broken Prayers
Millcreek Tavern (4200 Chester Ave.) FRI The Sea Around Us, Split Red
The Blockley (3801 Chestnut St.) SAT City Music Project
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Hired Gun Blues Band
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Scallions, The Snowcaps, Good Boy Elroy
Lickety Split (401 South St.) FRI Avataria
Painted Bride Art Center (230 Vine St.) FRI Lillie Ruth Bussey
The Ox (you should know by now or ask a friend) SAT When I Was 12, The Great Unknown, Conversations With Enemies
Theatre of Living Arts (334 South St.) SAT Moon Women
Adobe Cafe (1919 E. Passyunk Ave.) SAT Aquarius Prom w/The Jawns & DJ Evil V