For those who are dragging this morning like us, here’s a little fire from local emcee STS and his new band project, NAC, to kickstart your day. Pump up the group’s debut single, "I Ain’t Got It"! The collaborative effort also includes Grammy-nominated producers Butta-N-Bizkit and DJ Schoolie V.
Philadelphia
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“Experiment and Dance” w/Aphra, QQQ & More at W/N W/N Jan. 31
W/N W/N is throwing another one of their celebrations of “experiment and dance” this Sunday. Aphra, the solo project of ex-Tutlie member Rebecca Way, takes on a more minimalist electropop side of music; some live performances consist of just her and a keyboard, but her new music experiments more with noise and texture. Either way, expect Way’s powerful voice to be featured heavily. Also making an appearance to get your synapses firing will be sound sculptor QQQ. Synth pads straight out of 80’s depictions of dystopian futures set the foundation beneath displaced beats and glitching samples that bring stark attention to the negative space between notes and grooves. Glades will be performing as well, bringing a more pacified ambience to the party with his chilled-out, cosmic electro-soul. Synth pads drone, warble and bleed into each other, contrasting with sharp, modulating, occasionally arhythmic percussion samples, while Telequanta varies his sound from funky house remixes of disco songs with that classic danceable bass drum backbeat to more ambient, downtempo jams. W/N W/N, 931 Spring Garden St., 8pm, 21+ (Aphra Photo by Megan Matuzak) – Bryce Woodcock
Philadelphia
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Julie Slick’s 30th Birthday Bash w/EchoTest at Ardmore Music Hall Jan. 30
Ardmore Music Hall celebrates Julie Slick’s 30th birthday this evening. EchoTest masterfully orchestrates soundscapes with a sense of ambient ease and precision, locking into pensive patterns and digging into chiseled, funky foundations, etc. With a varied appreciation of musical texture, the results are tightly woven explorations that while open to the possibilities of discovery, remain well-grounded in a sense of direction. The melting pot of experimental rock known as Out of the Beardspace adds their unique blend of genre-bending sound, and Hmfo recreates and re-imagines the music of Philly soul legends Hall & Oates. Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Lancaster Ave., 8:30pm, $20, 21+ – Michael Colavita
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Weekend Warrior, January 29 – 31
Bands like Queen of Jeans, who openly subscribe to the long history of girl-pop groups, are a great indicator of how much has changed or remained the same through the years within the canon. The excessively soluble pop melodies and sequences dating back to legendary 60’s acts like The Shangri-Las remain intact, but today are saturated with the textural bliss of 80’s bands like Cocteau Twins. The uncertainty and feels associated with courtship rituals are also still a heavy source of inspiration to this girl group – albeit now such confessionals are served with a smaller portion of melodramatic candidness and a thick glaze of emotionally insulating ambiguity. There are songs that move with a languid, dreamy stride that resonate with contemporary artists like La Sera, who exhibit similar influences. But Queen of Jeans colors their songs with more of a jazzy hue than most bands, who fixate on the 60’s era, which gives their sound a distinct sophistication. They’ll be celebrating the release of their debut self-titled EP at Kung Fu Necktie this Saturday with garage-rock rompers Louie Louie, who are another girl group whose focus is largely on 60’s pop, but they are more concerned with the psychedelic and garage-y side of the decade, which will also be represented by The Mysteries. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St, 7pm, $8-$10, 21+ – Bryce Woodcock
Other places to escape the chill this weekend…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Moon Bounce, SUN Glitter, Crybaby, Long Spells
The Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Shark Tape
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI The Last Brontosaurus, This is How I Feel / DJ Elijvh Vrms, SAT Queen of Jeans, Louie Louie/ The Mysteries / Ton-Taun, Kodiak Park, Scantron
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) FRI Northern Arms, Minka, Taupe, SAT Cayetana (EP Release), Mannequin Pussy, Jeff Riddle & The Bella Vista Social Club
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Grimace Federation, SAT Famdoola, 30 And Over League, André Altrez, DJ Kirsh
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI (Balcony) Tev Geez, Rahketz, SAT I Vampyre, Ashes of Our Sins, Ashes to Vanity, Suburban Murder, Slyphr
Electric Factory (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Lotus
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Philly Gumbo, SAT (Upstairs) John Flynn
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Molly Rhythm, The ATM Machines, SAT Illinois, SUN Joy Riding
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Chestnut Grove, SAT RFA, The Chelsea Kills
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St) FRI Purple Dialect, SAT Teknacolor Ninja
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Francisco Collazo, SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Fishtown Beats, Frank Sriracha
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Hank’s Cadillac (CD Release), SUN Rusty Cadillac
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) FRI Post War Dream, Justin Patrick Foley, Vessna Scheff
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St) FRI L.A.W., Space Caravan, Danny Justice, Hometown Ghosts
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SUN Track Jumpas, Corey Lee, Fis Geez The Rapper, Chronik
The Grape Room (105 Grape St) FRI Sweet Eureka, Joe Jordan’s Experiment, Mesina, The Terribles, Clint Reid Davis, SAT Keystoned,, The Jackson Rider, Soraia, The Better Half, Dan Callahan,
Bourbon and Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Starwood, Kim Jong Ill, Revolution, I Love You, SAT Laura Cheadle, Lou, Amy Faden, Amy Saul Zerby, SUN Sad Boys, Chugsley
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Splintered Sunlight, Cabin Dogs, SAT Echotest (Feat. Julie Slick), HMFO
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Illvibe Collective, SAT Ed Christof
The Foundry (1100 Canal St.) SUN Montone
The Pharmacy (1300/02 S. 18th St.) SAT (Matinee) Welter, Teenage Bigfoot, , Seeing Snakes, Lamplighters, Science Club , Down With Homework / (8pm) Humanshapes, Horsecops, Girl Dog, Crime Hands
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Socialite, The Guests
Mantua Yacht Club (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more information.) FRI Howlish, OhBree, Nark, No Stranger
Pilam (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more information.) FRI Littler, Blowdryer
LAVA Space (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more information.) SAT Sad Hana, Lead Pipe
W/N W/N (931 Spring Garden St.) SUN Aphra, QQQ, Telequanta, Sad Hana
Goldilocks Gallery (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more information.) SAT Arthur Shea, Frontyards, George Quinn, Chad Avery
Haus (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more information.) SUN Wyndwood (Tape Release), Teenage Spaceship, Liz de Lise
Philadelphia
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New Track: “Small Sister (Work of Art)” – Purples
Purples seem to linger to one’s consciousness, releasing a new song every few weeks. Their latest “Small Sister (Work of Art)” howls with a sense of horror before rolling into a rumbling bass popping scenario. While anxiety over handling the exterior world percolates, melodic harmony-fortified psych-pop rules out. Catch Purples at Johnny Brenda’s with Up The Chain on March 11.
Philadelphia
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Syd Torchio Art Show w/Northern Arms at PhilaMOCA Jan. 29
With background motifs like the Ellen Powell Tiberino Museum and models like Playboy Bunny Savage, S.T.A.R.W.O.O.D., and members of the Squidling Bros. Circus Sideshow troupe, Syd Torchio’s elaborate portraits have been known to channel another quixotic sense of reality. And his art shows at PhilaMOCA have been mainstays that have also featured some pretty eclectic musicians. Tonight’s exhibit will be no exception since it will feature gothic Americana nine-piece, Northern Arms, and since they’ve been hard at work recording an upcoming album at Miner Street Recordings, you might just be in for a preview. Torchio will also be performing with his multi-instrumental modern folk quartet, Taupe, that also features ex-members of The Oubliette Ensemble. They’ll be joined by the quirky four-piece, Minka, whose sound is filled with 80’s rock nostalgia. PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 8pm, $10, All Ages – Bill McThrill
Philadelphia
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New Aunt Dracula LP Available for Streaming & Purchase
Aunt Dracula (Scott Daly) continues the psych-pop dream on its’ latest release Bum Hands, released digitally and on cassette via Bromius Records. Spend some time basking in the tropical haze. However, keep an eye out for the warping sonic mechanisms that sit just behind the clouds.
Philadelphia
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New Track: “Fumble Tumble” – Purling Hiss
“Fumble Tumble”, the freshly released song from Purling Hiss incorporates they’re customary raunchy riff haze within a key-jangling surf pop sound. The song is featured on their forthcoming EP Something, which will be released February 19 via Famous Class Records. Mike Polizze is scheduled to perform a solo set this evening at Johnny Brenda’s on a bill that also includes Rosali and The Weather Station.
Philadelphia
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The Superweaks, Thin Lips, & Dogs On Acid Complete Lame-O Records “Rock Residency” at Boot & Saddle Jan. 28
Lame- O Records residency at Boot & Saddle goes out with a bang this evening with a formidable lineup. The Superweaks concoct their own brand of power-pop, one, which unites thick twin-lined guitar riffs forging a path for the memorably melodic universally emotive lyrics. Torn from a personal place, the band showcases internal grit, fleshed out in consistent streamlined swells. The tenacious tug and pull pop punk of Thin Lips whose new record was recently completed will join them. Recently returned from a run of tour dates Dogs On Acid complete this strong billing. Boot & Saddle 1131 S. Broad St., 8pm, $8, 21+ -Michael Colavita
Philadelphia
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Video Premiere: “Silvermoon” – Archawah
With his new solo project aptly named Archawah, Chris Archibald’s (frontman of Illinois) true aim as he states is “getting it out there”. With that goal in mind, Archawah plans on releasing six EPs over the next year. Without further adieu, we are happy to premiere the video for “Silvermoon” which can be found on Archawah 1. The video embraces the youthful freedom of imagination in exploring and creating a new frontier. Step inside and gently launch into outer space.
Philadelphia
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New Track “Strawberry Mansion” (Feat. Freeway) – Lushlife
Ritualize Lushlife’s forthcoming collaborative album with CSLSX is slated to be released February 19th via Western Vinyl. It’s latest sonic snapshot “Strawberry Mansion” (Feat. Freeway) rides a smooth island beat, raising the temperature as Lushlife’s relentless steady-handed rhymes combine with furious fire of Freeway in a hometown homage. Catch Ritualize’s record-release show at Johnny Brenda’s February 27.
Philadelphia
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Stream Lithuania’s Set Recorded at KXLU
Back in November, Lithuania recorded a live session over at LA’s KXLU Radio. The set offers a rollicking sampling of the band’s album Hardcore Friends, available via Lame-O Records. Among the highlights, “Clumsy & Forgotten”, quickly transitions into “Place of No Tomorrow” while “Hardcore Friends” and “Pieces” provide the final push. Lithuania is scheduled to perform at Everybody Hits February 27, as part of a lineup that also includes Little Big League and Pouty.