Philadelphia

New Disinterest Split Available for Streaming & Purchase

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This one is for those who woke up this morning (or any morning, in fact) and thought, "Fuck, this is not going to be my day!" Here is noise-punk outfit Disinterest‘s side of its split with fellow Philly hardcore brethren, Skin Graft. The full 7" vinyl is available via Inorganic Records. You’ll find Disinterest tomorrow night at Titan House alongside Wet Fetish and Tampa, Florida’s I’m An Intestine.

Philadelphia

Circadian Rhythms Opening for The Apache Relay at JB’s May 5

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Circadian Rhythms are the type of group that raise the joy factor in the air. With cascading well-rounded tunes that sprinkle in strolling pieces of keys, xylophone, horns, etc. and marrying them with enriching ensemble harmonies, the band carves out a place that recognizes the past, but still works in the present. It’s casual comfort that opens the doors wide open without losing focus in the process. Tonight at Johnny Brenda’s, they’ll have copies of their latest EP A Passing Thought and new tunes to share. Circadian Rhythms will be joined by the folky, Americana Nashville outfit Great Peacock, who has also a new record, Making Ghosts, due out May 12. Fellow Nashville natives The Apache Relay headline, knitting together ironed-vocals stretched out over a large rootsy field. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $12, 21+ – Michael Colavita

Philadelphia

New STS x RJD2 Album Available for Streaming & Purchase

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The day has arrived for the joint effort of sharp-witted emcee STS and producer extraordinaire RJD2‘s succinctly titled STS x RJD2, which is now available via RJ’s Electrical Connections. Balancing thought-provoking turns of phrases with a well-crafted, soulful R&B foundation, the album takes a commanding hold from the jump with its multi-dimensional silky smooth instrumentals, creating an optimum terrain for STS to lyrically navigate one jam after another. You can stream the collaborative album in its entirety below.

Philadelphia

New Music Video: “Powerful Man” – Hop Along

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Hop Along‘s new LP Painted Shut is out today via Saddle Creek! The band also premiered new music video for "Powerful Man" over at PaperMag. It was painted, printed and animated by Frances Quinlan, Cat Park and Craig Scheihing, who also directed, photographed and edited the footage. Hop Along is set to begin tour tomorrow night in Brooklyn, and will roll back into Philly this Saturday, May 9 at Union Transfer.

Philadelphia

New Track: “Hey Joan” – The Stammer

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With a nod to Lou Reed, The Stammer throw their hat into the ring for your next favorite summertime jam. The bouncy, driving rhythm and ebb-and-flow guitar licks of "Hey Joan" bring a joyous mood to what sounds like a difficult situation. "The lyrics are relatable to anyone who has ever had to give hard advice to a friend," says the band’s frontman Brian Brotman. It’s the first single from The trio’s upcoming full-length album, which was mixed by Kyle Pulley at Headroom Studios.

Philadelphia

Dewey Decibel Opening for Kool A.D. at KFN May 3

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Put your hands in the air, and let Sunday Funday take hold of you at Kung Fu Necktie with a crew of Philly rappers paving the way for headliner Kool A.D., formerly of alt hip-hop group Das Racist. On top of psychedelic 90’s hip-hop beats that hit a chill, sweet spot, South Philly emcee/producer/graphic artist Dewey Decibel, a.k.a. Dewey Sanders, relays his existential contemplations out loud on his latest EP Different Drum (World Around Records), produced by Zilla Rocca. The multi-talented Florida transplant also just dropped the 25th edition of his zine, “A Taste of the Invisible,” this past First Friday so grab yourself a copy. YIKES the ZERO, who collaborated on Lushlife‘s ten-minute opus "Toynbee Suite," and OHM x PLEASE will also be on hand to make the most out your weekend. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $13, 21+ – Emily DiCicco

Philadelphia

The Opening Party for the 2nd Annual EÉL OÜY or not at PhilaMOCA May 2

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This evening, PhilaMOCA will be hosting the opening party for the 2nd annual EÉL OÜY or not, which is a variety show that celebrates the visual, aural, cinematic and culinary arts. The event will feature mind-expanding works from Neil Burke (Monoroid), Rodger Binyone (NO-Man Illustration), and Jason Killinger (JK Design & Direction). Killinger will also be performing a solo set of rad jams as Spacin’ Chillinger. Psych-punk outfit Igneous Eyes and Sinking Body will once again be joining in the festivities. And no one else there will be caring about the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight either. PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 7pm, All Ages – Alexis V.
Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, May 1 – 3

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Reinvigorated, The Tough Shits setup shop this evening at Kung Fu Necktie. The band doesn’t follow a tight to the vest script. Rather, they play a loose easily embraceable brand of garage-punk – the kind that rolls out like a wave and draws you in with its party atmosphere, while combining steady, slapping percussion and those bass-backed jangly guitar riffs that spiral out and run free at just the right moment. Throw in lyrics that resonate in a youthfully immediate manner, and you have a recipe for an energizing yet chilled-out show – the type that draws sweat, incites crowd participation without having to ask for it – a perfectly imperfect rousing scenario.  Slated to join them on the bill are DC garage surf-pop four-piece Shark Week, whose full-length debut Beach Fuzz, will available May 19 via PaperCup Music. San Diego’s Crocodiles, whose latest record Boys is due out May 12, headline cutting through polished, melodic rock with a garage core. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita
 
Other places to enjoy the spring weather this weekend…
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Black Dirty, Maitland, Family Vacation, SAT Action Man/Smoke, Wade in the Water, SUN Dewey Decibel, OHM X Please, Yikes the Zero
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) John Mallinen (Album Release), OOLALA, Jake Lewis & The Clergy
 
The Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT What Nerve, SUN Kiska, Ordinary Lives
 
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SAT Spacin’ Chillinger, Sinking Body, Igneous Eyes
 
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Hamilton Leithauser, SAT The Secret Cinema Presents Selected Short Subjects
 
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Needle Points
 
Bourbon and Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Nik Greeley, Amy Fadden, Lou, Matt Gauss Band, Cold Roses, SAT Jessica Graae, Badd Kitti, Prima Donna, Sylvia Platypus, SUN The Whips
 
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.)  FRI Philadelphia Slick (Album Release), Chalk & The Beige Americans, Dj Trak Metropolis, SAT DJ Juanderful, DJ Gregzinho
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Peek-A-Boo Revue presents The Six Degrees of Tease, SAT No Reserve, Red Letter Life, Seeking Valor, Justin DePaola,
 Spoken Life, Atley Moon & The Say Something Sound Machine, Maddie Hogan
 
TLA (334 South St.) SAT Philly Bloco, SUN The Weekend Riot
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.)  FRI (Upstairs) Aiden James
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.)  FRI I Yahn I Arkestra, Moses Livingston & The Raggamuffins, SAT Our Fair City (CD Release), Coral Teeth, Father Figure, Northern Lakes, SUN (5pm) Overfield, The Cultour, Laela/(9pm) Dirty Soap Blues Band
 
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI The Beating
 
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI The Silence Kit, Glitter, SAT The Downtown Club
 
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI PHLGood, Wetbrain, Frozensmoke, SAT Aaron David & The Wise Owls, The Binary Sea, Petite Sketches
 
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.)  FRI DJ Dav, Reed Streets, SAT DJ Deejay
 
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St) FRI Jesse Gimbel, The Valkyrians, Wade in the Water
 
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Hired Guns Blues Band
 
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Chuck Thomas, Dorkosaurus, Medusa’s Disco, Beautiful Madness, Slo
 
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St) FRI Katie Barbato & Dirty Holiday, Daniel Collins, American Schoolyard, Paul Edelman & The Jangling Sparrow
 
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SUN An Honest Year/Born Leader
 
The Grape Room (105 Grape St) FRI Ridge Summit, Lightning Jones, The Parameters
 
Ardmore Music Hall FRI Worldtown Sound System, Solomonic Sound, SAT Crosstown Traffic
 
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave,) SAT Mercury Girls, Cousin Brian
 
Little Berlin (2430 Coral St.) FRI Moor Mother Goddess, SAT ArtCon: Timbers, Little Strike
 
Mantua Yacht Club Bowl (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Mantua Fest: OhBree, Nark, No Stranger, Plainview, Twiin
 
LAVA Space (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Starwood, Janelle, Music For Movement, SUN Flag of Democracy, +HIRS+, Soul Glo
 
Baker Bowl (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Mantua Fest: Hurry, Loose Tooth, Pocket, Cool Points, The Danger O’s
 
Squirrel Hole Eclectic (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Mantua Fest: Steady Hands, Brendan Lukens, Broken Beak, VVeed VVolf, Shannen Moser
 
Michael Jordan House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Mantua Fest: Grower, Disinterest, Soul Glo, Blankbook
 
Drexel Park (3940 Chestnut St.) SAT Kalob Griffin Band, Damn Right, Ill Doots, Mr. Sampson, Darla Poster Child, Minor Setbacks
 
Second Empire (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT No Stayer, Traitor, The Company Corvette
 
Cabbage Patch (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.)  SAT Hallowed Bells, Accretionist, Nearest
 
Nacho House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Joe Jack Talcum, Cynthia Schemmer
 
A House Named Virtue (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Idiot Forever/What Nerve (Split Cassette Release), The Guests
Philadelphia

The Deli Philly’s May Record of the Month: Bad Year – The Weaks

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On the heels of last year’s, debut EP The World Is A Terrible Place & I Hate Myself And Want To Die, The Weaks, led by a pair of former Dangerous Ponies Chris Baglivo and Evan Bernard, have released their full-length debut Bad Year via Lame-O Records.
 
The record wastes little time jumpstarting into the aptly titled “Kick It,” with its bass-thudding lines rolling into catchy, emotive power-pop mode, cleansed with a bit of synth before unleashing one of the album’s many blasts of guitar solos. “Nevermind” (an homage to Nirvana) reflectively takes the positive spin on a failed relationship, streamlining percolating instrumentation with stable yet aching vocals. The album’s title-track cracks through melancholy with a lyrical disposition harnessing polished twin guitar licks between trudging percussion-led transitions, destined for fiery flashes of solo prowess. With an aggressive, smashing instrumental storm, “Black Box” takes the ball and runs with its relatable crushing narrative, hooking you in as a silky synth slips in amid the treacherous landscape. 
 
“Dysania” is the cup of coffee that pushes the covers off. With its guitar-led jog, loosening into a bass-charging surge, it quickly reaches maximum speed. Tongue-in-cheek earnest yet humorous lyrical tones – “Too much blood for just two hands/and there’s so much shit we’re gonna need two vans” – set the mood whilst sprinkling in clean flares of guitar, maintaining that downhill thrust. The song contextually blends a pent up instrumental energy and memorable vocals to create a natural anthem feel. Turning a leaf, “I Don’t Wanna Be An Anarchist (Anymore)” melds percussion and synth, delivering a sincere yearning for change with that heart-throbbing, interwoven bass-drum combo, adding a real inside-looking-out perspective. 
 
Strumming acoustic guitar and a spacey synth serve as foils in “Welcome To Earth,” zooming in and then peering out in a battle of loneliness and self-exploration, once again enjoying a creative out there spin on a common searching topic. The closing track is another nod & wink to Nirvana and Hop Along frontwoman, “Francis Quinlan Will Have Her Revenge On Philadelphia,” embracing a snarky attitude with matching (rough around the edges) momentum-gathering guitar meets an avalanche of backend, delivering a mixed emotion-filled message “Who’s going to pull your weight if I leave you behind… Please stay with me. 
 
Bad Year embraces its Weezer power-pop influences, allowing listeners to join in on the emotionally personal ups and downs, while still coming away refreshed. It’s another great find for rising Philly indie label, Lame-O Records. – Michael Colavita