Dangerous Ponies are recording a new album at Headroom Studios with Joe Reinhardt. Check out a live performance video of the band at the studio playing a song called “Gave Up,” which will appear on their upcoming full-length. (You can also download the track HERE.) Dangerous Ponies are performing this Wednesday, October 10 at the First Unitarian Church opening for Tilly & the Wall and Nicky Da B, and they’ll also be making their CMJ Music Marathon debut this year at three different showcases. Enjoy!
Below is a new music video and track called “100 Rounds” from Prowler. In the footage, you’ll find a funeral procession, a joyous dance stroll, guts, zombies, funkiness and much more. The video was directed by Abigail Bruley and Jimmy Viola. Prowler will be celebrating the release of their new EP Y’all Don’t Know this Saturday, October 13 at Johnny Brenda’s with Sunny Ali & the Kid and Busses.
Eliza Jones (Buried Beds, Nightlands, etc.) takes the stage solo tonight at Johnny Brenda’s. While she may be alone, Jones, who has also contributed vocals to fine local acts like Dr. Dog, Man Man and Stranded of Oaks just to name a few, is fully capable of producing an immense display of sound on her own with her distinguished vocal capabilities exhibiting expertise in balancing crisp gentle tones that demonstrate precision and control while also having the potential of power. She builds sonic layers looping instrumentation (keyboards, guitar, etc.) continually pushing the threshold of the individual sounds. Eliza Jones will be opening for Austin six-piece Balmorhea. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $12, 21+ (Photo by Peter English) – Michael Colavita
Far from calling it quits, Philadelphia’s Music For Headphones, helmed by the immensely eclectic Jonathan Allen, are using their impending hiatus productively. Although tonight marks their last performance, they have another album coming out early next year, and presumably, will keep making their instantly recognizable hybrid of electronic, psych, garage and post-punk. Their music is undercut with the dourly propulsive Krautrock best exemplified on the road-ready, Can-meets-Suicide "Drive Motorik," from their album Life.In.Mono. But as with any attempt to nail them down, even this inclusive description seems reductive. Suffice it to say, they’re an interesting complement to experimental, gritty rockers Lantern and Moon Duo, whose fuzzy, organ-driven sounds also fall solidly within the Krautrock sphere. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St. 7:30 pm. $10, 21+ (Photo by Sandra Grigoletti) – Alyssa Greenberg.
PhilaMOCA is hosting a SPARKStacular tonight to celebrate the music and career of the band Sparks. Over their 41 year career, the Mael brothers have managed to release 22 albums over a wide range of musical genres and are showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. They also just concluded a European tour. The party will begin with an art show/memorabilia reception, followed by the premiere of Video Pirates’ hour long video history of the band compiled from found footage. After the film, various artists will be performing covers of their favorite Sparks songs. The lineup includes local musicians Lushlife, Shawn Kilroy’s Weird Hot, and Christen Hooks of Disco Machine Gun with a string quartet among others. The event is also being filmed for a documentary on the band titled, Never Turn Your Back On Sparks. Be sure to come out and celebrate this influential band… and get in the movie too. PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 7pm, $10 donation, 21+ – Dan Brightcliffe
Indie pop that harnesses the potential power of vocal harmonies and infuses it with intriguing instrumentation allowing the music to elevate beyond the standard pop symptoms, that’s the equation Tutlie follows. Jessie Radlow and Cristina Klaproth combine forces establishing an alluring tandem while the music twists and turns spiraling upward pushing the atmospheric boundaries with the simple concept of seductively clean vocals and a steady backdrop of musical elements that habitually add suspense. Tutlie generates tunes which start off in the casual, but propels to a dramatic conclusion. They’ll be opening this evening for Emily Ana Zeitlyn’s latest project Divers and Andrew Gray (who once was the Hellmouth in Hoots & Hellmouth). Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ (Photo by David Turcotte) – Michael Colavita
Well, it’s time to get rad with Making Time at Voyeur tonight, and very little is radder than a $2 Bill Making Time, especially when Deli faves Sun Airway are the featured act for the night. The band recently release their new LP Soft Fall (check out the review of our October Album of the Month HERE) earlier this week, and they just hopped off tour with M83 for one night to spend it with you so feel a bit special Philly. As always, expect futuristic sounds from Dave P and the gang as well as a SICK light show from Klip Collective’s Ricardo Rivera. Voyeur, 1221 St. James St., 9pm, $2, 21+ – H. M. Kauffman
Other summertime entertainment this weekend…
The Mann Center (5201 Pakside Ave.) City Bisco w/The Disco Biscuits, Diplo, rjd2, Brothers Past and Much More
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Andrew Gray, Tutlie, SUN Eliza Jones
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI (Upstairs) Pine Barrens, Ultra Roofies, SAT (Early) Lantern, Music For Headphones, (Late) Rasputin’s Secret Police, SUN Purples
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Gemini Wolf, Ronald Reagan? The Actor?
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Spirit and Dust, Honey Watts, KC Jones, SAT Leithgow Oktoberfest (Outdoor – Early) The Circadian Rhythms, iNFiNiEN, TheMuffinManIsABand, Store Cats, Sunset Recorder, Anjuli Josephine, (Late) TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb, Penrose, iNFiNiEN, St, James & the Apostles, L.U.N.A.R. Revolt, SUN Leithgow Oktoberfest (Outdoor – Early) Chalk & the Beige Americans, Kuf Knotz, Griz, Rev. TJ McGlinchey, Dan Collins Band, Swedeland, Sweetbriar Rose (Late) McRad, Kuf Knotz, Jawnzap7, Wyldlyfe, Hott Tubb
M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Assayer, Propser or Perish, Pillars of Villainy, Mindless Hope
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SUN Emily Arin, Delco Pacers, Nate Dodge & Andra Taylor
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI (Early) John Train, (Late) Hured Gun Blues Band, SAT Andra Taylor, SUN Rusty Cadillac
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI SPiN, Sin Marcellis, Hyku, The Tressels, Minshara, SAT Informed Source, Pure Hell, Decontrol, F.O.D., YDI, SUN Kid PA
Triumph Brewery (117 Chestnut St.) FRI Nothing Wrong, SAT RockTubaFest Dance Band
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St. Philadelphia) SAT Sparkstacular
Rebel Rock Bar (100 Spring Garden St.) SAT Beth Goldwater Record Release Party
Milkboy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI John the Conqueror, Daniel Ryan Belski, SAT Shark Tape, Linus the Moon
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Stealing Home, Perineum, A Minor Error, Mikey Potato, SAT Telequanta, Rowboat Casino, Andrew Jude, The Defog
The Ox (You should know where already. Or has it been that long? ;o) FRI Norwegian Arms, Laser Background, Son Steps
Double Deuce (Please contact one of the acts or the venue.) FRI Mumbler, Modern Baseball, Smoother
Shows for jamtronic luminaries The Disco Biscuits seem to be coming few and far between these days, which usually takes a massive event like Camp Bisco to bring the four-piece together. Well, the guys have decided to give their rabid fans of “treethuggers” a bonus treat this year as well as the City of Brotherly Love with a two-day festival, City Bisco, this weekend (Friday & Saturday) at the Mann Center. They’ve also filled the bill with notable acts guaranteed to keep the hallucinogenic-fueled crowd ragin’ with likes of Diplo, rjd2, A-Trak, Aeroplane and much, much more. It will turn out to be a relatively early evening for the seasoned late-night partiers with a curfew of midnight so each evening will also come with an afterparty at The Blockley with Biscuit drummer Allen Aucoin, a.k.a. DrFameus, affiliates and friends as well as possible special guest appearances from those who can’t seem to fall asleep just quite yet. Yeah, expect it to be a late night in the hoties as well. The Mann Center, 5201 Parkside Ave., 4pm (Fri.) & 3pm (Sat.), $50 Day of Single Day, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman
John The Conqueror and Daniel Ryan Belski will be opening for the infamous Willis Earl Beal (don’t heckle this guy tonight or you might get a kick in the teeth ;o). The Philly by way of Mississippi blues rockin’ trio John The Conqueror are warming up in preparation for November tour dates in support of their upcoming self-titled debut LP, which will be available via Alive Naturalsound Records on October 16. Local guitarist/singer-songwriter Daniel Ryan Belski continues step out from behind his work with Arrah and the Ferns and his The Divine Lorraine moniker. Belski released his impressive debut album, They Always Haunt at Night, at the end of June. The EP is a beautiful combination of folk-tinged indie-pop songs mixed with dreamy atmospheric sounds. It’s a sweet lineup this evening where you won’t want to miss any of the acts. Milkboy Philly, 1100 Chestnut St., 9:30 pm, $10, 21+ – Dan Brightcliffe
Kristen Sylvester crafts lyrical narratives leading the folky six-piece Spirit and Dust. While Sylvester’s vocals mark progress on a rural trail, the music, which characterizes the landscape, populated with deeply rooted mainstays like acoustic and electrified finger-picking guitars. It also surprises with the addition of trumpet adding brightness and putting a twist on the traditional sound. Not that there’s anything wrong with tradition when its done right; as is the case with the Americana-folk duo Honey Watts. While the eerie twang of steel and electric guitars conjures images of dusty dirt roads, Liz Fullerton’s thoughtful lyrics are transformed by a unique vocal tone; rich in her ability to sound sweet yet emotionally torn. Fullerton and Carl Cheeseman collaborate to present a refreshingly compelling vintage sound. Both local acts will be hosting Brooklyn’s Plume Giant, who will be celebrating its full-length release of Callithump. The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 8pm, $8, 21+ – Michael Colavita
Check out the new track from Young Gliss called “Annabel Lee” featuring Ang Bocca and production work from Elusive Orkestra! It was inspired by the Edgar Allen Poe poem with the same name. Gliss has an upcoming project entitled #HighOnAWeekDay. However, “Annabel Lee” won’t be found as part of it.
You may be familiar with Les Professionnels’ beats that are scattered throughout the Philly hip hop music scene. Well, the group has new track for free download called “Move!” that will make its television debut on MTV tonight for the premiere episode of the Jersey Shore’s final season. Yup, Philly’s in da house for a little fist-pumping action this evening! Les Professionnels also have a remix EP for “Move!” that will contain contributions from Deli fave Lushlife, Eliot Lipp (of Pretty Lights), Psychemagik and Pete Herbert, which will be available via new indie label CNNSSR.
