Philadelphia

Purling Hiss Might Just Kick Your Ass at KFN March 3

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The rock gods called out in desperate need of a sign; a sign that rock was still alive in us mortals and not being led by a bunch of namby-pambies with script chest tattoos and forearms the size of garden snakes. The boisterous Fishtown trio Purling Hiss answered their call by kicking into “Almost Washed My Hair” ruining the rock gods’ hearing. The thing about Purling Hiss, and there are many, is that they could easily go up on stage and perform Satriani-esque songs, i.e., hastily crafted excuses for soloing, and probably get away with it. Instead, Purling Hiss create super catchy tunes like “Don’t Even Try It” (I can’t stop thinking of Ducktails when I listen), but with the flip of a switch can take it to the next level with Mike Polizze’s frantic and explorative guitar work. You can tell that these guys are children of the 90’s and fans of their buddies Kurt Vile and the Violators, and the similarities can be heard in Polizze’s lazy drawl and driving rhythms provided by drummer Michael Sneeringer (The Loved Ones) and bassist Kiel Everett (Tin Horses). These guys have been getting a bunch of attention recently, and rightfully so. Their songs are rough around the edges, but it only adds to their appeal. They are a band without pretentions, but with a hell of a lot of talent. Also on the bill is Watery Love, the new punk band from the mind of Charles Richie (Clockcleaner/Richie Records//TestosterTunes). The band also features Meg Baird of Espers on drums and was recently written about in Philly Weekly by Kurt Vile himself (who had tried out to be their bass player). Rounding out the bill is garage-goth crew Far-Out Fangtooth, who I would be remiss not to mention these guys. Bring your earplugs for this one (and no dancing)! Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 Front St., 8pm, $8, 21+ (Photo by Steve Cross; Video Recorded by pilgrimsprogress) – Adam G.

Philadelphia

Free Download: New EP from Moon Women!

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Moon Women just digitally released a new EP Live at WXPN that is available for FREE download here. The recordings are from their live sessions on WXPN, and contain 3 unreleased tracks. Moon Women have a two-song 7" being pressed right now called Light which features the songs "Light Moves Slowly" and "When The Lights Go Out". They are self-releasing it, and there will be 300 copies available. Each cover will be hand-painted/printed, using the same color scheme, with different unique outcomes on each record. The band HOPES to have the 7" available by the time they open for The Black Lips and Vivian Girls at The Troc on Saturday, April 9. Now, go download the new EP! – The Deli Staff
 

Philadelphia

Mad Dragon Showcase at Mandell Theater March 3

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There is a seriously packed local bill tonight for the Mad Dragon Showcase at Mandell Theater. They’ll be showing off current and future label talents such as Kuf Knotz, Toy Soldiers, Hezekiah Jones, and The Spinning Leaves. Headlining the evening will be retro guitar rock/pop hot tub-lovin’ outfit Free Energy. The event is free for Drexel University students with ID, and ten beans for the rest of the world. (BTW: For those who are used to kicking back a few drinks for a show, I do remember a bar close by where you’ll be able to grab drinks before and between sets.) Mandell Theater, 33rd & Chestnut St., $10/Free with Drexel ID, All Ages – Alexis V.
 
Philadelphia

Many Arms Open for Marnie Stern at FUC March 3

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Many Arms is a nasty power trio made up of 6- and 12-string electric guitarist Nick Millevoi (Make A Rising, Joe Lally), electric bassist John DeBlase (Zevious), and drummer Ricardo Lagomasino (Capillary Action, Joe Lally). Having sited influences of equal parts Ornette Coleman, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and latter-day Black Flag, they combine the powers of free jazz and punk rock creating experimental compositions for music enthusiast to simply geek out to. And there will be an uber-amount of geeking out tonight at First Unitarian Church when they open for my latest rock ‘n’ roll crush Marnie Stern who will be accompanied by the Hella awesome drumming octopus Zach Hill. There will be plenty of talented folks showing off their chops this evening so prepare to “set your faces to stunned”. First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 8pm, $12, All Ages – Q.D. Tran
 
Philadelphia

Like Water for Chocolate w/Birdie Busch & The Great Unknown at TLA March 3

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If you’re lookin’ for a little hoedown with some soul cleansing, then the TLA might be housing what you want when they host Carolina Chocolate Drops who will be getting a double dose of some fine Philly folk when Birdie Busch and The Great Unknown open the festivities for them. Miss Birdie Busch a.k.a. DJ Slowpoke is simply a fixture in the local music community by now. Her ballads are like a comfortable old pair of shoes finely polished to look brand spankin’ new again. The Great Unknown continue to inch their way closer to being known, but I think that they’ll certainly leave an impression on those smart and/or lucky enough to catch their set. This evening should flow “like water for chocolate”. Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St., 8pm, $25, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman
 

 

Philadelphia

Purling Hiss Sessions Up at The Key and Daytrotter!

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It’s definitely someone’s birthday today! Because we’ve got not one but two recorded live studio sessions of Purling Hiss dropping today at The Key and Daytrotter. Go check them out. It’s a very rad day for Mike Polizze and crew! Now, puff that bowl, blunt, vaporizer, whatever you use these days, sit back, press play, and turn that shit up! Cheers! (Photo by Olivia Vaughn; Illustration by Johnnie Cluney) – The Deli Staff
 

 

Philadelphia

Buried Beds Open for SOLD OUT Murder by Death Show at JB’s March 2

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Buried Beds will be swinging by Johnny Brenda’s tonight as part of their tour with buddies Murder by Death. (They performed together at the TLA the last time Murder by Death was in town when both of them opened for mewithoutYou. You can check out our review of that concert here.) Our West Philly-based crew just officially released their latest album Tremble the Sail nationally yesterday so they should have plenty to celebrate with family, friends and fans. You can check out their second single from the album, "Ivory Tower", below to help get you psyched up for the evening, but make sure that you get to JB’s early because it looks like Buried Beds will be opening the evening. So stop on by, and wish them a happy and safe rest of the tour! But hopefully you have your tix already because this baby is SOLD OUT. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $13, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman
 

Ivory Towers by Buried Beds

Philadelphia

The OX Preparing to Go LEGIT!

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According to a letter from the folks at the OX to A.V. Club Philadelphia (which you can read in its entirety here), our much-beloved DIY venue has plans to move forward and become LEGIT! (Collective – YAY!)  “At the start of the meeting, the subject of whether we should legitimize and proceed with shows was voted in the affirmative by unanimous consent.” The group of 11 roommates (Amber, Andy, Brendan, Colin, Dan, Dominic, Greg, Jorgan, Kostya, Philip, and Sam) plan to bring the space up to code, register themselves as a non-profit, and file the necessary permits with the city. Please look out for any future OX benefit shows or fundraisers, and DONATE! :o) – The Deli Staff
 
Philadelphia

Man Man Schedule Spring Tour!

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Philly’s traveling circus on acid is hitting the road for a Spring Tour. Man Man will be swinging by SXSW to support Bright Eyes at the Ground Control Showcase, and then will be heading out on an intensive trip throughout the U.S. and Canada. You should already know by now that their Philly date will June 4 at The 4th Annual Roots Picnic. They’ll cap things off with a performance down at Bonnaroo. They should be testing out some new material this spring from their upcoming tentatively titled album Life Fantastic. You can check out the rest of Man Man’s tour dates here. Now, the only really bad news is that there is still no Philly date scheduled for Mister Heavenly any time soon. :o( (Photo by Shawn Brackbill) – The Deli Staff
 
Philadelphia

Lillie Ruth Bussey’s First Philly Performance in 2011

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Lillie Ruth Bussey will be performing her first show this year in Philly at The Mitten. Anytime she sets up her little world of toys it is always a treat. It’s hard to believe how this multi-talented artist can be such a one-woman experimental dance party. Be prepared for plenty of jammin’ on the one! She’ll be headlining the evening, and will be supported by Brooklyn’s Lushes and The Binary Marketing Show. Admission is pay what you want, and donations are greatly appreciated. The Mitten, 4918 Kingsessing Ave., 7pm, Donation, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman

Various Characters f/Ruth Elaine Bussey by Lillie Ruth Bussey

Philadelphia

The Deli’s March Album of the Month: Smoke Ring For My Halo – Kurt Vile

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Kurt Vile has come a long way since officially releasing his first album and being hastily lumped into the lo-fi bedroom project family. Emerging on the scene with reverb pedal and drum machine underneath his arm, he released Constant Hitmaker in 2008. While the albums title seems somewhat tongue-and-cheek, with the release of three more subsequent LPs, including his newest, Smoke Ring For My Halo, it is hard to deny his prolific songwriting ability with all his creative output in such a short period of time (and that’s not even including all the CD-Rs). The immense talent Vile has for effortlessly crafting songs was quickly revealed with his first two solo creations. The lo-fi nature of the records could hardly contain the complex and tempered songwriting that flourishes with the help of The Violators and a trifecta of professional studios. The following two releases, 2009’s Childish Prodigy and last year’s Square Shells EP are two endearingly different parts of Vile’s schizophrenic songwriting that were skillfully rendered and harnessed on this newest release with the help of producer John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr., The Breeders, Sonic Youth, etc.). The songs are often forward moving, rarely bothering with a conventional “chorus” or other musical tropes instead opting for ever-evolving songs that are carefully crafted but naturally executed. 
 
Smoke Ring’s biggest changes in terms of Vile’s sound seem to be the increased presence of The Violators in the actual recording and the cleaner but still finely textured production. The album opens with a creak rather than a crash with the beautiful and distant “Baby’s Arms”. When he sings “Hide in my baby’s hands/ because except for her, there just ain’t nothing to latch on to”, he evokes a feeling of haunting solitude that reoccurs throughout the album’s 11 tracks. That being said, Smoke Ring is certainly less rollicking than Childish Prodigy, but it wouldn’t be a proper Vile album without a crunchy, nose-thumbing sludge-rocker like “Puppet To The Man”. Somewhere between the ends of his sonic spectrum sits “Society Is My Friend” which reminds me of a moodier Neil Young track with militant drumming and layers of guitars that are distorted so much that it is hard to tell they are even guitars. The back half of the album settles into a quieter mood that highlights the intricate guitar arrangements and Vile’s lyrical tossing and turning like on the sauntering “Runner Ups” and “Peeping Tomboy”. The album comes to a close and a swell with the pensive, slow-churning number “Ghost Town” that has an “alone in a empty mansion” kind of feel that Vile and his Violators then transform into a slow-burning psych-jam before all of the atmosphere is stripped away leaving Vile alone with his guitar, the same way his musical journey began and how this particular one will end. Smoke Ring For My Halo is my favorite and the most cohesive Vile release so far via Matador Records. The album will be available March 8, but you can stream it here now. – Adam G.