Since releasing a former Deli CD of the Month in Delight, Kristen Sylvester and the rest of Spirit and Dust have found themselves on a musical caravan that has transcended throughout many of the 50 states. The poetic and lamentful songstress has also been taking the time to expand her musical horizons by experimenting with a new found six-piece version of the band as well as collaborating with Raph Cutrufello a.k.a. Hezekiah Jones. Hopefully there will be some surprises alongside steadfast favorites like Hands and Limbs and The Center. Spirit and Dust will be opening for soulful Americana outfit North Lawrence Midnight Singers, whose sophomore LP Last Great Saturday Night proved to be a sleeper hit of last year, and somber songbird Julia Rainer. She’ll also be working with a new backing band in The Shiners. Rounding out the lineup will be garage rockers Satellite Hearts. North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 8pm, $8, 21+ – Bill McThrill

 

Nightlands (a.k.a. Dave Hartley) drops a video (below) today for his new single “All the Way”, which was directed by Audrey Smith. The All The Way 7” will be available on tour so you can get your own copy this Saturday, January 22 when Hartley comes to The Ox for Nightlands’ debut live performance in Philly. (Album Artwork from Paul Rudolph’s Lower Manhatten Expressway, c. 1967 – 1972) – The Deli Staff  

 

We’ve been looking forward to Brown Recluse’s upcoming release Evening Tapestry via Slumberland on March 15. The popsmiths premiered a new track from their album titled “Impression of a City Morning” on Pitchfork today, which you can check out below as well the album’s rad cover art above. Enjoy! – The Deli Staff

 

Did you miss your high school prom? Well, you have a chance to live a much cooler experience (with no chaperones) when The Great Cranberry presents Aquarius Prom on Saturday, February 5 at the Adobe Café (upstairs)! The event is a prom-themed party with performances by THE JAWNS, a live mashup/soultrain band featuring members of The Extraordinaires, The Armchairs, Arrah and the Ferns, Nicos Gun and Virtual Virgin as well as DJ Evil V spinning some ass-shaking grooves. It’s going to be a crazy dance party to warm you up from this cold, cold Philly winter! There will also be a discounted admission for those who get dressed up ($3) and an extra special discount for those who are ready to get Ab Fab in drag ($2). Oh yes, this is going to be an old-fashioned love fest so please dress to impress! – The Deli Staff

 

I’ve discussed the issue about the lack of places for up-and-coming hip hop artists to perform in Philly with Kuf Knotz many times over the years. Well, it looks like he’s taken matters into his own hands. Tonight Kuf Knotz presents “The BoomBox Collective”, a new FREE monthly hip hop showcase at World Café Live. But knowing Kuf this will likely expand to plenty of different genres – quite possibly all on the same night. The featured artists for this evening’s installment are Chalk & The Beige Americans (a band that he’s been talking about for months now – he also suggests seeing them live because he doesn’t think that their recordings do them justice), Curly Castro, Dave Vegas, and DJ Stoupe (from Jedi Mind Tricks and also Dutch). With Philadelphia Slick throwing their monthly “Rap TV” every 1st Wednesday at The Blockley and “The BoomBox Collective” happening every 2nd or 3rd Wednesday at WCL, it looks like hip hop is finding a little home in University City or at least an apartment. BTW: I was really feelin’ the lineups that On Tyme Music Marketing put together for the Philly F/M Fest at Club Risque. Glad to see underground hip hop is still fightin’ hard in Philly, but I never believed that it had stopped! World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 8pm, FREE, All Ages – Q.D. Tran

 

Pitchfork just reported that Kurt Vile will make an appearance on Dinosaur Jr.’s J. Mascis’ new album Several Shades of Why, which will also have indie darlings like Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew, Band of Horse’s Ben Bridwell and many more. The album is due out in March as well as Vile’s upcoming LP Smoke Ring for My Halo, which is perfect timing for the two long-haired guitar-lovin’ freaks to hit the road together. Their tour schedule is below, and you can catch the “Freak Train” in Philly when it makes a stop at World Café Live on March 23. – The Deli Staff

 

03/10 Ithaca, NY – Castaways
03/11 Toronto, Ontario – The Great Hall
03/22 Brattleboro, MA – Headroom Stages
03/23 Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live
03/24 New York, NY – The Mercury Lounge
03/25 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
03/26 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
03/30 Cleveland Heights, OH – Grog Shop
03/31 Ann Arbor, MI – Blind Pig
04/01 Chicago, IL – Subterranean
04/02 Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
04/07 Atlanta, GA – The Earl
04/08 Athens, GA – The Melting Point
04/09 Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle
04/10 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle

 

The two-piece imperfect perfection of Omar marked the start of last Saturday night’s antics at Kung Fu Necktie. Initially lightly attended, the thin crowd thickened as the shout-out lines of “Nism” crashed against crisp, quick cymbal laced with thunderous riffs, inciting sweat. This Fishtown duo’s delivery of lines like “I’m choking” and “I can’t take it, I can’t say it, can’t say it out loud”, cast the relatively lighthearted act in a heart-wrenchingly relatable light, one that gave way to the less than clean yet honest start of “Day 8 (Trampoline Only)”. In the spirit of At the Drive-In’s post-punk crooner (Cedric Bixler-Zavala), Omar’s appeal rests in their unpretentious reckless abandon. Smiling through slight mistakes, Omar’s Nick and Candice forged through their set, unveiling a new track “Monkey Business” premised by “Triacial Cat”. Both songs incited shouts of the band’s name from show-goers and applause instigated by way of Slutever. Aided no doubt by thumping drums and legit intense riffs, the latter half of Omar’s set felt brief, mosh-able and sincere with “It’s Difficult to Look at But I Got It for Free on the Internet” and “Jumping Jacks”.

 

 

 

 

 

If you missed the SOLD OUT Creepoid Record Release Show that The Deli presented last week (1/13/11) or just wanted to relive a great night, below is footage from the live performances of “Dream Out” and “Wishing Well” from pilgrimsprogress’ YouTube. They sound pretty darn nice. Enjoy! – The Deli Staff

 

Yes, The Homophones’ Jason Ferraro has a sultry baritone voice that will bring comparisons to The National’s Matt Berninger, and at first, you might dismiss them as one of those oh so serious indie rock acts. But the charm and wit found in Ferraro’s biting lyrics sets him way apart from most of his contemporaries. The balloons that usually garnish their stage and the joy that exudes from The Homophones’ live performances may also leave very little room to feel too serious and/or mopey. But if you happen to feel most alive when you’re feeling a little down, then Scott Churchman’s eerie folk might help bring you there. The Homophones will be hosting UK’s Sleeping States at The Ox tonight, and then heading down with them to the Velvet Lounge in DC the next evening. (For all you DC folks coming across this write-up on The Deli’s National Page, I highly recommend that you get there early to catch The Homophones opening.) The Ox, (you should know already or just ask a friend), 8pm, $5, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman   

 

Is your idea of fun scrambling your brain with eardrum bursting static that sounds like you might be getting abducted by aliens? Good – then don’t be afraid when Drums Like Machine Guns invade Primitive, “the punk/darkwave/minimal/80s meets metal/scuzz/rock” monthly residency at KFN geared for pounding down numerous drinks with your favorite compadres. Led by DJs Jane Paine and Laura Lawless this underworld party is not for the faint of heart, but it’s definitely been helping to fill the void of my sometimes black hole heart. Also joining the bill will be the much mellower minimalistic keyboard experimentation of The Kick Me’s. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 10pm, Free, 21+ (Photo by Dan Cohoon) – Alexis V.

 

The Armchairs simply want to have a good time, and they want you to have a good time! You found the gang at the top of their game when they released 2010’s Science and Advice (which you can purchase inside an artistically sound travel pillow here, but that should not be a surprise since they are part of the wonderfully creative Punk Rock Payroll family). They joined forces with Ape School’s Michael Johnson helping with mixing to create an album that is a giant leap forward in production for the relatively young outfit pulling together a joyously madcap jaunt through 60’s and 70’s influenced psych-pop. Joining them in making the crowd freak out will be Virtual Virgin. Since emerging onto the local music scene, the group has been creating heart-pumping dance tracks and symphonic serenades that tantalize the senses while dabbling in vibrant multimedia work. (Check out their official video for “Adam & Eve” below.) Rounding out the lineup will be Brooklyn’s Horse’s Mouth and Paper Masques, a psych-folk project from Zelda Pinwheel’s founder Stephen Quaranta. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 Fron St., 7:30pm, $5, 21+ – Bill McThrill