Philadelphia

Making Time Radio w/Dave P on XPN

Posted on:

Looks like XPN is getting a little Botox work done on their programming with the launch of Making Time Radio tomorrow night hosted by your favorite Philly DJ to get rad to, Dave P. He’ll be hitting the airwaves every last Friday of the month from 11pm – 1am with all his favorite electronica, dance, indie and alternative rock tracks (well, probably the ones approved by XPN). BTW: WTF Making Time w/ Surfer Blood and The Drums on Sept. 10 and LCD Soundsystem on Sept 24! (Whoops – looks like the busy guy is already running into scheduling issues.) – H.M. Kauffman
 

 

Philadelphia

Univox and Conversations with Enemies at KFN July 28

Posted on:

Just like the legendary amps that they’re named after, Univox can go from mellow to electrifying at the flip of a switch. Anchored by a quartet of distinguished voices, with Josh Jones’ smooth baritone usually at the forefront, it’s arguable that there’s something timeless about their sound, which is unhampered by any tiring trends or made up genres, but instead relies on honest, tried-and-true songwriting. If you take a listen to their recently released ST debut, uplifting pop hooks like those in "You Don’t Know" run right alongside balls-out rockers like "Pi". For a slight change of pace though, there’s Conversations with Enemies, whose quirky indie pop is haunted by zombies, demons, and awkward relationships, and encompasses everything from surf riffs to gypsy rhythms. So if you want a bit of everything tonight, the Kung Fu Necktie might be your best bet. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $5, 21+ – Joe Poteracki
 

 

Philadelphia

Mourning Anna Log Eulogizes at KFN July 27

Posted on:

Mourning Anna Log (awesome fuckin’ band name!), the solo project of Ed “Dead Bird” Burke is bringing his beautiful weirdness to Kung Fu Necktie tonight. His sound is one of quite calming down-tempo electronica that glitches and glides on a wave of lush polyrhythmic beats created by chopped and screwed drum and vocal samples assembled to perfection. The songs remind me of glitch DJ Gold Panda or a bit less aggressive Squarepusher. Dead Bird is part of the West Philly collective The Manhattan Projekt, a DIY non-profit record label slash promotion company. Oh and birdman insists on you listening to his songs with headphones so I played them from my PC laptop speakers on low. But really I busted out my monster headphones and shit am I happy I did, these songs certainly do “bump”. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 Front St., 8pm, $8, 21+ – Adam G.
 

 

Philadelphia

Free Show with Social Junk at Younglove July 26

Posted on:

Philly is great! You can pop in on something interesting any night of the week, and there is a good chance that it will be for free. The folks at Younglove, Danger Danger Gallery’s friendly vintage store neighbors, want you to come out tonight for FREE “adult (cold) beverages” and performances by primal experimental psych outfit Social Junk as well as Ducktails, a solo project from Matthew Mondanile of Real Estate, and fellow Jersey mates, Big Troubles. There will also be art featured by John Williams and 10% off on everything in the store. Younglove, 5011 Baltimore Ave., 7pm, FREE, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman
 

 

Philadelphia

R5’s BIGGEST Punk Rock Flea Market Ever July 25!

Posted on:

What’s on the agenda today? It’s simple. Go to R5’s Punk Rock Flea Market. (It’s the BIGGEST one ever.) Donate money. (Keep good shows coming to Philly.) Recycle – buy people’s cool used stuff. (Be green and create less trash.) Buy new stuff from vendors. (Help feed artists and the people who support them.) Have a good time! Cheers! The Punk Rock Flea Market Dome , 461 N. 9th Street, 10am – 5pm, $3 donation, All Ages – The Deli Staff
 

 

Philadelphia

Do You Need the Service? Album Release Party at JB’s July 24

Posted on:

In typical Saturday night fashion, Johnny Brenda’s is pulling out the party with a triple-header featuring an album release celebration for I Hurl Myself Towards Glory and fusion junkies Do You Need the Service?, a band who wants to know: “Can you keep a clown secret?” This is just a hint to let you know that by listening to their tunes you’re about to transcend your comfortable suburban upbringing and lose yourself to a wiry base undercurrent of experimental jams or that you might get molested by a group of thirty-something, married dudes dressed like John Wayne Gacy. Joining them will be post rockers/mind-fuckers Grimace Federation. This crew plays only the wildest psychedelic jungle rock, kin to Chicago’s Black Moth Super Rainbow, enjoyed best with a tab or two of the finest shit to make your head spin out of line and in step with the music, which I’m sure they saw plenty of last weekend at Camp Bisco. For a slight change of pace, there’s also seasoned veterans Photon Band who will be bidding farewell to long-time comrade Dr. Art DiFuria before he heads off to Savannah, GA, where he will be a professor at Savannah School of Art and Design. Wish him and Nancy well! Cheers! Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Katie Bennett
 

 

Philadelphia

Sun Ra Arkestra Battles the Heat at The Walnut St. Free Library July 24

Posted on:

I know. IT’S FUCKIN’ HOT. But if you are like me and think that it’s not that bad, then you need to come out this afternoon to a free performance by the Philly intergalactic orchestra Sun Ra Arkestra (behind the Walnut St. Free Library in University City). Currently led by Maestro Marshall Allen, this band of space age misfits have been invading audiences’ minds since 1968 when Le Sony’r Ra assembled his army of musical shape-shifters. Just make sure to bring plenty of water. The Walnut St. Free Library on 40th St. (outside directly behind the building), 6pm, FREE, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman
 

 

Philadelphia

Goodnight Lights Wanna Knock Your Lights Out at KFN July 24

Posted on:

Goodnight Lights are coming to Kung Fu Necktie tonight with their buddies The Quelle Source. These Philly/NJ-haling guys and gals are bringing their angular indie rock ala the Pixies or Guided By Voices to one of our favorite little venues. They’ll be playing new songs at this occasion and are still riding high on the release of their sophomore album Electric Spark earlier this summer so expect plenty of those songs which you can download for free at http://goodnight-lights.com/. Their album art is also really cool so props to the work of drummer Michael Ziegler. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 Front St., 8pm, $8, 21+ – Adam G.
 

 

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, July23 – 25

Posted on:

Hide out from the heat this weekend with many cold beers and a killer show tonight at the Blockley Pourhouse. According to their Myspace page, one of The Extraordinaires‘ top influences is the Muppet Show. Strangely enough, it kind of makes more sense than any "normal" musical influence they could name. Just like a Jim Henson creation, The Extraordinaires possess a quirky sense of humor and theatricality, but never at the expense of real heart and substance. Sure, their albums are conceptual and packaged as cute little storybooks, but that doesn’t mean the songs themselves aren’t rock solid. And have you seen their packaging? It’s beautiful (courtesy of the crafty people at Punk Rock Payroll). Sure, their singer plays a guitar in the shape of a fish, but he plays it well. What I mean to say is, just when you thought Philly’s psych-folk-pop scene couldn’t get more fun, here’s The Extraordinaires. Also no strangers to a good time are Toy Soldiers, those rustic hootenanny-throwers with the singer who never fails to crank the white boy blues all the way to 11. And of course, there’s Dangerous Ponies, whose variety of giddy power pop and boy/girl vocals will probably get even the most curmudgeonly of your friends up and dancing. Oh yeah – don’t miss R5’s Punk Rock Flea Market this Sunday! Blockley Pourhouse, 38th and Chestnut, 9pm, $8, 21+
 
Other places to hide out with air conditioning…
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Do You Need Service?, Photon Band, Grimace Federation
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) SAT Goodnight Lights, The Quelle Source
 
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Necktie, Hessian, Call The Paramedics, SAT Frog Holler, Hezekiah Jones, Sisters 3
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The Great Vibration and The Almighty Terribles
 
M Room (12 W. Girard Ave.) SUN Workhorse 3 and Blessed Muthas
 
The Khyber (56 S. 2nd St.) SUN City Rain
 
Tritone (1508 South St.) SAT Karma Bat, SUN The Wallace Brothers Band
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT Peek-a-Boo Revue

Danger Danger Gallery (5013 Baltimore Ave.) FRI Eskimeaux and Motorcycle Maus

 
Greenline Café (4239 Locust St.) FRI Spirit and Dust and Zach Fay
 
Philadelphia’s Magic Garden (1020 South St.) SAT Chasing Arethusa and Gepetta
 
Punk Rock Flea Market Dome (461 N. 9th St.) SUN Punk Rock Flea Market
 

 

Philadelphia

Mad Decent Block Party Hits the Road!

Posted on:

We’re all looking forward to the Mad Decent Block Party at the end of July. Well, more cities around the country will be doing the same. The party plans to hit the road this August bringing along promises of “a super-secret headliner” at every performance as well as food and carnival games. Of course, there will be appearances by the usual suspects Diplo, Major Lazer, Maluca, PO PO, Bosco Delrey and Paul Devro. You’ll also be treated to Freddie Gibbs, Kid Sister, The Deathset, Blaqstarr, Ninjasonik, Theophilus London, and the Gaslamp Killer in select cities. And as long as you RSVP ahead of time, admission will be FREE. Here’s another freebie from Diplo. It’s a 60s rock-heavy mixtape (the first volume from his Pomp & Clout Mix Series) available for free download HERE.

Mad Decent Block Party:
07-31 Philadelphia, PA – Outside the Mad Decent Mausoleum
08-07 New York, NY – South Street Seaport
08-14 Los Angeles, CA – Premiere Events Center
08-21 Chicago, IL – The Hideout
 
– The Deli Staff
 

 

Philadelphia

Spirit and Dust Remain at Green Line Café July 23

Posted on:

As Spirit and Dust, Kristen Sylvester crafts world-weary meadow folk that transcends beyond her young, impressionable years. Her raspy voice is nothing if not profound, and as it sweeps immaculately over the plucky guitars and rustic compositions, it’s just aching for a revolution…now! And while Sylvester knows that Spirit and Dust’s music may not “cure depression, re-create the sexual revolution, or make brainwashed people suddenly wake up”, it’s hard not to think that someday it will. Watch Spirit and Dust try to change our world one note at a time tonight at Green Line Café with Zach Fray and Tradition (Canada). Green Life Café, 4426 Locust St, 7 pm, $5 donation, All Ages – Annamarya Scaccia
 

 

Philadelphia

Eastern Conference Champions Back in Town at JB’s July 22

Posted on:

So I’ve been planning to hit this show for weeks, and I just realized that I have to be in NYC. Well, I’m there in spirit, and I hope that you can make it out to Eastern Conference Champions tonight at JB’s. These Bucks County boys left for LA with a label deal and high hopes and like many who follow the glitz and glam of the majors, they ended up running into walls and pounding their heads in frustration. ECC are doing it on their own right now and happy. Armed with a relatively new member Melissa Dougherty, the boys are making moves through the maze of the entertainment biz in LA. The band must be doing something right because they recently landed their track “A Million Miles an Hour” on the soundtrack of Eclipse, the latest from the Twilight phenomenon/franchise. That’s pretty huge. Luckily most of those fans are not old enough to come into JB’s. I hope that they still play “Navy Man” and “Noah”! I know. I’m not even going to be there, but I was thinking of you. Make sure to get their early enough to catch Busses. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Q.D. Tran