Summer is here! And ‘tis the season to get out and have some fun. Our Weekend Warrior pick is goin’ to be a fuckin’ great time! So if you can find The Ox (reason one million and one why the El and Broad St. lines should run later), then you should be planted there when Reading Rainbow, Creepoid and Party Photographers hit the stage. You already know The Deli Philly’s recent End of the Year Overall Poll Winner, Reading Rainbow, who combine gorgeous harmonies, raging yet melodic guitar riffs and punchy precise drumbeats to put some serious shakin’ in your bones. Can we still count the number of Creepoid live performances on one hand? Buzz, buzz, buzz…we’re creating some of our own. Check out the review of their debut EP Yellow Life Giver in our CD of the Month section (to the right)! We are definitely digging their live set too. And Party Photographers will give you all the fuzzy walls of sound and feelings of disillusionment that you can handle. As if that wasn’t enough, Miami’s The Jacuzzi Boys will be rockin’ with their beach party enthusiasm to close out the evening. Grab whatever gets you off and head on over to The Ox this Saturday for some fun,fun,fun! ‘Tis the season – remember!?! The Ox, 2nd and Oxford, 8pm, $5, All Ages

 

Many more things to get you out of your place…

 

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Prowler, SAT 722

 

North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI The Sermon

 

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Cheap Dinosaurs, SAT Electric City and Kuf Knotz

 

M Room (12 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Anvil Bitch, SAT Gondola and Serpent Throne

 

The Khyber (56 S. 2nd St.) FRI Bacio, SAT Suttercane SUN The Sobriquets
 
Tritone (1508 South St.) FRI Sideshow Prophets

 

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI The Spinning Leaves and Downtown Harvest

Blockley Pourhouse (3801 Chestnut St.) SAT Government Cheaze Album Release Party

 

Danger Danger Gallery (5013 Baltimore Ave.) FRI The National Rifle

 

Millcreek Tavern (4200 Chester Ave.) FRI Swift Technique and The Groovement

 

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Zombie Beach Party w/The Slotcars

 

The Ox (2nd and Oxford St.) SAT Party Photographers, Creepoid, Reading Rainbow

 

JR’s Bar (2327 S. Croskey St.) SAT Jukebox Zeros and The Handsome Petes

 

Pterodactyl (3237 Amber St.) SAT Big Art Show w/ Grandchildren, Oh! Pears, Cheers Elephant

 

Murph’s Bar (202 E. Girard Ave.) SAT Experience Kef

 

Crane Arts Building (1400 N. American St.) SAT and SUN Art For The Cash Poor 11 w/ McRad, The Josh and Pete Band, North Lawrence Midnight Singers, Knife Show, and more 

 

Eris Temple (602 S. 52nd St.) SAT “Yellow” / “bunnies” Video Release Party w/ Radio Eris

 

The Ellen Powell Tiberino Museum (3819 Hamilton St.) FRI Carnivolution w/ Hydrogen Jukebox, The Radarmen, Squidling Bros. Circus Sideshow

 

First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) SAT Mischief Brew

 

The Rotunda (4014 Walnut St.) SAT Birdie Busch

 

The Moonlight Forest (515 Memorial Highway) SAT Iris and Shibley Fest I w/ The Spinning Leaves, Chris Kaspar, Mason Porter, Psalmships, Papertrees, Tin Bird Choir, and more

 

Dock Street Brew Pub (701 S. 50th St.) SUN Dock Street 2nd Annual Music Festival w/ Grandchildren, The Homophones, Chasing Arethusa, Among Criminals, Stinking Lizaveta

 

 

There was a time when bands would whip out a video game theme song, and it would instantly bring smiles to the audience’s face while it brought them back to all those joyous hours wasted without a care in the world. Then, it became lame because everyone was doing it, and you were forever labeled as one of those “Nintendo bands”. Well, the 8-bit subculture is alive and kickin’, but this is a generation that’s ready to dance and robots are certainly welcomed. Cheap Dinosaurs, solo project by The Fire’s fuzzy-haired sound guy Dino Lionetti, creates hot beats that will get you dancin’ out of any danger that you might encounter through the evening. Just watch out for the magic mushrooms. – Q.D. Tran

 

Chris Wood is, and always has been, unstoppable. He’s an essential part of a few different local bands, all of which are worth checking out, but Orbit to Leslie is arguably his best project. Elements of surf, afro-beat, and everything else under the sun stew in a pop confection that never fails to impress. If you’ve listened to their debut album The World Was Saved With Chocolate Cake, which came out late last year, you’d already know just how much creativity is felt in the nuances songs like "Elephant Fist", with its Caribbean-sounding shuffle or the elegant psych-rock of "Soul Survivors". And as a bonus treat, they’re joined by those polyrhythmic wonders Grandchildren, whom you can also catch at The 2nd Annual Dock Street Music Festival and at Pterodactyl (with Oh! Pears and Cheers Elephant) this week if you are a rabid fan who just can’t get enough. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front Street, 8pm, $8, 21+ – Joe Poteracki

 

 

 

 

It’s better, but I still never think cops and good times mix well. Does the bill still suck to you? Well, it’s not too late to voice your opinion.

 

– Q.D. Tran

 

Enjoy the weather folks because I’m predicting that it’s going to be a hot summer! That’s why I’m steppin’ out tonight to Silk City to rock out with the ladies of Post Post and Pony Pants. Yes – fellas, you’re invited too. Post Post is a group that we are happy to see gettin’ some buzz lately and with good reason. For such a young band, their chemistry is undeniable as they churn out some catchy-ass tunes, and Michelle Zauner’s troubled-teen vocals could certainly become the guilty pleasure of tight-jeaned, testosterone-filled indie rockers all over. What shouldn’t be any rockers’ guilty pleasure are Pony Pants because that’s what they came here to do. Well that and maybe “do drugs and fuck! Ah, what!?!” Silk City, 435 Spring Garden St., 9pm, $5, 21+ (Post Post Photo by Noah Temple) 

OK, so I owe my deepest apologies to Ms. ‘tine-‘tine. She had sent me her answers to our interview questions. I just realized the other day that I forgot to post them before I left for Amsterdam (and then I forgot a lot more there). Well, better late than never – right? It’s like that period after the condom broke. Right, ladies and gents? Sorry, I was just channeling my inner ‘tine-‘tine. Here are some words from the real STDiva for you.

 

The Deli: Who is ‘tine-‘tine?

‘tine-‘tine: ‘tine-‘tine is just me, Christine Griffis. A baby at a daycare I used to work at called me it, and I liked it. I never did like "Chris" as a nickname; it seems masculine to me, and besides, it’s what my parents called me when they were mad.

 

TD: What are your biggest musical influences?

 

‘t-‘t: Peaches, Moldy Peaches, The Blow.

 

TD: What artists (local, national and/or international) are you currently listening to?

 

‘t-‘t: I’ve been fortunate to perform with really awesome guys and get free cds from doing so. Some local faves include: Chang Chang (Philly), Applejackzzz (NYC), and Social Studies (Baltimore). Also, my car CD player thinks it’s 2007 and insists on playing The Dream’s Love/Hate and Of Montreal’s Hissing Fauna all the time.

 

TD: What’s the first concert that you ever attended and first album that you ever bought?

 

‘t-‘t: My first concert was Marilyn Manson when I was 14. When I was turning 7, I asked my mom for Madonna’s "Immaculate Collection". I didn’t think she’d buy it for me, but to my surprise, she did that and also threw me a Madonna-themed birthday party; my 1 yr. old cousin wore neglige over his onesie.

TD: What do you love about Philly?

 

‘t-‘t: The grittiness of the natives.

 

TD: What do you hate about Philly?

 

‘t-‘t: The grittiness of the natives.

 

TD: What are your plans for 2010?

 

‘t-‘t: Dick suckin’, grad schoolin’, full-time-workin’, ‘tine-‘tinein’…mostly dick suckin’ though (Shout outz to Drewpeabottom whaaaaaaaaaat).

 

TD: What was your most memorable live show?

‘t-‘t: I did a show at Otto’s Shrunken Head in NYC. They were playing metal in the front bar, and an industrial dance party was to take place soon in back, where I was playing. Metalheads from the bar and hippies who came to see the acoustic act before me watched my set. They laughed. Really hard. In a good way. It was the first time I remember an audience not comprised solely of my friends liking me so much.

TD: What’s your favorite thing to get at the deli?

 

‘t-‘t: Huggies. DUH.

 

– Q.D. Tran

 

Shaped by the vibes of Sigur Ros and Mew, Northern Valentine’s dreamy soundscapes tactfully prove that less is more. Fronted by Robert and Amy Brown, this deliciously ambient four-piece have shared their post-rock from classrooms to clubs and even churches. Firm believers in the idea that “no venue is too large or too small,” their’08 Icelandic tour marked the first musical performance in Viðeyjarkirkja since 1774. Less sinking than Mogwai’s The Hawk Is Howling, The Browns’ and their bandmates’ instrumentation is sweeping with buzzing transitions and delicate licks of guitar. Atmospheric, tracks like “Sleeping Weapons” swell in fullness, each riff creating an arch in theme and sound. Undoubtedly cerebral, yet full of heart, Northern Valentine create a middle ground between concrete and abstract, crafting a soundtrack that leaves listeners room for their own interpretation. M Room, 15 W. Girard Ave., 8 pm, $8, 21+ – Dianca Potts

 

OK – if you haven’t figured it out yet, Levee Drivers fuckin’ rock! But I would suggest not following them to any after-parties. (Hey guys – who’s Lauren?) No, we really had a blast when they performed at our Best of Philly Showcase at The Ox w/Reading Rainbow and Grandchildren. They were also nice enough to get me home safely when the cabbies wouldn’t come pick me up in the no-man’s land neighborhood of The Ox. The Khyber is certainly an easy stroll from the Festival Pier if you’re still ready for more after The Roots Picnic. The Khyber, 56 S. 2nd St., 9pm, $8, 21+ – Q.D. Tran