If you go to the Italian Market Festival on either Saturday or Sunday, then it goes without saying that you plan on indulging a little on all the wonderful food, vendors, and sights. But another major thing to check out during the festival is the live music courtesy of Connie’s Ric Rac and MGK 102.9. I’ll probably spend more of my time at Connie’s Stage. On Saturday, you’ll find artists like Euro folk crooner Cowmuddy, folk darlings The Spinning Leaves (who will play after being a part of the Art Star Craft Bazaar), The Josh and Pete Band while Sunday features acts like the psychedelic soul tinged beats of Oso, the folk mastery of The Great Unknown (who play their 3rd set this weekend after performing at Art Star Craft Bazaar and Toy Soldiers’ album release on Saturday) and many more. MGK’s Stage is anchored by Pawnshop Roses both days. Italian Market Festival, 9th St., 11am – 5pm, Free, All Ages – Bill McThrill

What started out as a nice little show at World Café Live put together by Andy Molholt (of The Armchairs) with buddies The Extraordinaires and Toys Soldiers has been turned into a local music extravaganza by The Fire’s Derek Dorsey and his young Temple protégés to celebrate Toy Soldiers re-release of Whisper Down the Lane on Drexel’s Mad Dragon Records at the TLA. Added to the original bill will be Drink Up Buttercup, The Great Unknown and Lady. This is a pretty sweet lineup. We’re also very interested to see if a few of the smaller local buzz bands can join forces to fill out a relatively massive venue for most of the acts on the bill at this stage in their careers. So come out and show your support for hometown music this Saturday! Hopefully you’ll be able to make it out after all the FREE daytime festivities.

 

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI The Fractals and Zach Djanikian (of The Brakes), SAT Hermit Thrushes and The Circadian Rhythms

 

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Mincemeat or Tenspeed, SAT American Speedway, Kingsnake, Backwoods Payback SUN The Asteroid #4

 

North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Steve Goldberg & The Arch Enemies

 

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Fantasy Square Garden. SAT Cheap Dinosaurs, I Yahn I Arkestra,

 

M Room (12 W. Girard Ave.) FRI (Early) Orbit To Leslie, (Late) Live Not on Evil, SAT The It is, SUN Broken Prayers

 

The Khyber (56 S. 2nd St.) FRI Kuf Knotz, Vitamin F, SAT Post Post, SUN Ports of Call

 
Tritone (1508 South St.) SUN Hennessey and Chris Coyle

 

Blockley Pourhouse (3801 Chestnut St.) FRI Blue Method and Swift Technique, SAT Parachuting Apostles

 

Danger Danger Gallery (5013 Baltimore Ave.) FRI Banned Books

 

JR’s Bar (2327 S. Croskey St.) FRI Hessians, Vulcan, Infernal Stronghold

 

Mar Bar (200 S. 40th St.) SAT Kevin James Devine

 

Murph’s Bar (202 E. Girard Ave.) SAT The Last Barbarians

 

Italian Market Festival (9th St.) SAT (Connie’s Stage) Cow Muddy, The Spinning Leaves, The Josh & Pete Band, Johnny Miles, (MGK’s Stage) Pawnshop Roses, SUN (Connie’s Stage) The Major Leagues, Oso, The Sleepwells, The Discount Heroes, The Great Unknown

 

Ellen Powell Tiberino Museum (3819 Hamilton St.) FRI Carnivolution w/The Hydrogen Jukebox and The Radarmen

 

Art Star Craft Bazaar The Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing (on Columbus Blvd. between Market St. & Walnut St.) SAT The Spinning Leaves, The Great Unknown, Ron Gallo & Friends, Oh! Pears, Arc In Round, North Lawrence Midnight Singers, SUN Invisible Like a Fox, Songs for Lonesome Hearts, Gildon Works, The Invisible Friends

The local favorites Dr. Dog who apparently whole-heartedly believe that they were born forty years too late will be making a jump forward when they headline the Electric Factory tonight. Their home stands have become larger and larger spectacles with each subsequent release. Recently back in December, they did two sold out shows at the TLA along with a secret show at JB’s. Dr. Dog has been making every gig seem intimate and enthralling regardless of their venue, so I have no doubt  that they will fill every corner of that monstrous hunk of a tin can venue. They have been bringing out Scott McMicken’s Golden Retriever at shows which will make even the crustiest punk’s heart beat somewhat regularly. Dr. Dog’s newest album Shame Shame is their debut for ANTI- after leaving local label Park the Van. This hometown gig will certainly be chalked full of crowd favorites, onstage banter and an impressive run through their recent new album. Oh yeah, and that really young country-skuzz fenom Dear Tick is also playing the show, so if you are into really over groomed hair and under groomed staches than maybe you will want to watch whatever he does. Electric Factory, 421 N. 7th St. (btw Callowhill & Spring Garden Sts.), 9pm, All Ages – Adam G.

It’s impossible to walk through Northern Liberties or the neighboring streets of Fishtown without crossing paths with walls bearing Busses’ name. Slightly trippy and fascinating, this three piece’s sound mirrors Nick Apice’s eloquently composed posters, lending an audible component to sentiments easily felt while face to face with each print. Mixing fuzzed-out psych with jazzy riffs and vocalist Dave Brett’s 90s vibe, Busses’ tracks sound a lot like Deep Elm’s original roster, but with less lethargy. “Foundation Myth,” with a buzzing intro growls along with the crash of drums and tambourine. Brett’s voice wavers between melodic and reckless abandon in a fashion comfortably close to early Modest Mouse. Beside the quiet start of “Stationary” and "The Socialist" the depth of
Busses’ sound is subtle yet enveloping, Enticing listeners to sway and become transformed beneath the swell of beats and chords. Set to celebrate their latest release, catch Busses with Arc in Round’s Jeff Zeigler and Oh! Pears’ Corey Duncan. Khyber. 56 S. Second St., 9pm, $8, 21+ – Dianca Potts

Sure, The Ox may come across as one of the shadiest places to play in Philly. You have to ascend a dark, creepy stairwell and then navigate a couple quiet, empty corridors before you realize "Oh! There’s a show here." But once you’re in the right spot, you’re bound to have a great time! Especially when you’re about to see up-and-coming acts like The Spooks, whose brand of retro garage sound like all the best Nuggets compilations combined and then sprinkled with a bit of surf rock, and Party Photographers so be prepared for waves of  intoxicating distortion and reverb a la Jesus and Mary Chain or Black Tambourine. The Ox, 2nd and Oxford, 8pm, $5, All Ages – Joe Poteracki

When the West Philly Orchestra takes the stage at Tritone tonight, it will be the usual high-energy Balkan dance party that you are accustomed to, but on this special evening the mood will be filled with a little medieval enchantment courtesy of the Oubliette Ensemble. The pragmatic West Philly folk quintet has taken their music to the renaissance fair on last year’s self-titled debut Sacre et Profane. And when the interwoven sounds of harp, accordion, mandolin, flutes, cello, and more combine with the serene voices of Cynthia James and Melissa Santangelo, it makes for one mystical experience. So while the combo might not look like a perfect match on paper, their old-world charm will certainly win you over. Tritone, 1508 South St., 10pm, $5, 21+ (Jordan Shayer) – Bill McThrill

So I’m finally out of Brussels, the most Wi-Fi unfriendly city that I have ever been to, and I am definitely over hearing everybody speaking French. I don’t understand. If I’m suppose to get free Wi-Fi at my hotel and it’s not working, why the hell would the front desk girl in her snotty French accent tell me that I should call their provider to get it fixed!?! And this was a nice hotel. (Sorry New Motels, I had a writeup for your CD release party this past weekend – hope it was a blast, but I couldn’t find any internet access to post it – also my apologies to anyone who’s been trying to get in touch with me.) I’ve done Brussels. I won’t be back, but I did love drinking tasty Belgian drafts in sweet glasses for about three Euros. I also had a chance to sneak into a party for the Brusssels’ Short Film Festival sponsored by Chimay which was cool. (I may have acquired a couple of Chimay glasses to use at home.) My city special taste buds are way too spoiled right now. Well, I just made it to Amsterdam, and I’m glad my hotel has free Wi-Fi even though it’s only in the lobby. I’m about to head to Abraxas coffee shop to take a few to the head since I couldn’t find any in Brussels (lame). Just wanted to remind everyone about our new DIY feature to add your project to our genre charts. Now, if you click on Join Charts, you can add your own band to our charts! We welcome everyone to use the many DIY features that we offer such as our Open Blog and Events Calendar (on the right hand side of our site) that we have for you to promote yourselves. Hope all is sunny in Philadelphia. It’s a little hazy here. Hopefully I will be soon too. Cheers! – Q.D. Tran

Keytar God Mose Giganticus recently became the newest acquisition of Relapse Records. His upcoming release Gift Horse is going to feature a heavy hitting sound. Being no stranger to touring, Mose is ready to pack up the vegetable oil powered van and hit the road before the albums release. And tonight’s show at Danger Danger Gallery will be the tour’s kick-off party. The Robot Rocker may even be set to do double duty if the chance arises because another project that he’s been heavily involved with, Hulk Smash, will take the stage with their rampaging barrage of gamma-rayed tunes. The group recently put out an impressive release in Jeer, and took part in PiLam’s “Two Piece Fest”. Danger Danger Gallery, 5013 Baltimore Ave., $5 – $10 donation, All Ages (Photo by Laura Webb) – Bill McThrill

Younglove specializes in new, underground and hard-to-find vinyl, used slabs of wax, vintage men’s and women’s clothing and accessories, magazines, and vintage music gear. It has been the next door neighbor of the Danger Danger Gallery for a little bit now, but today they will be hosting their official “grand opening” party. Photographer/actress/musician Molly Landergan will be showing her photographic works titled Still Looking which “blurs the border between waking and sleep, public and private”. You may know Landergan from her onscreen debut in Oddsac, the recent collaboration between local director Danny Perez and Animal Collective. She’ll be joined by some of Philly’s finest experimental lo-fi adventurists, U.S. Girls, Serpents of W.I.S.D.O.M. and Akasha Blade. They’ll be performing from 7 – 9pm “amidst the murky, dreamlike images of themselves” as captured by Landergan. You’ll also be treated to some FREE tasty BBQ food (vegetarian, meatatarian and vegan) grilled by a crew of Badmaster all-stars as well a keg and fancy adult drinks from their wet bar. This definitely sounds uber-fun! The event also coincides with “West Philly’s 2nd Saturday Craft Fair” hosted by VIX Emporium and Satellite Café so it looks like you have a good reason to hand out all day and night on the other side of the Schuykill River. Younglove, 5011 Baltimore Ave., 5pm, FREE, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman

 

When it comes down to it, Aqua Teen Hunger Force are “#1 in the Hood G”, and if you’re a fan then that’s why you’re probably scrambling to see the show’s creators put on a live performance at The Troc tonight. But Frylock, Meatwad and Grand Master Shake wouldn’t have received that timeless moniker if it wasn’t for our local “Godfather of Gangsta Rap”, Schoolly D, who will be opening the evening. Along with the show’s theme, expect him to dish out his latest single “Family Affair”, and some songs from his upcoming album International Supersport! The Troc, 1003 Arch St., 8pm, $24, All Ages (Photo by Jonene Taddel) – Bill McThrill