Philadelphia

Dangerous Ponies Stampede into The Ox April 1

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Ever since they released their EP, Dr. Ponie Medicine Ponie, Dangerous Ponies have been bringing their traveling party of love to the masses. As one of the newer members of Punk Rock Payroll (The Extraordinaires, Lux Perpetua, Kill You In The Face), they’ve already hit the road for tours, played SXSW, and put together a dance fueled music video. And one night before they hit Virginia for the Macrock Music Festival, Philadelphia’s finest 7 piece queer and allied band is ready to play a set at The Ox tonight. Once they break out their electric sing-alongs inside the latest darling of Philly’s DIY venues, it’s sure to turn into a joyous celebration. Also on the lineup is Fishtown’s lo-fi garage rockers The Spooks who have been gaining some deserved attention of their own for their EP Sea Monster. The Ox, 2nd and Oxford, 8pm, $5, All Ages myspace.com/dangerousponies – Bill McThrill

 

Philadelphia

Get Intimate with Joshua Marcus at JB’s April 1

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With his unruly red beard and banjo in tow, you may mistake breakout Philadelphia-native Joshua Marcus for his doppelganger, indie-folk wonder Sam Beam. Although both musicians incorporate honest lyrics and southern influences into their sound, the similarity stops there. Marcus’ simple melodies are arranged around the raw power of his voice. He is able to express his passion and tell whole stories through different intonations. This ability gives his songs a certain intimacy like a warm Appalachian summer sitting on your back porch sipping a Bud while watching a buddy sing his life into the night. With his recent release, Reverse the Charges, Marcus traveled across the country, stopping in different states to record his experiences with ultimately over four-dozen fellow musicians. The effect is a sound of overlapping lives that ultimately become one American voice.  Experience a different world for an hour or two and stop by Johnny Brenda’s tonight. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ myspace.com/joshuamarcus (Photo by Chris Poppe) – Katie Bennett

 

Philadelphia

The Deli’s Featured Artist(s) of the Month: Ladyfingers

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So we tossed a few questions at our recent poll winner Ladyfingers (a.k.a. Adam Weiner). Weiner might throw like a girl, but he hit these questions out of the park. Check out a more-than-interesting interview with a not-so-average (or mediocre) guy. If you’d like to see his fingers in motion, you can catch him tonight at Millcreek Tavern or on April 9th at Patou (yes, strange but true) for a showcase being promoted by local/national music journalist A.D. Amorosi. He’ll be joined by Swampmeat and Jass, and promises that it will be a "swell time".  
 
The Deli: Where did you get the name “Ladyfingers” from?
 
Adam Weiner: I was playing piano in a drag karaoke bar in Manhattan, and this tiny Chinese man dressed up as Diana Ross whispered it in my ear.
 
TD: What are your biggest musical influences?
 
AW: Jerry Lee Lewis, Tom Waits, Cab Calloway, Little Richard, Dion, Hasil Adkins, Suicide, Leadbelly, Hank Williams, Ween, Fats Waller, Capt. Beefheart, Richard Simmons, "Love Me Tender", and this schizophrenic dude that sleeps in front of my laundromat. 
 
TD: What artists (local, national and/or international) are you currently listening to?
 
AW: Tune-yards, Swampmeat, Andre Williams, MJ…"Beat It" is playing right now on repeat. I’m trying to learn the solo.  
 
TD: What’s the first concert that you ever attended and first album that you ever bought?
 
AW: Alvin and the Chipmunks @ the Spectrum. Simon played the guitar with his teeth, and I cried. First album was Huey Lewis & the News. Someone told me recently they heard Huey’s influence on my stuff…which upsets me less than you think. 
 
TD: What do you love about Philly?
 
AW: I like that people really tell you what they are thinking all the time. I did a show once where someone yelled "MEDIOCRE ! "  after I finished baring my soul. I need that kind of honesty. 
 
TD: What do you hate about Philly?
 
AW: I really hate that people really tell you what they are thinking all the time. To that dude that told me I was mediocre…you’re an asshole!
 
TD: What are your plans for 2010?
 
AW: I’ve got a Ladyfingers movie coming out – a bunch of music videos with a tour documentary and me dancing in Wal-Mart parking lots in Texas and Louisiana! The score for the film is my new album OPEN YOUR ROBE…downloadable on my sites as well as the vinyl release…which is stellar!! People need to let this stuff into their lives. 
 
TD: What was your most memorable live show?
 
AW: The first time I went to England, I went to Birmingham and all these kids there knew all my tunes and were singing along and dancing really sexy. They treated me like a rock star and invited me out to this club for an after-party. I got stuck in the freight elevator for 3 hours, and the fire department had to come cut the door out with the jaws-of-life. I never made it to the after-party, and I nearly peed my pants. I feel that this is a touching metaphor for the fragile beauty of life. 
 
TD: What’s your favorite thing to get at the deli?
 
AW: Corned beef special with chopped liver and onions.  I’m Jewish, what did you expect me to say?
 
 
– The Deli Staff

 

Philadelphia

Hair Rocket Rock It @ M Room March 31

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I think that I might have been at the sophomore live performance of Hair Rocket. It was up in Bucks County at a cool little basement/art space called Pipedown (I think that it’s defunct now). Hair Rocket was a duo then with Blasucci on drums and vocals and Dallas Viety on keys and bass synthesizer. Since then, Blasucci has come out from behind the kit and plugged in his guitar proving once again that you don’t need the Berklee degree to rock the fuck out! Hair Rocket has evolved into a five-piece powerpop band with hooks galore. Now, they just need to lay down some new recordings that better represent what they’re currently up to. Lucky that Blasucci makes good use of his YouTube account. Here’s a new song “Motorcycle” that’s been stuck in my head for days. I may need to get my fix tonight at the M Room. M Room, 15 W. Girard St., 9pm, $8, 21+ myspace.com/hairrocket – Q.D. Tran

Philadelphia

The Last Emperor LIVE at Silk City March 30

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Philly’s superhero of hip hop and former Deli Tunes Wiz Wit showcase performer, The Last Emperor, returns from the Red Planet to save the day or should we say the evening when he celebrates tonight at Silk City the release of Science Team…Go!, a 20-song album mixed by DJ Mickey Knox and DJ Concept. It’s full of intelligent lyrical gymnastics that makes our underground warrior a hidden gem among the crappy manufactured hip hop polluting our airwaves. You can download a FREE copy for yourself here, and this is also a link to the artwork. Enjoy! Silk City, 435 Spring Garden St., 9pm, $5, 21+ myspace.com/redplanetmusic – Q.D. Tran

 

Philadelphia

You’ll Dig Death Panel at North Star Bar March 29

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Our man whose full of wit and whimsy (no, not Lord Whimsy), Death Panel (a.k.a. Charles Latham), is on a nice folky/anti-folky bill at North Star Bar tonight with Dylan-esque troubadour Pepi Ginsberg and Paste Magazine’s “Best of What’s Next” Tristen. But we’re pretty sure that with his well-crafted tunes and dynamic stage presence you’ll leave the show thinking “damn I really dug that Death Panel guy”. I sure did. North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 9pm, $8, 21+ myspace.com/sircharleslatham – H.M. Kauffman

 

Philadelphia

Party Photographers Wanna Take Your Picture at KFN March 28

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Ah, reverberating vocals buried in waves of hazy distortion. Count me among those who feel Philly needs more of a shoegaze scene (I’m not the only one, right?). Thankfully, Party Photographers are here to up the quota when it comes to introspective rock n’ roll rhythms that lie firmly between the likes of Jesus and Mary Chain and Black Tambourine (perhaps a more feminine version of the former, and a more rockin’ latter). Bouncy leads found in tracks like "Piano Vache" are the perfect counterpart to the claustrophobic psychedelia of "Four Legged Bird". If you want to get lost in some hazy drug dreams (without, necessarily, taking drugs – well, you can if you want to), head over to the Kung Fu Necktie where these guys and gals are joined by Beaches, Love of Diagrams and Mothers Day. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 North Front Street, 8 pm, $5, 21+ myspace.com/partyphotographers – Joe Poteracki
 

 

Philadelphia

Gemini Wolf Remix Album Release Partay at Tritone March 27

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Tritone will be holding a dance partay tonight when Gemini Wolf celebrates the release of Rare But Serious Side Effects, a remix album for Synchronized Eyes, on local label earSnake. They’ll be joined by fellow earSnaker and one woman dance partay herself Lillie Ruth Bussey (whom we heard will be getting an extra-long set for the evening) as well as “mad scientist” and former Girls Rock Philly camper Attia Taylor. So grab a city special and fried candy bar before you start jammin’ on the one! Tritone, 1508 South St., 9pm, $5, 21+ myspace.com/geminiwolf – H.M. Kauffman

 

Philadelphia

Jukebox the Ghost Back Home at JB’s March 27

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While you’re waiting for Jukebox the Ghost’s yet to be released album with Peter Katis (The National, Interpol, Mates of State) of Tarquin Studios, the boys will be ending their trip from SXSW and run with Tally Ho tonight at Johnny Brenda’s. You should come out and welcome them back because rest assured that they’ll be off and running from city to city again. But when they take the stage and break out classics like “Hold It In” and “Good Day” as well as the tandem guitar riffs and piano rhythms, it should feel like old times. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ myspace.com/jukeboxtheghost – Bill McThrill

 

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, March 26 – 28

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In case you missed our SXSW recap, one of West Philly’s finest Grandchildren wowed audiences during their shows, which included a trippy set with some man-made visuals at The Beauty Bar. This was all part of a southbound tour that included an appearance at this year’s VOV Festival in Arkansas. But now the band is finally ready to return back to homebase West Philly. Before they officially play a show at Danger Danger Gallery, Grandchildren is ready to bring a little bit of action to its neighbor Elena’s, and host an event like it has never seen before. They’ll be joined by another set of West Philly neighbors in Da Comrade!, who have really been making the rounds on the Philly circuit since the release of their newest album. Also on the lineup is TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb, who may be pulling an all-nighter bender on Baltimore Ave. since they just played Danger Danger Gallery last night. Elena’s, 4912 Baltimore Ave., 9:30pm, $5, 21+ myspace.com/grandchildren

 
Other places to hide this weekend from the flash mobs…
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Jukebox the Ghost
 
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Panic Years EP Release Party w/Robes and Overlook
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The National Rifle, SAT Urban Giants and McRad
 
M Room (12 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Adam & Dave’s Bloodline and Knife Show, SUN Ganto Barn
 
Tritone (1508 South St.) SAT Gemini Wolf, Lillie Ruth Bussey, Attia Taylor, SUN The Wallace Brothers Band
 
Blockley Pourhouse (3801 Chestnut St.) FRI Toy Soldiers, The Tressels, El Fuego,
SAT Igor’s Egg
 
Danger Danger Gallery (5013 Baltimore Ave.) SAT Chasing Arethusa
 
Pi Lam (3914 Spruce St.) FRI Big Attack!
 
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) SAT Xande Cruz
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI The Joe Jordan Experiment
 
The Ox (2nd and Oxford St.) SAT Rosetta
 
JR’s Bar (2327 S. Croskey St.) FRI Tough Shits and The Peace Creeps, SAT Party Photographers, Signals

 

Philadelphia

Toy Soldiers Storming the Banks of The Blockley Pourhouse March 26

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Don’t let the name fool you, Toy Soldiers are not the kind of band you want to play around with. Let’s just say that I wouldn’t want to get in a fight with the right fist of any of the male members. Not to mention that all those ferocious yet sultry female members could probably drink me under the table and bury a heel to my manhood. No, these Temple nice guys’ and sweethearts’ driving force of the evening are to have the best time ever on stage (and hopefully the audience will join them). Their energetic blues/folk ditties are even more radiant thanks to their jovial bluegrass-tinged harmonies that will have you singing along without even realizing it. I believe that I made a vocal comparison between singer Ron Gallo and self-proclaimed genius Ryan Adams, and I have found it more and more true, except Gallo has an even more impressive range and isn’t stuck constantly trying to replicate his forefathers. They recently announced that their album Whisper Down the Lane will get nationally re-released May 18th, 2010 on Drexel’s Mad Dragon Records, so go them. Other bands on the bill include The Tressels from “Tresselmania, Pennsylvania” who, with songs like “Brothel Blues” and “Prison Wine”, sound like they should be right at hom on this bill. Along with them will be El Fuego who I was lucky enough to catch live completely by accident a couple years ago, and it was one of the better mistakes of my life, my two-year-old boy topping that list. Just kidding I hate kids. They played a sweet mix of garage-rock and Against Me!-style punk that will either have you holding your lighter or punching your neighbor, your choice. Don’t miss out! The Blockley Pourhouse, 3801 Chestnut St., 9pm, 21+ myspace.com/ohnotoysoldiers – Adam G.
 

 

Philadelphia

Panic Years EP Release Party at North Star Bar March 26

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Panic Years will be celebrating the release of their EP Finally, Today Is Tomorrow tonight at the North Star Bar. Led by Virginia Beach transplants Ed Everett and Amy Miller, Panic Years bring us straightforward guitar indie rock from the gut. They’ll also be joined tonight by shoegazey indie popsters Robes and alt rockers Overlook . If you can’t wait for this evening, they’ll be performing live in the studio of local radio station 104.5 which will be broadcasted this afternoon. North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 9pm, $5, 21+ myspace.com/panicyears – H.M. Kauffman