Not headed down the shore this weekend? Philly is hosting plenty of shows that will make you want to stay in the city over the long Memorial Day Weekend. Start the holiday off right on Friday with Curly Castro and Carl Kavorkian, who are opening for progressive/alt hip-hop artists Bill Woods and PremRock at Kung Fu Necktie. Emcee/producer/DJ Carl Kavorkian will be kicking things off, so make sure to get there early! Since 2002, Kavorkian has shared numerous releases, including the cult favorite, Uglyass Music series ("ugly" because the tracks are rough mixes that were recorded on old formatting). Brooklyn native turned Philly rapper Curly Castro has been on the scene for the last decade, working with a group of talented local artists, dubbed the Wrecking Crew, as well as some NYC big hitters, like PremRock. On his debut label release, FIDEL (ManBitesDog), he seamlessly drops references to icons like W.E.B. Du Bois and hits on racism and segregation on tracks like, “Colored Water Fountain.” He also just self-released his latest LP Restroy & Debuild. These artists will all be touching on the big issues, so keep your ears open for some words of wisdom. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., $10, 7pm, 21+ – Emily DiCicco
