Philadelphia

An American Chinese Cookin’ Up Tasty Grooves at DDG May 26

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Local favorites An American Chinese are coming into the Danger Danger Gallery tonight where they will bring their youthful, psychedelic folk rock to eager ears. An American Chinese can carry themselves as atmospheric folk adventurers the likes of Manitoba (ex-Caribou) while quickly switching gears to a more Elephant 6 tinged sound. They have an impressive list of opening credits for such notable acts like Margot and The Nuclear So & So’s (awesome show) and Los Campesinos! Still coasting on the momentum of their Panic Pilgrim EP, but expect their long-awaited album Utopian Tree to come out soon (hopefully). We heard earlier this month that that it is being pressed. Danger Danger Gallery. 5013 Baltimore Ave. 9pm, $5 – $10 donation, All Ages – Adam G.

 

 

Philadelphia

FYI on DIYs in PHL: Girls Rock Philly

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Let’s face it. Philly needs a lot of things, but we certainly need more music education programs. Lucky we have the ladies of Girls Rock Philly (GRP) helping to foster a generation of female rockers. Beth Warshaw-Duncan, Director of GRP, was kind enough to take some time out of her busy schedule to answer a few of our questions as she prepares for their very first Ladies Rock Camp this weekend (sorry ladies, registration is closed), which will culminate with a showcase on Monday, May 31st at Tritone presented by Sugar Town/Ladies Rock Philly.
 
The Deli: Please tell us what Girls Rock Philly is about.
 
Beth Warshaw-Duncan: Girls Rock Philly (GRP) is Philadelphia’s only rock n’ roll camp for girls —  a week-long summer day camp serving junior rockers ages 9-17. Led by a team of all female instructors, band coaches & mentors, girls in the program learn how to play musical instruments, write songs, make their own band merchandise, discover other women in rock & finesse their on-stage jump kicks. They write original songs that they play at a showcase at the Trocadero on Saturday, August 14th & then record their original songs for a studio CD that comes out in the fall.
 
TD: How did Girls Rock Philly start?
 
BWD: I founded GRP after I volunteered at the Willie Mae Rock Camp in New York for their first two years, then decided to bring the idea of camp to Philadelphia once I saw the good it did for the girls and women each camp week.
 
TD: What do you want for the girls to get when they leave your camp?
 
BWD: All of the campers leave camp having written, played, and recorded at least one new original song with their new band, to which they own the copyrights. They can also continue to play for free using our fully-stocked practice space, either by themselves or with their bands or friends. Intangibly, the girls leave with a new network of friends to write & play songs with, or just hang out with. And they’ve discovered a lot of women they might not see in the media they consume — women who aren’t necessarily internationally famous, but are still making music & having a great time. The girls have also learned to try something new & seen themselves succeed, which is just immeasurable in how they live their lives.
 
TD: What made you want to start Ladies Rock Camp?
 
BWD: Because women are always saying that they wished they had rock camp when they were girls! We also realized how little time we spend in all-female environments & how much good they can do as a safe space, where you can drop out of your daily life & try something you’ve always wanted to try — it’s not too late!
 
TD: What should the ladies expect from the weekend?
 
BWD: Ladies should expect to have a great time! They’ll learn the basics of the instruments of their choice in a really positive atmosphere, they’ll be able to learn a bit about the music industry, and they’ll be able to write songs together & play in front of a supportive crowd.  We also have some great after-parties planned after each day of playing & writing!
 
TD: What do you love about Philly?
 
BWD: That everyone has something of their own going on & it’s always worth checking out. People in this town are often amazingly willing to work together to make something awesome happen to improve their own communities.
 
TD: What do you hate about Philly?
 
BWD: The weather, mostly. And the fact that we still have an old guard here that is resistant to change in their neighborhoods, which causes some serious tension.
 
TD: What artists (local, national and/or international) are you currently listening to?
 
BWD: The latest people I’m listening to all tend to be people I know. BUT, those records stand up to anything being put out on major/national indie labels: Busses, Arc In Round, Attia Taylor (whom we all love, obviously). I’m also really looking forward to the Erykah Badu/Janelle Monae show next month.
 
TD: What’s the first concert that you ever attended and first album that you ever bought?
 
BWD: The first show I ever bought a ticket for with my own money: Jeff Buckley/Juliana Hatfield in May, 1995 at the Troc. The first album I ever bought with my own money was actually my first CD — Arrested Development.
 
TD: What’s your favorite thing to get at the deli?
 
BWD: I’m a vegetarian & am not a huge fan of sandwiches (no e-mails, please!), so I’d probably grab a Diet Coke.
 
– The Deli Staff

 

Philadelphia

Artist(s) Who Deserve Your Friendship: Dressed Like Stolen Cars

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Dressed Like Stolen Cars is an odd name and a relatively new band to emerge onto our beloved music scene. They write happy old-timey rock ‘n roll grooves with a hint of Brit-pop and plenty of Morrissey glass-half-full lyrics. They seem like a group that XPN could latch onto and put in heavy rotation to give their playlist a little more of an edge in the adult contemporary world and some street cred in the sometimes apathetic too-cool-for-school indie world. Dressed Like Stolen Cars’ demos certainly sound very promising. – Q.D. Tran
 

 

Philadelphia

Kevin James Devine Changes His Name to James Quinn

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“Local singer/songwriter Kevin James Devine has changed his name to James Quinn. This is to avoid future mix ups involving him and Kevin Devine (Brother’s Blood). Go to his new myspace here. Also, if you email him at jamesquinnbooking@gmail.com with your name, email address, mailing address, and number of samplers you’d like, he will mail you as many 2 song samplers as you’d like. Your information will remain private. Thank you!” – From The Open Blog

 

 

Philadelphia

Kurt Vile New EP Drops and Available for FREE Download Today May 25

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Kurt Vile’s latest release the Square Shell EP drops today digitally and on 12” from Matador Records. You can download it for FREE at the Matablog. It’ll be available only for the next 24 hours, and you’ll have to give up your e-mail address. But haven’t you accumulated enough junk e-mail accounts already? Or are you like my sister who still uses her original AOL account? – Q.D. Tran

 
Philadelphia

Hezekiah Jones Hosts The Philly Folk Parade at The Fire May 25

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Tonight is the final night of the May Tuesday residency at The Fire for The Philly Folk Parade, which was brought to you by Excited Light Productions (Michael Baker and Barbara Gettes of The Spinning Leaves – check out the review of their latest album LOVE below) and friends. One of our favorite songwriters Hezekiah Jones will be hosting the evening. Expect it to be a loose, fun night with a lot of friends joining each other on stage. Come join the warm glow of good vibes that will certainly be filling the room! The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 9pm, $6, 21+ (Photo by Lisa Schaffer) – H.M. Kauffman

 

 

Philadelphia

Marshall Allen Celebrates His 86th Birthday at JB’s May 25

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It’s bad enough that ever since I turned 21, each birthday seems to loom around the corner. Now, I have to be reminded when someone else’s birthday comes that another year has passed me by. But when it’s a local living legend like Marshall Allen, I gladly cheers to another day of life, and thank that at 86 years young he is ready to take us on another cosmic adventure with Sun Ra Arkestra. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $12, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman
 

 

Philadelphia

Album Review: LOVE – The Spinning Leaves

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Right in the opening of The Spinning Leaves‘ debut LOVE, we hear a bit of chatter and some joyful exclamations, both of which are good indicators of the kind of group we’re dealing with here. Rarely is that sense of camaraderie and honest-to-goodness fun felt even at a show, much less on record, and that’s probably what makes the album so endearing.
Certainly there are a lot of folk acts in Philly, and a lot of them draw heavily from Dylan, and The Spinning Leaves are no different in that regard. A few of the tracks rely (rather beautifully, of course) on a slightly raspy drawl and harmonica. But this isn’t to say that the album holds no surprises; far from it. "Try, Try, Try, Try, Try, Try" takes advantage of some horns to whip up a sort of New Orleans jazz ditty. The sitar in "Marigolds" is rather unexpected, as are the gypsy guitar stylings in "A Tale of the Northern Lights". These variations never get spread too thin, thankfully, as the album runs about 45 minutes (the perfect length, in my opinion).
 
My favorite parts of the record though are still the little inserts at the beginnings of certain songs. The chatter on the first track, again, is a highlight, but a variety of other noises can be heard on LOVE, from the crackling of a bonfire to the oddly dark spoken-word piece "Together". Little touches like this give the album a sense of something beyond itself. You’re not just listening to a CD, you’re having an experience, however quaint and modest that experience may be.
But hopefully with all this talk of "little touches", I’m not making anything about the record seem gimmicky. Because gimmicky it is not. At the heart of LOVE is charming boy/girl vocals, solid songwriting, and beautifully crisp production. And you get the sense that, if you asked The Spinning Leaves themselves, they’d probably say that’s all they need.
 
– Joe Poteracki
 

 

Philadelphia

California Dreamin’ with Creepoid at DDG May 23

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As the latter days of spring advance towards summer nights, fans of daydreams and lo-fi crush hard on bands like Creepoid for their swirling dreamy soundscapes and irresistible vibes. Initially formed as side project by The G’s Patrick and Anna Troxel, Creepoid’s conception took place during the onset of a snowpocalypse and the buzz of a handful of drinks. Aided by a reel-to-reel tape machine circa ‘56 and former member of The G, Petejoe Urban, Creepoid’s sound began to take shape. Philly’s rendition of a predominately West Coast vibe, Creepoid’s dream-pop is cooked up in dirty basements on already recorded on tapes. Somehow more substantial than their Left Coast peers, their songs are intriguingly eerie and equally chill. Already having opened for Best Coast and local wunderkind Kurt Vile, catch Creepoid tonight with Medications and Deleted Scenes, and hear what the warm fuzzy buzz is all about. Danger Danger Gallery. 5013 Baltimore Ave. 9pm, $5, All Ages – Dianca Potts
 

 

Philadelphia

Philadelphia Slick EP Release Party at The Blockley Pourhouse May 22

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Since 2005, Philadelphia Slick have been giving Philly a fresh burst of jazz laden hip hop. It’s their 5th anniversary, and it also happens to coincide with the release of their latest EP Everything’s Game, which features impressive tracks like “Everything Must Go”, and guest appearances by Via Motive’s emcee Storyville and The Hustle’s Kuf Knotz. The band certainly has a lot to celebrate at The Blockley tonight so expect a torrent of horns, keyboards, and rhyme fueled hooks. They’ll be joined by the refreshing hip hop stylings of The Hustle who will be doing double duty today with a performance at Maysie’s Farmfest. The Blockley Pourhouse, 3801 Chestnut St., 10pm, $5, 21+ – Bill McThrill


 

 

Philadelphia

Northern Liberties – No Yuppies Please at Highwire Gallery May 22

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Notorious for their unhinged and intense on stage force, post-punk experimenters Northern Liberties give new meaning to (awesome) auditory unpredictability. With three full-length albums, two 7” and one full-length single-song 12” vinyl release, this battered music-meets-performance art trio puts garage rock through the grinder, leaving us with a self-possessed noise meat pie. This evening, Northern Liberties will bring this controlled spazz to the side lot of Highwire Gallery for its Fire Museum Presents: West Philly Heads East! showcase with bands-in-arms Circles (complete with guest choir), and Signals. Digital master Jimbotron will provide the electronics inside the gallery. Highwire Gallery, 2040 Frankford Ave., 6pm, Free, All Ages (Photo by Enid Crow) – Annamarya Scaccia
 

 

Philadelphia

Weekend Warrior, May 21 – 23

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OK, grab whatever utensils that you use to get those skinny jeans and cut-off shorts on because it’s time to GET RAD one more time! While the official celebratory date is May 28, Dave P and the crew are set to bend time, space and sound with “The Making Time 10 Year Anniversary Summer of Radness Blast-Off Weekend Finale” this Saturday. Can you believe that it has been 10 years already? (Don’t worry – you still look OK for your age. Just work on that little beer gut.) Well, the peeps that have brought such artists like The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip and many more into your lives don’t plan to stop! They’ll be bringing legendary NYC post punk/disco punk band Liquid Liquid and local dance party favorites Pink Skull along for their cosmic journey at Voyeur. So throw on your hippest duds because you will be watched!
 
We also have a warm spot for Jon Rehr a.k.a. Chang Chang. He’ll be celebrating the release of Yo Man…Chang Chang Has the Best Friends EP (produced by Ruinit). It will be a double record release party with buddies Doctor Scientist who will be partying down for their latest release Prehistoric Times. Chang Chang will also premiere his video which was directed by Elizabeth Sentry. The Homophones will be joining them as well as the host with most ‘tine-‘tine who will be providing the music interludes between sets.
 
Other things to keep you occupied this weekend…
 
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Chang Chang & Dr. Scientist Album Release Party w/The Homophones
 
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) SAT Gas Money
 
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Ryat, SAT Surgeon, The Subtle Urge, Grindcity, SUN Sure Juror, Officer Roseland
 
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Swift Technique, SUN The Menzingers CD Release Party w/The Holy Mess
 
M Room (12 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Rumpelstiltskin Grinder and Vulcan, SAT Organ Blues, SUN Beretta76
 
The Khyber (56 S. 2nd St.) FRI Cheers Elephant, The New Connection, Paper Cat
 
Tritone (1508 South St.) SAT Wareika Hill
 
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Beaucoup Blues, SAT (Downstairs) Jealousy Curve CD Release Paty w/IKE

Blockley Pourhouse (3801 Chestnut St.) FRI Pawnshop Roses, SAT Philadelphia Slick EP Release Party w/The Hustle

 
Danger Danger Gallery (5013 Baltimore Ave.) SUN Creepoid
 
Greenline Café (4239 Locust St.) FRI The Josh & Pete Band
 
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT Phillybloco
 
JR’s Bar (2327 S. Croskey St.) SAT The Midnight Beat, SUN Signals
 
Murph’s Bar (202 E. Girard Ave.) FRI The Great Vibration, SAT Sideshow Prophets
 
TLA (334 South St.) FRI Ben Arnold
 
Highwire Gallery (2040 Frankford Ave.) SAT Northern Liberties, Circles, Signals
 
Trenton Avenue Arts Festival (Trenton Ave. between E. Norris & E. Arizona St.) SAT Ravens and Vultures, Creeping Weeds, North Lawrence Midnight Singers and many more