The Dude is a man who abides upon simple pleasures – bowling, White Russians, and a carpet that really ties the rug together. But if there’s one thing he doesn’t abide by (other than nihilists and Walter’s shomer Shabbos rants) it’s CANCER. And that’s why The Dude Hates Cancer has produced its annual charity campaign of the Eastern Pennsylvania branch of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society since 2000. Its main focus may be bowling, but it also enjoys throwing concert parties for the good cause. The group will be setting the tone this year with a benefit concert at the M Room tonight, followed by the big blowout tomorrow night at Johnny Brenda’s. Tonight’s party kicks off with the smash mouth rock of the Gerunds (fronted by Dag Nasty’s Peter Cortner), the psychedelic post-punk of the Silence Kit, and the emotive lo-fi vibes of the Phoenix Veil. Our buddy Jenny Du “Gooder” will also raffle off a basket of goodies to raise some more cash for The Dude that includes a pair of tix to our Anniversary Bash on Friday, October 7 at Kung Fu Necktie (we’ll release more details about the rad bands performing soon). And tomorrow night’s show kicks into high gear with the experimental pop quartet Orbit to Leslie, led by Grimace Federation’s Chris Wood. Thrown in Raph Cutrufello’s Yer Bird Records-signed folk collective, Hezekiah Jones; TDHC mainstay, the Doublewides; and the soulful folk of Chris Kaspar, and cancer doesn’t stand a chance. M Room, 15 W. Girard Ave., 8pm, $10, 21+; Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+
OK, now Saturday is going to be a night of party-hopping because we really can’t resist the FREE Vice Magazine/Vitamin Water Uncapped Live showcase featuring psychedelic garage-pop trio Reading Rainbow with their badass riffs and gorgeous harmonies, the intoxicating baritone vocals and ingenious wordplay of the Homophones, and the grunge-y sonic blasts of Cat Vet. To top it off, it will be in the legendary Sigma Sound Studios where, as the Homophones pointed out, “Bowie did mountains of cocaine there and wrote songs with Luther Vandross!” Just RSVP HERE to reserve your spot. Sigma Sound Studios,
Other things to do to avoid Hurricane Irene this weekend…
Kung Fu Necktie (
North Star Bar (
The Fire (
M Room (
Tritone (
The Trocadero (
The Blockley (
World Café Live (
The Legendary Dobbs (
Triumph Brewery (
PhilaMOCA (
JR’s Bar (
The Barbary (
Little Bar (736 S. 8th St.) FRI The Tweeds
The Station (
Aktion Gallery (
Strange Brew Coffee (
Neighborhood Bike Works (
Pi Lam (