Hide out from the heat this weekend with many cold beers and a killer show tonight at the Blockley Pourhouse. According to their Myspace page, one of The Extraordinaires‘ top influences is the Muppet Show. Strangely enough, it kind of makes more sense than any "normal" musical influence they could name. Just like a Jim Henson creation, The Extraordinaires possess a quirky sense of humor and theatricality, but never at the expense of real heart and substance. Sure, their albums are conceptual and packaged as cute little storybooks, but that doesn’t mean the songs themselves aren’t rock solid. And have you seen their packaging? It’s beautiful (courtesy of the crafty people at Punk Rock Payroll). Sure, their singer plays a guitar in the shape of a fish, but he plays it well. What I mean to say is, just when you thought Philly’s psych-folk-pop scene couldn’t get more fun, here’s The Extraordinaires. Also no strangers to a good time are Toy Soldiers, those rustic hootenanny-throwers with the singer who never fails to crank the white boy blues all the way to 11. And of course, there’s Dangerous Ponies, whose variety of giddy power pop and boy/girl vocals will probably get even the most curmudgeonly of your friends up and dancing. Oh yeah – don’t miss R5’s Punk Rock Flea Market this Sunday! Blockley Pourhouse, 38th and Chestnut, 9pm, $8, 21+
Other places to hide out with air conditioning…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Do You Need Service?, Photon Band, Grimace Federation
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) SAT Goodnight Lights, The Quelle Source
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Necktie, Hessian, Call The Paramedics, SAT Frog Holler, Hezekiah Jones, Sisters 3
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The Great Vibration and The Almighty Terribles
M Room (12 W. Girard Ave.) SUN Workhorse 3 and Blessed Muthas
The Khyber (56 S. 2nd St.) SUN City Rain
Tritone (1508 South St.) SAT Karma Bat, SUN The Wallace Brothers Band
Tritone (1508 South St.) SAT Karma Bat, SUN The Wallace Brothers Band
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT Peek-a-Boo Revue
Danger Danger Gallery (5013 Baltimore Ave.) FRI Eskimeaux and Motorcycle Maus
Greenline Café (4239 Locust St.) FRI Spirit and Dust and Zach Fay
Philadelphia’s Magic Garden (1020 South St.) SAT Chasing Arethusa and Gepetta
Punk Rock Flea Market Dome (461 N. 9th St.) SUN Punk Rock Flea Market