Ha…nothing surprises us anymore when it comes to the strange, creative things Philly artists get themselves into. Below is a foodie kids show from a brand new series on Activity TV that is also on Comcast OnDemand called “LET’S EAT” that features Chef Kurt, a.k.a. Kurt Hunte a.k.a. Mr. Bombadillo from Plastic Little, and you’ll also find buddies Spank Rock and Amanda Blank popping up at a serious dance party. (BTW: We hope to see Chang Chang on it someday.) Enjoy! – The Deli Staff

 

This one falls under the category of cool cheap dates. Following ?uestlove’s Philly-Paris Lockdown featuring international singer-songwriter Keren Ann and plenty of special guests (that’s not the “cheap” part), ?uesto will be spinning at a FREE post-show party in the Perelman Theater with DJ AfroDJiak and Rich Medina (now that’s the “cool cheap” part). So here is your chance to get a little classy and a little sassy on South Broad! Kimmel Center, 260 S. Broad St., 10pm, FREE, All Ages (Photo by Henry Adebonojo) – H.M. Kauffman  

 

Tonight at Johnny Brenda’s is a meeting of some “old heads” (term used in the most respectful way) who have helped to lay the foundation for our burgeoning local indie music scene. The Strapping Fieldhands have been sporadically performing out again since their recent resurgence. Originally creating music simply for their own amusement with no real plans of ever releasing anything, it seems like their body of work has withstood the test of time, and feels more fitting on the landscape of music scene in this day and age than when they were first written and recorded. They’ll be opening for proud New Jersey native Daniel Smith and his ever-evolving project Danielson. He returns with a mostly new crew of collaborators which also includes impressive contributions by core member Sufjan Stevens on banjo and vocals as well as vocals from Jens Lekman on his latest release Best of Gloucester County. Hermit Thrushes will also be tossing in their avant-garde folk compositions into the mix for the evening. (You can check out their recent Daytrotter session HERE.) Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, 10 adv/$12 door, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman

 

This rain has been fuckin’ ridiculous! But it looks like it’s going to let up for today. Are you suffering from a little cabin fever? Well, No Wavelength has a cure for your madness with some madness of their own so swing by The El Bar for an early evening Beer-BQ in their backyard and musical performances. Former Clockcleaner Richie Charles’ new punk band Watery Love with Espers’ Meg Baird on skins will be headlining the festivities with support from lo-fi party rockers Spacin’, who have been making my head bob and toes tap for a while now. It’s the side project of Birds of Maya’s Jason Killinger. (More tracks, please!) Sandwiched between the two local acts are Cleveland’s post punk outfit Pleasure Leftists. The El Bar, 1356 N. Front St., 6pm, $5, 21+ – Alexis V.

 

With a little fennec fox in danger, several artists, musicians, and dancers are going to come together for a benefit to help Save Gonzo tonight at the M Room. Gonzo is in need of spinal surgery that will cost $3500, and to help raise funds 36+ artists have donated some of their works that will be auctioned off throughout the night. The evening will also feature burlesque dancing and musical performances. He may be the little bro of Kurt, but tonight Sam Vile will show you rhythmic guitar and constant hitmaking surely runs in the family with his band Vilebred. John the Conqueror will also unleash a dirge of rollicking blues in the vein of Black Keys, and Cold Roses and multi-instrumentalist Isaac Hurt will be rounding out the bill. M Room, 15 W. Girard Ave., 7pm, Donations, 21+ – Bill McThrill

 

Congrats to A.K.A. Music for making Rolling Stone’s list of “The Best Record Stores in the USA”! The honor to Michael Hoffman and crew are well-deserved. You can check out what Rolling Stone had to say about our local beloved record store HERE as well some others that you might want to visit throughout the country. Cheers! (Photo by Alberto D’Ottavi) – The Deli Staff

 

 

I conducted a little experiment for over a year when I first started writing for The Deli. I knew that Philly had plenty of talented young artists who weren’t getting any exposure for one reason or another so I decided to scour MySpace each week (when it was still somewhat relevant) to find acts that I liked with a thousand friends or less (remember when people used to “friend” each other instead of “like”) to give fledgling acts a little exposure and support. My column was called “Artist(s) Who Deserve Your Friendship”, and it was really so much fun to discover and write about musicians who most people had never really heard about before. If you happen to have been following The Deli during that time, you may have noticed a lot of those acts that I wrote about eventually getting more press from other media outlets (more of a testament to their talent than my writing, of course) which was very cool to see. Well, a while back I came across tracks like “Rid Thyself” and “I Am (the springtime)” from Lion Versus and was instantly captivated by lead singer-songwriter Hilary White’s sultry vocals and beautifully poetic verses. So much so that I booked her for one of our showcases before ever seeing her perform live which I never do. I didn’t know this at the time, but White had just moved here from Savannah, GA, and she was at a crossroad. She was “trying to get back into playing music again, but felt a bit discouraged.” White recently sent me an e-mail thanking me for the piece that I had written for my column letting me know how it really encouraged her to continue trying, which was quite touching and encouraging to me. Well, the duo that once performed at our showcase is now a full blown 7-piece band that is celebrating the release of their new EP Five Hearts tonight at North Star Bar, and you should definitely go support as well as check out White’s other artwork HERE! Lion Versus will be joined by fabulous orchestral pop ensemble Cuddle Magic, Perseverance Jazz Band and The Horrible Department. North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., $8, 21+ – Q.D. Tran

 

 

We know. This weekend is all about Record Store Day so go out and grab some new or used vinyl and take advantage of the great FREE performances by Philly artists going on at some of your favorite shops. Below is a list of local places that you might want to hit.

 

Beautiful World Syndicate (1619 E. Passyunk Ave.) SAT Pissed Jeans (2pm)

A.K.A. Music (27 N. 2nd St.) SAT Purling Hiss (2pm)

Main Street Music (4444 Main St.) SAT Brown Recluse (4pm), Creepoid (3pm), Cabin Dogs (1:30pm)

Hideaway Music (8612 Germantown Ave.) SAT When I Was 12

 

 

Other things happening that will probably cost you…

 

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SUN Strapping Fieldhands and Hermit Thrushes

 

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Gasoline Heart, Big Hurry, Guys + Dolls, SAT Full Blown Cherry, SUN Voss

 

North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Asteroid #4 and Music for Headphones, SAT Lion Versus Album Release Party w/Cuddle Magic

 

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Amanda Wells and Andra Taylor, SUN Christian Bitto and Shannon Corey

 

M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) SUN Save Gonzo Benefit w/ Vilebred, John The Conqueror, Isaac Hurt and More

 

Tritone (1508 South St.) FRI Halo of Snakes and Ghosts in the Valley, SAT Buddhafest w/The Holcomb Family, Funkharp, Baptists Preachers and More

 

Millcreek Tavern (4200 Chester Ave.) FRI Clamfight and Ganto Barn

 

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT The Young Werewolves

 

JR’s Bar (2327 S. Croskey St.) SAT Doctor Scientist

 

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI Blackened Blue and Parkside Ave.

 

The Blockley (3801 Chestnut St.) SAT DJ Logic, Bodega, Kuf Knotz

 

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Baby Flamehead, SAT Sunshine Superman, SUN Rusty Cadillac

 

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Johnny Miles

 

The Barbary (951 N. Frankford St.) FRI Josh Wink’s Annual Birthday Bash, SUN Daylight

 

Danger Danger Gallery (5013 Baltimore Ave.) SAT When I Was 12, Gypsy Death and You, Caboder

 

Pterodactyl (3237 Amber St., 5th FL) SAT Animal Show Closing w/A Cat Called Cricket, Boom Chick, Chris Brooks

 

The El Bar (1356 N. Front St.) SUN Watery Love and Spacin’

 

First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) SAT Hop Along

 

The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI G Calvin Weston Band and Parsnip Revolt, SAT The Better Half, SUN Seven Heads and Maze in Change

 

Triumph Brewing Company (117 Chestnut St.) SAT Orbit to Leslie

 

The Station (1550 McKean St.) SAT Crills Wilson

 

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St. Philadelphia) FRI Ghost/Light

 

Kimmel Center (260 S. Broad St.) SUN ?uestlove, Rich Medina, AfroDJiak

 

The Philadelphia Naval Yard (1423 Langley Ave.) Dayglow Philadelphia: Diplo

 

The Dream Oven (Please contact one of the acts for details.) FRI Closing Ceremony w/Creepoid, Hot Guts, Far-Out Fangtooth

 

Hong Kong Garden (Please contact one of the acts for details.) SAT Fecal Dick, Code Orange Kids, Emily Pukis & The Vagrants, Ardmore Assault

 

Below is a ridiculously awesome new video for RJD2’s “Might As Well Step Forward” from 2010’s Inversion of the Colossus. It features some seriously amazing dance moves by Quest Crew and was directed by Brad Hasse. Hope that it inspires you to step up your game at the club this weekend. Enjoy! – The Deli Staff

 

Much like Brian Jonestown Massacre (whose label they are signed to) and Spacemen 3, the classic UK band for whom their name is a special nod to, Asteroid #4 are a psychedelic outfit who have traveled along an intergalactic journey of many twists and turns throughout the years. But no matter what has been thrown at them along the way, the band has managed to transcend forward and re-invent themselves. They’ve been touring heavily in support of their 6th album Hail to the Clear Figurines that was released a few months back. The band has recently had the honor of going full circle by touring with Spectrum, the space rock band formed by Spacemen 3 founder Sonic Boom. That tour comes into town with a stopover at North Star Bar, and tonight’s bill will also have another act that should be right in their element. Music For Headphones will be sharing cuts from their latest experimental release Life.in.Mono so I suggest that you bring plenty of herb or your favorite psychedelics for the evening. North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 9pm, $12 adv/$15 door, 21+ (Photo by Sarah Morrison) – Bill McThrill