Local music pals The Spooks and Far-Out Fangtooth are hitting the road together as they make their way down and through SXSW. They’ll be starting the tour this Wednesday night when they invade Cleveland, OH. It’s a 20+ show tour that will take the bands through the Midwest and the South. You can check out the rest of their schedule as well as purchase tickets here. And if you have any friends in those cities, tell them to come out and party Philly style! (Vomiting is optional, but highly recommended to avoid alcohol poisoning.) – The Deli Staff

 

 

 

For such a loud, ferocious unit hardcore veterans Paint It Black have had a rather quiet and tame past year. Well, today it will be anything but quiet and tame in the basement of the First Unitarian Church. It’s a big show for our hometown heroes and deservedly sold out with the help of buddies like Screaming Females, Punch, Iron Chic, and Give so be prepared for plenty of sweaty bodies flailing around and bouncing off of you because wherever you may find yourself on the floor, you’ll still be part of the action. Unfortunately, it’s a sold out show, but I did see R5 tweeted that there will be an “EXTREMELY TINY handful of tickets” at the door so grab your rain gear and get there early if you still need one! First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 5pm, $10, All Ages – Alexis V.

 

Every time I hear the word "women", in my mind it translates into this loud, piercing yelp a la French Stewart as Harry in "3rd Rock from the Sun" (you thought I was going with Wolfmother, didn’t you?). It also reminds me of Women’s History Month, which is happening this month. It’s not only essential to recognize, celebrate, and cherish the stories you can share, but to remember the women of yore who’ve helped paved the way  to/for our rights. So make some history tonight at Uni City’s Rotunda for WOMYNFEST, presented by Vitamin D productions. Open to every junk type (ladyjunk, manjunk, pandajunk…whatev), this evening’s shindig will feature a breadth of sickeningly talented musicians, including Chrissy Tashian & Sara Green of the Dangerous Ponies, Victoria Spaeth and the Spaeth Cadets, Voices of Africa, Lexie Smith, Susan Rosetti of Stargazer Lily & Slo-mo fame, and Lauren Adams of Naughty, Naughty Nurses. The brains behind the presenter, Vitamin D (a.k.a. Denise), will play a set with fierce don’t-fuck-with-us drummers Allison Krayer and Deb Cervone. Now go get an education in badass. The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., 7pm, Free, All Ages – Annamarya Scaccia

 

Work Drugs have a new (old) track “Sunset Junction” that they just made available for free download here. You can check out the video that goes along with it below, but be careful because it’ll surely make you long for lazy, summer days on the Left Coast. Work Drugs will be heading out on tour in April supporting Two Door Cinema Club, and look out for limited edition, hand-made tour EPs coming soon. Enjoy! – The Deli Staff

 

Ian Records darlings, Party Photographers, warm the hearts of listeners with earnest anthems underpinned by emotives and fuzzed out riffs. Nearly synonymous with Black Tambourine’s moody brand of twee with a pinch of Jesus and the Mary Chain’s jangly finesse (like “Never Understand” or the classic “Just Like Honey”), this Philly three-piece continues to garnish well earned buzz for the release of their self-titled 7” alongside frequent live performances. From the clean backbeats of “Let the Red Lights Riot”, clipped close to lo-fi riffs played precise and awash in a mellow melodic daze, to the subtle romanticism of “Penn Treaty” or the surfy vibe of “Piano Vache”, Party Photographers’ moody noise pop captivates. Opening tonight at Johnny Brenda’s for the femme fatales of the Dum Dum Girls, Party Photographers fuzzed out goodness is the perfect premise to a sold out show you’ll wish you had tix for. Also joining the evening will be Minks and Dirty Beaches. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $12, 21+ – Dianca Potts

 

There’s nothing I like more than taking in a show that’s just like downing a bottle of whiskey. It’s got that warming kick–a white-hot brashness that’s smooth and lingering. And that’s the only way you should describe tonight’s show at Tritone. It’ll be a set of liquid fire melodies. There’s The Lawsuits‘ intricately modernized Americana that can either breathe a fire in your belly or pull strings in your soul (their forthcoming album, Darleen, should be no different). Then there’s the Levee Drivers, who will have already warmed-up earlier at the PBR Crafting Challenge show, with their salty, brazen, good ol’ fashioned backwoods rockabilly that oozes sweaty swagger. And, lastly, you have Ron Gallo of Toy Soldiers, who encompasses the rebel strut of snotty blues-rock. I won’t be able to make the show, so go on and have one for me. Tritone, 1508 South St., 9pm, 21+ – Annamarya Scaccia

 

Like most Philadelphians you’ve probably downed enough PBRs as part of a special at Bob & Barbara’s, Tritone, Fiume, El Bar, etc. to the point that you’ve probably grown to view it as the unofficial beer of the city. If that statement suits you, then you won’t want to miss Saturday’s 3rd Annual Pabst Blue Ribbon Crafting Challenge Show at 2424 Studios where you’ll see 20+ independent artists showcasing vintage PBR Goods during a unique competition. You will also be able to walk away with plenty handmade PBR treasures and enjoy the sponsored refreshments. But even if the statement doesn’t suit you, then you still don’t want to miss what might very well be one of the finest concert lineups to ever come to the craft market. TJ Kong has had an impressive track record of organizing out of state festivals, a Halloween Rock and Roll Murder Show, and a 2 floor Winter Fest at Danger Danger Gallery, and he pulled out all the stops to ensure that this lineup is tops. While the bourbon-tinged crooner and his Atomic Bomb explode into the headlining position, Cheers Elephant will be carrying on the wave of success they’ve been riding since releasing their most enjoyable album Man is Nature. Rainbow carnival rockers Dangerous Ponies will hopefully be bringing the same energy that they did for “Aquarius Raging” (best DP performance that we’ve seen yet), and the always exciting indie pop recluses An American Chinese will get the crowd moving. Topping off the lineup will be the rockabilly country blues of one of Bucks County’s finest, The Levee Drivers, who will be pulling double duty with a stopover at Tritone later in the evening. It’s going to be a fabulous Pabst-filled day! Don’t forget to bring some whiskey or bourbon to get that city special feeling. 2424 Studios, 2424 York St., 3pm – 10pm, $8, All Ages

 

Other things to do this weekend because it’s getting a little closer to spring weather (but you still need to hold off on the shorts)…

 

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Party Photographers

 

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Panic Years, SAT Vintage Kicks, Caterpillar, Flamingo

 

North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Organ Blues, An American Chinese

 

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The Lawsuits, SAT (Early) Anchor Boys Album Release w/True Things and American Royalty, (Late) Toddler Kat, SUN Zilla Persona and Voss

 

M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Berretta 76 and The Donuts

 

Tritone (1508 South St.) SAT Levee Drivers, Big East, The Lawsuits, Ron Gallo

 

Millcreek Tavern (4200 Chester Ave.) FRI Conversations with Enemies, Oh! Pears, Cow Pals

 

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SUN Satellite Hearts

 

The Blockley (3801 Chestnut St.) FRI The Love Club and Akron/Family, SAT Synth Sircus

 

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Alison Polans, Spirit & Dust, Dan Collins, Up the Chain

 

Danger Danger Gallery (5013 Baltimore Ave.) FRI First Friday w/Gypsy Death and You, Omar, Motorcycle Maus, Roman a Clef (Ryan Newmyer from A Sunny Day in Glasgow), Bridge Underwater, A Fair Few, Flat Mary Road

 

Younglove’s (5011 Baltimore Ave.) SAT First Friday w/Danger Danger Gallery

 

Murph’s Bar (202 E. Girard Ave.) SAT Caboder and Prime Homeless Time

 

JC Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Big Terrible, SAT Soraia

 

The Rotunda (4014 Walnut St.) SAT Charles Cohen, The Darren Finizio Experience, Night Burger, SUN WOMYNSFEST

 

First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) FRI Paint It Black

 

Well, I guess that you can call this a story rather than review because I really had no plans to write about this event (so excuse the lack of details because I didn’t take any notes – sorry, all from my drunken, stoned memory). Last Friday night started off very tame. Just another uneventful evening in the life of a writer/editor trying to make my deadline for our SXSW print issue when I received a phone call urging me to see Creepoid perform near my hood at Tritone with The Vandelles, a band that has been on my radar for years now but I have never seen live. “Fuck! Why do I have to be so busy all the time?” So I was going to geek out and bring my laptop with me to do some writing while at the show. (I know that’s lame. But isn’t missing the show worse?) However, I received a second phone call about the place being packed so I abandon that idea and opted for Plan B: drinks and less sleep later to finish my work. (Check out how the rest of my evening went here!)

 

What started off as a curated event by Strand of Oaks a.k.a. Timothy Showalter has turned into a last minute record release party for our much-buzzed about singer-songwriter! Come celebrate the physical release of Pope Killdragon at Marvelous! this evening and grab yourself a copy (vinyl and/or CD) of this fine album! The evening will be kicked-off by Brandon Morsberger laying down some slide blues guitar. Then Oaks will be performing some tunes, hustling some albums, doing a Q&A about synths, and toasting the night away while the drinks flow. His buddies Golden Ages are closing out the evening with some swirling, blissed-out jams. It’s a PARTY, BYOB, and FREE so you have no excuses not to swing by and join us in many toasts! See you there. Marvelous! Music, 208 South 40th St., 8pm, FREE, All Ages – Q.D. Tran

 

Danger Danger Gallery is having a FREE First Friday event this evening in West Philly along with their next door neighbors Younglove’s. They’ll have music provided for you by Gypsy Death and You, Omar, Motorcycle Maus, Roman a Clef (Ryan Newmyer from A Sunny Day in Glasgow), Bridge Underwater, A Fair Few, and Flat Mary Road. You can also view an art exhibit by painter Mat Tomezsko, who will attempt to answer the age-old question “What do West Philadelphians look like?” in a series of 14 spray paint, oil, and acrylic paintings on wood. Sarahjane Patwell will be doing a film shoot to immortalize the evening. Free refreshments will be served. Sounds like a good time in my book, and if you’re low on the flow, it will be even better! Danger Danger Gallery/Younglove, 5011-5013 Baltimore Ave., 7pm, FREE, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman

 

 

The latest Matador release from Philly’s “constant hitmaker”, Kurt Vile hasn’t even hit the shelves yet, and already Smoke Ring For My Halo has received a nice amount of recognition. NPR has been streaming the entire album here. In honor of the albums official release on March 8th, Vile announced a mini tour of record stores across the U.S., and it wouldn’t be complete without a stopover at a hometown favorite. AKA Music will be hosting Vile and the Violators this evening. This show will be a perfect event to add onto your First Friday Arts Crawl itinerary, and it will also be a great opportunity to see them in an intimate setting before they pack up for bigger rooms and a dream tour with J Mascis (which hits World Café Live on March 23). But first, check out what’s in Kurt Vile’s bag below. Remember to get to AKA early because this show is going to be packed! AKA Music, 27 N. 2nd St., 7pm, FREE, All Ages – Bill McThrill