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San Fermin electrify Arden Gild Hall
Much like the running of the bulls from which they are named, San Fermin tore through the Arden Gild hall in Delaware last night. Playing to a near-capacity crowd, a rare standing show for the hall,...
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London Grammar put on a tight show at the Electric Factory
London Grammar, the magnificent trio of British electro poppers, returned to Philadelphia for the third time in two years for a magnificent set that was only really hampered by its predictability. For...
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Marilyn Manson favors performance-value over shock-value at the Electric Factory
Stepping back from the raw, deliberate provocation of his earlier work, Marilyn Manson has decidedly mellowed out as the years have gone by. With shock-rock impropriety failing to command the limelight...
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Riff Raff brings Neon Icon spectacle to the Troc
It’s a weekday night and the Troc is full of disinterested hipsters, 16-year-olds in phosphorescent rave wear and a few older men who, judging by their appearance, are most definitely in on the joke. I...
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Closing In On Perfection: Jason Isbell plays a sold-out Keswick Theatre
It’s been interesting following Jason Isbell on his journey through his breakthrough album Southeastern. Just before the release, I caught him late one night in a sparsely-filled upstairs at the World...
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Free At Noon Flashback: The Lone Bellow fill the room with enormous,...
Celebrating WXPN’s 10 year anniversary of the Free At Noon concerts was an absolute blast today with Artist To Watch The Lone Bellow. After hopping on stage, the folk rock trio launched into an...
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In Synesthesia: Kishi Bashi amazes at Union Transfer
“It’s funny, you know?” said K Ishibashi on Wednesday night, “I used to be the best violinist in the Kishi Bashi Band.” The sold-out audience laughed uproariously, which caused K to chuckle a bit and...
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PRhyme makes a powerful impact at Underground Arts with Black Thought in tow
At close to midnight, in the cold basement club of Underground Arts in Philadelphia, a powerful decree was made in the world of hip-hop as Detroit’s Royce Da 5’9 proclaimed that DJ Premier was his DJ,...
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Ariel Pink sparkled at Union Transfer
If the first things you noticed about Ariel Pink were his royal blue-spiked heels, you were about to get doused in glitter. The rest of Union Transfer probably saw his messy bun, bouncing as he walked,...
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Gang of Four shows the TLA What Happens Next
Wednesday night at TLA, the singular punk oddities Gang of Four played the second night of their US tour in support of their eighth LP, What Happens Next. It is an aptly titled record as there is only...
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Five Years of Philly DIY: A musician’s perspective
In the wake of West Philly’s celebrated Golden Tea House closing its doors this winter, I’m torn between nostalgia and the hope that it’s not some trend of unconventional, all-ages venues throwing in...
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SXSW Dispatch: Public Radio Rocks showcase with Twin Shadow, Courtney...
We’ve parked ourselves at the Radio Day Stage at the Austin Convention Center, the site of the fourth annual Public Radio Rocks SXSW showcase, curated in collaboration with WFUV in New York, KUTX in...
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SXSW Dispatch: Reppin’ Philly with RECPhilly, What Scene, Freeway, Moosh and...
It was a rainy night in Austin on Friday, making it the perfect time to stay indoors, off of the 6th Street melee and hang with a stacked lineup of Philly hip-hop and R&B musicians. The party at...
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Singer-Songwriter Bliss: Mary Gauthier and Allison Moorer played World Cafe...
The live pairing of the singular talents of Mary Gauthier and Allison Moorer this past Saturday at World Café Live at The Queen was nothing short of sublime. Part of a small tour of the East Coast,...
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No Country For Old Americana: Shakey Graves at Union Transfer
Alejandro Rose-Garcia is a man of simple pleasures. He hoisted the can of Coors Light and toasted the crowd, throwing back a long sip. “I guess I should be drinking something a bit more...
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Free At Noon Flashback: Diamond Rugs had the World Cafe Live crowd jumping
Diamond Rugs played a short, energizing set for today’s Free at Noon concert. Last month the band released its second album, Cosmetics, following up their self-titled 2012 debut. The supergroup, which...
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Swans played to a reverent crowd at Union Transfer
It began with the slight yet forceful reverberations of a gong. For five minutes, percussionist extraordinaire Thor Harris elicited the low hum of his instrument while no one else occupied the stage....
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The War on Drugs blissed out The Tower for their biggest hometown show
War on Drugs shows becoming a major event is a trend I can get behind. Last night, the Philly psych-rock favorites kicked off their winter tour by headlining the Tower Theater – their biggest-ever...
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A Born Performer: Father John Misty brings humor and heartache to Union Transfer
Atop a velvety-red high school talent show style curtain, life flickers nervously into a heart-shaped neon sign that reads, “No Photography” as if it has watched over the old Spaghetti Warehouse floor...
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Restorations, Young Statues and Broken Spirit captivate at Johnny Brenda’s
A brief, humble salutation by a recently de-beareded Jon Loudon preceded three snare hits before Philly’s own beloved Restorations launched into “Misprint” and kicked off a searing set at Johnny...
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