the week (april 1 - april 7)
thanks to all who checked out our first presented show last saturday at launderette records. big props to the musicians and mike at launderette for a wonderful evening of tunes. hope to collaborate again in the future and open to more ideas from local and touring musicians about how philly-shows.org can be more involved in the community beyond being this website entity. speaking of the community, here’s our picks for the week:
happening this week:
opening for a legendary band is a tough position to be in. when teke::teke took the stage before unwound at union transfer last year, they made an instant and lasting impression. the montreal-based japanese psych-punk-rock band has infectious energy, incredibly fun and danceable music and wonderful stage presence. they’re returning to philly as a part of a headlining tour and playing the lounge of world cafe live on thursday, april 4th. whether you caught them previously or not, don’t miss an opportunity to see them again.
partly a shoutout for the event but also the venue itself, check out what’s happening at brickbat books on friday, april 5th. you can catch an evening featuring long-standing experimental musician marcia bassett and local modular synthesist manna. brickbat books is a local bookstore and venue that deserve your love and support. outside of the music events they host, their selection of left-of-center books, comics and art is wonderful and that music that they platform cannot be found anywhere else in the city.
connecticut post-punkers smirk take the tiny stage of fishtown’s jerrys on front on saturday, april 6th. the bands minimal, throwback brand of jagged punk perfectly aligns with the local bands that are flanking them on the bill — menu and mesh. couldn’t ask for a better trio of bands for a tiny punk show tucked under the el. no presale, bring fifteen bucks for the bands.
announced this week:
local experimentalist gloorp makes an appearance at the dolphin on wednesday, may 1st. layered digital percussion with vibrant electronics, they will be playing as a trio alongside other local electronic acts goyle and memristr. any opportunity to see weirdo electro music in a bar setting is memorable and worthwhile experience. it’s fun tunes that are worth your time and support.
it could be argued the philadelphia’s most celebrated musician in history is still alive today. celebrating bandleader marshall allens’s 100th birthday — sun ra arkestra takes the stage of union transfer on friday, may 24th. both marshall allen and sun ra arkestra are incredibly active musicians, but seeing them on this stage and commemorating over sixty years of collaboration and sonic invention is a once-in-a-lifetime event. tickets are not yet available, with official sale happening soon. stay tuned.
it would not be wrong to say that west african rock is having it’s ‘moment’ but it would be wrong to not recognize that a lot of these incredible musicians have been at it a long time and it’s wonderful seeing them receive more notice and critical acclaim. among the best, niger’s etran de l’aïr are a family band that has been operating for nearly three decades and their frenetic paced brand of saharan rock is standout material. you can catch them on the intimate johnny brenda’s stage on thursday, june 27th.
More about this week’s photo:
Credit: Eric Lee @jerseywallphl
one of the performers at the philly-shows.org presented show at launderette records on saturday, march 30th, dreamtx (pronounced ‘dream texas’) is a solo artist who makes lush, reverb-drenched shoegaze-y rock. the small space of the port richmond record store lended itself to the vibrant visuals that accompanied the performers. more info about the event can be found here.