the week (march 25 - march 31)
we brought back the blog and already missed a few weeks. life happens. there’s so much going on in the philly music scene that it’s sometimes difficult to even pick what to highlight. we hope that you regularly check out the site so you can see what’s happening, but this week we definitely have some picks for you if you’re looking for something to do this week.
happening this week:
even if philly-shows.org were not presenting this show, we’d still be recommending it: two left-of-center solo acts with full, developed sounds are coming to the intimate space of launderette records in port richmond on saturday, march 30th. touring acts multiple people and dreamtx, both based in southern california, are purveyors of tunes that occupy the space between shoegaze and slowcore, but if subgenres are not your bag, it’s just very good tunes. they are joined by local solo experimentalist kaho matsui. details about tickets as well as featured audio are present here.
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multi-faceted malian singer-songwriter fatoumata diawara is taking the stage of the world cafe live music hall on thursday, march 28th. her powerful, versatile and beautiful voice have made her one of the most notable singers of the bambara language in the world. perhaps most known for ‘désolé’, a collaboration with gorillaz, i encourage you to check out her solo music - you will not regret it.
the same night, cross-genre multi-instrumentalist salami rose joe louis takes the stage at johnny brenda’s on thursday, march 28th. creating a wholly unique intersection between dreamy pop tunes and the warm sample-flip-crackle of hip-hop production, her latest record ‘zdenka 2080’ is a sci-fi concept album released via brainfeeder. she’ll be joined by local experimental producer the santo casúr.
also happening at johnny brenda’s on saturday, march 30th (because in philly the night your website is presenting a show, there will always be other incredible music events happening), baltimore-based freaky pop rockers tomato flower return to philly for their biggest headlining show yet. finally gracing us with a true full length earlier this month in the form of the thirteen track release ‘no’, the band is the best rock band you don’t love yet if you are still new to their music. the bill is rounded out with wonderful providence art rock trio babybaby_explores and local fast-punk weirdos fib.
announced this week:
everyone’s collaborator, philadelphia native bill nace is linking up with anne ishii for a duo set at khyber pass pub on saturday may 4th. both solo artists in their own right, nace is known for his collaborations with everyone you’ve ever heard of and ishii as a part of local trio totally automatic. also hitting the micro stage of the khyber are a collab of chicago based experimental percussionist tyler damon and local matt shuff, as well as local jazz punk quintet carnivorous bells.
last visiting philadelphia as the opener for one of the final palm shows (rip), nourished by time is releasing a new five song ep this month and his first ever headlining tour hits johnny brenda’s on saturday, june 8th. devastatingly danceable yet melancholic pop r&b with lyrics and instrumentals that stick in your head long after an initial listen, i recommend any opportunity to catch him in our area. he’ll be joined on the tour by los angeles-based solo artist urika’s bedroom.
More about this week’s photo:
Credit: @phillyshowsdotorg
continuing the unintentional baltimore theme of today’s post, baltimore-founded experimental quartet horse lords hit the stage of the solar myth on wednesday, march 20th. after releasing 2023’s ‘comradely objects’, they finally returned to the east coast for a sold out show that did not disappoint, as the band played most of the dizzying compositions from the record as well as a few deeper cuts.