the week (may 6 through may 12)
summer announcements in full swing. in the summer months it’s average to add 75-100 shows a week to the site. it’s hard to make the time for the blog but when there’s so much good stuff happening, i really feel motivated to post up my picks because i simply do not want you all to miss out. we are so lucky to have so much stuff happening. here’s what i’ve got for you this time:
happening this week:
for a blog that happens so irregularly, it really speaks to how jim white is one of my favorite musicians to watch that he’s made it in here multiple times. the good people at ars nova workshop know that we want any opportunity to see jim play drums and it’s commonplace for him to be here often with his countless collaborators. jim white & marisa anderson as a duo bring together the best parts of both of their unique music worlds. they are both unspeakably technically talented but it’s the way they seamlessly match energy and mood that makes it a truly special collaboration. you can catch them at solar myth on thursday, may 9th.
sheer mag is a band that everyone in philly knows and everyone in philly loves, but they still feel endlessly underrated. the infectious energy that flows from them on record is only exceeded by what it’s like to see them live. as they’ve moved to bigger and bigger stages, the opportunity to catch them in the church basement isn’t one to be missed. they are playing first unitarian church on friday, may 10th with support by mopar stars and gen gap.
speaking of underrated, the band i might most closely associated with philadelphia sound of rock ‘n roll for the last ten years would be the music made by mike polizze as purling hiss. it’s pretty, it’s ugly, it’s abrasive and it’s catchy as hell. don’t read my description of it, listen to it. they don’t play a ton, so don’t miss it. it’s going down at johnny brenda’s on saturday, may 11th with support from chicago’s axis: sova and full size (bill nace with members of long hots and heavenly bodies).
announced this week:
i wouldn’t fault you for not knowing who beings are. the first time they played philly, they didn’t even have a name yet. the jazz-punk supergroup featuring saxophonist zoh amba, guitarist steve gunn, drummer jim white and bassist shahzad ismaily have over a hundred collective years of collective experience at making incredible music. (admin note: wow I didn’t even get out of a single blog entry without two jim white mentions). what they make together however, is something entirely fresh and new. they played back in january as their philly debut and they are back again at solar myth on tuesday, july 30th.
let’s stay on the topic of supergroups. on the heels of their second release ‘big hotel’, winged wheel come to philly this august. already comprised of the stacked cast of cory plump (spray paint), fred thomas (tyvek), whitney johnson (matchess) and mathew j. rolin — what would be the most supergroup thing to do? add lonnie slack of water damage and steve fuckin’ shelley of sonic youth. the music is unkempt, chaotic, wild. improvisations refined into mini jammers. listen to the record, it’s so damn good. they’re hitting johnny brenda’s on thursday, august 8th.
usually these highlights stick to the small stuff, but the first time i saw fontaines d.c. was in a 200 cap room and they’ve never lost that energy. it’s fun to see a band’s popularity explode where they continue to innovate and fontaines has switched it up on every album. they’re not afraid to make the music they want to make and the first single off the upcoming ‘romance’ ranks among their best. they’re at the fillmore on sunday, october 20th. as usual, they’re bringing quality support, this time new york’s been stellar.
More about this week’s photo:
Credit: @phillyshowsdotorg
bill orcutt guitar quartet (featuring bill orcutt, ava mendoza, wendy eisenberg and shane parish) playing ‘music for four guitars’ at solar myth on monday, april 29th.