Author Archives: Matt Kelchner

This weekend is packed full of great shows and will be capped by an amazing Sunday filled with two great flea markets. How will you divvy up your time?

It’s funny how the Philadelphia concert scene seems to work; sometimes there are weekends where there are just one or two shows worth going to, and then there are weekends where there are ten different shows worth your time. This weekend happens to be the latter. Acts ranging from legendary rock legends to the latest in up-and-coming indie acts make their way to Philly this weekend.

Friday, December 7th | This year has been an incredibly great year for Black Moth Super Rainbow. For a band that was rejected by countless labels for their latest album, they solicited their fans’ support to assist with funding for their latest album, Cobra Juicy. Using Kickstarter, they not only met their goal for funding, but well surpassed it. Now they are taking their new record on the road to show off the new tunes. They are touring with Casket Girls (which is headed by an ex-Black Moth member) and one of the city’s best local acts Creepoid. The trio come to Union Transfer to kick off your weekend.

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Neil Young, R. Kelly, and Passion Pit all played last night. Didn’t make it out to any of them? That’s okay, it’s the weekend and there are a ton of great shows to make up for it! 

It might not be the busiest weekend concert-wise, but there are still a number of artists coming through the city that are definitely worth checking out. On top of that, the shows cover a wide spectrum of genres, ranging from punk, to comedy, to rap. Highlighting the weekend are local-ish boys Title Fight ending their tour at Union Transfer.

Friday, November 30th | Earlier this year, Kingston, PA’s pop punk meets post-hardcore heavyweights Title Fight released their excellent sophomore album Floral Green in September. After playing a few one off shows they embarked on a massive country wide tour celebrating it. Tonight they bring everything to a close when they stop by Union Transfer. Joining them will be Pianos Become The Grave, Tigers Jaw, and Single Mothers for one amazing line up.

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It’s been a busy year for Nightlands, aka Dave Hartley. For starters he is the bassist for indie-Americana band The War On Drugs. Since their excellent release from 2011, Slave Ambient, the band has been touring relentlessly.

When he’s not playing with The War On Drugs, Hartley writes earthy, surreal dream pop tunes under the moniker, Nightlands.

Somehow during the extensive touring schedule he was able to find the time to write and record an entire new album. Oak Island will be released early in the new year on January 22nd via Secretly Canadian. It’s Hartley’s first full length record as Nightlands since 2010’s Forget The Mantra.

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Two of Philadelphia’s up-and-coming acts share the stage at Ortlieb’s Lounge in Northern Liberties. 

Nothing and Night Sins share many similarities. Both feature members who were previously in local hardcore bands. Both bands showcase a sound influenced by movements popular in the late 80s/early 90s. On November 23rd, both acts will be teaming up at the rejuvenated former jazz lounge, Ortlieb’s to commemorate their latest albums.

Back in October, Night Sins released their latest full length album New Grave on AVANT! Records. Their sound is a dark mixture of minimalist new wave and Joy Division-esque post punk. Close your eyes while listening to any song from New Grave and you would think the band is from the goth era highlighted by bands like The Cure.

You can pick up your copy of the new album here. You better act quick, the pressing was limited to just 300!

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It’s been a long, rough week Philadelphia, you deserve to treat yo’ self this weekend!

As we get further into November and the temperatures begin to dip colder and colder, you may find yourself less inclined to venture outside of your humble abode. I mean who really enjoys having to bring their huge, puffy coat and collection of winter accessories into a concert? Luckily there are a bunch of great shows this weekend that will make it all worth it.

Friday, November 16th | The weekend kicks off with a bang on Friday night. Making Time, the monthly dance party at Voyeur that brings some of the hottest new talent in the indie dance scene has producer/dance-pop artist Matthew Dear in town. Joining up with him will be Light Asylum.

Across town at Union Transfer, Yeasayer and Sinkane make a stop. Interestingly enough, Sinkane used to be a member of Yeasayer (and Caribou, Of Montreal, Born Ruffians, etc. etc.). On top of all of this, after they finish their set at Union Transfer the guys from Yeasayer will swinging by Making Time for a special after party DJ set!

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Philadelphia freak folk duo Norwegian Arms ready the release of their first full length record. Wolf Like A Stray Dog, a collection of 11 songs, showcases the group’s signature minimalist, yet melodically dense sound, and their deep, introspective lyrics. 

Spending a year in any foreign city will make a person’s mind wonder to new depths. On his Fulbright fellowship to a chilly Siberian town named Tomsk, singer/mandolinist Brendan Mulvihill channeled his thoughts into music. The songs are a collection of deep self-reflections that span homesickness to questioning one’s self identity.

Upon returning to Philadelphia, Mulvihill met up with good friend and Dr. Dog drummer, Eric Slick to flesh out the penned ideas. After shaping and crafting everything into 11 tunes, the two entered Dr. Dog’s Meth Beach studios in October 2011 to record what would become Wolf Like A Stray Dog. The album will be available January 15th and is available for pre-order starting today!

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After a full week of frigid temperatures, it looks like things are going to warm up just in time for the weekend! 

On top of the days of arctic temperatures, the nation avoided the scary possibility of being led for four years by Big-Bird-hating Mitt. So whether you’re going out to celebrate four more years with Obama and Biden or simply just because it’s the weekend and you’re trying to have some fun, here are some of the best ways to do so in the city of brotherly love.

Friday, November 9th | Local electro producer trio Les Professionnels are celebrating the release of their new EP Move! tonight at Kung Fu Necktie. Helping them with the festivities will be Vacationer, the new dance pop band headed by the singer/bassist of The Starting Line, Kenny Vasoli.

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A Chicago band that needs no introduction, Joan of Arc are back with the final installment of their trio of releases for the year. 

At the beginning of this year, band leader Tim Kinsella announced that Joan of Arc would be releasing three albums by the end of 2012. The first was Joan of Arc Presents: Joan of Arc, a four song collections set to the 1928 silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc. The second, entitled Pine Cone, was a record consisting of only two almost-20-minute songs. It was the finished product of a two-week isolation and meditation period.

The series wraps up on November 27th as the third and final album is released. Simply entitled Joan of Arc (or Charlie Chaplin and the Elephant Man in its long form). Thanks to the good folks over at Polyvinyl Records, we have a copy to give away!

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We’re finally drying out from Sandy. It’s the weekend after Halloween. Need any more reason to get out and celebrate?

Typically the week of Halloween is one of the best out of the whole year. It’s not like you can dress up like anything imaginable and parade around in public. Yet, thanks to one of the worst storms to ever hit the east coast much of the creepy, ghoulish fun was limited. Luckily our city wasn’t hit as hard as others and the clean up time was much quicker. Now that it’s the weekend, there’s a lot to make up for the rough start.

Friday, November 2nd | Friday starts the weekend off with two great shows. Fresh off the release of their new album Diluvia, indie pop quintet Freelance Whales bring their tour into Union Transfer. Sharing the stage with them is up and coming San Francisco up and comers Geographer. Diluvia sees Freelance Whales taking a step towards a more full, complete sound for the band. The band’s reputation for using a vast array of instruments hasn’t changed, just altered. Synth lines are now layered with guitar and other various instruments like glockenspiel. Freelance Whales will be showing off these new tunes as they come to Philly’s newest venue.

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