As we inch closer and closer to the Super Bowl, a bunch of great acts make their way to the city for a weekend full of great shows.
It’s been a wild week. Starting off with a lovely wintry mix, to spring time temperatures and thunderstorms storms mid-week, as we work our way into the weekend, things are beginning to settle back into their typical winter-like conditions. But there are a ton of reasons to get around Philly this weekend—and just like every other weekend packed with shows, there’s a little something for everyone.
Friday, February 1st | There are two great shows that couldn’t be on more opposite ends of the musical spectrum. In one corner there are remix titans RAC playing over in West Philly at The Blockley. Joining them will be Stock Footage and Disco Sucks. Reading through the list of artists that RAC have contributed remixes to is like thumbing through a list of who’s who in the indie spotlight—names include the likes of Chromeo, Washed Out, and Phoenix.
On the other side of spectrum there is Buke and Gase. Coincidentally, they are also playing on the exact opposite side of town. They will be taking the stage in Fishtown at Johnny Brenda’s. During a night made up of all duos, Buke and Gase will share the stage with Ahleuchatistas and local boys Norwegian Arms (who just released an incredible new album). While it’s difficult to pinpoint one exact sound of Buke and Gase, it’s easy to see the range they cover from song to song. There’s really no boundary that is too far for them. Stretching from metal to psych, folk to post-punk there is no musical stone left unturned.
Saturday, February 2nd | Saturday picks up right where Friday left off. Conveniently enough there are shows that are completely different from the offerings from the previous night. For starters, funny guy Jim Jefferies hosts back-to-back sold out shows at The Trocadero. FX recently debuted a brand new series Legit a few weeks ago starring Jefferies. There are only a handful of stops on his current tour so be sure not to skip out on this one (better get to Craigslist and Stubhub while you still can)! Meanwhile down on South Street Reel Big Fish stop by the TLA Theatre for a night full of skanking. Nothing says third wave ska better than Reel Big Fish, who are still chugging away. Dan Potthast and The Pilfers are accompanying the ska stalwarts as they make their way around the country.
The true treat of the weekend comes courtesy of a new-ish venue just outside of Philadelphia. Arlen, Delaware lays about 45 minutes outside of the city and almost directly in the middle between Philly and Baltimore. It plays host to an up-and-coming concert venue, The Arden Club, also known as the Gild Hall, dating back to the 1850s. Recently more and more notable acts have been making the stop in Arden, giving Delaware a decent concert hall. On Saturday Brooklyn dreampop group School of Seven Bells come to The Arden Club. Opening the show will be Nightlands (who just recently released their excellent sophomore record). With no other tour dates currently scheduled, Philly this is your only chance to catch School of Seven Bells this time around.
Sunday, February 3rd | It’s Super Bowl Sunday. You have to either be pretty silly or pretty gutsy to be playing on one of the biggest TV nights of the entire year; Of Mice & Men I’m looking at you. Other than their show at the TLA Theatre, things are pretty quiet around the city concert-wise. So whether you’re glued to the tube for what should be one of the better Super Bowls in recent years or to see if Beyonce lip syncs again, enjoy a nice night filled with friends and horrendously overpaid commercials! Side note: There’s also Puppy Bowl IX over on the Animal Planet!
