Valentine’s Day or no Valentine’s Day, the weekend is here and there is more than enough going on to make it worth getting out of your house
I know I have said it before and I am going to say it again now, Philly somehow has these weekends that are just packed with so many great concerts that you wish you had a clone to make it to all of them. This weekend is one of those. From a local band’s record release show for a highly anticipated album to a newly crowned Grammy award winner’s victory lap, there’s a little something for everyone this weekend!
Friday, February 15th | There is really only thing that should be on your radar tonight. Local noise punks Pissed Jeans have been creating quite a stir with the release of their new album, Honeys, earlier this week. It’s been gathering great reviews from local weekly papers all the way up to major publications. Tonight at one of Philadelphia’s newer venues, the Underground Arts, they celebrate the release of their album as they prep for a US tour in April. Other locals Leather and Lantern round out the bill. For as good as Pissed Jeans sound recorded, witnessing them perform live is one act you do not want to miss!
Saturday, February 16th | Saturday is the day that you will need your clone to help you get to all the amazing shows going on. For starters, newly reunited emo vets Texas Is The Reason stop by Union Transfer as they make their way through their final reunion tour. Kingston, PA’s hardcore-bred pop punk act Title Fight open the show.
Down in Center City, Making Time returns as the late-night hipster dance party hosts Parquet Courts and inc. (who are about to release a phenomenal debut album). For those of you trying to make it to multiple shows tonight, luckily the sets time for Making Time are usually set pretty late so there’s a good chance you will be able to catch both bands, just as long as you have the energy to keep going.
The real highlight of the weekend comes courtesy of The Roots emcee Black Thought and his GrassROOTS Community Foundation. On Saturday, they will be hosting a number of different events aimed at raising awareness and money for childhood obesity and health inequality for African-Americans and those living in low-income communities.
Events in the day include a public health forum along with a meet and greet with Black Thought himself. That night he hosts the Let’s Move It Philly charity concert to benefit the C.H.I.C.K.S. (Creating Healthy Informed Confident Knowledgeable Selves) program. Taking the stage will be a handful of great up-and-coming local acts including singer/songwriter Marsha Ambrosius, hip hop group Chill Moody, and vocalist Malene Younglao. The event takes place at the historic Sigma Sound Studios, known for their part in helping shape the Philadelphia soul scene in the 1970s. Find out more about the Let’s Move It Philly campaign and purchase tickets here!
Sunday, February 17th | Recently crowned Grammy winners for the highly coveted “Album of the Year” category, Mumford & Sons play their second of two back-to-back sold out shows this weekend in Camden’s Susquehanna Bank Center. These two shows will be the groups last before making their way across the pond for a string of European dates. Touring with them are Ben Howard and Haim.
It’s amazing to see how far the folk meets bluegrass group of guys from the UK have come already in their careers. One can only imagine what’s next for them as they show no signs of slowing down any time soon. Hopefully you were lucky enough to grab tickets while they were on sale. If not, better start looking on Craigslist and Stub Hub now before it’s too late!
