Author Archives: Dave Zisser

Concerts Oct. 8 – Oct 13

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Tuesday 10/8 Earl Sweatshirt
TLA
Show at 8:00
$20
All Ages

The youngest and perhaps most hyped member of the Odd Future contingency, Earl Sweatshirt is affirmatively back on the map with his first headlining tour. After disappearing into the ether just as Odd Future began to gain steam, the 19-year-old Earl has returned with a decidedly more mature and focused LP entitled “Doris.” The borderline misogyny of his previous LP has been replaced with a welcome portion of introspection (specifically on track “Chum”), while his razor sharp wordsmithery remained.

Saturday 10/12 Title Fight, Balance and Composure, Cruel Hand
Union Transfer
Doors at 6:00, Show at 6:30
$15
All Ages

Following in the footsteps of Texas Is The Reason, Title Fight is the latest alternative rock group to put forth a release under the banner of legendary hardcore label Revelation Records. Entitled “Spring Songs,” the mopey subdued vocals and fuzzy washed out guitars on “Be a Toy,” the first track off the record to stream online, seem to indicate that the 7” will be consistent with the bands transformation from a melodic hardcore act to shoegaze aficionados. To promote the effort, they’re going on tour and taking an eclectic slew of artists with them, including Balance and Composure (fresh off the release of their new LP “The Things We Think We’re Missing”) and Cruel Hand.

Sunday 10/13 The Spits
Kung Fu Necktie
Show at 8:00
$12 in advanced, $14 at the door
21+

Break out the leather jackets and get ready to pogo like it’s 1977. The 21st century’s answer to the Ramones, The Spits are bringing back single speed power chord driven punk rock, and they’re doing it damn well. The Kalamazoo based garage punk quartet are hitting the road to promote their latest release “Kill The Kool.”

What’s Happening This Week

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9/24 Superchunk
Union Transfer
Doors at 8:00, Show at 8:30
$20
All Ages

Although their college days are firmly in their rear view mirror, perennial 90s alt-rockers Superchunk are still cranking out jams tailor made for alterna-students everywhere. With the release of their 10th studio record, “I Hate Music,” Superchunk has definitively proven they still have some gas left in the tank. In support of the record, the group has a week long string of dates lined up, including a trek to Union Transfer.

9/27 Saves the Day, Into It Over It, Hostage Calm
Union Transfer
Doors at 9:00, Show at 9:30
$20
All Ages

This is a show for 90s children with an affinity for pop-punk. Expect a smattering of jams off the truly excellent “Through Being Cool” as well as “Stay What You Are,” in addition to a hearty portion of material from the bands contentious post SWYA discography. Oh, and they have a new record out. Or something.

9/27 Action Bronson, Danny Brown, Trash Talk 2 High 2 Die tour
TLA
9:00
$20
All Ages

Hip-hop’s premier beard wearer/professional chef Action Bronson is hitting the road and is taking an eclectic crew with him. In addition to Danny Brown, volatile hardcore punk quartet and Odd Future label mates Trash Talk will be performing alongside the rotund rapper.

9/29 Screaming Females, Waxahatchee
First Unitarian Church
Doors at 7:30, Show at 8
$10 in advanced, $12 at the door
All Ages

In a gig that will see no shortage of sassiness, the rock centric, lead heavy Screaming Females will be participating in part five billion of an ongoing series of punk shows at the Church. The remarkably honest Waxahatchee will be lending her minimalist, indie sensibilities as well.

What’s Happening this Week

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9/17 Yeah Yeah Yeahs
River Stage at Great Plaza, Penn’s Landing
Show at 7:30
$47.35
All Ages

Karen O’s and her Cheshire grin will once again be gracing Philly with her presence. In addition to a Brooklyn show on the Sept. 19, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have included Philadelphia in a pair of one off dates.  Guttural noises, an array of colorful costumes, and a smorgasbord of tunes spanning the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s entire stellar discography are almost certainly in the cards.

9/20 Deerhunter, Crystal Stilts
Union Transfer
Doors at 10, show at 10:30 

Fresh off the release of their lo-fi, garage rock inspired LP Monomanic is the eclectic and mysterious Deerhunter. Combining a hearty pop background with a range of proto-indie influences spanning the likes of My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth, Deerhunter is a rather unique entity. Joining them will be Brooklyn post punks and reverb aficionados Crystal Stilts.

9/22 Congenital Death, Drug Church, Rain Dance, In Between, Grower, The Amblulars
The Barbary
Doors at 6, Show at 7:30
$10
All Ages

Post hardcore quintet and side project of Self Defense Family frontman Patrick Kindlon Drug Church will be hitting the road in support of their debut LP “Paul Walker.” Borrowing in no small part from 90s stalwarts such as Handsome and Quicksand, Drug Church are bringing their grungy sensibilities to The Barbary. Tourmates Rain Dance and In Between will be performing as well. Headlining will be hometown heroes/blast beat connoisseurs Congenital Death.

Events calendar Sept. 10 to Sept. 16

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Friday 9/13 Hard Skin, The Droogettes
Boot and Saddle

 

The second show at the newly reopened Boot and Saddle will see the former country and western bar play host to the ever cheeky, ever vulgar oi-punk band Hard Skin. Surely to the chagrin of many a Hank Williams fan. Joining them will be The Droogettes.

 

Saturday 9/14 Chelsea Wolfe, True Widow
Union Transfer
Doors at 7:00, Show at 7:30
$15
All ages

 

Gloomy to the point of devastation yet hauntingly beautiful, the enigmatic Chelsea Wolfe is paying Union Transfer a visit in support of her brand new LP “Pain is Beauty”. Expect to hear several songs off the new joint, including at least one of her electronic numbers to dilute the morose. Also performing will be her tour mates in True Widow. 

Saturday 9/14 Youth Code, Night Sins
Kung Fu Necktie
Doors at 8:00
$10,
21+

Bringing to life dance music for anyone that ever REALLY liked AFI, Youth Code is fresh off the release of their equally infectious yet equally terrifying debut self titled LP. Taking the aggression and industrial club sensibilities of Nine Inch Nails and turning up the former by a thousand, Youth Code is coming to forcibly make you groove. Joining them will be Philadelphia’s favorite goth rockers Night Sins.

Events Calendar 9/3-9/9

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Tuesday, Sept. 3 – Hop Along, The Sidekicks, Luther, Ma Jolie
First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St.
All ages
Doors at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m.
$10 in advance, $12 at the door
A year removed from releasing their full length “Get Disowned,” Hop Along brings their quirky, spastic take on emo-tinged indie to the infamous sweat lodge simply known as “The Church.” Joining them will be The Sidekicks, as well as Luther and Ma Jolie. This will surely be a gig to crush a tall boy of PBR to.

Friday, Sept. 6 – The Bad Gig: Bad Side (record release), Bad Energy, Bad Doctors
Wolf Cycles, 4311 Lancaster Ave.
Doors at 7 p.m.
$5
The upstairs of the Lancaster Avenue bike shop Wolf Cycles is quickly becoming a hotbed for Philly’s finest and raunchiest punk gigs. This undertaking will be no exception. Featuring all things bad, The Bad Gig will serve as the record release show for hardcore punk stalwarts and international men of mystery Bad Side’s second 7” “Everybody Wants Something From Me.”

Friday, Sept. 6 – Man Man
The Porch at 30th Street Station, 2955 Market Street
Doors at noon, show at 1 p.m.
Free with RSVP
Philadelphia’s own experimental/eclectic/indie/unquantifiable quintet Man Man will be performing at The Porch at Amtrak’s 30th Street Station for XPN’s latest installment of Free At Noon. The group has another dose of strange, undefinable goodness looming in the form of their brand new LP “On Oni Pond.” As the name of the event implies, the whole shindig is free. Be sure to head to xpn.org to RVSP.

Saturday, Sept. 7 – No Age, Perfume River
PhilaMOCA, 531 North 12th St.
All ages
Doors at 7:30 p.m., show at 8 p.m.
$10 in advance, $12 at the door
In promotion of their latest undertaking, an 11 track LP entitled “An Object,” art punk duo No Age are embarking on a world tour that’ll see them venture as far as Helsinki, Finland. But before their European tour, the Sub Pop Records group is trekking stateside, including a stop at PhilaMOCA to spread their weird, noisy gospel.