The Area Weekend

Another summer weekend, another full slate of shows. Here's what to check out:

credit: Atiba Jefferson

Storming through the area with three shows is Battles, supporting their new album Mirrored. Get your tickets fast, the shows are selling out.

6/14: DC @ 9:30 Club
6/15: Philly @ Johnny Brenda's *2 Shows!* 4:30 has tix available, night show SOLD OUT

mp3: Race In

Swedish singer-songwriter Jose Gonzalez is DC at the 9:30 Club on Sunday. He is joined by New York group Twi The Humble Feather.

mp3: Jose Gonzalez - Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division Cover)
mp3: Twi The Humble Feather - Adventures of Castle One

A huge local line up is on tap down in DC for Friday. A definite folky singer-songwriter vibe with the line up of Justin Jones & The Driving Rain supported by John Bustine and Revival. Catch them at the Rock and Roll Hotel.

mp3: Justin Jones & The Driving Rain - Lie To Me
mp3: John Bustine - This Guitar Says I'm Drunk
mp3: Revival - You (Marvin Gaye Cover)

Up in Philly, electronic and eclectic tastes will enjoy Crooked Looks and Renminbi. If I see the venues schedule right, Crooked Looks is venturing to York then back to Philly to end the weekend.

6/13: Philly @ The Fire
6/14: York @ Waterway (Crooked Looks only)
6/15: Philly @ Manhattan Room (Crooked Looks Only)

mp3: Crooked Looks - Pay Day Baby
mp3: Renminbi - The Shore

Over in my old stomping ground of University City, Everthus The Deadbeats perform at the Millcreek Tavern Friday.

mp3: Everthus The Deabeats - Tommy Wommy

Johnny Brenda's goes folk Saturday when Birdie Busch takes the stage.

mp3: Birdie Busch - Mystical

To end the weekend, more singer-songwriter folkish indie eminates from Baltimore Chop as Samantha Crain performs. Or if you like your indie to end in pop, Modern Skirts are at IOTA with DC locals The Cassettes.

mp3: Samantha Crain - Bananafish
mp3: Modern Skirts - My Bully
mp3: The Cassettes - Lady Faire

Northern Liberties Winter Music Festival

All this week, local musicians (and some out-of-towners) descend upon the Northern Liberties section of Philly, more specifically one venue, The Fire. Most nights have what seems to be a theme. So pick your favorites and get there early. This place is small and is guaranteed to fill up quick. Check out the entire line-up here. Here are some of the highlights:

Cowmuddy

Tuesday night features a definite folk overtone. Be sure to check out Cowmuddy and Devin Greenwood.

Cowmuddy - On Your Star
Devin Greenwood - This Over Here

Papertrigger

Wednesday is a bit experimental. Philly-faves Papertrigger are sure to bring a huge turn-out.

Papertrigger - Fox Hunting

These United States

Thursday is a bit difficult to peg to one specific genre, but it is a great line-up. Local songstress Birdie Busch and the acoustic-folk of Hezekiah Jones are great acts to see. The big act of the night is These United States. You may have heard of these guys.

Birdie Busch - Mystical
Hezekiah Jones - Albert Hash
These United States - So High So Low So Wide So Long

Friday, hip-hop, reggae, and soul are represented with the likes of The Dialects, Anam Owili-Eger, and Don McCloskey.

Illinois

Saturday, all the big names from the Philly scene are on stage with a few out-of-town guests. The genres run the scale from mellow acoustic to electro-pop. This is one big line up for one night: Peasant, Creaky Boards, Emily Easterly, East Hundred, Cheers Elephant, Drink Up Buttercup, Crooked Looks, and Illinois. Doors open at 7 and the music goes deep into the night.

Cheers Elephant - Wide Eyed
Creaky Boards - Pretty Boy
Crooked Looks - Pay Day Baby
Drink Up Buttercup - Young Ladies
East Hundred - Killing Moon
Emily Easterly - Miami
Illinois - Screendoor
Peasant - Those Days

To finish off the week, some bands will return (no listing as of yet) to perform a Radiohead tribute Sunday evening. So get out to Northern Liberties and hear some great music.

Big Weekend In Philly

Great shows coming this weekend to Philly. Start February off right. If you are out and about, make sure to check these out.

Crooked Looks

After Thursday in Baltimore, The Whigs, Spinto Band, and Plants and Animals come to Johnny Brendas Saturday.

The Whigs - Right Hand On My Heart
The Spinto Band - Oh Mandy
Plants and Animals - Faerie Dance

Over at The Khyber Saturday, a little electro-pop action with Crooked Looks and East Hundred.

Crooked Looks - Pay Day Baby
East Hundred - Killing Moon (Echo & the Bunnymen Cover)

After playing DC on Friday, Pittsburgh's Good Night, States makes their way to The Fire.

Good Night, States - Change of the Seasons

Sunday night at Johnny Brendas, check out a memorial and benefit show for local music fixture Steven Keller and his family. The highlight of the show is Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio. Enjoy some great music while supporting a good cause.

TV On The Radio - Playhouses

Finally, Baltimore's Dan Deacon brings his beats up I-95 to First Unitarian Church on Sunday to break bread with his congregation.

Dan Deacon - The Crystal Cat

The Weekend in Philly

Summer is heating up and so is the Philly music scene. Friday night I'll be at the Guster and Ben Kweller show on Festival Pier. Chris Cornell is at the Borgata in Atlantic City, so gamble a little, then rock out. Or you could just wait until Sunday and check him out at the Electric Factory. The Grand Opera House in Wilmington is hosting a sold out White Stripes show. If you don't have tickets to that show, good luck. They are going for around $400 on the resale sites. If none of those are in the cards, go local at The Khyber in Old City with Philly-electro sounds Crooked Looks and East Hundred supporting Brooklyn's In Flight Radio and Ladycop.

Saturday enjoy the reggae groove of Matisyahu on the Festival Pier. Or you could head into University City and enjoy Bucks County's (they are quite proud of that) Illinois at the World Cafe, fresh off last weekends performance at the eXPoNetial Festival.

Guster - Two Points For Honesty
Ben Kweller - Magic
Chris Cornell - Can't Change Me
The White Stripes - Icky Thump
Crooked Looks - Pay Day Baby
East Hundred - Meantime
In Flight Radio - Come Back and Stay
Matisyahu - King Without a Crown (live at Stubb's)
Illinois - Screendoor