• Escape Valentine’s Day and This World in General with Ninet, Tonight at Voltage Lounge

    It’s not every day that an international pop star graces the stage of the charmingly grimy and endearingly divey Voltage Lounge.  However, this Valentine’s Day that would seem to be the case, when the Eraserhood club hosts Ninet Tayeb, better known simply as Ninet.  A decade ago Ninet emerged...
  • Talking Live Music and the Tragedies of the Postmodern with July Talk

    While Atari Teenage Riot and Refused share the title for the most impressively progressive live acts of the 1990s and the live music champions of the first decade of the 21st century would be The Sounds and The Ting Tings, the most impressive live shows of our current decade...
  • Get to Know LÉON This Thursday at Boot & Saddle

    Although Swedish singer/songwriter LÉON is still a relative mystery in our neck of the woods, based on what we know of the postmodern chanteuse, we’re a fan (And, according to Wikipedia, so is Katy Perry.)  Late in 2015 LÉON released the four-song Treasure EP, boasting possibly the best “blue-eyed...
  • Cate Le Bon, Bringing Her Latest Sounds Back to Philthy This Friday

    After providing us with possibly 2016’s best album, Crab Day, and one of Philthy’s most enchanting shows of the year at Johnny Brenda’s, Welsh-born/LA-residing singer/songwriter Cate Le Bon is returning with both a new, four-song, EP (courtesy of Drag City) and a local show double-headlining The Black Box at...
  • Cuddle Magic and “The sound of loving something you didn’t know you loved until you heard it for the first time.”

    This Friday, 1/27, Cuddle Magic will be dropping their latest LP, Axis/Ashes, courtesy of Northern Spy Records, and tonight they kick off a round of dates supporting folky indie poppers PHOX at the 9:30 Club in Washington DC. And this Thursday, 1/26, Cuddle Magic and PHOX will find themselves...
  • A Return to the Bash and Pop of… Bash & Pop

    Well, it turns out 2017’s first great record was 24 years in the making… sort of.  This Friday, January 20th, Fat Possum Records is releasing Anything Could Happen, the sophomore effort from Bash & Pop, Tommy Stinson’s post-Replacements power pop group whose debut, Friday Night is Killing Me, dropped...
  • Shearwater’s Jonathan Meiburg: “I feel like I’m slowly getting better at this record-making thing.”

    Although the concert season is beginning to wind down, making way for the holidays, and weather is finally giving us fewer and fewer reasons to leave our homes, there are a handful of upcoming shows in the 215 that certainly warrant braving the elements in the next week… and...
  • American Wrestlers: “High energy, loud, guitar music” Tonight at Boot & Saddle

    Like so many of indie rock’s most intriguing artists of recent years, American Wrestlers’ sophomore record sees the project evolving from a solo project to a full-fledged rock band.  American Wrestlers began when Scottish-born, Manchester-residing musician Gary McClure moved to St. Louis in 2014 to marry girlfriend Bridgette Imperial. ...
  • Yael Naim, Tonight at World Café Live, Wrapping Up a Chapter

    French-Israeli folk pop songstress Yael Naim is currently wrapping up nearly two years of touring and is kicking off a very short string of US dates tonight, at our very own World Café Live, for her first Philadelphia show in quite a few years.  Naim first came to mainstream...
  • CRX and Streets of Laredo Doing the Alt Rock Thing at Coda This Saturday

    Although it’s hard to imagine Philthy’s bastion of EDM, Rittenhouse’s Coda, garnering more excitement for an event of the non-white-DJ variety than Stevie Wonder’s recent free performance at the club, in support of Hillary Clinton, I think 2016’s runner-up (… pun… intended?) will take place this Saturday, November 19th,...
  • Introducing… Vanishing Life

    Although Vanishing Life are about to embark on their very first tour, I would hope that PHILTHY readers are familiar with a few of the band’s parts.  The punk outfit are a supergroup of sorts, comprised of Walter Schreifels, of Quicksand and Gorilla Biscuits; Autry Fulbright of …And You...
  • FIDLAR, Ready to Bring a “Sick Lineup” Back to Philly

    As a rule, I’m not generally a fan of bro bands… However, years ago I made an exception for LA skate punks FIDLAR… largely in-part to their connection to post-riot grrrl ultra-vixen and one of my own personal heroines, Kate Nash… who, it was confirmed for me in a...
  • Pre-Vote Party with Dilly Dally This Monday at Boot & Saddle

    I’m not sure what’s the best way to get you in the mood for voting or not voting, but I suspect there’s no better way to spend this Monday night (November 7th) in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection than with Dilly...
  • “Pretty much the greatest Rock’N’Roll show you’ll ever see…”

    So I realize it’s fun (and easy) to make fun of Motley Crue, but I think they just might be the greatest “hard rock,” band of all-time (Now whether that’s something to be proud or ashamed of is an entirely different argument.)  I mean, sure they’re basically bros who’ve...
  • Vancouver Sleep Clinic, a Valid Reason to Spend All Night at the Factory

    Any of us who have been in the 215 for more than a couple weeks know that it takes something quite noteworthy to get Philthy residents with even moderately refined tastes to come out to the cavernous, over-priced spectacle of cheesiness that is the Electric Factory… And this Friday,...
  • Catching Up With Dan Croll, Live Tonight at Union Transfer

    It’s been a while since we’ve heard much from Dan Croll here in Philly (or the states in general).  The Liverpool-based songwriter’s last (and first) album, Sweet Disarray, dropped all the way back in March of 2014 and it’s been about the same amount of time since he’s graced...
  • Rituals of Mine Opens for Tricky at Underground Arts

    When having to imagine all of the best artists to co-tour with, touring with Tricky is “seriously, an honor,” says Terra Lopez, lead singer of Sacramento-based band Rituals of Mine (f.k.a. Sister Crayon) during their opening act at Underground Arts for the Bristol-based heavy-bass-heart-of-darkness. A heckler in the crowd...
  • Icon For Hire’s You Can’t Kill Us: “It was a liberating experience to create the album just for us and our fans”

    Illinois duo Icon For Hire have been around for the better part of a decade now, kicking out jams that blend turn of the century nu-metal and radio rock with contemporary electro-and-hip-hop-infused pop, but in a lot of ways 2016 is a new beginning for them, with You Can’t...
  • In Case You Didn’t Feel Like Showing Up to the Opera… Iggy Pop’s Post Pop Depression Live at the Royal Albert Hall

    I’ve been onstage with Iggy Pop four times   The godfather of punk has also kicked me in the head mid-stage-dive, salivated me...
  • Black Kids Kung Fu Necktie Philadelphia

    Black Kids are Coming to Town Doing ‘Obligatory Drugs’ – Are You In?

    This Friday, October 28th, Black Kids are back in Philly with new tracks from their upcoming (yet to be named) 2017 album, including their latest release: Obligatory Drugs, headlining at Kung Fu Necktie. Whether you remember a time you had danced at a DIY basement party with a fervent...
  • Miniature Tigers: “I feel like we’ve attracted people that were just like us in highschool.”

    It’s been a few years since we’ve heard from indie poppers Miniature Tigers… However, next week, October 28th, to be specific, sees the release of I Dreamt I Was A Cowboy, a gloriously lovely sunshine alt pop album reminiscent of the best summertime junior high jams of the mid-late...
  • The Pack A.D. on “Writing music we would like, instead of music that we thought other people would like.”

    It’s been a while since we’ve seen delightfully raucous garage rock duo The Pack A.D. here in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection (I believe the last time was when they were supporting Man or Astro-Man? At Underground Arts two years ago, although they’ve also put on...
  • Allison Iraheta + Halo Circus: “We’re extremely proud of our journey.”

    Fans of American Idol (or televised vocal spectacles in general) likely remember Allison Iraheta from the show’s 2009 season, when she appeared alongside Adam Lambert, belting out tunes by Kelly Clarkson and Aretha Franklin (Those of our Spanish-speaking, Telemundo-loving readers might even remember her from Quinceañera: Mamá Quiero Ser...
  • Getting to Know Margaret Glaspy

    New York-based singer/songwriter Margaret Glaspy recently got confirmed as the opening act for The Lumineers’ “mega” January arena tour (also featuring Andrew Bird).  In addition, she’ll be playing the Iceland Airwaves Festival this November, followed by a bevy of European dates.  However, she does have a handful of upcoming...
  • Lissie, at Her Most “raw and intimate” at World Café Live This Monday

    This Monday, October 10th, singer/songwriter Lissie will play both her biggest and most intimate Philly date yet, when she will be headlining a sold out solo acoustic show downstairs at World Café Live.  The date celebrates the release of Live at Union Chapel, Lissie’s latest live album, which boasts...
  • Welcoming Back The Bird and The Bee

    About a decade ago The Bird and The Bee were pretty much my favorite band.  The product of singer/songwriter Inara George and multi-instrumentalist and producer Greg Kurstin (Lily Allen, Kylie Minogue, Sia), The Bird and The Bee churned out jazzy, ethereal, space age, electro dream pop, resembling something a...
  • Tacocat Talks Touring, Seattle, and Pop Music

    Sadly, Tacocat’s last Philthy show, this April at Everybody Hits, got cut short due to a delayed start and early curfew, leaving the self-described “Post post punk pop pop” Seattle quartet with a mere ten-minute set.  However, Philthy’s coolest kids were likely spread pretty thin that evening, as Iggy...
  • Julia Jacklin: “I guess I’m working it all out as I go.”

    Julia Jacklin is certainly the coolest musician I’ve ever met who cites Britney Spears as her initial inspiration.  Australian singer/songwriter swears that her first push towards singing came when she was 10 and saw a doc on Britney Spears while vacationing with family… In the time since, however, her...
  • Getting to Know The Peach Kings

    Last month Philly got to experience an uncharacteristically hip evening upstairs at World Café Live, when LA rock noir duo The Peach Kings put on the grimiest and sexiest performance the dinner theater venue has seen in years.  The Peach Kings, comprised of Paige Wood and Steven Dies, have...
  • Arc Iris: “Even in the silly moments we try to maintain our grace”

    Last month Arc Iris put out what is undoubtedly the best sophomore album of the year, if not the year’s full-out best record.  August 19th saw the release of Moon Saloon, the full-length follow-up to Rhode Island trio Arc Iris’ 2014 self-titled debut.  The album plays like a quirkily...
  • The Ragbirds at World Café Live This Wednesday: “We hope people dance.”

    This Wednesday World Café Live Upstairs will host The Ragbirds, an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based band whose sounds and stories are a little too varied to put into existing words.  I recently got a chance to chat with songwriter, vocalist, and violinist Erin Zindle, and when I ask her if...
  • Haley Bonar Brings Impossible Dream to World Café Live This Thursday

    Earlier today Stereogum premiered the music video for Minnesota-based songstress Haley Bonar’s “Called You Queen.”  The song and video serve as hyper-quirky sendups of suburbia, with a subtle nod to New Wave (both the Godard and Blondie varieties).  The track is off of Bonar’s latest album, Impossible Dream, her...
  • Adam Torres Talks New Album, All-Star Band, and Upcoming Tour

    Although Austin-based singer/songwriter Adam Torres has been making music professionally for a decade now, in a lot of ways, his upcoming LP, Pearls to Swine, is his first “proper” release.  The album, his first release of any kind in four years, is out next Friday, September 9th, courtesy of...
  • Ticket Giveaway: Sleigh Bells at Union Transfer (09/12)

    Last week noise pop extraordinaires Sleigh Bells announced their fourth LP, Jessica Rabbit, which is in stores November 11th and their first on their own brand new record label, Torn Clean. And earlier this week the duo premiered the third single from the album, “It’s Just Us Now,” with...
  • Ticket Giveaway: of Montreal at Union Transfer (09/08)

    Perhaps you saw our pictorial documenting of Montreal’s last stop at Union Transfer by Erika Reinsel?  Better yet, perhaps you were even there… According to Erika, the evening featured, “a number of spectacles including masked angels with overbearing wings, gas-masked dancers in onesies, a wedding party, two poodle-wolf-like creatures boxing...
  • The Julie Ruin: The Punk Singer Returns

    The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection has seen many of the loveliest icons of ‘90s alternative youth recently… Most notably Perry Farrell and Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction and heroine of Garbage Shirley Manson… However, the return of Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna and Kathi Wilcox in The...
  • The Adventures of No Small Children

    This Thursday, August 18th, Franky Bradley’s will be hosting two sets from LA’s No Small Children, who sound a bit more like a band of superheroes than a band of rockers (Not that they’re mutually exclusive… They did have their cover of the classic Ghostbusters theme song featured in...
  • Savoir Adore’s The Love That Remains, Out Today, Here [in Fishtown] Tomorrow

    Brooklyn-based, electro-infused indie poppers Savoir Adore are certainly friends of PHILTHY… However, they’re not quite what they were the last time we spoke, three years ago.  At the time Paul Hammer and Deidre Muro were a duo, promoting the re-release of their third album, Our Nature, which had the...
  • A Rawer Side of The Besnard Lakes, Tonight at Boot & Saddle

    Earlier this year The Besnard Lakes released their fifth full-length, A Coliseum Complex Museum, another brilliantly lovely post-rock exploration of songwriter and frontman Jace Lasek’s much publicized simultaneous loves of The Beach Boys, early Bee Gees, and psychedelic shoegaze (Read more about it here.)  At the heart of The...
  • Getting Intimate [and Hopefully Rowdy] with Wild Child

    Rowdy Americana indie poppers Wild Child have been longtime friends of PHILTHY MAG, and they’ve graced the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection quite a handful of times (Last time we spoke was last January, as they were preparing to play a beyond-sold-out Johnny Brenda’s, but since then,...
  • The Ambiguity of Muscle and Marrow: “It seems we’re a slippery band that is carving the path to doing whatever we want.”

    So far 2016’s most pleasantly surprising record belongs to Portland duo (and real life couple) Muscle and Marrow.  The album, Love (which dropped this May), is the sophomore effort of vocalist/guitarist Kira Clark and drummer Keith McGraw, a pair who had previously been best known for producing sounds on the...
  • Emily Clibourn: “Art isn’t perfect. It is messy.”

    Last year LA-based singer/songwriter Emily Clibourn released her debut album, Blow, an album that boasts a contemporary take on smoky soul lounge that could be a perfect fit for supporting Lana Del Rey or the soundtrack of a David Lynch film.  And while Emily has played around the LA...
  • The Stargazer Lilies: “It’s a beautiful show. We make people cry.”

    We at PHILTHY have long been supporters of dreamy shoegazers The Stargazer Lilies.  We first met them in August of 2013, months before their debut LP, We Are the Dreamers, was out.  We last caught up with them in the summer of 2014, as they were about to hit...
  • Streets of Laredo, on Telling Stories and Surviving New York

    Over the past two years the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection has familiarized itself with Streets of Laredo at least a bit… The New Zealand-born, Brooklyn-residing band has played the 215 a small handful of times.  We at PHILTHY first met them in May of 2014, as...
  • (PHOTOS) Grimes @ Electric Factory in Philadelphia 6/3

    Just incase you missed Grime’s epic performance in Philadelphia we have some up close and personal shots of her on stage at the Electric Factory on 6/3.  This tour is being sponsored by Wizard World. Photos by Alaina Wray...
  • Aoife O’Donovan, From the Road

    Brooklyn-based Indie Americana singer/songwriter Aoife O’Donovan’s sophomore LP, In the Magic Hour, is simultaneously a celebration of solitude and familial roots.  The album’s composition began at the time of O’Donovan’s grandfather’s passing.  The inspiration for the tone of the 10 tracks seems to be equally indebted to seemingly perfect...
  • Megafauna and Existential Questioning

    Last month Austin’s Megafauna released one of the year’s best schizophrenic record, Welcome Home, their fourth full-length.  While the band have become best known for grungy prog rock, this one sees them delving deep into psych grooves, in conjunction with sounds reminiscent of the earliest forms of metal, the...
  • Sophie Auster, Getting A Bit Ironic

    “Although there’s definitely still serious stuff in there, there is a lot of irony in the new work, like via Nancy Sinatra, I guess. The producer I’ve been working with and I have been calling it, ‘spooky spaghetti western.’” Sophie Auster is telling me about her upcoming sounds, a...
  • Ben Watt: “The best things are the intangible, transcendent things.”

    Two years ago we met Ben Watt, best known as one-half of Everything But the Girl.  He had just released Hendra, his first solo album in 31 years and a huge departure from his DJing and the electronic music he’d come to be associated with in recent years. Hendra, without-a-doubt...
  • Birdy: “I hope people get to know me through my performance.”

    Although London-based musician Birdy hit 20 just last month, she already has three-full length albums to her name (in addition to award nominations and wins, collaborations with the likes of Mumford & Songs and David Guetta, and over 400 million views on YouTube).  Her latest LP, Beautiful Lies, hit...