johnny brenda’s

“When I play Philly, it feels full circle because of the people.  My family will be there, my friends will be there,” homegrown indie-pop artist Anna Shoemaker tells me during a recent phone chat.  The last time I spoke to the singer/songwriter, she was preparing for a few performances...

“It saved my life, for sure…  I don’t know how people survive without writing songs.  I don’t know how to process anything without it,” says Kelsey Wilson, frontwoman and bandleader of Austin soul/funk/R&B outfit Sir Woman (also of Americana band Wild Child).  This February, Sir Woman released If It...

New York minimalist folk outfit Florist have played a number of noteworthy shows in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection.  The summer of 2023 had them double-headlining Underground Arts with Skullcrusher and the previous summer saw them headlining The Lounge and World Café Live.  They’ve also played...

The last time SASAMI headlined the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection was in March of 2022 at Johnny Brenda’s, which the singer/songwriter told me during a chat last November was an especially memorable experience: “That was a great show!  I think I injured my guitarist at that show…  I...

“We are a lot more open now to bringing a more raw song to the group, and knowing whatever they do with it is going to be amazing…  Earlier on, we were more ambitious with our ideas, but maybe had too many ideas, whereas now we’re more efficient,” says...

“I basically grew up in the First Unitarian Church basement,” says Evan Weiss, best known as the man behind Into It. Over It., whose Pet Symmetry – which also features Ratboys’ Marcus Nuccio and Dowsing’s Erik Czaja – are gearing up to release their fourth full-length, Big Symmetry, May...

If my calculations are correct, the last time indie rock quintet flipturn played Philadelphia proper, they were in a venue less than 1/10th the size of that of their upcoming area appearance (And the last time they were openers and this time they’re headlining…)  The Florida band, who we...

“I’m really proud of the show.  I know it’s the best show I’ve ever put on.  I’m treating it like a performance, instead of just, ‘We have to play the songs,’” says Canadian folk singer/songwriter Tamara Lindeman, AKA The Weather Station, of her tour behind Humanhood, her seventh studio...

Tomorrow night queer pop icon Rebecca Black will be playing her biggest show yet in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection… and so will our buddies Blue Hawaii, who will be opening for Rebecca Black this Saturday, March 29th, at Theatre of Living Arts.  We’ve known the...