Another full week ahead of us, including some stuff curated by yours truly.
4/12 Tonight The North Star Bar’s New Music Series welcomes four Philly bands I suggest keeping on your radar. Tuesday’s showcase will feature Flat Mary Road, Jades of Blue, The Weeds, and Slow Dance Chubby. It is not often that I am approached by a band that is actually “good.” When Steve from Flat Mary Road approached me one night at work, I took his information just as I would any other band, but I was pleasantly surprised when I gave his band a listen. I immediately reached out to him about playing a show for me. If you can’t tell, I’m very excited about tonight’s lineup. The folk pop sounds of Flat Mary Road, The Weeds, and Jades of Blue are a perfect match for North Star’s atmosphere. The show starts at 8, so come by early to get warmed up for the Ivy League rock of Slow Dance Chubby. [Get tickets here.]
4/14 Local singer songwriter Timothy Showalter will be supporting Joe Pug’s most of this Spring as Strand of Oaks. The tour stops at Johnny Brenda’s this Thursday. To support the tour, Strands of Oaks and Joe Pug each took turns covering each other’s songs. Stream Strand of Oaks’ stunning cover of “Hymn 101” below. [Get tickets here.]
[audio:Hymn 101(Joe Pug Cover).mp3|titles=Hymn 101|artists=Strands of Oaks]Another great local band will be supporting a touring act Thursday night. Cheers Elephant will be taking TLA’s stage for the very first time with The Go! Team and Dom. I’ve spent the past year or so watching Cheers Elephant mature into one of Philly’s most likely to succeed bands. Their latest release, Man Is Nature, showcases the band’s meticulously layered harmonies and guitar riffs, which I can’t decide quite how to label. The record urges you to pay attention while each song transitions into something you’d never expect. Each track is polished and well constructed, yet will keep you on your toes. Simply put, these dudes are good at what they do. [Get tickets here.]
4/15 Confession: I can’t stop listening to Wye Oak’s Civilian. I’ve listened to it in the car, in the bath, in bed, on a plane, in the library, on my roof, in line at Disney World.. the list goes on. I am so pleased this duo is making their way back to Philadelphia Friday night before wrapping up their North American tour with Callers. Also joining Wye Oak will be Baltimore buds Secret Mountains, who may play Philly just about every other week and never disappoint. [Get tickets here.]
