In their new album, Thousand Lives, Philly’s Church Girls find themselves possessed by the ghosts of the past. “All my idols, they are dead and buried, and I think you should bury me,” declares singer Mariel Beaumont on the blistering track “Dead,” and the album ends with the cooing declaration that “you’ll always be alone” in “Smoke Signals.” Ouch. Despite the melancholy and occasional kissoffs, listeners will find nothing but contentment from the group’s post-Drop Nineteens songcraft. (Especially on the gloriously poppy “Slow”). Church Girls will play Johnny Brenda’s on February 19th with Queen of Jeans and Madalean Gauze, which will give you the chance to hear this early contender for year’s best LP in a live setting where you most definitely won’t be alone, despite what they may say.
We’re learning that tickets are going on sale this Friday for Barenaked Ladies’ concert at the Mann on June 18th supported by opening acts OMD and Howard Jones. We will be the first to admit that this is not exactly newsworthy but bear with us for a second as we’re trying to figure out a couple of things. That said, some thoughts:
• Howard Jones is, and forever shall be, the greatest of all music video gods. Look at him fatemaking in that clip like he’s Zeus in Clash of the Titans.
• Post 120 Minutes, Dave Kendall hosted a syndicated show called Music Scoupe in which HoJo once joined up with Haddaway to perform the latter’s “What Is Love?” It was one of the strangest things we have ever witnessed on television and have spent an inordinate amount of time scouring the Internet with hopes of once again making its acquaintance.
• What is the Barenaked Ladies fan in 2016 even like? We will admit that pre-“One Week” the group often had a flair for Elvis Costello-esque pop that could be both witty and deeply insightful. At some point though, maybe when the group played The Peach Pit After Dark, there was a sea change and the goofy schtick took over. We think it is delicious that the group recorded the theme for The Big Bang Theory as lowered expectations seems to be the name of the game here. We had some run-ins with hardcore BNL fans both before and during their 1990s heyday, and that shit could be grim. The point we are making here is that someone desperately needs to Heavy Metal Parking Lot the tailgating at the upcoming gig because we want to see what’s doing. And perhaps even understand.
• How did OMD and Howard Jones get involved in this given they found their fortune in an entirely different decade than the Ladies? Did the retronaut who booked this get his chronometer screwed up? Can’t these acts just team up with ABC and therefore spare themselves the torture of having to endure the wince-inducing line in “Pinch Me” that declares “there’s a restaurant down the street where hungry people like to eat.” Will the pre-show music be “One of These Things Is Not Like The Other?”
• There is some sort of distortion in the space/time continuum surrounding BNL. Understanding this is the only way that the news that former band frontman Steven Page joined with, among others, Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket to tour Beatles covers in Canada makes any sense.
• This is only tangentially connected to the discussion, but there was an old Australian TV show called Young Talent Time that once featured a jaw-dropping remake of Kim Wilde’s “Kids in America”. You should watch it immediately.
The Phightins’ new jerseys are looking good and there’s only 17 days until Spring Training begins. We’d be really excited if only we knew that our hearts wouldn’t be ripped out of our chests in some sort of Phillie Phanatic/Mola Ram bullshit.
Have you been noticing how much people dislike Wednesdays? The Mid-Week Guff is like an epidemic spiraling hopelessly out of control. In order to best combat that, I’m assigning your a trip to Bardot Cafe for Northern Comedies. This week’s showcase is hosted by Michelle Biloon and will feature stand up from Eddie Finn, Dan Vetrano, LUMP, Matthew Tsang, James Hesky, and David James. Take back Wednesdays, yt’s up to us. Wednesday, 9pm. Free.
Recently, scientists think they have discovered a new planet in our solar system, and similarly I discovered a new improv show I’d like to tell you about. It’s called Double Play and its first installment is on Friday this week. This show will feature two of the most acclaimed improv groups in Philadelphia, as both Playback and Triple Double will share the stage and lie to the audience for awhile as they pretendto be people they most likely are not. Friday 8:30pm. $5.
This Saturday will be an historical day in Philadelphia and you can quote me on that. This Saturday marks the first ever Bechdal Test Fest. This all-day comedy festival will be a celebration of female and trans comedians in the Philadelphia comedy scene will feature over 40 performances. That’s more comedy than you can catch in a week in most cities, but you can do it here in one single day without anything being interrupted by a pudgy cis white guy in a flannel shirt. Saturday, noon. $20
— Joe Moore
Joe Moore is the genial jerk who is head writer of sketch group Dog Mountain, host of monthly show Guilty Pleasures and a sketch comedy instructor. Hunt him down on Twitter @TheJoeMoore.
>>> February, you are barely a day old and you are already looking better than your predecessor. Usher in what will be hopefully a much more reasonable month musically when Low comes to Johnny Brenda’s tonight in support of their latest, the stunning Ones and Sixes. Having had the pleasure of seeing the act at venues as diverse at the Ethical Society to Union Transfer, we can say without hesitation that the band’s trademark slowcore (a term they just can’t shake despite their forays into sonic experimentation, if not outright bombast) fits any setting. Opening the show will be Philly’s own Mary Lattimore, whom we hope becomes BFFs with Low so they can all record the soundtrack to the looming apocalypse. I could live in hope…
>>> We mentioned it earlier and it we’ll say it again, The Awesome Fest’s Caucus Schmaucus will make tonight’s proceedings in Iowa that much more comedic.
>>> The soul-pop of NYC’s Lawrence makes Monday that much cooler at World Cafe Live tonight.
>>> Pet Semetary is tonight’s Movie Monday choice at The Troc. A left field choice? Could be. Or the programmers just know that there’s never a bad time to listen to the flick’s theme song from The Ramones.
With 2016 continuing to be quite the downer for music, the new video from Fabergégé brings the focus squarely back on how amazing Philly’s pop scene is (a most welcome thing in light of last week’s bullshit ). This clip, filmed by Isaac Harris and edited by Thom Lessner has the artistic pedigree, as well as just being about the poppiest thing we’ve heard in this still young yet so far aggravating year. When watching this, don’t be surprised if you start to have visions of Suzy Chapstick dancing at a Miracle Legion show. Man, is there a better feeling to evoke right around now than that?
We feel uncomfortably New Rule-y about this, but could you all please stop with their “Hotline Bling” parodies? First it was the Philadelphia Police Department’s “No Savesies” spoof, and now the cops over at the University of Delaware have gotten in on the action. Maybe we are just still concerned that — especially in our beloved Philadelphia — these resources could be used attempting to fix more pressing problems. Or perhaps we are just so, so tired of that song at this point. Either way, please, we beg of you, enough already. And New Jersey, look at you for not hopping aboard the bandwagon with this silliness! Well done. The rest of you though? Sigh.
A photo posted by The Fillmore Philadelphia (@fillmorephilly) on
With the current political news cycle being the strangest in recent memory, we’re more than down for as many laughs as we can get right now. That said, we feel somewhat obligated to let you know that The Awesome Fest folks have cancelled their previously scheduled Monday evening plans at the Foundry (which in this case would have been a tribute to Pauly Shore — really guys?) for an Iowa Caucus viewing party that will feature specially produced video pieces skewering candidates and politics in general. As tempting as this sounds we have to wonder if it can possibly be more entertaining than watching the spin Fox News will be making viewers dizzy with this evening.
Knowing a good thing (or at the very least, a buzzy thing) when they see it, Connie’s Ric Rac will hold their own live presentation of Grease as a response to the musical extravaganza Fox aired last night on April 2nd. Details are still scarce, but they may want to proceed with caution or risk the wrath of lawyers who could potentially make litigation the word. (Our apologies for that terrible joke). Whatever this turns out to be, the musical theater nerd in us hopes that Connie’s gets the Rizzo casting right as that character is the linchpin to the whole show…and helps us feel less weird about the other Rizzo whose spirit looms large over South Philly.
One of our favorite things about this city in which we’ve chosen to spend our lives in is its consistently fantastic comics scene. We’re not just talking the work of Charles Burns, or Locust Moon Comics (RIP) or the usual headline grabbers either. Philly is home to seemingly countless writers, artists, and creators who impact the comics scene on a local and national basis. Cases in point: Kelly Phillips and Claire Folkman. Since 2011 their Dirty Diamonds has helped expand the horizons of the traditionally male-dominated medium by establishing itself as an all-girl comics anthology, one whose six issues to date have focused on issues ranging from travel to beauty. The work by a varying group of artists is more compelling and entertaining than anything the major publishers are putting out, so when we heard that the publication was seeking submissions based around the theme of “imagination,” we jumped at the chance to interview Phillips and Folkman to get the inside story on how Dirty Diamonds makes the entirety of Philly shine bright.
Tell me a little about the genesis of Dirty Diamonds.
Kelly Phillips: Dirty Diamonds got started in 2011 after we attended Drink and Draw Like a Lady, an event that happens each year in NYC the day before MoCCA Fest, which focuses on women within the comic scene getting together and talking shop (and drinking, and eating). There were so many girls making so much really great work; it was inspiring! At the same time, we felt like we weren’t seeing the work of women like the ones we’d met being properly represented at comic shows and in anthologies that were coming out. So we said, “if they’re not going to print these incredible ladies, we will!” We teamed up with our favorite local ladies (Carey Pietsch and Dre Grigoropol) to make the first issue, and it’s kinda been a runaway train since then.
What, if any, difficulties have you found in getting this project up and running? What has the response been like so far?
Kelly Phillips: From the moment we released our first open call (for Dirty Diamonds #2: Jobs) it seems like everyone we talk to is super excited about what we’re doing. We think everyone within the comics community likes to see people making things happen and creating new opportunities to showcase great art. You know, that supportive, DIY spirit. Our toughest moment thus far has probably been planning and launching our first Kickstarter campaign. Suddenly, our baby project of photocopied/stapled zines was a 100+ page perfectly bound book with triple the content that we’d ever published before, and we had to have the confidence and enthusiasm to raise enough money to transform what we had been doing into something even greater. It was a big vision and a big risk. Everything worked out, thank you Internet, but it was still unsettling to ask for a bunch of money, knowing if we didn’t get it we would still need to figure out how to cover the costs of getting our book printed. We’re so thankful that our campaigns have been successful because it means that we’ve been able to pay our contributors, because supporting our artists has always been very crucial to our mission.
Why do you think that comics are still a traditionally male dominated industry despite the great work being done by everyone from yourselves to women who work with both major and indie titles?
Claire Folkman: I don’t know if I still think of the comics industry as male dominated. I feel like the more shows we go to and the more people we meet, the more I see that it’s really a mix of all kinds of people…dudes, ladies, and everyone in between! Maybe there are still more men than anything else in C-Suite roles at big publishers but even then, more and more indie publishers are coming out with really great material from a very diverse set of creators and readers are really starting to really seek that type of material out. I think that as the readership changes and expands and demands more varied voices, the industry itself will have to respond and change too.
Kelly Phillips: I think the traditional comics industry is and has been very male-dominated, and it’ll likely stay that way. What we’re really starting to see now, especially with the proliferation of tools like Kickstarter that allow people to take things into their own hands, is a really strong diversification of what the industry actually is. It’s not just two major publishers. It’s not even a handful of strong, independent publishers. It’s people getting their work out any way they know how. Publishing a comic on tumblr could get your work seen by thousands of people within a day. That would never happen in traditional comics publishing at that speed or with so little outside intervention, and it also means that no one is restricted by the rules and hesitations of traditional publishers. That gives way more people of all genders, orientations, and ideologies a level playing field for creating and distributing their work. It’s total anarchy right now in all the best ways.
The upcoming seventh issue is all about imagination. What are you looking for in terms of submissions?
Kelly Phillips: Of course, there are the usual structured aspects of our open calls (all specs can be found here), but in terms of content, we love when people really stretch and bend the theme to make it their own and make things we wouldn’t even think to ask for!
When we select themes, we aim for something that’s universal, abstract, and completely open to interpretation. For our last issue, with the theme Beauty, we received comics about hair, makeup, body image, gut bacteria and gargoyles, to name a few. We love how the open calls really make for a book full of crazy good and crazy different comics!
Philly has an absolutely fantastic comics scene, seemingly unmatched, between the work of the Philadelphia Cartoonists Society to the various stuff that Locust Moon was up to first as a shop and now as a publisher. Difficult question here, but why do you think we have such a tight-knit and loyal artistic and creative community?
Kelly Phillips: The Philly comics scene doesn’t give a fuck. There’s no pretense, there’s no gatekeeper. It just comes together organically, and anyone can jump in at any time. My introduction to it was through the Philly Comix Jam, which is still, to me, a staple of what this community is all about. It’s a loose gathering of cartoonists who get together once a month to draw (and drink; see a theme here?). That’s it. We don’t do workshops, we don’t have critique circles, we don’t gather in each other’s studios to toil for hours at our craft. It’s just about this shared passion that we all have. I think that keeps a lot of the joy in it, and I take all that energy back into my studio time. I’ve met so many fantastic people through Philly comics who are still some of my favorite creators and best friends, and I think that’s key to what makes this community so great: It’s not about networking; you just make friends and get excited about each other’s work.
Claire Folkman: To me, I think the Philly comics community is so great because everyone treats each other like old friends. It’s small enough to be intimate but big enough that it’s welcoming to anyone who would want to hang out with us. There are no bad attitudes or people being salty about someone else’s successes… it’s just people who all love to do the same thing and who enjoy hanging with like-minded people. I think Philly also benefits from being a slightly smaller major city… you can be involved in so many different scenes here and there’s a lot of cross over, so the art people and the comic people and the band people and the wrestling people and the bike people all know each other and get interested in what everyone else has going on. It’s a city full of communities always on the lookout for a cheap beer, a few laughs, and a good time.
For for information on Dirty Diamonds, and to get involved with the next issue, visit their webpage.
RECOMMENDED: Nothing. Seriously. It’s late January and the cinematic tumbleweeds are tumbling. Down below you will find some would-be blockbusters and Oscar bait, but really, you are better than all of it. With that in mind we recommend you seek out the following older films that you may or may not have seen via Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, or the hundreds of other ways people watch shit in the year 2016:
ALSO NEW IN THEATERS THIS WEEK:Kung Fu Panda 3 is the latest CGI would-be laughfest from Dreamworks whose trailer has been annoying the shit out of us for over a month now. With the voices of Jack Black, Bryan Cranston; The Lady in the Van is a VERY IMPORTANT British drama about VERY IMPORTANT things starring Maggie Smith as a homeless woman, and we miss Downton Abbey. Jim Broadbent co-stars; The Finest Hours is based on the true story of a daring Coast Guard rescue, so why does this film stir nothing within us? Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster star. Oh that’s why; and Fifty Shades of Black is a Marlon Wayans-starring spoof of Fifty Shades of Grey that totally captures the zeitgeist of three years ago. Well done.
For more recommendations on films currently in theaters, visit Philebrity’s Film Sweat archive. And click here for movie times. Need repertory film? Try Cinedelphia.
>>> When was the last time you gave The Smithereens a critical re-evaluation? Do so, and you’ll find an act whose songs are full of smart, introspective lyrics and hook-laden melodies that will make you remember why they arose from the ’80s pop underground with such fanfare in the first place. Tonight’s show at World Cafe Live will celebrate the band’s impactful legacy, and we’ll be there singing along with every glorious note.
>>> Related: Take an expedition into the Land of the Lost with DJ Robert Drake for WXPN’s monthly showcase of the finest of new wave classics and obscurities that you may not have heard before but will still totally love.
>>> Escort and Grimace Federation at MilkBoy will have you wondering what this strange musical place that you’ve suddenly found yourself in is and how you can manage to always wrap yourself up in it like a blanket.
>>> The nerdy rap of Ray Ray Beats is over at Ortlieb’s, with support from fellow inventive hip hop acts NJC,
Wade Wilson, and Purple Dialect.
>>> You know that part in “Push It” where dude is like “get out there and dance, dance I say?” Well yeah, that’s great advice. You can do just that at Bodyrock at Franky Bradley’s tonight, where music from Illvibe Collective will help those feet get moving.
SATURDAY:
>>> Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute Band play the Keswick Theater tonight and, oh shit, just check this trailer out. We have a massive fontanelle for tribute acts like this, filled with pomp and costume changes and ENTERTAINMENT. So yeah, this is Thriller, thriller night.
>>> Stay in the warmth and buy some shit you don’t need at Philadelphia Flea Markets indoor jam at 820 Spring Garden Street.
>>> Garland Jeffreys plays the Tin Angel tonight. If there ever was a Rapture that included only XPN subscribers, this is where they all would go.
>>> Philly’s Moon Bounce opens for Chrome Sparks at Johnny Brenda’s, an act whose music is described as “melodic beat-centric tunes that loosely hang between down-tempo head nodders and up-tempo club bangers.” So there’s that.
>>> The somewhat Googlefucked Glitter bring some indie pop to your Sunday at Johnny Brenda’s in support of their Jeff Ziegler-produced latest. With Philly’s Crybaby and Long Spells.
>>> Still contemplating how long til your soul gets it right? Then catch two shows by the Indigo Girls (an afternoon acoustic matinee and a regular evening show) at the Keswick.
TGIF babies, amirite? Kick off your weekend with a somewhat creepy but mainly just fantastic new banger from Philly’s own Purples. “Small Sister (Work of Art)” is described by the band as “a slightly scary rock composition about having high anxiety when dealing with the outside world but also having a tough girl that protects you but also hurts you too sometimes.” We applaud the tune’s mid-Bowie swagger…and the fact that the group is issuing it as free download from their Soundcloud page. Also appreciated: The midpoint spoken word break that brings to mind The Judybats’ “She’s Sad, She Said.” The group plays Johnny Brenda’s on March 11th. Don’t worry, they’re not this spooky in person.
Because our Twitter feed is freaking the fuck out about one possibly happening a few minutes ago. We doubt this is anything serious, and are already predicting lots of shitty memes and Chris Christie jokes to follow tonight. Stay safe out there folks!
Following the immediate outcry about yesterday’s Mark Squilla bill news that could potentially have severe consequences for Philly, there has been much racing to figure out exactly what this all means. On his Facebook page last evening, Councilman Squilla made the following statement as the news of this proposed bill went viral:
The primary goal of this bill is to close a loophole in the current legislation that has allowed venues to operate without a special assembly license (SAOL). SAOLs are required for certain venues that have live musical and other entertainment. We learned that some operators were able to avoid obtaining an SAOL because there was no live music or a DJ but music was streaming or playing from an iPod or iPad. This bill now includes such amplified recorded music. The bill now contains a provision that venues should obtain performers’ contact information to share with city officials should the need arise, but there is no City approval required for any events nor is a registry of performers being created. This provision is NOT intended to restrict artistic expression or any kind of entertainment but rather is aimed at addressing public safety and quality of life issues. I will consider any amendments to this bill, as suggested by concerned parties, prior to or at the public hearing which will be scheduled by the Chief Clerk of Council in the near future. Please contact our office with any questions or concerns.
Alas, the outrage and aftermath rolls on, with Philadelphia Police Captain Francis Healy telling Philly.com:
“Don’t think the Philadelphia police department wants anything to do with approving acts. We don’t want to be involved in this. People have First Amendment Rights,” Healy said. “We never asked for it.”
This latest political brouhaha is likely far from over, so stay tuned. And throw on some music while you wait for it all to resolve, because that feels so right.
UPDATE: The responses to Squilla’s response have begun. Feel free to list more in the comments.
Previously: Here’s How To Contact Councilman Mark Squilla To Voice Opposition To His Proposed Bill Aimed At Business Owners, DJs and Bands
With Making a Murderer being an absolute television phenomenon at this point, it’s not surprising that there’s a demand for more information about the Steven Avery case and those involved in this whole Kafkaesque situation. In a story that was a bummer (we’re not being glib here, this whole thing brings us down to a stupified level that we can totally get why a dazed Paul McCartney commented “It’s a drag, isn’t it?” after hearing of Lennon’s death) almost all the way around, defense lawyers Dean Strang and Jerry Buting helped to provide perspective on the madness that was unfolding. The pair will appear at the Keswick Theatre on April 1st to “participate in a moderated discussion regarding the systemic failures of the criminal justice system, as well as the broader implications of the Steven Avery case.” Sounds like a pretty intriguing night, unless you’ve moved on to your next binge-watching obsession by then. Tickets are on sale tomorrow, regardless.
Hot soup! Just released is Six Songs from a Former Death, the second EP from Philly’s Tango Leopard. A collection of poppy/sad songs concerning remorse, hope and the fine line that some times separates the pair, the release is an enthralling and at times (such as in the album highlight “Darling Did You”), bombastic listening experience that stays with you like unresolved feelings for those you lost that keep tearing your insides like a broken rib. Furthering the group’s at time pensive vibe, the production notes declare that this was “recorded between April 2014 and June 2015 in various depths of hell onto 4-track and 8-track cassette machines.” Dawww. But even when the group is down, they still manage to compose themselves enough to unleash a psych-rock freakout like “Wrote Some Words” that will temporarily be the salve you need.
>>> Mike Polizze returns to the early Purling Hiss days for an increasingly rare solo set tonight at Johnny Brenda’s. His engaging disenchantment will be accompanied by performances from Philly’s Rosali and headliner The Weather Station.
>>> And it rained, like a slow divorce. And I wish, I could ride a horse. And Robyn Hitchcock is at Sellersville Theater.
>>> As mentioned in the comedy picks earlier this week, the Beautiful World Syndicate’s free Beautiful World Of Comedy event features host Molly Hanulec presenting performances from Sally Burtnick, Kate Banford, Robert Ecks, and Ann Artist. Providing music for this happening of happenings will be Banned Books. Beautiful indeed.
It is with great shame that we admit our growing fascination with the Good Day Philadelphia crew’s promotion of Fox’s upcoming Grease remake. Having briefly touched upon this last week, we have since found ourselves obsessively rewatching the gang’s take on “Summer Nights” from the popular John Travolta/Olivia Newton John campfest. Like most Good Day-related things, it is a compelling trainwreck. We aren’t particularly amused by these antics, and, again, no Steve Keeley. Even if we appreciate the casting of Jennaphr Frederick as Rizzo, we would have went the bizarro route and had the character played by a Frank Rizzo lookalike, because duh. Mainly we are left dreading seeing relatives repost this thing on our social media feeds non-stop over the next few days, so consider this one a preemptive head’s up.
“Greased Lightning” would have been a better song choice too.
There once were two relics from the past,
Who knew their way of life couldn’t last.
So they went and e-mailed.
Seemingly plotting to derail
The inevitable future that had arrived so fast.
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