The Districts
"Eight Legged Prawn" & Lithuania Opening for "Thy Foes Profanely Rage" at FUC Dec. 30
Sometimes, when things are tough, it’s a good practice to head to church; First Unitarian Church - that is. Tonight, an exciting air of mystery (that's not so mysterious) surrounds the guest performer who will step up to the pulpit. Word is that those "Eight Legged Prawn" were shipped in from Lititz. Their singer’s vocals ache and growl in a heartfelt tremor that can shake you to the core with resonance, and instrumentally, they expertly manipulate, gradually climbing an incline and then letting it all show upon reaching the summit. Oh and their long-awaited LP is due out in February via an overweight marsupial. This evening, they will be joined at this reaffirming spectacle by Lithuania, the pairing of Dominic Angelella and Eric Slick, who will wet our appetite for their forthcoming full-length Hardcore Friends via Seagreen Records, with the Domesticated God 7”, an instant surge of infectious raw-edged rock with a slightly disorienting psyche conclusion. "Thy Foes Profanely Rage" (another not so mysterious mystery) headline this evening delivering a sermon you won’t want to miss. First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 8:30pm, $17, All Ages - Michael Colavita
New Track: "4th and Roebling" - The Districts
The Districts premiered a new single called "4th and Roebling," over at The Fader yesterday. The track was named after the intersection in Brooklyn where they parked their car for the band's first show in NYC. It is off their forthcoming full-length album The Flourish And A Spoil, which was produced by Angel Olsen collaborator John Congleton. The record is slated for release on February 10 via Fat Possum. They are currently in Europe for a couple of shows in London and Paris.
New Track: "Silver Couplets" (BBC Session) - The Districts
The Districts just wrapped their final show with guitarist Mark Larson as an official member this past Sunday at Susquehanna Bank Center. However, they were able to record the original quartet earlier this year in April during their first tour in the UK. The band swung by historic Maida Vail Studios to lay down a BBC Session, and the EP will be available on October 6 digitally and on limited edition 12" vinyl (500 copies). You can check out "Silver Couplets" from the session below.
Weekend Warrior, July 25 - 27
XPN hosts its 10th Annual XPoNential Music Festival at Wiggins Park along the Camden Waterfront (and the neighboring Susquehanna Bank Center for some of the larger headliners). And as usual, its set to feature the widespread mix of bigger name alt-indie bands, roots-rock/Americana artists, and up-and-coming local artists. The big players for this year include Beck, Ryan Adams, Band of Horses, Jenny Lewis, and Dawes. But the event will be rounded out by a ton of local heroes, including The Districts, who will be saying farewell to their friend and guitarist Mark Larson as he gets ready to start his collegiate life. Larson will passing the reins to Pat Cassidy (of Keepers). Philly favorites Man Man will bring their quirky theatrics and high-energy percussion with synth-laden melodies to the Marina Stage on Sunday. Timothy Showalter, a.k.a. Strand of Oaks, will captivate the audience with his melodic folk tunes that resonate from his latest LP, HEAL, on Saturday. Doylestown-based indie heartthrobs Commonwealth Choir will get the crowd moving with tracks from their self-produced debut EP Shirtless, and The Lawsuits will be making their American Diamond Recordings family proud on Sunday with the rest of this annual 3-day festival will featuring acts like Rodrigo y Gabriela, The Hold Steady, Ingrid Michaelson, Lucius, and more. XPoNential Music Festival, Mickle Blvd., 8pm, $30 - $125, 21+ - Bill McThrill
Other places to escape the chill this weekend…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Johnny Popcorn, Iron, SUN A Sunny Day in Glasgow, Pattern is Movement, Myrrias
The Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel, I IM EYE MY SAT Harsh Vibes, The Love Club, SUN (Early/Late) Marietta
Bourbon and Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Circadian Rhythms, Laser Background SAT Somewhere South, Man Illuminated SUN Cassavetes, Callowhill
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Roof Doctor, Mitch Esparza, Widow Maker Social Club, SAT The Dirty Cut/This is Hardcore & A389 Recordings present: Full of Hell, Castle Freak, SUN My Son Bison/ Cannons, Left & Right, Drugstore
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Noah Breakfast
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI The Striptease Orchestra SAT William Way’s INDIGOGO: Queer Funhouse & Dance Extravaganza
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI (Balcony) SugeMasaya (Ceilingfans, Mixtape Release), SAT (Balcony) Voletta, Kali Ma
TLA (334 South St.) FRI Kur, Deek, Young Chris, Quilly Mills, SAT Romeo Delight (Van Hale Tribute), The Ozzman Cometh (Ozzy Tribute)
Electric Factory FRI This Is Hardcore: Turmoil, All Else Failed, Timebomb This is Hardcore: Title Fight, Blacklisted/(Revel Ovation Hall) Christina Perri, SAT This is Hardcore: Wisdom in Chains, Full of Hell, SUN This is Hardcore: Bad Luck 13, Riot Extravaganza
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI Soulidified Presents: LVRGRL: Paying Homage to Teena Marie Kriss Mincey, SAT (Upstairs) Carfax Abbey, Torsion SUN (Upstairs) Barakka
The Mann Center (5201 Parkside Ave.) FRI Kurt Vile & The Violators
The Barbary (951 N. Frankford Ave.) SUN Satellite Hearts
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Ruder Than You, Trouble in Tokyo, Lovecartel, SAT YDi, Decontrol, Spectrum Disorder, Thee Nosebleeds, SUN Vilebred, Mat Burke
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) SAT Welters, NARK, Jantones
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI New Sound Brass, SAT Toy Cannons
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Explosive Head
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SUN Chris Vance, Voss, Selina Carrera, I Know Brasco, Jeide Prince
Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) FRI Tanya Limosnero, John Swana, Craig Ebner
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Hambone Relay
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Seeing Snakes, The Riverside Odds/BlackRue, Scars of Bourbon, SAT Cyanide Saints, Spur Gang/Mesmeria, Rebels Been Rebels Sun Smacking Madison
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Bosom Band, Sucker/Eric Madman
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI This Is Hardcore: Thunder & Glory, SAT This Is Hardcore Fest: Latex, Mischief Brew
Philadelphia Record Exchange (1524 Frankford Ave.) SAT Amanda X (Record Release)
Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St., Suite 76) SAT Ma Jolie, Awkward Talking
Teri’s (1126 S. 9th St.) SUN Cute Girl From English
Half Moon Lounge (4228 Lancaster Ave.) SUN Future Primitive, Toska
The Grape Room (105 Grape St) FRI American Dinosaur, Hopscotch Jefferson, Overcoming Gravity, Young Pilgrims, Saver, SAT Science the Rat, the Lift & the Drag: A Tribute to Stagazer Lily w/Mia Johnson
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, PA) FRI West Philly Orchestra, SAT Splintered Sunlight
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Boulevard) FRI Luke Goodman, SAT Dave Tidey, SUN Polido Social Club, Dave Tidey
LAVA Space (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI The Mighty Paradocs, Upholstery, Mermaid Parade, Revolution, I Love You
Golden Tea House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Japanese Breakfast, SAT Christopher Walking
Dagger House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) This Is Hardcore After-show: Congenital Death, Constraint
Wolf Cycles (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Hound, Bad Energy
Mount Misery (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT (Last Show at Venue) Mumblr, Snoozer
Weekend Warrior, July 3 - 6
It’s 4th of July weekend, and we’re thrilled that our weekend starts tonight! And while the weather may be putting a damper on your Independence Day weekend activities, you can take shelter in The Boot & Saddle tonight for American Diamond Recordings’ celebration for Marley McNamara’s b-day with Levee Drivers, TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb, Ron Gallo, The Lawsuits and Eight Legged Prawn, a band “from a little town called Lititz.” It’s a stacked evening of talent, and the order of the peformance lineup will be drawn from a hat so make sure to come out early because you don’t want to miss out - cheers! The Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 8pm, $10, 21+ - H.M. Kauffman
THIS IS US: American Diamond Recordings from Dog Days Films
Other places to beat the heat this weekend…
Philly 4th of July Jam (2600 Ben Franklin Parkway) FRI The Roots
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Shark Tape, Madalean Gauze
The Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) THURS Eight Legged Prawn, Ron Gallo, Levee Drivers, The Lawsuits, TJ Kong and The Atomic Bomb
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SAT Mumblr, Humanshapes, The Love Club, Dead Tenors, Jesus Christ Godamnit
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) THURS Fuzzy Love Current, Cult Choir, Gorgeous Porch/Swarms, Witch Fist, FRI Wet Hot American Sex Pit: Lost in Company, Jesus Christ Goddamnit, S.T.O.P., Jeremiah Tall, Impressionist, Static Mountain, SAT Among Criminals, The Loud Company
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT Abijah Lioness, Rass Professor, Memry G
Electric Factory (421 N. 7th St.) SAT (The Social at Revel) The A’s
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) THURS The Hype Presents: Love Fest 2014, SAT (Upstairs) Chris and Tommy’s Goodtime Folk Rock Show, (Downstairs) The Rent-a-Cops, Live At The Fillmore, Raw Honey
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) THURS Taking October, Foil FRI Bosom Band, I Am Buffalo, Frank Porter Sun Beverly Mud, Adam Rivera, Eric Remer
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) THURS Jim Stephens’ Full Tilt Boogie Band, Johnny Popcorn, Kinyon Lanier, SAT Mo Lowda & The Humble, Commonwealth Choir, The Sixties
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) SUN Red Skiles & The Golden Country Ramblers
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) SAT REDDPANDA, Jacqueline Constance
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) THURS Mr. Sonny James, SUN Wilbur, Suzann Christine, Seff Al-Afriqi, Realysm
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT (Happy Hour) Johnny Moskal(Dirty Robots)/ James Hearne, Alec Stewart
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Ashes of Our Sins, Mach22, SAT Eye on Attraction Sun Supreem Da Rezarekta’
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) SAT Community Service
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) THURS Neldöreth, SUN Najee Oates
Bourbon and Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) THURS Bird Watcher, Auctioneer SAT The GoAround, Rachel K. Haines, Sonnder
Fiume (229 S. 45th St., 2nd FL) SUN On the Water
The Pharmacy Coffee Gallery (1300 S. 18th St.) Cinco De High Yo Block Party w/Blayer Pointdujour, Bonzai, The Nuclears, Albondigas, and More
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) THURS Jake Lewis & The Clergy, Kwesi K, Alfred James Band, SAT John (No Out) Zach Feingold, Flounder Warehouse, Seoul Delhi
The Donut Shop (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Latex, Blank Spell
Beaumont Warehouse (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI +HIRS+, Backslider
MT. Thrashmore SAT Townhouses, Pannuci’s Pizza
The Centre Theater (208 Delkalb St., Norristown, Pa) SAT Walla Fest (Afternoon) Strawman, Roya, Dead Tenors, (Evening) Cyberbully Mom Club, Abi Reimld, Vita and the Woolf, Pine Barons, The Snails SUN (Afternoon) Old Scratch, Crosslegged, Maestranza (Evening) Somniac, Vivre Sa Vie, Free Cake For Every Creature, Sandy Alex G
Golden Tea House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Bad Canoes, The Stasi
The Nut House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) Sat Bubonic Bear, Dead Orbit
The Emerald Hazzard (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN The Homophones, Hello Shark