At the TLA on Tuesday night, the assembled crowd witnessed a band at the peak of their powers. Bloc Party, the British foursome with two solid albums to their credit (2005’s superior Silent Alarm and 2007’s solid A Weekend in the City) gave a transcendent, 16-song performance that earned the crowd’s raucous reaction and made their two encores totally acceptable (a bit ostentatious for a mid-weekend if you ask me, but what the heck?). They......

Fresh off a triumphant performance at last weekend’s Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, in which lead singer Kele Okereke sported a fetching Barack Obama T-shirt, English dance-rock foursome Bloc Party rolls into town tonight to play a sold-out show at the TLA, along with opening act Does It Offend You, Yeah? and its annoying, grammar-check-baffling moniker. This show should be anticipated for several reasons. First, there is the opportunity to see if Bloc Party’s sailor’s-knot-tight rhythms......

The Phillyist Staff had so many ways to countdown to 2008 that we found ourselves with quite a few leftovers on this, the final day of 2007. So enjoy this afternoon's glut of lists from your friendly neighborhood bloggers, and we'll see you next year! You know those songs that take over your headphones for weeks at a time? Well, the youngest alternative-rocker on the Phillyist staff decided to put all those infectious tunes into......

There are few things in life I truly appreciate. Among those are dudes who are secure enough to admit that Justin Timberlake is totally deck and multi-instrumentalists. Last night, at North Star Bar, I was entertained by the latter. After being greeted by a burly, but pleasurable tour manager, I was escorted to a long, white van. It was not down by a river. It was not inhabited by Matt Foley, the famed motivational speaker.......

Happy first weekend of September - and happy Labor Day weekend, too, for our American cities! Let's take a look at what's been happening around the Ist-a-verse. The deaths of two firefighters shook Bostonist this week. Boston's firefighters bent over backwards all week long - first, they fought flames pouring from the Boston Tea Party museum, and then a restaurant fire killed two and injured many more. Their efforts make everything else - like Tom......

Tuesday night, we carted ourselves out to the hot, misty expanse of the Tower Theater to see Bloc Party with the Maccabees and the Noisettes. British band the Maccabees started things off right with a rousing set which, they confessed, was their first performance as a band in America, and their first performance in front of a seated audience. They didn't sound like they were doing anything for the first time, though; they played......

We've talked about this show, and the contests associated with it, quite a lot, but we thought we'd give it all one more mention, now that the show is practically here. We are referring, of course, to the show tomorrow night at the Tower Theater, wherein the Noisettes (MySpace) and The Maccabees (MySpace) will open for Bloc Party (MySpace). It's an indie rock triple feature! How can you resist, we ask you? We couldn't,......

Bloc Party and Noisettes...

Did you forget about that cool Noisettes giveaway that we're a part of? Well, we're here to remind you! Go here and enter for your chance to win one of three sweet Noisettes prize packs, which include a copy of their literally-just-released-yesterday, first full length CD, What's the Time Mr. Wolf?, as well as a signed 7". Also, remember that their sold out show with TV on the Radio is tomorrow night at the Troc,......

Phillyist is pleased as punch to announce our participation in a very cool contest/giveaway. You can check out the web page here, but we'll give you the background: super fun indie trio The Noisettes are on tour, opening for TV on the Radio, and they're coming to the Troc in our own hometown on April 20th (sorry, the show is already sold out!). And after they run across the nation opening for TV on the......

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we'll be posting events that are going on sale during the current week. This Tuesday post only collects the early announcements, so definitely check back on Thursday for the latest ticket news. COMEDY Jon Stewart Tower Theater, Upper Darby Fri, 4/27/07, 7:30PM & 9:45PM $37-$77 On sale: Sat, 10AM, Live Nation (7:30 show, 9:45 show) MUSIC Brand New w/Anathallo and Colour Revolt Borgata Event Center, Atlantic City Mon, 5/28/07, 6PM On......

While everyone else was writing about this yesterday, I was too busy working [read: getting a tattoo of Barbaro on my shoulder while listening to Bad Brains]. What does one think when one sits down to write a piece of garbage like this? “Hmm. You know, I was at a [fill in latest indie band] show the other day, and I saw two black people! They were dressed like me and seemed to be really......

by Vin Varstin Don't let the end of summer getcha down. Here's a quick overview of some of the best shows comin' at you in the next 24 days. Follow the links for details and on-line ticketing. 9/9 - Idlewild will be back at the TLA pimpin' their third album, Warnings/Promises, which sees a US release three days earlier. While they've edged away from their harsher punk revival inclinations over the years, their latest effort......