Results tagged “newwave”

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Despite their name, NYC four-piece Vampire Weekend (MySpace) is not a shoe-gazing, emo goth band. In fact, their self-titled debut LP, just released at the end of last month, is perhaps best described as "sunny" - the very antithesis of a vampire's idea of a good weekend. This band, beloved of many blogs (including us), performs bouncy, funny, clever, retro indie/punk/pop/New Wave songs about love. Their music is so fun it feels like there has to be something wrong with it, but nothing is. It's been a while since we listened to an album the first time through, and loved every song on it instantly. (Although of course we did love some more than others; the head-bopping "A-Punk," which they performed live on Letterman just the other night, is the best, and "One (Blake's Got a New Face)" is the worst.) If you haven't got your copy of the album yet, hit the R5 Productions website to download some free MP3s.

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

We can't say we're entirely proud of ourselves for this, but we have to admit we're totally loving Black Fingernails, Red Wine, the third album and latest release from Australian trio Eskimo Joe (MySpace). Sure, it's pop. But it's also totally fun (one might even say irresistible), infectious, danceable pop rock with a New Wave (sometimes almost Depeche Mode-ish) flavor, and a piano often tinkling in the background. Download two of our favorite tracks off the album below:

It's rare that we get to talk about an indie rock show that features more than one band that we're familiar with and impressed by, but we're getting that chance today. Tonight at Johnny Brenda's both Film School (MySpace) and Eulogies will be playing, along with Cloud Minder and Minipop. Eulogies, on their self-titled release, plays a melancholy (but fun) alterna-pop that one might describe as emo - although we'd rather not, since emo has bad connotations, and we actually like Eulogies. (Download their track "One Man.") The vocals will remind you of J Mascis, and indeed the music has a vague Dinosaur Jr. flavor to it in general. Meanwhile, Film School, on their latest release, Hide Out, are putting out a fun, droning, new New Wave kind of indie pop, with a strong beat and a Yo La Tengo feel, and with brilliant track titles like "Sick Hipster Nursed by Suicide Girl" (a song that manages to be just as excellent as its title). (Download "Lectric," a kick-ass track off Hide Out.)

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 Radio, the Noisettes are going to do it all over again, this time opening for another incredible indie rock band, Bloc Party (that time they'll hit the area on June 5th, at the Tower Theatre). Meanwhile, the Noisettes are releasing a new record on April 17th called What's the Time Mr. Wolf? (which is a great name for a record, btw), and Bloc Party recently put out their own disc, A Weekend in the City (we've been listening to it, and it's pretty cool; the New New Wave goodness you've come to expect from the Party boys). The punchline: you could win both CDs, plus a special signed 7", if you enter the giveaway.

What's new and/or interesting at Philly theaters this weekend.

Have you heard of these guys Esque, out of Memphis? The name is pronounced like the suffix, meaning "like" or "having the characteristics of." And what are they like? They're only like the best post-punk, New New Wave band we've heard in a long time is what. We've been listening to their 5-track EP Everyone's Playing, and there's not a track on it we don't love (although "The Escape Artist" is a particular favorite). It's super-fun, extremely danceable, totally tasty pop goodness, and we're not sure why it's not all over the radio right now. Lucky for you, Esque is playing Johnny Brenda's this Wednesday night, so you don't have to wait for radio to catch up: you can go check them out for yourself, along with Gemini Wolf and Leopulde. So go on, and tell them Phillyist sent you!

New Cars Giveaway
11/6/06-11/9/06

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Free Chicago: Not the city - the band. They're giving a free performance at the Willow Grove Naval Base at 7PM. Directions and more info here.

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

by Star Foster and Jim Genzano

We at Phillyist like editors. In fact, some of us are editors. So we're pretty excited about the Editors show this Saturday night at the Troc. The Editors are the big news out of the UK these days. They already toured with Franz Ferdinand last year, getting people all across the UK and Europe worked up about the cool New Wave sound on their chart-climbing debut album, The Back Room, so now they've decided to come to the US and get us all worked up here.

Between NCAA basketball and liquors of the Irish sort, we're sure it's been one helluva weekend for all of you. Here's what our sister sites have been up to since we left you on Friday.

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Friday night Phillyist witnessed a pretty entertaining quadrilogy of indie bands in the cramped, smokey, bottle-littered confines of the Khyber bar. First up was Remote Islands. Next to their name on the Khyber website, Phillyist had noticed the parenthetical phrase "the Last Show." Remote Islands turned out to be just one guy with an acoustic guitar (and occasionally a kazoo) who apologized for the lack of bandmates (word around the Khyber was that they'd had a fight), and at the end of the set told us he'd be performing with his new band, Food Lion, in a week or so. So I guess it really was the last show! And a pretty sad one at that; "Remote Islands" didn't know his own songs very well, and was having a hard time staying in key and keeping his guitar in tune. He was doing mellow indie pop with some creepy lyrics, and making it sound a bit like Red Krayola, except Red Krayola did that on purpose. Phillyist felt pretty bad for him, but did genuinely enjoy his folksy cover of Guns 'N Roses's "Welcome to the Jungle."

R5 Productions is offering not one but two all-ages punk rock shows this week at the First Unitarian Church (22nd and Chestnut Streets) - named, very cleverly, Holidays In The Slush Day #1 and #2. Each show features five acts from all over the world, including some acts (The Boils and Mischief Brew) from our own fair city. Holidays in the Slush #1 begins at 7:30PM Friday night and has an admission fee of $10. Slush #2 begins at 2:30 PM the next day - and has a slightly less frugal fee of $12; however, we did notice that participating band, Dillinger Four, promises "melodic naked punk mayhem" and "psychotic naked behavior from Patty", and we all know nudity will cost you extra. See R5 Productions' Shows page for more information and a full listing of the bands.

Phillyist knows there are all kinds of controversy brewing about the movie version of will be speaking about the film at the Central Library (1901 Vine Street) at 7PM on Thursday night. FREE!

Sure, the new movie is coming out on Friday - but for you hardcore fans who can't wait for your wizard fix - Harry Potter themeband, Harry and the Potters will be at The Rotunda (4014 Walnut Street) Wednesday night at 6PM. For a suggested donation of $5, see brothers Paul (Harry, year 7) and Joe (Harry, year 4) DeGeorge perform such songs as "Wizard Chess," "Save Ginny Weasley" and "The Wrath of Hermione."

Last night's show at the TLA was a sojurn through our personal musical history. Opening act People in Planes, a rock band from Wales, put Phillyist in mind of the grunge bands we never warmed to in the 90s (see: Pearl Jam, Nirvana) and how they might have sounded had then been influenced by the pseudo-metal bands of the 80s we were far too fond of. They were harder rocking than hair bands (see: Poison) but not quite heavy metal (see: Motorhead) A wailing vocal here, a power chord there, and the occasional interesting drum riff...but all-in-all uninspired.

Starting this friday, it's Arts and Culture Week in Center City Philadelphia. This means 1/2 price tickets to a variety of Center City venues from the 21st through the 30th. If you've been looking to check out some of our Philly's swankier cultural offerings, now's the time.

It's no secret that Phillyist loves Sex Dwarf - DJs Robert Drake and Pussy Galore's monthly 80's dance party at Fluid. But tonight's event is extra special; not only can you go and get your dorky dance on (we're sorry, although 80's music is Awesome, it's impossible to look cool when you dance to it), but in celebration of Sex Dwarf's second year, dancers and wallflowers alike can enjoy $1 PBRs, a free buffet from Lastest Dish until 10PM, "Sex Cake," (no, we have no idea either) and a New Wave makeover in the 'Nu Wave Boutique.' Phillyist is especially psyched about the last bit, and we're hoping to spend the evening sporting something "Hungry-Like-The-Wolf"-esque.