December 16, 2011 | 10:15 AM | By

Weekend Picks: The War On Drugs at Union Transfer, BITBY Episode Five Premiere with Break It Up at Little Bar

FILED UNDER: Concert Previews, Events, Attia Taylor, Bands In The Backyard, Break It Up, Johnny Brenda's, Little Bar, Pink Skull, Summer Fiction, The War On Drugs, Union Transfer

The War On Drugs performs Dec. 17th at Union Transfer

FRIDAY DECEMBER 16th XPN Welcomes The Key Studio Session Live featuring Summer Fiction, Pink Skull, and Attia Taylor at Johnny Brenda’s (9 p.m., 21+, FREE with RSVP); Atlas Sound + Balkans, Carnivores at First Unitarian Church (8:30 p.m., all ages, $15); Atomic Square + Ages, Panic Years, Strangled By The Stereo Wire at Highland Gallery (9 p.m., 21+, $5–$10); Cuddle Magic + The Milkman’s Union, Lady Lamb The Beekeeper at First Unitarian Church (all ages, $8); The Wonder Years + Man Overboard, Fireworks, Wheatus, Into It Over It, Moving Mountains at Union Transfer (6 p.m., all ages, SOLD OUT); Wu-Tang Clan + Ground Up, DJ CruCut at The Trocadero (10 p.m., 18+, $45)

SATURDAY DECEMBER 17th
Though The War on Drugs released its debut album three years ago, 2011 has been a breakthrough year for the locally-based band. With the release of its second LP, Slave Ambient, the three-piece gained praise from everyone from Pitchfork to Spin and solidified themselves as Philly’s latest pride and joy. This is partly due to the neo-classic rock group’s nonstop touring this year; after wrapping up a tour with Destroyer last spring, and later a fall tour that lasted through October, the group announced yet another tour to close out the year, which appropriately wraps up in its hometown. Between the band’s choice of finale location and its stop at XPN earlier this year for a Studio Session (which we’ll be re-posting later this morning), it’s safe to stay the group is staying loyal to the place where it all began. The War On Drugs performs with Sun Airway and Ape School at 8:30 p.m. at Union Transfer; tickets to the all-ages show are $14. —Marielle Mondo

Also Playing: Andrew Lipke And The Prospects With The Azreal Quartet + The Codes, The Heat Run, Claire Wadsworth at North Star Bar (9 p.m., 21+, $10); Bands In The Backyard Episode Five Premiere featuring Break It Up + Psychic Teens, PC Worship, Spirit Animals, Streetwalkers at Little Bar (8 p.m., 21+, $7); American Babies at World Cafe Live (9 p.m., $13)

SUNDAY DECEMBER 18th
Free Range Folk + The Jersey Corn Pickers at Tritone (7:30 p.m., 21+); Shannon Pelcher And The Iron Threads (record-release show) at Tin Angel (7 p.m., 21+, $10)