Mardi Gras may have been last week but Philly funk ensemble Swift Technique are bringing Bourbon Street to The Blockley tonight.  Celebrating their fifth year as a band, Swift Technique have traveled far and wide and have shared the stage with many top-tier acts, including The Meters, Questlove and The Fela! Band.  The seven-piece also recorded a Key Studio Session last summer, which you can stream and download here.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Earphunk, Dirk Quinn Band and Black Stars can be found here.  Listen to “Route One to Route One” by Swift Technique below (it was the most-listened to track of The Key’s Volume 5 compilation last year).

Philadelphia-via-Boston folk trio The Gallerist play Kung Fu Necktie tonight.  The project of singer-songwriter Mike Collins, The Gallerist released their debut album A Falling Waltz in 2011.  The traveling roots of the band may have anchored in Philly’s terra firma for now, but A Falling Waltz betrays The Gallerist’s roaming desires with gypsy-esque rhythms and lyrics of faraway places like the Delta.  In recent months, the indie outfit has been playing a tight show circuit including an appearance at January’s intimate Sofar Sounds event.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Tan Vampires, Old Abram Brown and The Sun Flights can be found here.  Below, watch The Gallerist perform “Old Skin” at Sofar Sounds.

Divers

Chipocrite is the performer for tonight’s Tuesday Tune-Out at PhilaMOCA, curated by 8static.  An exuberant fan of The Big Lebowski, Chipocrite will be performing a Dude-themed set of electronic, video game-based tracks followed by a screening of the movie.  Admission for the all-ages show is a suggested $5 donation at the door.  More information can be found here.  Below, watch Chipocrite perform at MAG Fest 11.

XPN welcomes the 2013 Northern Liberties Winter Music Fest at The Fire with a Van Morrison Tribute show tonight.  The event features a cavalcade of local singer-songwriters and rootsy bands including Reverend TJ McGlinchey, John Francis and special guest Ben Arnold, all honoring the Belfast Cowboy’s discography with old favorites from Astral Weeks, Veedon Fleece and more.  Tickets and information for the 21+ can be found here.  Below, watch a video of Van the Man performing “Tupelo Honey,” which The Fire claims you will definitely hear tonight.

Photo by Kent Moore

February curators 8static present Saint at PhilaMOCA for this week’s Tuesday Tune-Out. Saint is the moniker of Dain Saint, Philly resident and co-founder of audio game development company Cipher Prime Studios.  Saint’s musical style echoes his day job with its chiptune production and video game soundtrack melodies.  Admission for tonight’s Tune-Out is a $5 suggested donation at the door.  More information for the all-ages music and film evening can be found on the Facebook event page here.  Below, stream “Fog of War” from Saint’s Pieces of 8. More information for the 21+ show can be found here.

Memory Tapes makes a rare live appearance at Johnny Brenda’s tonight.  The otherworldly project of New Jersey musician and producer Dayve Hawk celebrated the release of Grace / Confusion at the end of 2012, an event documented by The Key’s recurring Unlocked series.   Memory Tapes has proven to be an apt moniker for Hawk – he describes his compositions as being “representative of the time and place in my life” and “having an anthropological worth” – and from that viewpoint Grace / Confusion takes on an entirely different level of depth from other electronic / dream pop records.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Gracie and TEEN can be found here.  Download “Neighborhood Watch” here and watch the Grammy nominated video for “Yes I Know” from Player Piano below.

XPN welcomes local acts Free Energy and Cold Fronts to The Depot in York, PA tonight.  The upbeat pop / rock sound of Free Energy was captured in this year’s Love Sign LP, an album that quickly wiggled its way into the hearts of both new and old fans with feel-good, party ready tracks like record-starter “Electric Fever.”  Philly rockers Cold Fronts released their infectious Pretty American EP last spring and followed it up with “Know it All” last week, a rocking tune with great guitar layers and sing-a-long lyrics.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 18+ show with Younger Me can be found here.  Below, watch Free Energy’s video for “Electric Fever.”