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“My F’in Night at the Opera”: Iggy Pop channels the spirit of ’77 at the Academy of Music

Iggy Pop | photo by Wendy McCardle for WXPN | wendymccardle.com
Iggy Pop | photo by Wendy McCardle for WXPN | wendymccardle.com

This story begins on March 19, 1977. It’s the day after the release of Iggy Pop‘s solo debut, The Idiot, and he’s performing at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia with his collaborator and producer, David Bowie. Also in attendance is my concert connoisseur / photographer mother, Nancy. She has brought her camera, hoping to catch photos of Bowie but unwittingly bearing witness to a musical partnership that would connect Iggy Pop to another musical brethren decades later.

Fast forward forty years – I’m standing in front of the Academy of Music, waiting for my turn to photograph Iggy Pop. Continue reading →

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Tonight’s Concert Picks: Songhoy Blues at Arden Guild Hall, Iggy Pop at Academy of Music, La Santa Cecilia at World Cafe Live at The Queen, and more…

Songhoy Blues
Songhoy Blues | photo courtesy of the artist

Songhoy Blues, a desert blues quartet from Timbuktu in Mali, released their debut album Music In Exile in March of 2015, and they will be performing tonight at the Arden Guild Hall. Opening the show will be Philly locals Ill Fated Natives. For tickets and more information, check out the XPN Concert Calendar. Continue reading →

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Listen to Iggy Pop’s Post Pop Depression via NPR Music

Iggy Pop | photo by Andreas Neumann | via NPR

Rock and roll wild man Iggy Pop may be winding down his career in music, according to news reports, but he’s leaving fans with a final outing: Post Pop Depression, recorded with Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age and members of The Arctic Monkeys. The record is out on March 18th and streaming this week in its entirety via NPR Music’s First Listen series.

Writing for NPR, Jason Heller called the record introspective, vulnerable and nostalgic, hearkening back to Pop’s collaborations with David Bowie on The Idiot and Lust for Life. Continue reading →

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Just Announced: Iggy Pop and Josh Homme will bring Post Pop Depression to the Academy of Music

Iggy Pop and Josh Homme | image courtesy of the artist
Iggy Pop and Josh Homme | image courtesy of the artist

After surprising the music world with their secret Post Pop Depression collaboration, the pairing of punk icon Iggy Pop and modern rock fave Josh Homme (of Queens of the Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal) announced a limited run of shows in support of the album – including one at the Academy of Music on Friday, April 15th. Continue reading →

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Morrissey is coming to the Academy of Music

Morrissey. Photo via facebook.com/morrissey
Morrissey. Photo via facebook.com/morrissey

To follow up his performance at Firefly in Dover, Morrissey will bring his signature melancholy melodies to the Academy of Music.

The former Smiths frontman will perform on June 20. Tickets go on sale this Friday, May 22 (which, coincidentally, is Morrissey’s birthday). Continue reading →

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Illumination: Sufjan Stevens at Academy of Music

Sufjan Stevens | Photo by Jeremy Zimmerman | http://jeremy-zim.com/
Sufjan Stevens | Photo by Jeremy Zimmerman | http://jeremy-zim.com/

Have you ever seen truth so real that it physically hurts? A burning brand, slowly pressing into your chest, purifying the cavern of your existence? I have—and truth came Thursday night, not with angel wings or capes or neon halos, but in denim jacket and trucker cap, meekly strumming an acoustic guitar. The first time I saw Sufjan Stevens—years ago—it broke something within me. Something I don’t want fixed. And I think that brokenness allows truth in, even though it’s bitterly painful. Thursday night at the Academy of Music, I embraced the truth and pain and beauty of Sufjan Steven’s life and career. Continue reading →

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The Decemberists bring pageantry and passion to the Academy of Music

The Decemberists | Photo by Chris Sikich | countfeed.tumblr.com
The Decemberists | Photo by Chris Sikich | countfeed.tumblr.com

A gust of drums and a deluge of syllables packaged in an ever-expanding novella of a song. These were my feelings when I first heard The Decemberists’ “The Infanta” back in 2005. The opening track to Picaresque, the song, the album and the band all resurrected my love for music. And to hear this song performed by the 2015 incarnation of the Portland, Oregon-based indie eccentrics this past Tuesday at the Academy of Music was as exhilarating as it was the first time on CD. Before a sell-out crowd the Colin Meloy-led quintet were as captivating as ever. Continue reading →

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Sufjan Stevens adds second Academy of Music show in April

Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens | photo via www.sufjan.com

Sufjan Stevens has added a second Philadelphia show at the Academy of Music on April 9th for his upcoming tour, accompaning the previously-announced date of April 10th. The Detroit native is traveling the country in support of his new LP Carrie & Lowell, which his label Asthmatic Kitty will release at the end of March.  Tickets for the new date go on sale this Thursday, February 4th with a WXPN member pre-sale taking place tomorrow. More information will be available here. Check out the trailer for the new LP below.

Continue reading →