Amanda X

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May 4, 2013 | 9:59 AM | By

Tonight’s Concert Picks: Parquet Courts at PhilaMOCA, Sir Sly at Johnny Brenda’s, Alo Brasil at Underground Arts, Lentil Fest at The Fire and more

parquet courts

Post-punk quartet Parquet Courts headline an eclectic line-up at PhilaMOCA tonight.  Back in Philadelphia for the third time this year, Parquet Courts continue to tour in support of their debut full-length Light Up Gold, which just got a proper label release through indie label What’s Your Rupture.  Tickets and information for tonight’s all-ages show with Scott & Charlene’s Wedding, Amanda X and Household can be found here.  Watch Parquet Courts perform “Master of My Craft” and “Borrowed Time” live on WNYC below.

One of the stand-out bands at March’s SXSW, Sir Sly make their way to Philadelphia tonight for a show at Johnny Brenda’s.  With an EP plus a few more tracks released, the band has quickly made it clear that they will operate in the realm of expansive, catchy pop hooks.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with JMSN and The Last Royals can be found here.  Watch a new video for “Found You Out” below and download “Gold” here.

Local Brazilian band Alo Brasil plays Underground Arts tonight.  More than just a performing band, Alo Brasil features an interactive live show influenced by African rhythms like samba, maracatu and more.  Though often accompanied by costumed dancers, for their recurring “Underground Sessions” Alo Brasil has a refreshed line-up of musicians.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show can be found here, or on the Facebook event page here.  Watch a promo video for Alo Brasil below.

Lentil Fest continues at The Fire tonight, with performances by Kuf Knotz, Nicos Gun, Reef the Lost Cauze, Mike “Slo-Mo’ Brenner, Gedeon Luke and Brady & the Bear.  In support of Lentil the french bulldog (born with a cleft pallate), all proceeds will benefit the French Bulldog Rescue Network, Street Tails Animal Rescue and ccakids.org.  Tickets and information can be found here.  Watch Kuf Knotz perform at the 2011 XPoNential Music Festival below.

Also happening: XPN welcomes The Smithereens to The Sellersville Theater; XPN welcomes Free Energy to the North Star Bar.  Tickets and information for both shows can be found on the XPN Concert Calendar.

FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Previews, Events, Alo Brasil, Amanda X, Brady and the Bear, Free Energy, Gedeon Luke, Household, JMSN, Johnny Brenda's, Kuf Knotz, Lentil Fest, Mike "Slo Mo" Brenner, Nicos Gun, North Star Bar, Parquet Courts, PhilaMOCA, Reef The Lost Cauze, Scott & Charlene's Wedding, Sir Sly, The Fire, The Last Royals, The Sellersville Theater, The Smithereens, Underground Arts
April 14, 2013 | 12:27 PM | By

Tonight’s Concert Picks: Jamie Lidell at Union Transfer, Amanda X at Kung Fu Necktie, THe Appleseed Cast with Belgrade at the First Unitarian Church

jamielidell8-credit_nicole_nodlandBritish performer Jamie Lidell will be at Union Transfer tonight.  Over his six-album career, Lidell has worked with Beck, Feist and Simian Mobile Disco.  Lidell is currently touring in support of his recent self-titled Warp Records release, which sees the soul singer adopt a more electronic dance vibe instead of his usual R&B tinged soul angle.  Tickets and information for tonight’s show with Empress Of and Ludwig Persik can be found here.  Below, watch the video for Jamie Lidell’s “You Naked.”

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FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Previews, Events, Amanda X, Belgrade, Empress Of, First Unitarian Church, Jackie Paper, Jamie Lidell, Kung Fu Necktie, Ludwig Persik, Muscle Worship, Solid Attitude, Stiff Licks, The Appleseed Cast, Thelma and The Sleaze, Union Transfer
March 12, 2013 | 8:30 AM | By

Tonight’s Concert Picks: XPN Welcomes Charlie Musselwhite to The Sellersville Theater, Amanda X with Point Breeze at PhilaMOCA for Tuesday Tune-Out, Modern Baseball at The Barbary

Photo by Danny Clinch

Photo by Danny Clinch

XPN welcomes legendary blues musician Charlie Musselwhite to The Sellersville Theater tonight.  Over his almost 50-year career, Musselwhite has released over 20 records in addition to collaborating on efforts by Bonnie Raitt, Tom Waits and others.  Following the success of his 1966 debut, the 2010 Blues of Fame inductee moved to San Francisco where he and his unique blues-harp playing stood out against the counterculture backdrop. Most recently, Musselwhite collaborated with Ben Harper for 2012′s Get Up!.  Tickets and information for tonight’s all-ages show with Deb Callahan can be found here.  Below, watch Musselwhite perform “Blues Why Do You Worry Me?” live.

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FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Previews, Events, Scene, Amanda X, Charlie Musselwhite, Connor Byrne, Deb Callahan, John Nolan, Modern Baseball, Philadelphia Area Music Showcase, PhilaMOCA, Point Breeze, Sellersville Theater, The Barbary, Tuesday Tune-Out
March 5, 2013 | 1:09 PM | By

Guest VJ Nikki Volpicelli previews Philadelphia Area Music Showcase’s Tuesday Tune-Out (kicks off tonight at PhilaMOCA)

NikkiThis month heralds either PhilaMOCA‘s final Tuesday Tune-Out of the winter or the first of the spring, and the lineup that local writer Nikki Volpicelli pulled together has a similar season-melding element to it.

You’ve seen Nikki’s byline here on The Key somewhat regularly; she also an editor for JUMP Philly, and runs her own music blog, Philadelphia Area Music Showcase, which is curating this month at the ‘MOCA. I’m pleased to welcome Nikki to this space (as an interviewee, rather than an interviewer) to tell us what’s in store. All events are at PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th Street), start at 7:30pm and are $5.

From Nikki:

Coming into the whole Tuesday Tune-Out, I had two goals. One, I wanted to make sure I highlighted bands that weren’t playing out as much, but should – bands that people should know about and be able to hear. And two, I wanted to make sure every single night was compact. If you’re going, you’re going because you like this specific sound, and you’re not going to be let down by either of these bands. Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Previews, Events, Amanda X, Auctioneer, Cruiser, Edison, Heyward Howkins, Philadelphia Area Music Showcase, PhilaMOCA, Point Breeze, Tuesday Tune-Out, Younger Me
February 22, 2013 | 2:53 PM | By

Parquet Courts will return with a show at PhilaMOCA on 5/4

121031-ParquetCourts_0If you missed Parquet Courts‘ appearance at the Making Time Valentime’s Day Party the last week don’t fret!  The indie punk outfit have a announced more dates including a show at PhilaMOCA on Saturday, May 4th with Scott & Charlene’s Wedding, Household and Amanda X.  The Brooklyn band self-released their full-length debut Light Up Gold last summer and the effort backed up the incredible amount of buzz around the band so well that it led to a record deal with What’s Your Rupture? and a wide-release last month.  Tickets and information for the all-ages show are available here.  Watch Parquet Courts play “Borrowed Time” at Death by Audio below.

FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Previews, Events, News, Amanda X, Household, Parquet Courts, PhilaMOCA, Scott & Charlene's Wedding
January 20, 2013 | 5:30 PM | By

Stacked local bill thrashes out with Lantern, Dong Johnson, Amanda X (photos, review)

Johnny Brenda’s hosted an all local show Thursday featuring Lantern, Dong Johnson and Amanda X. Musically it ranged from proto-punk to dirty blues rock to hardcore and post-punk. But the energy was consistent throughout.

Lantern opened with “Out of Our Heads” from last year’s Dream Mine. Lead singer and guitarist Zachary Devereux Fairbrother asked “Is anybody out there?” with a throaty rebel yell and got an increasingly affirmative answer back from the crowd as their set continued. His and bassist Emily Robb joked mid-set how “Thursday is boss night.” (Apparently that’s who was out there in the crowd.) Continue reading →

FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Photos + Videos, Concert Reviews, Events, Amanda X, Dong Johnson, Johnny Brenda's, Lantern
January 17, 2013 | 8:30 AM | By

Tonight’s Concert Picks: Lantern at Johnny Brenda’s, Black Prairie at MilkBoy, Blonde Redhead at Union Transfer, XPN Welcomes David Johansen of New York Dolls to World Cafe Live, XPN Welcomes Rhett Miller to The Abbey Bar

Local rock ‘n’ roll trio Lantern headline Johnny Brenda’s tonight.  Self-described as “proto-biker-punk-blues,” the one thing that will strike any listener upon diving into 2012′s Dream Mine EP (Bathetic) for the first time is the sheer amount of blown-out fuzz and noise that distorts the classically punk vocals of front-man Zachary Devereux Fairbrother.  Citing influences as surprising as early folk and blues and as obvious as early rock ‘n’ roll and ’60s-’70s punk, Lantern’s music is a combustion of nitty gritty Americana.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Dong Johnson and Amanda X can be found here.  Below, watch the video for “Train Song.”

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FILED UNDER: Artists, Concert Previews, Events, Scene, Amanda X, Black Prairie, Blonde Redhead, David Johansen, Dong Johnson, Exitmusic, John Wesley Harding, Johnny Brenda's, Lantern, Milkboy, Rhett Miller, The Abbey Bar, Union Transfer, World Cafe Live