Over at Kung Fu Necktie, Arctic Splash will open for Creem Circus.  The Joey Sweeney-fronted band make soulful rock ‘n’ roll and it’s not hard to mistake Sweeney’s crooning for that of Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy.  The local outfit stopped by recently for a holiday-themed Key Studio session, during which they shared a few non winterized tracks as well – check out a great live version of “When You Say My Name” below and download the full session here.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Naked Heroes can be found here.

Local rock band Cold Roses headline MilkBoy tonight.   Though they’re from Philly, Cold Roses sound like they’re straight out of a Texas roadhouse with their old-style country rock / blues combo.  The four-piece released their debut EP The Georgia Fugue this month and have been celebrating with a string of hometown dates, including tonight’s with Dressed Like Stolen Cars and The Rivals.  Tickets and information for the 21+ show can be found here.  Stream “Lose That Man” from the EP below.

Brooklyn blog-favorites Parquet Courts will be at Voyeur for tonight’s Making Time Valentime’s Day party.   The indie rockers released their first proper full-length Light Up Gold last summer, an effort that followed up their true debut American Specialties (released exclusively on cassette and passed over by most).  Tonight, Parquet Courts come to town with Inc. for Making Time’s Valentime’s Day show with all the Making Time regulars including DJ Dave P and Sammy Slice and special guest DJ The Crystal Ark.  Tickets and information for the 21+ show can be found here.  Below, watch a live video of Parquet Courts performing “Borrowed Time.”

Benefiting Ladyfest Philadelphia, there’s a rocking cover band show happening tonight at Cha-Cha’Razzi in South Philly.   Featuring tributes to Blondie, The Breeders, B-52s and more, all proceeds will go towards the summer festival that celebrates art, music and culture in Philadelphia.  The event will also launch DIYPHL‘s new photozine highlighting a year in local DIY shows and happenings.  More information can be found here.  Watch a video of Fauxlectrelane covering “To the East” at the Sugar Town 10th Anniversary show below.

Photo by Josh Anderson

Nashville singer-songwriter Caitlin Rose‘s new single “I Was Cruel” is a sweetly presented confessional song with a swinging groove thanks to some twangy steel guitar lines and a reflective coda.  Rose will release her sophomore record The Stand-In on March 5th through ATO Records and plays MilkBoy Philly on Wednesday, April 3rd; tickets and information for the 21+ show can be found here.

Philly’s Everyone Everywhere stopped in for this week’s Key Studio Session, recording five songs from their latest self-titled full-length.  Though the album was released last summer, the charming emo quartet just celebrated the record last night with a hometown show at The Barbary.  Stream and download “Queen Mary II” below and go here for the full session.

• Queen Mary IIby Everyone Everywhere, from The Key Studio SessionsDownload

This week on World Cafe, host David Dye delved into the musical history of Memphis for his Sense of Place travel series.  Between tours of Memphis’ historic recording studios and excursions to the city’s most famous landmarks, Dye sat down with some of the country’s top musicians to record World Cafe episodes.  Included in those sessions is blues musician Rev. John Wilkins, who recorded a version of his father’s “Prodigal Son” for the Cafe – stream and download it below, then listen back to the full World Cafe session here.

Local rock and roll band Arctic Splash were the featured band for Monday’s My Morning Download.  The Joey Sweeney-fronted outfit recorded a Key Studio Session last month and their track “When You Say My Name” is included on the latest Key Studio Sessions, Volume 6 compilation alongside contributions from Bad Braids, Aspiga and Nothing.  Download the full collection here.  Arctic Splash will open for Creem Circus at Kung Fu Necktie on Saturday, February 16th; tickets and information for the 21+ show can be found here.

Photo of Joey Sweeney by John Vettese

Today’s My Morning Download is by the local rock and roll band Arctic Splash. Fronted by Philebrity editor Joey Sweeney, the Splash recorded a Key Studio Session last month – mid-December, 2012 – and the song “When You Say My Name” is on the recent Key Studio Sessions, Volume 6, featuring performances from 17 bands including Kingsfoil, The Districts, Ape School, and others. You can download the entire collection here. Below, grab the aching, Dylanesque “When You Say My Name” by Arctic Splash.

You could tell right off the bat that Arctic Splash was serious about this holiday vibe. When the band showed up at WXPN last weekend for its Key Studio Session, guitarist Jeff White broke out his cranberry-red Fender, remarking that it was picked specifically for the occasion. It played nicely off of his pine-green flannel, while frontman Joey Sweeney (also known as editor of Philebrity and resuscitator of the 215 Fest) wore a bright red winter cap with the Spectrum logo emblazoned across it. Sure, he probably would have been wearing the hat anyway, but it all just felt so right. The mission at hand was a Christmas-themed Arctic Splash session, guest engineered by World Cafe’s Chris Williams and the set a ran a gamut of moods and sounds. It went from the biting, twisted and cynical (but insanely poppy) “Don’t Kill Yourself At Christmas,” to the generally wintery rocker “Beware of the Black Ice”, all the way to an absolutely sincere, touching rendition of “Silent Night.” In the mix there as well are a couple other Splash originals, “When You Say My Name” and “Baptized In Vibe.” Stream ‘em and download ‘em below, and get ready to sing along when Arctic Splash performs at tonight’s Philebrity Awards at Johnny Brenda’s.

• Don't Kill Yourself This Christmasby Arctic Splash from The Key Studio Sessions, Dec. 19, 2012Download

• Beware of the Black Iceby Arctic Splash from The Key Studio Sessions, Dec. 19, 2012Download

• When You Say My Nameby Arctic Splash from The Key Studio Sessions, Dec. 19, 2012Download

• Baptized In Vibeby Arctic Splash from The Key Studio Sessions, Dec. 19, 2012Download

• Silent Nightby Arctic Splash from The Key Studio Sessions, Dec. 19, 2012Download

Reggae great Maxi Priest comes to The Keswick Theatre tonight.  The British singer released Maximum Collection this past summer, a collection of songs from the ’80s and ’90s.  Finding immediate success with his debut album You’re Safe in 1985, Priest went on to become the only UK reggae singer to top the U.S. charts thanks to his 1990 hit “Close to You.”  Tickets and information for tonight’s show can be found here.  Below, watch the video for “Close to You.”

Help celebrate Joey Sweeney‘s 40th birthday at Johnny Brenda’s tonight.  ”Joey Sweeney You’re Life is Calling: The Best of Joey Sweeney, 1992-2012 Performed Live” is the all-inclusive headline for tonight’s bash.  Featuring a reunited The Trouble With Sweeney and The Barnabys, as well as Sweeney’s current hard-rocking outfit Arctic Splash, tonight’s is just as much about nineties Philly rock as is it as about the man himself.  Tickets and information for the 21+ show can be found here.  Below, watch a live BITBY video of Arctic Splash performing “Denim Tuxedo.”

Smooth-vibing Work Drugs continue their record release shenanigans with a Christmas party at Ortlieb’s Lounge tonight.  The Philly tropi-synth band released a retrospective record called Delta this month, featuring hand-picked favorites by Tom Crystal and Ben Louisiana and pressed on sweet yellow vinyl.  Tonight’s show is sure to be a unique one at the 100-capacity Ortlieb’s with the band promising new tunes and Christmas songs.  Opening slots will be filled by Shark Tape (who rocked XPN’s Free at Noon last week), Ellis Island and DJ Young Mariah Carey.  Tickets and information for the 21+ show can be found here.  Below, watch the video for “The Art of Progress” and stream Delta via The Hype Machine here.

XPN Welcomes Ra Ra Riot to The Chameleon Club in Lancaster tonight.  The indie rock band is prepping for the release of their third full-length, Beta Love, which will be out on January 22nd.  With a slightly different line-up (cellist Alexandra Lawn left the band earlier this year), Ra Ra Riot are also trying out a new sound, trading in the baroque pop of earlier hits like “Dying is Fine” and “Boy” for a more synth-pop style on Beta Love.  Tickets and information for tonight’s all-ages show with Ton-Taun can be found here.  Below, stream the title track from Beta Love.

Philly-bred singer-songwriter Jason Karaban returns home from L.A. tonight to celebrate the release of his new album, Shift, which came out on September 4th. Karaban joined WXPN’s Helen Leicht on her show Leicht Lunch on Wednesday to play a few songs from his new album and his song “Misplaced” was Wednesday’s My Morning Download. Now, WXPN is welcoming Karaban to the Tin Angel tonight for a 21+ CD release party. The show kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are available here for $10. Below, watch the video for “Misplaced” from Jason Karaban’s new album.

Haitian kompa musician Blayer PointduJour just released his first full-length album this week with his band, the Rockers Galore. To celebrate, PointduJour is playing a record release show at MilkBoy Philly. The 21+ show also features I Yahn I Arkestra, The National Rifle, and Philadelphia Slick. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and the show starts at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are available here for $10. Blayer PointduJour was also this week’s Unlocked band on The Key. Check out The Key’s album review of his new record The Bull here and listen to his song “One Hit” in the player below.

Former Dead Kennedys lead singer Jello Biafra is headed to Philly tonight for an all ages show at the Trocadero with his band, the Guantanamo School of Medicine. The show also features performances by The Ray Gradys, Honah Lee, and Thee Nosebleeds. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are available here for $15.

Finally, Philly bands Arctic Splash, Weird Hot are playing St. James & the Apostles‘s record release show tonight at Johnny Brenda’s. The doors for the 21+ show open at 8:00 p.m. and the show starts at 9:15 p.m. Tickets are available for $10 here. Vinyl copies of St. James & the Apostles’ new album, Baphomet, will be available at the show.

Local rockers Arctic Splash (featuring Joey Sweeney of Philebrity) are celebrating their one year anniversary with a free show at 9PM tonight at Gunner’s Run. Check out the band performing “Denim Tuxedo” for Bands in the Backyard in the player below.

WXPN welcomes Lyle Lovett and his acoustic group to the Strand Capitol Performing Arts Center tonight at 7:30PM. The show is in support of the Grammy-winning artist’s most recent album, Release Me. Tickets prices range from $54 to 64 and are available here.

Finally, Philly bands City Rain, Cold Fronts, and The Mendles are playing a variety show with local comedians Lisa Yost, James Hesky, and Alex Grubard at PhilaMOCA tonight. There is an $8 donation fee at the door and a portion of proceeds will go to the organization To Write Love On Her Arms, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. Doors open at 6:30PM and the show starts at 7:30PM. Visit the event page here for more details. Listen to the title track off City Rain’s upcoming EP, Montage, in the player below.

Sharon Van Etten first hit our radar as the inaugural artist in Shaking Through, the video and audio collaboration between Philly’s Weathervane Music and WXPN. In many ways, the seeds of her recent acclaim were born in that session for Shaking Through at Brian McTear’s Miner Street Studios in Fishtown in December, 2010. The song she recorded, “Love More,” was included on her gorgeous and intimate October, 2010 release Epic. Since then, Sharon’s career has grown significantly, solidified by an extensive touring schedule and her February 2012 release, Tramp on Jagjaguwar Records. Over the past couple of years Sharon has released hushed, indie folk tunes that reveal intimate truths; easily making audiences swoon. Tonight WXPN welcomes her along with Meg Baird to Union Transfer at 9 PM; purchase tickets here.

Also tonight:

PhilaMOCA Summer Solstice Ice Cream Social with performances from Arctic Splash, The Really Cooks, Attia Taylor, Shorty Boy Boy, and MC Juliet Hope Wayne. Tickets to the all ages show will be sold at the door and are $8. Doors open at 6 PM.

And over at World Cafe Live, previous singer of the late, great Ween, Aaron Freeman performs songs from his new Ben Vaughn produced album, The Marvelous Clouds. The 8 PM show tickets are $20

Disclosure: WXPN Director Of Engineering Jared Styles plays bass in Arctic Splash.

Denim Tuxedo (Demo) by arcticsplash