To mark the anniversary of Clash guitarist Joe Strummer’s passing, the North Star Bar will be hosting In Memory of Joe Strummer: A Benefit for Strummerville. The show benefits the Strummervile charity that financially support struggling musicians who aspire to change the world through music. The charity was established by family and friends of the influential punk rocker, and a variety of acts will be performing in support of the cause including Blayer Point du Jour and the Rockers Galore, The Cold Roses, Betty Iron Thumbs, I Yahn I Arkestra, The Future Unwritten (named after the Strummer documentary), The Successful Failures and Split Red. More information on the foundation can be located here. Below, watch one of the Strummerville sessions directed by famed punk scene DJ and Clash associate Don Letts.
Betty Iron Thumbs
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Sunday’s Concert Picks: Grandchildren and The Very Best at JB’s, Betty Iron Thumbs at The Fire, Meddlesome Meddlesome Meddlesome Bells at Silk City
If the weekend weather’s got you down, your best call is to head inside and hunker down with some good people and good music. Heading over to Johnny Brenda’s will land you in front of Philly favorites Grandchildren, whose glowing indie-electro-rock will warm your rain-chilled soul and soften your summer heat-hardened heart. They just released a new song, “Where’s the Knife,” from their upcoming album over at Paste Magazine. Grandchildren are opening for the global pop duo The Very Best, who list their influences as “Lil Wayne and Phil Collins” and have a set of head-bopping, hip-shaking afropop tunes in store to get Frankford Ave dancing. The show starts at 9:15 (doors at 8), and admission is 21+; tickets are available for $13 here. Below, watch the video for “Kondaine,” an jubilant track from The Very Best’s forthcoming album, MTMTMK.
Or if you’re in a heavier mood, head over to The Fire for Philly’s own self-proclaimed “twangcore” rockers Betty Iron Thumbs, who’ll be taking that tiny stage along with a whole plethora of rock n’ rollers including South Carolina’s Modern Man, Virgina’s Gunchux, and locals Horace Mann. Tickets are $7 here; the show starts at 8 and is 21+. Below, stream “Under the Night,” the title track from Betty Iron Thumbs’ latest album.
Finally, if none of the aforementioned quite fits your fancy, why not try out local psych-folks Meddlesome Meddlesome Meddlesome Bells, playing an early show at Silk City. They’ll be pairing their slow and lilting heady folk-rock jams along with the likes of fuzzed-out locals Dreambook, punk shoe-wave outfit Canary oh Canary, and Brooklyn shoegazers Invisible Days. Admission to the 6 p.m. show is $7 at the door; the show is 21+. Below, stream “O the Sun” from Bells’ first full album, The Sirens, Too, Sang That Way. Their latest album Worried Land is available on their website in vinyl or pay-what-you-want download.