Locals Tin Bird Choir bring their soulful folk sound to Steel City Coffeehouse in Phoenixville tonight. It’s a CD release show for the self-proclaimed “barn rock” outfit, whose new record is titled Homesteady. Check them out performing at 30th Street Station a few weeks ago for XPN’s Lunchtime Buskers series. You can find tickets and information here.

Tin Bird Choir busking at The Porch at 30th Street Station from WXPN FM on Vimeo.

Eclectic funky rocker Cody ChesnuTT plays World Cafe Live tonight. The Roots featured ChesnuTT in their album Phrenology when remade his tune “The Seed” into “The Seed (2.0).” His 2012 album Landing On A Hundred (his first in ten years) includes a great blend of old fashioned funk rock, r&b, blues, and even a tinge of reggae. Tickest and information can be found here, and you can listen to him play an acoustic version of “Parting Ways” below.

Saturday night also brings a handful of great local hip-hop artists to The Fire in Northern Liberties. Rapper Truck North will be headlining – he recently released his EP Our American Cousin, which includes a great track called “Capital Crime” with Black Thought and Asher Roth (you can check it out below). This summer he’s also supposed to release the mixtape Murder by Mourning. Also performing is Dice Raw, formerly a member of the Roots crew and a longtime part of the Philly hip-hop scene. The lineup also includes Curly Castro‘s electro-infused raps and Quon Logic. Listen to some of their tunes below.

Philly indie rock outfit Little Big League will be opening for Titus Andronicus at Union Transfer, warming up for the release of their first LP, These Are Good People (out July 11th on Tiny Engines Records). Fun fact: Drummer Ian Dykstra used to play for Titus Andronicus a few years back! Find tickets and more information here, and check out their new song “Lindsey” below.

To celebrate his new album, A Miner’s Town, Philly-based folksy singer-songwriter Marc Silver is playing a record release show at Johnny Brenda’s with his band The Stonethrowers. He’ll be playing along with Pete Donnelly & the Wise Easy and Ross Bellenoit. Below, take a listen to a track off his new record, “All We Are,” which Silver says may be his favorite song on the album. Tickets and information can be found here.

Former members of Jefferson Airplane make up the core of bluesy classic rock band Hot Tuna, and their acoustic tour brings them to the Keswick Theater tonight. Their last album, Steady As She Goes, was released in 2011 – listen to Jorma Kaukonen and Barry  Mitterhoff perform “Things that Might Have Been” at Red House Records. Tickets and information can be found here.

Philly-via-Boston indie folk outfit The Gallerist play The Fire tonight, along with Gatherings, The People, and Hani Zahra. The Gallerist’s chillingly awesome guitar and banjo melodies mixed with lush, warm vocals makes for a great overall sound. Stream their album A Falling Waltz below, and find tickets and information here.

Philly singer-songwriter Denison Witmer plays at World Cafe Live tonight, opening for Brooklyn band Hem. Witmer recently released an introspective self-titled LP on Asthmatic Kitty records; stream and download the song “Asa” below, and find information on tonight’s show at the World Cafe Live website.

Baths is the stage name of Will Wiesenfeld, an imaginative artist whose music straddles the line between the boundary-pushing hip-hop of his label Anticon and the post-R&B world of Autre Ne Veut / How to Dress Well. His all ages appearance at Union Transfer tonight with Houses and D33J begins at 8 p.m., tickets and more information can be found here. Below, watch Baths play at the Grog Shop in Cleveland in 2010.

Hot off the release of their new EP, All The Blood in the World, local roots-rock quartet, The Bailey Hounds, will be playing a show this Saturday at Laurel Hill Cemetery. The new EP is streaming (see the link below), and available for purchase, at their Bandcamp page. The Bailey Hounds will be back in Philly later on in the summer for release party show at Johnny Brenda’s on July 13th. Tickets and information for their Laurel Hill Cemetery show can be found here.

Singer/songwriter Josh Tillman, better known by his moniker Father John Misty, will be headlining a local show this Saturday, at Union Transfer, with support from the Portland based, dream-pop duo Pure Bathing Culture. Perhaps once best known for his work with the indie-folk outfit, Fleet Foxes, Tillman’s inventive songwriting and unique personality have given his solo career a respectable amount of recognition. His latest, Fear Fun, was released on Sub Pop, May of last year. Tickets and information for that show can be found here. Watch his video for the track, “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” below.

Oh Bree, a Philly based group of ten indie rockers with a love of brass, will be coming to town to play a show at The Fire. The band’s latest release, a full length record entitled We Miss You Edward, Come Home, came out last October, and consists of 17 incredibly unpredictable (occasionally absurd) tracks. Tickets and information for that show can be found here.

Photo by Abi Reimold | abireimoldphoto.com

The Fire’s stage bounced under the feet of Juston Stens and The Get Real Gang as they finished out Sundrop Music Festival on Saturday night. Despite sparse attendance, both the band and the audience seemed to enjoy the set with dancing and smiles. Stens’ songs featured beautiful four-part harmonies at times; check out a gallery from their set below.

Back for its third year, the Sundrop Music and Arts Festival is happening at The Fire this weekend.  Juston Stens & The Get Real Gang, Andrew Lipke, Up the Chain and Satellite Hearts are among the bands billed for the two day event, which continues tomorrow.  In addition to the ticketed, 21+ shows inside The Fire there will be free all-ages concerts on an outdoor stage on Liethgow Street with craft booths and food.  Tickets and information can be found here.  Below, download a Key Studio track from Juston Stens & The Get Real Gang.

Portland, Oregon post-punk band The Thermals headline Union Transfer tonight.  The trio is touring support of its forthcoming LP Desperate Ground, their sixth since their inception in 2002.  The album was produced by John Agnello, who worked with Kurt Vile on his latest as well as Dinosaur Jr. and Sonic Youth.  The Thermals recently participated in New York’s Ace Hotel video series “5 at 5,” recording an acoustic version of new song “You Will Be Free” – watch the video below.  Philly’s Hop Along and Cayetana open tonight’s show, and tickets and information can be found here. Read our interview with The Thermals’ Kathy Foster here.

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.

Local quartet Divers perform at The Fire tonight.  Comprised of Emily Ana Zeitlyn, Ross Bellenoit, Todd Erk and Thomas Bendel, the young band of seasoned Philly musicians has been steadily packing shows under their belt in recent months.  The three songs posted on Divers’ website offer up some post punk / dark wave sensibilities at certain points and catchy indie pop at other points, with Zeitlyn’s vocal delivery evoking a female Morrissey.  Tickets and information for tonight’s show with Paper Castles, Brad Hinton and Todd Henkin can be found here.  Below, stream “Wild Thing.”

• Wild Thingby DiversDownload

R&B performer Janelle Monae will take part in Penn’s Spring Fling tonight.  The Kansas City native caught the attention of Diddy’s label Bad Boy Records after the independent / self release of The Audition in 2003.  Monae’s breakthrough effort The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III) was released via Bad Boy in 2010 and featured the instant hit and Grammy nominee “Tightrope.”  Monae will be joined by mash-up artist Girl Talk and rapper Tyga at Franklin Field tonight.  Tickets and information can be found here.  Below, watch the video for “Tightrope.”

David Bromberg Quartet performs at the Landis Theater tonight.  Bromberg has been a mainstay of the music scenes in Philadelphia, New York and Wilmington since his days at Columbia University thanks to his skilled guitar playing and humorous lyrics.  Over the  years, the Philadelphia-born multi-instrumentalist has recorded on albums by Jerry Garcia, Bob Dylan, Jorma Kaukonen and more.  Tickets and information for tonight’s show in Vineland, NJ can be found here.  Below, watch the David Bromberg Quartet perform “Fifty Dollar Wig” live at the 2012 Byron Bay Bluesfest.

Netherfriends stops by Church of the Advocate tonight.  Spearheaded by Chicago resident Shawn Rosenblatt, Netherfriends is a melodic indie pop project that embarked on a “50 Songs 50 States” project recently, which will be presented on July 4th as an interactive map.  Last spring, Rosenblatt joined Norwegian Arms and other Philly area bands for a show benefiting Calcutta House, a resource for homeless men and women suffering from AIDS.  Tonight, Netherfriends will be joined by DC’s Drunken Sufis and local bands Rasputin’s Secret Police and MOSS.  Admission is at the door; more information can be found on the Facebook event page here.  Below, watch Rosenblatt perform “St. Louis, MO” from his recent Middle America LP.

New York’s The Virgins will be playing at Johnny Brenda’s tonight alongside Philly band Shorty Boy Boy. The Virgins are a rock band, reminiscent of bands such as the Smiths, and have just released their newest album in March entitled Strike Gently on Cult Records Records. Not only has the album been released on Cult Records, but the band has also announced that they have signed to the record label. Accompanying the Virgins, indie pop band Shorty Boy Boy will be taking the stage as well. The band is currently working on a full length record, and will be releasing singles off the new record sometime in the near future. Tickets and information for the 21 and up show with Har Mar Superstar can be found here. Watch a music video for The Virgins’ “Flashbacks, Memories and Dreams” off their new record Strike Gently in the below link.

Philadelphia folk-rock band (and returning Key studio session buddies) The Naked Sun will be performing at The Fire tonight. The band will also be welcoming the release of their brand new EP out just this month. They take their name from the Isaac Asimov novel and their “honest rock” sound is a lively take on the genre, as can be heard in their new EP, Space, Place and Time. Tickets and information for the 21 and up show with Red Sammy can be found here. Below, listen to “Cosmic Winds” off of The Naked Sun’s new EP Space, Place and Time. You may also check out the The Naked Sun’s studio session with the Key here.

Photo credit: John Christon

Before Tim Kasher had a solo project, his attempt at a solo project grew into The Good Life, and before that, Kasher was in Cursive. Today, Kasher still juggles Cursive and his solo work, but he’s been involved in several other projects over the years. Between 1997 and 2012, Kasher recorded nine albums with Cursive, four with The Good Life and, as of 2010 when he went out on his own, two solo albums. He’s also been featured on over a dozen other studio albums, including four Bright Eyes albums. Recently, Kasher announced a slew of live shows and new solo album in the works. Catch his show at Johnny Brenda’s tonight with Birthmark. Tickets and information for the 21+ show are available here. Below, download Kasher’s “Cold Love” from his debut solo album The Game of Monogamy.

Office of Future Plans play The Fire tonight.  The Baltimore-based band was accidentally formed after its members left their previous DC area punk bands to open for The Bomb in 2009.  Keeping the ball rolling since that night, Plans released their most recent self-titled full-length in 2011 via Dischord Records and are putting the finishing touches on a split with French indie band and showmates Daria right now.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Daria and Kepone can be found here.  Stream “Salamander” from Office of Future Plans below.

Winston Yellen’s project Night Beds headlines Johnny Brenda’s tonight.  The Nashville-via-Colorado musician released his debut LP Country Sleep through Dead Oceans last month, an album that moves effortlessly from poppy-twang (“Ramona”) to downcast, reflective tracks (“22″) with a Jim James-esque crescendo of arrangements.  Shaking Through alum Cat Martino just released her first music video ever, an artistic clip for “Yr Not Alone” (watch here via NPR).  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Indians can be found here.  Below, watch Night Beds perform “Ramona” live in Nashville’s Ocean Way Studio.

Photo by Allison Newbold for PropertyOfZack.com; view a full photo gallery here

Recent Run For Cover Records signees Modern Baseball celebrated their label-ship with a heck of a party and a red-hot bill on Feb. 17th featuring Smoother, Cayetana, Marietta and Cool Points. They closed out the show with their usual romping, triumphant sing-along, except this time they had something to celebrate. It was an appropriate occasion to see this band tearing up a venue like The Fire in the wake of their buzz-crazy record deal, rather than the usual dusty basement.

What made this show great was that there were no loose ends; every band was at the top of their game. Cool Points kicked things off with a killer set, and Cayetana held it down as Philly’s latest girl-rockers. Smoother’s set was also a lot of fun, and definitely got people warmed up for Modern Baseball’s set. The highlight of the night, however, was the second act, Marietta. I’m quite sure they did not mean to over-shadow their headliner pals, but for me, it was a stellar offering. The crowd may have been rowdier at the end of the night, but Marietta owned the second slot by tearing through a set of almost entirely new material, soon to be released on their debut full-length. This was Marietta’s strongest show yet, and it’s all uphill from here.

Tons of people came out to this, which was great considering the bill was full of bands that play 95% of their shows in people’s homes. Far too often I have gone to see bands like this at a bar only to find that I’m the only one there. It truly was a pleasure to see so many younger folks making the trip out to see some great bands put on a great show. Every band killed it, and they deserved to have heads in the crowd. I think I can speak for everyone who was there when I say this night was a blast, and a great high-five to Modern Baseball for their recent accolades. Hooray!

Buy/download music from these bands here:

http://coolpoints.bandcamp.com/

http://whereismarietta.bandcamp.com/

http://cayetana.bandcamp.com/

http://thesmoothguys.bandcamp.com/

http://modernbaseballpa.bandcamp.com/

Recent Run For Cover Records additions Modern Baseball play The Fire tonight.  Their 2012 debut LP Sports is getting the reissue-treatment by the new label and will be released on March 12th.  The local band also contributed to a benefit 4-way split for Topshelf Records this week along with Philly friends The Hundred Acre Woods, Maryland’s Julia Brown and Old Gray, with proceeds go to global anti-violence charity V-Day.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21= show with Cayetana, Marietta, Smoother and Cool Points can be found here.  Watch a stripped-down version of “The Weekend” from Sports below.

If you, like most of us, missed out on the super fast selling tickets for Mumford & Sons‘ show at Susquehanna Bank Center this weekend, have no fear.  Sit back and enjoy the British invasion event from the comfort of your home or car by tuning into WXPN 88.5 or streaming it online at XPN.org and sing along to favorites from 2012′s stand-out Babel and 2009′s debut Sigh No More.  Opening acts include LA sister trio HAIM and current BRIT Award nominee Ben Howard.  More information can be found here.  Below, watch Mumford & Sons perform “The Cave” live at Bonaroo in 2011.

Still riding high from the release of their debut full-length a few weeks ago, Philly’s Bleeding Rainbow headline Johnny Brenda’s tonight.  The duo-turned-quartet signed to Kanine Records last fall and though the release date was pushed back several months, the noise-punk band put out their gloriously shoe-gazey Yeah Right LP in January.  Yeah Right is The Key’s featured album for this week’s Unlocked series, which means you can dig into it with a review here (and an interview later today).  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show at Johnny Brenda’s with Pet Milk and Ghost Light can be found here.  Watch a new video for “Waking Dream” from Yeah Right below.

On the other Kung Fu Necktie stage tonight, you’ll find local harpist Mary Lattimore performing with Jeff Zeigler. This collaboration is but one on each musician’s long list of projects, Lattimore’s including work with Thurston Moore, Kurt Vile and Meg Baird and Zeigler’s expanding with his band Arc in Round and production work for The War on Drugs, Ape School and others.  When the two pair up for nights like tonight, though, the result is about as far away from those other projects as possible.  Lattimore’s dreamy harp compositions and Zeigler’s warpy but gentle synth layers froth with emotion and understanding.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Trummors, Fred Thomas and Morning River Band can be found here.  Stream Mary Lattimore and Jeff Zeigler’s improvised Folkadelphia session below and learn more about Lattimore’s debut full-length The Withdrawing Room here.

Philebrity and BITBY.TV have teamed up to bring you the hoppin-est Valentine’s Day variety show in town at Underground Arts tonight.  WIth love-themed sets by Juston Stens & The Get Real Gang, Blayer Pointdujour, Katie Frank & The Pheromones, J.M.M. Sweeney Jr. (Mr. Philebrity himself) and others, the event lays claim to being “the city’s only destination for old school-style slow dancing,” with the groove being set by DJ Langor.  More information for the 21+ show can be found on the Facebook event page here.  Stream and download “Strange Love” by Juston Stens & Jessica Lea Mayfield (part of the With Love, From WXPN Philly Local sampler).

Also happening:

XPN welcomes New Jersey rockers The Smithereens to World Cafe Live in support of their 2011 self-titled record.  At The Sellersville Theater, XPN welcomes long-standing rock ‘n’ roll act Soul Asylum.  And finally at The Fire, XPN welcomes the Northern Liberties Winter Music Fest with American Babies, The Fleeting Ends, Ross Bellenoit, Joe D’Amico Band and Miz.  Tickets and information for all shows can be found here.

Local alternative hip hop artist Bilal performs at World Cafe Live tonight.  A graduate of Philadelphia’s High School for Creative and Performing Arts, Bilal took his passions for jazz and songwriting to New York City where he fell into the company of The Roots, Erykah Badu and Mos Def.  A chance encounter with Aaron Comess of The Spin Doctors led to his first record deal and started Bilal on a path of putting out genre-defying music.  Tonight’s show is a record release event for Bilal’s upcoming full-length A Love Surreal, out through Purpose Music on February 26th.  Tickets and information for the all-ages show with Johnny Popcorn and Hezekiah can be found here.  Below, stream “West Side Girl” from the new album.

XPN welcomes the second night of the Northern Liberties Winter Music Festival to The Fire.  Tonight’s featured acts run the gamut of musical genres from the noise rock of New Jersey’s Ruby the Hatchet to the electro-pop of City Rain and the alt funk / rock of Black Stars.  Several of the bands are boasting new music, with Ruby the Hatchet’s excellent OUROBOROS out last fall and Asbury Park’s Brick & Mortar currently working on a new record.  Tickets and information for the 21+ show with Revolution, I Love You and Swear and Shake can be found here.  Below, watch Brick & Mortar’s video for “Bangs.”

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.

Philly punk band Ex Friends play The Fire tonight.  The gruff and growling outfit is the side project of Plow United bassist Joel Tannenbaum, who put in calls to local musicians JP Flexner, Audrey Crash and Jayme Guokas to fill out the band’s sound.  Ex Friends released their self-titled full-length on Paper + Plastick Records last September; you can stream the fast-paced, raw LP in full here.  Tickets and information for the all-ages show with Nobody Yet, Welter, Fever Charm and The Adults can be found here.  Below, stream “The Legend of the Holy Drinker” from a recent Ex Friends 7″.

XPN welcomes folk legend Arlo Guthrie to the McCarter Theatre.  Tonight’s performance will be a special tribute to Arlo’s late father and American songmaster Woody Guthrie in celebration of the latter’s 100th birthday.  Throughout his own storied and lengthy career Arlo has followed in his father’s footsteps, speaking out against social injustices and singing for a brighter future.  Tickets and information for this afternoon’s show can be found here.  Go here to watch Arlo perform his father’s “This Land is Your Land” with the Boston Pops.

Modern Inventors | Photo by Alicia Brown

Los Angeles indie-folk duo Homesick Elephant returns to the city of its birth tonight to play a set at The Fire. The duo of Sara FitzSimmons and Kevin Kelley got started by playing the venue’s open mic nights before they moved out west, and since they’ve been away they’ve recorded a handful of EPs and a great full length (2011′s The Pilgrim and the Pen). More information about the show is available at the WXPN concert calendar (powered by The Swollen Fox). Below, listen to “Quiet As A Mouse” from The Pilgrim and the Pen.

Philly rapper Chill Moody caps off a tremendous year tonight by headlining The TLA on South Street. He’s also celebrating the release of his latest album, RFM. Tickets to the show are $16 at the door, more information is available here. Below, listen to Chill’s homage to A Tribe Called Quest, “A Tribe Called Nice Things,” and read our interview with him from yesterday here.

XPN Welcomes The Hold Steady to the Musikfest Cafe in Bethlehem tonight. The ever-evolving rockers are on a round of dates to wrap up 2012, and also play Union Transfer tomorrow. Tickets and more information can be found here.

Camae Defstar brings a futuristic fusion of hip-hop, dance-rock and poetry to MilkBoy tonight opening for Key Studio Session alums John the Conqueror. Defstar is one half of the energetic rap duo The Mighty Paradocs, and has been making thought-provoking solo material under the name Moor Mother Goddess “for 3000 years” (but really, she’s only been on Soundcloud since earlier this year). Stream the Alpha Serpentis EP below get more information on the show here.

Cozy Galaxies, Toy Soldiers and The Slackwater News perform at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster, PA. This indie/blues/folk shakedown features three up and coming bands from the Philadelphia area who write catchy songs that hearken back to soft, rootsy jams–but with a modern twist. Both Toy Soldiers and The Slackwater News have put out releases in the last year, as well as multiple videos. Watch the video below for The Slackwater News’ song “Ghosts.”

Alt-punkers Scuzbot play The Fire with guests Barncat, The Delaware Riviera and White Hot Noise. Scuzbot, who released their first EP entitled Shapes and Trends last year, recently released an acoustic performance of the song “Washed Up” from their EP. Below is a video for the White Hot Noise track “Let It Out,” which was a one-take recording of the band recording in the studio.

New York comedy/rock band Green Jelly (pronounced “Green Jell-o”) are flaunting their “worst band in the world” skills tonight at Kung Fu Necktie. Having proudly embraced their reputation as the most inept performers in the industry, the four-piece got their start in the early ’80s. The band stopped touring in 1995, but resumed in 2008 and released their latest album, Musick To Insult Your Intelligence By, in 2009. Tonight’s 21+ show starts at 8 and is FREE; go here for more information. Below, check out Green Jelly’s video for “Bear Song.”

Budding indie locals Turning Violet Violet are playing the Tri-State Indie (TSI) awards pre-show tonight at the Balcony at the Trocadero. The group, who has a TSI nomination for Indie Pop Rock Band of the Year, released their first full-length album Double Cure earlier this year in May, which you can download here. Voting for the TSI awards is open until February 11th; go here to cast your vote. Tickets to tonight’s 21+ show are available here. Below, check out their backyard session with BITBY.TV from this September.

The Big Horn Jazz Band will fill the stage tonight at Johnny Brenda’s.  The 15 piece orchestra, led by Philadelphian Dennis Sigovich, pays tribute to jazz great Maynard Ferguson.  About five years ago, Sigovich teamed up with a horde of local musicians including sax player Larry McKenna, musical arranger Ed Etkins and original Maynard Ferguson Band member Joe Mosello to keep Ferguson’s jazzy, swinging compositions alive.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show can be found here.  Below, watch Maynard Ferguson and his band perform “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.”

Following the release of two EPs in 2011, Sounds From The Ground and Ancient Drum, Telford indie folk outfit Former Belle prepares for the release of their first full-length, Cathedral. You can catch Joseph Bruno and his buddies kicking around tonight at Milkboy Philly. The 21+ show starts at 9 PM; go here for tickets and information. Stream From The Ground Up here, and below you can listen to Former Belle perform “Shouldn’t Love.”

The Polyphonic Spree‘s Holiday showcase at The Trocadero is finally here! Come out and spread  holiday cheer as the pop / rock choral ensemble performs their collection of seasonal tidings tonight. The all-ages show starts at 7 PM; go here for tickets and information. Below, check out their newly released cover of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over).”

Local five-piece powerpop act Rob, Lately is playing at The Fire tonight. The band, started by brothers Rob and Ryan Malloy, began playing together 2008 and released their finished full-length album Haunts this past July. You can check out Haunts here and find tickets to the show tonight at our concert calendar here. Below, watch Rob, Lately’s webcam performance of their new song, “Powdered Wig,”

Local indie newcomers Young Statues and Heartwell will be playing tonight at The Barbary. Stream The Young Statues’ brand new four-track Covers EP, which features a subdued, Death Cab-esque version of The Magnetic Fields’ hit “California Girls,” or you can grab the band’s acoustic EP at your own price here. Heartwell, the New Jersey punk outfit, followed up their 2011 On Strings, On Science EP this June with their debut full-length record, Certainty of Change, which you can stream here. Go here for tickets and info about tonight’s 21+ show, and check out The Young Statues’ video for “Spacism” from the band’s eponymous 2011 record.

Bethlehem pop/punk duo Slingshot Dakota is rocking The Fire tonight hot off the release of their new Dark Hearts album, which dropped November 6th. Slingshot Dakota’s raw DIY sound comes from Carly Comando on keyboard and vocals and Tom Patterson on drums and vocals. Tonight’s concert starts at 7; go here for tickets. Watch the band perform “Disaster” from the band’s Nervous Energies session this summer.

XPN Welcomes John Fullbright to the Tin Angel tonight. This year the Oklahoma native wowed audiences with a series of remarkable performances at SXSW, the Kerrville Folk Festival and Woody Guthrie Folk Festival. With the release of his extraordinary debut studio album From The Ground Up, which earned a Grammy nod for Best American Album, and being recognized for the 2012 ASCAP Harold Adamson Lyric Award, this is only the beginning of a star to watch. Tickets for tonight’s 21+ show can be found here; below you can watch Fullbright’s performance of “Gawd Above” at this year’s SXSW festival.

Brooklyn world music collective Antibalas is performing tonight at Union Transfer. The funky ensemble draws from afrobeat with jazz and dub elements and has been performing together since 1998. Their cool drum-meets-horn fusion emits a unique energy, which can be heard on their epoonymously-titled fifth album, released earlier this year. Go here for tickets to tonight’s show, and below you can watch the video for “Dirty Money” from Antibalas. 

Montreal five-piece psych boys Elephant Stone are performing tonight at The Fire. The band’s self-titled sophomore album is slated for a February release; in the meantime, you can download the dreamy single “Heavy Moon” here. Tickets and more information about tonight’s 21+ show can be found here; watch the band record “Love The Sinner” below.

London electronic duo Simian Mobile Disco are playing the Making Time party tonight at Voyeur. The pair’s third album, Unpatterns, is a giant break from their last two records, casting out the poppy dance-filled hits from 2007′s Attack Decay Sustain Release, instead opting for a more ambient vibe. Tickets to tonight’s 21+ performance can be found here. Watch the video for “Cerulean” from Unpatterns below.

Philly rapper Lushlife is opening for Oakland hip-hop trio The Coup tonight at Underground Arts. The Coup, made up of Raymond “Boots” Riley, E-Roc, and DJ Pam the Funkstress, dropped their sixth album, Sorry To Bother You, in October, their first release in six years. The 21+ show starts at 9 PM; find tickets and more information here. Check out the single “The Magic Clap” from Sorry To Bother You below.

Australian death metal band Vomitor will tear down the house tonight at Kung Fu Necktie.  Formed in 1999, Vomitor have been described as being “an underground stalwart of traditional, 80s inspired death metal.”  The hardcore thrash trio released their album The Escalation in November.  Supporting Vomitor tonight are Negative Plane, Ashencult and Pissgrave.  Tickets and information for the 21+ show are available here.  Below, stream the title track from Vomitor’s new album.

Local bluegrass collective Sour Mash play The Fire tonight.  Sour Mash are one of those hardworking bands that play so often, you can’t help but stumble into one of their foot stompin’, hootin’ and hollerin’ shows at least once during your time in Philly.  If you haven’t managed it yet, tonight’s a good night to check them out – Sour Mash will be performing alongside fellow Philadelphians The Bailey Hounds and Ohio’s Lydia Loveless.  Tickets and information can be found here.  Below, watch a live video of Sour Mash pickin’ away at “How Mountain Girls Can Love.”

Longstanding Brazilian psych band Os Mutantes come to World Cafe Live Downstairs tonight.  Founded in 1966 by brothers Arnaldo and Sergio Dias Baptista, Os Mutantes were part of the Tropicalia movement with Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso.  Though they disbanded in the late 70s, Os Mutantes reunited in 2006 and went on to record several more records, including their most recent studio album, 2009′s Haih Or Amortecedor.  Tickets and information for the show can be found here.  Below, watch a video of Os Mutantes performing their hit “Bat Macumba” from 1969.