If you include all of the singles, EPs, limited-edition cassettes, compilation appearances, and proper full-length albums Sic Alps has recorded since 2004, the San Francisco-based trio has exactly 20 releases under its belt. (At least, that’s the number you’ll find over at Drag City, which released the band’s new 22-song double LP, Napa Asylum.) Which means that, by the time every guitar-slinging indie-rock dude rediscovered fuzzed-out psych-pop (and the seemingly instant critical success that comes with it) a few years ago, Sic Alps had already perfected the formula. Lo-fi revivalist rock is now a ubiquitous part of the indie scene, but thankfully that hasn’t stopped Sic Alps from cranking out the same music it has been for over half a decade. The best part is, tonight’s show at The Rotunda is FREE—which means you can use that money you didn’t spend on admission to purchase records from Sic Alps’ extensive back catalog instead. Sic Alps performs with Magik Markers and Purling Hiss at 8 p.m. at The Rotunda; tickets to the all-ages show are free.
Also playing: Dropkick Murphys + Against Me! at Electric Factory (8 p.m., SOLD OUT)
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25
WXPN Welcomes Providence, RI’s The Low Anthem, which is touring behind its brand-new album, Smart Flesh. Former Low Anthem member Daniel Lefkowitz—who wrote the fan favorite “This God Damn House”—opens. The Low Anthem performs with Bobby and Daniel Lefkowitz at 8 p.m. at First Unitarian Church; tickets to the all-ages show are $15.
Also playing: Michael Showalter at Kung Fu Necktie (7:30 p.m., 21+, SOLD OUT); KFN; Revolver + Jac, When I Was 12 at Johnny Brenda’s (9 p.m., 21+, $10); Flogging Molly + Moneybrother, The Drowning Men at Electric Factory (7 p.m., SOLD OUT); Creepoid + Invisible Days, The Vandelles, Lux Perpetua at Tritone (9 p.m., 21+)
Photo by John Vettese
2-Piece Fest 4 begins at 2 p.m. Sat., 2/26, at The Ox
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26
Why put up with multiple rock-star-wannabe egos and haul around a ton of music equipment when you could keep things simple and start a duo? This year’s Two-Piece Fest features close to two dozen local-ish acts who, for whatever reason, decided two musicians was enough. The massive lineup—which features Slutever, The Joint Chiefs Of Math, Hulk Smash, Best Friends, and Peter And Craig—might feel overwhelming; when you’ve got that many bands on one fest’s bill, excessive delays seem like an inevitability. But that’s just another one of the many benefits of being in a two-piece: You’re able to set up, play your set, and break down with a minimum of time and effort. The performances begin at 2 p.m. at The Ox; tickets to the all-ages show are $8.
Anyone who’s been denied entrance to a live-music performance because they were underage doesn’t need to be reminded about the importance of all-ages shows. Whether you’re currently under 21+ and want to vent your frustrations (while discussing alternatives), or are over 21 and want to share your own experiences, tonight’s All-Ages Movement Project‘s East Coast Summit has plenty to offer. Dischord Records co-founder Ian MacKaye will be the keynote speaker at tonight’s event, which will also feature live performances by Philly’s own Slutever and SGNLS. Other confirmed speakers include R5 Productions‘ Andy Nelson, Sugar Town’s Sara Sherr, Fredericksburg All Ages‘ Adam Bray, and Girls Rock Philly!‘s Beth Warshaw-Duncan; Grace Ambrose, who organized last week’s panel discussion with Kathleen Hanna and Sara Marcus, will moderate the discussion. The event begins at 5 p.m. at The Rotunda; tickets to the all-ages event are $10-$15 (which includes a copy of AMP’s book, In Every Town: An All-Ages Music Manifesto).
Also playing: The John Byrne Band + Citizens Band Radio at World Cafe Live (9 p.m., $13-$18); Franz Nicolay + David Dondero at Kung Fu Necktie (7:30 p.m., 21+, $8); Do You Need The Service +Univox, The Better Letters at Johnny Brenda’s (9 p.m., 21+, $10)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27
WXPN Welcomes Steve Earle, who performs at Johnny Brenda’s tonight as part of a benefit for Witness To Innocence. (WTI is a national organization “founded by, led by, and composed of exonerated death row survivors” that seeks “to abolish the death penalty, to conduct self-advocacy campaigns to win just compensation for the exonerated, and to build a peer-support community of exonerated death row survivors and their loved ones; you can read more about the organization here.) Steve Earle performs at Johnny Brenda’s at 7 p.m.; tickets to the 21+ show are SOLD OUT.
Also playing: “Three-Piece Fest” at Danger Danger Gallery (7 p.m., $5-$10); Folkadelphia presents Meg Baird + Arborea at Johnny Brenda’s JB’s (1 p.m., 7 p.m.); Blood Features + The Cobbs, Dressed Like Stolen Cars at Kung Fu Necktie (8 p.m., 21+, $5)
Ian MacKaye—co-founder of Dischord Records, former member of Minor Threat and Embrace, current member of Fugazi (on indefinite hiatus) and The Evens, and all-around DIY icon—has just been confirmed as the keynote speaker for the All-Ages Movement Project‘s East Coast Summit. The event, which is being organized by Exotic Fever Records co-founder (and Trophy Wife drummer) Katy Otto, will be held at The Rotunda on Saturday, February 26th.
The summit will feature “[a]n evening of panels, speakers, training, networking and live music designed for staff, volunteers, allies, and fans of all-ages music venues and youth music organizations.” AMP says the goal is for participants to “[h]ear what your peers around the region are doing, learn how we can take collective action to advance the field, and strengthen young people’s access to the tools of participatory cultural production.” Other confirmed speakers include R5 Productions‘ Andy Nelson, Sugar Town’s Sara Sherr, Fredericksburg All Ages‘ Adam Bray, and Girls Rock Philly!‘s Beth Warshaw-Duncan; Grace Ambrose, who organized last week’s panel discussion with Kathleen Hanna and Sara Marcus, will moderate the discussion. As if that list of local names isn’t impressive enough, the summit will also feature performances by Philadelphia’s own Slutever and SGNLS. The sliding-scale admission of $10-$15 will also get you a copy of AMP’s book, In Every Town: An All-Ages Music Manifesto.
If you’re currently under 21, you probably don’t need us to tell you why all-ages shows are of critical importance to the local music community; the frustration and disappointment that comes with not being able to see one of your favorite bands perform live (because you’re not legally old enough to buy a beer from the venue) is likely a regular occurrence. And, if you’re 21+, it shouldn’t take much more than a quick reminder of that experience to stir up the old frustration. Needless to say, it’s an important cause, so you can expect plenty of reminders and other related coverage from us in the next week and a half.
As we mentioned this morning, tonight’s must-see “Revolution Girl Style Again” panel discussion (simulcast via streaming video at The Rotunda) is immediately followed by a Girls Rock Philly! benefit show. The lineup features three local acts—Trophy Wife, Cat Vet, and Slutever—as well as Providence, RI’s Whore Paint. I won’t even bother trying to tone down my unbridled enthusiasm for tonight’s discussion + concert one-two combo; February 8th has been circled on my calendar since the moment I first found out about the two events. Between the speakers, the musical acts, the venues, and the organizations involved, it promises to be an invigorating evening on multiple levels. So, basically, if you didn’t have any plans for tonight, you do now—and, if you had plans for that didn’t include The Rotunda, you should change them. Trophy Wife, Cat Vet, Slutever, and Whore Paint perform at 8 p.m. at The Rotunda; tickets to the all-ages show are $5 (all proceeds benefit Girls Rock Philly!).
Following the discussion, The Rotunda will host a Girls Rock Philly! benefit concert featuring local acts Trophy Wife, Cat Vet, and Slutever, as well as Providence, RI’s Whore Paint. So, even if you couldn’t get a seat to the pre-concert discussion at The Kelly Writer’s House, you’ll likely have the best seat in the house for the show at The Rotunda.
If you include all of the singles, EPs, limited-edition cassettes, compilation appearances, and proper full-length albums Sic Alps has recorded since 2004, the San Francisco-based trio has exactly 20 releases under its belt. (At least, that’s the number you’ll find over at Drag City, which released the band’s new 22-song double LP, Napa Asylum.) Which means that, by the time every guitar-slinging indie-rock dude rediscovered fuzzed-out psych-pop (and the seemingly instant critical success that comes with it) a few years ago, Sic Alps had already perfected the formula. Lo-fi revivalist rock is now a ubiquitous part of the indie scene, but thankfully that hasn’t stopped Sic Alps from cranking out the same music it has been for over half a decade. The best part is, tonight’s show at The Rotunda is FREE—which means you can use that money you didn’t spend on admission to purchase records from Sic Alps’ extensive back catalog instead. Sic Alps performs with Magik Markers and Purling Hiss at 8 p.m. at The Rotunda; tickets to the all-ages show are free.
Ian MacKaye
As we mentioned this morning, tonight’s must-see 
The list for tonight’s