A four-year-old drug conviction prevented Philly rapper Meek Mill from heading out on tour when his record Dreams and Nightmares was released in the fall; in December, he was temporarily barred from performing by a Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas judge due to stipulations in his probation. That has passed, and Meek is heading out on a national run of dates this spring, beginning in Boston before heading down to headline the Tower Theater on April 5th. Tickets for the show go on sale this Friday, February 22, via Live Nation. Below, watch a video of Meek being interviewed by The Fader at his Sigma Sound Studio concert back in December.
The indie bros were screaming her name even before she walked out onstage. “Emily!” they yelled into the high ceilings of the Tower Theater. “I love you!”
Metric front woman Emily Haines has a bold and seductive stage presence that can woo an audience of any age. In front of me, an elementary schooler sat on the hip of his father. To my left, an older grey-haired man rocked out with his 40-something girlfriend. And me? I’m a 25-year-old who started listening to Metric in high school. The band’s sound sure has changed since I last saw it play the Starlight Ballroom in 2006 – but Emily Haines’ persona has not. Continue reading →
It’s a good week to be a fan of Ben Folds Five. Their reunion tour comes to the Tower Theater in just over a month, Their first new album in 13 years, The Sound of the Life of the Mind, is out in just over a week. And the band has been teasing singles from it like crazy. Just over a month ago, we heard “Do It Anyway“; yesterday, we heard “Erase Me.” Today, from Conan O’Brian’s Team Coco blog, we get “Michael Praytor, Five Years Later.” Give the song a listen here.
The recently reunited alt-rock band Ben Folds Five just released a new track off their upcoming release exclusively on Spin.com. The much anticipated album, The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind, is the band’s first full length release in thirteen years and is set to drop on September 18th. Listen to “Erase Me” here. Ben Folds Five are coming to Philly for a show at the Tower Theater on Sunday, October 7th. For tickets, click here.
Ray LaMontagne just announced an upcoming fall solo acoustic tour, which includes at stop at the Tower Theatre on November 17th. Tickets for the show go on sale this Friday, September 7th at 10 a.m. via the Tower’s website here. There will also be a limited number of VIP front row center tickets and a section of 5th row tickets available for purchase. The proceeds will go to the National Children’s Cancer Society. For more information visit Tickets for Charity here.
When a band breaks up and then chooses to reunite the results are usually skewed. Either it’s “too different”, and we become nostalgic over all of their old hits or it’s a total win and we’re so grateful to have their music back in our lives again. The Boston-based trio, Dispatch have disbanded and reunited quite a few times. After their farewell Boston concert in 2004 entitled “The Last Dispatch”, they regrouped in 2007 for three benefit shows in Madison Square Garden and again in 2009 in Washington D.C. at the request of Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister. But their new album Circles Around the Sun, self-released on their label Bomber Records, is the first for Chad Stokes, Brad Corrigan, and Francis Heimbold since Who Are We Living For? in 2000. Although nothing will replace their sophomore album Bang, Bang, which included rockin’ reggae tracks like “The General,”"Two Coins” and the title track. I say “rockin’ reggae” lightly, because Dispatch is the type of band that no matter how you describe them, whether as indie rock or reggae or folk, they’re simply just good. They have the ability to mold their sound after whatever their musical passion is at the moment. In the new release, the title track gives a definite head start to the rest of the album; it’s danceable, it’s feel-good, it’s a song that you can listen to over and over until you’re sick of it. The 10-track release is as eclectic as ever; there are banjos, various percussion instruments, mixed harmonies, and bountiful beats. Billboard had this to say:
Moving away from its trademark acoustic-funk, “Circles Around the Sun” sounds fuller and more plugged-in while maintaining the trio’s seamless harmonies, ragged edges and breezy attitude. But hearing those intertwined voices, the album is definitely and defiantly Dispatch.
Watch the music video for “Circles Around the Sun” below and get excited for their U.S. tour which includes a stop at the Tower Theater on October 9th with Good Old War. Tickets to that show are available here. But the best news is that Dispatch will be playing XPN’s Free at Noon this Friday, August 24th. RSVP on xpn.org
Tonight the funk moves east to the National Constitution Center. Host of World Cafe, David Dye will be there DJing the Funky Friday Dance Party. This shindig is totally FREE and doors open at 4 p.m, dancin’ starts at 5. Anyone can go but you MUST RSVP. The party will also be broadcasted live on WXPN, so get out there and get funky!
Blues-y rock legend and grammy award winning singer Joe Cocker has been an established musician since the 1960′s. He has released over 21 studio albums and a number of hits, including his sensational cover of The Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends.” Cocker performs tonight at the Tower Theatre with Huey Lewis & The News.Tickets to the all ages show are $65-100, show begins at 8 p.m.
Professional creole stylist Buckwheat Zydeco will be in town tonight. He was the first zydeco artist to be signed to a major label, Island Records in 1986 and has appeared in numerous television and film appearances. He has also collaborated with Willie Nelson, Elvis Costello, Keith Richard, among others. Buckwheat Zydeco will be performing at the Sellersville Theater at 8 p.m. The venue’s cabaret area is cleared out so be sure to bring your dancin’ shoes! Tickets to the all ages show are $21.50, grab yours here.
Indie dream poppers Miniature Tigers have gained critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, Spin, and have toured with acts such as Ben Folds and fun. Their latest release, Mia Pharaoh, an album that shines among others with enthusing synth-pop beats and blends of modern pop mixed with psychedelic rock. Below, watch a video for the song “Sex on the Regular” from the new album. Miniature Tigers play at the North Star Bar tonight with Team Spirit and Strange Seasons. Tickets to this all ages show are $10-12, show kicks off at 7 p.m.
Professional creole stylist