The Key » West Philadelphia Orchestra

Tonight’s Concert Picks: Stornoway with Field Report at Kung Fu Necktie, A Benefit Concert for Lentil with Tommy Conwell and more at The Blockley, West Philadelphia Orchestra at Underground Arts

Julie Miller — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:31:22 +0000

~~Oxfordian~~ Oxonian folk / pop group Stornoway headline Kung Fu Necktie tonight. Following up their 2010 debut Beachcomber’s Windowsill, the academically-minded quartet (led by an ornithologist) released Tales from Terra Firma earlier this month. Field Report continue to tour in support of last year’s self-titled debut. Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show can be found here. Watch Stornoway’s video for “Knock Me On the Head” below.

Several local musicians come together at The Blockley tonight for a concert benefiting Lentil Fest. Tommy Conwell, Pete Donnelly, Ben Arnold and Travel Lanes will perform sets in support of Lentil the French bulldog, who was born with a cleft palate. All proceeds will be donated to a variety of charities including the French Bulldog Rescue Network and the Children’s Craniofacial Association. Tickets and information can be found here. Below, watch Pete Donnelly’s video for “Can’t Talk At All.”

West Philadelphia Orchestra brings their monthly Balkan dance party back to Underground Arts tonight. As a collective of Philadelphia musicians, WPO blends traditional Eastern European influences withe modern jazz and classical sensibilities. Tickets and more information for tonight’s 21+ show with Johnny Showcase and the Lefty Lucy Cabaret can be found here or on the Facebook event page here. Watch West Philadelphia Orchestra perform “Burkan Cocek” below.

Tonight’s Concert Picks: Johnny Showcase at Connie’s Ric Rac, The Districts at Fergies, Frog Holler at Union Jack’s and like a billion other things

John Vettese — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 16:05:18 +0000

Wait, what’s that? You thought you were off the hook that easily? Like it’s been so many days of holiday cheer that the plan was just a quiet night at home with board games and DVDs? No no no, my friend – there is fun to be had and live music to be seen. Let’s start with a couple accidental omissions from our New Year’s Eve roundup post from the other week. Johnny Showcase and The Lefty Lucy Cabaret – the funky campy ultra-catchy ensemble of Philly dudes and ladies rallying around one central crooner’s aspirations of Tom Jones (or Midnite Vultures-era Beck) – joins forces with West Philadelphia Orchestra at Connie’s Ric Rac for a New Year’s dancing extravaganza. More information can be found here; below, check out Showcase’s video for the ultra-addictive “Sensual, Parts 1 & 2.”

Lititz faves The Districts are making their way to town for a rousing New Year’s gig at Fergie’s with Toy Soldiers. It’s been a huge year for this brand new band, from their impressive album Telephone to their Beta Hi-Fi win, their Key Studio Session and all the gigs they’ve played since. The 21+ party begins at 9 p.m., more info here. Below, listen to The Districts’ Key Session take on “Long Distance.”

Long Distanceby The Districts from The Key Studio Sessions Download

If you find yourself in a northwesterly direction of the city tonight (what’s up, Boyertown?), don’t overlook perennially great roots rock combo Frog Holler , who are ringing in the New Year at Union Jack’s Inn on the Manatawney. Information on the party is available here. Below, download “To Turn Back Now” from Frog Holler’s most recent LP Believe It Or Not.

To Turn Back Nowby Frog Holler from Believe It Or Not Download

And like the headline says, there are so many other shows going on tonight. The War on Drugs might be sold out, but you have your options cut out for you. Have fun, be safe, and happy 2013!

Experience the end of the world with Cirque Skeletique (happening at RUBA on 12/21)

Julie Miller — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:03:37 +0000

Antique Matter

When the world is about to end, why not live dangerously? With fire breathers, sword swallowers, contortionists and aerial acrobats, Cirque Skeletique is welcoming the apocalypse with a spectacle of dark desires and fanciful fears:

Cirque Skeletique vacillates between conscious and subconscious experiences, portraying the final canto of a dream in security culture infested metropolis, manifesting amidst a city on the periphery of apocalypse; alienated people oppressed by fascism face their dreams, fears, and darker inclinations.

Presenting their ode to mankind with Cirque Skeletique is Antique Matter, featuring members of TJ Kong & The Atomic Bomb, Pig Iron Theater Company’s Twelfth Night and the West Philadelphia Orchestra. The gathering will take place at Ruba Club-Studios this Friday, December 21st at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance (available here) and $12 at the door. Below, watch Antique Matter perform at the Highwire Gallery in Philadelphia.

Today’s Concert Picks: Strapping Fieldhands and Spinning Leaves at Rittenhouse Square; West Philly Orchestra @ Penn Museum

Laura Jane Brubaker — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:35:47 +0000

It’s a good day for good music in the City of Brotherly Love, and we’ve got the run-down on two little shows especially worth checking out. First up is the last installment in Philadelphia Weekly’s annual Concerts in the Park series. Local indie rock staples Strapping Fieldhands will take the stage at Rittenhouse Square, joined by Philly folk rockers The Spinning Leaves. The show is free and starts at 7p.m.; more information is available here. Below, stream “The Promontory Wind” from The Spinning Leaves’ album Love.

And the righteous and riotous Balkan-meets-tango-meets-the-world dance tune dudes and ladies in the West Philadelphia Orchestra will be taking to the garden at the Penn Museum for a night of boisterous, jubilant back-in-the-old-country jams. Don’t miss it, and don’t forget your dancing shoes. Admission to the all-ages performance is $5, which includes museum admission. The event runs from 5 p.m. to 8; more information is available here. Below, watch the West Philly Orchestra perform “Burkan Cocek.” Pump it up!

Tonight’s Concert Picks: Scissor Sisters, Coldplay, and the West Philadelphia Orchestra

Lauren Thomas — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 13:30:05 +0000

Scissor Sisters play the Electric Factory tonight along with support by rapper Rye Rye and DJ Robert Drake. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are available here for $27.

Coldplay is headlining the first of two nights at Wells Fargo Center tonight in support of their latest album, Mylo Xyloto, along with openers Robyn and Wolf Gang. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $46.50 to $96.50 and can be purchased here. Check out the video for Coldplay’s “Princess of China” featuring Rihanna off of their recent album.

The West Philadelphia Orchestra is hosting a reprise of their infamous Balkan Dance Parties in honor of the release of their CD, The West Philadelphia Orchestra: Live at Tritone. The 21+ event at Underground Arts starts at 9 p.m. with a $5 cover at the door. Listen to a track off the new album below.

Listen to a song from West Philadelphia Orchestra’s live album (playing Underground Arts July 5)

John Vettese — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:59:52 +0000

If you lived around Broad and South at any point in the 00′s, the weekly Balkan Dance Party gigs at Tritone starring West Philadelphia Orchestra were the stuff of legend. A scruffy young brass band, sometimes upwards to 20 people strong, playing high-energy traditional music from eastern Europe until closing time…it didn’t have a lot in common with the dance music of the era, but you knew people were going to dance.

The party called it a day last year, and Tritone stopped hosting live music earlier this year – the end of an era, for many – but thankfully, a few of those WPO throwdowns were captured in audio, and will be released as a live album next month.

Says the band of West Philadelphia Orchestra: Live at Tritone:

There was something really right about the pairing of WPO and Tritone. The acoustics were terrible, it could be insufferably hot, dance space was hard to come by and the carpet smelled like 15 years of spilled PBR. But it was very red, you could get buzzed quickly, Dave and the staff were terrific, and we do miss the place. We hope you all enjoy hearing this as much as we do. We hope it brings back memories. And if you partied real hard and have only very hazy memories, hopefully this disc clarifies things.

The album release will be celebrated next Thursday, July 5, in a show at Underground Arts; stream a track below, and get more information on the venue’s website.

MilkBoy Coffee’s Center City location opened this week, live shows start next month (including plenty of local acts)

Claire Fishkow — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:43:07 +0000

MilkBoy Coffee’s third location opened earlier this week at 1100 Chestnut Street. The coffee shop, bar, and music venue joins the franchise’s two Main Line locations in Ardmore and Bryn Mawr. Like its sister sites, MilkBoy Philly will serve coffee as well as breakfast, lunch, and dinner fare, with many vegetarian options available. The Center City spot is the first to hold a liquor license, and will feature a full bar on each of its two floors. The top floor will feature a 200-person standing room 21+ music venue, for which eight shows have already been announced. One highlight is sure to include a September 29th show with local Eastern European brass band-inspired collective West Philadelphia Orchestra and recent 2nd Street Festival performers, Philly band The Great Unknown. Other local acts with scheduled shows include Gang, Black Landlord, Meeting in the Aisle, and Man Like Machine.

Ticket prices for the concerts are cheap, ranging from $8 – $13.50, so be sure to check out the new venue and support some local music while you’re at it.

Preliminary MilkBoy Philly show calendar:

9/17: Gang w/ Hank & Cupcakes and Pink Skull
9/21: Jim Ward
9/24: Black Landlord
9/28: We Are Augustines
9/29: West Philadelphia Orchestra w/ The Great Unknown
9/30: Meeting in the Aisle (Radiohead Tribute Band) w/ Man Like Machine
10/6: Toubab Krewe w/ Gongo Junction
10/20: Lisa Hannigan

MilkBoy Philly is located at 1100 Chestnut Street. Its hours of operation are from 6am – 11pm. Tickets to all upcoming shows can be found here.

Watch Man Man and the West Philadelphia Orchestra rehearse together

Bruce Warren — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:26:13 +0000

This Friday night at The Trocadero WXPN Welcomes Man Man, Grandchildren and the West Philadelphia Orchestra. The folks at Fractal Circus, in collaboration with Woodshop Films will be filming the show. According the the folks at Fractal, Man Man and the West Philadelphia Orchestra will be “playing a couple of tunes together” and they filmed the bands during a rehearsal in Clark Park. Below, watch a teaser of that rehearsal. Tickets to the all ages show on Friday are $14. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. And while we’re here: Happy Birthday Honus!