Like a punkier Philly version of TV On the Radio, indie-rock quartet DRGN King headlines Johnny Brenda’s tonight. Though the group hasn’t released anything new since 2013′s Paragraph Nights, they’ve been more than active playing at festivals, recording a Daytrotter session, recording videos (i.e. this cover of The Dead Milkmen’s “Punk Rock Girl”) and more. Oh, and they’ve been playing a ton of shows. Come hang out with them tonight at 9:00 along with local rockers Mumblr and New York-based band Porches. Tickets for the 21+ show are $10 and can be purchased here.
R&B artist ZZ Ward will return to Philadelphia for a show at The TLA on February 28th. Continuing to tour in support of her debut Til the Casket Drops, the Abington, PA-born musician blends southern blues (inspired by her father’s music endeavors) with contemporary hip hop / pop hooks, which she began writing for local rappers in Eugene, OR. Tickets and information for the all-ages show will be available here; tickets go on sale Friday, January 17th at noon. Watch ZZ Ward’s video for “365 Days” below.
Oregon natives Typhoon will play Johnny Brenda’s tonight. The eleven piece outfit released their fourth studio album White Lighter back in August. The band successfully manages to offset their dark lyrics (which reflect lead singer, Kyle Morton’s childhood struggle with Lyme Disease) with pleasant alt-folk, choir-pop soundscapes. Tickets for the event can be found at Johnny Brenda’s website.
Martin Harley | Photo by Pete Troshak | http://www.flickr.com/photos/petryfrompa/sets/
The “Fire and Shine” tour arrived at on Wednesday night to a packed house at the TLA on South Street. Opener Martin Harley dazzled with his lap slide prowess in a short entertaining set. The highlight was a performance of his song “Winter Coat” that was prefaced with a story about how it once made two tough biker guys at a show get all mushy.
Co-headliner and Abington, PA native ZZ Ward hit the stage next, leading led her tight band through an exciting hour of her smooth mash-up of Blues, Hip Hop and R and B. Highlights were a touching acoustic “Last Love Song” and set closer “Move Like U Stole It” that had the crowd grooving along.
North Carolina’s Delta Rae closed out the night. They made the full house sweat on a cold wintery night with a powerful performance full of roller coaster emotional highs and lows and glorious harmonies. Early in the set songs “Morning Comes” and “Holding Onto Good” were high points but they saved the best for last. For their encore they headed out into the crowd for an exuberant, sweaty acoustic sing-along version of “Hey Hey Hey” that featured back-up vocals from everyone in the crowd.
Following up on their their well-recieved 2012 LP The North, Montreal synth pop outfit Stars bring their live show to Philly tonight for a date at The Trocadero with Milo Greene. With a brighter and more positive sound and outlook than their brooding 2010 release The Five Ghosts, the new songs should work well towards warming the crowd on a chilly Wednesday night. Los Angeles indie group Milo Greene opens, tickets and information can be found at the WXPN Concert Calendar. Below, watch the band perform “The North” live at Tornto radio station The Edge.
Last night, eclectic pop singer ZZ Ward appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, kicking out a spunky rendition of her single “Put The Gun Down” with her four-piece backing band. Ward released her debut LP Til The Casket Drops back in October, and is currently on tour with XPN favorites Delta Rae. The tour stops at The TLA on March 6, tickets and more information can be found here. Below, watch a video of Ward’s Conan appearance.
Photo by John VetteseAfter playing a smokin’ set at World Cafe Live upstairs on Election Night, bluesy singer ZZ Ward is returning to Philadelphia on March 6 with WXPN favorites Delta Rae – who were also in town recently, recording a special producer’s session for World Cafe and appearing on the air with Helen Leicht. Tickets are on sale this Friday, November 30, at noon via Live Nation. Below, watch ZZ Ward performing a slick acoustic take on “Charlie Ain’t Home” at World Cafe Live earlier this month, and listen to Delta Rae’s World Cafe session here.
Oregon natives 
Following up on their their well-recieved 2012 LP The North, Montreal synth pop outfit 
Last night, eclectic pop singer 