January 08, 2015
Howard Pitkow/Howard Pitkow Photography
Ben Kessler headlines his own show Jan. 11.
The regional music scene has never shone brighter. We’re attracting bigger and better musical festivals and our local acts are booking national stages. Support your talented neighbors by seeing them live. You never know, you may find yourself listening to the next Questlove, John Legend or Taylor Swift.
This Philadelphia-based percussion ensemble actually met while studying at Indiana University. Now they collaborate with composers to create new music blending contemporary classic, indie rock and electronica using bells, bottle, pipes and more. Homegrown acts joining the show include DJ Aunt Dracula, ambient rockers Allora Mis, and NYC-Philly duo Willow Talk.
Thursday, January 8
8:30 p.m. | $8 General Admission
The Trocadero Theatre
1003 Arch St.
(215) 922-6888
Originally from Collingswood, New Jersey, Tess Emma has been playing shows in Philadelphia and South Jersey since she was 14. Now, she’s releasing her highly anticipated EP in a special show. Two more local acts will take the stage for the release, including Southampton, New Jersey’s Ginger Coyle and full-time Temple students Family Vacation.
Saturday, January 10
8:30 p.m. | $10 General Admission
Milkboy Philadelphia
1100 Chestnut St.
(215) 925-6455
Now one of the area’s most well-known acts, The Lawsuits formed in 2007 to create a sound influenced by reggae, blues, Americana and gospel. Local sound artist Bill Moriarty, who has worked with popular native acts Dr. Dog and Man Man, produced their debut album, 2013’s Cool Cool Cool.
Saturday, January 10
8:30 p.m. | $10 General Admission
Boot & Saddle
1131 S. Broad St.
(267) 639-4528
In the years since landing on MTV’s video playlist in the 80’s, Smash Palace has been rearranging band members and creating new music on and off. Now celebrating three decades in music, the power-pop-rock group released a brand new EP just last summer. Cliff Hillis, a Phoenixville musician, will also perform with live band The Forward Thinkers.
Saturday, January 10
8 p.m. | $12 General Admission
World Café Live at The Queen
500 N. Market St., Wilmington, DE.
(302) 994-1400
This neo-soul singer-songwriter has grown up in the local music scene – literally. Though just 16 years old, Kessler has already seen his self-produced album, The Start, get airtime on WXPN, played the Philadelphia Folk Festival, and began recording his debut professional album at Turtle Studios in South Philly. See him now, before be blows up.
Sunday, January 11
7 p.m. | $12 General Admission
World Café Live
3025 Walnut St.
(215) 222-1400
Funk, jazz and soul all inspire this Philadelphia collection of musicians influenced by The Headhunters, The Meters, and Booker T. Jones. Sierra Hurtt will also perform. The singer-songwriter’s sound is a mix of soul, R&B and a genre all her own, grown in the roots of the city’s historic recording studios.
Thursday, January 15
8 p.m. | $10 General Admission
World Café Live
3025 Walnut St.
(215) 222-1400
Two Philly-based Americana acts take the stage in this doubleheader. Folk-rock act Black Horse Motel added two more members to the band last year, bringing their vocalist count to five. New to the scene, Kicking Down Doors hails from Phoenixville and has a more countrified sound.
Saturday, January 17
8:30 p.m. | $10 General Admission
Boot & Saddle
1131 S. Broad St.
(267) 639-4528
Proexhibitors is a dance groove group grounded by Andrew Butler and Carolyn Wayne, featuring minimal lines combined with big rhythm. Experimental post-punk co-headliners, The American Jobs, are from Ohio, but 90’s-inspired openers The Guests are from closer to home.
Thursday, January 22
8 p.m. | $10 General Admission
Kung Fu Necktie
1250 N. Front St.
(215) 291-4919
Technically, headliners Rusted Root grew their roots in Pittsburgh. It’s been over 20 years since their hit single “Send Me On My Way” went platinum in 1994 and they’ve been putting out new music ever since. Opening act, Bucks County’s Mo Lowda & The Humble, is the local band you need to see now. They’re taking their soulful alt-rock on the road all winter.
Thursday, January 29
8:30 p.m. | $20 Advance, $25 Day of Show
The Ardmore Music Hall
23 East Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, Pa.
(610) 649-8389
Bonfire Shows presents Church Girls, a folk-rock four-piece act led by vocalist Mariel Beaumont and guitarist Evan Anders. Though the band formed just this summer, their release “Young Planes” got airplay on WXPN and won them a new following. They’ll share the show with fellow Philadelphians, instrumentalist Jesse Gimbel and pop-rock singer-songwriter Marc Neibauer.
Saturday, January 31
8:30 p.m. | $8 General Admission
Milkboy Philadelphia
1100 Chestnut St.
(215) 925-6455
