Halfway through the first month of 2016, Philly’s music scene is bubbling with a handful of new releases from local acts and the return of several deejay residencies. Thankfully, this recent streak of cold weather is about to expire for the weekend, which means there’s no excuse to stay in the house and miss out on some live music.
Read on for our picks of the best live shows around the city this weekend below.
Thursday, Jan. 14
Welcome back to school, Temple students! Thankfully, you don’t have to be an Owl to catch the stacked line-up at the Welcome Back Concert slated for the Liacouras tonight. The bill features some of 2015’s buzziest rappers in one place — Fetty Wap obviously takes the cake here. Logic is still supporting the release of his recent "The Incredible True Story" album, French Montana is buzzing from his appearance on Diddy’s recent "MMM" album, and Wale is
fresh off opening for President Obama’s final State of the Union address. The Thursday night college show is open to the public, but Temple students will shave a cool $10 off the entry price with a valid ID.
Doors 7 p.m.; $20 (w/ student ID), $30
Friday, Jan. 15
Toronto’s Grounders released their eponymous debut last year and the four-piece band is still touring it around the States. After playing Chicago and Pittsburgh earlier in the week, Grounders arrives at Ortlieb’s on Friday with support from Oh! Pears — a project from Seattle via Philly’s Corey Duncan — and Lancaster’s Spill.
Show 8 p.m.; $10
For the first time in 2016, Rich Medina is HOME. Medina, a legendary deejay, poet and thinker, brings his unique brand of voracious eclecticism back to Philly for a relatively new monthly residence on Friday. Rich has already brought the party—anchored by house, rare groove and garage classics — to New York and Atlanta and announced plans to carry it to San Francisco later this month. The point? Don’t miss an icon in his hometown.
Show 9 p.m.; $5 ($8 at the door)
Saturday, Jan. 16
Savoy refers to themselves as the “originators of ERM (Electronic Rock Music)”, which is probably not true, but we’ll let them have it. The trio of Mike Kelly, Ben Eberdt and Gray Smith started in Colorado as a student band and debuted officially in 2009. Ever since, the group, now based in New York, has been a regular at festivals and even performed at the inaugural Made In America in 2012. This weekend Savoy brings out Justin Taylor Phillips (as Crywolf) and local electronic duo Mr. Sampson, consisting of producer Joe Haederle and drummer Aaron Harel, for a headlining performance at Union Transfer.
Doors 8 p.m., Show 9 p.m.; $15-20
The Weekender is a four-piece shoegaze outfit out of Philadelphia on the verge of releasing their second EP, the aptly-titled "Floaty Feeling." The PaperCup Music drop is due out on Friday, Jan. 15 and the band will celebrate with a release show at Johnny Brenda’s the following night.
Check out the EP’s second single, “Loving Hating,” via Consequence of Sound, here and stream the whole thing on XPN’s The Key right here.
Doors 8 p.m., Show 9 p.m.; $10
Jymie Merritt is an almost peerless jazz bassist: in the 1950s, he played with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, in the ‘60s he was aligned with Chet Baker, Max Roach, and Dizzy Gillespie. That same decade Merritt launched his own band in Philadelphia, The Forerunners, and the soon to be 90-year old is still plugging away. On Saturday Merritt and The Forerunners visit World Cafe Live for a free show fronted by Jymie’s son Mike and hosted by Christian McBride on behalf of the Philadelphia Jazz Project and NPR Music’s Jazz Night in America.
Show 7:30 p.m., free w/ RSVP
In December Matthew Law celebrated the second anniversary of his monthly Friends & Fam party. Now that we’ve reached the first third Saturday of the new year, Friends & Fam is back with a special guest. Matthew Law and stalwart host The Bul Bey will be in tow as usual, but Philly local DJ Sat-One is showing out too. The affair is promoted by Illvibe Media and GLProductions with drink specials running up until midnight.
Doors 10 p.m.; $5
Pub Webb has been around for the better part of a decade, but the Temple University bar is pushing into the live music scene with a recent expansion. This Saturday Eclectic Spark brings out Gianni Lee, Wavelengths and Quitehype for a Grand Opening theme at the venue. On top of that trio, party-goers can expect performances from Bri Steves, Sincerely Tahj and Crime Children.
Show 9 p.m.; $5
Sunday, Jan. 17
If Rich Medina’s Friday night gig at Franky Bradley’s wasn’t enough, another celebrated Philly artist will be holding down the decks on Sunday night across town. The ever-busy Roots drummer is sticking to his 2015 commitment of a monthly residence at The Foundry, the club inside the still squeaky-clean-new Fillmore venue in NoLibs. Quest is big on themed nights, but we’re guessing he’ll bring out a little bit of everything for this one.
Show 11 p.m.; $15
