What we're checking out this week!
Thursday, June 4: LOUDS
Cool new band alert! LOUDS are a Philadelphia five-piece who craft warm, sparkling electro-pop perfect for impromptu summer dance parties and road trips. Formed last summer by brothers Charlie and Petie Brooks, the band played its first show just 6 months ago but is already on the rise, thanks to a fun live presence and staunch support from the local scene. Originally a family affair, they've since grown to include guitarists Juston Stens (also of The Get Real Gang) and Alejandro Giraldo-Torres, who they met while lugging gear for Mambo Movers — plus Justin Krump — who share their appreciation for perfect summer pop. They're now gearing up to release their debut EP, If More People Bought Art More People Would Buy Art, written by the brothers over the past year, and recorded with the help of local producer Brett Boucher. Stream the EP via Soundcloud ahead of time — then get your weekend started early with LOUDS.
8:30 at Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., $10. Tickets available here.
Friday, June 5: Lil Dicky
In some ways, it's a story you've heard a million times before: middle class kid from the suburbs downloads Garage Band and writes some tunes; he posts them online and the Internet is obsessed. But Dave Burd is no Chaz Bundick or Trevor Powers, writing grooves for a P'fork audience. No, Burd is writing raps, inspired by his life: about being white, living with roommates, and being intimidated by his girlfriend's ex. "I tend to rap about normal guy things," he tells Maxim. "I think a lot of rap is just escalated to a place that many people can't relate to." A native of Cheltenham, who studied business at the University of Richmond, Burd adopted the moniker "Lil Dicky" and starting posting videos online about two years ago, winning fans with his relatability and humor. The videos took off, and before he realized it he had quit his job to pursue music full-time, earning more than $100K through Kickstarter to fund his debut record and tour. We <3 Burd because he's not afraid to be himself — and because his take on hip-hop is both honest and hilarious.
8:30 at the TLA, 334 South St., $18. Tickets available here.
Sunday, June 7: Nothing with Merchandise
Philly's Nothing craft big, loud, noisy rockers that temper their more aggressive tendencies with a hazy, shoegaze wash — frenetic guitars giving way to melodic keyboards, and head-in-the-clouds, MBV-style vocals. Formed in 2011 following a jail stint for front man Nicky Palermo, Nothing not surprisingly concerns itself with questions of circumstance and redemption, from Palermo's childhood growing up in Frankford to everyday existences fueled by loneliness, drugs, and depression. Of course, you might never realize any of this without delving into their backstory — on the surface these dudes are mainly loud and expansive, blowing eardrums, speakers, and yes — minds with their rock. They join forces this Sunday with Tampa's Merchandise, another band with a storied history. Since 2008, the band's continually refined their sound, moving from fuzzed-out post punk to big, stadium-esque charmers. Come unleash your fury to Nothing, then find sweet, sweet redemption in Merchandise's feel good grooves.
Update: Due to injuries sustained on tour, Nothing will not be performing at this show. Don't worry, Merchandise is still ready to rock.
9:00 at Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., $15. Tickets available here.
Tuesday, June 9: Belle & Sebastian
Belle & Sebastian are a band that means a lot of things to a lot of people, myself included. Over the past 20 years, few bands have perfectly captured feelings of iconoclasm and suburban ennui quite like B&S, the gently prolific, Scottish, twee pop masters who first wormed their way into our hearts with 1996's If You're Feeling Sinister, and have maintained a firm grip ever since. The project of Stuart Murdoch, a musician since childhood and one-time college DJ, church caretaker, homebody, and shrewd observer of the human condition, Murdoch's greatest gift is tying simple, unassuming melodies with careful portraits of artists and characters, all desperately searching for something, and (occasionally) having fun along the way. In the past two decades, they've released nine records, including the recent Girls In Peacetime Want to Dance, which is already topping my fave records of '15 list. Live, the band is more musical circus (with Murdoch as its fearless ring leader) than traditional concert — and this Tuesday, they bring their lively show to the Tower for what promises to be a very inspirational mid-week escape. See you there Philly!
8:00 at The Tower Theatre, 69th and Ludlow Sts., $35. Tickets available here.
Tuesday, June 9: BC Camplight
The year was 2009, the place Johnny Brenda's. It was here that Brian Christinzio (stage name BC Camplight) first won me over, regaling crowds with his theatricality and melodies. Billed as "the most requested artist on JBs Facebook page" it was clear Christinzio was a rising star... but then 2 years after I discovered him, he disappeared. I later found out he had moved to Manchester, England, seeking new inspiration and a new start. "My life fell apart a little bit," he told the Inquirer's Dan DeLuca; to continue making music, he had to get away. A musician since childhood, who learned piano at age 4, Christinzio drifted into the world of athletics in high school, even making captain of the football team, but always found solace in music. Eventually he moved to Philadelphia to focus on performing — but then quickly grew disillusioned with the scene and fled. Four years later, he's returned with How To Die in the North, a breezy, exuberant, and also deeply emotional LP painstakingly crafted during his half-decade sojourn. From the vintage riffs on opener "You Should've Gone to School" to the island psychedelia of "Lay Me on the Floor" North is the perfect summer soundtrack, arriving just in time. Welcome back Brian; we missed you!
8:30 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., $13–15. Tickets available here.
See also: Upholstery at Franky Bradley's (Thursday, June 4), Wire at Union Transfer (Friday, June 5), The Front Bottoms at PhilaMOCA (Friday, June 5), Thee Idea Men at Milkboy (Friday, June 5), CRUISR at Johnny Brenda's (Friday, June 5), Shilpa Ray at Kung Fu Necktie (Saturday, June 6), Calexico at Union Transfer (Saturday, June 6), Beanie Sigel at the TLA (Saturday, June 6), Ross Bellenoit at Johnny Brenda's (Saturday, June 6), Chris Kasper at Bourbon & Branch (Sunday, June 7), SBTRKT at the TLA (Sunday, June 7), The Very Best at Underground Arts (Tuesday, June 9)