Results tagged “punk”

        

Here at Phillyist, we've been to our fair share of punk shows. We're well aware that there are certain rules that go along with attending said shows. Even though we know better, we broke almost all the rules at Rise Against/Rancid/Billy Talent. Inappropriate footwear? Check. Expensive sunglasses and camera that might get crushed in a mosh pit? Check. Thank god we brought along our ability to fling guys twice our size into the pit for our own protection.

Saturday at Festival Pier up-and-coming Canadians (read: HUGE in Canada, but just starting to get attention in the US and Europe), Billy Talent will be supporting punk veterans, Rancid, and semi-recent mainstream punk-pop crossover, Rise Against. Our first impression of the Canuck's brand new album, Billy Talent III is that it's instrumentally intriguing. There's definitely some nice guitar work and a couple of cool baselines, but unfortunately the lyrics and vocals aren't quite as strong. Luckily, we hear lead singer Ben Kowalewicz delivers an intense, high energy stage performance. And we can't wait to check a hard-hitting live version of single "Rusted from the Rain," a song Kowalewicz describes as having been built upon an "epic Soundgarden-like riff."

               

With Rise Against (MySpace), you've got to expect everything to be in your face: the attitude, the music, and the politics. So we weren't at all surprised when we walked into the Electric Factory and the first thing we saw was a table where PETA was handing out pamphlets about how meat is the number one cause of global warming. We tend to agree more with the PETA and with Anthony Bourdain when it comes to vegetarianism, but it's just part of the deal with Rise Against. So, accepting that...

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

It just may be that this particular Phillyist is going to the sold out Jimmy Eat World show in Atlantic City tonight. And it just may be that you aren't.

Despite their name, NYC four-piece Vampire Weekend (MySpace) is not a shoe-gazing, emo goth band. In fact, their self-titled debut LP, just released at the end of last month, is perhaps best described as "sunny" - the very antithesis of a vampire's idea of a good weekend. This band, beloved of many blogs (including us), performs bouncy, funny, clever, retro indie/punk/pop/New Wave songs about love. Their music is so fun it feels like there has to be something wrong with it, but nothing is. It's been a while since we listened to an album the first time through, and loved every song on it instantly. (Although of course we did love some more than others; the head-bopping "A-Punk," which they performed live on Letterman just the other night, is the best, and "One (Blake's Got a New Face)" is the worst.) If you haven't got your copy of the album yet, hit the R5 Productions website to download some free MP3s.

Every weekday of December (except for December 25, that is), Phillyist will be counting down to 2008 with our highlights from the past year and our predictions for the next. If you have a list you'd like to submit, let us know! 10. Cross – Justice While this debut album by French duo Gaspard Auge and Xavier de Rosnay leans heavily on the discography of fellow Parisians, Daft Punk, it breaks out on its own...

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we'll be posting events that are going on sale during the current week. This Thursday post only collects the latest announcements, so definitely check the Tuesday post for any you may have missed.

Saturdays are for shopping. There's something about a slow Saturday afternoon that lends itself to kissing discretionary income goodbye. This weekend, you can shop 'til your wallet cries mercy, all while supporting your local DIY concert promoters, R5 productions. The Punk Rock Flea Market takes over the Starlight Ballroom from 10 to 5, which gives you plenty of time to soak up someone else's air conditioning, buy random stuff, and eat vegan cookies. View the full list of tables here. From records to real art, seems like they've got everything covered. All proceeds go toward the equipment and supplies needed to keep putting on shows at the Church.

Bands I Caught: The Bad News Bats, The Northern Liberties, The Mountain High, The Lowbudgets

Bands I Caught: Barking Spiders, Bear is Driving, Normal Love,

You may not have heard of G.B.H. We hadn't heard of them before we got a copy of their recently released box set, Race Against Time: The Complete Clay Recordings. But they're a pretty popular band in England. And they're now one of our favorites.

Editor's Note: Phillyist has seen and enjoyed Puppet Karaoke before, but we thought it was time to revisit and reiterate. Also, you know how we love a good post about faux penises...

Tired of sifting through that same-old same-old at your local shops and malls? Get your holiday shopping done tomorrow, flea-market style. R5 Productions is hosting the holiday edition of its Punk Rock Flea Market at the Starlight Ballroom. Almost 100 tables will be filled with new and used fare, from wearable art by local artists to used vinyl and CDs. We find ourselves especially interested in table 56, which promises to be full of "kickass...

A tall, icy glass of our favorite internet junk, just for you.

Jagshemash!

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

You know who's going to be upset about those Bikini Bandits? The Houston school system. Houstonist also reports on some redevelopment shenanigans over a landmark theater.

...Poop: People bronze their babies' poop? Seriously? (Via The Superficial.)

If you read Phillyist's daily Frugal Fun Alerts, you'll have seen the name R5 Productions. That's because this Indie show promotion agency puts on several multi-band shows a week (oft-times all-ages) - many of which fall below the coveted $10 frugal cut-off mark. To help off-set show expenses, they host a biannual Punk Rock Flea Market, and the next one is this Saturday at the Starlight Ballroom (9th and Spring Garden). Worried that, like...

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Fun around town, for $10 or less:

Okay, it's hard to say this, but we've been meaning to for a while, and now's the time: Phillyist doesn't think you're punk enough. There, it's out, and we feel better for it. Whew.

Ah, the Trocadero - is there anything it can't do? It's a burlesque house, a concert hall, and, once a week, a movie theater. For a $3 fee (which can be applied towards concessions), you can see movies on their big screen. Phillyist is pretty sure this is the only movie theater in town where you can drink and smoke while you talk back at the screen. Next showing will be Monday the 14th, when The Troc will be screening . The Troc is located at 1003 Arch Street, and Movie Monday's start at 8PM.

It's not that we don't like watching Allen Iverson play. The guy is an absolute warrior - wants to play hurt, wants to play when the Sixers are up, wants to play when the game's close, wants to play when they're getting hammered. Time and time again, he gets knocked to the court, and you just wait for him not to get up, because he's not the burliest guard in the league, after all, but then, there he is, scraping himself off the floor and hobbling to the free throw line.

Featured Pick of the Week:

The premise of ABC's new series, Brat Camp, reads like a bad episode of Dr. Phil: Nine disturbed teenagers are forced to attend a 60-day wilderness school. In Wednesday night's premiere episode, we were introduced to the troublemakers and informed of the issues that led to their destructive behavior, as we watched them break down on a ten-mile hike. Unfortunately, some of the serious topics that are addressed on Brat Camp are overshadowed by the more campy production decisions, such as captioning the participants as "Angry Punk" and "Hostile Outcast." Not surprisingly, the angry punks and hostile outcasts find portions of their rehabilitation program to be corny, and we have to agree. When the kids curse, they are made to carry around rocks to feel "the weight of their words." Of course: the worse the swearword, the heavier the rock. All of these rituals are overseen by earnest counselors who go by names like Mother Raven and Little Big Bear. The parts of Brat Camp that aren't over-the-top are genuinely heartwarming, but like Angry Frank says, "At times I feel like really beating someone's ass." We kind of know what he means.