September 03, 2015
Just because it’s the end of summer doesn’t mean it’s the end to great music, great parties, and of course, great dancing options. There’s plenty to choose from this weekend, be it Made In America, or at many of the clubs across the city – close out the summer with a bang, and a strong drink in hand.
Chaperone, Minima Moralia, Flyherder, Remote Control, Kung Fu Necktie
Lesser Gods and End Result Productions have teamed up to throw this monster Thursday night show, which is also the cassette release party of Minima Moralia’s ‘Introduzione’. Plenty of dark and gritty sounds at this one, as Minima Moralia reps the dark synth-pop waves akin to The Knife, and Great Circles’ Chaperone, and Philly artists Flyherder, Remote Control, and DJ Speaking Parts also lend support.
8 p.m., $7
Truewave with G-Buck, The Dolphin
G-Buck is providing the heat to some of EDM’s key tastemasters from right here in Philadelphia, racking up a who’s who of support via releases on Diplo’s Mad Decent, Skrillex’s OWSLA, Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak, and Astronomar and Bot’s Main Course. Cheers to the Truewave crew for providing the perfect outlet for some of the amazing club/alternative electronic music coming out of Philly and keeping the party going (they just had their anniversary)! G-Buck is a self-proclaimed taco, burrito, and pizza eating champion, so maybe you can even challenge him after he rocks The Dolphin crowd.
10 p.m. – 2 a.m., $5
All Natural ft. Carlo Lio (Sci+Tec), Fold Theory, Rumor
Rumor’s All Natural parties on Thursday nights are simply can’t-miss events. Ravi and the good folks over at Rumor continue to book some of the best house and techno talent the world has to offer, for free, this time with Torontonian techno innovator Carlo Lio. Best known for output on esteemed labels such as Dubfire’s SCI+TEC, Nicole Moudaber’s MOOD, and John Digweed’s Bedrock, Lio is an artist’s artist that is surely going to pound the Rumor system. No jorts at this function, gents!
10 p.m. – 2 a.m., free
Space Jams (TWO FLOORS), The Barbary
Everybody get up, it’s time to slam now! While you probably love the 90s classic movie featuring Michael Jordan and his all-star cast of Looney Tunes, what you might not remember is that the soundtrack to the movie was absolutely way ahead of its time: featuring tracks from D’Angelo, Quad City DJs, Coolio, Seal, R. Kelly, Salt-N-Peppa and more! Cheers to The Barbary opening the second floor again, where Yolo Ono and Baby Eagle will transform the room into a "Jungle Gym" with millennial booty-bounce beats. Free Narragansett while supplies last and Poseybooth photos to document the debauchery.
10 p.m. – 2 a.m., $3
Universal Cave Record Sale, Philadelphia Sculpture Gym
Record-collecting DJ collective Universal Cave owns lots of records. At this informal First Friday gathering, the guys look to offload some of their choice selections (presumably to buy more records) up in Fishtown at the Philadelphia Sculpture Gym, which is also hosting the Labor Artists Exhibition, featuring work by Steven Earl Weber and Brian Wagner. Free beer provided by PBR and Billy Werner will even have a few copies of his brand new 12” on New York label L.I.E.S. in tow (congrats Billy)! Cash only at this no-prisoners record slinging affair.
5 p.m., free
Making Time RADio with Dave P - five-year anniversary edition, WXPN
It’s been five years since Dave P began his monthly RADio show on WXPN. Sixty shows and approximately 2,000 futuristic sounds later, Dave has come out on the other side with one of the best radio shows for electronic music around. Be sure to tune in and share this special milestone with the ever-rad Dave P, and also check out Dave’s Instagram to partake in a photo contest for a pair of tickets to Sunday’s Making Time RAD-B-Q.
7 p.m. – 9 p.m., free
Ars Nova Workshop Presents: Tyondai Braxton, Charles Cohen, Johnny Brenda's
Ars Nova Workshop is a non-profit organization that does a damn fine job curating events and making a viable community for innovative music in Philly. Here, they curate a special show with former Battles co-founder Tyondai Braxton and Charles Cohen at the intimate and perfect-sounding Johnny Brenda’s. The Washington Post hailed Braxton as “one of the most acclaimed experimental musicians of the last decade,” so if electronic bleeps and beats are your thing, this show is a can’t-miss!
Doors 8 p.m., Show 8:30, $15
Risky Disko Presents: Try It Out with Eric Duncan, The Dolphin
Be it slo-mo disco, incandescent funk or banging house music, Eric Duncan, or Dr. Dunks as he sometimes goes by, knows how to build a soundtrack to the night. With a perfect warm-up set from Risky Disko to set him up, look for Duncan to smash The Dolphin to whatever sounds he sees fit.
9 p.m. – 2 a.m., $8
8-Bit as F*ck: Presented by Bangarang and Light-It-Up, Trilogy Nightclub
The Bangarang crew is back at it after a busy summer of festival appearances and gigs up and down the east coast, bringing back their signature costumed-out parties to storied venue Trilogy Nightclub. If you love the sounds of old-school video games, or just like anything colorful and fun, this will be the perfect event for you to come and dance it out past closing time, until 3:30, with sets from some of the talented Bangarang crew.
10 p.m. – 3:30 a.m., $15 in costume, $20 without
Made In America Festival, Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Jay-Z (I forget whether he’s using a hyphen in his name or not these days) brings the big show to Philly for the third year running, this time enlisting his wife, some lady name Beyoncé. Plenty of international talent rocking multiple stages over by the Art Museum, it will be interesting to see how the crowd reacts to hometown rapper Meek Mill, after he unanimously earned the loss after a mumbling soft response in his diss battle with Drake. Be sure to check out the Skate Stage over by the river at Paine’s Park, where Philly acts Hop Along, Waxahatchee, Strand of Oaks, and Ground Up rock the stage. Shoutout to all the folks living in Fairmount who will be also be dealing with Pope-mania in several short weeks.
Saturday & Sunday afternoon / night, 2-day passes still available
Earl Sweatshirt presents: The Ready To Leave Now Tour with Remy Banks, TLA
This show was originally supposed to be in April, so dust off your unused ticket from before, or buy a new one, and head down to South Street to see one of the most buzzworthy MCs in the game, Earl Sweatshirt. Best known as a member of the LA-based Odd Future rap collective, Earl has since stepped out on his own with boundary-pushing rap music that’s earned the praise of artists and critics alike. Remy Bank and Nxworries round out the bill with support.
10 p.m., $27
Blanck Mass / Egyptrixx / QQQ, Johnny Brenda's
Another night of amazing left-field electronics at one of our city’s finest venues, Johnny Brenda’s. If you’re looking to skip the crowds of Made In America, then head up to Frankford & Girard to catch this show, as Londoner Blanck Mass tours in support of his new LP on Sacred Bones Records "Dumb Flesh". Definitely get there early too, so you don’t miss sets from celestial club act Egyptrixx and Philly artist QQQ.
Doors 8 p.m., $15
Making Time RAD-B-Q with Empress Of, Bamboo Bar
The Making Time crew descends upon the Delaware Avenue Bamboo Bar to help you wind down the summer in the raddest way possible, what some would call an institution, and the ZENITH of summer: the Making Time RAD-B-Q. Cancel your Monday morning plans, grab a boozy fishbowl, and dance the summer away with the Making Time selectors and a special live performance from up-and-comer Empress Of.
6 p.m. – 2 a.m., $10 advanced tickets
Motown on Sunday w/ Skeme Richards & Ian St. Laurent, Silk City
Normally a Monday party held across the nation, Motown on Monday hosts Junior and Lil’ Dave are laying down the feel-good sounds of Detroit Motown one day early for this very special Labor Day Weekend gig. To commemorate the occasion, the guys have brought in international vinyl connoisseur Skeme Richards and Ian.
9 p.m. – 2 a.m., free
The Aloha Kakou Collective: ALL VINYL Blowout w/ Dave Tidey & Jason Hunter, The Yachtsman
Wishing you were in tropical paradise sucking down fresh cocktails as the waves gently crash against a quiet beach? The Yachtsman has definitely got you covered for the tropical drinks and ambiance – the waves you’ll have to sort out yourself. Head up Frankford Ave for this special gathering of friends presented in conjunction with Hawaii’s Kona Brewing Co, where aloha kakou means, "may there be love between us."
3 p.m. – 8 p.m., free
