Crushing Krisis

Comic Books, Drag Race, & Life in New Zealand

philly music

Things To Do In Philly, 9/14 Edition

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Another week of my handpicked things to do in Philly!

I didn’t get to experience any my own recommendations last week, as I was pretty busy on my own with rehearsals and a gig. This week is more of the same, so I’m hoping you can attend some of this awesome stuff in my place.

The pickings are a little slim this week, but there is one main event that I strongly endorse…

Thursday 9/16
Who: Your humble author’s harmony-packing duo, Arcati Crisis
Details: 8pm @ Tin Angel, $10
Why? This is our second headlining show at the Tin Angel, and we’re splitting it with our friend Dante Bucci, a hang drummer who must be seen or heard to be believed. Oh, and he leads us by millions of YouTube view. Yeah, I said millions.

Here’s a smattering of other things to do in Philly:

Friday 9/17
What: Absinthe tasting
Details: 6:30–8:30PM, Hudson Beach Glass Philadelphia, $36
Why? Sample local licoricesque liquor avec wormwood from Philadelphia Distillery and net a Hudson Beach glass in the process – worth the price of your ticket (literally), so the green drinks are effectively free.

Friday 9/17
Who: Christie Lenee & Dani Mari bands, respectively
Details: 9pm, Rox Box, $?
Why? Christie Lenee is one of the best guitarists I’ve ever met – she can can from Ani staccato to Hendrix shred in a matter of seconds. Dani Mari is a super-friendly host of many local open mics, and her tunes are catchy – reminds me of Martha Wainwright sans the whining :)

Wednesday 9/22
Who: Caustic dance-rockers Electric Six w/local guitar hero Boy Wonder
Details: 8pm, Kung Fu Necktie, $15
Why? I admit I’m not always the hippest when it comes to rock bands. Case and point: Electric Six. I hate them, but Gina, Wes, and seemingly everyone else I know adores their ridiculously sarcastic four-on-the-floor rock. Worth experimenting on this cheap gig, especially since the underbill includes the always-strong Boy Wonder.

Monday Music: Alexandra Day, live @ Psalm Salon

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Monday here is a little dreary, so I brought you a concert!

Alexandra Day is on my short-list of “must see” artists in Philly, and this Saturday she played her first full-band show in ages.

Alexandra has been an artist I’ll cancel plans to see ever since her album No Castles No Moats was my top LP of 2008 (and not just of local artists). However, my Saturday night outing was unscuttleable – Gina and I were booked to bash through our entire set of songs at Collingswood’s 2nd Saturday.

That meant I was obligated to miss what would otherwise be an unmissable show – Alexandra and her band at PSALM Salon, a 70-seat venue that’s an audiophile heaven.

Luckily, PSALM streams all their shows, which means you can spend your lunch break with Alexandra Day.

Me? I’ll probably save it to savor with a glass of wine this evening

(The only way to reliably keep track of Alexandra’s comings and goings is to sign up for her email list which – paradoxically – only seems to exist in person. I will pester her tonight to ascertain if there’s a digital way to sign up.)

Things To Do In Philly, 9/8 Edition

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Last week’s things to do in Philly were pretty awesome – I should know, since I locomoted my ass out of the house to see more than half of them!

Here’s another week of personally endorsed activities around Philadelphia. Let me know if you’re headed out to one, and maybe I’ll come too! And, don’t forget about my two upcoming shows:

  • Saturday 9/11 @ Collingswood 2nd Saturday, 6pm-9pm, Free!
  • Thursday 9/16 @ Tin Angel w/Dante Bucci, 8pm, $10

    • Wednesday 9/8
    What: Askew indie rock
    Who: Dirty Projectors w/Owen Pallett
    Where: 7:30pm, Trocadero, $15 adv / $17 dos
    Why: I resisted Dirty Projectors when they appeared on best-of-year lists, but there is something undeniable about their lilting and sometimes atonal acoustic indie pop. This show is a steal, which you can definitely afford since you probably downloaded their CD from p2p.

    Friday 9/10
    What: Dozens of Philly songwriters in one room
    Who: Song Shuffle
    Where: 7:30pm, World Cafe Live, $27 / $5 for students & under 25
    Why: Want a crash course in Philly songwriters? See an almighty slew of them play one song each, which will likely yield some huge hits and unusual collaborations.

    Rocking my curly hair and an outfit from Sazz Vintage this January.

    Friday 9/10 – Monday 9/13
    What: Crazy-cheap vintage clothes
    Who: Sazz Vintage Warehouse weekend sale!
    Where: Fri 4-8pm, Sat-Mon 12-6pm, 2438 Coral St., 19125
    Why: Want to bulk up on your vintage 60s, 70s, and 80s clothing? This weekend Sazz will unlock their warehouse for a repeat of the sale that reinvigorated my blazer collection and helped me costume a period piece of theatre for under $200.

    Saturday 9/11
    What: A pair of standout Philly female songwriters
    Who: Adrien Reju, Suzie Brown, and Barnaby Bright
    Where: 8pm, Burlap & Bean in Newtown Square, $10 / $12 at door
    Why: If you insist on skipping our Collingswood gig, Adrien and Suzie are two of the most stunning songwriters Philly has to offer, not to mention adept performers and complete sweet-hearts. A bill with the both of them is not to be missed (unless you’re seeing us).

    Saturday 9/11 & Sunday 9/12
    What: Crash course in glass pulling
    Who: Hudson Beach Glass
    Where: 12-5pm by appointment, 26 South Strawberry St., 19106
    Why: Hudson is a pretty cool place to visit to begin with, but this weekend they’ll let you get hands on with the hot glass to pull your own glass flower (with the help of a trained glassblower).

    Sunday 9/12
    What: Freak folkers strut their songs
    Who: Bike Philly party w/Spinning Leaves & Ben Sollee
    Where: 9pm, Johnny Brenda’s, $12
    Why: Spinning Leaves are like some crazy bizarro ultra-folk version of Arcati Crisis (they actually resemble us, in reverse!), pairing freak-on lyrics with perfect-blend harmonies. Meanwhile, Ben Sollee is on tour with his cello on a bicycle!

    Monday 9/13
    What: Live storytelling
    Who: First Person StorySlam
    Where: 8:30pm, World Cafe Live, $10
    Why: Whether you’re there to watch or tell a tale, First Person StorySlam runs the gamut from hilarity.

    Wednesday 9/15
    What: James Brown’s reincarnated ghost from the future
    Who: Of Montreal w/Janelle Monae
    Where: 9pm, Electric Factory, $25 / $28 @ door
    Why: Forget perennial hipster darlings Of Montreal – every time Janelle Monae plays in Philly my entire social switchboard lights up like a Christmas tree about how freaking awesome she was. Observe:

    Did I catch the event you’re headed to or capture your favorite band? If not, leave a comment to let me know what I’m missing out on.

    Things To Do In Philly, 8/31 Edition

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    Here is my totally biased and personally endorsed calendar of things to check out this week in Philly.

    Let me know if you’re headed out to one, and maybe I’ll come too! And, don’t forget about my two upcoming shows:

  • Saturday 9/11 @ Collingswood 2nd Saturday, 6pm-9pm, Free!
  • Thursday 9/16 @ Tin Angel w/Dante Bucci, 8pm, $10

    • Cris Valkyria, as shot by me at the Northstar Bar, earlier this summer.


    Wednesday 9/1
    What: Amazing local indie rock!
    Who: Post Post
    Where: 7:00pm, Rittenhouse Square Park, Free!
    Why: Filmstar split a bill with Post Post earlier this summer, and Post Post blew me away. Like a cross between Built to Spill & Thao w/the Get Down Stay Down. They will NOT be playing free shows in Philly for long, so get on it now!

    Thursday 9/2
    What: 90s-esque girl rock!
    Who: Cris Valkyria & The Opponents
    Where: 8:30pm, The Tin Angel, $8
    Why: I was dumbstruck when I first heard the typically acoustic Cris with this fantastic backing band. Shades of Heather Nova, Bjork, Alanis, and Elvish Costello, among others.

    Friday 9/3 (I’ll Be There!)
    What: Gallery show opening & entrancing music
    Who: Jennifer Vessells & Dante Bucci
    Where: 5:30pm, Muse Gallery, 52 North 2nd Street, Free!
    Why: Jennifer is an amazing visual artist whose paintings I completely lose myself in; Dante is a hypnotic hang drum player who I’m splitting a show with later this month.

    Britt Miller's "Pieces of My Heart"

    Friday 9/3 (I’ll Be There!)
    What: Gallery show, drinks, & mingling!
    Who: Britt Miller, my arty partner in FAME
    Where: 5-9pm, Drink Philly Office & Gallery, 239 Chestnut St., 2Flr. B
    Why: Britt and I keep each other on the path to fame, and this is one of the many gallery shows that are on her road this year. Plus, free food and drinks. Be there!

    Friday 9/3
    What: Chunky folk riffs!
    Who: Andra Taylor supports Charlie Phillips
    Where: 7:30pm, Burlap and Bean, Newton Square, PA
    Why: Andra is one of my favorite people to split a bill with – if you share my love of Ani DiFranco and Patty Griffin you’ll adore her.

    Friday 9/3 – Monday 9/6
    What: World premiere play!
    Who: Gina & Ocelot on a Leash Theater Company
    Where: 3/4 @ 8pm & 5/6 @2pm, The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street, $10
    Why: My musical other half Gina Martinelli costars in Prudence, a play by one of my former directors Mary Ellen Cosaboon. I got a sneak preview of this last fall, and it’s a legitimately funny – not some freaky unintelligible Fringe-fest-thing.

    Saturday, 9/4
    What: Local CD release!
    Who: Boy Wonder
    When: 7:00pm, World Cafe Live, $10
    Why: Boy Wonder is a crazy-amazing songwriter – every one of his tunes is immediately catchy with some wicked guitar interludes. Also, one of the nicest dudes I have met in the Philly music scene.

    Saturday, 9/4
    What: Chill acoustic tunes!
    Who: Bill McConney
    When: 9pm, Myra’s Place, 615 Macdade Blvd, Collingdale, PA
    Why: Bill’s folk riffs and legato baritone voice are sometimes a dead ringer for Nick Drake, but the songs are all his own.

    Guest-starring with Filmstar

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    Some things I learned about myself on Saturday, while performing my first gig as substitute-bassist with E’s band Filmstar.

    1. I am not actually a bass player.
    2. I am way hotter playing bass than I am playing guitar.
    3. No matter how much I beat myself up about #1, I can’t even pick out most of my flubs on rewatch unless I was making a nasty face while flubbing.
    4. I’m not actually conflicted about Filmstar.

    That last one is the big news and the big surprise. When I last wrote last Friday I was wistful, thinking ahead to my imminent replacement in the band.

    Before more blather, please witness our first public performance of my current favorite Filmstar tune, “Fall From the Sky.”


    (I know, I’m using my first finger for everything. One step at a time, folks.)

    Shortly after that performance I neatly resolved my conflicting emotions over a pint of Abita Purple Haze, a rare beer I will stop my life to drink.

    Basically, I realized that – though I love both Filmstar’s songs and sound – what I really love is playing in a full, happy, committed band, with a chance to be significant without always doing the heaviest lifting in the band.

    I’m incredibly happy to continue to do that with Filmstar as a bassist or in some other capacity, and I let the band know that in no uncertain terms. I do love their songs and their sound, and if I can push that further I’m all for it!

    At the same time, I have to find a way to make my own music into something where I don’t have to be the heaviest lifter all of the time. Am I ever going to cede lead vocals? No – dueting with Gina is the closest I’ll come. But having a drummer, or other instrumentalists? Yes, that would take the pressure off of me – the constant beating myself up and assuming I’m not yet ready for primetime.

    That’s what I love about Filmstar – that on Saturday I was not sure I was ready for primetime, but they were sure for me, and it turned out I was.

    On the way home I asked E if I could be vain for a few minutes, and I put on the recordings of Gina and I playing Arcati Crisis tunes with Chaz on drums last fall. I’m still in love with them – in love with a recording of me almost a year later! That nearly never happens.

    That’s what I want. I’ve got it with Filmstar for the moment, and that’s awesome. But this year I’m going to find it for myself as well.