The Fray
Theatre of Living Arts
334 South St.
Fri, 9 p.m., $10.50-12
(215) 922-1011
www.theateroflivingarts.net
Following the craze of bands that start with the word "the" comes The Fray, a Denver-based pop-rock group that came out with their debut album, How to Save a Life, in September. An up-and-coming band, they were voted best new band from Denver's Westword Magazine. And aside from the critics, everyone else thinks that they're pretty cool too; their show is already sold out, and if you get tickets, you can see for yourself.
XPN Welcomes
Subdudes
World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut St.
Thu, 7:30 p.m., $29-44
(215) 222-1400
www.worldcafelive.com
Despite the name "Subdudes," these dudes are not lacking in any area. This musical ensemble consists of multiple songwriters and gifted singers. They have been together since 1987 and their most popular songs include "Papa Dukie and the Mud People" and a pre-*NSync "Bye Bye." Think Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young plus 50 Cent. Minus the 50 Cent. Definitely come down to World Cafe Live to rock out with your cock out... and bring your mom.
The Snocore Tour featuring Seether, Shinedown, Flyleaf and Halestorm
The Electric Factory
421 N. Seventh St.
Fri, 7:20 p.m., $22-25
(610) 784-5400
www.electricfactory.com
I don't know about you, but I was pretty confused when the lovely 60-degree weather suddenly plunged below freezing. Although I'm no meteorologist, I'm pretty sure the only plausible solution for the arctic front is the anticipation of the chillest event to ever hit Philly, the Snocore Tour. So bundle up in your peacoat and Burberry, and be at the Electric Factory this Friday around 7:20.
Jazz On Vine: Eric Lewis Quintet
Painted Bride Art Center
230 Vine St.
Sat, 8 p.m., $12.50-25
(215) 925-9914
www.paintedbride.org
In my long, fruitless journey to become cultured, I have never been brave enough to tackle jazz. But let's face it: listening to jazz makes you cool, if only because it means that you're deep enough to understand what the hell is going on. Plus, Eric Lewis is huge in New York, and has a list of credentials that would make your hair curl. So if you want to be cooler than pretty much everybody else (including me), this is the place to be.
Mason Jennings
World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut St.
Sat, 7:30 p.m., $16-41
(215) 222-1400
www.worldcafelive.com
He sings yearningly. He strums his guitar plaintively. He writes evocative, sensitive lyrics that don't always make sense, but sound really, really pretty. He is Mason Jennings, a singer/songwriter of the finest persuasion. He sings songs of love lost and found, journeys to anywhere and old guys who teach lessons. And all of them, no matter the topic, sound really, really pretty.
Philomel Baroque Orchestra with Temple University Choir
St. Mark's Church
1625 Locust St.
Thu, 8 p.m., $16
(215) 569-8080
www.pcmsconcerts.org
Both Philomel and the Temple University Choir are very strong musical presences in the Philly community and their collaboration at St. Mark's should be inspirational. Besides which, if you are having choir boy withdrawal, and don't feel like getting your fix from a French film, you can head over here for some sublime Bach and Vivaldi while ogling the very much post-pubescent grad students of Temple.
TGIA: Thank God It's Atma
Dunlop Auditorium
3450 Hamilton Walk
Sat, 8 p.m.
$9
I can't count the Saturday nights that I've been pondering western philosophy and thinking to myself, "how does this compare and contrast to the surprisingly similar eastern religions?" Well, this Saturday I won't be alone. Thank God it's Atma! These awesome South Asian chicks sing a cappella like no other. So come down to Dunlop and listen to some real Indie music.
The Philadelphia Orchestra: Beethoven's "Pastoral"
Verizon Hall
Kimmel Center
260 S. Broad St.
Thurs, 7 p.m., $10-112
(215) 893-1999
www.philorch.org
Let's face it, Marathon's control freak menu is the greatest thing that has ever happened to you. If you find yourself frustrated by your inability to control music, then the Philadelphia Orchestra's Access Series is perfect for you. Come to the Kimmel Center to engage more deeply with classical music and explore Beethoven's "Pastoral" with music animator Thomas Cabaniss and conductor Christoph Eschenbach. All the other control freaks will be green with envy.
Silverstein
Theatre of Living Arts
334 South St.
Sat, 2:30 p.m., $14
(215) 922-1011
www.theateroflivingarts.net
Canadian-based Silverstein has a hardcore rock sound that should appeal to all you bad boys (or girls) out there. The band has toured with the likes of Fall Out Boy and Hawthorne Heights. This past summer, the group, whose members include voalist Shane Told, was also featured in the Warped Tour. If you believe deep emotions should be expressed with a metallic-edged melody, then Silverstein cannot be missed.
The Pietasters
Trocadero
1003 Arch St.
Sat, 7 p.m., $13
(215) 922-LIVE
www.thetroc.com
If your knowledge of ska is limited to No Doubt, then it's time to experience the eight-piece ska band, The Pietasters. Known as the grandfather of "Ska-Rock-and-Soul," the D.C.-based group's shows are a must-see, especially given that their performance motto is, "It's not a good show unless somebody bleeds." The band takes inspiration from Bad Manner and The Specials and knows how to "sax" you up.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Annenberg Center
3680 Walnut St.
Thu, 7:30 p.m., Fri, 8 p.m., Sat, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., $29-44
(215) 898-3900
www.pennpresents.org
All the way from Chicago come not one, but two dance performances for the benefit of all of us here in Philly. First, there's Gnawa from Nacho Duato, who not only has the best first name ever but is also the Artistic Director of the National Dance Company in Spain. Then there's William Forsythe, who choreographed Enemy in the Figure to Thom Willems' electronic score. What could be better than a guy named Nacho and electronic ballet all in one show?
Soul Simpatico II
African American Museum in Philadelphia
701 Arch St.
Fri, 8 p.m., $10
(215) 574-0380
www.aampmuseum.org
Soul Simpatico II incorporates everything you need for a healthy and happy soul: massages, wine, food, entertainment and art. That's right, for just $10 admission, you are entitled to all these titillating perks, plus performances by local neo-soul, jazz and spoken word artists. Wondering what neo-soul means? That's new soul for all you newbies. The reincarnation of soul, coming to an African American Museum near you.
Question and Answer Session: Marc-Andre Hamelin, piano
Rock Hall Auditorium
Temple University
Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Fri, 2:40 p.m., free
(215) 204-8307
www.temple.edu/boyer
Called "one of the most adventurous and courageous pianists of recent time" by International Piano Quarterly, Canadian-born, Philly resident Hamelin will be talking at Rock Hall Auditorium. This is a free event sponsored by the Boyer College of Music and Dance and an opportunity to see a world-renowned artist who has recorded with orchestras from London to Tokyo and beyond.
Kariamu and
Company: Traditions
Conwell Dance Theater
Temple University
Broad Street and Montgomery Avenue
Thu-Sat, 8 p.m., $5-10
(215) 336-2000
If any of you have seen the Penn dance group Africa Rhythms perform, you know it's one of the coolest performances ever seen. The dancers move with so much energy and the choreography is so impressive, you really feel like you've been transported to an African tribal dance. Kariamu and Company is like African Rhythms, but they're professionals. So if you feel like your African roots need some love, check out their show. Africa's only a cab ride away.
Rob Becker's Defending the
Caveman
Innovation Studio
Kimmel Center
260 S. Broad St.
Fri, 8 p.m., Sat, 5 p.m. & 8 p.m., Sun, 3 p.m., until Mar. 19, $39.50-44.50
(215) 893-1999
The differences between men and women are one of the greatest mysteries of life. When dating, these differences manifest themselves in misunderstanding and conflict. The best way to squelch this tension, of course, is to transform the heated moment into humor. Defending the Caveman does just that, exploring gender differences from the amusing view of a caveman. So take your significant other to this comedy, and laugh at how little men and women have changed in two million years.
Joseph and the
Amazing
Technicolor
Dreamcoat
Merriam Theater
250 S. Broad St.
Tue-Fri, 8 p.m., Sat, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., Sun, 1 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. $20-64.50
(215) 732-6452
www.avenueofthearts.org
A national tour of the biblical rock opera featuring a has-been (American Idol's Amy Adams) and a never-was (the non-Partridge Cassidy, Patrick)? Sign me up! This production of the Andrew Lloyd Weber classic at least promises to be better than the one my high school put on last year... fine, I'm just bitter I had to play a slutty Ishmaelite. Either way, Adams has got pipes and Cassidy is oddly alluring in this family-friendly romp. The Donny Osmond movie version really does suck though.
A Bright Room Called Day
Philadelphia Arts Bank
University of the Arts
601 S. Broad St.
Thu-Sat, 8 p.m., Sat-Sun, 2 p.m., $8-16
(215) 735-7700
www.uarts.edu
Fans of Munich (after getting yourself to a library and reading about what really happened) should definitely check out this rendition of Tony Kushner's first play. Set in the last days of the Weimar Republic, Day features a group of activists and artists who must watch Germany turn into the Third Reich. I mean, come on, who doesn't love to spend a Friday or Saturday night watching a play about World War II? Those Nazis can be a real pick-me-up.
The Lady in the Van
Mum Puppet Theatre
115 Arch St.
Tue-Thu, 7 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sat, 2 p.m., until Mar. 18, $25
(215) 925-7MUM
How would you feel if your grandma moved her trailer into your driveway at home? Well, that's basically what The Lady in the Van is all about, except that the woman's not a grandma, but a concert pianist/former nun. True story. Not even joking. The play is based on the experiences of one of England's best known playwrights. The Lady in the Van has been called one of the best new plays of the year and one of the finest examples of comic writing this century has produced.
Novecento
St. Stephen's Theater (Lantern Theater)
923 Ludlow St.
Thurs-Fri, 8 p.m., Sat-Sun, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., $11-22
(215) 829-9002
www.lanterntheater.org/productions/index.html
Think you're a jazz buff? Well, have you heard of Danny Boodmann T.D. Lemon Novecento? You probably haven't, but that's because he never existed. Nevertheless, you can still enjoy the story of the "world's greatest jazz pianist who never walked the earth." Written by Alessandro Barico, the play is a funny, yet touching story of friendship and a love of jazz music. So come see the American premiere this Italian fable; it might not increase your knowledge of jazz music, but it'll be a good time.
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
3260 Spruce St.
Sat, 1:30 p.m., $5-8
(215) 898-4000
www.museum.upenn.edu
Down on Spruce, past where most of us ever go, is the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. This week, they're having a gallery tour of their mummy exhibit. And although the museum will be offering this tour free with admission, they also allow you to meander your own way through. The exhibition includes human and cat mummies, and ties in ideas about Egyptian healthcare and death. And if you're looking for something a little less painful that doesn't really touch on the upchuck reflex, you can go and learn how to write your name in hieroglyphs instead: still fun. So trek on down to the uncharted territory past 33rd and Spruce to catch up on your Egyptian history.
Nicole
Phungrasamee Fein
Gallery Joe
302 Arch St.
Wed-Sat, 12-5:30 p.m., until Mar. 25, free
(215) 592-7752
www.galleryjoe.com
This kid my sister dated last summer went to Yale and wore those preppy-ass Barbie-colored, pseudo-flannel shorts all the time. He was a nice guy; he just couldn't help being a tool. But I digress; if you happen to think those shorts are the bee's knees, then you'll love this exhibit. The artist prides herself on producing the unexpected. Pride yourself on humoring such irony.
The Real Thing and Why It Matters
Atwater Kent Museum
15 S. Seventh St.
Wed-Sun, 1-5 p.m., until Mar. 19, $5
(215) 685-4830
www.philadelphiahistory.org
Philadelphia is old. Really old. And just to prove it to all you unbelievers, this exhibit is going to display the wampum belts and water pipes that built this city. As an added bonus, both the ordinary and extraordinary artifacts are going to include commentary by real live Philadelphians. Visitors can even give their input on what the museum should collect to represent our generation. I don't know about you, but my vote's on flip phones, venereal disease and my J. Ro shrine.
Emerging Artists
Series, John
Shipman: If You Believe
Woodmere Art Museum
9201 Germantown Ave.
Tue-Sat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun, 1-5 p.m., $3-5
(215) 247-0476
www.woodmereartmuseum.org
When Cher's song "Believe" came out, and I heard that husky voice asking if I believed in life after love, I was stumped. I had no answer, and no idea if Cher was a man or a woman. Thank God for John Shipman, whose new exhibit at the Woodmere Art Museum proudly answers that he believes in still-life after love. Well, fine, his work may not be directly inspired by Cher, but it's inspired by love, maybe even love for Cher, and you should check it out.
Opening night of The Israeli Film
Festival: Campfire
International House of Philadelphia
3701 Chestnut St.
Sat, 8 p.m., free w/student ID
(215) 895-6536
www.iffphila.com
So, watching the Olympics has made you realize there are other countries and other opening nights, and it's time you learned something about them. The Israeli Film Festival opens this Saturday, and the torch they're lighting is Campfire, a film about a young widow who decides to move her family to a religious settlement. No, there is no '80s music. And I think I can guarantee that there will be no ice-skating Christmas trees. But there is a reception afterwards and therefore no reason not to go.
Philadelphia
Phantoms vs. Grand Rapids Griffins
Wachovia Spectrum
3601 S. Broad St.
Fri, 7:05 p.m., $14-33
(215) 465-4522
www.phantomshockey.com
There is nothing sexier than a man without teeth. I'm completely serious. Think about what he could do with that mouth. And a strapping young man chasing a puck around the ice with no teeth? Well, that's just pure entertainment. If you missed hockey as much as I did when the NHL pooped it out last year, take solace in the fact that some cats just can't be kept out of the water. The AHL's Phantoms take on the Griffins this Friday; and if you squint, it'll be just like you're at the Olympics!
