Coldplay
Wachovia Center
3601 S. Broad St.
Thu, 8 p.m., $36-$80.50
(215) 336-3600
www.comcast-spectator.com
You know you're a Coldplay fan if: Chris Martin's falsetto gives you chills, you can actually name the other three members of the band (Champion, Buckland and Berryman, bitches!), you're still holding out hope that "Green Eyes" wasn't written about that ninny Paltrow, you want to make trade fair, you saw that Peter Pan remake because "Clocks" was in the commercial and most importantly, your hiney will be firmly planted at the Wac tonight for a super-special, sexy alt-rock extravaganza.
Luckystar
Trocadero
1003 Arch St.
Fri, 6 p.m. $10
(215) 922-LIVE
www.thetroc.com
For me, the name Luckystar conjures up images of puppies, flowers and early '80s Madonna. However, if that's what you're expecting when you head out to Trocadero this Friday, you will be in for quite a surprise. These five South Jersey college students are blending their individual styles and rocking out all along the East Coast. So if you're looking for a head banging, mosh pitting, punk rocking good time, then Luckystar is definitely for you.
Vox Amadeus: Mozart: Leben Und Tod (Life and Death)
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
260 S. Broad St.
Fri, 8 p.m., $20-$30
(215) 893-1999
www.kimmelcenter.org
If Mozart were alive today, he would be 250 years old. Now this was the guy who was a musical genius at age four, so imagine how much he could have done if he had lived to 250. Granted, he didn't do too shabbily in his lifetime, since we're still playing his music and all, so it's not really fair to criticize him for not living an extra 200 years. So just go celebrate his life by going to this performance of his solo orchestral motets, his last symphony and his Requiem.
Switchfoot with Athlete
The Borgata Music Box
Atlantic City, NJ
Fri, 9 p.m., $25
(800) 736-1420
www.theborgata.com
The way I see it, Atlantic City is cool and illicit enough without drawing in major bands to entertain the tourists. However, those who have listened to Athlete's recent album, also called Tourist, know that there's a lot more to tourism than throwing down shots, playing the slots and dancing with strippers. So take a night off from the incessant gambling and, most likely, losing, and spend your 25 bucks somewhere worth it. This show promises to draw a more alternative scene than the last show you saw in Atlantic City, probably because that was the "Sinsations Strippers and Exotic Dancers," but we're not here to judge.
Penn Yo: "Fast Forward"
Dunlop Auditorium
3450 Hamilton Walk
Fri-Sat, 7 p.m., $7 on the walk, $8 at the door
www.pennyo.org
You've tried the classic rock, the blazing hip hop, even smooth jazz. Radio just isn't what it used to be. Take a chance, look outside the box. Look outside the continent. Let PennYo help you; this a cappella troupe, who derived its title from the Mandarin word for friends, "peng you," touts the self-determined goal of exposing students and others to popular Chinese music. The group will even pay tribute to Chinese oldies in their Spring 2006 show, "Fast Forward!"
Artist Access: Steve
Giordano Spacetet
Painted Bride Art Center
230 Vine St.
Sat, 8 p.m., $10-20
(215) 925-9914
www.paintedbride.org
Spacetet is a new group that takes a new age approach on jazz. The group of five uses their interactive style to create new takes on classic pieces as well as their originals. The group has been working together for over twenty years, which is longer than some Penn students have been alive. This fact may make Mr. Giordano feel old but I wouldn't worry -- I'd just appreciate it if he wouldn't tell MarBar.
Steve Howe
Theatre of Living Arts
334 South St.
Sat, 9 p.m. $29.50
(215) 922-1011
www.theatreoflivingarts.net
In his heyday, Steve Howe was voted "Best Overall Guitarist" by Guitar Player Magazine for five years in a row. He rose to fame as a member of progressive rock acts like Yes and Asia, but since the '90s he's been regularly recording solo albums, which vary in genre from acoustic rock to Bob Dylan homage. Howe may be older than my dad, but he can still strum with the best of them.
Project Jenny Project Jan
L'Etage
6th and Bainbridge Sts.(above Beau Monde)
Tonight, 9:30 p.m., Free
www.projectjennyprojectjan.com
Think that today's pop music is too trite? Ever wish that alt-rock was more melodic? Well look no further; Project Jenny Project Jan is sure to serves up some hard rockin' music with a catchy tune. Since the debut of their 2005 EP, the duo has been releasing pop-infused rock with dance beats to the masses.
The result is what they call "electro-karaoke:" an innovative style infused with keyboard and hip-hop beats. So come see PJPJ at L'Etage; chances are,
it'll blow your mind.
Bodyvox: "A Thousand Little Cities"
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
3680 Walnut St.
Thu, 7:30 p.m., Fri, 8 p.m., Sat, 2 p.m., 8 p.m., $32-44
(215) 898-3900
www.pennpresents.org
"A Thousand Little Cities" is composed of 13 episodic scenes blending movement, text, film, drama and humor into one uproarious production' which actually says very little about what it actually is. Sounds like some producer took everything he ever produced, rolled it into one show and added songs like "The Dying Swan." But at least if you're not sure what you're into, you'll have a chance to sample it all and perhaps fine tune your artistic pallet with this do it all show.
Spring Salons
Arden Theatre Company
40 N. Second St.
Mon, 6-7:30 p.m., $20-25, until June 5
(215) 922-1122
www.ardentheatre.org
The spring series of salon "deepen the connection between art and audience." The academic setting offers anybody who is interested in any number of aspects of theater to further their knowledge. Wine, coffee and hors d'oeuvres are included. The featured speakers are local theater headliners who offer their expertise to the wine drinking hours d'oeuvre eating crowd.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics
Wachovia Center
3601 S. Broad St.
Fri, 7 p.m., $15-$350
(215) 339-7676
www.comcast-spectator.com
Passion. Pride. 76ers. Currently second in the Atlantic division and smack in the middle of the Eastern Conference, the 76ers are within playoff contention ... but not if the Celtics have anything to say about it. The Atlantic third-seed is struggling to keep its head above water as post-season quickly approaches while attempting to bring green and white back into style this spring. Too bad that St. Patrick's Day is already over. Oh, and it might also be important to note that the 76ers Allen Iverson's average 32.9 points per game ranks second in the NBA. Who needs Kobe, anyway?
Philadelphia Phantoms vs. Hershey Bears
Wachovia Spectrum
3601 S. Broad St.
Fri, 7:05 p.m., $14-33
(215) 465-4522
www.comcast-spectator.com
Philadelphia's American Hockey League team will be taking on the Hershey team this Friday. The AHL may be less well known than the NHL, but it's hockey; you still get to see guys bash each other on ice and what's bad about that? The Phantoms will be taking on the Hershey Bears, so come on down and root for the Phantoms. After all, the only thing good about Hershey is the chocolate.
InLiquid.com: Exhibit 4
Painted Bride Art Center
230 Vine St.
Fri, 5-7 p.m., free, until May 27
(215) 925-9914
www.paintedbride.org
Oh what a night, late December back in 2K3
What A special exhibit for me, because I remember what a night.
Oh what a night,
The exhibit's free; fabric's lame,
But I was never gonna be the same.
What a show, what a night.
Why'd it take so long to see the light?
Seemed so wrong, but now it seems so right.
What a pattern, what a night.
Oil Paintings
Artists' House Gallery
57 N. Second St.
Wed-Sun, 12-5 p.m., free, until April 30
(215) 923-8440
www.artistshouse.com
The medium of oil paints has a long and storied history. I think. I'm fairly sure a lot of the famous painters in the past primarily used oil paints, but don't quote me on that. Anyway, this month, the Artists' House Gallery is showcasing various artists who use oil paints. Who knows? You could see the next Picasso or Monet (or whichever famous artist actually used these kind of paints).
Emerging Neighborhoods, Emerging Design
Marketplace Design Center
2400 Market St.
Thu, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., free
(215) 951-2863
www.designphiladelphia.org
In no other exhibition ever will you find such a wide variety of design genres in one exhibit. Seven different schools of design, including Penn, are each representing a different aspect of design at the exhibition. There's fashion, design and merchandising, interior design, industrial design, architecture, multimedia and graphic design. Read this allowed, and I bet the word design totally loses it's meaning.
Triskaidekamania
St. Joseph's University
Haub Executive Center
5th Floor McShain
City Ave. between 54th St. and Cardinal Ave.
Fri, 5-9 p.m., free
(610) 660-1840
Triskaidekamania denotes an intense zest for the number 13, and this exhibit was conveniently given said moniker to refer to the 13 Saint Joe's seniors whose artwork will be featured in it. The fine arts majors each chose a specific medium to concentrate on, ranging from photography to painting to mosaic. If you've been suffering from triskaidekaphobia -- fear of the number 13 -- this may be the perfect way to confront your demons.
2006 Loan Exhibit: The Schuylkill Villas
33rd Street Armory
3205 Lancaster Ave.
Sat, Tue, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Mon, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m., $15
(215) 387-3500
www.philaantiques.com
The Schuylkill Villas, this year's installment of Philadelphia Antiques Show's annual loan exhibit, will offer a look at the city's cultural history through eight eighteenth century Philadelphia villas. Displays will present photographs and prints of these historic residences, as well as antique furniture and decorative objects. The designs promise to offer helpful interior decorating tips for any students anticipating moving into off-campus housing. Next year's version -- 2007 Loan Exhibit: The Spruce Abodes.
Family Feud - Live Stage Show
Showboat Casino
801 Boardwalk, Delaware and Pacific Aves., Atlantic City, NJ
Fri, Sun, 7 p.m., $25
(800) 736-1420
Places you don't want to stick your finger. Fire? Number two answer. Someone else's food? Number eight answer. If you've ever stuck your finger in an electrical socket, you might jump to add a guess of your own. Then again, host Richard Karn will probably want the answers from the actual contestants on this show that measures which family can avoid the most dim-witted responses in the fastest reaction time. Oh well, at least you will get to see the Home Improvement alumnus' beard up close.
Without a Net
Houston Hall
3417 Spruce St.
Sat, 7 p.m., 10 p.m., $7
dolphin.upenn.edu/~nonet
Without a Net, Penn's first and only improv comedy troupe, is basically "Whose Line is it Anyway?," only with more small Jewish kids and less Drew Carey. In fact, that is exactly what it is. While Drew's ratings may have gone down in recent years, Without a Net is always hip and funny, and they never run out of jokes. Or in the very least, they aren't on television, so if they repeat a few jokes, you will never have any idea.
Rodeph Shalom Craft Show
8201 High School Rd., Elkins Park, PA
Sun-Mon, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., $6
(215) 627-6747, ext. 38.
It's sad to see that the art world continually becomes dominated by commercialism. Such is true for the craft world as well. All who attended last year's Rodeph Shalom Craft Show, known for the ornate potholders, attended for free. This year anyone that wants a repeat of those potholders is going to have to cough up $6 at the door. But you know as they say in the craft world, go hard or go Shalom.
When Do We Eat?
The Bridge Cinema Deluxe
40th and Walnut Sts.
Tuesday, 7p.m., free
www.whendoweeat.com
It's that time of the year again; no, we're not talking about Fling. It's almost Pesach. For all of you chosen people who're going home to celebrate, you know what it's like to have a family with more issues than a magazine. If you're not going home (or if you're not Jewish) then you can find out what those kids're going through with "Are We There Yet?" The comedy will have you laughing so hard that you cry. And with free admission, it's hard to pass up.
