UP: Unknown Pleasures
The Barbary
951 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19125

Open Bar: 10 to 11pm.

GAY.

Yo! Our friends of Sincerely, Thompson Vintage are turning the Vwvoffka gallery into a Vintage Pop-Up Shop for the upcoming First Friday. There will be lots of cheap threads, free booze, and I’ll be spinning tunez all night – so come through!

what: Pop-Up Shop by Sincerely, Thompson Vintage

where: Vwvoffka Gallery // 2311 Frankford Avenue // Philadelphia

when: Friday, June 3  7 – 10 pm

//Christopher

There are only a few ways a band can earn respect from me faster, than by sampling Lisa Stansfield. And can you blame me? No. This past week we caught Oberlin College duo, Teengirl Fantasy’s live show in Philadelphia. The duo, which can be described as one part Cece Peniston and one part experimental ambient, won over the judgmental tween (all ages show/kidz need music too) hearts who patiently awaited their headliner goth lords, Crystal Castles. This was not only a testament to the innovation of their exploration of yesteryear’s hits but also a nod to their showmanship – a perfect balance of mystery, minimalism, and Jock Jams. If you have the chance to catch their live act, don’t sleep on it. You can catch two of their tracks below, including Dancing in Slow Motion, which features Shannon Funchess of Light Asylum.

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christopher

Last week we caught up with purveyors of pop, Darwin Deez. Brooklynite, by way of Wesleyan, Darwin Smith played to a sold out show in Philadelphia. Deez is unabashedly pop, with all the shimmering hand claps you might expect [+ more]. Grab their self-titled debut album now, and for a different side of Darwin, grab his rap mixtape here (yes, you read that right). It’s composed entirely of Willy Wonka samples.

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Where are you Those Dancing Days? Nothing new since the 2008 release of In Our Space Hero Suits – please come back to us, we miss you. A lot.

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Summer Fiction comes as a glimmer of hope as the reality of long johns and chapped faces set in. The Philadelphia-based artist, Bill Ricchini, pulls from everything from the baroque pop of the late 60′s to country duets. It’s the kind of thing where you feel like you’ve heard it before but don’t mind listening a bit more. You can stream and download the full length self titled LP over at Summer Fiction’s bandcamp. And check out the video for Chandeliers below, which features scenes from Fists in the Pockets.

christopher

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With the likes of Tennis and Mean Lady, it seems 2010 is/was full of delightful guy-girl/husband-wife duos. And this is certainly true of Philadelphia’s own Reading Rainbow. Rob and Sarah make a delightful brand of fuzzy, dreamy garage pop. I had the pleasure of catching these guys live this past summer at a small park on the delaware river – they play facing one another with just a guitar and some drums (too cute). Catch some cool, YVYNYL-curated vids of them via Weathervane Music/WXPN’s project: Shaking Through. Their upcoming LP, Prism Eyes, comes out tomorrow.

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Just when I thought Adele couldn’t get better, I got my hands on Rolling in the Deep, off of her new album, 21, set to drop in early 2011. Adele herself describes the track as a “dark bluesy gospel disco” tune. This along with ballad Someone Like You, as performed on Later… With Jools Holland has me excited for her sophomore effort. Her voice is that of an instant classic.

christopher

October 12th to October 17th, 2010
Preview Reception: Tuesday – October 12th, 6 to 9 pm

Part game, part art installation, part mobile recycling center, Macro Sea’s Glassphemy! is a 20-by-30-foot steel structure lined with bulletproof glass. A person standing on one side can throw bottles at a friend or enemy who is standing in safety behind the clear wall on the other side. More than a funhouse prop, it is an incredibly satisfying multi-sensory experience that simultaneously recycles the bottles broken on site.

Crane Arts is located at 1400 N American St. Philadelphia, PA 19122. Check out the rest of the event details here and check out the NYTimes feature below:

chris

Vwvoffka had a First Friday opening reception for the new exhibition titled “Small Objects.” “Small Objects” is the operative name given by Linnea Vegh and Steven Streisguth to their collective body of work. The pieces are a combination of inside jokes, second-hand ancedotes, relationship detritus, and personal jetsam. Working in sculpture, print, and found objects, the proximity of individual pieces form constellations of personal mythology.

vwvoffka
2307 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19125
(203) 331-6135

chris

Part Time Studios had a First Friday opening reception for their new exhibition titled “Part Time All The Time“. Our favorite piece in the exhibition was the piece above by far. It was a projection of a boat in blue waters with either a cannon ball or a wrecking ball run on the motor of a drill — so amazing. I love the fact that the artist chose to use something as loud and arresting as a drill to power the film strip when they could have easily used a device much quieter to do the same thing. It’s kinda like the piece is saying, “Hey! Look at me, it’s impossible to ignore me!” — I like that.  Check out the rest of the photos below. If you went out for First Friday…where’d you go? what’d you like?

Part Time Studios
2031 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19125
(215) 948-2242

later nerds,
antwan.

This past weekend Kristin (of Cat Vet), Chris, and myself all went out to brunch at a place called ABBAYE. We were hungry as hell after each of had our respective LONG NIGHTS…lol.

Above is what both Chris and I ordered — I can’t find the name of it online, because there are no brunch menus online, but it was like a fried chicken eggs Benedict covered smothered in a thick white gravy!!!!!!!!! I almost died trying to finish it, but like it was soo effing good. I felt like Roseanne at Thanksgiving.

Below you see the tofu scramble that Kristin (of Cat Vet) ordered for brunch — I’m not even sure if she tasted it because almost immediately it was drenched in Sriracha (hipster’s favorite sauce). The dish was actually pretty good.

We all like sugar a little too much!

While we were eating this dog had a “red rocket” so I took a picture of it. Chris and Kristin had never heard or seen this before so I tried to describe the South Park episode — but they still didn’t get it…so the reference of “red rocket” can be seen below in the videoclip…

LOL. Don’t judge me.

Anyway, the food was mad good and the service was splendid. You should go sometime.

ABBAYE
637 N. 3rd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19123
Phone: (215) 627-6711

later nerds,
antwan

Chris and I like to eat, a lot. And we are always finding an excuse to eat out or make some bangin’ a$$ eats. This time (last weekend) we decided to hit up this dumpling house that we’d passed many times before. There is usually a ton of people in the place and a ton of steam everywhere, but this night the place was empty…that is with the exception of us and this little girl…

We had seen her on our way to the dumpling spot barreling down the sidewalk on a scooter with no regard for anyone she might be endangering — I liked that. When we finally made it to the restaurant, we sat down and in she came. I am obsessed with people and watching them and recounting the little things they do and their facial expressions, etc…this little girl fascinated me for some reason…

I don’t look “entertained” but I am.

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This girl runs around Philadelphia acting all kinds of stank – a philebrity if you will. She plays in this band, CAT VET (really effin’ good). She prefers all black ‘erythang.

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Cats seem to have recently entered my life as some new strange prominent theme. Maybe it’s the fact that everyone’s getting cats to cope with post-graduate depression. Or maybe it’s some new alt trend that I’m just not aware of. Honestly, between hanging with new Philadelphia it-girl Kristin Hankins of rising CAT VET and impromptu cat-inspired photo sessions – i’m wondering if it all points to something bigger? Enter UK’s Waskerley Way and his new cat-themed, chillwave EP, Cat Music (whoa). Is this too internet 2010? If it is, I guess I don’t care.

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chris

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Thunderstorms in Philadelphia.

TOPHER