37 Things to Do This Weekend
Marc Maron plays the Merriam Theater on Friday.
FRIDAY, MAY 12
Marc Maron @ Merriam Theater
If you only know him as the host of WTF and the star of Maron on IFC, you’re not getting the whole picture. His thoughtfully acerbic standup shows are a stream-of-consciousness maelstrom of conflicting thoughts and anecdotes that make you laugh at the strangest things.
Nichole Canuso Dance Company @ The Bok
Even if you’re not a dance fan, you gotta admit this sounds excellent: “The Garden of Forking Path is a movement and sound installation that leads audience members via audio prompts on a headset through a sprawling fabric labyrinth.” Multiple performances on Friday and Saturday.
Kool G Rap & AZ @ Voltage Lounge
Live hip-hop by veteran NYC MCs who’ve influenced and collaborated with some of the best in the biz (like Nas and Ghostface Killah).
Philadelphia Women’s Leather Bar Night @ The Bike Stop
This party is in the basement and “open to ALL who identify as a Kinky, Leather, Fetish woman, and those who support or want to hang with them.”
Eva Wǒ Solo @ 40th Street Artist-in-Residence Program
Visual art/photography. “Liberatory images, aesthetics and experiences for your everyday queer transformative inner femme diva. Iconic digital portraits, moving image and mixed media from the recent past plus new and unseen collaborative and solo work.” Check it:
Eva Wǒ’s solo show opens Friday at 40th Street Artist-in-Residence Program.
Brian Sanders’ JUNK @ Penn’s Landing Playhouse
The Fringe Fest mainstay revives My Funny Bone, “a 90-minute revue-style show caught somewhere between Lawrence Welk and the Gong Show.” Friday through Sunday.
Swing~That~Cat @ Ortlieb’s
Swing and jazz on a rock ’n’ roll bed. Their site describes singer Michele Peraino as “a modern-day Rita Hayworth meets Catwoman.”
Desiigner @ Trocadero
The young Bed-Stuy rapper first turned heads with “Panda” at age 18, leading to international success, a deal with Kanye’s GOOD Music label, Grammy/BET/MTV award noms and, more recently, a guest spot on Bill Nye Saves the World.
The Lawsuits @ Johnny Brenda’s
One of this city’s finest purveyors indie rock/americana. They’ve got two lead singers, so here’s two tracks from last year’s Moon Son.
Party at the Pen: The Masquerade @ Eastern State Penitentiary
Terror Behind the Walls presents an evening of music, drinks and costumes in the old prison. Gates once closed will be thrown open. Souls will be harvested. Through May 14.
Action Movie Marathon @ PhilaMOCA
Philadelphia Psychotronic Film Society presents a mystery lineup of violent, crazy, funny action movies into the wee hours of the evening. Check out my interview with co-founder Eric Bresler here. Free. BYOB.
Metallica @ Lincoln Financial Field
Here’s the video that gave young me nightmares:
Blood Milk & Friends Night Market @ Tattooed Mom
Handmade crafts, jewelry and such. Plus: Pop Up Polaroid, books and vegan treats. Check out some of Blood Milk’s creations here.
San Fermin @ World Café Live
This stylish Brooklyn chamber pop group belts out resounding and moody melodies that emphasize the complexity of their arrangements and the versatility of their vision.
SATURDAY, MAY 13
Sheer Mag @ First Unitarian Church
After three straight years of good buzz and impressive EPs, the beloved Philly indie/punk band is almost ready to release their first full-length. Need to Feel Your Love comes out in July and all signs point to you needing it in your life:
Art Star Craft Bazaar @ Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing
This big free arts & crafts fest down by the river is a Philly institution. Features music, food and displays by 140 vendors. Mother’s Day is the next day. Get her a craft. Moms love crafts.
Mary & Sam @ Good Good Comedy
Live comedy by two very funny people. You know Mary Houlihan from Difficult People and her appearances on The Best Show. You know Sam Taggart from Lake Homo High and Live On Broadgay.
Salvage & Bike Art Benefit Auction @ Studio 34 Yoga
Dinner, music (by Chenda Cope and Rabbits to Riches) and art made out of old bikes for cheap. Money goes to environmental causes.
Philadelphia Onesie Pajama Crawl @ several bars
Starts at Howl At The Moon (258 S 15th St.). Ends at adulthood.
Mirah/Tara Jane O’Neil @ Boot & Saddle
The Monsters of Thoughtful Indie Pop/Folk Tour! Mirah and Tara Jane O’Neil don’t sound much alike but their music often gets described with the same adjectives — intimate, idiosyncratic, endlessly gorgeous — and they’re both singers and songwriters of the highest order, so this pairing makes good sense.
International Migratory Bird Day @ John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
Birds and bird allies are invited to a series of walks and activities.
Mix Master Mike @ Underground Arts
The Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Famer (with the Beastie Boys) is on tour with the Metallica right now but booked this relatively intimate solo spinning gig on his day off.
Artist Bash @ Barnes Foundation
The first in a series, this event is subtitled Personal Stories on Public Style. “Meet and party with poets, dancers, musicians, and fashion designers sharing their heritage and history using style as a powerful mode of self-expression. Featuring the Ikiré Jones men’s fashion line, classical Indian dancer Roshni Tailor and poet Lyrispect. Live music by AveNoir and Worldtown’s DJ Oluwafemi.”
August Kleinzahler @ Brickbat Books
A rare reading by the prolific, award-winning, American poet who sometimes likes to take jabs at his peers. Read this 2009 piece in The Guardian and you will love the guy.
Up! Up! Ups! @ Creep Records
Snarky, snarling power-punk. There’s something classic and catchy going on here but it’s more straight-up rock than rockabilly.
April and the Extraordinary World @ International House
Animated steampunk sci-fi movie set in 1940s Paris based on the work of graphic novelist Jacques Tardi.
Old Arrows @ Ortlieb’s
A strong lead guitar and Chris Woodhead’s gruff and grumbly vocals set the tone for this earthy, urgent Americana sound.
Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers @ Ardmore Music Hall
The Rumblers aren’t so young anymore, but Tommy Conwell and co. — best known for the swaggering 1988 hard rock anthem “I’m Not Your Man” — can still bring it.
May Fair @ Clark Park
Music, art, food trucks, sellers of used book and jewelry and so on. A family fun day down in the bowl.
Ur Mom Is Funny @ Good Good Comedy Theatre
The Mother’s Day All-Star Edition of Good Good’s classic comedy showcase that pairs comics with their moms to see who gets the most laughs.
Circadian Rhythms @ PhilaMOCA
I’m liking what I’m hearing from Circadian Rhythms’ new record, A Peculiar Kind Of Afternoon. It’s kind of gentle, dreamy, synthy pop with breathy vocals, strings and horns.
SUNDAY, MAY 14
All Boy All Girl @ Kung Fu Necktie
I don’t know what to think of these people. They’ve got a knack for dreamy, upbeat indie-pop in the Sundays/Sunny Day in Glasgow tradition. Then I see the video where singer Danielle Lovier is running around with a wooden stake sticking out of her bloody forehead and I’m wondering if there’s something more sinister going on.
Tech N9ne @ Trocadero
The motormouth Midwestern rapper returns. Was he the first person to replace the “i” in “nine” with a “9”?
Mystic Music Festival/Lag B’Omer Revelry & Bonfire @ 1625 N. Fifth Street
Music, bbq, wine tasting, kids activities and a huge frickin’ bonfire. I mean, when was the last time you just watched something burn for a long time?
Tara Hendricks @ The Barbary
A fixture on the Philly scene for a minute, Tara Hendricks (nee taragirl) delivers strong, sultry r&b soul like nobody’s business.
PotterCon Philly @ TLA
This “immersive adults-only fan experience” promises a safe space for Harry Potter fans to drink, hook up and nerd out.
My Favorite Murder @ The Keswick
Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark host the funniest podcast about true crime. Stay sexy. Don’t get murdered.
Best way to tell me about your event is by inviting me to it on Facebook. Emailing ticket@phillymag.com is also good.
