49 Things To Do This Weekend
Rihanna, David Cross, First Friday, Japanese Breakfast, Philadelphia Ladies of Wrestling and lots more.
Friday, April 1
- Repeater: Lee Arnold, Mark Brosseau, and Meg Lipke @ Tiger Strikes Asteroid A “playful installation” at Philly’s most playfully named gallery, curated by Kelsey Halliday Johnson. Runs through May 1.
- Jayson Musson: The Truth in the Song @ Fleisher/Ollman Gallery Ex-Philadelphian artist and musician Jayson Musson returns to Fleisher/Ollman for a mixed-media solo show of his stretched Coogi sweater “paintings.” Runs through May 28. See our slideshow. After-party @ Ulana’s.
- Richard Linklater’s “Before” Trilogy @ The PFS Roxy Before there was Boyhood, there was the “Before” trilogy, director Richard Linklater’s series of conversational movies starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. Runs through April 7.
- Island of Signs @ Headlong Studios Dance concert.“David has just returned from a week of intensive work in Washington DC at Dance Place… and he’s dancing with his mother Carolyn Brick who turns 79 years old this month. ‘Island of Signs’ digs into their relationship as mother and son, deaf and hearing, with a language that is shared and one that isn’t”
- Richard Goode @ Kimmel Center The classical pianist performs an all-Bach program. Presented by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society.
- Jason Killinger: Rare Squares @ Brewerytown Beats “Recontextualized” posters and prints by socially conscious graphic designer and musician Jason Killinger.
- Spirits & Beasties — An Extravaganza of Monsters @ Indy Hall A large group show of art based on the monsters described by Christine Neulieb on her Spirits & Beasties site. Artists includes Saul Rosenbaum, Kotaro Fujita, Sam Abrams, Lydia Martin, AJ Beyer, Falynn K and lots more. Check out our slideshow of pieces from this exhibition.
- Seijun Suzuki Series @ International House I-House hosts the Smithsonian’s series of screenings of works by the 92-year-old Japanese director, starting Friday with 1957’s Eight Hours of Fear. It continues on Saturday with Youth of the Beast, Passport to Darkness and The Sleeping Beast Within.
- A Conversation on Making A Murderer @ The Keswick Theatre If the sad Steven Avery situation has any heroes at all, it’s Avery’s intrepid lawyers, Dean Strang and Jerry Buting. The pair will participate “in a moderated discussion regarding the systemic failures of the criminal justice system, as well as the broader implications of the Steven Avery case.” Second show Sunday, April 3.
- Dewey Saunders and Bohay Gold: Fool’s Gold @ Ritual Ritual Mixed media pieces by Saunders, sculptures by Gold.
- Screening Scholarship Media Festival @ UPenn A festival of films and discussions concerned with Race, Media, and Social Justice. Continues April 2.
- Cutn Paste: Kitty Collector Seems like some kind of dance/cat appreciation party, with DJs Dame Luz and Precolumbian.
- Peter and the Starcatcher @ Walnut Street Theater Theater critic David Fox had some mixed feelings about this Peter Pan prequel: “How you feel about Peter and the Starcatcher — the immensely clever, mind-bogglingly energetic show on stage at the Walnut Street Theatre — may depend on two things: your taste for whimsy, and your ability to keep track of complicated details.”
- Meredith Rainey Dance @ Harold Prince Theater Philadelphia-based choreographer Rainey presents (In)Visible, in collaboration with Jorge Cousineau and Tania Isaac. See the video at the bottom of this post. Runs through April 2.
- Shannon Murphy and Jumatatu Poe @ Mascher Space Cooperative The choreographers present five performances — under the title of “Rhythm and Race.” Runs through April 2.
- Sean Watkins/Petra Haden & Jesse Harris @ Boot & Saddle You know Watkins from Nickel Creek. You know Haden from her awesome solo stuff and her stint in the Decemberists. Harris was in Once Blue. With Kalob Griffin of, I believe, the Kalob Griffin band.
- Saint Joan @ Quintessence Theater critic David Fox enjoyed this “spare, beautifully staged, often hypnotic production” of George Bernard Shaw’s play. Runs through April 22.
- Dirty Holiday @ Bourbon & Branch Folk-rock band Dirty Holiday celebrates the release of their Nobody’s Sober EP. With Ross Bellenoit, Mikey Sweet and The Parsnip Revolt.
- An Octoroon @ Wilma Our resident theater critic David Fox calls this production of Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins’ play a must-see: “This brave, astonishing play should be seen and savored by any serious theater-goer.” Runs through April 10.
- Daily Doodles by Tim Gough @ Trinity Framing Beer, snacks and Gough’s stark black & white drawings.
- 77: An Exhibition of Self-Portraits by Isaiah Zagar @ Paradigm Gallery + Studio An exhibition by Philly’s renowned mosaic artist, inspired by his travels to Asia and South America. Reception is Friday. On display through April 16.
- Crown Larks/Snow Caps/Shadow Band/Hallowed Bells @ Everybody Hits The first Snow Caps show in a long time.
- Beautiful: The Carole King Musical @ Academy of Music Broadway Philly does the Tony-winning musical based on the hit songwriter’s true story. Through April 3.
- Ivanco Talevski: Proposals for Monuments @ Napoleon The artist uses drawings, etchings, and paintings to pay tribute to everyday annoyances and injustices. Sounds pretty cool. With live music by Vasko Dukovski.
- Jacob Rivkin and Joshua Zerangue: Drop Ceiling @ Space 1026 “An exhibition of new animation, sculpture, and printed matter.” Runs through April 30.
- Japanese Breakfast @ Ortlieb’s Michelle Zauner of Philly band Little Big League finally celebrates the release of Psychopomp, the debut record from her Japanese Breakfast side project.
- Chloe Berk @ Kensington Quarters Papercut art at the Fishtown restaurant.
- NGHTMRE @ TLA Bass Nation presents the dubsteppy DJ from L.A. Give it a listen. With G. Jones.
Saturday, April 2
- PLOW Presents: A Politically Incorrect Crowdfunder Launch Party @ 2300 Arena A fundraising party for PLOW, aka Philadelphia Ladies of Wrestling. The athletes will debate for the title of “Ultimate Warrior” and bands like Hand of Weed, Uphevil and Destruct Device will play.
- Tamagawa University Taiko Drumming and Dance Troupe @ West Chester University A high energy performance by this troupe of 30 drummers and dancers from Japan.
St. James & The Apostles/Thee Minks/Primitive Finks @ Ortlieb’s Nice to see garage punks Thee Minks back on the scene. Should be a fun night of rock.
- Philly Pillow Phight 2016 @ Washington Square Park Grown ass adults wail on each with pillows in a public place, to the delight of Instagram. No feathers, no memory foam, no taking it too seriously.
- Yarn @ Painted Bride A “series of crafting events for knitters, crocheters, and anyone engaged in needlework” to create works later to be displayed at the Bride.
- Goapele @ World Café Live @ World Café Live The L.A. singer-songwriter is known for her soulful voice and smooth R&B jams.
- Wolf Alice/Slaves @ Union Transfer Two British bands. Wolf Alice is folky; Slaves is punky.
- Slingshot Dakota @ Everybody Hits The Bethlehem keys/drums duo of Carly Comando and Tom Patterson celebrates the release of Break, a record full of urgent, sometimes thrilling rock ’n’ roll. Mates of State is a good comparison, but it’s not perfect. I like it when they’re loud and sweet.
- Peter Sonenshein @ A-Space “A Room With a View” — an art show by the area painter.
- Tobacco @ First Unitarian Church Slimy, sleazy synths and other danceable depravity.
- Philly Sketchfest @ Johnny Brenda’s Sketch comedy by local funny people. 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. show.
- Disturbed @ TLA The guys who turned “ooh-ot-ot-ot-ot” into a beloved catchphrase.
- Back 2 Real Hip-Hop @ Trocadero Featuring Brand Nubian, Lost Boyz, Kwame, Special Ed, Das Efx and Roxanne Shante.
Sunday, April 3
Laura Gibson [Photo by Parker Fitzgerald]
Sarah Hennies @ Vox Populi The vibraphonist performs Gather & Release, a composition built around issues of anxiety, obsession and grief. Also on the bill: Archer Spade (trombonist Dan Blacksberg/guitarist Nick Millevoi) and sound collagist Jesse Kudler.
- John Fetterman in Fishtown @ Interstate Drafthouse The big, tatted-up mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, and a candidate for U.S. Senate will talk shop.
- Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros @ World Café Live Olivia Wilde directed the video for “No Love Like Yours” from the forthcoming new album, PersonA.
- That Voice: A Tim Curry Burlesque Celebration @ Trocadero Balcony Cherie Sweetbottom, Mina Corbeau, Moxie Labouche, Murphy Lawless, Silver Kitsune and more pay tribute to the star of Clue/It/lots of stuff.
- Laura Gibson @ Johnny Brenda’s The singer-songwriter’s latest record, Empire Builder, is gorgeous as hell.
- Rihanna @ Wells Fargo Center The pop superstar’s Anti World Tour comes to town. Expect a big show and a slew of hits (although she didn’t do “What’s My Name” at a recent Brooklyn stop). Okay, I’m gonna post the “Kiss It Better” video below, but be warned: It’s NSFW because of nipples.
- Jo Kusy/Birds @ Beautiful World Syndicate Time Castle Records celebrates the release of cassettes by two artists with an free afternoon show at the Passyunk record shop. Jo Kusy is a lo-fi pysch-folk kinda dude from Philly. “Driftwood Bones,” from Kusy’s new Wild Violets, sounds like Kurt Vile whipping Mazzy Star CDs at the moon. In a good way. Birds, from New York, is louder and rockier, the storm after the calm.
- David Cross: Making America Great Again! @ Merriam Cross Arrested Development, Mr. Show) returns to standup. Expect Trump jokes.