31 Things to Do This Weekend

Photographer Katie Rey’s Mighty Signs show opens at American Sardine Bar on Saturday. Above: J.T. Riley Lumber company in Fishtown. (Katie Rey)

Friday, January 5

Rich Vos @ Helium
The veteran standup and Last Comic Standing/Tough Crowd alum hosts a podcast (and Sirius radio show) called My Wife Hates Me. (His wife is fellow comedian Bonnie McFarlane.) Through Saturday, January 6.

Suspiria @ Colonial Theatre
Head on out to Phoenixville to watch a new restoration of Dario Argento’s 1977 horror classic.

Madalean Gauze @Boot & Saddle
Artsy lo-fi rock band Madalean Gauze (led by the singer-guitarist of the same name) just released Cool and Fun in July, but here she is/they are with a new EP called FUNeral. This show’s a benefit for Valley Youth House. Show up on time for Queen Of Jeans, Louie Louie and Empath.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: King for a Day @ Merriam Theater
Family friendly live version of the PBS kids show. Friday and Saturday.

Ms. Pat @ Punchline
The Washington Post did a memorable story on this former drug dealer/felon turned suburban mom/comedian/author over the summer. Apparently Lee Daniels is helping her turn her life story into a sitcom. “I saw her stand-up act, and I was in tears,” Daniels told WaPo. “I’d never seen anything like it. Her voice was the voice of most black women that I knew, and yet she had overcome so many obstacles and was able to laugh about it and be able to make something good out of her life. To me, that’s an American hero. That’s the American Dream.” Through Saturday, January 6.

The Sacrifice @ Lightbox Film Center
A screening of Andrei Tarkovsky’s final film, from 1986. “For Alexander, a philosopher troubled about man’s lack of spirituality, the prospect of certain extinction compels the ultimate sacrifice, and he enters into a Faustian bargain with God to save his loved ones from the fear which grips them.”

Hannah Trav’s “The Way I Remember It” @ PHIT
Philly comedian Hannah Trav recounts her no-good year via standup comedy, sketches and video and sets it to the music of Bruno Mars somehow. Not sure exactly what this will look like, but it sounds pretty amazing. Two nights, Friday and Saturday.

Spellbound @ Voltage Lounge
A night of darkwave, coldwave, goth rock, etc. Live music by Generation Empty, plus DJs Nightwitch, Dame Luz and Strykk-9.

Philly Loves Bowie Week @ all over town
This 10-day celebration of the Thin White Duke takes on many forms: karaoke, tattoos, donuts, concerts, art, you name it. This weekend includes: The Man Who Fell To Earth at South Street Cinema on Friday, Candy Volcano Presents: Bowie Forever at TLA on Saturday and Philly Loves Bowie Quizzo Night at Doobies on Sunday.

Benefit for The Wooden Shoe @ Johnny Brenda’s
Punk bands Thulsa Doom, Nightfall, Trash Knife and The Charley Few raise funds for South Street’s beloved anarchist bookstore.

Nerdy By Nature Open Mic @ Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse
Cosplay welcome. Hosted by Keith From UpDa Block, co-hosted by Lot DaWordgician Stafford and Beth McNulty.

Stiltwalker @ Ardmore Music Hall
Disbanded Ardmore “Sub-Sector Soul” band Stiltwalker plays a reunion show. Rock/reggae outfit Big Mind opens.

One Hit Wonder Karaoke @ SouthHouse
Sara Sherr host an evening of karaoke dedicated to bottle rocket artists who only broke the Top 40 once. Here’s the Wikipedia page on one-hit wonders to get your mind working.

The Philadelphia Orchestra @ Kimmel Center
A program of Schubert, Jones and Brahms featuring conductor Pablo Heras-Casado and flutist Jeffrey Khaner. Friday and Saturday.

Dream Syndicate / Chris Forsyth @ Sellersville Theater
Steve Wynn founded his alt/psych band in the ’80s, and got them back together in 2012. Make sure you show up in time for opener Chris Forsyth, Philly guitarist extraordinaire.

Pigeon Poetry Slam @ PhilaMOCA
This all-woman/gender non-binary poetry slam features Women of the World Poetry Slam qualifier Jeanann Verlee.

Saturday, January 6

Brand X / Dynamite Chicken @ Lightbox Film Center
A screening of countercultural sketch comedy from the ’70s, before SCTV and SNL.
Brand X (1970) is a satire of television and politics starring Abbie Hoffman, Taylor Mead, Tally Brown and Sally Kirkland. Dynamite Chicken: A Contemporary Probe and Commentary of the Mores and Maladies of Our Age… with Schtick, Bits, Pieces, Girls, Some Hamburger, a Little Hair, a Lady, Some Fellas, Some Religious Stuff, and a Lot of Other Things (1971) stars Richard Pryor, Tuli Kupferberg (of the Fugs) and The Ace Trucking Company.

Syd Torchio art opening @ PhilaMOCA
The Philly painter’s new reception launches with a rock show featuring S.T.A.R.W.O.O.D., F. Woods & the Fellow Humans and The Plibmen.

Sam Jay @ Good Good Comedy Theatre
The SNL writer and standup performs two shows.

Mighty Signs Photo Series by Katie Rey @ American Sardine Bar
Photographer Katie Rey shows her “35mm double exposure film photographs of larger than life mid-century commercial signage.” Opening reception is Saturday, 6-9 p.m.

The Neon Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada (Katie Rey)

Salsa Caliente Three Kings Edition @ Painted Bride
Take part in a group salsa lesson from Maestro Flaco (of Flaco’s Dance Factory) and then get down to the sounds of Ellas y Amigos.

Big League: A Comedy + Music Show @ The Barbary
Comedy by Michael S. Watkins, Caitlin Feeney, Ari Fishbein and more. Music by Darla.

Earthboy @ The Sound Hole
Philly lo-fi/indie band Earthboy celebrates the release of their new EP Drug Store Romeo. Also on the bill: Secret Headliner, Krispy Kareem, Family Volleyball and Garden Club.

Bye Jessa @ Comedy Underdogs
“Teen mom turned meth addict turned comedian” Jessa Reed plays her last Philly show before moving to L.A.

An All-Star Tribute to Paul Simon’s Graceland @ Ardmore Music Hall
Includes a performance by Soweto bassist Bakithi Kumalo (who played on Paul Simon’s 1986 album Graceland) and his band.

Flat Mary Road @ Boot & Saddle
The West Philly rock band released Driving With The Numen last year. It’s a little rootsy and bit Talking Headsy, with lots of jangly guitars. Listen:

Mercury Retrograde @ Connie’s Ric Rac
Philly’s Mercury Retrograde headlines a night of funk and jam band music. Also on the bill: Baked Shrimp, Visoon and Pet Lizard.

Salamander Mask @ Pilot Projects
This group art show features the work of Malachi Lily, Ghost in Salad, Erik Ruin, Saki Sato, Cristina Tufiño, Carol Wisker, Pomona Za and Drew Zimmerman. Quoth the web site: “Salamander Mask is a celebration of artists containing multitudes, working in highly personal modes utilizing myth, fantasy, poetry, spirituality, free association, references to history and radical politics- absorbing all of these influences into uniquely singular works which defy easy categorization.” Curated by Jim Strong. Runs January 6-February 2.

Getting Lucky @ South Street Cinema
A 1990 Troma teen sex comedy featuring a drunk leprechaun.

Frog Holler @ Johnny Brenda’s
Frog Holler are rootsy rock royalty if you ask me, so it’s always a treat when Darren Schlappich gets the band together for a show. This one’s extra special, with Schlappich’s newer band Dem Hills kicking things off.

Sunday, January 7

Lawrence Killebrew.

Lawrence Killebrew @ Helium
The hilarious Philly comedian will be recording his new album, Comedy Hustle Live Part 2.

Dr Who & The Daleks — featuring Rifftrax @ South Street Cinema
A screening of the 1966 non-canonical Dr. Who movie starring Peter Cushing, accompanied by the Rifftrax commentary. Standup Doogie Horner opens.

Angela Meade @ Kimmel Center
Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents Angela Meade (soprano) and Danielle Orlando (piano) performing a program that includes Handel, Meyerbeer, Verdi and more.

Greg Sover Band @ The Twisted Tail
Raise money and spirits for the Greg Sover Band before they head out to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge. For more info, check out the band’s Gotta Get to Memphis GoFundMe page.