34 Things To Do This Weekend

Lushlife [photo by Ebru Yildiz]

• Fake Boyfriend @ PhilaMOCA. I’m really digging this gritty, gutsy Philly punk band and their new EP, Mercy. They have things to shout about. Reminds me a bit of Tsunami.
• King Georges @ Roxy/Bryn Mawr Film Institute. The documentary about Georges Perrier and the closing of Le Bec Fin plays this weekend. Sarah Jordan recently interviewed director Erika Frankel.
• Ty Segall & The Muggers @ Trocadero. Probably the most prolific and reliable dude in rock right now. Segall’s latest, Emotional Mugger, is another catchy, unpredictable record, with some serious guitar muscle. Show up on time to catch Axis: Sova for something blissfully psychedelic.
• Pippin @ Academy of Music. The Broadway Philadelphia production continues through Sunday. Theater critic David Fox raved about it: “This is Pippin reimagined as a three-ring circus. Well, perhaps here it’s more like one ring, but trust me, there are no visible economies in the lavish tour now at the Academy. It’s dazzling, and filled with acrobatic ooohs and aaahs.”
• Employee of the Year @ FringeArts. “A play performed by children for adults.” Saturday and Sunday.
• Ramsey Lewis and John Pizzarelli @ Merriam. Straighten Up and Fly Right — The Nat King Cole Tribute.
• Gramatik @ Fillmore. Groovy hip-hop/dubstep representing Slovenia.
• Greg Fitzsimmons @ Helium. Multiple shows on Friday and Saturday. He’s dead inside.
• Birdie Busch @ Burlap and Bean. Local singer-songwriter Birdie Busch has an interesting approach to the music biz: You can basically subscribe to her brain. For 40 bucks a year you get all of her new releases, special recordings and lots of back catalog music, too. Her sound is a little bit country and a lot lovely. Consider this show the sales pitch. Be sure to check out Ross Bellenoit, another pretty singer-songwriter, while you there.
• The Miners @ World Café Live. The Philly Folksong Society hosts a benefit for Living Beyond Breast Cancer. Reckless Amateurs and The Defenders are also playing.
• Jaamil Olawale Kosoko @ Painted Bride. Modern dance. Black Male Revisited: Songs for the Dark Divine. Runs through Saturday.
• Local Girls @ the Drake. Azuka Theatre presents this “scream rock fantasia” by hotshot Philly playwright Emma Goidel. Bryan Butler interview Goidel earlier this week.
• Bryson Tiller @ TLA. The Kentucky singer-songwriter and rapper did “Don’t” last year — a smooth, minimalist R&B/hip-hop hybrid with some exciting, weird parts.
• The Daud El-Bakara Sextet @ Chris’ Jazz Cafe. The Philly trumpeter and friends.
• Emmy The Great @ Boot & Saddle. Moody, soulful British crooner. Check out “Swimming Pool.”
• “International Pop” @ The Philadelphia Art Museum. The PMA’s oversize exhibition forces us to consider pop art as something bigger than Warhol and Lichtenstein. Runs through May 15.
• Spine @ The Drake. Inis Nua’s production of Clara Brennan’s love song to libraries” continues through March 6. David Fox digs it, mostly.

SATURDAY, 2/27

• Lushlife/CSLSX @ Johnny Brenda’s. The release party for Ritualize. This is what hip-hop sounds like in Philadelphia in 2016.
• Big Red Sun @ Christ Church Neighborhood House. 11th Hour Theatre Company does a reading of a John Jiler and Georgia Stitt’s musical featuring jazz and klezmer from the ’40s through the ’60s.
• Led Zeppelin 2 @ TLA. Led Zep tribute act.
• Peking Duk @ Fillmore. Electronic dance music by hairy Australians.
• Kathapalooza @ Underground Arts. Fundraiser for Kathy Mullaney — Philly’s “punk rock priestess” fighting cancer — put on by the (vintage) local rock bands who love her: Creem Circus, Stepping Razor, Photon Band, Weird Hot, Zonic Shockum and Suffacox. Even if you can’t go, you can donate.
• TJ Smith and the Wild North @ Boot & Saddle. Rootsy Americana from Collegeville. Give it a listen.
• Metropolis @ Kimmel. Silent film with live organ accompaniment.
• Magic the Gathering Tournament @ Convention Center. Play your cards right Saturday and Sunday.
• Lithuania/Japanese Breakfast @ Everybody Hits. Two of this city’s most engaging rock bands play the batting cages. Don’t miss undercard act Pouty; I’m digging the pesky indie pop of Take Me To Honey Island.
• Coaction Dance Collective @ the Maas Building. Dance concert: Whole: Without Any Parts Missing. Three short works by choreographers Gracie Coscia, Emma MacDonald and Julee Mahon, plus a collaborative work.
• Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet @ International House. Animated family matinee.

SUNDAY 2/28

• Naughty By Nature @ TLA. Not ’cause I hate ya. Surprised this show by the group who gave us “O.P.P.” and “Hip-Hop Hooray” hasn’t sold out yet. Only $20, too.
• Future @ Fillmore. Sold out, because NxN was then and the Future is now, I guess.
• The Floozies @ Union Transfer. Greeezy midwestern electro funk.
• Jerry Blavat @ Kimmel. “Salute to Street Corner Harmony.”
• Your Wedding Experience @ Convention Center. David Tutera assembles planners, dress designers, cake makers, etc. If you’re getting married soon, this is probably the conference for you. If you’re single and brave, bring a date.
• Lord of the Dance @ Wells Fargo Center. Arms down, legs up.