Music: 7 Shows to See in Philly This Week

Billy Joel comforts at Citizens Bank Park while John Carpenter creeps us out at the Keswick.

Carol Cleveland Sings play this week's Waterfront Sessions at Spruce Street Harbor Park.

Carol Cleveland Sings play Waterfront Sessions at Spruce Street Harbor Park this week.

Girlpool @ PhilaMOCA | Wednesday, July 6
Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad use only a guitar, a bass and their voices, singing simultaneously in an almost childish way that belies their grown up lyrics. Art punk band French Vanilla — like Girlpool, from Los Angeles — opens.


Brothers and Sisters @ MilkBoy | Thursday, July 7
Hannah McCarthy fronts Philly indie blues band Brothers and Sisters while her brother, Conor, provides guitar, along with CJ Nave playing keys, Bubba McShane on bass and Brendan Bird on drums. Fellow Philadelphians The Chris Paterno Band open.

Birdie Busch and Carol Cleveland Sings @ Spruce Street Harbor Park | Thursday, July 7
This week’s installment of the free Waterfront Sessions concert series features Philly-based Americana singer-songwriter Birdie Busch, who released a new album, Thunder Bridge, last month, and Carol Cleveland Sings, from Wilmington, playing what they call “psychedelic bedroom pop.”

Back to the Future with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra @ The Mann | Saturday, July 9
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra plays the score to Back to the Future live, while you think about the fact that this movie is more than 30 years old.

John Carpenter: Live Retrospective @ Keswick Theatre | Saturday, July 9
Director John Carpenter composed the scores for many of his films himself, including Halloween, Escape from New York and Assault on Precinct 13. He’ll be at the Keswick playing music from his movies and from his non-soundtrack albums, Lost Themes and Lost Themes II — which also have a cinematic feel.

Billy Joel @ Citizens Bank Park | Saturday, July 9
The piano man plays his many, many hits at the ballpark (resale tickets only). I’m including this one 100-percent sincerely.

Emily King @ Union Transfer | Monday, July 11
This show is next week, but Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Emily King’s quiet yet rich sound will give you something to look forward to on a Monday. She’s touring for her new album, The Switch, out this week.

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