31 Things to Do This Weekend
Movies, music, comedy, and more as you prepare to usher 2017 out the door.
Bobbi Jo Hart’s documentary Rebels on Pointe, about all-male drag ballet company Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, plays Friday at Lightbox Film Center. (SND Films)
Thursday, December 28
This Week @ South Street Cinema
Classic Thursdays: Penny Serenade — Cart Grant and Irene Dunne star in this 1941 drama. Retro Friday: Joe Versus the Volcano — Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan (in three different roles) star in this magical comedy. Saturday: New Year’s Horror — Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival presents a TBA classic horror picture. Thursday-Saturday, December 28-30.
Chill Moody / Lauriana Mae / Shawn Smith / Patty Crash @ Milkboy
A killer line-up of hip-hop, pop, R&B, you name it. Chill Moody’s a top-notch rapper and Lauriana Mae is amazing soul singer, but the rare treat here is Patty Crash. The brash Philly pop artist — and Roots collaborator — just doesn’t play her hometown enough.
Black Christmas @ Cinemug
This 1974 holiday horror film kind of invented the slasher genre. Stars Olivia Hussey and the great Margot Kidder.
David Wax Museum @ The Queen
They call their sound “Mexo-Americana,” a mix of rootsy folk music with origins on both sides of the border. Their latest record is a collection of b-sides and rarities released in September called Electric Artifacts.
Godfrey @ Helium
The comedian/actor has appeared in Zoolander, Soul Plane, 30 Rock and Louie. Thursday-Saturday, December 28-30.
Derek Gaines @ Punchline
The Philly-area comedian is a regular on the new Tracy Morgan show, The Last O.G.
Home Outgrown’s Holiday Benefit @ Everybody Hits
KOJI plays with No Thank You, Toy Cars, Cavity Kids and Steve Layman. Benefits The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The End of America @ Johnny Brenda’s
This Philly band rattles the rafters with inspired and dramatic folk-rock. Listen to their self-titled debut here.
WMMR/Jaxon Mistletoe Jam @ World Café Live
John Faye plays with Kid Felix, Molly Rhythm, Bong Hits For Jesus, Stereotytans and Lexi Vaganos. Faye’s a well-known voice in Philly, having played with The Caulfields, IKE, John & Brittany and more.
Friday, December 29
Rebels on Pointe @ Lightbox Film Center
A screening of Bobbi Jo Hart’s 2017 documentary on Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo — an all-male drag ballet company founded in NYC 40 years ago.
Ronny Chieng @ Punchline
The Malaysia-born comic is a correspondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. Friday & Saturday, December 29 & 30.
John Davis & the Cicadas @ The Pharmacy
John Davis and his old band — Folk Implosion, with Lou Barlow — found themselves on the pop charts back in 1995, having scored an unexpected hit with “Natural One” from the Kids soundtrack. Hits aren’t really Davis’ thing. He’s better known for keeping his feet deep in the indie world, making lo-fi and and idiosyncratic music practically defined by its lacked of commercial ambitions.
Matt Cappy @ Johnny Brenda’s
Local trumpeter Matt Cappy — who’s played with the Roots and Jill Scott, among others — released his first solo record Church and State earlier this year on Ropeadope Records. Guest stars include Chill Moody and Marsha Ambrosius.
Diarrhea Planet @ Underground Arts
Good solid indie rock from Nashville.
Dark Star Orchestra @ Electric Factory
Three straight nights at the Electric Factory? The Grateful Dead cover band has struck a chord with for-real Deadheads looking to keep the party going. Friday-Sunday, December 29-31.
Adult Mom @ PhilaMOCA
Steph Knipe’s bedroom-pop band released Soft Spots in May, and it’s an intimate and surprisingly groovy little rock record.
Television @ Ardmore Music Hall
Founded in 1973, Tom Verlaine’s post-punk/garage band remains a killer live act. Make sure you get there early for opener Chris Forsyth.
Bilal @ World Cafe Live Philadelphia
The Grammy-winning Philadelphia singer recently played a “Soul Cypher” show at the Soul Train Awards and spit velvety rhymes about cops, Colin Kaepernick and justice.
Lefty’s Deceiver @ Boot & Saddle
My pals in this Philly four-piece haven’t played a show in years — not since singer Andy Williams moved out West for work. But now they’re back, at least for this show, with a new record they’ve had in the can for years. Lefty’s Deceiver’s known for their blazing guitars and intricate arrangements, but their best trick is the build-up. This band knows how to wind a song up and let it fly. Here’s an old favorite:
Flosstradamus @ Union Transfer
Back when Flosstradamus — formerly a duo, now just DJ Curt Cameruci — started in 2007, “floss” was slang for showing off, and maybe people still use it that way, but it just makes me think about cleaning my teeth as soon as I’m done writing this blurb.
Saturday, December 30
The Lunar Year @ Creep Records
Katie Burke’s earthy folk band released Herodias in June and it’s lovely as hell.
Finders Keepers @ PHIT
This “family friendly improv show” features teachers and students from PHIT’s Kids and Teens program.
The Best of Darlings (Vol. 1) @ Good Good Comedy Theatre
Fast-paced comedy by Kate Banford, Max Barth, Caitlin Feeney, Ari Fishbein, Aaron Nevins, Andrew Jeffrey Wright and more.
Wayne Music Festival Winter Jam @ Ardmore Music Hall
The occasionally reunited Huffamoose join Rugby Road, Transistor Rodeo, Matt Santry and Mia Johnson for a night of good-time rock ’n’ roll and folk out in the burbs.
Laurin Talese @ South
The dynamite jazz vocalist plays two shows with a piano/bass/drum trio.
The Genesis Show @ Keswick Theatre
This Genesis tribute act (with two drummers!) is dedicated to the Phil Collins era. Right now they’re touring with a set list built on 1977’s Wind & Wuthering (“Your Own Special Way,” “Eleventh Earl Of Mar,” “Lamb Lies Down On Broadway,” etc.).
AJ Lambert @ PhilaMOCA
Frank Sinatra’s granddaughter AJ Lambert tells stories and performs her grandfather’s In The Wee Small Hours from start to finish (with pianist John Boswell).
Ben Vaughn Quintet @ Boot & Saddle
The veteran singer-songwriter has been a fixture in the Philly music scene for a long time (and once recorded an album in his car). He also hosts a radio show on WXPN called The Many Moods of Ben Vaughn.
The Great Enough @ Underground Arts
This pop-punk band from Philly is built on resilient melodies and a general feeling that things don’t suck so band.
Murphy’s Law / Bad Luck 13 @ Kung Fu Necktie
These hard-partying punk bands like to tear it up. And just seeing their names together on the same bill, I mean, I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
Community Rocks @ Connie’s Ric Rac
Rock bands raise money to build a music and arts center for kids/teens in Gloucester, NJ.
Justify Your Love @ Good Good Comedy Theatre
Funny people reveal their guilty pleasures before a panel of sharp-witted comedians. This edition includes Geoff Jackson, Caitlin Feeney, Jon E. Repelican, Shannon Fahey, Pete Steele and Richie Roxas. Hosted by T.J. Hurley
Tomorrow: All the New Year’s Eve stuff that isn’t sold out.
