Best of Philly

Best Local Band

2022 Best Band

Snacktime

What started in the early days of the pandemic as a bunch of horn players and a drummer who would set up shop in Rittenhouse Square and South Philly to bring joy to the neighbors has become the coolest and hardest-to-book band in town. They just dropped their debut album, Sounds from the Street: Live, which is a must for your summer backyard playlist. Find them in September at the XPoNential Festival in Camden. Read More »

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2019 Best Band You’ve Never Heard Of

St. James and the Apostles

This trio of self-described “soul-stirring psychonauts” blends psychedelia and hard rock with an irreverent dose of Southern gospel inspiration and puts on a damn exciting show. Read More »

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2014 Best Band

Northern Arms

The city's most compelling band is a curious amalgam of jazz, gospel and old-time rock-and-roll that WXPN once aptly labeled "dark Americana." Find and download the self-titled debut album on iTunes. Read More »

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2012 Best Band

Man Man

Four studio albums in, this quintet is as gritty, weird and wonderful as the city itself, and their live performances-which fill the Troc and Union Transfer-conjure up a joyful madness that never grows old. Read More »

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2009 Best Local Band

Black Landlord

Funk meets hip-hop meets punk in this Philly octet composed of time-tested veterans of the local music scene, most prominently pimped-out-large-and-in-charge front man Maxx Stoyanoff-Williams, who leads his tight entourage through edgy, fierce horn stacks and beat breakdowns like James Brown on steroids. Buy the band's first full-length album, Addicted to Distraction, which came out earlier this year, or better yet, check out one of its energetic live performances. Read More »

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