FRIDAY:
>>> Prediction: Thanks to a sagging economy and an earlier Memorial Day than usual, more of us will be stuck in Philadelphia on this Memorial Day Weekend than at any time since 1932. We don’t back this up with facts, but rather, vibes. But here’s the upshot: Look at how happy people were, these people in your old family albums, sweltering in the city — though most of the sweltering will be today — all through the Great Depression! Look at them playing in the street with hoses and fire hydrants and though and as if Robert Frank had posed them that way! They’re so skinny! There is glamour in being broke, baby, so this weekend, celebrate the passage into Your Broke Summer, when you read old books, make sweaty love during the day with the windows open, and listen to WRTI. None of that costs a red cent, but if you’re looking for more cheap or free Memorial Day stuff, check this post from earlier in the week.
>>> Our friends Audible have a new album out called In Simple Intervals, and it is the kind of bright and shiny chronicle of modern urban dread that will hit fans of Broken Social Scene right in the gut, right where they live. Click on that link back there to stream and, if you dig, download it in that new name-your-price fashion. Or, better yet, go see the band live tonight as they celebrate the record’s release at Johnny Brenda’s with BC Camplight and The Bye Byes.
>>> Elsewhere: As noted earlier, Bonnie Prince Billy aka Will Oldham plays The Trocadero, which we actually recommend highly. This is bound to be a memorable show, even just considering the Oldham/Palace/Bonnie Billy catalog of tunes. The Turnaround Vs. Immediate — Gregg Foreman, Russell Alexander and the Brothers Geida’s monthly heavy soul 45 excursion — is back at the Barbary, and of course, there’s the Making Time 9 Year Anniversary Freakout with The Juan McLean at Pure. Happy 9th, Making Time!

SATURDAY:
>>> We looked all over, and nothing happening got us as stoked for Saturday night as Foggy Notion at the Barbary did. And not just because it’s our party. More, this time, because of Free Energy, a group we simply cannot endorse more. Obviously, we can’t be very objective about this — FREE ENERGY ARE THE BEST NEW BAND SINCE THE STROKES (see?) — so go see what City Paper had to say about ‘em. And also know that for us — DJs Mickey Walker & Joey Sweeney — Foggy Notion is a total labor of love, dedicated to reclaiming dance floors from the tyranny of Serato, one stolen night, one Sam Cooke to Jens Lekman transition, one Monster Mash, one dance of The Pony, at a time. 9PM, $5, cheap as hell drinks from 9-11PM, and the best new band in America. Ecoutez:

>>> Earlier, remind yourself of what it is to be young with Paul Green School of Rock’s The Roots of Hip-Hop at 6PM at The Fire.
>>> House party. It’s Memorial Day weekend, brah. Throw a rock and you’ll hit one.

SUNDAY:
>>> Close your eyes and try to imagine the scene at Marshall Allen’s 85th Birthday Celebration with the Sun Ra Arkestra at Johnny Brenda’s, as summer clicks in and an ancient Philly space jazz vibe fills the air. I would write more about this but my ancient Philly space jazz vibe is already there. Sorry, I’ll be back on Tuesday. Maybe. In the meantime, at right, a picture of Maestro Allen.
>>> Last month, our buddy and your bartender Allen Jones had a really bad motorcycle accident. He still hasn’t really woken up. But when he does, he’s gonna have a load of medical bills you cannot even imagine. So please, stop by The Allen Jones Affair at the Philadelphia Brewing Company; your dollars spent drinking and seeing friends there will go towards Allen’s medical fund, and while it may be a drop in the bucket, fact is, the positive vibes sent Allen’s way are also worth their weight in gold. We miss ya, buddy. Get well soon.
>>> And dear God, it’s a “No Work On Monday Let Us Get Wrecked” EXPLOSION! Party over here: Emynd & Bo Bliz at Silk City. Party over there: Fast Cheap & Outta Control at Fluid. Party over there in the other direction: The Get Back at Bubble House. Hiccup.

MONDAY:
>>> There’s gotta be a pool we could go to around here somewhere.
>>> Who the hell does tour dates on Memorial Day? Better acts than you’d think, as it turns out: Holy Fuck and Crocodilies at Kung Fu Necktie, and international creepy genius Momus at JB’s. Both are worthy shows. And it’s gonna be a worthy summer. In fact, let’s all get worthy right now. A Great Depression is just what you make of it.

See you on the roof,

J.M. Sweeney, Jr.

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This entry was posted on Friday, May 22nd, 2009 at 12:23 pm.