November 14th, 2024 – The world outside is chaos. You’ve heard the clamor, felt the weight of it in the pit of your stomach, and yet, here I am, inside the cavernous belly of The Met in Philadelphia, getting lost in the swirling fractals of sound emanating from Joe Russo’s Almost Dead. If there ever […]

November 14th, 2024 – The dive into the underbelly of Philadelphia’s Underground Arts on a cold November night felt like stepping into a whiskey-soaked chapel of confession. Amigo The Devil, aka Danny Kiranos, was our ragged preacher, his songs equal parts sin, salvation, and the stories that live in the gray areas between. The crowd […]

November 15th, 2024 – The First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia isn’t just a venue—it’s a crypt. A sweaty, echoing mausoleum of noise, incense, and existential dread. Last night, it served as the perfect altar for Chat Pile, the Oklahoma City harbingers of sonic annihilation, to deliver their sermon of despair. Photos by Bob Shelley ( […]

November 11th, 2024 – Philadelphia’s Union Transfer is no stranger to mayhem, and Better Lovers were no exception as they turned the venue into ground zero for a sonic assault so ferocious it felt like the building itself might tap out. Their show was nothing short of a raucous celebration of musical catharsis that left […]

November 5th, 2024 – It was a night that felt less like a concert and more like a clandestine soirée between old friends. Chromeo’s election day performance at Brooklyn Bowl in Philadelphia was nothing short of a gonzo masterpiece. Picture this: the dimmed lights casting a sultry glow over an intimate crowd, the air thick […]

[ by Rick Pettine ] November 9, 2024 – Villanova, PA — The Wildcats dominated their southern opponent 31-3 on a beautiful Fall day in Villanova Stadium. Nova’s offense were firing on all cylinders, while the powerful defense kept the Aggies to only 169 total yards. Jaylan Sanchez (#5) started the Cats’ scoring with a pounding catch […]

[ by Rick Pettine ] October 27, 2024 – Villanova, PA — Villanova men’s basketball squad outplayed Robert Morris 87-73 in a charity exhibition benefiting Team IMPACT, a non-profit that matches children with serious illness/disabilities with college sports teams for memorable experiences. There are several new Wildcats for 2024/25, but returning forward Eric Dixon led the scoring […]

[ by Rick Pettine ] October 26, 2024 – Philadelphia, PA — Captain Sean Couturier (14) scored 3 goals and an assist to lift the Flyers 7-5 over the Minnesota Wild, including their superstar Kirill Kaprizov (97). The win ended a 6-game losing streak for the Flyers! The Flyers needed this victory, entering the match with a […]

[ by Rick Pettine ] October 8, 2024 – Villanova, PA — Nova unofficially kicked off their 2024-25 season with their annual Blue-White scrimmage. The team will have a different look this year, with only 5 players returning from last season. But the starting roster is not yet set – which made for a spirited scrimmage. Coach […]

[ by Rick Pettine ] September 28, 2024 – Villanova, PA — On a rainy Fall night, the Wildcats easily handled the Long Island University Sharks, 24-10. The offense for Villanova racked up 392 total yards, lead by true freshman David Avit (24 carries, 160 yards and 1 TD), Isaiah Ragland (14 carries, 47 yards and 2 […]

[ by Rick Pettine ] September 26, 2024 – Philadelphia, PA — The Army Black Knights came into Lincoln Financial Field and destroyed the Temple Owls 42-14 to stay undefeated after their first 4 games. The Knights came out strong, scoring on their first 2 possessions. QB Bryson Daily, who again was their top rusher, ran and […]

[ Interview by Jen Strogatz ] [ Photos by Jen Strogatz ] Independent Philly: Where does the name ‘Jungle Giants’ come from? Who thought of it? Andrew Dooris: When we were first starting up the band, we all came up with a few names; I think The Jungle Giants was Sam’s. We handn’t formally decided […]

[Interview by David J. Miller] The Cold War Kids are in the midst of a tour that brings them to the City of Brotherly Love on Friday, January 31st, 2020 at The Fillmore. Back in November, lead singer Nathan Willett spoke with us about the new album, their live show, the challenges of adapting to […]

Ahead of their upcoming Step to the Local Motion Tour and their show at the TLA in Philadelphia on February 15th, Pepper’s drummer Yesod Williams took some time to speak with IndependentPhilly.com about their new album, Local Motion, the band’s history, his favorite thing about Philly, how much pot the 3 members of Pepper can all smoke […]

Independent Philly recently had the opportunity to speak with Nashville-based singer-songwriter, Ron Pope. If you haven’t heard of Ron Pope, you might recognize his music from features on shows like like NBC’s “The Voice,” CW’s “Vampire Diaries,” “90210,” and multiple seasons of FOX’s “So You Think You Can Dance,” which sent two of his albums into […]

In advance of two concerts planned for December 28th (SOLD OUT) and December 29th at the Fillmore, I had the pleasure of speaking with The Struts’ lead singer, and front-man extraordinaire, Luke Spiller! {Interview and photos by Rick Pettine} Rick Pettine (IP): Hey, hello Luke – how are you? Luke Spiller: Well, I’m really, really […]

Not too long ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the Growlers frontman, Brooks Nielson (on their high-tech tour bus with a super chill vibe), before he had to run to soundcheck at Union Transfer. I ending up learning a lot about the band that unwittingly created the genre known today as “beach […]

The Duffy String Band, a renowned participant in Philadelphia’s annual Mummer’s Parade, has long been celebrated for its vibrant and entertaining performances that captivate audiences and exemplify the rich tradition of Mummers in the city. The Mummers Parade, held annually on New Year’s Day, is a cherished Philadelphia tradition dating back to the 19th century, […]

The block party took over The Fillmore Campus on Friday, doing its darnedest to make everyone forget the near 100° temperatures The Adult Swim Festival was billed as a block party bonanza that offered chart-topping artists, comedic stalwarts, and a bevy of concessions and activities. Despite the weekend scorcher, the festival delivered on all that […]

The three day block party will showcase 15+ performances & panels across 4 venues, food trucks, beer gardens, street art & murals, and a bevy of other activities and attractions. Run The Jewels, Philly natives Tierra Whack & DJ Diamond Kuts, Dethklok, and more than a dozen other acts are gearing up for what looks […]

Mondo Cozmo – the chart-topping brainchild of alternative singer-songwriter (and Philly native) Josh Ostrander has announced today’s premiere of his eagerly awaited new single. “Upside Down” is available now via Last Gang Records at all DSPs and streaming services and we couldn’t be more excited. The companion video is also available TODAY on the official […]

November 15th, 2024 – The First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia isn’t just a venue—it’s a crypt. A sweaty, echoing mausoleum of noise, incense, and existential dread. Last night, it served as the perfect altar for Chat Pile, the Oklahoma City harbingers of sonic annihilation, to deliver their sermon of despair. Photos by Bob Shelley ( […]

Saturday, September 7th, 2024 – As if descending into the very catacombs of some forgotten realm, the atmosphere inside Kung Fu Necktie for Mortiis’ performance was one of anticipation for the dungeon master. A sold out crowd, robed in black, seemed like wanderers summoned to an unholy ritual. The night promised an immersive journey through […]

May 22nd, 2024 – As an avid listener of old-school Bay Area thrash metal, I’ve been to more shows than I can count. But let me tell you, the Death To All tribute show at the TLA in Philly last night took me right back to those glory days of the fantastic four. Photos + […]

May 19th 2024 – In the dimly lit cavern of Union Transfer, a raucous congregation gathered for a night that would redefine the very essence of punk rock. Mannequin Pussy, Philadelphia’s prodigal punk heroes, returned to their roots with a feverish intensity that shook the walls and rattled souls. The scene was set with an […]

The Duffy String Band, a renowned participant in Philadelphia’s annual Mummer’s Parade, has long been celebrated for its vibrant and entertaining performances that captivate audiences and exemplify the rich tradition of Mummers in the city. The Mummers Parade, held annually on New Year’s Day, is a cherished Philadelphia tradition dating back to the 19th century, […]