September 2nd, 2024 – Hershey, Pennsylvania—where the air smells like chocolate and a hint of teenage rebellion. Last night seared in the halls of modern punk & rock history, three titans—Rancid, Smashing Pumpkins, and Green Day—descended upon Hersheypark Stadium to unleash mayhem in waves, like a triple shot of whiskey slammed without a chaser. It […]

August 29th, 2024 – Camden, New Jersey, was on fire—though it’s the kind of inferno born from the collective nostalgia of thirty-somethings reliving their early 2000s angst. The sky was spitting drizzle like a half-hearted sob story, the kind that perfectly matches a night meant for the punk-pop princess herself, Avril Lavigne. In this instance, […]

August 23rd, 2024 – Hershey, Pennsylvania, the land of chocolate and endless summer nights, just played host to an unexpected resurrection. Creed, the band that defined so many angst-filled teenage years, was back, and it felt like the entire state had descended upon Hersheypark Stadium to witness this unlikely reunion. The crowd was a mix […]

August 16th, 2024 – It was a muggy August night, the kind that sticks to your skin and makes the Delaware River glisten like it’s harboring secrets. Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden—just across the river from the city of brotherly love, but a world apart in vibe. I arrived early, armed with nothing but a […]

August 10th, 2024 – A storm was about to break, in duality the tri-state just experienced one of the heaviest rainfalls of the season this past week. Finally with a friendly forecast Freedom Mortgage Pavilion become a welcome place for chaos. The crowd was a patchwork of black shirts, liquid latex, pierced faces, and tattooed […]

[ by Rick Pettine ] August 29, 2024 – Villanova, PA — The Villanova Wildcats open their 2024 season with a close win over Youngstown State, 24-17. Nova’s QB Connor Watkins (4) had a stellar game, rushing for over 100 yards and two touchdowns, while completing 6 passes for 90-yards. Leading the rest of the Wildcat’s offensive […]

[ by Rick Pettine ] February 24, 2024 – Philadelphia, PA — Flyers lose to the Rangers, 2-1, but the first period reminded me of the Broad Street Bully days! It was a matter of time, about 3 minutes in fact, before Deslauriers dropped the gloves against the Ranger’s 6’7″ rookie Matt Rempe. Earlier in the week, […]

[ by Rick Pettine ] February 10, 2024 – Wilmington, DE — The Philadelphia Seventy Sixer’s G-League affiliate Delaware Blue Coats were sorely missing many of their stars in a crushing 128-87 loss to Austin Spurs, the affiliate of the San Antonia Spurs. In a back to back series in which the Blue Coats beat the Spurs […]

[ by Rick Pettine ] December 2, 2023 – Villanova, PA — The Villanova Wildcats are one step closer to the FCS Championship game with a dominate win over the Youngstown State Penguins, 45-28. Key offensive players for Villanova were quarterback Connor Watkins (12 of 21 pass attempts, 275 yards, and 3 touchdowns) and running back Jalen […]

[ by Rick Pettine ] November 19, 2023 – Philadelphia, PA — In ex-Flyer Ivan Provorov’s first return to the Wells Fargo Center since being traded, the Flyers dominated the Columbus Blue Jackets in 5-2 win. Philly started the scoring in the first period when Joel Farabee (86) scored, assisted by Ryan Poehling (25) and Cam York […]

[ by Rick Pettine ] November 18, 2023 – Newark, DE — Another decisive win (35-7) for the Villanova Wildcats over the University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens, and the Battle of the Blue trophy stays with Nova. The game started as expected, back and forth with no shortage of penalties on both sides. But after the […]

[ 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 […]

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, […]

              Theater of Living Arts, it’s been awhile. Reminiscing of my days living on south street, randomly catching a show after drinks and tots at Tattooed Moms. You’ve had some work done: new floors, a paint job, new sound, and what’s this… a Photo pit! I was delighted to see those Chandeliers still hanging in […]

Article & Photos by Keith Baker As the pulsating heartbeat of Philadelphia’s vibrant music scene, Union Transfer found itself engulfed in a tempest of sound and energy when the mighty Baroness came to town this past week. In this hallowed space where music and mettle converge, Baroness forged an unforgettable aural odyssey that echoed through […]