December 6th, 2024 – A parade of people wrapped around the perimeter of Union Transfer, waiting to see They Might Be Giants for their second of two sold-out shows in Philly, as part of The Big Show Tour. The New York natives have been creating music since 1982, and during this decades-long career, they’ve remained […]

November 23rd, 2024 – It was one of those nights that felt timeless; Gaerea, Portugal’s faceless harbingers of despair and grandeur, were gearing up for their U.S. tour with Zeal & Ardor, and I had scored a pre-show hang with them at the immortal dive bar Tattooed Moms. Meeting a black metal band there felt […]

November 25th, 2024 – Adrianne Lenker, the driving force behind Brooklyn’s indie folk phenomenon Big Thief, brought her new solo masterpiece, Bright Future, to Philadelphia for two sold-out shows at Union Transfer on November 25 and 26. The venue was packed with fans of all ages: 20-somethings, families with young teens in tow, and couples […]

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 […]

[ by Rick Pettine ] November 30, 2024 – Villanova, PA — In a close back and forth playoff battle, Villanova came out victorious with a 22-17 win over the Eastern Kentucky University Colonels. How close? The outcome came down to a EKU receiver landing just out of bounds on the endline with only seconds remaining. The […]

[ by Rick Pettine ] November 23, 2024 – Villanova, PA — The Villanova Wildcats continue their dominance over the Delaware Blue Hens with a 38-28 victory at home on Senior Day. Nova has won 17 of their last 19 matches. Nova scored 21 unanswered points from a David Avit run, Brendan Bell pick-6, and a Kenyon […]

[ by Rick Pettine ] November 16, 2024 – Philadelphia, PA — It was a festive Star Wars game in Philly, and the Flyers beat the (Light)Sabres, 5-2! The Flyers offense jumped on a 2 goal lead in the first period and never looked back, thanks to Tyson Foerster (71) and Travis Sanheim (6). Egor Zamula (5) […]

[ 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 […]

[ 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 23rd, 2024 – It was one of those nights that felt timeless; Gaerea, Portugal’s faceless harbingers of despair and grandeur, were gearing up for their U.S. tour with Zeal & Ardor, and I had scored a pre-show hang with them at the immortal dive bar Tattooed Moms. Meeting a black metal band there felt […]

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 […]