IndependentPhilly.com

[ Written by Andy Blackman Hurwitz ] [ Photography by Jen Strogatz ] Snoop Dogg’s I Wanna Thank Me Tour The first really cold night of another globally warmed winter cast a spell upon this writer and his photographer as we huddled in line at the Fillmore. Once through the doors however, we were immediately […]

Ron Pope’s new album Bone Structure is out March 6 via Brooklyn Basement Records. Bone Structure can be preordered here: https://ffm.to/bonestructure Photo Gallery View our full photo gallery below.(Click on images to enlarge)

[ Story and photos by Rick Pettine ] December 29, 2019 – PHILADELPHIA — It’s official…The Struts love Philadelphia, and Philadelphia loves The Struts! The four member, high energy band from Derby England rocked The Fillmore with back-to-back capacity-crowd shows. Opening for The Struts was Philadelphia native band, The Underground Thieves, whose 6 members all hail […]

Within the first 60 seconds of absorbing the music of Cautious Clay at Union Transfer on Saturday night, we were thoroughly convinced that this dude will be the future state of rock and roll. Or is he the past-tense of R&B? Regardless, by the end of his 70-minute set, the answer became clear. He’s just the future. PERIOD.

The Wells Fargo Center has gone through a few name changes since the venue first opened and on Monday, November 18, 2019, for one night only, it (unofficially) became the ToolBox. Fans packed into the sold-out arena to spend a few hours with the legendary, Tool.

[ Written by Andy Blackman Hurwitz ] [ Photography by Jen Strogatz ] Snoop Dogg’s I Wanna Thank Me Tour The first really cold night of another globally warmed winter cast a spell upon this writer and his photographer as we huddled in line at the Fillmore. Once through the doors however, we were immediately […]

The International Association of Blacks in Dance in Partnership with Philadanco! The Philadelphia Dance Company Present: Then Now Next Dance Festival A Dance Festival Celebrating Legendary and Emerging Black Dance Companies. Featuring over 40 Dance Companies From Across the Nation. January 15 – 18, 2020 The Merriam Theater at The Kimmel Center Cultural Campus [ […]

[ Story and photos by Rick Pettine ] January 18, 2020 – PHILADELPHIA –– Temple University’s Liacouras Center was the host venue for the World Super Welterweight Championship and World Super Featherweight Championship boxing matches. But a hopeful homecoming win for West Philadelphia native and World Super Welterweight champ Julian “J-Rock” Williams ended as a title […]

Ron Pope’s new album Bone Structure is out March 6 via Brooklyn Basement Records. Bone Structure can be preordered here: https://ffm.to/bonestructure Photo Gallery View our full photo gallery below.(Click on images to enlarge)

[ Story and photos by Rick Pettine ] PHILADELPHIA – January 11, 2020 — If there was any good news in the 1-0 loss on home ice to Tampa Bay, it was that the Flyers limited the Lightning to only 1 goal. And that fluky goal was a bouncing puck from Anthony Cirelli that slipped past […]

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 […]

Independent Philly interview with Elephante after his set at the Made In America Music Festival, 2019.

NEEDTOBREATHE’s Bear Rinehart on his new solo project, ‘Wilder Woods’, his debut solo album, and his current headlining tour. Independent Philly recently had the pleasure of chatting with Bear Rinehart, an exceptionally talented singer-songwriter who has just released his new solo project, Wilder Woods. Better known to some as the frontman of the Grammy-nominated (and […]

Few comedians have the staying power of Tommy Davidson who has been making us laugh for decades. He’ll be in town starting tomorrow, Friday, August 22, 2019, to perform at Punch Line and chatted with him beforehand about his long career, history with the City of Philadelphia, a potential ‘In Living Color’ reunion, Bigfoot, his […]

Swift Technique Releases New Music Video & Announces Contest Swift Technique, a staple on the local Philly music scene, just released their new music video which features animated versions of some well-known Philadelphians. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0alEIlA7GA0&feature=youtu.be The band also announced today that they are hosting a contest throughout the month of January and offering 1 months rent […]

Night on the Sun is an alternative pop outfit based in Brooklyn, New York. NOTS is focused on crafting songs that capture the earnestness of one person alone in a room with a guitar, while still providing energetic and lush accompaniment within the arrangements.

Ali Awan, a Philadelphia native, who will be performing downstairs at World Cafe Live on Friday, September 27th, breaks past societal barriers with ease, proving that he not only has the talent, but also the innate wisdom and diversity that is needed to span multi-genre platforms, placing him directly outside of “the box.” -Jen Strogatz, Independent Philly

Interview with Greg Seltzer. We sat down for an interview with Greg Seltzer, the Founder of Philly Music Fest, and got all the information we need on this non-profit music festival that funnels all of its earnings right back into the City of Brotherly Love (after paying its musicians, of course!) September 25th through the […]

The International Association of Blacks in Dance in Partnership with Philadanco! The Philadelphia Dance Company Present: Then Now Next Dance Festival A Dance Festival Celebrating Legendary and Emerging Black Dance Companies. Featuring over 40 Dance Companies From Across the Nation. January 15 – 18, 2020 The Merriam Theater at The Kimmel Center Cultural Campus [ […]

[ Story and photos by Rick Pettine ] December 27, 2019 – Mickleton, NJ — For those that can’t go through the holiday season without watching “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” at least once (and you know who you are), this experience is for you! Mickleton, NJ resident Steve Harbaugh is now famous across the country due […]

[Photos and Article by Rick Pettine] December 6, 2019 – West Chester, PA — It’s that time of year, and the Holiday season around Philadelphia is in full swing! The 40th annual QVC West Chester Christmas Parade helped with a festive kickoff throughout the town. QVC continued as the title sponsor, and 6abc’s Adam Joseph returned […]

October 19, 2019 – PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia 76er and Executive Producer Ben Simmons hosted the Philadelphia premier of The Australian Dream, a documentary film about Australian Football League (AFL) icon Adam Goodes and racism in his birth country. The film, written by Indigenous journalist Stan Grant, highlights Adam Goodes’ rise to fame in the AFL, […]

August 24, 2019 – Long Pond, PA —  A week after the Pocono Indy Car 500-mile race, “The Great Pocono Raceway Airshow” came to the motorsports and entertainment facility with another family-friendly weekend packed full of action.  The 2-day event included ground displays, aerial displays, jets, acrobatic planes, parachute teams, and the incredible “Tora! Tora! Tora!” […]