Philadelphia Weekly | Brian McManus | Music | AAN.org

Philly Musicians Show SXSW How It's Donenew

Like its restaurant scene, Philadelphia’s music community is in the midst of a renaissance. The regeneration was on abundant display during SXSW, where, no matter where you went, a band from Philly was on the tip of someone’s tongue, in front of their eyes or ringing in their ears.

Philadelphia Weekly | Brian McManus | 04-05-2010 | Music

Tags: Drink Up Buttercup, Free Energy, Freeway, SXSW

Fear and Loathing in Camp Bisconew

Philadelphia's improvisational electro Disco Biscuits have curated the Camp Bisco music festival for eight years, bringing together three days of A-list acts and mud-caked shenanigans.

Philadelphia Weekly | Brian McManus | 08-03-2009 | Concerts

Tags: Asher Roth, Camp Bisco, DFA, Indian Lookout, James Murphy, Kid Cudi, Dr. Dog, LCD Soundsystem, Disco Biscuits, Nas, Damian Marley

What Happens to Ticket Prices When Live Nation & Ticketmaster Merge?new

This is a story about fat cats agreeing to merge with rivals rather than outperform each other and getting one over on the consumer. Enjoy the rest of the summer concert season -- it might be the last you can afford.

Philadelphia Weekly | Brian McManus | 07-21-2009 | Music

Tags: business, live music, Ticketmaster, concerts, monopolies, Live Nation

Better Off Led: Mockstars Are the New Rockstarsnew

Ironically, through performing the music of Led Zeppelin, almost-famous Paul Sinclair is closer than ever to grasping rock 'n' roll's elusive brass ring. He's gone from rockstar to mockstar and back again. And in this day and age at least, the difference is becoming more and more slight.

Philadelphia Weekly | Brian McManus | 01-26-2009 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: tribute bands, Get the Led Out

The Faint Put on the Best Live Show for the Moneynew

There are a few things you need to know about the Faint live show: 1) It’s equal parts fascinating and dumb. 2) It’s become the best bang for your live-show buck. 3) Fans of the Faint don’t recognize the latter part of No. 1.

Philadelphia Weekly | Brian McManus | 08-25-2008 | Concerts

Tags: The Faint, concerts, Fasciinatiion

The Best and Worst Songs to Strip Tonew

In her funny, creepy sad Candy Girl, Oscar-winning Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody writes (correctly) that R. Kelly's "Remix to Ignition" is the best song to strip to, sitting atop the No. 1 position with a cluster she calls "any hip-swiveling R&B fuckjam."

Philadelphia Weekly | Brian McManus | 08-04-2008 | Music

Tags: strippers, Candy Girl, Diablo Cody

Polvo Taps the Nostalgia on Reunion Tournew

I saw them perform their first show back at Washington, D.C.'s venerable Black Cat in mid-May. The band took the stage to hoots and hollers from a packed house of exactly what you'd expect -- aging white guys whose glory days had long passed.

Philadelphia Weekly | Brian McManus | 07-07-2008 | Concerts

Tags: noise, noise rock, concerts, Polvo, reunion tours

Your R. Kelly's-been-acquitted Mixtapenew

It's become reasonable to suspect that if you're rich enough or famous enough, there's little you can be put in prison for. Combine the two, and you couldn't be convicted if you wanted to -- even if you committed your crime on videotape.

Philadelphia Weekly | Brian McManus | 06-23-2008 | Music

Tags: R&B, soundtracks, R. Kelly, mixtapes

Kurt Vile's Music is Wise Beyond Its Yearsnew

Vile's recorded countless CD-R demos over the years, becoming a home-recording guru in the process, but Hitmaker is his first proper solo release on a label, and it's impressive.

Philadelphia Weekly | Brian McManus | 05-12-2008 | Profiles & Interviews

Tags: folk, Constant Hitmaker, Gulcher Records, Kurt Vile, Psychedelic