November 20th, 2009

Good Cause Alert: DJ Too Tuff Benefit

Don’t forget, this is going down Saturday night at Tacony Billiards:

As we told you last month, Philly legend DJ Too Tuff — currently incarcerated on aggravated assault charges — is battling thyroid cancer. You can help defray some of his medical expenses by dropping by tomorrow night and simultaneously enjoying some good tunes and good times.

November 19th, 2009

Happy, Uhh, World Toilet Day!

Yes indeed, today is World Toilet Day, which was established to raise awareness to the fact that 40% of the world’s population does not have access to toilets (and proper sanitation in general). To mark the event — and we shit you not — groups of people all over the country will be organizing and engaging in something called “The Big Squat,” whereby they all get in squat position in public for about a minute or so to show solidarity with people around the world who have to pop a squat sans toilet to expel their bodily waste. We’re not exactly sure if or where or when this will be happening here in Philly today, but you’re more than welcome to squat on your own wherever you find yourself in the city today to celebrate the occasion. Just be prepared to explain yourself.

Meanwhile, here’s a few ditties to mark World Toilet Day:

November 13th, 2009

Star Wars Sunday

Just to make sure we’re all clear: Star Trek is nerdy. Star Wars is cool (unless you’re really into Jar Jar Binks, in which case there’s a problem). So you don’t have to worry about your street cred taking a hit if you’re planning to check out “Star Wars in Concert” at the Wachovia Center on Sunday. Producer/director Steve Cohen tells the Gloucester County Times that the show — which features clips from all six Star Wars films on a massive hi-def LED screen accompanied by a full symphony orchestra and choir, crazy lighting, and the narration of British actor Anthony Daniels (the voice of C3PO) — “gives the audience a sense of the reality that Lucas was living in when he was writing about these characters. It gives you a better understanding of what this story is really about.”

And certainly, one of the ideas of the show is to make classical music more palatable to the masses by wrapping it up in rock-concert garb, although I’m not sure if this will translate into more tickets sold to the Philadelphia Orchestra. Nice to think it might have an effect, though.

Coming along with the show is a traveling museum of props, costumes, artwork, hand-written sheet music by Star Wars composer John Williams, and more. And if some fit young lady would like to attend dressed like Carrie Fisher as Jabba the Hutt’s desert slave, I’m sure no one will complain.

November 13th, 2009

INTERVIEW: Turning Violet, Violet

One of our happy new finds in the Philly music scene is Turning Violet, Violet — an indie outfit around a couple of years now that merges chamber-pop, jazzy textures, and quirky, literate storytelling in sharp and elegant arrangements. And, of course, they’re named for a line about Violet Beauregarde in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. TVV has been playing around town a lot lately, including a gig at the North Star this past week, and they’ve got a show lined up at World Cafe Live in December. We caught up today with singer/songwriter/keyboardist Sarah Gulish:

When and where was the first show you played as a band? Any particular memories of that performance stand out?
Our first show as a band was actually a high school graduation party. We were hired to play covers and entertain the guests for three hours. It was a hilarious situation — the band was situated behind a cluster of bushes so no one could see us anyway. Once in a while we would hear people clap after we finished a song. We played a lot of Coldplay and Beatles, at the request of the mom.

Your music has a kind of theatrical quality about it — if you had to liken your band to any musical or play, which would it be and why?
Hmmm…this is a tricky question. And, I have to say that this question has brought back some painful memories for me. My husband Brandon (our drummer) and I have been playing music together for about six years in a variety of different bands. When we were just friends playing with another band, I used to play the songs I had written once in a while. He always made fun of my music, saying it sounded too much like musical theater with extreme emotional highs and lows. I was so self-conscious that I didn’t start writing again for a few years, hoping my music was less cheesy and more grounded. He likes it much better now. But, if I had to equate us to a musical, it would probably be West Side Story. Bernstein had a love for orchestral instruments, storytelling, and irregular meters and our music definitely shows that off as well.

What goes through your mind while you are up on stage performing?
When I’m performing I usually try to think about the people watching. I wonder if they are getting our message and whether they are engaged or not. That’s the beauty of performing — it’s different every time because you are gearing it towards the people who are there. I also try to really think about the music, what it means, and how I can bring that out. Oh, and sometimes I wonder why Brandon is always wearing ties.

If you could invent a new Willy Wonka candy along the lines of “Exploding Candy for your Enemies” or “Invisible Chocolate Bars for Eating in Class,” what would it be?
Since I’m a teacher and hate kids eating in class, I definitely would not be a fan of the latter. It’s too sneaky. I would probably invent a candy called “No Gut Choc-lut” and I would eat it all day, everyday.

What are the pros and cons of being a band in Philadelphia?
Being a band in Philadelphia is great because it’s a city of neighborhoods. Each venue has a different character depending on its neighborhood. It’s also nice that it makes the city feel small and networking is definitely possible. The hard part about being in Philly is that there is so much to choose from in the way of the arts that local music has a lot to compete with.

November 12th, 2009

Win Free Tickets To Tomorrow Night’s Broken Lizard Comedy Extravaganza!

The guy licking the partition in the clip from Broken Lizard’s Super Troopers above? He’s the real life husband of Joan Holloway. No shit. And now that we’ve just thoroughly bummed you out, it’s only right to do something to lift your spirits. How about free tickets to Broken Lizard’s live show at the Troc tomorrow night? We’ve got two pair to give away for the early 7:30 extravaganza. (The 10:45 jawn is sold out.) Email tips@makemajormoves.com with the subject header “UND BECKS!!!” and we’ll pick a winner early tomorrow morning. Best of luck to you and yours.

November 11th, 2009

The Holiday Punk Rock Flea Market Is Nigh

Once again it’s nearly time for the Holiday Edition of R5 Productions’ ever-popular Punk Rock Flea Market. This year’s two-day event happens on Saturday, December 19th and Sunday, December 20th from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Starlight Ballroom. Admission is $3, and as always you can find tons of tables of records, artwork, clothes, books, instruments, posters, furniture, skateboards, bikes, jewelry, and just about anything else you can imagine.

Proceeds from the event go to keeping the all-ages shows at First Unitarian Church happening, from covering equipment and maintenance costs to paying the liability insurance premiums.

If you’re a prospective seller, table reservations can be made right now. Lots more info about that after the jump.

November 11th, 2009

Happy Veterans Day!

Happy Veterans Day! And a very, very huge thanks to all the men and women past and present who’ve served our country, put their lives on the line, and sacrificed much to keep the rest of us safe and secure.