BARS AND CLUBS

Philadelphia ROCK CITY

The tourist board touts Philadelphia as the City of Brotherly Love, but those familiar with this town of freak folks, brainy rappers, and fickle club kids know that the city’s unofficial nickname, Hostile City, U.S.A., is also apt. Such feisty duality has helped Philly churn out icons as disparate as John Coltrane and Chubby Checker, Schoolly D and the Roots, Pink and Hall & Oates. Ben Franklin couldn’t figure this music scene out, but that hasn’t stopped us from trying.

Get Him Eat Him ponder lunch at Johnny Brenda’s.

Johnny Brenda’s
1201 FRANKFORD AVE., 215-739-9684
Located in the burgeoning Fishtown district, this bar has been the default
hangout for Philly bands since it opened more than 40 years ago. Recently,
it’s become a prime music venue too. It was a no-brainer to put the music
where the musicians already are, and the vintage decor and microbrew
vibe ensure that everyone’s eager to stick around postshow.

LOCAL HEROES

Philadelphia’s preeminent indie promoter, Sean Agnew and his R5 Productions countered Clear Channel’s hegemony by providing cheap all-ages shows featuring acts like Rilo Kiley, M83, and No Age. Whether in church basements, clubs, or in cahoots with other promoters, Agnew’s continued presence is proof of his business sense, good taste, and doggedness.

From roughly 2002 to 2005, DJs Diplo and Low Budget took over a Ukrainian social club for their monthly Hollertronix parties, where they played a mix of Dirty South, new wave, funk, and punk to throbbing crowds. The party ended when things got too big (and Diplo and Low B got too busy), but Hollertronix lives on in the sound of acts it produced and promoted, like Spank Rock, M.I.A., and Plastic Little.

Since 2000, Mark Christman’s nonprofit Ars Nova Workshop has made Philadelphia a welcome stop for premier avant-garde jazz and experimental musicians. With shows in art galleries and other alternative spaces, the expertly curated series has brought musicians like former John Coltrane drummer Rashied Ali and the Sun Ra Arkestra skronking their way through town.

The Barbary
951 FRANKFORD AVE., 215-634-7400
Promoter John Redden brought a
slavishly devoted horde of club kids
with him when he bought the Barbary,
formerly a dodgy punk venue. The
cavernous main room now boasts
carefully curated DJ nights and a
bowel-shaking sound system. Popular
parties include Live Forever, an electro
orgy, and Sorted, which favors Britpop.

National Mechanics
22 S. THIRD ST., 215-701-4883
National Mechanics occupies a space
that’s held everything from a church to
alleged drug fronts. Now the subdued
bar and restaurant, with quirky DJ
events like the Sunday afternoon
indie-pop Love Rock Brunch, is a
vestige of cool in the once-hip, now
quite cheesy Old City neighborhood.

Danger Danger Gallery
5013 BALTIMORE AVE., MYSPACE.
COM/DANGERDANGERGALLERY
Local punk rockers have fond memories
of countless ramshackle houses where
they could go to spazz out, the latest
and hottest of which is Danger Danger.
Landlord woes resulted in a move to its
current tiny space, meaning big shows
sometimes end up at sympathetic
homes. Just remember to mosh nicely.

Medusa
1201 FRANKFORD AVE., 215-739-9684
Just west of downtown, this dingy
dive hosts themed-nights such as the
Philadelphyinz (hip-hop, disco) and
Bleached Black (new wave, electro).
The bar is decorated with animal
prints and tropical scenes, but dancing
is the draw. Sadly, the Hot Pocket–
heavy menu was recently classed up.

After losing nearly everything in Hurricane Katrina, including his fledgling record label, Park the Van, Chris Watson packed up his stuff and swapped N’awlins po’boys for Philly cheesesteaks. Once he settled in, his reestablished label helped launch the careers of Dr. Dog, the Capitol Years, and National Eye.

One of Philly’s greatest musical
exports is the World Café,
produced by Bruce Warren, a
16-years-running radio program
(and like-named live venue)
from University of Pennsylvania’s
WXPN and a fount of supremely
tasteful indie sounds (think Feist
and Iron & Wine). For an online
fix, check out the thoughtful
writing and musical curios
that Warren posts on his Some
Velvet Blog music/MP3 site.

KNOW
YOUR
HISTORY

David Bowie came to
Philly in 1974, during the
heyday of Philadelphia
International Records
and producers Kenny
Gamble and Leon Huff
(the O’Jays, MFSB, Teddy
Pendergrass). Aided by
some seasoned soul
sessioneers, Bowie
recorded most of his
Young Americans album
here at Sigma Sound. He
left with R&B-influenced
classics “Fame” and
the title track.