A friend of mine is bringing his favorite Canadian band, Hey Ocean, to Philly for a three-show residency at the M Room beginning this Wednesday. The band plays fun pop music with a jazzy twist. Below is the video for one of my favorite tracks.

Hey Ocean residency @ the M Room
October 7, 14, 21
Find Vienna open all shows
$8

More info here.

The Swimmers have scheduled the release of their second album People are Soft for November 3. Here is the video for the first single “What This World is Coming To,” one of my favorite tracks form the new record (and believe me, you’ll want to get this record! Check back here for more on the album in the coming weeks). See the band live Friday evening at an in-store performance at The Marvelous. Plenty of other great bands on the evening’s bill, too.

The music video is great, interesting concept and style. I’m starting to think that The Swimmers can do no wrong by me. Watch it:

Friday, October 2
The Swimmers, American Chinese, Eternal Summers, Drew and the Medicine Pen
@ The Marvelous, 8pm, $5

Drink Up Buttercup expect to release a full length record early 2010, but in the meantime have released a new single, ‘Even Think,’ and are giving it away for free. Follow the link below to the label’s website, where you’ll have to enter your e-mail address to get to the music. Drink Up Buttercup has some upcoming shows in the area, don’t miss these guys.

Tuesday, September 22
Drink Up Buttercup, Chain and The Gang
@ Space 1026 (1026 Arch St.), 8pm, $8

Saturday, October 18
Drink Up Buttercup, The Deleted Scenes, Armchairs
@ Kungfu Necktie

Go to Yep Roc Records to download the digital single.

Some excellent shows taking place this weekend. Consider the following:

Thursday

Secret Machines, And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, The G
@ First Unitarian Church, 8:30pm, $12

Dead Meadow, Brother JT, Robes
@ Johnny Brenda’s, 9pm, $10

Ingird Michaelson, Greg Holden, Johnny Marnell
@ TLA, 9pm, $23

Saturday

Gildon Works, Pattern is Movement, Arc in Round
@ Johnny Brenda’s, 9pm, $10

Jolie HOlland, Matt Bauer
@ the M Room, $15

Sunday

The Weakerthans, Rock Plaza Central
@ WCL, 7:30pm, $25 - $35

Fanfarlo, The Extraordinaires
@ Kungfu Necktie, 8pm, $10

Thursday

Ezra Furman and the Harpoons, Toy Soldiers, Quantine Rabbit
@ North Star, 8pm, $10

Friday

Free Energy
@ Pure, 8pm

Saturday

Pomegranates, Phantogram
@ The Black Lounge, 8pm, $8

Bang for the Buck Bazaar & All-Day Concert
@ 10am - 5pm, $5, see flyer above for info

One of my local favorites, River City Extension, is playing at The Fire tonight (Monday). They’ll be debuting a bunch of new songs, as they’re about to start recording their first full length album. It is a really great line-up at The Fire tonight, a great end to the long weekend.

Monday, September 2
River City Extension, Ice Palace, Hop Along Queen Ansleis
@ The Fire, 7pm, $7

River City Extension on Myspace

Download: River City Extension - “(I Had Thought About This In) March!”

I was out of town for a few weeks, but I’m back in time for the weekend. Here is some of what we’ve got to look forward to:

Friday

Lemonade, Cale Parks
@ Kungfu Necktie, 8pm, $5

An American Chinese, Savoir Adore, The Armchairs, Grandchildren
@ Johnny Brenda’s, 9pm, $10

Saturday

Hezekiah Jones, Vandaveer, The Spinning Leaves, Joe Duffey
@ The Fire, 9pm, $7

Here is a lovely new song from semi-local Langhorne Slim. It is from his new album Be Set Free, due for release on September 29th. He’ll follow up the album’s release with a month-long tour, whose final date is at Johnny Brenda’s on November 19th.

Thursday, November 19th
Langhorne Slim, Dawes
@ Johnny Brenda’s, 8pm, $12

Download: Langhorne Slim - ‘I Love You, But Goodbye’

One of DC’s favorite singer/songwriters will be in town on Saturday with an all DC line-up at the Tin Angel. He was born in Philly, raised in Jersey, and now owns a great music venue down in DC. Luke recently released his EP ‘Five Songs,’ and he is giving it away for free, so be sure to download the zip file below, it is absolutely worth a listen - I continue to be a fan.

Saturday, August 15
Luke Brindley, Justin Trawick, Vince (from Army of Me)
@ Tin Angel, 7pm, $10

Download: Luke Brindley - ‘Five Songs’ EP

Philadelphia Folk Festival

Thursday

The Pretenders, Cat Power, Juliette Lewis
@ Electric Factory, 7:30pm, $49.50

The Josh and Pete Band, Agent Moosehead, The Juice and G. Calvin Weston
@ WCL, $14-$15

Friday

Wye Oak, Starlight Mints, JP Inc., Major Leagues
@ North Star, 9pm, $12

Saturday

Passion Pit, The Grates, US Royalty
@ First Unitarian Church, 8pm, SOLD OUT

Danger Danger Gallery 4th Anniversary Show
Make a Rising, Oh! Pears, Br’er, Power Animal, Owl Stations, Sway, Effing, Exercise, L’Ananas, Zevious, Hume, Whales and Cops
@ Danger Danger Gallery (5013 Baltimore Ave), 5pm

Luke Brindley, Justin Trawick, Vince (from Army of Me)
@ Tin Angel, 7pm, $10