18 concerts to see this week including Robert Finley, The Mountain Goats, Caroline Rose, Tigers Jaw and more

While the concert landscape in Philly never (COVID notwithstanding) hits those proverbial famine levels, this week is definitely a feast. In addition to super sold out gigs from Lucy Dacus (two nights!), Laura Stevenson and H.E.R., this week we present you with (count ’em) 18 concerts to see in the next seven days.

Heads up, in case you missed it on Friday: Waxahatchee’s touring party had a COVID scare, and the remainder of their tour — including both of their Philadelphia dates — has been postponed, with hopes of rescheduling in 2022. Stay tuned for further details, and in the meantime, dig in and explore the week ahead below.

Monday 10/18: Frankie and the Witch Fingers at PhilaMOCA

In every fan-recorded video, festival performance, and live session, Frankie and the Witch Fingers deliver an insane amount of energy. Shredding through their set, they tear up stages with a feral intensity that is impossible to fabricate. It seems like they get tunnel vision on stage, their sole goal seeing how loud and how fast they can play. The result is face-melting psych-rock that will leave the PhilaMOCA audience on Sunday stunned. // 7:30 p.m., $15, AA // TIX + INFO – Samantha Sullivan

Monday 10/18: TORRES at Johnny Brenda’s

Fresh off her second record in eighteen months, solo experimental pop rock artist TORRES comes to Johnny Brenda’s on Monday. Singer-songwriter Mackenzie Scott has something different to offer than other artists in her wheelhouse (think Half Waif or U.S. Girls); TORRES’ grand production style gives this solo artist “big stadium energy.” There’s a fire lit underneath many of TORRES’ tunes, especially on 2021’s Thirstier, which features a painted portrait of Scott by their partner (and accomplished artist in her own right) Jenna Gribbon. Here’s hoping there’s prints by Gribbon available at the merch table tonight. // 8 p.m., $50, 21+ // TIX + INFO – Paige Walter

Tuesday 10/19: Robert Finley at City Winery

Louisiana guitarist Robert Finley has been a music-maker all his life, but didn’t release his debut album until 2016, when he was 62 years old. That makes him a perfect fit for Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound, which prizes craft above all else; the label released his third album, Sharecropper’s Son, in May, and he plays City Winery Tuesday with I&R. // 8 p.m., $30, 21+ // TIX + INFO – John Vettese

Tuesday 10/19: The Mountain Goats at The Fillmore

John Darnielle’s first pass around the region since the pandemic was a run of solo acoustic Mountain Goats shows — which is an always-entertaining and unpredictable way of experiencing the indie singer-songwriter icon. But given the nuanced and intricate instrumental arrangements of this year’s Dark In Here (an autumnal album title if ever there was one), it seems like you’d miss out by not experiencing the songs with Jon Wurster on drums and Peter Hughes on bass. Tuesday night, you can do just that at The Fillmore. // 8 p.m., $42, AA // TIX + INFO – J.V.

Wednesday 10/20: Arooj Aftab at World Cafe Live

Delivering a heady mix of ambient electronic soundcapes, traditional Sufi devotional music, and boundary-pushing jazz, Arooj Aftab is a singular artist whose songs invite you to immerse yourself and listen. Raised in Pakistan and based in Brooklyn, Aftab garnered widespread acclaim for this year’s Vulture Prince from outlets like Pitchfork, NPR Music, and more; she’s said it’s about forging connections as well as navigating loss, and her performance this week at the Music Hall at World Cafe Live is sure to be uniquely moving. // 8 p.m., $35, AA // TIX + INFO – J.V.

Wednesday 10/20: Great Time at The Lounge at World Cafe Live 

Great Time’s recent EP Sounds Like____[Vol 2] is named so simply because the band themselves can’t draw any one clear reference to their music. I’ll try here for newcomers: Great Time sounds like…high-energy, electronic fusion with strong pop sensibilities. The crowd at XPoNential Festival just last month loved them, and I’m betting so will the one at World Cafe Live. // 8 p.m., $12 ADV / $15 DOS, AA // TIX + INFO  – P.W.

Thursday 10/21: Princess Nokia at TLA

Whether she’s spitting fiery rhymes on 1992, raging to emo-punk on A Girl Cried Red, or going full-on pop on last year’s companion albums Everything Is Beautiful and Everything Sucks, Princess Nokia is an artist who refuses to be pigeonholed. This Thursday the charismatic genre-hopping performer brings her Bloom tour to South Street for a TLA headliner. // 8 p.m., $38, AA // TIX + INFO – J.V.

Thursday 10/21: Rubber at Underground Arts

Philly indie pop faves Rubber are on an ongoing roll with loosie singles; their latest, “Synth Pop Idol,” is a jaunty bop about identity and the pressures society places on us to look, act, or exist a certain way. Their headlining show at Underground Arts pairs them up with local buds Rego — who they shared a World Cafe Live bill with just before the pandemic — as well as 4VR and Ruffin. // 8 p.m., $15, AA // TIX + INFO – J.V.

Thursday 10/21: Speedy Ortiz at Sunflower Philly

If there’s one show you should feel pandemic-safe at this week, it’s Speedy Ortiz’s gig at Sunflower. Frontperson Sadie Dupuis spent most of COVID self-isolating and resisting the push for a quick return to in-person gatherings, instead co-founding the Union of Musicians and Allied Workers to advocate for music industry reforms that would better take care of artists (particularly independent artists, who don’t always have a financial safety net when unexpected things like a global pandemic strike pull the rug out from under their job). In the midst of all that, Dupuis released a new solo album under her Sad13 moniker, and this fall regrouped her Speedy Ortiz bandmates for their first shows since early 2020. Their Sunflower Philly gig, originally slated for last week, was rescheduled due to rain and now happens Thursday, with openers King Azaz and Carmen Perry of Remember Sports. Speedy’s latest project is a reissue of their earliest records: The Death of Speedy Ortiz and Cop Kicker…Forever, out digitally November 12th and on vinyl via Carpark on January 28th, and features a fun new music video for “Cutco,” which you can watch below. // 6 p.m., $15, 21+ // TIX + INFO – J.V.

Friday 10/22: Sierra Hull at Arden Gild Hall

Nashville singer-songwriter Sierra Hull is a country and bluegrass singer-songwriter and mandolin shredder who has been releasing music since 2002, when she was 11 years old. Now age 30 and touring behind her fifth album 25 Trips, released last year on Rounder Records, she comes through the area this Friday to play Delaware’s Arden Gild Hall. // 8 p.m., $30, AA // TIX + INFO – J.V.

Friday 10/22: Tigers Jaw at Union Transfer

The intertwining of guitars — warm acoustic and clean electric alike — with buoyant keys and emotive vocal harmonies is something Tigers Jaw have down to a science. The Scranton-born, Philly-based modern rock outfit’s sixth studio album, I Won’t Care How You Remember Me, came out in March on Hopeless Records, and stays true to the band’s well-established core sound while edging it gently in exciting new territory. Tigers Jaw is finally able to take the record on the road this fall, and will be at Union Transfer on Friday night for their first full-band Philly gig since playing Franklin Music Hall with The Menzingers in fall of 2019. // 8 p.m., $25, AA // TIX + INFO – J.V.

Friday 10/22: Caroline Rose at Underground Arts 

Burlington, VT based artist Caroline Rose made a splash with her record LONER in 2018. Everything about the record, from its provocative album artwork to the lyrical content, screamed for change in the indie music scene. By poking fun at elitist critics and staunch individualists who ironically all look the same, Rose bemoaned a white-washed and profit-driven industry via danceable synth anthems. The same rebellious spirit shapes their sophomore record Superstar, but Rose’s confidence has been turned up a notch. Catch tunes from both records live at Underground Arts this Friday. // 8 p.m., $18, 21+ // TIX + INFO – P.W.

Saturday 10/23: Wavves at Anchor Rock Club

It’s arbitrary, but I’m tired of seeing bands substitute a “V” for the proper letter in their name. Looking at you, Hovvdy, Alvvays, and CHVRCHES. Wavves at least gets a pass, because they were at the forefront of the trend when they made their lo-fi indie debut in 2009. The band has dabbled in fringe genres since the late-great aughts, but remains at its core guitar-centric indie rock. And for reference, Atlantic City is only an hour away from Philadelphia. You could spend that same time or more getting to Manayunk on 76 and only travel 7 miles. // 8 p.m., $22, 18+ // TIX + INFO – P.W.

Saturday 10/23: A Country Western at Radioshack

A Country Western makes rooms go silent the second they start playing. Their gossamer slowcore makes even the rowdiest crowds go completely silent when they take the stage. The epitome of hands in your pockets, head nods, and eyes fixed on the floor, seeing them live, you fall into an almost trance-like state. While it might not be the kind of show you dance through, their soft shoegaze and poetic lyrics prompt deep self-reflection. This Saturday they play their third show in seven days: a 4333 gig with Feeble Little Horse and Chuck Acid. // 8 p.m., $12, AA // TIX + INFO – S.S.

Saturday 10/23: Shannon and The Clams at Union Transfer

Shannon and The Clams mixes old country with surf-rock and makes any venue they play feel like a honky-tonk. There’s something about their live presence that makes you feel like you’re at some cowboy bar in the middle of the wild west. Their 70s guitar licks and doo-wop vocals will fill the room at Union Transfer this Saturday, with exciting opening sets from Delicate Steve and Electric Candlelight warming up the crowd. // 8 p.m., $20, AA // TIX + INFO – S.S.

Saturday 10/23: American Trappist at Oddity Bar

A solid all-Philly bill presented by our friends at Cherry-Veen Zine is setting up shop an hour south at Wilmington’s Oddity Bar. American Trappist headlines — they put out their outstanding third LP The Gate during the pandemic — with left-of-center indie trio Lizdelise and singer-songwriter Erin Fox opening the show. Make the drive or hitch a ride and get to the gig! // 9 p.m., $10, 21+ // TIX + INFO – J.V.

Sunday 10/24: Mamalarky at Original 13

Mamalarky’s bright indie-pop is a ray of sunshine live. Featuring bouncy basslines and an underlying playfulness, their music makes you feel like frolicking through a meadow full of flowers. They have a lighthearted glow that makes their performances (no doubt including this weekend’s show at Original 13) impossibly fun. // 8 p.m., $12, AA // TIX + INFO – S.S.

Sunday 10/24: Bad Bad Hats at Silk City

I’ve seen more musicians eat at Silk City than I’ve seen perform. Which is not a judgement on the quality of Silk City’s stage, rather an observation that the retro-themed diner is a great place to hang out and grab grub. The food and drink plus Bad Bad Hats performing make two reasons why this Sunday night show is a great idea. The Minneapolis-based trio write pleasant and honest indie rock, basically what you’d expect from a midwest indie band. Perhaps they’re in town to celebrate 2021’s Walkman with collaborators and friends from their label, the New Jersey-based Don Giovanni Records. // 7 p.m., $15, 21+ // TIX + INFO – P.W.