Here are 16 concerts to see in the next seven days, all around Philly. For tickets and more information, head to the WXPN Concert Calendar.
Sunday 4/21: Rentboy at Johnny Brenda’s
Fronted by Philly singer/songwriter Bobby Brown, the Philly band Rentboy lures listeners in with their seductive, danceable indie pop-rock. Back in 2021, Brown brought a six-piece band to WXPN for an entrancing and addictively groovy Key Studio Session. The band’s musical evolution has evolved since its 2015 origins, moving from a rock-oriented sound to more expansive, hypnotic vibes that beckon listeners to the dancefloor without abandoning distorted guitars and punchy live drums. On Instagram, Brown recently teased that he’s halfway done with his third full record. This Sunday at Johnny Brenda’s, he concludes a three-stop tour with the New York artist Family Vision. // 7 p.m., $15, 21+ – Dylan Itkin
Sunday 4/21: Benny The Butcher at TLA
Benny the Butcher wasn’t an original member of the Buffalo rap group Griselda but his deep, street-savvy voice became an essential aspect of the group’s modern boom-bap sound, especially on their 2019 debut WWCD. His untouchable flexing and tough talk has earned him respect from old-head hip hop fans and young fans of the menacing masterpieces by Mobb Deep and Wu Tang. He’s been releasing music consistently for almost two decades, beginning with his first mixtapes in the mid 2000’s up to his latest release, Everybody Can’t Go. The new record is his first on Def Jam and features a stunning roster of features — Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Peezy, Armani Caesar, and Westside Gunn himself — and he brings it to Philly Sunday night at the TLA. Fellow Griselda Collective member Boldy James opens the show. // 8 p.m., $50.75, AA – D.I.
Monday 4/22: Pylon Reenactment Society at The Khyber
Forty years ago, Vanessa Briscoe Hay co-founded the beloved Athens, Georgia band Pylon and broke out with a thrilling post-punk sound in the same scene that birthed the B-52’s and R.E.M. This new band, Pylon Reenactment Society, is an ongoing evolution of Hay’s previous work but she stresses that it is not a cover band nor a tribute band. “I’m a lot older now and I can’t be something I am not,” she explains. “Pylon is our guiding star but we’re not Pylon.” In addition to Hay, the group features several Athens indie heavy-hitters: guitarist Jason Ne Smith, bassist Kay Stanton, and drummer Gregory Sanders. Catch the captivating vocalist for some nostalgic but fresh indie rock at the Khyber this Monday along with Sun Organ and Golden Apples, two can’t miss Philly openers. // 7 p.m., $15, 21+ – D.I.
Tuesday 4/23: Madison Cunningham at Ardmore Music Hall
The West Coast folk-rock star Madison Cunningham is coming to the Ardmore Music Hall for a Tuesday night gig this week. Cunningham, who some may remember as a special guest at Hozier’s September concert at the Mann last fall, won the Grammy for Best Folk Album for her LP Revealer in 2022 and was nominated for Best American Roots Performance this year for her song “Inventing The Wheel.” She released the single “Perfect Dark” in February and is touring this spring with folktronica artist Juana Molina. // 7:30 p.m., $29, 21+ – Maeve Zeleniak
Tuesday 4/23: Cut Worms at Johnny Brenda’s
Cut Worms, the project of singer-guitarist and songwriter Max Clarke, is making a stop at Johnny Brenda’s on Tuesday alongside Philly alt-rock band SNZR. Cut Worms self-titled third album is a patchwork quilt, with some songs recorded start to finish, others through collaborations with The Lemon Twigs’ Michael D’Addorio, Onlyness Analog, and others. Clarke’s “pop essentialism” sound made it to WXPN last summer – check it out here. // 8 p.m., $15, 21+ – M.Z.
Wednesday 4/24: Spirit Weak at Ortlieb’s
Mazz Cardone’s self-proclaimed South Philadelphia Punk-Adjacency group Spirit Weak will be playing at Ortlieb’s on Wednesday alongside Trash Boy, Precious Little Life, and Elephant Jake. Working along with songwriter, engineer, studio manager, and producer Mark Watter, Cardone dropped Spirit Weak’s latest single “THNX” last month and the band is looking forward to touring the Philly area this spring and summer. // 7 p.m., $10, 21+ – M.Z.
Thursday 4/25: Black Country, New Road at Union Transfer
Progenitors of the UK’s nascent “Windmill scene,” a loose grouping of experimental rock and post-punk musicians pushing the boundaries of guitar music, Black Country, New Road brings their unique blend of post-rock and chamber-pop to Union Transfer this Thursday, a year after the bittersweet Live at Bush Hall, their first album since former-lead-singer Isaac Wood departed in 2022. Joining them on the bill is Camera Picture, the solo alias of black midi’s Cameron Picton. // 8 p.m., $50 and up (verified resale), AA – Claire Brown
Thursday 4/26: Grocer at Johnny Brenda’s
Philadelphia noise-rock trio Grocer takes the stage at Johnny Brenda’s a week after the release of their riotous new album Bless Me, which alternates between sugary power-pop, soupy noise rock, and just about anything you can do with a guitar, bass, drums, and three gifted vocalists. Opening for them are noise rockers Kal Marks and local shoegazers Her New Knife. // 8 p.m. $12, 21+ – C.B.
Friday 4/26: Belle & Sebastian at Union Transfer
Everyone’s favorite twee-pop band stops in Philadelphia on the North American leg of an international tour. Still restless nearly thirty years into their career, the group released their twelfth studio album Late Developers last year, and shared the new single “What Happened To You, Son?” this past Tuesday. Don’t miss openers The Weather Station, whose mastery of pop songwriting will no doubt appeal to fans of B&S. // 8 p.m., $85 and up (verified resale), AA – C.B.
Friday 4/26 and Saturday 4/27: XPN Weekend at Dogfish Head with Rhett Miller, Moustapha Noumbissi, Ron and the Hip Tones
To keep the Record Store Day excitement going into another weekend, Dogfish Head will be hosting two days of awesome performances in collaboration with XPN. Held at Dogfish Inn in coastal Delaware, the event will boast a performance and fireside chat with Rhett Miller of the Old 97’s on Friday, and performances by Moustpha Noumbissi and Ron and the Hip Tones on Saturday in celebration of the WXPN / Dogfish Head RSD collab Homegrown Originals Vol. 2. // 8 p.m., free, 21+ – Emma Zoe Polyak
Saturday 4/27: Haddonfield Music Festival
This Saturday will mark Haddonfield’s first-ever free music festival. Yes, you read that right, free! Held just across the Ben Franklin Bridge, the festival will feature the beloved Philly band SNACKTIME. Other acts also hail from the greater Philadelphia area, such as Smash Place, Oceanator, The National Reserve, and Matt Cappy. The fun-filled day will close out with Jeffrey Gaines, who is known for his introspective folk-rock songs and powerful live performances. Folk-rock won’t be the only genre represented at the festival, with the bands ranging from funk and soul to pop-rock and beyond. // noon, free, AA – E.Z.P.
Saturday 4/27: Eric Slick at Johnny Brenda’s
Philadelphia-rooted singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Erik Slick will be gracing the stage at Johnny Brenda’s this Saturday. The drummer for Philly rock band Dr. Dog, Slick’s solo work provides an exciting sonic experience. His newest singles venture into synth-pop, while his previous album, Wiseacre, was heavily inspired by ‘70s rock. His set is sure to keep you on your toes, showcasing his range and sunny disposition. One could say his set is sure to be slick. // 8 p.m., $15, 21+ – E.Z.P.
