MUSIC
Friday, 4/16: Liars with Fol Chen, First Unitarian Church, $12, All Ages
Liars is a dark band. Liars is a weird band. Liars is a very good band. Los Angeles, the same sun-baked city that gave us music visionaries like Mickey Avalon and Hoobastank serves as inspiration for Liars’ brooding and murky second album. It’s a darker take than you might normally associate with the City of Angels, but we sympathize: Southern California is hell.
Sunday, 4/18: Real Estate with The Beets and Family Portrait, The Barbary, $10, All Ages
New Jersey is known for many things, but increasingly well known and critically acclaimed chill-out bands don’t usually number among them. While the state’s most recent claim to fame sports a Cheeto-esque tan, stands at 4’8” and fellates pickles, Real Estate presents the opposite end of the spectrum. Surf-y jams like “Beach Comber” and “Fake Blues” are upbeat, low-key, and relaxing. We doubt you’ll have a nicer time swaying at any other show this spring. Beating up the beat highly discouraged.
Wednesday 4/21: Harlem, Kung Fu Necktie, $10, 21+
Picture this: the Strokes lose a few members, listen to a lot more jangly-rock and switch vocalists for someone with a little more energy. The result would be something like Harlem, the latest members of Matador Records’ fantastic lineup. If you’re down for an old fashioned and gritty good time, count on Harlem to deliver — you’ll probably be surprised to find yourself singing along at some point, too.
VISUAL ARTS
Now — 5/2: First Impressions, Academy of Natural Sciences, $10 student tickets
Academy of Natural Sciences: a well-kept Philadelphia secret. The art gallery at the Academy of Natural Sciences? An even better-kept one. The gallery is currently featuring botanical ink prints made by the first American scientist to explore Southeast Asia — Philadelphian Thomas Horsfield — reminding us once again that science can indeed be beautiful.
THEATER
Now — 5/8: Crumble (Lay Me Down Justin Timberlake), Flashpoint Theater Company, $5 — 10, 16+
Alright stay with us on the plot — a family is gathered for Christmas, and they’re dealing (or not dealing) with the fallout of the death of their patriarch, which occurred the Christmas before. Everyone is a mess, but the youngest daughter seems to have a solution that somehow involves Justin Timberlake, Harrison Ford and the personified spirit of their dilapidated apartment. See this for the title alone.
