Theatre of Living Arts

       For my final post, I wanted to talk about a long time staple in the Philadelphia music scene, the Theatre of Living Arts (TLA).  The TLA is located on South St between 3^rd and 4^th street.  Over the years this venue was several things before it was the Theatre of Living Arts.  It first opened its doors in 1908 as a nickelodeon, which is what they called the first movie theaters.  In 1927 is was converted into a concert hall.  Then in 1941 the Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corporation bought it and turned it into a movie theater.  Once the theater started doing poorly it was turned in to a theatre for plays, and this is when it got the name Theatre of Living Arts.  This theatre was open until 1969 when it closed due to financial issues.  After this it was bought by an entrepreneur who converted into a single screen movie theater that played exclusively “hard to see” films, as well as weekly midnight showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  This theater closed in 1981 due to financial issues again, and was bought by the infamous Stephen Starr, who had plans to turn it into a nightclub.  When the liquor control board was giving him issues, Starr sold it to others who attempted to make it a theatre again. Finally, in 2007 the building was bought by Live Nation, who originally called it The Fillmore at TLA before changing it to just TLA in 2008. 

       The venue that we know today can hold 1,000 people and is considered to have a relatively small and intimate setting.  There is a large standing room only main section, a VIP section in front of the stage, and a balcony that wraps around the perimeter of the room.  There are bars on each floor that have a very good selection of beer both in cans and bottles.  The room itself is very open and is centered on the stage, which provides good acoustics and great sight lines for every one that is attending no matter where they end up.  It is these aspects that make it a top notch venue in my book. 

       The TLA really is a staple in the Philadelphia music scene.  If you haven’t seen a show here yet, do yourself a favor and check it out!  They host a wide range of genres of music, so you have no excuse not to go check it out.  Tickets to their shows can be bought on Live Nation’s website as well as at their box office at the venue.  Tickets to shows at any Live Nation venue can be bought here as well.  If you would like to see the shows they have booked in the coming months, you can see their event calendar located on their website's homepage by clicking here.

The Fillmore

       This week I will introduce you to another great venue located in Fishtown, The Fillmore. The Fillmore is a truly iconic name, as the first one was located in San Francisco in 1965. The venue was hugely popular and contributed to the success of legendary performers such as Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Grateful Dead, The Doors, Santana, and others. The Philadelphia venue opened its doors in 2015, and is the product of a renovation effort put in place by Live Nation’s House of Blues Entertainment Division. The venue is located at the corner of Frankford Ave and Delaware Ave, and is in a 125 year-old building that was previously home to Ajax Metal Co. They really did a great job preserving the slightly industrial feel of the building while still providing a warm and elegant atmosphere. While the venue was being constructed, Ron Benison, CEO of House of Blues Entertainment, said this about the project: “We’re building what we believe will be the best club in America.”
       The Fillmore boasts a rather large 2,500 capacity two story main room. There is balconies lining the whole room complete with their own tables, chairs, and bars. When you enter the venue there is a huge bar just outside the main stage area, as well as a few more bars inside. This provides easy access to drinks and makes it so you do not have to wait very long when you want one. Throughout the venue you will have access to awesome food and drink offerings. They have craft beer, wine, small batch liquor, and a food menu that has options ranging from chicken fingers to cheese plates. They also have very upbeat and professional staff; you will not need to wait very long for service or deal with grumpy employees. Upstairs they have The Foundry, which is what they call their “club within a club”. This is a much more intimate setting complete with a bar and stage and can only hold about 450 people.
       The Fillmore provides great sightlines to the stage, no matter where you are sitting. Its large open and airy space provides for awesome acoustics as well. There are other venues located in Fishtown such as The Barbary and Johnny Brenda’s, however this is by far the largest. While the intimate setting of the other venues is appreciated in many circumstances, having a larger venue such as The Fillmore really helps to liven up and diversify the town music scene. They host an eclectic group of artists that range in musical genre, so you will be able to find a show you will enjoy. There are tickets to their shows available at several online ticket sellers as well through their website. If you would like to see the shows they have booked in the coming months, you can see their event calendar located on their website's homepage by clicking here.

World Cafe Live

One of the best places to see a live show in Philadelphia is World Cafe Live. Located at 3025 Walnut Street, it is the closest venue to students in University City.  The story of how World Cafe Live got started is an interesting one.  Hal Real, a long time live music enthusiast and entrepreneur, heard a radio show called “World Cafe” on a public radio station being run out of the University of Pennsylvania called WXPN.  He listened and appreciated the style of the show and it inspired him to form a company called Real Entertainment Group for the purpose of "radically change(ing) the landscape for contemporary music audiences and artists."  The companies first act was to partner with the radio station and open World Cafe Live.  Since 2004 the multi-floor building has been the home to World Cafe Live and WXPN Radio Station.  Since then they have opened a second World Cafe Live in Wilmington, Delaware.  Hal is dedicated to spreading the musical philosophy and spirit of the venue, which is to bring new music to people and bring new people to music. 

There are two floors in World Cafe Live, the upstairs and the downstairs.  Upstairs is a restaurant that is on Open Table that includes a smaller stage that provides a more intimate setting for performers.  The lesser known acts usually play on this stage.  There are several tables on this level, many of which are raised a little bit to provide better views of the stage. Downstairs is the main stage area where more well-known acts perform.  This area fits about 300 people and boasts a full bar and balcony that has another bar and a more private bathroom.  Depending on the show, the seating may be all standing room only, there could be a bunch of tables set up in front of the stage, or there could be a little bit of both.  If there are tables, they allow you to order food as if you were at the restaurant upstairs.  No matter where you end up sitting, you can be sure that you will have a great view of the stage and that the acoustics and sound quality will be great.  The food they serve is not anything too special, but it is what I would call solid bar food.  Try the eggplant fries, they are addicting! They also have a great craft-heavy selection of beer, which is always a plus if you enjoy beer like I do. 

The types of acts they have here are all different genres, and they even have poetry slams, open mic nights, and things of that nature.  They have something going on every night of the week, so if you ever find yourself a little bored, check out what is going on here.  Even if you do not know the band that is playing, World Cafe Live provides a great live music experience that you are sure to enjoy.  If you want to attend a show here, I would suggest buying your tickets in advance because they often sell out.  You can buy tickets directly from their website.  They have some of the most affordable ticket prices of any of the venues in Philly, with most of their shows ranging between $5-$15.  If you are interested in seeing an upcoming show, you can see all of the shows they have booked for the next month by clicking here.  This week they have artists such as Fireside Collective, Whitney Rose, The Whiskey Treaty Roadshow, Loose and Alright, The Striptease Orchestra, and Blind Boys of Alabama.  Once you see a show here, you will almost definitely end up going back!

Union Transfer

This week I am going to talk about another one of my favorite venues in Philadelphia, the Union Transfer.  This building was originally opened as the Spring Garden Farmers Market in 1889.  After the farmer’s market shut down, the building was used as a baggage transfer depot station for the railroads in the area.  At that point it was called the Union Transfer Baggage Express Co. and was open from 1918 to 1942.  This gives the venue a sense of Philadelphia history, and inspired the current name Union Transfer.  After it was a baggage depot, it has been many other things including a trolley repair shop, a trust company, and most recently a chain restaurant called Spaghetti Warehouse.  In 2011, the Union Transfer music venue was opened as a joint venture between R5 Productions and The Bowery Presents.  Now, it truly is one of the staples of the Philadelphia music scene.

The venue is perfect for live music as it has wood-timber construction and open, airy spaces.  It has much of the same old architectural features such as stained glass, chandeliers, high ceilings, and a balcony.  It boasts 3 full bars, a huge selection of beers, enough space to accommodate 600-1,000 people, a wraparound balcony that surrounds the stage, a parking lot with 200 parking spaces, and enough room left over to have some office space and dressing rooms for the performers.  Sean Agnew of R5 Productions had this to say about the venue and their vision for it; “Union Transfer is filling the void for a small- to mid-sized live concert space and will showcase bands that have passed by the city because there hasn’t been the space to plan... Our goal is to create an atmosphere where the fans will be able to have all of the comforts of a large concert venue, while still having the intimate concert experience they are looking for,”.  This is exactly the feel you will get when seeing a show here; it’s hard not to enjoy the architecture, acoustics, lighting, and overall environment that they have crafted.

Another awesome thing about this venue is that they host a large variety of genres of music, it is truly eclectic. If you would like to attend a show here, you will definitely be able to find some music you will enjoy.  You can find tickets at several online ticket sellers, as well as Union Transfer’s website and at their box office.  If you would like to see some of their upcoming shows you can see the shows they have booked for the next few months by clicking here.  They have both all ages shows as well as ones that are 21 and over.  This week’s performances include Drive Like Jehu, Souldiers of Soul, Saintseneca, The Warhawks, and Honne.  Go out and see a show here, you will not be disappointed!

Johnny Brenda's

        This week I wanted to introduce you to one of my favorite venues in Philadelphia right now, Johnny Brenda’s.  The bar is located in Fishtown on the corner of Frankford and Girard Avenues. It was opened in 1967 by small time boxer Johnny Imbrenda, who owned it until he got sick and decided to sell it in 2003.  That is when William Reed and Paul Kimport, owners of Standard Tap in Northern Liberties, decided to buy it.  They changed Johnny Brenda’s from the neighborhood tavern to a gastro-pub that has great food, a variety of beer, and live music five nights a week.

        The first floor is a bar and a restaurant while the second and third floors are the music venue that can hold up to 250 people.  The second floor holds the stage while the third floor has another bar and a balcony that provides a great view of the performers.  This set up makes for a very intimate viewing experience that almost makes it feel as if you are on stage with the musicians.  Another thing that makes Johnny Brenda’s so cool is its obvious connection to the community they are in.  They built the business based on the philosophy of supporting the local community.  To do this they often feature local musicians, they serve all draft beers from only local brewers, and they offer an ever changing menu that utilizes fresh ingredients supplied by local area farmers.  This means you will not find any Miller Light here, and will instead be able to choose from better local craft beers such as Yards, Victory, Sly Fox, Dogfish Head, Flying Fish, etc. 

        Attending a show at Johnny Brenda’s is as simple as going online and buying tickets on their website, or purchasing tickets using cash from the bartenders on the first floor.  If you are curious who is playing, you can find a full calendar with the details of each show they are having for the next couple months by clicking here.  It is worth mentioning that you must be at least 21 years old to attend a show here.  Some of the more noteworthy performances coming up include A Silent Film, who is playing tonight at 9pm, and Anna Wise, who is playing next Wednesday at 9pm.  A Silent Film is a band originating from Oxford, UK, who have a couple critically acclaimed albums and are currently promoting their new album.  If you don’t recognize the band’s name, you will probably recognize their song titled You Will Leave A Mark while listening to it.  Anna Wise is a Grammy winning singer/songwriter from Brooklyn, NY, known for her work with Kendrick Lamar, The Roots, Flying Lotus, and more.  Whenever you find yourself craving a good time, Johnny Brenda’s will not let you down!