Philadelphia Weekly

AC/DC plays Philly this week.

Photo by quatipua, via Flickr.

Wednesday October 21

Dracula: The Undead
All y’all vampires out there with your dripping eyeliner and black ruffles, didja ever actually try to read Bram Stoker’s novel? Who could blame you for not? It’s a pretty tiresome slog, actually. Victorian melodrama isn’t know for pithy brevity. F.W. Murnau did Stoker a favor when he plagiarized the story in 1922, boiling it down to 90 minutes to make Nosferatu. But the great-grandnephew of Stoker is at the Rosenbach Library to read from his new sequel to Uncle Bram’s one-hit wonder. Dracula: The Undead picks up and punches up where the original 1897 novel left off. It opens with Dr. Seward, still reeling from watching his object d’amour Lucy turn into a vampire years before, coming out of a morphine nod. Thusly Goths go. The Rosenbach houses many of Stoker’s original manuscripts in their archive, so Dacre Stoker should feel right at home. Peter Crimmins
6pm. $tk. Rosenbach Museum and Library, 2008 Delancey St. 215.732.1600. rosenbach.org

AC/DC
Awrite ye Philly fecks! Brian Johnson haur frae th’ unstoppable AC/DC. Yeah, we’re auld an’ wrinkly, an’ Malcolm looks loch feckin’ Gollum, an’ Angus still wears ’at riddy feckin’ schoolboy ootfit. But in case ye didne notice, uir lest album, Black Ice, sauld abit 10 trillion copies. At feckin’ Wal-Mart, nae less! We’re still lood, we still sin’ abit a poger, an’ we still rip th’ feckin’ roof aff onie place we play! Hells feckin’ bells, ya fanny! Dornt loch it? ’En gie th’ feck ootta haur, ye bawbag! Michael Alan Goldberg
8pm. $92.50. Wachovia Center, 3601 S. Broad St. 800.298.4200. livenation.com

Thursday October 22

Pumpkin Fest
The Devil’s Den is doing more for the popularity of the humble pumpkin than Linus van Pelt. They’re tapping a variety of pumpkin beers, including the Autumn Maple from SoCal’s Bruery Brewery, a “bold and spicy” 10% abv leg buckler fermented using a traditional Belgian yeast strain and brewed with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, molasses, and maple syrup along with 17 pounds of yams. They’ll also be pouring Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale from Southern Tier straight outta Lakewood, New York. Brewed in the “pagan spirit,” this zesty, amber brew is an ode to a creature from Celtic folklore that, much like the Great Pumpkin, would appear to lonely travelers who were up well past their bedtime (knock back too many of both of these high gravity brews and you’ll be blabbering on about pumpkin spirits, too). There will also be a pumpkin decorating contest so bring along your best jack o’ lantern and an appetite for the kitchen’s food specials featuring fall’s ubiquitous squash. Tim Mcginnis
7pm.  Devil’s Den, 1148 S. 11th St. 215.339.0855. devilsden.com

Mum
Icelandic septet Mum broke through in 2002 with Finally We Are No One, an album that earned comparisons to Bjork and Sigur Ros (although, doesn’t every Icelandic indie band get that?) for its stately, sometimes playful mix of glitchtronica, girlish vocals, and indie-pop. Though traditional instrumentation like piano and strings, and the occasional presence of toy instruments, has always been present to provide warmth to Mum’s quirky creations, new album Sing Along to Songs You Don’t Know has a far more organic sound than anything they’ve done previously. It jettisons virtually all the electronics for a more indie-folk feel that remains charming and bright as always, even if it was written with Iceland’s recent economic/political meltdown in mind. M.A.G.
8pm. $15-$18. With Sin Fang Bous. First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St. 866.468.7619. r5productions.com

Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele
The crooner-gone-to-seed thing has been done before, but few comers have shown as much loving attention to the necessary details as Mississippi singer/strummer Dent May. The man’s gently whimsical lyrics and easy way with a ukulele were enough to get him and band signed to Animal Collective’s Paw Tracks label for last February’s The Good Feeling Music Of. Over horns, pedal steel, and barbershop harmonies, May sings about Paris, the delicate nature of dance parties, and college grads languishing in townie bars. As the album winds down, he turns inward for “I’m An Alcoholic,” a deadpan lament culminating in the declaration “I’m over being sober.” Doug Wallen
Thurs., Oct. 22, 8pm. $8. With Tickley Feather + Steve Goldberg. Kung Fu Necktie, 1248 N. Front St. 215.291.4945. kungfunecktie.com

Friday October 23

Splatter House
Break out the corn syrup. It’s blood-makin’ time! A mixture of bass-heavy white label music and gory costumes, Splatter House—inspired by the parties thrown by Club Kids co-founder and, um, convicted murderer Michael Alig—is a post-apocalyptic danceathon with one big requirement: All attendees must be covered in fake blood. (Organizers suggest wearing white for the best blood-to-clothing contrast.) This BYO blood fest is designed to get beat phreaks hyped up and on the gory grind. Expect more than 10 DJs and MCs to steer the movement and the mix—including performances by large scale Drum & Bass trio Evol Intent, Philly’s own DJ Jeff Heart and DJ/promoter Mighty Mike Saga. Free beer and two rooms of bumping tunes, ranging from smooth, feel-good house tracks to thrashing industrial goth-tech will keep the party going well past last call. Naima H. Abdi
8pm-3am, $18. 941 Theater, 941 N. Front St. 215.235.1385. 941theater.com

Hall & Oates
The last time Hall & Oates headlined the Spectrum it was 1988: Oates still had the mustache, Hall still had the poofy hair, and the duo was coming off their last real smash album, Ooh Yeah! Soon after, the hits stopped coming and only the diehards were buying H&O albums and going to shows. But eventually came “Yacht Rock,” well-deserved admiration from a whole new generation of fans (both ironic and sincere), and career revitalization. Now the pair returns to the Spectrum to say farewell to the soon-to-be-demolished venue. No Oates mustache, no big hair, but singing voices well intact and a ton of memorable hits to play. M.A.G.
8pm. Sold out. With the Hooters + Todd Rundgren. Wachovia Spectrum, 3601 S. Broad St. 215.336.3600. livenation.com

Rain Machine
Rain Machine is the solo side project of guitarist/ vocalist Kyp Malone, a.k.a. the hugely bearded black dude from esteemed Brooklyn art-rock band TV on the Radio. It’s also a lot more experimental a pursuit than his day job. While there’s still TVotR-style noise-rock, dance-punk, indie-rock, and art-pop on Rain Machine’s just-released self-titled debut, those ideas get stretched out, twisted, and otherwise screwed with until they become kind of unhinged, with bluegrass, folk, ambient, and Arabian textures seeping in as well. But it remains quite appealing and occasionally even locates a groove. In other words, don’t expect Dear Science, but don’t expect Metal Machine Music, either. M.A.G.
9pm. $12. With Sharon Van Etten. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave. 215.739.9684. johnnybrendas.com

Saturday October 24

Exhumed 24-hour Horror-Thon
Dementia set in sometime around 4 a.m., during Ulli Lommell’s crap hackjob The Boogeyman, some 15 hours into last year’s edition of Exhumed Films’ 24-Hour Horror-Thon. But it wasn’t until 7 a.m.—right after the classic early-special effects-fest Equinox but before the giant rodent howler that was 1976’s The Food of the Gods—that I finally passed out. Or thought I did. In fact, I thought I had dreamt Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, which does, in fact, feature little else but Dennis Hopper and actors even hammier than he encouraged to go well past 11. A few tickets remain for the third go of the Hallow’s Eve endurance test, which offers a wide spectrum of the genre and beyond, with ’80s staples mixed with ’70s obscurities, Godzilla vehicles and old-timey classics. Best of all: the schedule is secret, leaving you surprised when you realize you get to spend the next 90 minutes with, say, Phantasm 2. Matt Prigge
Noon. $24. International House, 3701 Chestnut St. 215.387.5125. exhumedfilms.com

Thrill the World
If zombies have taught us anything over the last few years it’s that you don’t need a pulse to excel at event planning. These days nobody really bats an eye at gross assemblages of the undead dragging their limbs though parks and playgrounds. Zombie flash mobs are only a Tweet and a few gobs of pancake makeup away. But each year zombies do something special, gathering for a moldering teddy bears’ picnic in locations around the globe for the world’s largest simultaneous “Thriller” dance. Sponsored by Thrill the World and the arts education organization BuildaBridge, a harrowing host of decaying dancers hope to shatter the world record for a fourth time. Dancers of all ages and levels of decomposition are invited to celebrate the eternal legacy of Michael Jackson, werecats and greasy red (p)leather. “For no mere mortal can resist the evil of the Thriller!” Paul F. Montgomery
8:30pm. Free. Piazza at Schmidts, Second St. and Germantown Ave. 215.895.6220. thrilltheworld.com

Spinal Tapas
If you ask anyone in the know, it was only a matter of time before PW foodie scribe Tim McGinnis and music editor Brian McManus started mingling sauces outside the office. Sure enough, after focusing on food for awhile McGinnis, food instructor at Milton Hershey School, began writing up rock shows and McManus has a not-so-secret foodie past as a chef in Houston. Ever slowly, page inch by page inch, the two dudes got the idea to collaborate with Adam Erace on a mission to find Philly’s top 50 most urgent must-eat nibbles. The list, lauded for presenting some overlooked gems alongside the more obvious must-eats, ranges from highfalutin’ duck confit montadito with black cherries and ceviche to waffle fries and apple cider. After months of prep, McManus and McGinnis are ready to present the first-ever event inspired by a PW cover story and offer a menu—9 courses plus drinks from Yard’s brew for $90—with coolness and value only people toiling in dying industries can know. Tara Murtha
7pm. $90. Philly Kitchen Share, 1514 South St. 267.808.0729. phillykitchenshare.com

Light the Night
This world would be a better place if everyone were more like Tina Fey. When she isn’t busy breaking down gender barriers or just being awesome, she’s leading the fight to cure blood cancers. As the 2009 spokesperson for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s annual fundraising event, Ms. Fey would like to you to spend one night this year not being such a lazy inconsiderate bastard. Walk a few blocks, fill up on free refreshments, and maybe even score yourself a snazzy illuminating balloon. If not for the millions of Americans battling cancer, then do it for Tina. And who knows, perhaps the Upper Darby native will be making an appearance. Note: this is in no way a guarantee. You might just have to settle for the balloon. Nicole Finkbiner
6:30pm. Free. FDR Park, 2000 Pattison Ave. 610.238.0360. lightthenight.org

Voluptuous CyberSkin Love Toy
If I were the King of Norway, my first official acts would be 1. Replace Norwegian ambassador to the UN with the dude from Burzum. 2. Take Obama’s Nobel Prize back and give it to April Flores. The BBW erotic film star’s accomplishment? This year she released “Voluptuous CyberSkin Love Toy,” the world’s first realistic plus-size sex toy (3. Send one to Bill Clinton). Artists used plaster molds of a vagina as their canvas and decked out 20 coochies with everything from cartoon bears to religious iconography (in the new Norway, these are one and the same). If that doesn’t satiate the curve pervs, there will also be screenings of Flores’ films Voluptuous Biker Babes and Kiss Attack, a sex toy raffle benefiting the William Way Community Center, live music by Clamfight and Bitchslicer and an open bar. Matt Soniak
Sat., Oct. 24, 7:30pm. Free. Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St. 215.925.9914. paintedbride.org.

Sunday October 25

Sissy Wish
Long tipped as a breakout Scandinavian star in the mould of Lykke Li, Norway’s Siri Wålberg—a.k.a. Sissy Wish—saw her Pitchfork-loved third album Beauties Never Die released Stateside last month. It’s warm and fuzzy throughout, all rudimentary synth stylings, goading guitar lines, and plucky beats. That makes for one ticklish fusion of mainstream pop, indie rock, and dance music, and Wålberg has a strangely appealing vocal delivery that hovers between geeky and sexy. Fans of the Concretes and Peter Bjorn & John will fall for her like dominos, of course, but there just might be something there for the rest of us as well. D.W.
9pm. $5. With Abstract Truth. Blockley Pourhouse, 38th and Ludlow sts. 215.222.1234. theblockley.com

Schooly D
Old-school rappers who end up in the movie business are common these days. But local legend Schoolly D is not just another washed-up O.G. who turned to the film business once his album sales declined. The rapper-turned-other-industry star broke into the film scene using nothing but his musical skills. Working with director Abel Ferrara, he has penned soundtracks and composed the scores for movies such as The Addiction and King of New York. With decades’ worth of experience in both businesses under his belt, Schoolly D returns to his hometown to relay the tricks of the trade to industry hopefuls at Filmtech. The school for independent film and video production hosts him at the next Filmmakers Salon, a monthly networking event for filmmakers, screenwriters, actors and members of the local film community . But fear not, non-filmmakers—all are invited and encouraged to attend. Sherri Hospedales
Sun., Oct. 25, 7pm. Free. Filmtech, 2019 S. Juniper St. 215.313.0123.filmtechschool.com

Monday October 26

Ruth Reichl
By now food porn lovers have started to digest the news that beloved culinary mag Gourmet is the latest victim of the 2009 mediapocalypse. Pay your respects to ex-Gourmet editor Ruth Reichl while she gets wined and dined by local chef Mitch Prensky, who is preparing his version of classic recipes found in the Gourmet Now cookbook. Reichl will dish about her 10 years at the magazine as well as her work as a restaurant critic for the New York and Los Angeles Times. Scheduled way before Conde Nast dropped the axe, the event is a “first taste” of this year’s First Person Arts Festival and associated artists will be seated at each dining table to spill the beans on this year’s programming. Reserveration are required, but don’t let that stop you from extending your condolences. Erica Palan
6pm. $100-$125. Supper, 926 South St. firstpersonarts.org

Tuesday October 27

Birdie Busch CD Release Show
Philadelphia’s Birdie Busch has been perched on a wire for the last few years. While the clean, stunningly gorgeous lines of 2006’s The Ways We Try and the more layered, glistening rock of 2007’s Penny Arcade earned the Bird critical accolades from places like Village Voice and No Depression, somehow, in a twist only possible in the current crumbling music industry, the girl still has to bust a tail-feather to get a record made. And hustle she does: new album Pattern of Saturn was recorded over the last year in converted basements and bedrooms and even a hijacked high school auditorium. Inspired by how fingers can roam and kick notes while staying on course inside blues’ progressions, Birdie weaves bluesy aural threads through songs to give the record a feel that’s both tidy and galactic. Makes sense coming from a band that was able to dust off an old Steve Miller tune and glaze it into listenable paisley pop. Tara Murtha
7:30pm. $10. First Unitarian Church Chapel, 2125 Chestnut St. 866.468.7619. r5productions.com

Pearl Jam
They may be the last band to play before the Spectrum is torn down, but Eddie Vedder has already paid his respects. Back in 2003, in fan-favorite “Do the Evolution,” amid a lengthy exaltation of performing in the same building where Julius Erving made so many memories, he heralded the building’s angels: “I’m a thief/ And I’m a liar/ Dr. J played here/ Let’s sing in the choir/ Alleluia!” Three of the four nights are way sold out (the last chords—10 bucks says they close with “Yellow Ledbetter”—ring on Halloween eve), but as of press time, a few tickets remain for this Tuesday show. Come with your last respects. Jeffrey Barg
7:30pm. $77. With Social Distortion. Wachovia Spectrum, 3601 S. Broad St. 215.336.3600. livenation.com