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Philly Music Venue: The Rotunda

You won't hear the hottest new touring band at The Rotunda, and whatever you do hear, it won't have the state-of-the-art sound system that Philadelphia's larger venues offer.

What will you hear at the Rotunda? It's hard to say. Could be Middle Eastern drumming, freestyle rapping and breakdancing or teenage scream-rockers.

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Philly Music Venue: Johnny Brenda's

We told you a couple of years back about how popular Philadelphia tavern Johnny Brenda's was getting in the music game, and less than two years later, this place has firmly established itself as one of Philly's prime live music venues.

The Fishtown bar converted the second floor of a 19th Century building into an intimate live venue that brings out exuberant crowds for an almost-every-night schedule of indie bands. The focus is on local acts, but on occasion they bring in bigger bands (they've featured The National, Grizzly Bear and The Walkmen since opening). With a capacity of just 300, Johnny Brenda's is one of the most intimate venues many of these bands play.

For pre- and post-show fun, the ground floor bar serves hand-pumped local brews and a surprisingly upscale menu (think Littleneck clams; goat cheese, arugula, and watermelon salad).

Related Stories:
· Johnny Brenda's [Official Site]
· PhillyStyle: Drinks, Music & Eye Candy at Johnny Brenda's [Jaunted]
· Philadelphia Music Venues Map [Jaunted]
· Philadelphia Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Johnny Brenda's]

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Under the Radar: Brooklyn Urban Arts Market

The massively overhyped Brooklyn Flea market has gotten all the outer borough buzz this summer, yet somehow another nearby weekend afternoon shindig has flown under the radar.

The Brooklyn Urban Arts Market has been going on every other Sunday this summer, with booths from local artisans and vendors, and food from a variety of restaurants along Myrtle Avenue.

A project of the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Afro-Punk Festival, the market has also been bringing out an impressive and eclectic line-up of live music, including British rapper Slick Rick this past Sunday. Next up: Bronx DJ legend Afrika Bambaataa on September 7.

Related Stories:
· Brooklyn Urban Arts Market [Official Site]
· Brooklyn Flea [Official Site]
· Kick-Push Travel: Afro-Punk Takes Over Brooklyn [Jaunted]
· Brooklyn Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: brooklynggirl]

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Philly Music Venue: The Troc

The Trocadero Theatre, a 138-year-old, 1,200-person Victorian venue, has gone through many incarnations in its time on Arch Street--hosting vaudeville, burlesque, movies and, since 1996, pop music.

"The Troc" has long been known as a place to discover local Philly bands, but as the surrounding Market East neighborhood has transformed into a more desirable location in recent years, the lineup has leaned towards national acts.

The still-quite-diverse list of upcoming shows includes everyone from dance pop duo Chromeo to Swedish heavy metal act Opeth and Bow Wow as Shad Moss. (Wait, Bow has yet another alternate persona?)

Local hipsters get more excited about low-key weekday activities at the Troc's smaller balcony space, including free movies on Mondays, along with Guitar Hero contests and $2 beers.

Related Stories:
· The Trocadero Theatre [Official Site]
· Philadelphia Music Venues Map [Jaunted]
· Philadelphia Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: ambersandwich]

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Brooklyn Music: Last Pool Party This Weekend

This weekend marks the end of an era for Brooklyn's awesomely (or insufferably) hip neighborhood of Williamsburg.

For the last three years, one of the neighborhood's undeniable summer highlights has been the pool party concerts at the (waterless) McCarren Park Pool, where indie rock faves like The Hold Steady, Of Montreal and the Black Lips have rocked out at free weekend shows.

But the city has decided to turn McCarren Park Pool back into an actual pool, which, to be fair, could be pretty cool come next summer. So indie vets Yo La Tengo will play the last ever pool party, this Sunday at 2 pm. (The non-free Clear Channel series at the pool continues next week with Sonic Youth.) If you're planning to show up for some nostalgia this weekend, plan to arrive early--lines this summer have been insanely long.

Related Stories:
· McCarren Park Pool Parties [Official Site]
· Brooklyn Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Penningtron]

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Hudson Valley Escape: Tarrytown

Tarrytown was the home of early 19th century writer Washington Irving, and it was this quaint Dutch-American hamlet that inspired his creepy ghost story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." (Adjoining North Tarrytown even changed its name to Sleepy Hollow in 1997 in an attempt to up its tourist appeal.)

While there have been no reported sightings of headless horsemen recently, the village today is one of the area's most historically rich destinations. Here's our guide to Tarrytown.

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Philly Music Venue: The Khyber

Set in the heart of Old City, The Khyber is one of Philly's longest-standing live music venues, and somehow has escaped morphing into a tourist trap, unlike most of its neighbors.

The laid-back dive bar is your best chance to catch a Philly band that will be famous a year from now, while many already-well-known local bands often return for the nostalgia factor. Upcoming shows range from local dance-rockers Fat City Reprise to indie rock vets Mock Orange and disco-punkers Electric Six.

For non-musical pursuits, the upstairs bar is open every night, with drinking specials that include $1 PBR until 11 pm and an open bar on Sundays for 10 bucks.

Related Stories:
· The Kyber [Official Site]
· Philadelphia Music Venues Map [Jaunted]
· Philadelphia Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: maladjusted]

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Labor Day Travel: Join the Joy of Jazz

This Labor Day, jazz lovers won't be gassing up the family SUV or "staycationing" on their couches with a sack of Cheetos and "Kind of Blue" on repeat. They'll be at the Joy of Jazz Festival, a relatively new South African concert series taking place in Johannesburg August 28-30.

The location of the festival makes it a promising spot to host artists from both East and West, from Japanese pianist Keiko Matsui to Spanish-Afro-Cuban outfit Seda Jazz. If you've never heard Xhosa-language songs, the August 30 concert by local talent Camagwini is a must--and a relative steal at R250 (about $32).

If you can arrive and shake off the jet lag by the 28, you can even sit in on a performance workshop hosted by one of the featured musicians!

Related Stories:
· Joy of Jazz [Official Site]
· Vanity Fair's Boutique South Africa [HC]
· Google Earth Travel: South Africa Tourism Goes Virtual [Jaunted]

[Photo of George Duke and Stanley Clarke at last year's festival: begapixel]

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Philly Music Venues: Theater of the Living Arts

One of Philly's best mid-size concert venues, this (not-too) renovated movie theater is smack in the middle of South Street's always-on nightlife scene, and attracts an appropriately young and rowdy crowd.

Like a growing number of mid-size venues across the country, the 800-capacity Theater of the Living Arts has been recently acquired by Clear Channel spinoff Live Nation, much to the chagrin of local indie rock fans, but it should be noted that they haven't done much to corporate the place up as of yet.

In addition to local indie and hip-hop bands, upcoming shows at TLA include Ice Cube, Sonic Youth with The Hold Steady and "Crash" star Terrance Howard, who, if you didn't know, is apparently an "urban country" singer now.

Shows for national acts are often sold out, so it's a good idea to get tix beforehand.

Related Stories:
· Theater of the Living Arts [Official Site]
· Philadelphia Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: pleonasticism]

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Philly Music Venues: The Manhattan Room

For a city that's constantly trying to distinguish itself from NYC, it's unclear why Philadelphia went with the name The Manhattan Room for its newest hipster bar and music venue.

Whatever the reasoning, the spot has quickly established itself on the Philly music scene. Set in the increasingly hip-but-still a little sketchy Fishtown neighborhood, "The M-Room" is a new go-to spot for the city's indie rock fans.

The venue hosts live events every Tuesday through Sunday. The schedule is heavy on local acts like Johnny Action Figure and Red Ox, but also includes DJ dance nights, art openings and indie film screenings. In addition to a healthy roster of cheap brews, there's also a dinner menu of burgers, sandwiches and full plates.

Related Stories:
· The Manhattan Room [Official Site]
· Philadelphia Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Tommy Draper]

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Reggae in Israel: The Cube Bar

Jerusalem isn't the first place you think of to explore under-the-radar nightlife scenes, but everyone's favorite holy city has a surprisingly diverse party circuit, from gay clubs to street punks to wine-and-cheese bars.

And, like just about any other city in the world, you can always find some Bob Marley heads if you look hard enough. The Cube Bar, set inside the Mehane Yehuda market in central Jerusalem, is Israel's gathering place for the dreadlocked, shoeless, hippy dance crowd.

This laid-back, open-air bar is a casual spot for downing a few local Goldstar brews while chatting with a mix of Israeli reggae heads and American and Euro ex-pats. The parties get under way on Friday afternoons in the summer, when live reggae bands start playing at 4 pm. (Like most of the rest of Jerusalem, the party shuts down by sundown to observe Shabbos).

Related Stories:
· Israel Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Music Travel coverage [Jaunted]

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San Francisco Music Venues: Harry Denton's Starlight Room

The self-proclaimed "classiest night club in town," Harry Denton's Starlight Room remains a perennial San Francisco evening classic. Located on the 21st floor of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, the lounge has upscale Rat Pack flashiness and an awesome view of the city.

The bar itself is old-timey and cocktails like Sidecars and Sloe Gin Fizzes are poured with precision. Weekly music nights are hosted by local DJs and given SF's pedigree of turning out world class electronic music artists, there's rarely a bad set.

Almost as famous as the view is the weekly Sunday Drag Brunch. Whether or not you want to cross-dress, every Sunday there are drag entertainers for the afternoon. A true champion of variety, Harry Denton's Starlight Room is the perfect place for a first date, raging party or a Champagne cocktail with your visiting aunt.

Related Stories:
· Harry Denton's Starlight Room [Official Site]
· San Francisco Music Venues Map [Jaunted]

[Photo: Thomas Hawk]