Nightlife

A LIVELY LEGACY

From the pop sweetness of “American Bandstand” to the grooves of Sun Ra and open chords of McCoy Tyner, Philly is a city with a musical heritage.

BY JEREMY DILLAHUNT

Philadelphia is home to more than a dozen major musical venues (Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Th e Painted Bridge Arts Center) and even more musical societies (Philadelphia Academy of Music, Th e Mendelssohn Club and John W. Coltrane Cultural Society). While its pedigree is easily established, Philly is remembered by some as the birthplace of DJ Jazzy Jeff and Th e Fresh Prince (aka Will Smith). Th at one place could produce such a diversity of sounds—from Philly Soul to experimental jazz to men’s choral music—is astonishing. Th e best part is that far from resting on its laurels, it’s still a place where music thrives.

Bamboo
101 N 20th St • 215-636-0228 www.bamboophilly.com

This second-floor lounge is a cozy, though swank, retreat perfect for a blend of kicking back, chatting and letting your feet fly on the dance floor. Local DJs Brendon BringEm, Isaac Jordan and Ian St. Laurent hold down the ones and twos Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, respectively, spinning hip-hop, house, soul and reggae. The joint is popular with young professionals, so make sure to dress to impress.

Trocadero Theatre
1003 Arch St • 215-922-5483 www.thetroc.com

This one-time movie theater turned music hall/theater is probably the best venue in Philadelphia to see live music. Two balconies and a main floor can hold enough of a crowd to draw the likes of GZA the Genius, Tegan and Sara, and Bobby Bare Jr., but the space isn’t so big that music fans get lost in a sea of people. On Mondays, you can catch movies like Donnie Darko or Superbad, but the real draw is the costumed people who show up like the Cobra Kai karate dojo.

Bar Noir
112 S 18th St • 215-569-1160 www.barnoir215.com

Bar Noir is a small club with a big heart in a basement. The low ceilings can prove dangerous when the rock ‘n’ roll fueled dance floor moves to the tabletops and couches, which happens quite often. Saturdays often see local or regional live bands giving it their best power chord strums and crescendo drum solos. The vibe is definitely relaxed and a perfect place to get a slice of Philly nightlife.