Brendan Plays Rockabilly

Join Brendan Skwire (of The Dill Pickles) this Saturday, April 24 as he slaps bass with the Super Devils at Murph’s Bar in Fishtown.  This time he’s not playing bluegrass, he’s playing rockabilly. Yeah, I had to look that up too. Whatever it is, it’ll be guaranteed fun. Bring your dancing shoes. Doors open at 8PM, Brendan starts playing at 10. I saw Brendan play a number of times last summer. He always delivers a great show. If you thought bluegrass rockabilly in Philly was dead, think again.

Make your own pickle jokes

And as always, Friday nights are bluegrass nights. Come on out and listen to some old-timey music.

Friday Fun

Brendan Skwire Writing for Philadelphia Weekly?

At least something good came out of this whole John Yoo deal. Brendan Skwire, who writes at Brendan Calling wrote a little letter that went something like this:

“There are so many reasons why I should be offered a paid column at the Inquirer or the Daily News. I’m fresher, funnier, and more relevant than any of these writers; I’ve got local name recognition thanks to the cover of the Philly Weekly; I’ve been a guest writer at several blogs, including local blogs like All Spin Zone and Suburban Guerilla, and national blogs like Firedoglake; and I have a passion for the interests of my low-income, working class community in southwest Philadelphia….

I bring a perspective that none of the current conservative writers at the Inquirer (or for that matter the Daily News) can offer: not only am I a fire-breating lefty community activist who’s unafraid to take controversial stances, I’m a member of the working poor, and I dish it out to Democrats as well as Republicans. When was the last time any of your current columnists (collectively, a right wing lawyer, a right wing lawyer, and a right wing lawyer) had to choose between “heat or eat”, as I have done almost every winter for the past 4 years? Do any of these well-heeled writers really represent the views of the millions of working people (most of them Democrats) who live in Philadelphia? I think not. John Yoo’s taste for torture cheesesteaks when he visits the city is immaterial, and of all three, only Flowers lives and works in the city.”

Read more here, it’s hilarious.

And yesterday, he got his chance. Check out Brendan’s new column at Philadelphia Weekly!

Great, now Brendan’s not riding SEPTA

And that’s one less good person on your train.

There goes Brendan Skwire. Walking away from SEPTA in disgust. Photo credit: Ray Skwire

So here’s Brendan. Philly advocate. My Drinking Liberally buddy. One of my favorite PG commenters. And now? Ex-SEPTA rider.

Here’s what he writes on his (fantastic) blog, Brendan Calling:

“Last night I rode SEPTA regional rail for the first time in a few years. It wasn’t really by choice: my car broke down and I had to get out to Narberth to pick with the Dill Pickles. My buddy Nik said that once you get on the train it takes about 15 minutes to get there.”

You know where he’s going with this. (Yup, yet another SEPTA fail for Albert Yee’s collection.) Read the entire story here. Poor guy, he was just trying to get to his band gig.

He ends by writing:

“I will NEVER ride the regional rail again except for the purpose of entertaining my kid. I won’t even use it in an emergency: I’d just as soon take my bike or hail a cab in THIS city. For me, SEPTA’s regional lines serve no serious purpose: it’s one thing to add an extra hour to your commute when you’re trying make a train on time. It’s another entirely to add TWO extra hours to your commute because the trains show up 45 minutes late.

They should change the name of the Philly’s monopoly on transit to SCHLEPTA. It fits a whole lot better.”

Yikes! NEVER? In all-caps? That’s serious business. I can’t imagine never riding SEPTA again. I love SEPTA. Well, the people and the experience more than the actual entity. However, as Phawker’s SEPTA Girl, I should probably respond to Brendan’s post. Wait, why should I say something? I didn’t make Brendan late. I didn’t screw up his evening. I’m not responsible. SEPTA is. SEPTA should apologize. But they probably won’t.

So here we go:

I <3 bluegrass UPDATED

Ever since I saw “O Brother Where Art Thou?” I’ve loved bluegrass. Wait, was that bluegrass.  I thought it was. I’m not real music savvy when it comes to characterizing genres.

Anyways, if you want to listen to real bluegrass this weekend, check out The Dill Pickles, who will be playing the Spruce Hill May Fair this Saturday, May 9 at 2:00 PM.

Info here.

Listen to ’em here.

I’ve heard that “Nobody’s Business” song like 100 times this week.