Restoring the power to those affected by mass incarceration, flipping the script on systematic racism and violence, Reclaim Philadelphia’s Mass Liberation Campaign aims to promote change focused on unjust policing and in-prisoning practices in Philadelphia, via organization and education developing leaders. Tonight, Everybody Hits hosts a benefit for the MLC - one which showcases artists whose music coincides and reinforces those messages. Sammus articulates a wide spectrum of pertinent issues addressing things from a personal perspective, infusing nerdcore with an unyielding tenacity that will not be denied. Pinkwash cultivates a brutal, melodic punk, in a smash-and-sear framework - one etched in earnest vocal delivery and the release of emotion in cathartic waves of heavy, while Soul Glo unleashes internalized thoughts over the top of potent, instrumental blitzes. And on New Pedal, the recent release from Likes, an experimental, warped, sonic world is on full display. Please come out & show your support for much-needed change! – Michael Colavita 

Other places to hit this Halloween weekend…

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) Sammus, Pinkwash, Soul Glo, Likes

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Olivia Neutron-John, Evil Sword, DJ Silverado, Dj Burner Phone, SUN Slomo Sapiens 

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SUN Serene Green

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Conversations/DJSC, SAT Bastion’s Wake, URD/Fame Lust

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) TJ Kong Halloween Murdershow IX: TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb, Sixteen Jackies, Scantron

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT UPenn SAS Halloween After Party: Jai Matt, Dr. Srimix, SUN Fright Night: Millennials, Surreal Nation, Shock Value, The Hook

TLA (334 South St.) SAT The Dead Milkmen, Decontrol

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) SUN Resting

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) David Falcone/Mark Schultz & The Wayne Rangers, Beaufort, SAT (Upstairs) Ladies First Showcase (A Benefit for Unite  For Her): Danielle and Jennifer , Mixed People, Gemtarra , Roxy Rollz, Sylvia Platypus, SUN Rico & Rachel

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Blasphemous, Gross, SAT Punk Hands, Pajent (Solo), Knightlife, SUN Arcane Way, Bone Hive, Snake Charmer

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI John Gilbride (Album Release), Lullanas, Sophie Coran, SAT You Do You, Bazmati Vice, Somethin’ Divine, The Side Chicks

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd  St.) FRI Sad Actor, SAT Green Meteor, SUN Drums Like Machine Guns, Forgotten Bottom, Night Raids

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Necrosexual, S.T.A.R.W.O.O.D., Basilysk, Family Vacation, SUN The Bad Luck 13, YDI, Sugar Daddie, Gloves Off, Wolves Attack, Urban Resist

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI Vasey Hall, St. Brendan, Here/Now, SAT Great Time, Lauren Scott

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Aktive, SAT DJ Deejay, SUN DJ Hank McCoy

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT You Go No You: Songwriter Band, SUN Rusty Cadillac 

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI Gozer, Too doGs, SAT Mad Hatter’s Tea Party: A Halloween Extravaganza: Pat Pharari

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) FRI The Big 80’s Halloween Party: DJ Marco

The Tusk (430 South St.) FRI Fell Into Yesterday (Farewell Show), Sex With Rollercoasters, The Good Mess

Century (1350 S 29^th St.) FRI Control Top, TVO,  SAT Static Brothers, The Magnificent Shithawks, Vulturepeaks, Manikineater, Decap Attack, SUN Decarcerate PA Benefit: Pushin' it 2 the Limit, Westboro Baptist Choir

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Philly’s Foxes/DJ Chris Urban, SAT Lush Puppies: A Night for Charity/DJ Brian Toll, SUN Murder’s A Drag: A True Crime Drag Show

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Naps Past Noon, SAT Deadfellow, Andorra

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI PhillyBloco

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Danger Club, Primatives, Adventure Lost, Knightlife, The Stone Eye

No Face Studios (5213 Grays Ave.) FRI Halloween Cover Show: Coping Skills, Absinthe Father, Ready Now, SAT No Thank You, Decent, Queen Jesus (solo)

Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) SUN Goalkeeper, Median, Dune Puma

Vox Populi (319 N. 11^th St., 3^rd FL) SUN Meridian

Jerry's On Front (2341 N. Front St.) FRI MH/MB

Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Halloween Show: Broke Body, (The Pixies), Overwinter (Phantogram), Puppy Angst (The Killers), Rebecca Zimnmerman (Amy Winehouse), Missy Pidgeon (Patsy Cline)

Strange and wonderful things can happen when three talented artists from completely different musical backgrounds join creative forces. One of these "things" is Levitating (streaming below), a mostly hip hop track that merges Sammus' rhymes with Olga Bell's European flavored electronic production and Xenia Rubinos Hispanic music influences. Born from an instrumental penned by Bell, the track is a perfect example of what NYC is (and has been for awhile): an irreversible melting pot of races and culture, where positive collaboration trumps any difference and distrust. The message here is that (hard) work and curiosity are the best antidotes to intolerance, and these prolific ladies know something about it. Check out the track below, and catch Xenia Rubinos at the Ecstatic Music Fest at the Kaufman Center on January 27th. 

We know. What to do? What to do…this Halloween weekend? We love the all hallow-est of eves! And Philly does not have a shortage of diverse things to do. If you find the idea of swanky surroundings with the echo of groove-oriented experimental beats flowing through your ears and tarot card readings blowing your mind, Final Friday’s AfroFuturist Affair Costume Ball at the Philadelphia Art Museum this evening with locals Moor Mother, Sammus, and Fholston Paradigm is a no-brainer. And since things will be wrapping up relatively early, you still have plenty of time to catch Dark Thoughts at the LAVA Space benefit. On Saturday, the 8^th annual TJ Kong Halloween Murdershow will be doing debaucherous things in the below ground lair of Underground Arts. The familiar faces of Levee Drivers and Tutlie will be joined by sexified newcomers OOLALA and Shy Boyz. And if you don’t really feel like leaving the Fishtown/Kensington/NoLibs area, tomorrow will be a nice evening to take a buzzed walk to your favorite neighborhood DIY space Everybody Hits for Hurry’s 2^nd Annual Halloween Spooktacular, with pals Shannen Moser, Cave People, and Anomie. All proceeds will go to The Humane League of Philadelphia. For those who really haven’t had enough this Halloween weekend, you might need to chill out at Union Transfer, where Petal will be performing a solo set, opening for the always captivating Julien Baker and Half Waif. Wherever you find yourself, enjoy that you are there - cheers! – Alexis V.

More Halloween Weekend Fun…

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Hezekiah Jones, DeadFellow, Ali Wadsworth, SAT TJ Kong Halloween Murdershow VIII: TJ Kong & The Atomic Bomb, Tutlie, Levee Drivers, Shy Boyz, Red 40 and the Last Groovement, OOLALA

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Minka, Thrills

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Street Stains, SAT Pink Slip Daddy, Dixy Blood, SUN Spent Flesh, Dumal, Mob Terror, Atomic Cretins

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Throbbing Chakra, Rubber/DJSC/Duffy’s Cut, SAT Black Urn/Fame Lust, SUN Deathmonger AD, Mota, Plot/Erik Kramer, Maggie Mae

Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St,) SUN Petal (Solo)

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT Dead Milkmen, Green Meteor

TLA (334 South St.) SAT Tweed

The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) SAT Baceface

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) FRI DJ Grotzy Versace

Electric Factory (421 N. 7^th St.) SAT Pluto Era

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FR I (Upstairs) Dirty Dozen Dance Band/(Downstairs) Greg Sover Band

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI Tektonic, Muscle Tough, Darla, SAT My Son Bison, Rosali, Oldermost, SUN Shon Goner

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) SUN The Old Souls, Chalk and The Beige Americans, Gringo Motel, The Sideshow Prophets

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Apex Predator, Mesmeria, Ketosis, SAT Secret Nudist Friends, The Pretty Greens, SUN Bad Luck 13, Eaten Alive, Gloves Off/Dirty Purple, Moonroof, Vague Advice, It Makes Sounds

Century (1350 S. 29^th St.) FRI Conflict Theory, War Vomit

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) SAT Suburban Living (DJ Set)

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Francisco Collazo, SAT DJ Deejay

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT The Jersey Corn Pickers, SUN Rusty Cadillac

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI Pravda, Endless Taile, Tantra, SAT Stinking Lizavetta, Thorazine, Workhorse III, The End AD, Thee Minks, Mojo Machine

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) SUN The Roddenberries

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Slomo Sapiens, Local Smokes, SAT Duke Brothers, Bonehead

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Philly Bloco, SUN Philly Loves Petty: Low Cut Connie, Ben Arnold, Mo Lowda & The Humble (with Joe Reinhart), Smash Palace, Travel Lanes, Hinton Bower Jones, Big Jangle, No Good Sister, Nik Greeley Ross Bellenoit

Philadelphia Museum of Art (2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.) FRI Afrofuturistic Affair Costume Ball: Moor Mother, Sammus, Fhloston Paradigm

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Italoween SAT Hurry, Cave People, Shannen Moser, Anomie

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) SUN Matthew W. Charles, Side Pocket Louie, Everyone Except Me, Rasan Allbritton

LAVA Space (4134 Lancaster Ave.) FRI Dark Thoughts, Jenna and The Pups, Dialer

Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT LXV

Spank Banquet (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Ceramic Animal, Attic Tapes, Sixteen Jackies, Chifa

Below is a new music video for "Qualified" from Sammus, a.k.a. Philadelphia-based rapper/producer Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo. It's off her Don Giovanni debut Pieces in Space, and features contributions from Open Mike Eagle and Arch Thompson. Sammus is set to hit the road this week, where she'll also be joined by Open Mike Eagle and Mega Ran. She'll be closing out her North American fall tour on Sunday, October 1 at beloved, hometown DIY space Everybody Hits.

Hailing from the cold lands of Cornell where she is getting a PHd, but no stranger to NYC"s hip-hop scene, Sammus possesses one of the most refreshing flows amongst emerging rappers today. While many emmcees have begun to incorporate more and more melodic RnB elements into their vocals and instrumentals, Sammus goes back to basics, equipped with a slow, lyrically dense style that through which she ensures she is heard loud and clear. On her latest music video for "100%", a track off her new album Pieces in Space, Sammus takes her peers back to school. Filmed on her stomping ground at Cornell, the emcee, alongside featured artist Latasha Alcindor, teach a bunch of college kids how to rap and have swagger in a class called "Hip-Hop 101." It's a fun video, but what really stands out is the music portion. On a 90's type soul flow, Sammus and LA go in with aggressive flows, filled to the brim with political messages and pop culture trivia. While Sammus' music may feel a little out of place initially in today's hip hop climate, on this track and others she demands her place at the table. Check out her music video below, and catch her at Alphaville tomorrow 10/28 where she'll release her new LP. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber, photo by— CoolDad Music