THE SHOWDOWN: The current configuration seems to be working

POSTED: Monday, December 19, 2011, 1:00 PM

Filed Under: Music The Showdown

Every Monday, CP music critic Brian Wilensky rounds up the week's sure-bet live shows.

Monday: Get angry with Ryan Harvey, a Baltimore riot-folk singer who was arrested last month while occupying Wall Street. He just wants some anarchy. Is that too much to ask? 7 p.m., free, Wooden Shoe Books, 704 South St., 215-413-0999.

Tuesday: Old Man Cactus results from combining country twang, a little sax and pop-rock radio vibes. According to their website, they’ve had more lineup changes than this year’s Flyers roster. But by the sounds of it, the current configuration seems to be working. 8 p.m., $5, with The Workmen, Gavilan & Orion Freeman, The Grape Room, 105 Grape St., 215-930-0321.

Wednesday: The post-jazz rock moments with Mi Hed Ur Hed include mildly distorted guitar that head in an indie direction. The real jazz moments are storyteller-ish, by way of mellow drum brushing and even accordion, before showing that they’re unafraid to take angular steps onto the free-jazz path. Remember, there is composition in improvisation. 8 p.m., with Otto Von Walmart & Starwood, Kung Fu Necktie, 1248 N. Front St., 215-291-4919.

Thursday: Just imagine the loudest, most abrasively aggressive harmonica and guitar blues rock heaving a boulder down a mountain. Then imagine getting flattened by that boulder like Indiana Jones almost got in Raiders of the Lost Ark. That’s what Boogie Witch’s pummeling live recordings from a 2002 Silk City show feels like on the brain. Good luck finding much else from them other than some YouTube videos from this year that don’t quite reach the same level. Oh, and run to your nearest CP orange box today; our Top 21 music issue is live. 9 p.m., $6, with Spacin, Little Bar, 736 S. 8th St., 267-639-5233.

Friday: Philly rock and roll outfit, Ruby the Hatchet has guitar riffs that push through muddy waters and their lead singer, Jillian Taylor, has a voice that’ll bring the ship ashore. As you jettison the liner, get ready to rock as soon as you touch ground. 10 p.m., $8, with Sleepers Lie & The Riverwinds, Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-6888.

Saturday: Have you heard? Everyone’s favorite Chassidic reggae-leaning rapper, Matisyahu, has ditched the beard. He’s coming around on Christmas Eve because the holiday doesn’t really mean much to him. 7 p.m., $30, TLA, 334 South St., 215-922-1011.

Sunday: It’s time to wipe the dust off your copy of Bing Crosby’s Merry Christmas that collected since this time last year.

(brian.wilensky@citypaper.net)

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Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

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