THE SHOWDOWN: Arresting sounds that demand attention

Among our live show picks of the week: Anna Calvi @ Johnny Brenda's, Glasvegas @ The Note and The Donkeys @ Kung Fu Necktie.

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THE SHOWDOWN: Arresting sounds that demand attention

POSTED: Monday, May 23, 2011, 1:00 PM

Monday: Anna Calvi doesn’t score any power-ups for her guitar playing, but the English-Italian axelady’s skills are mighty impressive. Inspired by a multitude of sultry global influences, Calvi’s live shows are as spooky and enticing as the songs on her self-titled album. Anna Calvi was released earlier this year, and features a blend of Florence And The Machine bombast and Patti Smith intensity. Anna has caught the attention of some pretty high profile fans, including Ray Davies and Brian Eno. And you’re next. w/ She Keeps Bees, 9 p.m., $10, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684.

Tuesday: Formerly of the indie garage group Elefant, Diego Garcia is nothing short of a music scientist. Garcia spins familiar parts from various iconic sources into his own mix of sunny pop. Recently, Garcia has been getting back to his cultural roots, using the music of Latin singer-songwriters like Antonio Carlos Jobim as a heavy influence. Garcia’s solo debut is one of those instantly familiar records, clearly made at by hand hands of someone who knows what he’s doing. w/ Ron Gallo, 8 p.m., $11-$13, World Café Live, 30th St. & Walnut St., 215-222-1400.

Wednesday: If you’ve been waiting all these years for Glasvegas to put out a new album, then I’ve got good news for you. EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\ (caps and slashes are all theirs) continues in the massively-produced fashion of their hit debut. James Allan’s accent is all the thicker, the songs are all the more mopey, and the arrangements are big enough to knock the wind out of you. Though they’re not a particularly ‘fun’ band, Glasvegas occupy a particular space in the world’s musical population. Go see them to get your mood turned around in any direction. w/ The Dig & Turning Violet Violet, 7 p.m., $20-$22, The Note, 142 E. Market St., West Chester, 484-947-5713.

Thursday: When you think of the rural expanses of central Canada, The Wilderness Of Manitoba’s music will inevitable serve as the soundtrack. Though actually from Toronto, the band captures the Canadian heartland with rich harmonies and intricate acoustic arrangements. The group will be making an appearance later this year at the 50th Philadelphia Folk Festival, but catch them now to stay way ahead of the curve. w/ Cloud Cult, 8 p.m., $17-$24, World Café Live, 30th St. & Walnut St., 215-222-1400.

Friday: Impromptu festival? Okay, let’s do it! The Sundrops Arts and Music Fest is yet another gathering of nearly all of Philadelphia’s musical movers and shakers. The three-day event blossoms out beyond the stage of The Fire on Saturday, but the kickoff concert is fully musical. Featuring performances from local favorites like Hezekiah Jones, the North Lawrence Midnight Singers and Sisters 3, the Sundrops Fest is sure to become a yearly happening, if only to bring these beloved performers together. w/ Up The Chain, Joe Duffey & Swedeland, 8 p.m., $10, The Fire, 412 W Girard Ave., 267-671-9298.

Saturday: Something tells me that San Diego’s The Donkeys considered naming themselves The Zebras at one point or another. Their album is called Born With Stripes, after all. Regardless, the group of surfers-turned-rockers makes gently rollicking tunes that evoke sunning on a California beach or catching a wave with your pals. Still, there’s a bit of melancholy in the music as if to question to merits of the stereotypical surfer lifestyle. This dichotomy makes for an arresting sound that demands attention. w/ Citay & Oldermost, 7:30 p.m., $10, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 215-291-4919.

Sunday: Every band has to grow up and record in a studio sometime. For Times New Viking, that time is now (or, more accurately, a few months ago when they recorded Dancer Esquired). Previously lauded and reviled for the lower than lo-fi attack, TNV have since mellowed out, focusing more on denser textures and melodies. They’re still punks at heart, though, and keep their live shows just as energetic. For those who have been waiting to get into TNV without getting a headache in the process, that time has most definitely come. w/ The Babies & Far-Out Fangtooth, 9 p.m., $12, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684.

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