THE SHOWDOWN: Counting down to the last year of human existence

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

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THE SHOWDOWN: Counting down to the last year of human existence

POSTED: Monday, December 26, 2011, 12:00 PM

Filed Under: Music The Showdown

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

Monday: Vilebred’s leader has an older brother who’s now sitting in the high court of Philly rock royalty. But Sam Vile writes riffs a little differently and sings like Thom Yorke raised on post-grunge ’90s rock. Their first effort, Kamikaze Blues, came out in 2009 on Kind of Columbian, and last month’s EP, Eeep, will be available at their upcoming shows. 8 p.m., free, with Chelsea Allen, North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 215-787-0488.

Tuesday: Ray White is joining Ike Willis’ Frank Zappa homage band, Project/Object. Willis started joining Frank on Joe’s Garage in which he plays the voice of Joe. So he probably remembers how to keep it greasy. 8 p.m., $17-$20, with Igor’s Egg, World Cafe Live,

Wednesday: Unlike most acts in the jam-band scene, the New Deal know when enough is enough. This short string of East Coast shows will be the band’s last. The synth-driven dance trio is drawing the curtain on their 12-year run of turning rock venues into rave scenes. And that means one thing: bring extra glowsticks. 8 p.m., $27.50, with Sonic Spank, TLA, 334 South St., 215-922-1011.

Thursday: This year’s Man in Nature put Cheers Elephant in the “Going Places” box. Keep an eye on it because that box can be renamed to the “I Told You So” box at any time. Play it for the girl of your dreams and she just may become the girl you bring to this show. 9 p.m., $10, with Illinois & Hollis Brown, Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684.

Friday: The three-piece, Philly-based Penrose covers the blues bases on last year’s Devil’s Grip. The down-South grimed-up guitar distortion, amid ear-shaking cymbal crashes and occasional keyboard and yelling locals doesn’t lose sight of its alternative rock roots. 9 p.m., with Levee Drivers, The Lawsuits & John the Conquerer, Tritone, 1508 South St., 215-545-0475.

Saturday: So, there are too many Philly indie-rock superstars on this hip New Year’s bill to pick just one. This lineup is stacked because it’s the official opening of the new headquarters for Phonographic Arts (bye bye, Little Bar). Word on the (Face)book is that the door cost includes, not only a toast at midnight, but endless PBR to help you forget that you’re counting down to the last year of human existence on Earth. 8 p.m., $25, with Bleeding Rainbow, Eternal Summers, Creepoid, Pink Skull, Slutever, Fire in the Hearts and Minds & Exploding World, The Level Room, 2102 Market St., 215-920-2070.

Sunday: Toast your New Year’s hangover away over brunch with Beth Hart. Bet she’ll be making selections from the blues album she did with Joe Bonamassa this September. Her sultry blues-chick voice complements her partner’s guitar soloing just right over 12-bar structures. Put it on to remind yourself that not everyone is singing songs about “Sleigh bells ring ting tingling” this time of the year. 12 p.m., $45, with Christine Santelli, Gina Sicilia & Aster Phoenyx, The Blockley, 3801 Chestnut St., 215-222-1234.

(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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