THE SHOWDOWN: Frighteningly regular basis

Eric Schuman's weekly live music roundup includes Twin Sister @ Johnny Brenda's, The Damnwells @ M Room and Gomez @ TLA.

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THE SHOWDOWN: Frighteningly regular basis

POSTED: Monday, July 11, 2011, 2:00 PM

Monday: One of this year’s most promising acts, Brooklyn’s Twin Sister still have a while before their debut album drops in September. It’s a good idea to get familiar with their breezy, often danceable sounds now and stay ahead of the curve. With a few EPs and collaborative projects already under their stylish belts, Twin Sister should already be keenly aware of what success tastes like. They’re just taking their sweet time to enjoy it. w/ Wild Nothing, 9 p.m., $12, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684.

Tuesday: For fans of Antony and the Johnsons and music with a slightly quicker pulse, check out Wild Beasts. Hailing from England, the swooning quartet is led by the delightfully named Hayden Thorpe, whose distinctive vocals subtly guide each song and coerce twisting melodies to align themselves. The band’s newly released third album, Smother, boasts a few more upbeat tunes than its more relaxed predecessors, but Wild Beasts remain a band to bliss out to. w/ Marques Toliver, 9 p.m., $18-$26, World Café Live, 30th St. & Walnut St., 215-222-1400.

Wednesday: You probably own at least one compilation of songs from the golden era of sunshine pop. No matter the collection, it most likely contains selections by The Turtles, The Association and Paul Revere and the Raiders. Those groups (with singer Mark Lindsay representing the Raiders) and more will join together for a night of psychedelic hits. Nostalgia can be a dangerous card when played this heavily, but the iconic songs by these beloved bands (un)surprisingly hold up decades after their original release dates. w/ The Grass Roots & The Buckinghams, 8 p.m., $39.50-$59.50, Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., 215-572-7650.

Thursday: The Damnwells go back and forth between Alex Dezen’s solo project and his proper band, so there’s always a bit of uncertainty when Dezen comes to town. Most commonly joined by bassist Ted Hudson, Dezen has led The Damnwells through major label glory, indie determination and unsigned grit. Having recently worked with their fans on a progressive album release campaign, The Damnwells made their proper return this year with No One Listens To The Band Anymore. w/ Harper Blynn, 8 p.m., $12, M Room, 15 W. Girard Ave., 215-739-5577.

Friday: British popsters Gomez have been through a lot but always come out smiling. They voluntarily backed out of their contract with Virgin Records after the label dissolved their beloved imprint. They’ve released albums on an almost frighteningly regular basis (without overstaying their welcome one drop). And they have somehow found time to release solo albums and experimental side projects. Gomez’s new album, Whatever’s On Your Mind, is another solid entry into the band’s diverse yet wholly accessible catalogue. w/ Good Old War, 8 p.m., $20-$29, TLA, 334 South St., 215-922-1011.

Saturday: Give a listen to one of the criminally few recordings by Philly’s Fantasy Square Garden and you might think you have an idea of their sound. See them in concert, though, and you can throw your preconceptions right out your Microbus’s window. An ever-changing assortment of funk, psych-pop, bubblegum and disco influences are mixed in, broken down and rearranged, often within just one song. Maybe that’s why they have hardly documented their output; what 10 or 12 song collection could possibly do them justice? w/ Paper Cat, Appomattox & The Revere, 9 p.m., $10, North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 215-787-0488.

Sunday: Take a trip back to the heyday of rock n’ roll with Kim Lenz and her band, The Jaguars. With a fiery presence on stage and in song, Lenz brings new life to a classic style. Performing rockabilly standards and her own well-informed originals, Lenz and The Jaguars are sure to excite fans of Wanda Jackson, Lavay Smith and Imelda May. Lenz has been known to take several years off to record between tours, so see her before she heads back into that echo- and slapback-laden studio. w/ Delco Nightingale & Dixy Blood, 7:30 p.m., $10, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 215-291-4919.

(eric.schuman@citypaper.net)

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