THE SHOWDOWN: It'll make you taste colors

POSTED: Monday, November 21, 2011, 1:00 PM

Filed Under: Music The Showdown

Brian Wilensky highlights the week's sure-bet live acts.

Monday: Writing such deliberately delicate, heavy-on-the-heart folk rock, A.A. Bondy creates a vibe that you know him very well. People share feelings like the ones he sings about with only true friends. And if you’re any kind of friend, you’ll keep listening. 8 p.m., $13-$14, with Gold Leaves, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 215-821-7575.

Tuesday: The experimental math-rock clang and menacing chaos of Fairless Hills’ The Joint Chiefs of Math fits in with their math rock superiors nicely, but their vocals could fit them into a hardcore scene. Make up your mind, already. But be mindful, one may be easier to access than the other. 8 p.m., $5-$7, with What Why Wherewolf, 2 Wheels 1 & Man the Fire, North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 215-787-0488.

Wednesday: Dovetailing off Dropkick Murphy’s commercial success, The Swaggerin’ Growlers do the Boston-Irish folk-punk thing. When they get up on stage, they give it their all, it’s the only way they know — according to “The Life We Chose.” Go see the show to find out. Or just listen to the song. 8 p.m., $5, with Erik Peterson of Mischief Brew & Mirrors and Wives, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Frankford Ave., 215-291-4919.

Thursday: Don McLean once sang, “Can music save your mortal soul?” Yes it can and that’s something to give thanks for today.Take the day off, live music,, it’s Thanksgiving.

Friday: Howling Fantods, from the local file, will be jumping on the tribute-to-Nirvana’s-Nevermind-20th-anniversary train by playing a set of Mudhoney songs. Wait, what? 10 p.m., $8-$10, with Strangled by the Stereo Wire, Milkboy Philly, 1100 Chestnut St., 215-925-6455.

Saturday: The “don’t bother putting together a band,” DIY spirit in today’s rock scene is becoming more and more popular. Dustin Wong’s 2010 album, Infinite Love, is a lyric-less solo guitar-looping adventure that’ll make you taste colors. It’s reportedly about a trip he took on mushrooms, but they won’t be necessary to enjoy this one. 9 p.m., donation, with Nightlands & Norwegian Arms, PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 267-519-9651.

Sunday: Jersey punks Tsunami Rising can play blistering fast and then gear down into a sax-laden reggae pocket before you’re even ready to shift. Call your friend with all the Sublime posters in his bedroom. Bet he already has tickets. 7:30 p.m., $10-$12, with Murphy’s Kids, Pasadena, The Heavy Beat & Brixton Saint, Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-6888.

(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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