SHOWDOWN: Turbo folk micro-orchestras

POSTED: Monday, May 10, 2010, 7:20 PM

Filed Under: Music The Showdown

A concert a day keeps the doctor away.

Monday: Happy hour isn't strictly for Fridays. Tonight get an earful of cool jazz at the Happy Hour Jazz Jam Session with Orrin Evans and Friends. World Cafe's website says, "instrumentalists and singers are welcome to join in." This could get weird. From 5:30 - 7 p.m., $5, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400. Tuesday: Scranton band Blinded Passenger plucks some familiar strings with their Americana-style indie rock. Instrumentally the songs vary from mammoth, cymbal-crashing gusts to plunky piano pop ditties. But the almost talking storytelling lyrics that crop up in most of the songs drawn influence from the like of Bright Eyes, Elliot Smith and Hold Steady. At 8 p.m., $8, The Khyber, 56 S. 2nd St., 215-238-5888. Wednesday: Gregory and the Hawk make songs that feel like precious little gifts. With teensy-tiny and sweet lady vocals, the acoustic group is so adorable you can't help but smile when hearing the far away sounding recordings. Unless, of course, you are a cold stone. With Dan Malloy, 8 p.m., $10, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 215-563-3980. Thursday: With songs about new shoes and perusing the zoo, sung in a strained guttural man-growl, it's kinda hard to take Prizzy Prizzy Please all that serious. That's okay, because sometimes you have to get down with a band that has a goofy name and goofier lyrics. Tonight is one of those nights. With Pat Jordache and Secret Mountains, 8 p.m., $5 - $10, Danger Danger Gallery, 5013 Baltimore Ave. Friday: Speaking of silly names, the Buzzcocks are in town tonight. The punkers who began over 30 years ago are back to sing about orgasms, severe sexual tension and unrequited lust. With The Dollyrots and Moon Women, 9 p.m., $21.50 - $24, The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-5483. Saturday: Laura Marling's name keeps coming up more and more as of late. The alt-folk darling — at least vocally — follows in Feist's footprints with her timid but clearly rich and velvety voice. This 20-year-old is clearly well beyond her years. With Smoke Fairies and Pete Roe, 8:30 p.m., $15, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684. Sunday: French band Vialka describe themselves as a "turbo folk micro-orchestra." The term at first is intriguing, though unclear. But as you listen to the duo, you realize there isn't a better way to describe the musical weirdos. With Hermit Thrushes, Circadian Rhythms and the Devil's Horns Kill the Matador, 9 p.m., $10, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684.

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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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