THE SHOWDOWN: A jolt of psychedelic fizz

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THE SHOWDOWN: A jolt of psychedelic fizz

POSTED: Monday, September 20, 2010, 6:00 PM

Filed Under: Music The Showdown

Monday: If you thought that LA's No Age were just another blip in the 2008 two-piece trend, let their forthcoming new album, Everything In Between, reassure you that they're the real deal. Dean Spunt and Randy Randall have made good on the promise shown on last year's Losing Feeling EP with an album packed with aggressive yet engaging rockers. Be sure to arrive early to catch a set from up-and-coming local weirdos Grandchildren, whose debut is due out later this year. w/ Small Black, 7:30 p.m., $13, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 215-563-3980. Tuesday: A flash of new wave and a jolt of psychedelic fizz. That's what you get from Chicago's Unicycle Loves You. The trio's music is inspired by countless bands from pop music's storied history, though they've managed to make their material fresh and bubbly. The harmony- and fuzz-laden tunes found on their new album, Mirror Mirror, are certain to make for an evening of bop-along fun. Don't forget your brightly-colored everythings! w/ The Minimalist & Kinch, 8 p.m., $15, North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St. 215-787-0488. Wednesday: After lying low for several years, Mark Oliver Everett recently resurrected eels with a trilogy of albums. The recently-released conclusion, Tomorrow Morning, is far and away the finest of the set, hearkening back to eels' beat-heavy heyday. Everett also has a reputation for putting together an unpredictable spectacle of a live show. Given the wildly varied material he's released since his last visit to Philadelphia, Everett will have a lot to catch us up on. w/ Jesca Hoop, 8 p.m., $33 - $50, World Cafe Live, 30th St. & Walnut St., 215-222-1400. Thursday: The double bill is the concert goer's dream. Pinch yourself and head over to see local heroes Free Energy take on Jersey's Titus Andronicus in a musical history-off. Free Energy will naturally provide the hooky anthems found on their debut album, Stuck On Nothing, while Titus will tear through the Civil War-referencing epics of The Monitor. Whose rock will reign supreme? Who cares, it's gonna be one heck of a show! w/ The Tough Shits, 7:30 p.m., $13, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 215-563-3980. Friday: Believe the hype. LCD Soundsystem's summer-concluding shindig will indeed be the happening that nearly all of the Making Time crew has been working so hard to create. It doesn't hurt that James Murphy has put out one of the year's finest albums (unfortunately purported to be this project's last). Regrettably, this event has sold out, but odds are you're one of the countless people going. Oh, and for those getting there in time to see Sleigh Bells, here's a simple suggestion: Ear. Plugs. w/ Making Time DJs, 9 p.m., Sold Out, The Naval Cruise Terminal at the Philadelphia Naval Yard, 5100 S. Broad St., 215.609.4049. Saturday: To celebrate the venerable venue's 20^th anniversary, the folks at Chris' Jazz CafÃ© have assembled an all star band to perform four sets over two nights. The group is highlighted by a rotating trio of saxophonists, Eric Alexander, Bootsie Barnes & Larry McKenna, with the rhythm section of guitarist Peter Bernstein, organist Dan Kostelnik and drummer Rodney Green holding everything together. 8 & 10 p.m., $25, Chris' Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom St. 215-568-3131 Sunday: M.I.A. hasn't exactly had the best year. Still, the live stage is one place she can always redeem herself. Her messy new album, /\/\ /\ Y /\, might not have been what fans of "Boyz" and "Paper Planes" expected, but M.I.A. hasn't lost her artistic flair. Also, she's sure to put on a provocative, entertaining and thought-provoking show. Never mind her latest work's reception, just go and remind Maya that you're still listening. She could use the good news. w/ Rye Rye, 8 p.m., $45.10, Electric Factory, 421 N. 7th St., 215-627-1332.

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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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