THE SHOWDOWN: Bag of crazy in tow

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THE SHOWDOWN: Bag of crazy in tow

POSTED: Monday, April 12, 2010, 8:00 PM

Filed Under: Music The Showdown

Monday: The Legendary Shack Shakers bend rockabilly over European gypsy sounds. Just like the gypsies, they use their tunes as storytelling devices, leaning away from the typical rockabilly standards of Caddies and curvy babes. With Danny Barnes, $12, 9 p.m., Johnny Brendas, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684. Tuesday: Xiu Xiu's hot mess Jamie Stewart is back — bag of crazy in tow — to promote their latest, Dear God, I Hate Myself. Uplifting as always. Opening for them is an equally wild experimental group, Tune Yards, who have fun with a kaleidoscope of vocals and percussion. With Tune Yards, $12, 8 p.m., First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 215-563-3980. Wednesday: Last week's cover girl Meghan Remy — who performs as U.S. Girls — plays a set of weird, gritty lo-fi. The looped droning is not without a sense of purpose. And there's always lots of warbley fuzz, which makes everything better. With MI Ami, Hot Guys and My Mind, $5 - $10, 8 p.m., Danger Danger Gallery, 5013 Baltimore Ave. Thursday: Titus Andronicus are punk, but catchy enough to borderline on pop punk. Then you hear the lyrics and realize this ain't the music your teenager sister listens to because nobody understands her. This is the sharp, snappy punk with a thousand pounds of intelligence. Plus they're from Jersey and they don't come without a proper nod to the Boss. With The Babies, $10, 7 p.m., The Barbary, 951 Frankford Ave., 215-423-8342 Friday: Dark, aloof dance music? Yes, please. Hear the angelic melodies and crushing keys of the Liars. These guys aren't sweet, though, they're disturbed. Just how we like them. With Fol Chen, $12, 8 p.m., The First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 215-563-3980. Saturday: Jersey locals the Feelies have some '80s moments that make you wanna dance alone in your room. That vibe may be a result of the fact that the band has been around — off and on — since the mid-'70s. They still manage to make relevant, guitar-loving quirk pop that's spunky but at times dreary. Just like the Jerz. At 8 p.m., $24 - $34, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400. Sunday: Real Estate make really gentle lo-fi with basic guitar chords on repeat, rising above the insecure lyrics and solid bass drum. Oohhh... lovely, soft, hazy, and with a lazy Hawaiian feel. With The Beets and Family Portrait, $10 - $12, The Barbary, 951 Frankford Ave., 215-423-8342.

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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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