THE SHOWDOWN: Give your innards the shivers

POSTED: Monday, November 22, 2010, 6:00 PM

Filed Under: Music The Showdown

Monday: Hailing from the murky catacombs of Gloucester City, The Warhawks bring the rock in a way that'll remind you that rock is, in fact, quite fun. The fellas are currently offering a handful of tunes for download on their website (read: go them right now), and Great Waveriders Of The 20^th Century is another proud addition to their budding catalogue. With a twinge of countrified swagger and pop sheen, The Warhawks' music can be compared to a number of other groups', but is best enjoyed on its own countless merits. w/ The Formulary & The Once Was, 8 p.m., free, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 215-291-4919. Tuesday: Philadelphia's jazz legacy is one that draws modest attention compared to other genres, but that doesn't mean it's any less impressive. Drummer G. Calvin Weston has played with Ornette Coleman, John Medeski, and several of his own genre-twisting projects. A restless musical spirit, Weston plays funk, soul and jazz with a joyous passion. Later this week, he'll be saluting the music of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, so don't be surprised if you get a sneak peek at this intimate gig. w/ Sonic Mirror, Whatever, The Living Sample & Funkchurch, 8 p.m., $8, Trocadero Balcony, 10th St. & Arch St., 215-922-6888. Wednesday: Members of fallout psych-combo Bardo Pond have been exploring separate worlds for the past few years, but the group is back with a new self-titled record. Despite their absence, this is the same Bardo Pond you've come to love: thick, densely constructed layers of sonic squall guaranteed to give your innards the shivers. As you're consumed by the swath of noise, you'll find that you're hardly repelled by the aural assault; in fact, it draws you in with a mysterious allure. Also, it freakin' rocks. w/ James Plotkin and Dan Matz & Gods and Queens, 8 p.m., $5, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 215-291-4919. Thursday: Who am I kidding? You're going to be far too busy stuffing your face to even think about going to a show tonight. Besides, your family misses you. You should call more often. Friday: The major label game can be a dangerous one to play. Spunky Scottish songstress KT Tunstall has deftly navigated the pressures of stardom and continues to come up with sugary-yet-sassy gems. Tunstall's latest, Tiger Suit, adds some synthetic elements to her folk-inspired style, giving the tunes a more modern (but hardly tacky) feel. Knowing the darling soul that Tunstall is, though, expect her to run through some of her best-known older songs, too. And, since she's European, there's a good chance that Tunstall's show won't be affected by any post-Thanksgiving bloat. Can't promise the same for you, though. w/ Hurricane Bells, 9 p.m., $20 - $22, Trocadero, 10th St. & Arch St., 215-922-6888. Saturday: They sound like they belong on 4AD in 1985, but Soars hail from the Lehigh Valley, present day. Their heavy-but-dreamy sound is inspired by bands who are probably some of your favorites, only it's better because they're local. With their self-titled debut being one of the year's finest offerings from a Philly-area band, Soars are certainly a band to keep an eye (and ear, and another eye and ear) on. The band's chilly sounds are also quite fitting for the season, and might make you forget that you want to be warm. w/ Aunt Dracula, Headless Horseman, Hello from the Children of Planet Earth DJs, 9 p.m., $10, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684. Sunday: As the overly-glamorous leader of the increasingly middle-of-the-road Killers, Brandon Flowers has taken his glitzy lifestyle to the masses on his own. While The Killers take a break, Flowers released his solo debut, Flamingo, a gaudy collection of stylish pop tunes. You really don't need me to describe Flowers' music to you, but it's worth noting that it's a far cry from the nu-new wave that got him noticed however many years ago. Flowers is an impeccable showman, though, and if his new tunes don't get you, his arresting stage presence and quirky fashion sense will. w/ Transfer, 8 p.m., $36.40, 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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