THE SHOWDOWN: In a holy shit kind of way

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THE SHOWDOWN: In a holy shit kind of way

POSTED: Monday, March 22, 2010, 8:31 PM

Filed Under: Music The Showdown

A concert a day keeps the doctor away.

Monday: Repetition is enjoyable from time to time. It reminds us of the monotony of life and the comforts we find in consistency. My Disco embody that in their echoing beats and minimal lyrics. Performing with them will be the jangly, gritty garage fun-for-all locals Philadelphia Parking Authority. With The Phantom Family Halo, We Thieves! and Philadelphia Parking Authority, $10, 8 p.m., Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 215-291-4919.

Tuesday: I hate to send you right back to the same place, but tonight it's well worth it. Hit up Kung Fu Necktie again and get an earful of Surf City, a band who surprisingly does not come from Surf City, New Jersey, nor do they produce surf rock tunes. The tricky bastards are actually from New Zealand and they're making semi-psychedelic summer tunes pushed by guitars and far away vocals. This is summer mix tape-making music. With Bachelorette, $10, 8 p.m., Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 215-291-4919.

Wednesday: An American Chinese makes people wanna clap their hands and shake their hips. Not in a cheesy, sing-along way, but in a holy shit I can't stop this kind of way. They use acoustic guitars like drums, the pounding of strings becomes a form of percussion. And the male vocals are reminiscent of early White Stripes, only more fluid than gentleman Jack. With Cheers Elephant, Horse's Mouth, and The Bee Team, $10, 9 p.m., Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684.

Thursday: If rapper Wiz Khalifa refers to his Pittsburgh hometown as "Pistolvania" on his MySpace, you know whatever he's spitting on his tracks is going to be good. His songs cover the typical hip-hop topics: money, cars, ladies and livin' the good life everyday. But beyond typical, he's got some strong beats and he references Dinah Washington's "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby" when he asks, "so tell me if you is or if you isn't with it." Not to mention he's got a love for this great state and our sister city. With Yelawolf, $15, 8 p.m., The Note, 142 E. Market St., West Chester, 800-594-8499,.

Friday: Oh, hey Jello, you're back. As soon as Jello Biafra starts singing there's a sea of spines with chills running up them. Former Dead Kennedys singer, spoken word extraordinaire, Green Party member and anarchist professor of punk rock, JB is with the Guantanamo School of Medicine and making Dead Kennedys-ish music with lyrics that pertain to today's global issues. The lyrics are even scarier than they were 30 years ago. With Witch Hunt, Common Enemy, and Mirrors and Wires, $14, 7:30, the Troc, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-5483.

Saturday: Experimental can be so many things, but it tends to go one of two ways: A harder, brasher, rough-around-the-edges way, or a sweet, airy, pretty-as-can-be way. Favoring the latter, Philly locals and keyboard enthusiasts Urban Giants will be at the Fire tonight with their lovely experimental sounds. With McRad, Firm Taqtics, Turning Violet Violet and Like Bells, $7, 8 p.m., Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 267-671-9298.

Sunday: Catchy as hell DIY-ers Killola bring their high-energy-wild-child-girl vocals and churning guitars. Embrace the fishy weirdness and the stiletto-in-your-eye attitude. With Sick of Sarah, Ganto Barn and Mother Fletcher, $8, 8 p.m., M Room, 15 W. Girad Ave., 215-739-5577.

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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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