THE SHOWDOWN: It should accompany some occult ritual

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THE SHOWDOWN: It should accompany some occult ritual

POSTED: Monday, December 7, 2009, 8:29 PM

Filed Under: Music The Showdown

A concert a day keeps the doctor away.

Monday: If you were into that hip-hop that pre-dated gangsta rap, and you miss those choppy raps over synth beats, then you might want to get to Johnny Brenda's tonight for Schoolly D. True, he hasn't released an album in nearly a decade, but the Philly rapper should still be able to take you back to an era when hip-hop wasn't quite squeaky clean, but it was more fun-oriented and a little goofy. With Bahamadia, DJ Tat Money & Ethel Cee, 9 p.m., $12, Johny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684.

Tuesday: Simone Felice (of the Felice Brothers) is half of The Duke and the King, though I'm not sure if he's the duke or the king. Either way, the band makes dewy alt-country music with a biting sadness to it. Even with the hopeless feeling attached to the entire album, their sound has a way of floating that makes you wonder if what you're hearing is tragic or just introspective. At 7:30, $15, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 215-563-3980.

Wednesday: Clearly the Canadian singer Issa loves to experiment. Listening to her album is like storytime on the carpet, only you're dreaming and all the creatures start pouring out of the book. Then suddenly you're faced with forcing yourself awake or ignoring reality and diving deeper into this bizaare Alice in Wonderland dream. Yeah, she's strange. But with a voice that creates a surreal atmosphere, she's also alluring in all of her weird splendor. With Leslie Alexander, 9 p.m., $28, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400.

Thursday: Sure, we've seen plenty of bands emerge recetly that boast an above average number of members, all manning multiple instruments, including lots of percussions and an appropriate ratio of strings to horns. Fanfarlo is one of those bands. They lie somewhere between Beirut and Arcade Fire,'creating a bittersweet and catchy-as-hell sound that begs to let the good times roll. With Freelance Whales, 9 p.m., $12, Johny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684.

Friday: If you're in the mood for fuzz, look no further than super lo-fi extraordinaires Tickley Feather. Heavy on the drum machine, with keys that sound like they've been left in the rain and dried in the sun, paired with Annie Sachs melancholy voice, Tickley Feather sounds like it should accompany some occult ritual. Though her music doesn't sound like Bj'rk, there's a weirdness you can see in her videos (like the one above) that instantly conjure up images of that cookey Icelandic singer. With Toro y Moi, Power Animal & Hot Guts, 8 p.m., $8, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 215-291-4919.

Saturday: If you were to spend your life hopping trains, loving bad women and drinking moonshine from a mason jar, then Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs would be the soundtrack to all your adventures. Their bluesy sound is smoke- and whiskey-infused, resulting in music that insists on sin. Whether you're a country bumpkin or a city slicker, a gypsy or Johnny Law, this sultry Americana should not be missed. With the Tough Shits & Far-Out Fangtooth, 9 p.m., $12, M Room, 15 W. Girard Ave., 215-739-5577.

Sunday: Who doesn't like to go to a show and know that their money is going to a good cause? Tonight you can see a slew of musicians ' including Toy Soldiers and Birdie Busch ' and help raise money for local Philly venue The Fire (just like Holly Otterbein told you to do earlier today). Music ain't the only perk: There will also be a silent auction of work from local artists and a raffle to win "A Day in Philadelphia," which includes all things Philly (breakfast at Honey's, a concert at World Cafe Live, and dinner in Northern Liberties, among other things). With Drink Up Buttercup, George Stanford, The Blood Feathers, The Great Unknown, Cowmuddy, Fantasy Square Garden, Hezekiah Jones, Chris Kasper, Joshua Park, Spinning Leaves & Aunt Pat, 6 p.m., $24, World Cafe Live, 215-222-1400, 3025 Walnut St.

Amy Kuhre

Posted 2009-12-08 21:18:02

Very nice! Wish we had such an eclectic collection of musicians. Too bad most people here are dazzled by the likes of the Cowgirl...I especially like the blurb on Issa; very otherworldly imagery that makes me want to down a bottle of Dimetapp just for the hell of it!

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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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