THE SHOWDOWN: Lo-fi bounce

POSTED: Monday, November 8, 2010, 5:00 PM

Filed Under: Music The Showdown

Monday: Stodgy, pompous and incredibly influential, Roger Waters has made a career out of being a total downer. Like many of his fellow elder statesmen of rock, Waters has come to terms with the fact that his audiences are only interested in hearing his most well-known material. To that end, the former Pink Floyd bassist is once again presenting his tale of fame, paranoia and war, The Wall, in its entirety on this tour. Waters is occupying the Wells Fargo Center for a few nights this week, so you can sing along with a different character in "The Trial" if you wish. 8 p.m., $78 - $253, Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St., 1-800-298-4200. Tuesday: Hailing from Ontario's young folk scene, Dala is a delicate duo that is sure to win your heart. Amanda and Sheila have been making music together since 2002, and are readying their fifth album, Girls From The North Country. As the title implies, the ladies are keen on their musical roots, which run well beyond the conventional folk canon. Covers of songs by The Cure, Donovan and Neil Young pepper their albums of gentle, jazzy originals. Cutesy for sure, Dala earn their sweetness by being instantly likeable. w/ Liz Longley, 7:30 p.m., $25 - $35, World Cafe Live, 30th St. & Walnut St., 215-222-1400. Wednesday: If Roger Waters is a rock icon for one generation, then Bob Mould is an icon for the following generation. The former HÃ¼sker DÃ¼ and Sugar guitarist has forged an impressive, mostly commercially ignored solo career. You can tell that Mould is in this game because he loves it, though, and his devoted fans love him right back. Mould has plenty of solo albums to draw from (he'll probably write some new songs on the way to the show), so expect an engaging array of stories presented in an arresting solo acoustic performance. w/ Dave Hause, 8 p.m., $25, Sellersville Theater, 24 West Temple Ave., 215-257-5808. Thursday: Everyone I know is always trying to find that mythical Next Big Thing. While Twin Sister's friendly, hushed pop might not be the most explosive sound out there, the group is one of the most refreshing to emerge in some time. The Long Island quintet has only two EPs to its credit so far, but that handful of eclectic material is enough to get them noticed nationwide. With some electronic influences and lo-fi bounce, Twin Sister shimmers enough for summer, but coos enough for autumn. They may get you to dance, but they're more likely to get you to smile. w/ The Morning Benders & Oberhofer, 8 p.m., $12, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 215-563-3980. Friday: Freaks of all ages unite! One of today's most notable outsiders (is that even possible?) returns to Philadelphia with one of psychedelic rock's pioneers. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti bubbled just below the radar for years until releasing the more polished (but no less strange) Before Today earlier this year. Last September, Brazil's preeminent progressive tropicalia band, Os Mutantes, released their first new album in 35 years. Seeing either one of these groups on their own would be mind-frying enough, but together, I can only imagine what kinds of mystical neon madness they'll conjure. w/ Old King Cole Younger, 9 p.m., $17 - $19, Trocadero, 10th St. & Arch St., 215-922-6888. Saturday: When not performing and touring with Wilco, John Stirratt and Pat Sansone keep warm in The Autumn Defense. More in line with vintage pop than Wilco's ever-changing sound, The Autumn Defense's latest album, Once Around, expands on the duo's tender style with fuller arrangements. As they spend a good portion of their lives in one of America's most beloved bands, you can imagine the stories that John and Pat have to offer. But don't be surprised when you find you'd rather hear more of their endearing songs than any Tweedy gossip. w/ Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion, 10:30 p.m., $15, Tin Angel, 20 S. 2nd St., 215-928-0770. Sunday: Caught somewhere between the power pop legacy of Big Star and the industry-fueled guitar rock of the '90s, The Posies brought a unique voice to their scene. The Posies have been slightly dormant lately, as both Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow were part of the most recent lineup of Big Star, but Blood/Candy marks their first release in five years. Sticking to the simple springboard of melodic, rocking tunes, The Posies bring over 20 years of songs and experiences. Also appearing is another power pop acolyte, Brendan Benson, whose work both with and without The Raconteurs shows a reverence for many of his predecessors, The Posies included. w/ Aqueduct, 7:30 p.m., $21.50 - $23, Trocadero, 10th St. & Arch St., 215-922-6888.

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What we're trying to do this weekend
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CITY PAPER WRITING CONTEST 2013: Send stories! Send poetry!
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