THE SHOWDOWN: Stimulate your synapses

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THE SHOWDOWN: Stimulate your synapses

POSTED: Monday, September 27, 2010, 6:00 PM

Filed Under: Music The Showdown

Monday: When it comes to making something out of nothing, few people have done it better than Masami Akita, otherwise known as Merzbow. Since 1979, Akita's been one of the foremost purveyors of noise and ambient music, as well as an accomplished writer and activist. He also has an uncannily massive discography, including several released just this year. This tour also makes up for the one Akita cancelled last year out of concern of contracting the then-circulating swine flu. I'm pretty sure that it would take more than that to slow down this powerhouse of creativity. w/ Charles Cohen, 8 p.m., $15, International House, 3701 Chestnut St., 215-387-5125. Tuesday: You know when they refer to someone as being a "musicians' musician?" Well, they may as well be talking about Laura Mann. Mann, a Philly native, has worked with countless singer/songwriter brethren over the years, all the while creating a name for herself and her band The Lifeboys. This show doubles as a release party for Laura's latest, Bow Tie And Rose Tattoo. The liner notes alone are a who's who of folk and country musicians, producers and songwriters, meaning that Laura probably has a wealth of great stories to go along with each song. 7:30 p.m., $19 - $24, World Cafe Live, 30th St. & Walnut St., 215-222-1400. Wednesday: If you're feeling a little down in the dumps come midweek, allow The Books to set your mind at ease. The New York duo have established themselves over the last 10 years by crafting light and soothing melodies to accompany oddball found recordings. Their latest album, The Way Out, features a number of meditation and self-help snippets; enough to stimulate your synapses without becoming too esoteric. The best part about The Books' recordings is that the guys are clearly aware of how strange and sometimes silly their compositions can end up sounding. That knowingness makes their tunes a lot of heady fun. w/ The Black Heart Procession, 7:30 p.m., $18, Trocadero, 10th St. & Arch St., 215-922-6888. Thursday: Returning to the TLA for the second time this year, Midlake will again present songs from their somber February release, The Courage Of Others. Difference this time is that, aside from co-headlining with fellow pastoral emotion-havers Rogue Wave, Midlake's chilly madrigals will be appropriately accompanied by the changing seasons. Based on memories of their April show, expect the following: multiple flutes, ghostly harmonies, and cheers when songs from The Trials Of Van Occupanther come up in the set. w/ Peter Wolf Crier & Restorations, 7:30 p.m., $25, TLA, 334 South St., 215-922-1011. Friday: Like many of their Glaswegian contemporaries, Teenage Fanclub have flirted with success a number of times in their 20+ year career, yet remain favorites within a limited (albeit devoted) fanbase. As such, the band quietly released a pretty great new album this year, Shadows, which features some neat harmonies and hooks that'll make you do a little dance with your feet. Even more unique is TF's triple-songwriter/singer presentation, where each composing member gets his own time to lead the group. Pretty democratic, huh? w/ Radar Brothers, 9 p.m., $18.50 - $21, Trocadero, 10th St. & Arch St., 215-922-6888. Saturday: You don't need a weatherman to tell you that it's definitely still summertime. Don't let the recent wet spell fool you; between 90Ë days and the appearance of Brooklyn's Beach Fossils in town, there's plenty of time to get your summer lovin' on. Beach Fossils' reverb-heavy, sun-bleached pop is sure to make you ask for bug juice in exchange for your pumpkin ale. This show is part of a series that's limited to students of Haverford, Bryn Mawr, and Swarthmore colleges and three guests per student. If you don't fall into the former category, go befriend some freshmen. 10 p.m., free (for students; see above), Lunt Basement at Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave., 610-896-1000. Sunday: Let me see if I can figure this out: The Vaselines' delightful new album, Sex With An X, is their first release in about 20 years, meaning that their last Philly date was sometime around never ago. The new incarnation of The Vaselines also features members of Belle & Sebastian (who are noted acolytes). If you need more incentive to go to this show, consider this: at this rate, the next Vaselines album will arrive in 2030. Yikes. w/ Jeffery Lewis, 8 p.m., $18, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 215-563-3980.

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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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