THE SHOWDOWN: What the hollerin' is about

POSTED: Monday, February 28, 2011, 6:00 PM

Filed Under: Music The Showdown

Monday: When Marc Broussard opens his mouth, the storied legacy of Louisiana blues pours out. With three albums including a collection of soul favorites to cull from, Broussard's live shows are electric in every manner. Always appearing with an incredibly tight backing band, Broussard's music is gritty, soulful and downright American. Broussard's recently been drifting closer to the rhythm side of rhythm and blues, but he maintains the heartfelt delivery of the Delta. w/ Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, 8 p.m., $29.50, Sellersville Theater, 24 West Temple Ave., 215-257-5808.

Tuesday: If you have yet to experience the joy that is a Jonathan Richman concert, now is the time. The pioneer of indie pop returns for another career-spanning set of wide-eyed romantic tunes. Things you are bound to hear: selections from his latest release (last year's O Moon, Queen Of Night On Earth), staples from his catalogue like "I Was Dancing In The Lesbian Bar" and "Pablo Picasso," and at least a few songs sung in Spanish. For your visual enjoyment, Richman will show off his dance moves which, as you know if you've already seen him, are second to none. 8 p.m., $17.50, $15, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 215-563-3980.

Wednesday: Local treasure Jim Boggia does not, in fact, belong in a museum. Sure, he mines pop music's more obscure history for forgotten gems and songwriting tricks, but his own music is refreshing and modern. He also has a knack for roping in other top-notch musicians for his albums and live shows. For this performance, Boggia will be joined by Tracy Bonham who, in addition to a Grammy-winning rock career, boasts her own eclectic musical tastes. w/ Bleu, 8 p.m., $18 - $20, World Café Live

Thursday: It's time to get old timey, folks! The Carolina Chocolate Drops are one of the finest interpreters of traditional bluegrass tunes around today. Not only that, but the instrument-switching trio has a knack for rearranging contemporary tunes into older styles. Century-old songs of the Carolinas are played with reverent precision, though the guys and gal have plenty of fun while they're at it. The Chocolate Drops' latest album, Genuine Negro Jig, has brought them a heap of well-deserved acclaim, so come see what all the hollerin' is about. w/Birdie Busch & The Great Unknown, 8 p.m., $25, TLA, 334 South St., 215-922-1011.

Friday: Though they tried (very creatively) to sidestep the possibility of their new album leaking to the internet, Akron/Family's latest eventually did just that. Their efforts were not in vain, though, as Akron/Family II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT remains a confounding and impressive record. The first part of the record's unwieldy title is appropriate enough; this is their second album with their streamlined lineup. Though they're now a trio, Akron/Family still manages to fill up every possible space with boundless creativity. w/ Delicate Steve & The Love Club, 8:30 p.m., $10 - $13, The Blockley Pourhouse, 38^th & Chestnut Sts., 215-222-1234.

Saturday: He Gets Me High, the new EP from the Dum Dum Girls, suggests a more diverse set of influences than their already extraordinary debut, I Will Be. Aside from a Smiths cover are three new originals that find Dee Dee and the gang in a much more brooding rocker pose. Think more Velocity Girl than girl groups. It's quite a remarkable turn considering that most fans would've likely been fine with more of the garage-punk blasts that the Girls have perfected. Still, this is one new direction that's well-executed and just plain rocks. w/ MINKS, Party Photographers, Dirty Beaches¸9 p.m., $12, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684.

Sunday: If the Wu-Tang Clan had an artsy counterpart (which it does), it would be Minneapolis' Doomtree (which it is). Their assemblage of emcees, DJs and producers is a mainstay of the city's musical community, with members having worked with acclaimed projects like Gayngs and Atmosphere. Andrew Sims (just Sims to you and me) is one of Doomtree's newest breakouts, having released a new solo album in mid-February. A fusion of hip-hop, electronica and avant-jazz, Bad Time Zoo is a fascinating and intricately-crafted record. Seeing as how Doomtree is a very fluid project, expect at least a few other members to make an appearance during Sims' set. w/ Astronautalis, Zilla Persona & Voss, 7 p.m., $10, The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 267-671-9298.

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What we're trying to do this weekend
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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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