The Showdown: What's in a name?

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The Showdown: What's in a name?

POSTED: Monday, August 18, 2008, 10:07 PM

Filed Under: Music The Showdown

All hail the King

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Every Monday, the Showdown tells you who to see and where to see ‘em.

Monday: In Billy Shakes' Titus Andronicus, the title character's daughter gets raped and has her hands and tongue cut off so she can't finger the perps — namely the sons of Goth Queen Bitch and Titus' enemy, Tamora. After an interracial bastard son (scandal!) and lots more death, dismemberment and deception, Titus gets his revenge by killing Tamora's sons and feeding them to her in a pie. No better name for a band who "communicates utter contempt with life/people while simultaneously loving and celebrating it/them through anthems." With When Cars Ascend and Br'er, at the Barbary, doors at 6 p.m., tickets are $10.

Tuesday: Whoever said you can't judge a book by its cover is stupid. Hoobastank? Terrible band name, terrible band. Steve E. Nix and the Cute Lepers? Awesome band name, tight little power pop/two-chord punk (Johnny Thunders + Cheap Trick = Cute Lepers) off Joan Jett's Blackheart Records. With Avenue Rose and Power Chords, at the M Room, doors at 8 p.m., tickets are $10.

Wednesday: Time to class it up with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra. Tonight, they're doing Bernstein up right with music from West Side Story, On the Waterfront and On the Town. At the Kimmel Center, show at 8 p.m., tickets are $39-85.

Thursday: Say it loud! There's a reason he's the Godfather. Still Black, Still Proud gives an African spin to the music of James Brown. Come for the King of Funk, stay for the likes of Pee Wee Ellis and Vieux Farka Toure. At the Kimmel Center, show at 7:30 p.m., tickets are $25.

Friday: Math rock is a terrible way to tag a band. What the hell does that even mean? Ok, we know what it means, but who wants to describe their favorite band as math rock? Instead, we hear at the Showdown would like to call Don Cabellero not math rock, simply rhythmically adept rock. Catchy, no? With An Albatross and Ponytail, at Johnny Brenda's, doors at 10 p.m., tickets are $10.

Saturday: The Showdown isn't advocating actor-to-musician crossovers. They are usually of ear-bleeding quality. But, while he may not have pipes that could've gotten him a record contract sans-movie stardom, Terrence Howard has got a nice, quiet husk to his voice. Backed by swelling strings or flamenco-y guitar and (thank the lord above) less auto-tune than most pop stars, this kid may have a future. At the TLA, doors at 8 p.m., tickets are $35.

Sunday: Celebrate the life of late local amp guru John Martin and get a bonanza of bands. In tribute to the guy who gave you a million wonderful-sounding concert experiences. We tip our hat. With Martone All Star Jam, Overdrive Datemaster, The Beloved Infidels, Harrison Webb Blues Thing, Chet Delcampo, The Martians, The Sparklers, Chrash, Tony Violence, Mountain King, at Johnny Brenda's, show at 7 p.m., $6 donation at the door.

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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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