THE SHOWDOWN: You guessed it

The Web site for the award-winning alternative weekly, the Philadelphia City Paper.

0 comments

THE SHOWDOWN: You guessed it

POSTED: Monday, November 29, 2010, 6:00 PM

Filed Under: Music The Showdown

Monday: Though the bear the name of one of psychedelic pop's finest singles, Philly's Sunshine Superman are no Donovan wannabes. Instead, their classy orchestrations and charming arrangements blend a number of transcontinental genres. Italian-born leader Valentina Raffaelli is a modern chanteuse whose voice coos and soars (often in the same song). Her accompanying trio jumps between styles and tempos with each movement, always maintaining a strong footing no matter where they roam. w/ Alycat & Victoria Spaeth, 9 p.m., $10, Tritone, 1508 South St., 215â545â0475. Tuesday: If not done right, reggae can sound formulaic and shallow. Luckily, Spokey Speaky does reggae right. Covering reggae and reggae-rock classics from throughout the decades, the Wilmington quartet truly shines in a live setting. Expect a set of familiar jams interspersed with informed originals, and a fair amount of head bobbing. The fellas also have a new live album, recorded over the summer; the good vibes never have to end! w/ The Mad-Sweet Pangs, 8 p.m., $6, World Cafe Live, 30th St. & Walnut St., 215-222-1400. Wednesday: With thunderous sonic sludge, Birds Of Maya reign as one of Philadelphia's damn heaviest bands of the non-metal variety. Equally derived from the skuzzy fuzz of '60s blues rock and the deafening gloom of My Bloody Valentine, Birds Of Maya don't just rock the house, they shake it to its foundation. Earplugs are highly recommended, unless you're one of those gluttons for punishment I've heard so much about. w/ Taco Leg & Watery Love, 8 p.m., $6, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 215-291-4919. Thursday: Call it celebration or exploitation, but former Joy Division/New Order bassist Peter Hook is bringing Unknown Pleasures to town. To commemorate the 30^th anniversary of JD frontman and iconic downer Ian Curtis, Hook and his current band (which features his son, Jack, on, you guessed it, bass) have been performing his first band's landmark debut in its entirety. Though Curtis was quite literally the voice and face of Joy Division, Hook's airy, melodic basslines were integral to their post-punk sound. I'm sure those basslines will be mixed very prominently at this show. 9 p.m., $15, Voyeur, 1221 St. James St., 215-735-5772. Friday: The Antlers released one of 2009's most idiosyncratic albums in the form of Hospice. A terminal tale about the relationship between caretaker and patient, the record's baroque-y folk sound offers a bounty of flourishes. Claustrophobically personal lyrics and dynamic song structures make for an engaging listen, over and over again. The group's penchant for instrument-juggling also highlights their performances, which are as enchanting and captivating as the songs themselves. w/ The Luyas, 7:30 p.m., $13, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 215-563-3980. Saturday: Prepare to get in on the ground floor. With chiming, reverb-heavy guitars and earthy percussion, Great Elk are poised to become an indispensible part of the indie-folk community. Like a woodsy Calexico, Great Elk cultivates cinematic soundscapes to underpin Paul Basile's reassuring vocals. Rarely rising above a comforting simmer, Great Elk's debut EP features warm and welcoming songs to accompany the lengthening nights of winter. w/ Kevin Johnston, Motorcycle Maus & Pinelands, 9 p.m., $5 - $10, Danger Danger Gallery, 5013 Baltimore Ave. Sunday: Next time someone asks, "Anyone for tennis?" (because this happens all the time), immediately assume they're talking about the Denver pop couple. Tennis, another adorable husband-and-wife duo, are set to make their full-length debut early next year. They're already burning up the blogs with their shimmery, beachy melodies, and will surely help you stave off your December blues. Polo shirts and shorty-shorts are not required, nor are they recommended. w/ Family Portrait, 8 p.m., $10, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 215-291-4919.

Posted by Eric Schuman @ 6:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

0 comments

Comments (0)

PHILLY LOVE NOTES: An ode to Spruce Street
Q&A with SHARI SOLANIS: "The goal isn't pornography"
ICE CUBE: In Memoriam: Joe Tartaglia
CONCERT REVIEW & PHOTOS: James Blake @ TLA 5/11
SEXY TIME Q&A: I've never had an orgasm during sex with a man — and I'm 30!
Coming soon to Philly: Two cockamamie movie promotion schemes
What we're trying to do this weekend
Q&A with Tony Goldwyn: "Life is gray, and relationships are, too"
CONCERT REVIEW: Primus (3D & quadraphonic sound) @ The Tower 10/17
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: The Archbishop meets the Geator, the Mayor goes suit shopping, Le Bec Fin fin.

About this blog

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.

Follow Critical Mass editors Patrick Rapa and Emily Guendelsberger on Twitter:

@mission2denmark | @emilygee

Search this blog:

Topics:

Blog archives:

May
April
March

February
January

Past Archives: