May 1st, 2009
This Weekend In Shows
Tonight:
There’s a ridiculous amount of stuff to choose from tonight: The Dead — i.e. the Grateful Dead, sans Jerry Garcia, who is still actually dead — come to the Wachovia Spectrum for the first of two nights [7:30pm/$65-95]; Swedish whistle-while-you-pop trio Peter, Bjorn & John drop by World Cafe Live [8pm/$22-32]; the Kills — the British/American duo who create primal, atmospheric post-punk and loads of sexual tension onstage — are at the TLA [9pm/$14-17] (also check out our interview with the Kills’ Alison Mosshart); Northeast Philly’s Adam and Dave’s Bloodline — subject of Katherine Silkaitis’s PW column this week — hit Johnny Brenda’s [9pm/$10]; Lady GaGa brings her fashion, pop, and “Poker Face” to Electric Factory, but this show is sold out; and Fall Out Boy headlines a five-band bill over at Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing, which is also sold out.
And then over at First Unitarian Church [8:30pm/$12-14] there’s the “Week’s Worst,” Bat for Lashes: Bat for Lashes is the latest super-groovy must-be-good-because-it’s-British indie sensation Natasha Khan. Natasha is Katy Perry for people who don’t like real pop music but do like videos where the cool-looking goth-lite chick singer is riding a bike down a quiet country lane at night and then suddenly turns, Krishnalike, into eight Donnie Darko scary animal-headed stunt cyclists. Bat for Lashes is perfect for people too stupid to realize that Lily Allen is the knees, bollocks and pajamas of the most enormous bee. Or who find zany drugbox Amy Whinehouse a little bit too scary. Crazy Björk’s on board the BfL bandwagon. Boring Thom Yorke has given the thumbs up. Mad-as-a-hatter Kate Bush has yet to offer an opinion. So I’ll offer one on her behalf: Bat for Lashes is the goth Enya. (Steven Wells)
Saturday:
Ninja Academy
9pm, $8. Khyber.
Freed from lyrics and traditional song structure, instrumental bands can pretty much do whatever they like as long as they hold our attention without verses and choruses. Hell, they can even dress up like ninjas, as proven by this enterprising bass-drums duo from L.A. The premise might reek of shtick, but the pair’s ropey output is equally inspired by metal, jazz, punk, and prog, lending it an engaging unpredictability. And really, costumes aren’t such a leap from the goofy song titles — yeah, Ninja Academy have those too — that instrumentalists have been dreaming up for years. Besides, when a band gets this many Minutemen comparisons, surely it’s cause for investigation. (Doug Wallen)
Also, the Dead — still sans Jerry Garcia — wrap up their two-night stand at the Spectrum [7:30pm/$65-95]; experimental math-rockers Tera Melos get loud and complicated at Danger Danger House [8:30pm/$5]; New Zealand indie-rock/power-popsters Cut Off Your Hands drop by the North Star [9pm/$10]; Philly hip-hop/soul funksters Black Landlord bring the good times to 941 Theater [9pm/$10]; and the Hooters’ Eric Bazilian does a solo show at Tin Angel [7:30pm/$18].
Sunday:
Del The Funky Homosapien
7:30pm, $14. First Unitarian Church.
He’s too unconventional for the typical jokers blinging and banging in the (t)rap sandbox. Del left their childish games behind when he graduated at 18 from Da Lench Mob ghostwriter to solo artist with his classic slice of irreverence “Mistadobalina.” It’s been a wild, woolly ride since, stretching caps with future blasts [Deltron 3030), topping the pops in cartoon collaboration (Gorillaz's "Clint Eastwood"), and helming the Heiroglyphics crew since the '90s before breaking loose last year for Def Jux's greener pastures. There are faster flows and more nimble rhymers, but few match his creativity or audacity in raising his freak flag high. (Chris Parker)
Also, Grammy-winning British soul-pop singer Adele shows off her stuff at Electric Factory [8pm/$29.50-34.50]; French thrash/death-metal quartet Gojira gets crazy at the TLA [8pm/$17-20]; and zany Israeli hip-hop/funk combo Coolooloosh takes over Fire [10pm/$15].
