Also this issue: Keys to the Kingdom Pianist Brad Mehldau goes his own way. -Nate Chinen Preston to Action Spiral Stairs proves the Pavement dynasty’s for real. -Brian Howard Coming Out of the Dark Peter Murphy drops Dust on his old image. -Helen H. Thompson Alejandro Escovedo -Sam Adams Pete Moss -Sean O’Neal

June 6-12, 2002

musicpicks

Onelinedrawing

Seems every interesting young songwriter these days splits time between a hard-rocking band and his softer, solo side, from Matt Pryor (Get Up Kids/New Amsterdams) to Tim Kasher (Cursive/The Good Life). Jonah Matranga does double duty with the lilting lo-fi of Onelinedrawing and the harder edged New End Original (comprised of members from defunct emo pioneers Texas is the Reason). An engaging performer, Matranga sings with a soft-spoken tenor, over mid-tempo, lightly strummed melodies -- not as weepy or vulnerable as Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba, nor quite as poignant and assured as Lou Barlow of Sebadoh. But like both artists, there's honesty to Matranga's writing that emerges in softly edged melancholia that hovers, then dissipates like an early morning fog.

Sat., June 8, La Tazza, 108 Chestnut St., 215-922-7322.

—Chris Parker