Also this issue: Oh, the Humanity International male Vikter Duplaix says no way, computer. -A.D. Amorosi Jig Stars Danú turns heads by doing the same old thing. -Mary Armstrong Big Entrance PJ Harvey's pal John Parish makes Animals Move. -A.D. Amorosi Review: Common, Gang Starr, Talib Kweli, Floetry -Elisa Ludwig Review: Philadelphia Orchestra -Peter Burwasser Ike -Patrick Rapa The Eyeliners -Sam Adams King Crimson -A.D. Amorosi

March 6-12, 2003

musicpicks

Danielle Howle

It takes a lot of spunk to kick off your solo career with a live album, but former Lay Quiet Awhile frontwoman Danielle Howle has spunk in spades. Live at McKissick Museum (Daemon), released in 1996, showed the Columbia, S.C., native enthralling a hometown audience with her full-bodied voice and chatty charm. Four albums later, on Skorborealis (Daemon), Howle's band, The Tantrums, turns "Big Puffy Girl Handwriting" from a sassy novelty into a rollicking good time. It's the difference between teasing the girly girl till she cries and getting her to smile as you crack a joke over her head. On newer tunes like "Karaoke" and "Camaro Power," The Tantrums sometimes overwhelm the lyrics' good-natured humor, but the band gives "Sneaky A.M." and "Let the Angels Commit" a boost that lets them live beyond Howle's means. The singer is going it alone on this tour, so bet on her gritsy wit to carry the crowd.

Wed., March 12, 9 p.m., $7, with Django Haskins, Slo-Mo and Poor Luthers Bones, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888.

—M.J. Fine