Also this issue: Playing the Joker Deirdre Flint talks shop and loses her religion. -M.J. Fine The Sound and The Fury Matt Pond is naughty by nature (not 'cause he hates ya). -Patrick Rapa The Beatmaster Isn't it about time King Britt made a hip-hop album? -A.D. Amorosi The BellRays -Sam Adams Uri Caine's Goldberg Variations -Kyle Parker Alô Brasil -Mary Armstrong Rainer Maria/ Mates of State -Patrick Rapa Beat Box -Ainé Ardron-Doley

March 13-19, 2003

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20 Miles

Judah Bauer made his bones as the lanky guitarslinger for Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, adding the crucial musical cut to Spencer's showy pelvic thrusts. After an unfortunate detour chasing the dragon, Bauer sought to reconnect with music (and keep himself busy during Blues Explosion downtime), so he got his brother Donovon to play the drums and 20 Miles was born. Taking a more stripped-down gut-bucket approach to the blues than Bauer's day job, 20 Miles is music to sip whiskey to on humid summer afternoons. The duo's albums have fluctuated from the rural turns on their debut toward copping more of a rock vibe on I'm a Lucky Guy. Keep It Coming, the Bauer brothers' latest slab o' wax on Fat Possum records, is waiting to be released (but already receiving praise) and the Bauers are bringing it to the people to prove that two 20-something white guys from Appleton, Wis., can sing the blues.

Thu., March 13, 9 p.m., $8, with Mr. Airplane Man and Gregg Foreman, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888.

—Paul Burress