Also this issue: Aimless by Design Indie elders Yo La Tengo finally get their day in the Sun. -Sam Adams Prcss of Elimination Estranged rock band converges on Philly and drops the vowels. -Maura Johnston Levon Helm & The Barn Burners -Nicole Pensiero The Postal Service -Paul Burress Dave Holland Quintet -Kyle Parker Assemblage 23 -Helen Thompson Kevin Burke -Mary Armstrong Evgeny Kissin -Peter Burwasser

April 17-23, 2003

musicpicks

Klasik Sundayz

Kicking off a new night of jamming to what hip-hop diehards would call the classics, it's the inaugural edition of Klasik Sundayz. Enter live mic-checkin' and turntable waxing from Masta Ace, Punch & Words, Apocalypse & DJ Avee, Prophets of the Ghetto, Sesion31, Coup Data and DJ Statik. With a career that includes membership in the legendary Juice Crew and albums released on labels from Atlantic to Delicious to JCOR, Masta Ace is a true veteran in a genre where artists are often judged by their latest big-budget video. Holding equal weight on the marquee, local supernova the eight-man wrecking crew Prophets of the Ghetto, has tasted applause from Sweden to L.A. and back. Affectionately called P.O.G., the four-MC, two-DJ and two-producer crew is destined for bigger stages. Also in the Philly faction, Sesion31 and the Ill Vibe Collective's DJ Statik are out to prove the City of Brotherly Love's hip-hop resurgence is far from over.

Sun., April 20, 7:45 p.m.-1 a.m., $8, Dowling Palace, Broad and Thompson sts., 610-636-7680.

—Ainé Ardron-Doley