Also this issue: A Man Up Father and Lilys frontman Kurt Heasley takes responsibility for the band he keeps rebuilding. -Brian Howard The Couple That Plays Together Megan and Mason Wendell run Canary Publicity all day and make music all night in The Method and Result. -Patrick Rapa Mondo Generator -Sam Adams Fog/Dosh/Beans/ The Majesticons -A. D. Amorosi Simply Jeff -Sean O’Neal DAT Politics -Chris Nosal Cobra Verde -Brian Howard Karan Casey -Mary Armstrong

May 22-28, 2003

musicpicks

Al Green

When that time of night arrives to break out the slow jams, everyone has their personal favorites. Some go for the Barry White, Otis Redding or Marvin Gaye -- but Al Green holds the all-time assist record for helping couples get together. With a voice that is both playful and urgent, Green's vocal prowess and songwriting skill has made for a career filled with classics from the all-too-honest plea of love, "Let's Stay Together," straight through to "So You're Leaving Me" and "I'm Still In Love With You." After an ex-girlfriend poured hot grits on him (causing second- and third-degree burns) and then committed suicide, Green left behind the secular, bought a church and became a reverend. Fortunately, Green couldn't quite give up on music and the soul superstar has never been too far from our consciousness (thanks to appearances on Ally McBeal, his duet with Annie Lennox for Scrooged, and "Let's Stay Together" popping up in Pulp Fiction). Basically it comes down to a simple equation. Take Green's 7:30 p.m. Sunday performance at Penn's Landing as part of the three-day Jam on the River, add yourself and a special someone, factor in a nice summer night and you can take it from there.

Sat.-Mon., May 24-26, 12:30-9 p.m., $10-$20 per day, with Chuck Berry, The Hooters, Common, Lauren Hart, Townhall, Antigone Rising, K Floor, Marva Wright, Jump, Marcia Ball, Disco Biscuits, Peter Rowan, Lady Alma and others, Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, Columbus Blvd. at Chestnut St., 215-922-2FUN.