August 19-25, 2004
music
soundadvice
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Inouk
With blissed-out bluesiness and complex structures and textures compacted into bold, blunt rock, Inouk — singing/six-stringing brothers Damon and Alexander McMahon — resemble, sonically, what could have happened if Jeff Buckley followed solely his smartly stinging art-metal lead rather than the hammy folk of his pop. Across one EP, Search for the Bees, and their just-out full-length No Danger, Inouk makes un-heavy metal with spacy soulfulness, airy harmonies and lurching propulsion — an earnest yet theatrical sound best witnessed on "James Bond" and, quite frankly, the entirety of Danger.
— A.D. Amorosi
Sat., Aug. 21, 9 p.m., $12, with Ours, Dead Friends and Rockstars, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-569-9700.
DANCE/TROPICALIA
Los Amigos Invisibles
Venezuela's Los Amigos Invisibles is an always-fizzy fusion of tropicalia, disco and samba that, after stirred and shaken hard, becomes a boozy, campy blend — Dr. Savannah's Original Buzzard Band meets Tom Zé soaked in Cuervo. For The Venezuelan Zinga Son, Vol. 1, Nuyorican producers Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez brought LAI's usually messy sound closer to the taut traditionalism of their homeland. They ain't rolling in mud. "Una Disco Llena" is too sample-slick for that. But Zinga is the roughest, toughest thing the mod-mambo kings have ever come up with.
— A.D. Amorosi
Sat., Aug. 21, 9 p.m., $10, with The Raveonettes, Sandra Collins and Junior Sanchez, The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-LIVE.
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Polyphonic Spree
How can a band that oozes so thoroughly with optimism — a 26-member troupe whose melodies are so sincere and uplifting — possibly disappoint? How about by canceling every time they're supposed to play Philly? If these effin' indie Teletubbies crap out on me again I'm taking off the Nikes and the white robe and joining a more reliable religion.
— Patrick Rapa
Sat., Aug. 21, 6 p.m., and Sun., Aug. 22, 7:30 p.m., $15, all ages, First Unitarian Church, 22nd and Chestnut sts., 800-594-8499.
PUNK/HARDCORE
Terror
The bald eagle tees of Terror are as much a part of the hardcore kid uniform as raven hair and stretched earlobes. Why? Well, vocalist Scott Vogel once shredded his larynx in beloved Buffalo bands Buried Alive, Despair and Slugfest. The hammering sound and proactive lyrics of Terror more than uphold that reputation; they surpass it.
— Andrew Parks
Sun., Aug. 22, 6 p.m., $12, with Sick of It All, Time In Malta and Champion, The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-LIVE.
ROCK/POP
Undergirl
Mad, bad and dangerous, Undergirl has always been the tiger in the Philly jungle, content to lay low for long stretches, either sleeping or stalking. When they finally reappear you wonder how you didn't hear 'em coming. When My Flash on You finally comes out, it will be just their second CD despite years on the scene. Advance listens prove it was worth the wait; the album is an accurate snapshot of singer-guitarist Amy DiCamillo's stage presence: untamed, elegantly primal, very punk rock.
— Patrick Rapa
Thu., Aug. 19, 9 p.m., $8, with Lost Sounds, Lickgoldensky and Bridge Made of Bats, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-569-9700.
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