September 16-22, 2004

fall arts calendar

The Future of Music

Something wicked this way comes.

by Mary Armstrong, Peter Burwasser, Nate Chinen and Patrick Rapa

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
Canadian rodeo, at that. Successful solo artists Stephen Fearing, Colin Linden and Tom Wilson, got together to honor one Canada's favorite country singers and songwriters, Willie P. Bennett — even naming themselves after one of his popular songs. The look is ZZ Top/Porter Waggoner-goes-biker. The sound is purely honky-tonk: some pitiful weepers and some driving dancers, all country.
Sept. 17, NXNW, 7165 Germantown Ave., 215-248-1000.

Philadelphia Céil' Group 30th Annual Festival of Irish Music and Dance
Bonner is the perfect place for this fest with smooth dance floors and an auditorium for the formal concert inside and acres of green space for vendors and workshops outside. That's where you'll find the all-important kids craft workshops. Flook — a two-flute, guitar and bodhran quartet, specializing in madly powerful reels — heads the lineup.
Sept. 18, Monsignor Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, 215-849-8899.

Trash Can Sinatras
It's been eight years since we heard from these Scottish indie-poppers. They've apparently awakened from a bankruptcy/bad attitude-induced malaise with a new album (Weightlifting, on SpinArt).
Sept. 19, The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-LIVE.

Philadelphia Orchestra
Cristoph Eschenbach opens his second season as music director with a plush evening of comfort music, centered around a performance of the glorious "Four Last Songs" by Strauss, as sung by the resplendent Renée Fleming. Wagner and Dvorak, too.
Sept. 21, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999.

Deicide
And you thought death metal and black metal would never get along! This Florida freak show's music is just like its albums: a confusing array of complex symbols and images gently accented with poetic allusions to blasphemy and animal sacrifice. With openers Goatwhore, Cattle Decapitation and Jungle Rot, the night has something for everybody.
Sept. 21, Trocadero.

Trainwreck
Kyle Gass, the other guy from Tenacious D, comes to town with his funny bar-band side project. Every song is about rocking and pretending to take all the silliness seriously.
Sept. 22, The Point, 880 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, 866-468-7619.

George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic
Clinton's stunt work in Alien Vs. Predator was top-notch, but funk is Dr. Funkenstein's first love. You don't need to do any homework to enjoy a George Clinton show.
Sept. 22, Trocadero.

Phil Collins
Who do you think would win in a fight? Phil Collins or Peter Gabriel? Obviously the former is more massive, but the latter has been sporting an Einhorn look, which could be a psychological advantage. Jeez, I don't know.
Sept. 22-23, Wachovia Center, 3601 S. Broad St., 215-336-3600.

Karate
Geoff Farina's trio treats rock 'n' roll like an art form, lacing each track with loping bass grooves and emotive non sequitur lyrics. The sneakily lavish guitar solos only sound like jazz to people who don't know jazz. They're just not used to rock being so thoughtful.
Sept. 24, First Unitarian Church, 22nd and Chestnut sts., 800-594-TIXX.

Jason Ringenberg
Without The Scorchers, Ringenberg's writing becomes the focus. His new CD, Empire Builders, reminds us that the scorching never really referred to the thrashy guitars, rather Ringenberg's populist take on U.S. and world politics.
Sept. 25, NXNW.

Manny Oquendo & the Libre All-Stars
More an old-school dance outfit than a Latin-jazz hybrid, the All-Stars hark back to the Palladium era. The presence of bassist Andy Gonzalez and flutist Dave Valentin make this a must-see.
Sept. 25, Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St., 215-925-9914.

G Unit
This rough-and-rowdy NYC hip-hop outfit is to 50 Cent what D12 is to Eminem. But these guys look better with their shirts off.
Sept. 26, Electric Factory, Seventh and Callowhill sts., 215-336-2000.

Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia
A great performance of the Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1 can peel paint off the walls. Expect one here, with COP music director Ignat Solzhenitsyn at the helm, and the exciting cellist Steven Isserlis as solo.
Sept. 26-27, Kimmel Center.

Helmet
No shit, really? Fuckin' A.
Sept. 29, The North Star, 27th and Poplar sts., 215-684-0808.

Dead Moon
Seattle's underground powerhouse trio is the secret everybody ought to know by now. Imagine what the Burning Brides will look and sound like in 20 years and you'll start to get the picture.
Sept. 30, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888.

The Roots
Potentially the show of the year.
Sept. 30, The Trocadero.

They Might Be Giants

They Might Be Giants
This Brooklyn nerdpop band's latest, The Spine, is nowhere near their best stuff, but it's a good enough excuse to send them on tour again. Their live shows are amazingly entertaining.
Sept. 30, The TLA, 334 South St., 215-922-1011.

Robbie Fulks
If you like real country — honest looks at life not overly sweetened to guarantee billboard success — you'd struggle to find a better songwriter living today. That he is able to sing those stories with as much art as he has used in the writing makes a night with Robbie Fulks something to put on your calendar now.
Oct. 1, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., 215-928-0770.

Super Diamond
Surreal Neil and his beglittered backup band have been putting on a Neil Diamond tribute act for 10 years now. Not sure about the look, but the sound is damn authentic.
Oct. 1, The Trocadero.

Morrissey

Here is a guy that never goes out.
Oct. 1-2, Tower Theater, 69th and Ludlow sts., 215-336-2000.

Luv Park featuring Orrin Evans
Homeboy has been hanging with the likes of Mos Def and Bilal, and this band leans accordingly heavy on groove.
Oct. 1-2, Zanzibar Blue, 200 S. Broad St., 215-732-4500.

Christian McBride Band
Every McBride gig is a homecoming, and this one should find the bassist in fine form — leading a funk-fusion outfit that still confounds categorization and exceeds expectations.
Oct. 2, Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St., 215-898-3900.

1807 and Friends
It is always a wonder to hear Mozart and Haydn on the same program, eavesdropping on two geniuses exchanging influences. This cherished chamber series opens with Mozart's Oboe Quartet and the "Sunrise" String Quartet of Haydn, as well as music of Smetana.
Oct. 4, Academy of Vocal Arts, 1920 Spruce St., 215-438-4027.

Benita Valente
The superb American soprano (and Philadelphian) opens Temple's intriguing master class series, which is free and open to the public. Future masters in this year's program include pianists Menahem Pressler and Anton Kuerti, violinist Pamela Frank, violist Roberto Diaz and jazz saxophonist Odean Pope.
Oct. 5, Rock Hall Auditorium, Temple University, Broad St. and Cecil B. Moore Ave., 215-204-7600.

The Mountain Goats
If you haven't seen John Darnielle tear up his fingers on "Palmcorder Yajna," you have no idea what an acoustic guitar can do. Always, always a spectacularly engaging rock show.
Oct. 6, First Unitarian Church.

Orchestra 2001
Our local ensemble may be the finest interpreter of the tantalizing music of George Crumb around. This all-Crumb program includes the world premiere of "The River of Life" for percussion, soprano and piano.
Oct. 7, Kimmel Center.

John Wilkes Booze
Big, bad-ass punk R&B from Indiana. Thanks to a crazy, high-energy stage presence, this is the sleeper hit of the fall.
Oct. 8, The Khyber.

Stinking Lizaveta
West Philly's blue-collar metal legends — picture a blacker Sabbath with no Ozzy — are back with a brand-new album.
Oct. 8, Millcreek Tavern, 4200 Chester Ave., 215-222-9194.

Liberty Ellman Quartet
The ultramodern guitarist has done strong work with Henry Threadgill and others, and last year's Tactiles showed him to be a brainy composer. His group features long-unheard tenor man Mark Shim.
Oct. 8, Slought Foundation, 4017 Walnut St., 215-220-9050.

Russell Malone
The guitarist swings mightily, improvises with peerless precision and — best of all — makes it seem effortless. He's no longer a major-label artist, and judging from the recent Playground and Bluebird, it's actually a good thing.
Oct. 8-9, Zanzibar Blue.

Rilo Kiley
Yeah, Jenny Lewis is a stunning singer and songwriter, but did you know Blake Sennett is a really amazing guitar player? It's the kind of thing you don't notice until he's up there sweating and holding the whole thing together.
Oct. 9, Starlight Ballroom, 460 N. Ninth St., 800-594-TIXX.

Shankar
Tabla player extraordinaire Zakir Hussain joins with singer and violinist Shankar and several other players of the same caliber. They promise a fusion of Indian classical and contemporary music from all parts of the world.
Oct. 10, Painted Bride.

Rock 'N' Roll Carnival
This free all-day festival has clowns, face-painting and a moonwalk plus music by Cordalene, The Capitol Years, Dragon City, This Radiant Boy, Method and Result and lots more local rock bands.
Oct. 10, The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., 215-573-3234.

Beastie Boys
Their new material is really lame, but, as they showed at the Fez, these Brooklyn hip-hoppers still put on a good show.
Oct. 11, Wachovia Center.

Mirah/Butchies/Tara Jane O'Neil
Mirah makes blissful guitar pop. The Butchies rock out. O'Neil makes subtle folk maneuvers. These indie rock ladies don't sound anything like each other and that's perfect.
Oct. 12, First Unitarian Church.

Jolie Holland
The former Be Good Tanyas singer makes sweet, rootsy storyteller-pop.
Oct. 12, North Star.

Yo La Tengo
Well, we're getting down to the buzzer here, and there are still a few people who own guitars but haven't told you they'll be voting for Kerry. This will be an "intimate acoustic performance and discussion." If they get too preachy, scream for "Autumn Sweater."
Oct. 12, First Unitarian Church Sanctuary.

Juana Molina
The former TV host from Argentina now has a worldwide following for her original songs.
Oct. 12, Tin Angel.

Felt But Not Heard
Saxophonist Tim Berne and drummer Tom Rainey are frequent collaborators; here they match wits with like-minded but unconventional trio-mate Mat Maneri, whose viola and violin are always an uncompromising treat.
Oct. 14, Slought.

Camper Van Beethoven

Camper Van Beethoven

Their rebirth CD, New Roman Times, is pleasantly weird and smart. You can put down the pepper spray, skinheads.
Oct. 14, TLA.

Adrienne Young

Adrienne Young and Little Sadie
A big hit at this year's Folk Festival, the group plays old-time Appalachian music as influenced by contemporary interpreters like the Horseflies and Donna the Buffalo.
Oct. 15, The Point.

Death Cab For Cutie
This little-known Postal Service side project makes smooth, soft indie pop.
Oct. 20, Trocadero.

Mates of States
When these smiley married rockers sing on top of each other, it's because the crazy pop songs demand it. Wonder how they know when they're fighting and not just, like, writing new songs.
Oct. 21, Gasoline, Eighth and Callowhill sts., 800-594-TIXX.

Sonny Rollins
Zeus descends Mount Olympus once again for what's sure to be a highlight of the season. These days, Rollins is always a bit of a gamble, but when he's on, it's magical.
Oct. 22, Kimmel Center.

Ministry
Support the military industrial complex of rock.
Oct. 22, Trocadero.

Yuri Temirkanov of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra

St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra
Despite a conventional, meat-and-potatoes program of Prokofiev, Schumann and Rachmaninoff, this is a rare local opportunity to hear a legendary orchestra. Yuri Temirkanov, conductor, was a disciple of the ensemble's longtime director, Mravinsky, when it was known as the Leningrad Philharmonic.
Oct. 24, Kimmel Center.

De La Soul
They didn't invent the art of sampling, but they set the standard (and got sued for it). Now, 15 years after Three Feet High and Rising, De La is still making holistic hip-hop like nobody else. Long live the Native Tongues.
Oct. 26, Trocadero.

Raul Malo
Since his first Mavericks recording, Raul Malo has had the attention of everyone who loves smooth and rich male singers, with just the tiniest hint of a catch in their voice.
Oct. 28, Tin Angel.

Sonny Fortune Quartet
Fortune's latest statement, Continuum, reaffirms his mastery of the post-Coltrane idiom. He's sure to raise the rafters at this hometown gig.
Oct. 29-30, Chris' Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St., 215-568-3131.

Orion Quartet, with David Soyer, cello
The chief attraction here, in a program that also includes music of Haydn and Bartík, is the awesomely beautiful Schubert String Quartet in C, which adds a second cello to the conventional string quartet.
Nov. 2, Pennsylvania Convention Center, 13th and Race sts., 215-569-8080.

El Vez
Don't forget to vote. Then reward yourself with the raucous "El Vez 4 Prez" rockabilly show starring the Mexican Elvis. But don't vote for him — we're a swing state.
Nov. 2, Trocadero.

Joshua Redman and Branford Marsalis
Both are genre-confounding tenor saxophonists, and both have carved a niche in the mainstream. This double-bill will be most interesting as a study in contrasting styles, especially if they choose to lock horns.
Nov. 3, Kimmel Center.

Eighth Blackbird
There have been only a handful of new music ensembles with the chops and the attitude to garner a widespread reputation. Add this smart little bunch to the short list.
Nov. 4, Kimmel Center.

California Guitar Trio
CGT appeals to jam band fans and those who admire high technique and composition. Guitar mavens must attend and their friends won't be sorry they came along.
Nov. 6, Tin Angel.

Abdullah Ibrahim & Ekaya
World-music and jazz could hardly enjoy a better marriage than it does in this group, which matches Ibrahim's Cape Town cadences with an improvising septet.
Nov. 6, Painted Bride.

The Jane Anchor
Finally, a full-length from one of our favorite Philly rock bands.
Nov. 6, Indre Studios, 1418 South Darien St., 215-463-3000.

Tish Hinojosa
Hinojosa has spent a long time honing her craft, writing songs in both English and Spanish. Her fragile voice and sincere warmth insist that it is not only possible to equally honor both cultures, but a pleasure and a privilege.
Nov. 7, Tin Angel.

McCoy Tyner Trio
Now that Elvin Jones has departed for polyrhythmic parts unknown, Philly-based Tyner is the sole survivor of the John Coltrane Quartet. But his trio doesn't revel in reminiscence often — just one reason why they've managed to stay together for so many years.
Nov. 12, Kimmel Center.

Dual Identity
Alto saxophonists Rudresh Mahanthappa and Steve Lehman share backgrounds in visionary improvisational ensembles, and their duo performance will likely take roads less traveled. Lehman has promised to employ electronic elements, so the third party will be the ghost in the machine.
Nov. 12, Slought.

Network for New Music
For the 20th anniversary of this crackerjack new music ensemble, a spate of new commissions in collaborative programs with the Phrenic Dance Company. The opening concert includes new music by Bernard Rands, Robert Capanna and Jennifer Higdon.
Nov. 14, Settlement Music School, 416 Queen St., 215-320-2600.

Musicians from Marlboro
The Marlboro Music Festival is a hatching place of some of the finest instrumentalists of our time. This rich program of Mozart, Kirchner and Franck showcases the latest batch of profoundly inspirational young musicians. Presented by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society.
Nov. 15, Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Bobby Bradford & Frode Gjerstad
Bradford worked in the '60s and '70s with the likes of Ornette Coleman, but never enjoyed anything resembling recognition. For fans of the avant-garde, his appearance here can only be described as an event. He'll be backed by Norway's finest free-jazz exports.
Nov. 15, Slought.

Dave Holland Quintet
Holland's gig at the Bride has become something of a tradition — not that anyone minds in the slightest. His band may have solidified its formula by now, but it's still one of the tightest and brightest outfits on the scene.
Nov. 19, Painted Bride.

Julianne Baird and Philomel

Philomel
The honey-voiced early music master singer Julianne Baird has been a frequent guest of this venerable period instrument group over the years. They always make very beautiful music together.
Nov. 19, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 1625 Locust St., Nov. 20, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Oakland Ave. and Pine St., Doylestown, and Nov. 21, Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, 8000 St. Martin's Ln., Chestnut Hill.

Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys
If you only go out once this season, make it for Ralph. He's well into his 70s and reedy and raspy as ever. Peter Rowan and Tony Rice plus the The Seldom Scene are also on the bill, second generation bluegrassers who owe much to Stanley's groundbreaking.
Nov. 20, Keswick Theatre, Easton Rd. and Keswick Ave., Glenside, 215-572-7650.

Philadelphia Orchestra
This program is a fascinating study in contrasts of spirituality in music. Schoenberg's bitterly harrowing "A Survivor from Warsaw" is paired with the grandiose and essentially secular Brahms work "A German Requiem."
Dec. 3, 4, 7, Kimmel Center.