The Modern Skirts

Thu., Sept. 27, 9 p.m., $8, with Grammar Debate!, the XYZ Affair and the Swimmers, the Khyber, 56 S. Second St.

by John Vettese

rock/pop

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I play this game each June when I travel down south for AthFest (full name: Athens, Ga., Music and Arts Festival): Watch a fantastic act from that town, and figure out what the Philly equivalent would be. Experimental sound loop singer Tin Cup Prophette, for example, parallels our Fursaxa, while the chaotic Mummers-ish circus freaks Dark Meat remind me of Man Man. This year, I found myself squashed with a huge crowd in some coffee shop courtyard, bopping along to the jaunty piano jams of the Modern Skirts, thinking, "Whoa, these guys are so the Swimmers of Athens." A few months down the road, both bands are sharing a Khyber bill. Since we've amply established the awesomeness of Steve Yutzy-Burkey and friends in these pages already, let's take a minute to introduce you to the Skirts. They like their glam-tinged power pop to build slowly and wander lyrically. "N.Y. Song" opens Catalogue of Generous Men with singer/guitarist Jay Gulley — who can rock eyeliner like nobody's business — free-associating about city life while evading panhandlers. A few tracks later, he wants out altogether: "I've been trying to get it off my mind, but I can't fight it no more/ Let's move to Pasadena." By "My Lost Soprano," the keys are hopping and the energy is high. At points, the record seems a touch overproduced in a Semisonic kinda way, but its songs are potent when rendered live. Plus, drummer John Swint does a killer cover of Biz Markie's "Just a Friend." That last thing probably isn't a trick the Swimmers would attempt — maybe they would? Who knows? — but the acts should still complement each other like soft pretzels and sweet tea.

Thu., Sept. 27, 9 p.m., $8, with Grammar Debate!, the XYZ Affair and the Swimmers, the Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888, www.thekhyber.com.