Soundadvice

Get Out!

Frank Zappa always situated himself firmly in the composer tradition, so guitarist Andre Cholmondeley's Project/Object, which has tackled Zappa's oeuvre for well over a decade now (often in the face of hostility from the Zappa estate) should be seen less as a tribute band than as a rock symphony. For this show, they'll be joined by Napoleon Murphy Brock, the singer and saxophonist who graced some of FZ's mid-'70s work; it'll be worth showing up just to hear him navigate "Florentine Pogen" again.

Sun., Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m., $18, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

Grand Buffet makes me experience the strange but pleasant feeling of being on the comfortable side of an inside joke of which I have no understanding. It matters little whether they're labeled humorcore-rap, punk hip-hop or badminton. They are fun as hell and manage to be one of the few bands that should be seen live by all people ever. Yes, the Venn diagram of this includes Ulysses S. Grant, Cheech Marin, Manute Bol and you.

Thu., Oct. 11, 7 p.m., $15-$17, Of Montreal and MGMT, The Trocadero Theater, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-LIVE, thetroc.com.

It is more than fitting that the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society launches the new season with what is arguably the most celebrated string quartet of our time, the Emerson, in deathless music of Mozart and Beethoven, as well as new music by Saariaho.

Mon., Oct. 15, 8 p.m., $22.50, Perelman Theater, Broad and Spruce sts., 215-5690-8080, www.pcmsconcerts.org.

When they say "Collective" they mean it — the ECC is a loose conglomerate founded in Philly in 2000, but scattered on two coasts when guitarist/founder Scott Schaffer headed for Seattle. After a few years of hibernation they've reemerged with CD number three, Aktivavoco, focused on improvisation with vocalists — everything from throat singers to invented languages, to found-sound samples. For their homecoming CD release show, Schaffer will be joined by longtime member Bart Miltenberger (trumpet), Michael Taylor (bass), Dave Champion (trombone), and Paul Woznicki (electronics).

Sat., Oct. 13, 8 p.m., $10, Philadelphia Society for Art, Literature & Music, 5841 Overbrook Ave., 215-477-7578.