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Black Flag's Greg Ginn created blunt aural assaults so disarmingly direct that Henry Rollins became their ideal mouthpiece; Dirty Projectors' Longstreth creates symphonic pop fantasias that most closely resemble an eel wriggling through an algebra equation seen out of the corner of your eye. Somehow the two have been exquisite-corpsed together on Rise Above, Longstreth's attempt to re-create BF's Damaged from his junior high memories. It may sound like a stunt, but who cares as long as Longstreth keeps bringing his jaw-droppingly gorgeous circus to town.

—Shaun Brady

Fri., Dec. 7, 9 p.m., $10, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684, r5productions.com.

Maybe that jangly, boy-girl indie pop thing that made or broke every mix tape in the '90s isn't extinct after all. Maybe it evolved into bands like the Winks of Montreal, who don't care much for guitars but still bring the hot, snow-globey tension thanks to some plinky cello and mandolin. And when breathy Tyr Jami and insistent Todd Macdonald share the mic like they're holding hands, you wanna burn a mix for somebody, anybody, you know who.

—Patrick Rapa

Thu., Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m., $8, with Hermit Thrushes, Univox and DLMG, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

Terrible band name, awesome band. At nine members, Indianapolis mini-orchestra Margot and the Nuclear So-and-Sos walk the line between quiet-as-a-kitten tranquility and melodramatic swell, but does it free of pretense, delivering direct and honest songs written by frontman Richard Edwards. Think of his as the scene's biggest one-man folk act.

—John Vettese

Tue., Dec. 11, 8 p.m., $10, all ages, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., r5productions.com.

Kicked off their opening spot on a Morrissey tour in October — for onstage profanity?! Moz is such a pussy — Kristeenyoung might have better luck finding their audience supporting Ted Leo anyway. They're drama queens, sure, but their synthy sound is way too heavy for Moz's fans (also pussies), and the indie kids might go for the trillish Sleater-Kinney vocals and lyrics about Juicy Fruits and Kurt Cobain sung with soap operatic seriousness. Worth going early for.

—Patrick Rapa

Thu., Dec. 6, 8 p.m., $15, with Ted Leo and Partyline, Starlight Ballroom, 460 N. Ninth St., 866-468-7619, r5productions.com.

You can't really talk about romantic '90s soul or the New Jack Swing era without mentioning Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds. Besides penning songs for big dogs like Whitney Houston and Madonna, singer/songwriter Edmonds also flourished on the solo tip with hits like "Whip Appeal" and "Never Keeping Secrets." Decades after his beginnings, people still turn to Babyface for that baby makin', soul shakin' sound.

—Deesha Dyer

Fri., Dec. 7, 8 p.m., $55, Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside, 215-572-7650, keswicktheatre.com.