Soundadvice

Get Out!

The music composed by Mssrs. James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett is so primal, so powerful, it can't be performed by just any string quartet. It has to be performed by a badass string quartet. For more than a decade, Apocalyptica has rocked the hip-length hair, the tatts and piercings, and covered Metallica songs with more aplomb than we give the chamber music world credit for. Listen for their "Fade to Black." It shreds.

—John Vettese

Sun., May 4, 7 p.m., $16, all ages, Troc, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-5483, thetroc.com.

Johanna Hedborg

Sometimes you have to act like things are cool when they're totally not. Do it long enough and you'll heal yourself or deepen your despair. Sweden's El Perro Del Mar dangles hope and then snatches it away. Sarah Assbring sings "Happiness Won Me Over" with a light touch, but she doesn't sound convinced. Her phrasing — like the object of her desire — betrays her every time.

—M.J. Fine

Tue., May 6, 9 p.m., $12, with Lykke Li and Anna Ternheim, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.

Michael T. Regan

Woody's is the place where gay Philadelphia does two-step Sundays and can remember as far back as Hi-NRG. Snacks is Dave Pianka's (pictured) twice-monthly Tuesday there where he brings all manner of DFA/Ed Banger-like DJs to spin on. No label does more for the funky-punky-chic dance genre than Get Physical. And no one brings it better than the Italian disco heads in Audiofly and M.A.N.D.Y., the Icelandic outfit whose outrageous hot house 12 Great Remixes for 11 Great Artists compilation never leaves my headset. Never.

—A.D. Amorosi

Tue., May 6, 10 p.m., $5, Woody's, 202 S. 13th St., igetrvng.com.

Music programs around the country are continuously being cut, but some Philly artists are doing their best to fill the void. Hence the first ever Philly for Philly benefit, taking place this weekend. Local artists like Cee Knowledge, cellist Monica McIntyre and hip-hop band Philadelphia Slick will unite to benefit the Music and Mentorship Program, which encourages musical appreciation to underprivileged youth in the city.

—Deesha Dyer

Wed., May 7, 7:30 p.m., $10, with Monica McIntyre, Philadelphia Slick, Dave Buckrey, Dejha, The Hustle and Educated Guess, hosted by Cee Knowledge, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, phillyforphilly.com.

This may be hard to believe. When I caught Australia's Midnight Juggernauts opening for Justice last year, the Jugs outplayed the headlining duo's Francophile electrofunk, hands down. They had an unfussy, aggressive sound that contained all the ice-dry quirk of a Brian Eno mix and made melodies elegiac and powerful — like a Bond film score as sung by Pet Shop Boy Neil Tenant. And now that they have an actual debut CD, Dystopia, they're all the more grand.

Wed., May 7, 9 p.m., $10, with Shy Child, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., johnybrendas.com.