Soundadvice

Get Out!

A multi-instrumentalist who can make even the simplest arrangements epic, Andrew Bird has a sweet, subdued voice and a talent for whistling that would make Lauren Bacall go weak at the knees. His new record, Noble Beast (Fat Possum), has a less fiddled-with sound than previous output but the hyperliterate lyrics and pop experimentation are still in place. And, of course, the whistling. Meaning all you need to do to sing along is just what Bacall says: Put your lips together and blow.

—Molly Eichel

Sun., Jan. 25, 8 p.m., $25-$28, with Ra Ra Riot, TLA, 334 South St., livenation.com.

1998 was a good year. Bill Clinton denied getting Lewinskied, Michael Jordan won another title, and everyone was getting jiggy with Will Smith. DJs Emynd and Bo Bliz must've liked it — it's the theme for their latest team-up with 215hphop.com. They promise to play all the hits that made you shake your ass or helped you get some ass. Either way, it'll be dope.

—Deesha Dyer

Sat., Jan. 24, 10 p.m., $5, with DJs Emynd and Bo Bliz, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-769-9684, 215hiphop.com.

While the name suggests conflict and the butting of heads, musically The Antlers are calm and serene. Acoustic guitars whisper, keys twinkle, percussion shuffles and vocals soar. "Bear," a song that can be found sitting in the middle of their soon-to-be-self-released Hospice, even cribs its first few chords from "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." Thank goodness this is an early show.

—Kevin Pearson

Fri., Jan. 23, 6 p.m., $7, with Naked Hearts, The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 267-671-9298, iourecords.com.

Providing more bang for your recession-fried buck, this two-for-one tour finds Elf Power supporting and backing fellow Athens, Ga., rocker Vic Chesnutt (pictured). Prompted by their recent collaborative record, Dark Developments (Orange Twin), this double-bill swings from Elf Power's psychedelic swagger to Chesnutt's sedate strumming, topped off by the latter's languid, deadpan enunciation. A recession special worth counting your coins for.

—Kevin Pearson

Sun., Jan. 25, 8 p.m., $12, North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 215-787-0488, northstarbar.com.

You have to be something special to make Mats Gustafsson wax poetic, as he does in the liners to the Sten Sandell Trio's 2001 CD Standing Wave. It's easy to see why the squalling effusions that burst forth from the Swedish-Norwegian threesome — pianist Sandell, bassist Johan Berthling and the ubiquitous Paal Nilssen-Love (who must be the only Scandinavian drummer on the planet, or may as well be) — inspire free verse from the saxophonist, himself a one-man wall of noise. The trio is celebrating their 10th anniversary, which just may inspire a couplet or two on its own.

—Shaun Brady

Sun., Jan. 25, 8 p.m., $12, Philadelphia Art Alliance, 251 S. 18th St., arsnovaworkshop.com.