Tindersticks

Wed., March 4, 7:30 p.m., $23-$35, with Dawn Landes, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

by Michael Pelusi

ROCK/POP

Sure, times are tough. But these past few months have been very good for fans of well-clad ensembles with doomy baritone frontmen. Last October, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds came to Philadelphia for the first time since 1994, and proceeded to tear shit up at the Electric Factory. The Nottingham, England-based Tindersticks specialize in a more subdued aesthetic, cushioning Stuart Staples' deep, quavering vocals with cinematic strings and all-around elegance. They're opening this U.S. tour with their first-ever Philly date, in support of their 2008 release, The Hungry Saw (Constellation). Their most recent album since a hiatus, during which they downsized from a sextet to a trio, The Hungry Saw feels intimate, yet still expansive. With help from a small brigade of supporting players, Tindersticks prove, on the title track, "Yesterday Tomorrows" and others, that they've lost little of their flair for moodily dramatic songcraft. So, this means The Divine Comedy will be next to play a show here, right?

Wed., March 4, 7:30 p.m., $23-$35, with Dawn Landes, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.