Jeffrey Lewis

Fri., Sept. 11, 9 p.m., $12, with Akron/Family, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.

by K. Ross Hoffman

singer-songwriter

Lovably neurotic N.Y. anti-folker Jeffrey Lewis is big in the U.K., kinda, but he always seems to get the short end of the stick around these parts, and his booking agents aren't helping much — this past May he played a way-late-for-a-weeknight headlining set to a devoted but dwindling crowd at the Fire. Back again with a more hospitable slot supporting freak-folk triumvirate-triumphant Akron/Family at Johnny B's, the scruffy songwriter/comic artist still fresh off a career-high album (the affably mortality-obsessed 'Em Are I) should turn a few more heads onto his endearing nerdy-guy wit.