COVER STORY .

Rock/Pop


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Published: Sep 16, 2009

Pissed Jeans

We praised Pissed Jeans last month for their loud, Nirvanarama sound on King of Jeans (SubPop) — then their van broke down and they didn't make it home in time for the release show. This is a do-over. Call a cab.

Sept. 29, with Butthole Surfers and Psychic Ills, Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-LIVE, thetroc.com.

Ghostface Killah

What's your vision of a rich, relaxed life? This Wu Tang alum's dream is complicated: "Stones on every arm. The crib is 10 million. The corks from Dom Perignon can't reach my ceiling. Four maids with four grenades. When the sun's in my face, all I do is lower the walls for shade." I was gonna use a quote from the new "Stapleton Sex," but it is the filthiest song you ever heard.

Oct. 3, Trocadero.

Kurt Vile

Hazy, pyschy, glorious rock. This is guy is gonna put Philamericana on the map.

Oct. 3, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 215-291-4919, kungfunecktie.com.

Pink

Did you see her flying around and lip-synching at the VMAs? She was like a crazy Teddy Ruxpin on a trapeze. With a boob hanging out.

Oct. 3, Wachovia Center, Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, wachoviacenter.com.

Os Mutantes

The Brazilian psych-rock/tropicalia legends just released their first new album in three decades.

Oct. 5, World Café Live.

Bob Mould/Dinosaur Jr./Lou Barlow

Oh geez, back in the day I bought stuff by all these indie protozoas on cassette. And vinyl, but it wasn't like a collector's item — we actually put it on a record player. We rolled like that back then.

Oct. 9, TLA, 334 South St., 215-922-1011, livenation.com.

Mirah

Indie-pop chanteuse/occasional Philadelphian Mirah rocks us with nifty little guitar tunes about love, bugs and politics.

Oct. 11, with Norfolk & Western, World Café Live.

R. Kelly

First few rows may get wet.

Oct. 13, Tower Theater, 19 S. 69th St., 610-352-2887, livenation.com.

Laura Marling

This young Brit's Alas I Cannot Swim was a wonderful, powerful piece of folk-pop. If you haven't heard it, it was the best album you didn't hear last year.

Oct. 21, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

Pearl Jam

Eddie and friends will perform the last shows at the still-perfectly-functioning Spectrum before it's imploded to make way for something boring nobody will ever win a Stanley Cup in.

Oct. 27-31, Wachovia Spectrum, 3601 S. Broad St., livenation.com.

Dead Milkmen

Philly's punk satirist forefathers are officially back! (With new songs, even!)

Oct. 31, with Live Not on Evil and The Tough Shits, Trocadero.

Dethklok/Mastodon

One is a cartoon amalgamation of everything fun about heavy metal. The other is single-handedly rescuing the genre from its self-unaware purgatory. Here's where I say: Guess which is which.

Nov. 1, with Converge and High on Fire, Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St., 215-336-2000, livenation.com.

The Get Up Kids

It's been a long decade for The Get Up Kids. Weird thing is, back in the day, "emo" wasn't all gothy and dramaqueeny. The Kids' seminal Something to Write Home About, which just got the deluxe re-release treatment from Vagrant, is actually a smart, Superchunky rock album. The crying and mascara and fucking toy soldier uniforms came later.

Nov. 5, with Kevin Devine and The Life and Times, Trocadero.

The Monsters of Folk

This surprisingly unprecious indie supergroup features Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes), Jim James (My Morning Jacket) and M. Ward (solo, She & Him) and a whole lotta pretty folk rock tunes. If you haven't been keeping up with Oberst in recent years, he's got a sturdier voice and (slightly) sunnier outlook now. I predict he will smile at this show.

Nov. 9, Academy of Music, 1420 Locust St., 215-670-2327, r5productions.com.

Philly Laptop Battle

My money's on the Powerbook with all the stickers on it.

Nov. 14, North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 215-787-0488, northstarbar.com.

The Jesus Lizard

In an alt. universe, Jesus Lizard never broke up and has been ruling the summer concert scene with Yowfest, showcasing nothing but screechy, scary near-metal, and nobody can concentrate long enough to keep a beach ball up in the air. Also, 120 Minutes is still on. And nobody ever heard of Kid Rock. And Al Gore won. And me and you are in love.

Nov. 18, with Noveller, Starlight Ballroom, 460 N. Ninth St., 866-468-7619, r5productions.com.

The Mountain Goats

It's been leaked in bits and pieces, but The Mountain Goats' new biblically influenced The Life of the World to Come is best enjoyed in one glorious arc. You're missing out, pirates. Why you all so thief?

Nov. 28, with Final Fantasy, TLA.

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Between labels and albums, Leo and co. have been unveiling new stuff at shows — and it all sounds fierce. Dude brings it every night.

Dec. 2, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 866-468-7619, r5productions.com.