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Our resident prognosticator foretells the sound of Philadelphia 2010.

by A.D. Amorosi

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Published: Jan 13, 2010

Dan McMahon RJD2 has his own record label, a new album and a big tour in store for 2010. (CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

When the clock struck midnight on 2009, I was home reading some dude's food trends predictions for 2010. Inside-out sandwich shacks? Invasion of the broth cubes? Interesting nibbles, but how can we really know? Surely, instinct and adventure figure in. We can no more predict what'll be on our plates than what'll be on our playlists. Still, you can't help but eye up the spiciest meatballs ahead of time.

Bloody Heaven

Now that Kurt Vile and Cold Cave ascended to the national stratosphere, my gaze has shifted to Blood Feathers. The Philly band did a swamp-dog take on Tom Petty with Curse and Praise. The new one Goodness Gracious (released by Philebrity records, currently on iTunes, due on CD soon) is spacey-gutsy R.E.M. circa "Orange Crush." See Blood Feathers with B.C. Camplight and Josh Olmstead Band, Sat., Jan. 16, 9:30 p.m., $10, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.

Bold Statements

Expect beeg-rawk prominence for art-soul boys Univox, whose ROIR debut — co-produced by Bill Moriarty (Man Man, Dr. Dog) — should be out by May. Latin king El Malito, who after a private audition with America's Got Talent released "Ring of Fire" (en espanol)/ "Este Lugar Estaba Roto" on Creep/Actual Records, will also drop a record this year.

Old Guys

In November,Ray Davies told a crowded Tower Theatre that his brother Dave would do some low-key gigs in 2010, perhaps signaling that long-anticipated Kinks reunion. Mods and dandies rejoice. Ray's duets CD (Jersey boy Bruce Springsteen will participate) is nice. But having Dave means more. The stinging guitarist whose line from "You Really Got Me" is rock's most formidable, was felled by a stroke in 2004, so having him agree to do anything is the type of good news that the Leonard Cohen tour was last year. Dave's gig is Feb. 9 at Sellersville Theater, and it's a must. More musts: the return of craggy folkieJohn Prine (Feb. 19, Merriam), a rumored Soundgarden reunion and new music from DEVO, whose first studio album since 1990 comes out this year. Expect flowerpot hats to be big.

Wandering Souls

Matthew Feldman's eclectic Lucky Old Souls(Fridays at Moonstone) are an adored diversion and a chance to enjoy a different side to his jazz peeps in an intimate setting. Plus I reminisce about buying magazines without their covers at Robin's for a quarter. But Feldie's Souls is heading South (Philly) full time with its own balcony/mezzanine-tipped joint at McKean & Colorado that'll serve food as adventurous as his music. Until that proposed late-spring opening, LOS' sonic menu stays in the Gayborhood with cats like Tony Micelli/Bananas O'Neill, guitarist Jef Lee Johnson, singer Samantha Rise Roberson's Erronious Krunk — A.D.'s jazz-bo picks-to-click.

RoboDance Guy

See how the planet took notice ofD iplo and his Mad Decent label in '09? Expect more of the same from Wes Pentz for sure (especially if he bought the Trestle Inn!). But look even-moreso to West Philly's RJD2 for danz-action now that he's got his own label (RJ's Electrical Connections), a new CD (The Colossus) and a long tour that'll keep him up till mid-March.

The Axis of Beautiful Oddity

These locals — acts with no instrumental boundaries whose noisy music winds up beautiful and melodic all the same — have become some of my faves throughout 2009: Cuddle Magic, Tongue Sculptors, Pete Kuzma/Tony Catastrophe's Instant Strength, Whatever, TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb, Conversations with Enemies, Paper Masques' chamber-string lineup and Armchairs.

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)

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