Penrose

Thu., Dec. 23, 8 p.m., $10, with Hollis Brown, TJ Kong & the Atomic Bomb and The Great Vibration, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 215-291-4919, kungfunecktie.com.

by A.D. Amorosi

[ rock/blues ]

If anything's been suddenly discovered amongst Philly's alt-band minions, it's that sort of mussed-up, fuzz-toned shambling blues that John Lee Hooker started, R.L. Burnside picked up on and cats from Tom Waits to Black Keys made skuzzy and pungent. TJ Kong does it here, and The Great Vibration toy with it fondly. But Penrose cleans out the gutters and adds the blousy psychedelic kink of Pink Floyd to the proceedings for an epic romp on their debut CD, Devil's Grip. The Brothers Murphy open up and say "arg" while stretching the blues to stadium-size disgust on tracks like "Suite for Stack" and "Snowstorm." Rocking bosses with hot sauces, Penrose is.

Thu., Dec. 23, 8 p.m., $10, with Hollis Brown, TJ Kong & the Atomic Bomb and The Great Vibration, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 215-291-4919, kungfunecktie.com.