October 16-22, 2003

musicpicks

Mavis Staples

blues

There are worse things than being stalked by Mavis Staples. OK, so maybe the soul legend hasn't taken a criminally intense interest in our fair city, but she does seem to be coming around an awful lot: first over the summer with Al Green, now headlining the climactic concert of the Greater Philadelphia Blues Festival and due for yet another stopover in December, with the Five Blind Boys of Alabama. (Count virtual appearances, and the re-release of Wattstax makes it an even four.) But unless you believe you can have too much of a good thing, there's no need to look askance at another opportunity to hear Staples' supremely cool, knowing voice -- which, technically, is better known for soul than blues, but this isn't the Year of Soul, now is it?

Sat., Oct. 18, 8 p.m., $35, with Georgie Bonds, Harrison Auditorium, 33rd and Spruce sts., 215-336-2000, www.thegreaterphillybluesfest.com.

—Sam Adams