February 19-25, 2004

music

Sound Advice

dance/electronic

Plasmic Honey and Eddie Baez

What a pair. These guys are two of N.Y.C.'s most notorious big-club DJs. Both spin and produce hard-hitting club anthems -- from tribal house to progressive trance -- chock full of those irresistibly cheesy breakdowns you love so much. All you Fabios with rippling pecks: Here's where you tear off that shirt and let that body shine. Just remember to dance slow, arms out front, palms facing the ceiling -- pumping that manly pelvis back and forth toward the raging dancefloor.--Sean O'Neal

Frozen, Sat., Feb. 21, 10 p.m.-3:30 a.m., $15, with Plasmic Honey, Eddie Baez, Robbie Tronco, Reenie Kane, John E, Chris Costanzo, Johnathan Williams, DJ Michelle and Jason E, Deco, 510 N. Front St., 215-923-6001.

Umphrey's McGee/ Joshua Redman

Take Chicago prog-rock jam band Umphrey's McGee and pair it with jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman and you'll have some crazy, groovin' jams. Known for melding intricate guitar riffs with hints of electronica, funk and jazz fusion, the six-member Umphrey's likes to tear it up onstage, interspersing free-flowing jams with out-there interpretations of songs by anyone from Van Halen to Lionel Richie.--Nicole Pensiero

Thu., Feb. 19, 9 p.m., $12-$15, with OM Trio, The TLA, 334 South St., 215-922-1011.

Gingersol

Los Angeles-based Gingersol (doing double duty as Mary Lou Lord's opener and backing band) lands somewhere between alt-country and plain old alt with its self-described "sunny-choly" sound. Despite the chillier themes on their new CD, Eastern -- lead songwriters Seth Rothschild and Steve Tagliere both went through divorces during its recording -- the band's innately warm sound shines through.--Nicole Pensiero

Wed., Feb. 25, 9 p.m., $8-$10, with Mary Lou Lord and Aderbat, The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 267-691-9298.

The High Llamas

With the organic theatricality of Beet, Maize & Corn (Drag City), Sean O'Hagan's elegant, pastoral ensemble has gone through 13 years, seven albums and two labels to maintain its Pet Sounds-esque métier. The joke is that this time, they're really good at it, effecting a whistling music more muse than pose, with the usual psych-lectronica reduced to a simmer of acoustic guitars, heavenly harmonies, gorgeous strings and stirring songs. Get there early to be amused or annoyed by the Björk-like squeak of Venus Hum.--A.D. Amorosi

Sat., Feb. 21, 10 p.m., $12, with Venus Hum, North By Northwest, 7165 Germantown Ave., 215-248-1000.

Mem Shannon & the Membership

Mem Shannon is a clever wordsmith who chooses the blues to carry his stories. His 15 years driving a cab in New Orleans gave him plenty to think about and time to turn the ideas over in his head. His song about the "SOB driving the SUV" won him Living Blues' Song of the Year and non-blues airplay as varied as Imus and Harry Shearer.--Mary Armstrong

Thu., Feb. 19, 8:30 p.m., $12, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., 215-928-0770.

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