soundadvice

by Mary Armstrong, Jesse Delaney, Sean O'Neal, Michael Pelusi, Patrick Rapa and John Vettese

ROCK/POP

The Lawrence Arms

This Chicago threesome has a Weakerthans-ish drive to push beyond your standard emo-by-numbers sound. Rootsy acoustic guitars and found tape-loop interludes fill out the forthcoming The Greatest Story Ever Told, complementing songs already ripe with compound structures and harmonies. Thankfully, the overconfident title is just meant for ha-has; the Arms' MO wisely stays away from punk-rock concept albums, leaving us with lively rock and little flab.
— John Vettese
Sun., Aug. 15, 7 p.m., $10, all ages, with Tsunami Bomb, Pipe Down and Orange Island, The North Star, 27th and Poplar sts., 215-684-0808.

DANCE/ELECTRONIC

Halo

A product of the Midwest rave scene back in the early days, Halo stuck it out all this time — never failing to dish out tons and tons of forward-thinking house music. Now headquartered in San Diego, he's one-half of the H-Foundation (along with Hipp-E) and founder of the Bleum label. His dubbed-out, toosh-shakin', West Coast tribal-rific DJ sets captivate your giddy head with sophistication and soul. This cliche is fo' real: Let the beat control your body.
— Sean O'Neal
Sat., Aug. 14, 10 p.m.-2 a.m., $5, with Rob Paine, Willyum and Zacharijah, Silk City, Fifth and Spring Garden sts., 215-922-8157.

ROCK/POP

A.C. Newman

The Slow Wonder (Matador), the first solo album from New Pornographers mastermind A.C. (aka Carl) Newman, begins not dissimilar to that band's feted power-pop, most memorably with the loping "On the Table." Later, on the eerie "Come Crash" and the sawing cello of "The Town Halo," Newman mixes upside-down arrangements and deadpan lyrics, nearly birthing the indie answer to David Bowie's Lodger.
— Michael Pelusi
Fri., Aug. 13, 9 p.m. $10, with Rogue Wave and The Neins, The North Star, 27th and Poplar sts., 215-684-0808.

ROCK/POP

Ambulance LTD

The shoe-gazing movement has been rescucitated! Reverb-soaked guitars drive the Ambulance LTD sound! Finally, a garage-rock outfit named for something that goes in a garage! With no limit to the amount of banal imagery to be derived from its name, the Brooklyn foursome is a defibrillating force in indie rock. Elefant will be the Ambulance LTD chaser on Tuesday at the Khyber.
— Jesse Delaney
Tue., Aug. 17, 9 p.m., $10, with Elefant, Elkland and Trouble Everyday, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-569-9700.

COUNTRY

Burrito Deluxe

They named themselves after a Burrito Bros. album title, but Burrito Deluxe is not a tribute band. Only one original Burrito, steel guitarist Sneaky Pete Kleinow, is on board. BD has also enlisted classic country crooner Carlton Moody and The Band's Garth Hudson.
— Mary Armstrong
Wed., Aug. 18, 8:30 p.m., $20, with Matt King, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., 215-928-0978.

ROCK/POP

Kill Verona

Philly's dark thinkin', hard drinkin', fast rockin' pop punks are back with Trauma, a fierce little EP full of the band's signature unhappy anthems. This band does fine with the soft, melodic breaks, but that's just singer Wes Lieberher taking a breath before things get all pissed off and furious again.
— Patrick Rapa
Tue., Aug. 17, 7 p.m., $10, all ages, with Safety In Numbers, Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer and Valencia, The North Star, 27th and Poplar sts., 215-684-0808.