soundadvice

rock/pop

Paul Green School of Rock

Self-proclaimed überlord and apparent inspiration for Jack Black's character in School of Rock, musician/headmaster Paul Green brings 20-some of his eager-to-play teenage students on the road for a "Best of the Season" performance. Green, who's expanding his rock school to six cities, drills his pupils on stuff recorded long before they even hit the planet: '70s classic rock. So, if you're into hearing Zeppelin, King Crimson and Queen performed by testosterone-fueled boys and rock-crazy chicks, this is your kind of show. --Nicole Pensiero

Sat., Jan. 29, 8 p.m., $12, TLA, 334 South St., 215-922-1011.

rock/pop

Envy

Songs of epic length? Lyrics, energetic and existential? Genesis didn't reunite. This is Envy — the ferocious Japanese hard emo act with the frenetic Mogwaian guitar attack. For Envy, size and length — please see the 13-minute "A Will Remains in the Ashes" from A Dead Sinking Story — is everything. Arrive early to hear thick metal melodies and surprisingly potent crooning from Philly's Welcome to The Plague Year and Off Minor.

--A.D. Amorosi
Thu., Jan. 27, 8 p.m., $8, with Malady, Welcome to The Plague Year and Off Minor, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 800-594-TIXX.

rock/soul

Lotus

We know Led Zep created the phrase "misty mountain hop" for its own brand of ruckus, but I can't help thinking it better suits the loops and buzzings of the Philadelphian ambient soul quintet Lotus. Run through with live improvisational largesse and heartbreaking breakbeats, Lotus' roundly organic/synthetic Nomad actually conjures other universes rather than that faux Patagonia-style fuzak most think of as worldly.

--A.D. Amorosi
Fri., Jan. 28, 8 p.m., $10, North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 215-684-0808.