July 6-12, 2006
Music : Soundadvice
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Flamenco purists roll their eyes at the thought of the Gipsy Kings. Yet, almost 20 years after their "Bamboleo" hit, the band remains exciting—fiery guitars and passionate vocals over complex rhythms. Gipsy Kings broke ground for today's popular flamenco/fusion groups like Ojos de Brujo. The Kings themselves have returned to their inspiration with their newest CD, the unplugged Roots.
Fri., July 7, 8 p.m., $40-$50, Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 52nd St. and Parkside Ave., 215-893-1999, www.manncenter.org.
With her emotive, tremulous voice and equally dramatic piano playing, South Jersey-based singer-songwriter Andrea "Anj" Granieri carries shades of drama grrrls like Tori Amos and Stevie Nicks. Her soaring, original numbers are diarylike—as is her between-the-songs chitchat—and she's creative with covers (Sting's "When We Dance" being a live favorite).
Sat., July 8, 7 p.m., free, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.
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Though inflected by The Incredible String Band and The Tower Recordings, guitarist Ben Chasny (also of Comets on Fire) doesn't write the kind of dewy, innocent songs that make up a large part of the "weird folk" congress. Instead he trail-blazes on an electro-acoustic journey built around slowly unraveling songs. The patient listener is rewarded.
Sat., July 8, 9 p.m., $10, with Shearwater and The Court and Spark, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-569-9700, www.thekhyber.com.
With the exponential growth in the volume of shows booked since its February debut, Bowerbird is suddenly making it NY-difficult for experimental music audiences to see everything that's happening. Friday's show brings in Pakistani-American reedist Aaron Ali Shaikh, who explores qawwali-inspired microtonal techniques on the saxophone; Oakland-based duo MaryClare Bryztwa (flute, electronics) and Tony Bert (guitar), both of whom have a tendency toward brusque, textured minimalism.
Fri., July 7, 8 p.m., $5, AIRSPACE Gallery, 4013 Chestnut St., www.bowerbird.org.
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"Let's show these motherfuckers that it's true and not just a hobby"—that's what the late producer J Dilla told Tadd "Dabrye" Mullinix as they got to work on his breakthrough tech-hop CD Two/Three. And it is true. With its winking wordy raps and retro-futurist nostalgic mien ("My Life" is but one bit of fun) the album is heartfelt and intellectually complex.
Wed., July 12, 9 p.m., $8, with Percee P, Sarsaparilla and Kadence, The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 267-671-9298, www.iourecords.com/thefire.
After 10 years of dutiful service as one of Philly's catchiest, funnest rock bands, This Radiant Boy has decided to retire. Or semi-retire. "We are no longer a live band," says the band blog. "We are only going to play together for fun and write and record songs for the pure joy of it." Joy is something TRB's always had in spades so you gotta figure this show (and the official retirement gig in August) will not be the last we hear of them.
Farmers Rock! Benefit for Clark Park Farmer's Market, Fri., July 7, 9:30 p.m., $10, with Surefire Broadcast, Happy Accident and The Boats, Millcreek Tavern, 4200 Chester Ave., 215-222-1255, www.millcreektavernphilly.com.
We know how the Dixie Chicks roll when it comes to Bush. But damn, don't piss Neil off. He'll record a whole album 'bout you—fast and squeaky like Living With War—then call his chubby harmonizing buddies to back him. So before they all get any older and fatter, CSN join Y for his angriest music since he bitched out the governor of Alabama.
Thu., July 6, 8 p.m., $35-$201, Tweeter Center, Mickle Blvd. and Riverside Dr., Camden, N.J., 215-336-2000, www.livenation.com.
