Rock/Pop

by Jakob Dorof

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Published: Jan 14, 2009

An early '00s-style husband/wife duo doing their take on yesteryear's much-blogged-about take on the once-thought-dead art of disco, as brought to you by '90s indie rock powerhouse Merge Records.

Jan. 15, with The Love Language and National Eye, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 866-468-7619, johnnybrendas.com.

The emotive Omaha rockers offer a sampling of their forthcoming seventh LP to the lucky few devoted — no surprise that this 150-seater is long sold out. Hit up StubHub or keep your eyes peeled: Word is they'll be announcing another Philly date soon.

Jan. 20, The Barbary, 951 N. Frankford Ave., myspace.com/thenewbarbary.

Behold: the night of the vulgar band names! Pissed Jeans set things off with a wallop of shit-kickin' Philly grit 'n' grime, while headliners Fucked Up reign as the (blogosphere) nation's most popular purveyors of punk rock — all at a tiny new club called Kung Fu Necktie, no less. Protect your neck.

Jan. 21, Kung Fu Necktie, 1248 N. Front St., 866-468-7619, r5productions.com.

The committee to keep music skanky returns to Philadelphia. Looks like the tide of "third wave ska" has yet to ebb.

Jan. 22, TLA, 334 South St., 877-598-8497, livenation.com.

The Troc crams four hard-hitting tribute experiences into one evening with Appetite For Destruction (GnR), Tragedy (a "metal tribute" to the Bee Gees), Ziggy Starlet (all-girls, Bowie) and Mistress of Puppets (the same for Metallica). Sounds fun, but if you prefer your rock'n'roll throwbacks to be a little more interactive, they've also got a Valentine's karaoke challenge and silver-screen Rock Band tournament going down the next night (and that one's free).

Feb. 13, The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-LIVE, thetroc.com.

Frequent Bright Eyes and Jenny Lewis foil, Cat Power and Norah Jones sideman, the Him in last year's acclaimed She & Him project with actress Zooey Deschanel — somehow M. Ward's had a hand in everything both folksy and indie for the past half-decade, and we suspect it has a thing to do with the solo career he's been nurturing since '99. He visits Philly in support of his seventh album, aided by the Vivian Girls, whose "Where Do You Run To" is the best girl group jam since Phil Spector demolished the Wall of Sound.

Feb. 20, The Troc.

Strange Design's got a strange M.O. — re-creating Phish shows in their entirety, note for note, each wanking vamp and solo reconstructed by careful hands and copious bowls. That's the idea, at least; shake off the headache from last month's Badfish concert and see if these guys are up to the task.

Feb. 26, North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., northstarbar.com.

Pittsburgh veterans Hearts of Darknesses have been longtime friends of Gregg Gillis, but their sound couldn't be further from their neighbor's laptop-centric party jams. Opening for Girl Talk in New York last November, the band assaulted the crowd with broken-stringed riffs and a quickly shambling, shrinking drum kit — even frontman Frank Musarra's periodic banter stung and taunted. The long-form rhythms and dancey pulse of Lemonade start the show, but might be the primary draw in light of Pitchfork's recent rave for their self-titled debut.

March 6, Danger Danger Gallery, 5013 Baltimore Ave., myspace.com/dangerdangergallery.

Never mind that these guys had a flick called Still Smokin' back in '83 — this is their "Still Smokin' After All These Years" tour. Technically speaking, it's probably moreso standup comedy than anything musical, but maybe the high-flyin' geezers can be cajoled into playing Cheech's old Springsteen parody, "Born in East L.A."

March 7, Sovereign Performing Arts Center, 136 N. Sixth St., Reading, 610-898-7299, livenation.com.

Once-struggling indie act finds place in the sun on Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and returns to the clubs in triumph as heroes and contacts in Michael Cera's smartphone. This story of a bunch of indie kids done good bodes to be the feel-good hit of the season.

March 12, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 866-468-7619, r5productions.com.

Speaking of feel-good stories, the Feelies are next in the line of reunited indie pioneers who are finally getting their due. Their crazy rhythms and geek underdog aesthetic have influenced everyone from R.E.M. to Weezer to the Arcade Fire, and after some family/friends-only affairs in 2006, the past year has marked their first real shows in over 15 years. Come on in while the gettin's good.

March 13, Johnny Brenda's.

(jakob.dorof@citypaper.net)

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