Soundadvice

Get Out!

Of all the New Folk counterparts, Andy Cabic was always the least freaky. While his buddy Devandra Banhart warbled and meandered in a stream-of-consciousness spew, the songwriter behind Vetiver was content to present structured music, albeit coated in a production haze. The new Tight Knit (Sub Pop) is straightforward even by his band's own standards; songs are clean, melodic, and downright jaunty. It's pleasant and pretty, but far from innocuous; scan "Sister" for a plea to a distressed loved one, set to a giddy triangular shuffle.

—John Vettese

Tue., March 10, 9 p.m., $10, with Sian Alice Group and Blood Feathers, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 866-468-7619, johnnybrendas.com.

While ears were lost in Winehouse's hair and before Duffy's look made ho-hum singing acceptable, there was Alice Russell. The Brit's range and depth have won Stateside heads over; especially the remake of The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army" and DJ remixes of her originals. Russell killed the World Café Live stage two years ago at the Black Lily Festival, and she's back for a repeat.

—Deesha Dyer

Fri., March 6, 9 p.m., $14-$15, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut Street, 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

Five years after Connected injected smooth and jazzy into the monotone hip-hop scene, Foreign Exchange (Dutch producer Nicolay and U.S. MC Phonte) is back with Leave It All Behind (Hard Boiled) — which features impeccable R&B vocalist Muhsinah and sexy soul-o-phite Darien Brockington. This show will be packed.

—Deesha Dyer

Mon., March 9, 8 p.m., $18, with Foreign Exchange, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 Frankford Ave., 866-468-7619, johnnybrendas.com.

Being a country band from Brooklyn is a dubious distinction. Can denizens of a city with no country music station do their genre right? The Defibulators eschew pretension by dirtying up their hillbilly tunes with driving rhythms (they have a washboard player!) and a dash of feedback. While the barn burners, such as "Defibulator" and "Go-Go Truck," propel their live show and their new album, Corn Money (City Salvage), it's the quieter, contemplative songs, like the boozy "Wandering Eye," that really pack a wallop.

—Molly Eichel

Wed., March 11, 9 p.m., $6, with Wes Mattheu and the New Time, Silk City, 435 Spring Garden St., 215-592-8838, silkcityphilly.com.

The program for this chamber music program seems designed to demonstrate the strong line of Russian musical legacy, where tradition and heritage are as important as in any culture in the world. The Piano Trio in D minor by Anton Arensky is the oldest piece of music. Arensky was a student of Rimsky-Korsakov. The chronology, proceeding to Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev and finally to Alfred Schnittke, shows a cascade of evolving Slavic style. A superb ad hoc trio of Ida Levin, violin; Peter Stumpf, cello; and Cynthia Raim, piano; will perform.

—Peter Burwasser

Mon., March 9, 8 p.m., $23, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-569-8080, pcmsconcerts.org.