Weekend Picks: Disappears at Johnny Brenda’s, Free Energy at First Unitarian Church, Chairlift at JB’s
Chairlift performs at Johnny Brenda's Sunday, April 22nd
FRIDAY, APRIL 20th
Disappears performs with Lotus Plaza and Nothing at 9 p.m. at Johnny Brenda’s; tickets to the 21+ show are $10.
Also Playing: Free Energy + Langor, Wildlife Control at First Unitarian Church (8:30 p.m., all ages, $12); Levee Drivers + Dirty Ghosts, Ghost Light, Peace Creeps at PhilaMOCA (8:30 p.m., all ages, $7-$10); Nicos Gun + DRGN KING, Tunde Olaniran And Miz Korona at Kung Fu Necktie (8 p.m., 21+, $8); The High Five + Crills Wilson, Wyldlife, The Donuts at Milkboy Philly (9:30 p.m., 21+, $10)
SATURDAY, APRIL 21st
Tower Of Power + Average White Band at Keswick Theatre (8 p.m., all ages, $42.50-$49.50)
SUNDAY, April 22nd
Usually a group with bizarre interests tends to show off such eccentricities within its work. Yet such is not the case for Brooklyn-based synth-pop duo Chairlift. For a group whose original intent was to create music for haunted houses, it’s surprising that its musical style has somehow strayed as far from spookiness as possible. Chairlift is now known for its innocent, sanguine-sounding pop melodies and soft male and female vocals that radiate with an undeniable chemistry. One of the only remaining strange aspects of this band’s work is the videos that accompany its childlike tunes; one of the band’s most successful singles, “Evident Utensil,” features a music vid in which impressive animation allows the scenes to weirdly melt together. Though Chairlift is now widely known for the appearance of hit-single “Bruises,” in a 2008 iPod commercial, its music has truly evolved from a dark oddity to the style it exudes today. Chairlift performs with Nite Jewel at 9 p.m. at Johnny Brenda’s; tickets to the all-ages show are $13-$14. —Lisa Henderson
Also Playing: Grandchildren + Hume, The Dreebs, Son Step at PhilaMOCA (8 p.m., all ages, $7-$10); Lucero + Deer Tick, J. Roddy Walston And The Business, Turbo Fruits at Union Transfer (7:30 p.m., all ages, $20-$22); Young Widows + Ladder Devils, Pygmy Lush at Kung Fu Necktie (8 p.m., 21+, SOLD OUT)