12 concerts to see this week, including Elvis Costello, The Dip, Sunny War and more

Here are twelve concerts to see in the next seven days, all around Philly. Tickets and more information can be found at WXPN’s Concerts and Events page.

Sunday 2/19: The Last Generation on Film at Johnny Brenda’s

It’s a solid lineup of Philly-made modern rock at Johnny Brenda’s to kick off the week. Recent Key Studio Sessions stars The Last Generation on Film headline, and their synth-dipped emotive anthems pair terrifically with scene vets Static Shapes, who just released a new double A-side single, “Stars In Our Eyes” and “Another Heart,” on Friday. Arrive early to catch Sold, a relatively new and rather exciting Philly band that channels the indie-dance aughties a la Room On Fire-era Strokes and The Rapture. // 8 p.m., $15, 21+

Monday 2/20: El Perro at Kung Fu Necktie

This show belongs at a crusty biker bar and hardened Front Street rock venue Kung Fu Nectkie is perfect. El Perro is the latest offering of Iowa’s Parker Griggs, formerly of RADIO MOSCOW, and their thrashing yet psychedelic sound will soothe the soul of hippies, metal-heads, and Grateful Dead fans alike. // 7:30 p.m., $15, 21+

Tuesday 2/21: Cece Peniston at City Winery

Cece Peniston’s 90s electronic dance vibes find a home in City Winery, the cozy venue for legacy artists these days. Though it’s not her usual grand-scale Las Vegas gig, the Billboard artist will shine just as bright. // 7:30 p.m., $40+, AA

Thursday 2/23: Black Buttafly and Friends at The Lounge at World Cafe Live

We’ve been seeing a lot of Black Butterfly this winter. The project of multi-instrumental singer-songwriter Kayla Childs, a member of the Omar’s Hat family, is getting ready to roll out new music this spring, and she opened for Ajay and Brushstroke to warm up for it. This week’s gig, though, is different. A Black History Month jam session curated by Black Butterfly and Paul Robeson House, the show Thursday night finds Black Buttafly teaming up with friends like Yesseh Furaha-Ali on sax, Dok Downs on bass, Austin Marlow on drums, and Larry Monroe Jr. on guitar to pay tribute to the past century of Black music, jazz to soul to R&B, with guest vocalists like Balmour and Ryan Gilfillian. // 8:30 p.m., $10, AA

Thursday 2/23: Elvis Costello & The Imposters at Wind Creek Entertainment Center

How do we feel about artists with decades-long careers? Are The Stones ageless, or are they basking in their former glory because it’s all they know? Is Dylan’s voice still hanging on? Only half of The Beatles survived. Elvis Costello, on the other hand, may be one of the best to preserve his relevance since his 1977 debut. Go see this one for his new album The Boy Named If or for nostalgia; there’s no wrong answer. // 8 p.m., $60+, AA

Friday 2/24: Sunny War at Kennett Flash

We shouted out this show two weeks ago when Sunny War played Free At Noon, but allow us to reiterate: this is very much worth attending. Sunny War’s refreshingly honest latest LP Anarchist Gospel will blow you away, and has the special guests, like Jim James, Allison Russell, and Chris Pierce, to help lure in any newcomers. // 8 p.m., $25, AA

Friday 2/24: The Dip at Union Transfer

We’re coming up on a year since we declared Seattle septet The Dip “the ultimate party band at NON-COMM.” Their vibrant energy, Stax-inspired horns, and good vibes carried them to the XPoNential Music Festival, and now to the Union Transfer stage, where they headline Friday night. Meanwhile, last spring’s Sticking With It LP was followed up with an acoustic re-version and a one-off funkified Black Sabbath cover; we’re excited to hear what surprises they have in store for this Philly stopover. // 8 p.m., $25, AA

Friday 2/24: Ghais Guevara at Ukie Club

Buzzing Philly rapper Ghais Guevara has a way with words, whether you’re talking about impactful accounts of struggle around the world and generational trauma (“Luminescence Peers Thru Their Confinement” on last year’s There Will Be No Super-Slave is poetic and powerful), or just his knack for a great quip on the internet — like the way his Bandcamp bio reads “im the reason your 14 year old won’t shut up about Malcolm X,” which is so perfect. Guevara’s music is full of heady wordplay, anticapitalist and antiimperialist critique, and radical politics — the mixtape he’s releasing on Friday is called Free Breakfast For Children, a nod to the Black Panther Party’s community-building People’s Free Food Program — and he delivers it over vibrant, textured beats structured on samples simultaneously recognizable and uncommon. And he puts his philosophy into practice: this Friday’s release party at Ukie Club will benefit YEAH Philly, the Youth Empowerment for Advancement Hangout, a teen-led organization addressing community violence and systemic oppression that’s in the process of building a new center in West Philadelphia. // 7:30 p.m., $16.66, AA

Friday 2/24: Nero Catalano at World Cafe Live

You’ve probably seen guitarist, songwriter, and educator Nero Catalano rocking out with Work Drugs, or sitting in on a jam at Time. After a decade and change in the scene, he’s releasing his project-length solo debut this week. Catalano’s Doors Open is bright, catchy, smart pop — like Eric Slick, he’s clearly a Rundgren devotee — and he’ll be joined by Emmett Drueding for this release party Friday night at the World Cafe Live lounge. // 8:30 p.m., $15, AA

Saturday 2/25: Puppy Angst at Ortlieb’s

It’s all in the name for local noisy indie rockers Puppy Angst – they’re sweet on the surface, but vengeful underneath it all. And they’ll be coming in for a Key Studio Session sooner than later. In the meantime, enjoy their show at Northern Liberties watering hole Ortlieb’s with pouty country outfit Mandy Valentine. // 8 p.m., $10, 21+

Saturday 2/25: Shawn Colvin, Marc Cohn & Sarah Jarosz at Keswick Theatre

Its a singer-songwriter triple-treat this Saturday night when 90s vets Shawn Colvin and Marc Cohn are joined by contemporary folk fave Sarah Jarosz at The Keswick. The collaborative tour finds the three artists forming a supergroup of sorts — Colvin on guitar, Cohn on piano, and Jarosz on an array of instruments — mixing a showcase of their songs and covers with a telling of the stories behind them. // 8 p.m., $49 and up, AA