Live music and more

Live music and more, tonight through Thursday, compiled by Shaun Brady, Tom Di Nardo, James Johnson, Sara Sherr and Jonathan Takiff.

POP . . . plus

Raul Midon: In the tradition of Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder and Al Jarreau, Mr. Midon summons up creamy voiced, soft groovin' tunes that straddle the line between urbane soul, pop and jazz. He also throws in some mouth trumpet blasts that are insane. Get there on time for Philly-based chanteuse Lili Anel, also the "real deal." World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. 7:30 tonight, $27, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

Buddy Guy: The last of the Southside Chicago superstars and maybe the best of breed showman, Guy continues to crank out fresh, good time blues. But judging by the extras on this bill he's now more willing to share the load. Special guests are Jimmie Vaughan and The Tilt-A-Whirl Band featuring vocal sensation Lou Ann Barton and the Delta dipped, blues rockin' Moreland and Arbuckle - sure to burn the fuzz off your ears. Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Ave., Glenside, 7:30 tonight, $29.50, $39.50, $49.50, 215-572-7650, www.keswicktheatre.com.

Animal Liberation Orchestra: This Cali-foursome's "Man of the World" album (produced by bud Jack Johnson) came out in February, but it's shimmering, head swaying, sweetly harmonized hippie vibes are all about fun in the summer. Bring it on, dudes. With Chris Velan, Ben Arnold. TLA, 334 South Street, 9 tonight, $17, 800-745-3000, www.livenation.com.

Janiva Magness: Her smokey, sensual, worldly wise ways - classic in tone and 'tude - has won Janiva Magness multiple citations as America's best female blues singer (eat your heart out, Shemeika, Marcia and Susan.) The belter has a knack for digging up buried treasures and putting a fresh coat of paint on standards like "Tear Your Playhouse Down" and "Feelin' Good" (originally a Broadway showtune), both found on her latest long player "The Devil Is An Angel Too." And when privvy to her hard-luck back story, you realize just how deep this testifier is digging to tell the truth. Warmdaddy's, 1400 S. Columbus Blvd, 7:45 p.m. and 10 p.m. tonight and tomorrow, $15, 215-462-2000, www.warmdaddys.com.

The Wrens: They can twist and turn, sour and snarl their tunes for anti-establishment, "noise pop" effect. But there's no getting around the catchy hooks of these mocking birds, rarely sighted in concert. But first, The Postelles put their perky New York doo wop-cum-garage rock stamp on the night. First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 8 tonight, $14, 215-821-7575, www.r5productions.com.

Southern Culture on the Skids: Rowdy rebel rockers are revved and rarin' to rumble, with tongue planted firmly in cheek. Sellersville Theater, Main and Temple Sts., 6 and 9:30 tonight, $25, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com.

Delbert McClinton/James McMurty: At turns stomping, downhome twangy and soulfully swinging, Texas legend McClinton has quite the history - he even taught John Lennon how to blow the harp. But he's hardly resting on laurels, that last album title ("Acquired Taste") notwithstanding. Show-sharing McMurty is one of the most intriguing of Americana singer/storytellers, a keen developer of characters and artful objector to the nation's ills. Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Ave., Glenside, 8 p.m. tomorrow, $36, 215-572-7650, www.keswicktheatre.com.

Wayne Hancock: Master practitioneer (and preserver) of old-timey rockabilly, Wayne "The Train" serves up gobs of that twangy voiced, wobblin' geetar and slaphappy bass-scored music for your listening and dancing pleasure. But save something for Gas Money, opening. Kung Fu Necktie, 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, $15-$18, 215-291-4919, www.kungfunecktie.com.

Pants Yell!: No longer 23 and willing to abide by lyrics like "everywhere you're going they're saying 'reject, reject,' " frontman Andrew Churchman has decided to break up his nerdy rock trio this month. But they're giving it one last shot on this "England Belongs To Twee Presents" show shared with British band Tender Trap and kindred spirit Scott Churchman. Pi Lam, 3914 Spruce St., 8 p.m. Saturday, $7, www.myspace.thepilam

Alexisonfire: Fighting to grow up and fly, Canadian emocore band torches the stage with hoarse vocals and stinging/slamming band antics. Trash Talk, Therefore I Am and La Dispute are also tapped out. TLA, 334 South St., 8 p.m. tomorrow, $14/$17, 800-745-3000, www.livenation.com.

Patty Larkin/Erin McKeown: Two willful women with distinctive sonic touches - Larkin more cool and playful, McKeown dark and stark - make for an expressive, well-balanced bill. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 7:30 p.m. Sunday, $25-$37, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

Visqueen: The intriguing Rachel Flotard - sometimes twangy of voice, other times British sounding - fronts this vital band. While based in Seattle they bear some kinship to San Francisco prog rock groups of yore that "they don't make anymore." A similarly history-minded Beretta 76 opens. M Room, 15 W. Girard Ave, 8 p.m. Sunday, $8, 215-739-5577, www.themanhattanroom.com.

Bob Dylan Birthday Bash: How many Bob Dylan devotees does it take to celebrate his 69th birthday? More than 40 at the 10th annual Dylan Birthday Bash being thrown by Kenn Kweder (long Philly's best B.D. "answer") and Jon Houlon. Also to sing the man's praises and music are the likes of Chris Kaspar, Mike "Slo Mo" Brenner, WIP's Joe Conklin and Big Daddy Graham, Andrew Lipke, legendary DJ Michael Tearson and the first "golden boy" of Bandstand, Charlie Gracie. You get into the act, with a Bob Dylan Quizzo between performances. Rembrandt's, 741 N. 23d St., 8 p.m. Monday, free, 215-763-2228, www.rembrandts.com.

Turin Brakes: Guitar strumming duo Oily Knights and Gale Paridjanian are leading figures in the British "quietcore" movement, delivering poignant, folkish tunes with a dark, discomforting "let the universe do its worst" center. Kung Fu Necktie, 1248 N. Front St., 8 p.m. Monday, $15, 215-291-4919, www.kungfunecktie.com.

Greg Laswell: The new set "Take a Bow" from multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer Laswell has an air of melancholy and musical sweep reminiscent of Coldplay and Keane - in a good way. You've heard a lot of the guy, scoring episodes of "Grey's Anatomy." Tin Angel, 20 S. 2nd St., 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, $12, (Laswell also plays there tomorrow; that show is sold out), 215-928-0978, www.tinangel.com.

Sonny Landreth/Boris Garcia: All manner of southern rock 'n' blues (Allman Bros. to Kings of Leon) fans ought to catch a set from Landreth, a Bayou-based, slip-sliding guitar wizard and song maker. And if you're pining for another bluegrass/country/jazzy jamming band to fill the gaping Grateful Dead hole, you'll love opening act Boris Garcia. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 7:30 p.m. Thursday, $30-$40, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

Carolina Chocolate Drops: The oddest "hit" at the recent SXSW music conference had to be this trio of young African-American string band/jug band revivalists, doing up ancient Piedmont blues, ballads and vaudeville stompers (learned from 91-year-old scene survivor Joe Thompson) with authenticity. The Drops' "Genuine Negro Jig" album is frisky as folklore projects go, but its their energetic concert presence, we hear, that really brings new excitement to this music. Sellersville Theater, Main and Temple Sts., 8 p.m. Thursday $21.50, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com.

Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer: What happens when a progressive bluegrass banjo player, Indian master tabla drummer and classically trained double bassist make music together? Magic on a global scale. Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Ave., Glenside 8 p.m. Thursday, $38.50, 215-572-7650, www.keswicktheatre.com.

HIP-HOP, R&B

One Be Lo: While this show was pushed back from April and will now feature only half of Binary Star, the edition of Jeanette Berry & The Soul Nerds should more than make up for the absence of Senim Silla. Also performing are The Hustle, Swift Technique and SarvaneZ. The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 9 tonight, $10, 267-671-9298, www.iourecords.com/thefire.

So Special: Between this monthly event at Silk City, The Bounce and the year parties, local DJs Emynd and Bo Bliz are known for spinning some of the best music and bringing out an extremely diverse and fun crowd. You can be sure this will live up to their usual level of greatness. Silk City, 435 Spring Garden St., 10 tonight, free before 11 p.m., $5 after, 215-592-8838, www.silkcityphilly.com.

Diana Ross: This Motown legend will be hitting the Jersey shore tonight for what is sure to be an excellent show. As one of the most successful singers of all time, Ross has sold over 100 million records between her solo material and her records with The Supremes. Caesars Atlantic City, 2100 Pacific Ave., Atlantic City, N.J., 9 tonight, $75, $110 and $150, 609-348-4411, www.caesarsac.com.

Philadelphia Slick: Celebrating their five-year anniversary and the recent release of their EP, "Everything's Game," Philly Slick will be joining up with Chalk and the Beige Americans and The Hustle for the hometown stop on their spring/summer tour. The Blockley Pourhouse, 3801 Chestnut St., 9 p.m. tomorrow, $5, 215-222-1234, www.theblockley.com.

Wareika Hill Record: This local reggae band will be celebrating the release of its album with friends Philly Reggae Girls, Solomonic Sound System and Ital Sound. They'll also be playing the entire soundtrack to the Jamaican crime classic, "The Harder They Come" (1972). Tritone, 1508 South St., 10 p.m. tomorrow, $5, 21-plus, 215-545-0475, www.tritonebar.com.

It's The Year 1997: From Wu Tang Forever to Puff Daddy's (that's what they called him then) No Way Out, 1997 was a very interesting year for hip-hop. Emynd and Bo Bliz look to take attendees back in time, spinning classics from 13 years ago. Hosted by Reef The Lost Cauze. Johnny Brenda's, 1201 Frankford Ave., 9 p.m. tomorrow, $7, 21-plus, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com.

Sundae Nite: Special guest Rich Medina will be joining resident DJs Lee Jones and Dirty for their weekly party. With three of the best local DJs, this is guaranteed to be a good time. Silk City, 435 Spring Garden St., 11 p.m. Sunday, $5, 21-plus, 215-592-8838, www.silkcityphilly.com.

The Paxtons: This New York based duo has been making waves since the 2008 release of their Members Only mixtape and full-length debut, Work. Joining them will be local acts Sela, Has-Lo and The Legacy. Silk City, 435 Spring Garden St., 8 p.m. Tuesday, $5, 215-592-8838, www.silkcityphilly.com.

ALTERNATIVE

England Belongs To Twee: This is Day one of Pilam Punk/Poptastrophe Weekend. Tonight, it's Jersey's noise-pop faves Home Blitz, London's Veronica Falls (who have shared bills with the Vivian Girls and Dum Dum Girls), the baroque pop of Cleveland's Bears, and Los Angeles' girl group/glam rockers Neverever. Pi Lam, 3914 Spruce Street, 7 tonight, $7, all ages, http://www.myspace.com/homeblitz.

Verbal Abuse: This Bay Area punk band were peers with Fear and The Dead Kennedys and are most likely compared to Black Flag. With legendary grind masters Capitalist Casualties and Fang, best known for "The Money Will Roll Right In," covered by Nirvana, Mudhoney and Metallica. Also: Strong Intention. Kung Fu Necktie, 1248 N. Front St., 7 tonight, $12, 215-291-4919, www.kungfunecktie.com.

Chang Chang/Ruinit Record Release Party: Dual record release party for nerdy rapper Jon Rehr (one of the few rappers to compare himself to Barbara Walters in terms of honesty) and electro-rockers Doctor Scientist. The Homophones, recommended to fans of Magnetic Fields or Talking Heads, open the show, with lots of balloons. Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9 tonight, $8, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com.

Making Time's Tenth Anniversary: Philly's ultimate rock dance party turns 10 this week. Tonight at the Barbary, they celebrate with dance production duo Azari & III, known for "Reckless With Your Love" and "Hungry for the Power." Tomorrow at Voyeur is a rare Philly appearance from reformed Liquid Liquid, who influenced last decade's dance-punk movement with early '80s track "Cavern," (later sampled on Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel's "White Lines"). The Barbary, Frankford and Delaware avenues, 10 tonight, free with ticket purchase to Liquid Liquid or $7. Voyeur, 1221 Saint James Street, 10 tomorrow, $10-15, http://igetrvng.com.

Darren Finizio: The mastermind behind Muscle Factory, Hoppy the Frog and other eccentric aliases performs at Germ Books with Solo Doctor Zero, Gavin Riley, RAXSTFK, and Two Years on Welfare. Germ Books, 2005 Frankford Ave., 6:30 p.m. tomorrow, free, all ages, 215-423-5002, www.germbooks.com.

Crusaders of Love: The French power pop band joins Carbonas spin-off group Ex Humans, female-fronted garage rockers The Midnight Beat, and Cannons. JR's, 22nd and Passyunk, 9 p.m. tomorrow, $5, www.myspace.com/sickchattelproductions.

Rebel Rebel: Dennis Wolffang (Night Train) and Eddie Gieda (Turnaround Vs. Immediate) join forces to spin maximum rock & roll and soul-funk boogie. The Barbary, Frankford and Delaware avenues, 10 p.m. tomorrow, $5, www.myspace.com/thenewbarbary.

Simon Joyner: The prolific Omaha singer/songwriter has influenced everyone from Beck to Bright Eyes and has collaborated with John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats. With Caleb Caudle and The Bayonets. The Marvelous, 208 S. 40th St., 8 p.m. Monday, $10, all ages, 215-386-6110, www.villagegreenproductions.net.

Holly Miranda: The singer/guitarist from The Jealous Girlfriends debuts her solo act with Brooklyn noise pop band Grooms (formerly Muggabears). Kung Fu Necktie, 1248 N. Front St., 8 p.m. Tuesday, $10, 215-291-4919, www.kungfunecktie.com.

Shmitten Kitten's Mister America Pageant: The hilarious Philly dating blog is doing a live pageant with men representing different neighborhoods. Mr. South Philly, Mr. Fishtown, Mr. Northern Liberties, Mr. West Philly, Mr. Rittenhouse, and Mr. Fairmount . . . There's even a wildcard category for South Jersey and/or Manayunk dudes. The Rock T-ts DJ will provide the after party. Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9 p.m. Thursday, $5, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com.

Grant Hart: The Husker Du co-founder returns to the M Room with Adam & Dave's Bloodline and Taggart. M Room, 15 W. Girard Ave., 9 p.m. Thursday, $10, 215-739-5577, www.johnnybrendas.com.

JAZZ

Tom Lagana Group: The Baltimore/DC-area guitarist spins a sound somewhere on the continuum between hard bop and Metheny-style contemporary jazz. His trio will be augmented by Boston-based tenor saxophonist George Garzone. Chris' Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St., 8 & 10 tonight, $15, 215-568-3131, www.chrisjazzcafe.com.

Orrin Evans Jam Session: The pianist resumes his weekly jam session in Mt. Airy. Reuben's Marc, 8131 Stenton Ave., 8 tonight, $5, 215-247-1606.

Marco Benevento Trio: The keyboardist always straddles the line between jazz and jam-band rock; his latest, "Between the Needles & Nightfall," leans toward the latter, a set of short, electronic pop jams. North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 9 tonight, $15, 215-787-0488, www.northstarbar.com.

Robin McKelle: On her new CD, "Mess Around," the vocalist turns from swing to soul, belting out a set of blues and R&B numbers. Chris' Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St., 8 & 10 p.m. tomorrow, $20, 215-568-3131, www.chrisjazzcafe.com.

Metamorphosis Concert Series: Saxophonist Daniel Peterson inaugurates a new series meant to develop a new set of music for his ensemble Truth & Consequence. Also on the bill will be Augmented Fourthtet and bassist Vattel Cherry. Tritone, 1508 South St., 7 p.m. Sunday, $5, 215-545-0475, www.tritonebar.com.

Sun Ra Arkestra: As the Earth completes another journey around the sun, tireless saxophonist Marshall Allen gathers the Sun Ra Arkestra to celebrate another anniversary of his appearance on it - this time, his 86th arrival day (that's birthday for you Earthlings). Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 8 p.m. Tuesday, $12, 215-739-9684, www.arsnovaworkshop.com.

Tribute to Ornette Coleman: Four members of the saxophone iconoclast's '70s/'80s free-funk band Prime Time reunite, led by drummer G. Calvin Weston, guitarists Bern Nix and Charles Ellerbe and bassist Al McDowell will be joined by guitarist Ed Ricart and altoist Bobby Zankel. The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., 8 p.m. Wednesday, Free, www.therotunda.org.

Jesse Scheinin: The young tenor saxophonist was recently chosen for the first class of Berklee's Global Jazz Institute, led by pianist Danilo Perez. At its kickoff in January, Scheinin found himself teaching the blues to a roomful of Panamanian sax students, but he'll be on more familiar turf leading his own group in Philly. Chris' Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St., 8 p.m. Thursday, $10, 215-568-3131, www.chrisjazzcafe.com.

CLASSICAL

Philadelphia Classical Symphony: Conductor Karl Middleman has assembled a program called "Strings and Threads," a celebration of the diversity of American music. It includes a world premiere by our own local composer Maurice Wright entitled "Wissahickon Scenes," based on old Dictaphone recordings of actual Lenape Indian songs. Middleman's arrangement of Johann Freidrich Peter's Symphony in D and David Diamond's glowing "Rounds" contrast with two works by fiddle wizard Mark O'Connor featuring Philadelphia Orchestra violinist Hirono Oka - "Appalachian Waltz" and "Strings and Threads." Holy Trinity Church, 1904 Walnut St., 8 tonight, $20, 215-228-2224, www.classicalsymphony.org.

Abington Symphony Orchestra: Jennifer Montone, the brilliant principal horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra, is a major guest artist with the orchestra led by John Sall. She'll solo in the magnificent, inspired "Exsultet," written for her several years ago by the gifted local composer Kile Smith, as well as Richard Strauss' challenging First Horn Concerto. As a bonus, this highly-recommendable concert also features baritone Tyler Zimmerman in arias by Mozart, Rossini and Bizet. Abington Presbyterian Church, Old York and Susquehanna Roads, 8 tonight (pre-concert conversation with Smith at 7 p.m.), free, 215-887-4530, www.apcusa.org.

Ambler Symphony Orchestra: Jack Moore leads a program of operatic excerpts, including the ballet music from Gounod's "Faust," Verdi's "I Vespri Siciliani" and Ponchielli's "La Gioconda," the latter featuring the famous "Dance of the Hours." Artists from the Academy of Vocal Arts will also offer a brace of famous arias. Wissahickon High School, 521 Houston Road in Ambler, 7:30 tonight, $12, 215-503-2256, www.amblersymphony.org.

Tempesta Di Mare: This Baroque orchestra wraps their season, which has featured all six of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. This time out, they're performing No. 4, with recorders Gwyn Roberts and Rainer Beckmann and violinist Emlyn Ngai, plus No. 6, written for the then-visionary combination of only violas, gambas and continuo. The U.S. premiere of Telemann's Suite in G Minor rounds out this impressive concert. Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, 8855 Germantown Ave., 8 tonight, and St. Mark's, 1625 Locust St., 8 p.m. tomorrow, $25-$35, 215-755-8776, www.tempestadimare.org.

Orchestra 2001: James Freeman leads the ensemble in two works which honor the legacy of Samuel Barber: his greatest masterpiece "Knoxville: Summer of 1915" and a work inspired by it, Robert Maggio's "Summer: 2 AM" both featuring soprano Laura Heimes. The world premiere of Paul Moravec's Violin Concerto, with Maria Bachmann as soloist, and the local premiere of Andrew Rudin's Concerto for Piano and Small Orchestra, featuring pianist Marcantonio Barone, rounds out this fascinating bill. Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center, 8 p.m. Saturday, $30, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Lang Concert Hall at Swarthmore College, free, both 267-687-6243, www.orchestra2001.org.

Elysian Camerata: This sextet will perform Rebecca Clarke's "Dumka," the C Major Mozart String Quintet and Dvorak's Op. 81 Piano Quintet. Grace Presbyterian Church, 444 Old York Road in Jenkintown, 6:30 p.m. tomorrow, $20, 215-528-0582.

Philadelphia Orchestra chamber musicians: For its season wrap, these superb players will perform three trios for diverse instruments. They've programmed Frank Bridge's Trio (Rhapsody) for two violins and viola, Henriette Renie's Trio for harp, violin and cello and the Rachmaninoff Trio elegiaque for violin, cello and piano. Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center, 3 p.m. Sunday, $19-$30, 215-893-1999, www.philorch.org.

New York Chamber Ensemble: Alan R. Kay leads the group in its 21st Cape May Music Festival season. They'll offer two B-Flat Schubert String Trios (one unfinished), a Sibelius Duo, Hindemith's Variations for clarinet and strings and Ingolf Dahl's Concerto a Tre for clarinet, violin and cello. Episcopal Church of the Advent, Washington and Franklin Streets, Cape May, NJ, 8 p.m. Tuesday, $20, 800-275-4278, www.capemaymac.org.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Back from their wildly successful Asian tour, the Orchestra continues under Charles Dutoit with Mozart's Symphony No. 39 and Bright Sheng's "The Phoenix," with soprano Shana Blake Hill as soloist. The Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 is the mighty closer, featuring Nikolai Lugansky in his subscription debut as the soloist. Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce streets, 8 p.m. Thursday and May 29, 2 p.m. May 28, $39-$125, 215-893-1999, www.philorch.org.

Intracultural Journeys: Philadelphia Orchestra cellist Udi-Bar David has invited the Dali String Quartet and Venezuelan flutist Nicolas Real to another exploration of cultural unity through music. The program will include works by Copland, Real's "Cancion para Meme" and Mexican composer Javier Alvarez' "Metro Chabacano" for string quartet. Pearlstein Gallery at Drexel University, 3401 Filbert St., 7 p.m. Tuesday, free, 215-606-7186, www.intraculturaljourneys.com.