Critics' picks

Brendan McKinney

He was much too cool to work the "newspaper connection" angle. Instead, Brendan touted how Space-Stationed U.S. astronaut Cady Coleman had chosen (of all the songs in the galaxy!) to perform his "Get Yourself Paroled" in a recent, long-distance videophone jam-up with her band at SXSW. Only after I got into his rousing new set of alt country/twang rock, "Best They Can," and his hefty vocal strengths (sometimes evocative of a young Neil Diamond), did I go reading the man's bio. Lo and behold, Brendan's the offspring of the late longtime Daily News columnist and talk radio star Jack McKinney. So the Nashville-based musician's show here is quite the homecoming and cause for celebration. Guitarist Kevin Hanson and bassist Jim Steager (of Huffamoose fame) are among those who'll be sitting in.

Dawson Street Pub, 100 Dawson St., Manayunk, 10:30 p.m. tomorrow, 215-482-5677, www.dawsonstreetpub.com.

Peter Asher

The harmonic pop duo Peter and Gordon (oft annointed the "British Everly Brothers") was just the beginning for Asher, as his new multimedia show "A Musical Memoir of the '60s and Beyond" attests. He toiled for the Beatles' (who wrote his P&G smash "World With Love"), produced and managed James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt. He'll also make archival film and story connections with the likes of Mick Jagger, Marianne Faithfull and Carole King at this warmup gig before his New York run at Feinstein's. And he'll definitely sing a bunch with a four-piece band.

Sellersville Theater, Main and Temple streets, Sellersville 7:30 p.m. Sunday, $29.50, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com.

Peter, Bjorn and John

What is it about the Swedes, from ABBA to Max Martin, that produces such consistently crunchy, crafty pop nuggets? PB&J are more of the "indie/garage rock" persuasion, though equally driven to distraction by a great melody line. Their new "Gimme Some" album (the one with three thumbs up on the cover) boasts many a snappy sing-along. Just don't pay attention to the bleak lyric notions hiding behind the jangly wall of sound. With Bachelorette and Grandchildren.

TLA, 334 South St., 8 p.m. Sunday, $22/$25, 800-745-3000, www.livenation.com.

- Jonathan Takiff