Northern Valentine, the name and the band, captures the essence of the most remote corners of the earth, from expansive vistas to the depths of the ocean, and occasionally straight up through the stratosphere. A little over-dramatic perhaps, but it's quite appropriate for an instrumental band who evoke post-rockers like Explosions in the Sky and Mogwai, but also embrace more shoegazey influences, like Flying Saucer Attack. Interestingly, all of the sweeping guitar symphonics and fuzzy drone soundscapes are created primarily by just two people, husband and wife team Robert and Amy Brown (along with a rotating cast of helpers and collaborators, of course). So while the band can weave epic build-ups just as well as any of their type, there's something about them that feels much more intimate. If you're looking for an ambient trip to get lost in, look no further than the Green Line Cafe, where the group is playing with CJ Boyd, The New Heaven and The New Earth, and Sensory Whore. Green Line Cafe, 4426 Locust Street, 7p., All Ages myspace.com/northernvalentine - Joe Poteracki

 

Before forming Do You Need the Service?, Mark Sconyers and Justin Hallman made up the rhythm section of The Vanishers. When that ended they became a rhythm section for hire, while creating songs of their own. They also found the time to collaborate with people like Ken Brune and Michael Tramontana of Black Landlord. They also managed to create music that’s a jazzed out psychedelic trip that will easily unfold when they play the early show at Kung Fu Necktie. They’ll be joined by percussion heavy ghost rock legends Northern Liberties, who haven’t played a show since they shook the foundation of Code Space during the release of their 7” split album with Lesser Known Neutrinos on October 10th. So this show should be action packed. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 7pm, $5, 21+ myspace.com/doyouneedtheservice - Bill McThrill

 

Green Line Café (4426 Locust St.) SAT Northern Valentine and Sensory Whore

Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd St.) FRI Absolute Zeros, Parsnip Revolt, Dani Mari

 

 

Start making plans because this weekend TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb will be letting loose their twisted concoction of blues, Bob Dylan and whiskey on our inebriated eardrums. Caught somewhere between rickety small town saloon and laying on your couch hungover the next day, Kong and the Bomb bring together everything we love and hate about drunken nights spent drifting between the barroom floor and your bedroom pillow. They’ll be joined on this alcohol-soaked evening by The Great Unknown, who won’t remain that way for long. Their lyrics are wound so tightly around soulful guitar melodies that bring up images of oh so familiar settings and experiences. This fearsome foursome who began as a duo in a quiet, dark basement have emerged to the surface and are ready to show what they have to offer. Looks like they’ll be pulling double duty this weekend at The Spinning Leaves' Vinyl Release Party! Capping off the bill will be the strange and wildly entertaining army of Toy Soldiers. All three of these bands are unique, different and ready to rock your winter socks right off your chilly feet. So get your skinny jean wearing asses out to Johnny Brenda’s tonight for a show that will timewarp you to a rollicking partay! Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ - Meaghan McCafferty

 

Tonight we’ll be presenting a most enjoyable bill at Kung Fu Necktie. Headlining will be sound manipulator Michael Johnson with his crew of experimental popsters under his moniker Ape School. Come learn how intelligent a school of apes can be. Make sure to get there early to catch The Deli’s January Artist(s) of the Month The Circadian Rhythms with their throwback sound in a new school way. They’ll be sandwiching Jenkintown’s New Motels, who’ve been recording their fun, ramshackled radio-pop at American Diamond with Bill Moriarty, and Brooklyn’s Savior Adore, who will be on tour most of March with Mon Khmers. We’ll be there with our drinking shoes on. We’d love for you to join us and hopefully buy us many shots of Jameson! Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $8, 21+ - The Deli Staff