The Key

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14
Deer Tick takes all the right steps to stay disheveled yet oddly dapper. Though members of the Providence-based group typically come equipped with the standard beards and other facial hair common for their country-tinged folk genre, they still manage to channel a retro, Don Draper-esque appreciation for suit jackets and nice shades. This same balance between shabby and chic resonates in the group’s relentlessly heavy emphasis on guitar-driven rock, songs often wavering between thick, overwhelming chord progressions and delicate, almost dainty, riffs. The opening track of the group’s latest album, Divine Providence (set for release on October 25th) keeps the balance alive, maintaining singer John McCanley’s coarse, sinister vocals with the song’s friendly, sing-song melodies. Deer Tick performs with Fun and Virgin Forest at 8 p.m. at UPenn’s Harrison Auditorium; tickets to the all-ages show are $15. —Marielle Mondon

As we mentioned earlier this month, RJD2 and singer-songwriter Aaron Livingston are collaborating together as Icebird and released their debut album, The Abandoned Lullaby, on October 11th. You can download the first single, “Going And Going. And Going” here. RJD2 performs with Icebird and Lushlife at 8 p.m. at Union Transfer; tickets to the all-ages show are $15-$17.

Meanwhile, the members of Arrah And The Ferns—whom John Vettese highlighted in yesterday’s Philly Local Philes—will celebrate the release of their latest EP, Soldier Ghost, at Phila MOCA. Arrah And The Ferns performs with Univox and Conversations With Enemies at 9 p.m. at at Phila MOCA.

Also Playing: Illinois + Carousel, A Victim To Good Times at Milkboy Philly (9 p.m., 21+, $8–$10); Esperanza Spalding + Chamber Music Society at Merriam Theater (8 p.m., $35–$45)

Break It Up

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15
Two of The Key’s favorite local acts, Slutever and Break It Up, perform together (alongside L.A.’s Bleached) at Kung Fu Necktie tonight. Back in April, we featured Slutever in our Key Studio Sessions; a month later, we interviewed guitarist/drummer Rachel Gagliardi about her children’s music side project, The Weenies. Over the summer, we interviewed all three members of Break It Up and featured them in our Key Studio Sessions as well. You can listen to a track from each session below; click on the above links for the full sessions. Slutever performs with Bleached and Break It Up at 7:30 p.m. at Kung Fu Necktie; tickets to the 21+ show are $10. 

• I Can Dream The Rest Awayby Slutever from The Key Studio SessionsDownload

• Excavateby Break It Up from The Key Studio SessionsDownload

Also Playing: Blocktoberfest featuring The Walkmen + Cozy Galaxies, Kuf Knotz, Toy Soldiers, Suzie Brown, New Pony, Reckless Amateurs, Paper Monster, Parsnip Revolt, Andy Dalzell on South Street between Broad and 17th Sts. (noon–8 p.m., all ages, free); Minus the Bear + The Velvet Teen at Electric Factory (8:30 p.m., all ages, $27); Dick Dale + The Levee Drivers at North Star Bar (9 p.m., 21+, $20–$25)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16
Southern Culture On The Skids + Pokey LaFarge And The South City Three at World Cafe Live (7 p.m., $21–$39); Richard Thompson at Keswick Theatre (7:30 p.m., $29–$39)