Via NPR Music:

Gomez seemingly came out of nowhere in 1998 when the British band released the Mercury Prize-winning album, Bring It On. Since then, the band has cranked out another handful of albums and toured both sides of the Atlantic. With each new record, the band has grown tighter and more confident.

Gomez’s latest album, Whatever’s On Your Mind, is its catchiest yet — a folky yet funky take on low-key rock. In this Live Friday concert, the band had to do without vocalist Ben Ottewell, who lost his voice the night before in New York City. In his stead, Gomez recruited their pedal steel-playing bus driver Brooke Langton and played a special acoustic set that turned out to be just as good as the real thing.

You can listen to the full set here.

Obits (one of the bands you WON'T be seeing tonight)

FRIDAY JULY 15
Rick Froberg: The singer/guitarist of the legendary math-rock band Drive Like Jehu (as well as that band’s more straightfoward-rocking followup, Hot Snakes), cover-art designer for bands such as Rocket From The Crypt, and all-around musical badass. He’s also a guy you’re NOT going to see at Johnny Brenda’s tonight—because his latest band, Obits, had to cancel its show. (Which we were really, REALLY looking forward to after it was first announced.) To add insult to injury, Gomez just announced that it will be canceling the rest of its current tour due to singer Ben Ottewell’s vocal loss, according to The Swollen Fox. (The band is playing its scheduled Free At Noon show at World Cafe Live today, but will not be performing tonight at TLA.) We suppose you could see Taking Back Sunday at Tower Theatre, or try to find a ticket to the sold-out Bouncing Souls show at First Unitarian Church. Then again, you could just stay at home and watch a bunch of live Gomez and Obits videos.

Also playing: Taking Back Sunday + Thursday, Colour Revolt, We Are The In Crowd at Tower Theatre (7 p.m., $34.50); The Bouncing Souls + Tim Barry, Gods And Queens at First Unitarian Church (7:30 p.m., all ages, SOLD OUT)

SATURDAY JULY 16
The Philly-via-South-Jersey quartet Arches—who recently recorded a Key Studio Session with us—will be celebrating the vinyl release of their full-length debut Wide Awake at Johnny Brenda’s. (The show is presented by our friends over at YVYNYL.) Arches performs with Holy Spirits, White Laces, and Gracie at 9 p.m. at Johnny Brenda’s; tickets to the 21+ show are $8.

Also playing: Lingerie Party + Wyldlife, Snakes Say Hisss, El Malito at The Trocadero (11 p.m., 21+, $10); The Bouncing Souls + Blanks 77, The Scandals at First Unitarian Church (7:30 p.m., all ages, SOLD OUT); The City Music Project + Lady, Swift Technique at World Cafe Live (9 p.m., $13)

SUNDAY JULY 17
Ever since his debut EP Not The Way was released in 2002, Cass McCombs has been attracting praise from critics and audiences alike, as well as forcing them to note the effect his music has on their selves. His enigmatic properties have taken him far; he has performed and/or toured with notable names such as Andrew Bird, Modest Mouse, Beach House, The Decemberists, Arcade Fire, and The Shins. His fifth and most recent LP, WIT’S END, was released on April 26th to further critical acclaim. Joining him and his band on Sunday will be Lower Dens, a Baltimore-based new-wave/drone-pop group featuring the vocals of Jana Hunter (Phosphorescent, CocoRosie). Cass McCombs Band performs with Lower Dens at Johnny Brenda’s at 9 p.m. (doors at 8 p.m.); tickets to the 21+ show are $12 in advance and $13 at the door. —Claire Fishkow

Also playing: Kim Lenz And The Jaguars + Delco Nightingale, Dixy Blood at Kung Fu Necktie (7:30 p.m., 21+, $10); Stephen Marley + Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, John Brown’s Body at The Blockely (7 p.m., $25-$27); Rupa And The April Fishes + Blue Hippopotamus, April Mae And The June Bugs at North Star Bar (8 p.m., 21+, $10)

Tickets for tomorrow’s Free At Noon featuring Cults are still available.

Options from Gomez on Vimeo.