Last night, tireless Philly rock four-piece Cheers Elephant headlined Johnny Brenda’s. Opening sets were performed by South Carolina’s The Explorer’s Club and Bucks County folk ensemble Honeychurch. Check out a recap of the show in the photo gallery above.

XPN welcomes Jeff Mangum to the Strand Theater.  The reclusive frontman of indie leaders Neutral Milk Hotel announced plans for a final tour this past fall, stating a desire “to play to all the silver citizens dwelling in citys [sic] that he has yet to sing in.”  Following the dissolution of Neutral Milk Hotel in 1998, Mangum continued to make periodic solo appearances and released the live LP Live at Jittery Joe’s.  Though his elusiveness is certainly intriguing, its Mangum’s poetic lyrics and sincere delivery that keep his shows selling out in seconds.  Tickets and information for tonight’s show with Tall Firs in York, PA can be found here.  Below, watch a live video of Mangum performing “Oh Comely” from In the Aeroplane Over the Sea at Penn’s Irvine Auditorium.

XPN welcomes Rufus Wainwright to the McCarter Theater in Princeton, NJ.  The singer-songwriter continues to tour in support of last year’s Out of the Game full-length and will be performing a special solo acoustic set tonight.  Though songwriting is his primary craft, Wainwright has branched out to work in other artistic media over the years including film and opera - elements of which are discernible in his charismatic and sometimes dramatic stage presence.  Tickets and information for tonight’s all-ages show with Lucy Wainwright Roche can be found here.  Watch the video for “Out of the Game” featuring Helena Bonham Carter below.

Philly outfit Cheers Elephant play Johnny Brenda’s tonight.  The upbeat rock band released their third record Like Wind Blows Fire last May.   Growing up in the Philadelphia area, the band was exposed to local scene anchors Dr. Dog and The Teeth during Cheers Elephant’s formative years.  That exposure, both to the style of music and work ethic of the two bands, has definitely informed Cheers’ psych rock / pop sound, though they make it their own with hints of Arctic Monkeys-like Brit alt-pop.  Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with The Explorers Club and Honeychurch can be found here.  Below, watch the video for “Doin’ It, Right.”

Brooklyn indie pop/rock duo Tanlines is playing at Union Transfer tonight. Even though percussionist Jesse Cohen and vocalist  Eric Emm have been performing as Tanlines since 2008, their debut full-length album Mixed Emotions was not released until earlier this year. The all-ages show tonight starts at 8:30; more information and tickets available here. Watch the video for the pair’s breakout hit “All Of Me” below.

Local folk rock collective Honeychurch is playing tonight at Puck Live. The Bucks County slowcore group is made up of Shilough Hopwood and his wife Larissa with guitarist Tim Kratz and drummer Greg Millward as well as occasional collaborations from other local musicians. The group’s fourth album, Will You Be There With Me?, came out on Valentine’s Day this year, which you can stream on their Bandcamp page here. More information about tonight’s 21+ show is available here; performances by openers Amanda Penecale and Stefan Geoffrey will begin at 7 PM. Below, listen to Honeychurch’s seasonally appropriate “Winter Part 1″.

Originally known as Kunek, mellow Oklahoma indie group Other Lives are playing at Johnny Brenda’s tonight. Their 2011 sophomore album Tamer Animals gained popularity with the success of its title track. Tonight’s 21+ show starts at 9:30; tickets and information can be found here. Below, check out the video for “For 12″ from Tamer Animals. 

Temple University is hosting an ALS Benefit Concert at The Palombaro Club in Ardmore tonight featuring performances from Hezekiah Jones, Disco Machine Gun, and Griz among others. The all ages show starts at 7 PM. For more information visit our concert calendar here. Listen to “Only Dreadlock” from our Key Studio Session with Griz in March below.

• Only Dreadlock by Griz, from The Key Studio Sessions ArchivesDownload

Alex Yaker is one of those way-busy Philadelphia musicians. Most recently, you’ve probably seen him rock his bass-playing swagger in Summer Fiction. In the past he’s performed with Grammar Debate, The Yaker Bros and done a bit of production with Surreal Sound Studios. With everything going on, it’s not unsurprising that his own project, Roomtone, only makes periodic appearances, but whenever it emerges, it’s worth the wait. This weekend, the band Yaker also refers to as “The Official Indie BossaNova Goosebump Machine” plays its first show in over a year and a half at Johnny Brenda’s, and best of all, they’ve got new material in tow. Snag a download below in this week’s Philly Local Phile, the buoyant new “Your Golden Crown.” Roomtone plays Sun. Feb. 12 at Johnny Brenda’s with Honeychurch and The Explorers Club. Tickets to the 21+ show are $10.