Join Deerhoof tonight at Union Transfer to help them bring the noise and enjoy tracks off their eleventh studio album, Breakup Song. Their newest album has an immense groove factor, along with the quirky styling of the songs and at time grungy instrumentation. Their show tonight will be the last of consistent tour dates, but the group will then be playing two dates in May, as well as one more June show in London. Tickets and information for the all ages show with Danielson Famile and People Get Ready can be found here. Below, check out Deerhoof’s music video for “We Do Parties” off their new album Breakup Song.

Over a dozen local favorites are joining to together for a go at Song Reader: Twenty New Songs by Beck tonight at World Cafe Live upstairs.  As previously reported, influential music man Beck Hansen released his latest album in the (not so) traditional format of sheet music, intended for individual interpretation by those who wanted to hear the otherwise-unrecorded songs.  Tonight’s bill is a near-comprehensive list of Philly’s major players including Sean Hoots, Andrew Lipke, The Districts, Toy Soldiers and Kuf Knotz.  Tickets and information for the event can be found here.  For a full list of participating bands go here.  Below, watch local singer-songwriter Ben Smith perform his take of “Last Night You Were a Dream” from the Reader.

Elk Rhythms will perform tonight at the North Star Bar‘s New Music Showcase.  The folk project of Andy Ellison, Elk Rhythms’ audible influences on 2012′s self-titled EP range from The Grateful Dead (“Forty Days“) to Fleet Foxes with some unexpected Animal Collective playfulness thrown in (“Sleepwalking“).  Also playing tonight are Twenty Minute Tango, The Pretty Dittys and Devil’s Triangle.  Tickets and information for the 21+ show can be found here.  Below, stream and download Elk Rhythms’ “Gone Away.”.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s Chameleon Club will be hosting the punk/orchestral group World/Inferno Friendship Society. The Brooklyn based circus punk outfit, fronted by Jack Terricloth, currently has seven active members including guitar, bass, alto saxaphone and piano. This all ages event will also feature the New York alt-country group O’Death. Check out the short documentary for World/Inferno Friendship Society below. For more information on the event visit the Chameleon Club page located here.

Philadelphia rock group Kalob Griffin Band will be playing his annual holiday concert at World Cafe Live. Along with the Americana rockers will be Toy Soldiers, Sean Hoots (from Hoots and Hellmouth) and Ali Wadsworth. Below is the video for their song “The Winter Blues” which was filmed throughout one day in Philadelphia. For more on Kalob Griffin Band, read The Key’s interview here.

Brooklyn lo-fi/garage group The Babies will be headlining a show at Kung Fu Necktie. The band will be supporting their newly released album, Our House on the Hill. This 21 and over event will also feature the Brooklyn punk rock band Swearin’ who has been touring the country with Canadian indie-rock group Japandroids. Tickets and more information can be found here.

The Broad Street Ministry

One of the many wonderful things about the Philadelphia music community is its desire to rally around causes and make a difference in the city.  As cliched as that sounds, its true – the latest example being hometown musician John Francis‘ new City of Love Festival, benefiting Broad Street Ministry and their “Breaking Bread” hospitality initiative.  Amidst debate over whether or not outdoor meal services for the homeless should be allowed in Philadelphia, the Broad Street Ministry has created its own safe haven for the city’s homeless men and women where they can receive a hot meal and a variety of services (including medical attention, art therapy and assistance for veterans) every Thursday afternoon.

Francis founded the secular City of Love Festival to help Broad Street Ministry pastor Bill Golderer reach his goal of increasing servings to nine hot meals a week in 2013.  The festival will be a bi-annual event, with the first concert happening on Friday, January 12th at Underground Arts.  The bill for the evening includes sets from The Districts, Levee Drivers, The Lawsuits, Caleb Hawley, Sean Hoots (of Hoots & Hellmouth), Kuf Knotz, Ross Bellenoit Band, Ryan Tennis, Blayer Pointdujour & The Rockers Galore, Zach Djanikian and John Francis & The Midnight Choir, plus special surprise guests.

The City of Love Festival is presented by the Philadelphia Folksong Society and is free for PFS members, with a suggested donation to aid in the Broad Street Ministry’s efforts, and $12 for non-members.  The event is 21+; more information can be found here.  Below, watch John Francis perform “Who” in Nashville.

“The songs here are as unfailingly exciting as you’d expect from their author, but if you want to hear “Do We? We Do,” or “Don’t Act Like Your Heart Isn’t Hard,” bringing them to life depends on you.”

Over a dozen local musicians have accepted Beck’s challenge and will perform their interpretations of the compositions at World Cafe Live on Tuesday, January 8th.  The line-up so far includes Sean Hoots, Johnny Showcase and the Lefty Lucy Cabaret, The Levee Drivers, Killer Whale, Modern Inventors, Kuf Knotz, Penrose, The Districts, Juston Stens and the Get Real Gang, Satellite Hearts, The Great Unknown, The Bailey Hounds, and Chris Kasper, with more to be announced soon.  Tickets and more information for the show can be found here.

Direct from Sean’s website, here’s what he has to day:

It is with great pleasure that I announce the official release of Raise The Dead! Language: Volume 1. It’s not really a band, per se…just me fiddling with loops (electronic, vocal and found sound) to create soundscapes suitable for many types of listening situations – long walks on the beach, yoga class, drives down desert highways, meditation retreats, slow roasting red peppers and garlic…and so on.

The five-song Volume 1 is now available to download here. Don’t expect any alt-country, gospel rockin’ music from his new EP. It’s not what H&H fans may expect, but it is a very exciting and interesting direction. The lengthy jams on these songs are atmospheric and spacey, contemplative and at times drone in Brian Eno-esque style. Download a couple songs below.

An earlier version of this post inaccurately stated that Raise The Dead! Language founder Sean Hoots was a former member of Hoots And Hellmouth. He is still a member of the band.