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Musicologist: April 14–20
Truckloads of hype have preceded the arrival of Philadelphia’s Man Man at Lee’s Palace this evening. With heavy comparisons to the spirit of Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa, and a show repertoire that includes opening for Modest Mouse and Arcade Fire, the six-man (man) band have inevitably entered the zone of high expectation. The Toronto stop is included in their thorough North American tour (most recently selling out New York, Philadelphia and Boston dates), and supports the release of their third full-length, Rabbit Habits, on artist-friendly label Anti (home of Neko Case, Islands, and Cadence Weapon, to name a few).
All player card stats set aside, Man Man are highly celebrated for their eccentricity—a spirit that penetrates every ounce of their full performance package. Each member possesses a clever pseudonym (“Surgei Sogay” and “Critter Crat,” for example) and the band collectively performs in matching white outfits—but not in that overdone Hives-esque uniformity. Their Rhodes-driven sound is lifted by a unique selection of instruments including clavinets, sousaphones, and vibraphones, in a messiness that validates the comparison to the artists aforementioned. In addition to their strong live performance, Man Man boasts honest and confessional lyricism, making them valuable both in a large venue and in the privacy of headphones—a formula for longevity that the band has shown early signs of.
Man Man play with Brooklyn’s Yeasayer (who just completed a thorough multi-city tour with MGMT) and Dragons of Zynth tonight at Lee’s Palace (tickets are $14).
Full listings after the jump.
This Week
Monday, April 14
T-Pain + the Family @ Phoenix, $31.50
Cloud Cult and The Forms @ El Mocambo, $10
New Model Army and Dearly Beloved @ Horseshoe, $10
Indian Guitar Summit feat. Salil Bhatt and Doug Cox @ Hugh’s Room, $15
Man Man, Yeasayer, and Dragons of Zynth @ Lee’s Palace, $15
Saul Williams @ Mod Club, $19.50
Tapes ‘n Tapes @ Opera House, $17.50
Owl Eyes, Dead Love, and Triangles @ Tranzac, $5
Tuesday, April 15
Kae Sun, The Mexican Standoff, and High Plains Drifter @ Supermarket, $5
MGMT and Chairlift @ Mod Club, $11
Joni Nehrita @ Hugh’s Room, $12
The Keyholders, Victor Bateman, Dave Clark, and Sandro Perri @
Hundred Fold, Allie Hughes, and Virtue and Vice @ Horseshoe
Wednesday, April 16
The Dirtbombs and Kelley Stoltz @ Horseshoe, $12.50
Evening Hymns, Jon McKiel, and Boys Who Say No @ Drake, $5
The Slackers @ Lee’s Palace, $15.50
HOT CHIP @ Phoenix, SOLD OUT
Ali Berkok and Arkana Music @ Trane Studio, $10
Tim Vesely and Ida Nilson @ Czehoski, FREE
Thursday, April 17
Jay Reatard, CPC Gangbangs, and Thee Diet Pills @ Silver Dollar, $11.50
Antler, Sing Leaf, and Sandro Perri @ Renaissance Cafe
The Salarymen and The Church of Miss Walker @ Mitzi’s Sister
Murder City Sparrows and The Evelyn Room @ El Mocambo
American Music Club @ Lee’s Palace, $12.50
The Proclaimers @ Mod Club, $26.50
The Miles and Hush Money @ The Boat, $5
Cancel Winter, Pass Kontrol, and Ryan Shearing @ Rancho Relaxo, $5
Jordaan Mason, Whatever Jailer, and Sarah D. @ Tranzac, $5
Namori and Ainike @ Lula Lounge, $15
Friday, April 18
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin @ El Mocambo, $9 (Our preview post here.)
The Coast, The Wooden Sky, Ghost Is Dancing, and Mixel Pixel @ Horseshoe, $10
Bassnectar @ El Mocambo, $15
Prescription for Protest @ Kathedral, $8
Stateradio @ Lee’s Palace, $13
Saturday, April 19
The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy and Laura Gibson @ Phoenix, $20
Destroyer, Colossal Yes, and Anemones @ Lee’s Palace, $13.50
Lucero @ Horseshoe, $12.50
Skaface, Street Corner Skandal, and The Ruby Dubs @ Rivoli, $10
Lords and Sailboats are White @ Sneaky Dee’s
Diplo @ Wrongbar, SOLD OUT
Heaven Shall Burn @ Wreck Room, $15
Neverending White Lights @ Music Hall, SOLD OUT
Lisa Bozikovic and Shelby Lamb @ Tranzac
Vonnegut (An Orchestral Tribute to Kurt Vonnegut) @ Music Gallery, $15
Sunday, April 20
Soulja Boy, Lil Mama, and Tiffany Evans @ Kool Haus, $29
The Reveries and Eiyn Sof @ Sneaky Dee’s, PWYC
As Blood Runs Black @ Reverb, $15
Sara Bareilles @ Opera House, SOLD OUT
Total Chaos @ Kathedral, $13
Gardenias @ Lula Lounge, $10
Just Announced
April 30: Yelle, Grand Marnier, and Alexander Toradze @ Opera House, $17.50
May 10: United Steel Workers of Montreal @ Dakota Tavern, $5
May 10: Sleepless Nights, The Details, and The D’Urbervilles @ Drake
May 23: Danko Jones @ Sound Academy, $17.50
May 24: Laura Veirs and Liam Finn @ El Mocambo, $10
May 30 & 31: Golden Dogs @ Horseshoe, $13
June 3: Sea Wolf @ El Mocambo, $10
August 15: Radiohead and Grizzly Bear @ Molson Amphitheatre, SOLD OUT
November 3: Feist @ Air Canada Centre
Photo of Man Man by Sandlin Gaither