Music critics picks

Alan Gilbert was booked to conduct this weekend's Philadelphia Orchestra concerts long before he was named upcoming music director of the New York Philharmonic A violist who subbed with the Philadelphians while attending Curtis Institute, Gilbert, 41, will also lead the Curtis Symphony Orchestra in Nielsen's raging Third Symphony Monday.

He'll baton Nielsen's potent Second Symphony, subtitled "The Four Temperaments," with the Philadelphia Orchestra, along with Swedish composer Anders Hillborg's "Exquisite Corpse." Favorite pianist Emanuel Ax and his wife, pianist Toko Nozaki, join Orchestra timpanist Don Liuzzi and percussionist Christopher Deviney in Bartok's revelatory Concerto for Two Pianos, Percussion and Orchestra, one of the last century's flaming masterpieces.

Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Broad and Spruce streets, 2 p.m. today and 8 p.m. tomorrow, $10-$113, 215-893-1999, www.philorch.org.

- Tom Di Nardo

For a decidedly offbeat Valentine's Day, come out, enjoy the New York Dolls, the reconstituted relic of the glam-punk era, still and again fronted by singer David Johanson and guitarist Sylvain Sylvain. Enhancing the walk-on-the-wild-side appeal of it all, the show is being staged at a funky, 1,600-person-capacity South Philly arena previously known for staging prize fights and wrestling but now aiming to branch out. Driving tip: It's close to Columbus Boulevard and I-95, south of Target and adjacent to the Foreman Mills, and features free parking.

New Alhambra Arena, 7 Ritner St., 9 p.m. Thursday, $19 advance, $24 day of, 215-336-2000 (charge), 215-755-0611 (venue), www.newalhambra.com.

- Jonathan Takiff

L.A. trio the Dollyrots will lift those midweek winter blahs as they head up this fabulous lady-led rock bill. Their cheeky power-pop has earned fans in Joan Jett (who signed them to her Blackheart Records label) and Little Steven, as well as airplay on Ugly Betty and Radio Disney. Their glammier Chicago tourmates, the quartet Suffrajet, create affecting, barbed-wire valentines, while local newcomers the Percocettes work out of the Donnas/Muffs mold.

North Star Bar, 27th and Poplar streets, 8 p.m. Wednesday, $8, 215-684-0808, www.northstarrocks.com.

- Sara Sherr

A lot of artists combine the smoothness of R&B with a streetwise swagger, and two of the most adept - Avant and Carl Thomas - ply their skills in Atlantic City this week.

Cleveland-bred Avant was the first artist signed to Magic Johnson's label. The young artist has a knack for traditional soul, as evidenced on his latest effort, 2006's "Director." Thomas was one of the first R&B acts signed to Bad Boy and instantly gained fame with his album "Emotional." His latest, "So Much Better," continues Thomas' string of solid releases. *

House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, 7 p.m. Wednesday, $45-$60, 609-236-BLUE, hob.com.

- Damon C. Williams

Leading a big band these days requires patience, and not just for dealing with artists' egos. "Thought Trains," the first CD by New York-based Mike Holober & the Gotham Jazz Orchestra, gathered dust for eight years before its 2004 release. Follow-up "Quake" was recorded over a year ago but should be out soon.

The good news is that the music on both ages like fine wine. Holober's compositions combine moving, thinking-man's swing and elemental force. The classically trained pianist is a post-Gil Evans arranger with a foot in the Ellington past. Loving arrangements of Beatles and Stones tunes on the new album evidence his ability to transform material into his own voice; his originals are just as memorable.

Tonight he'll premiere "Hiding Out," commissioned by the museum and inspired by Wyoming's Big Horn Mountains.

Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th Street & Ben Franklin Parkway, 5:45 and 7:15 tonight, free with regular museum admission of $14, 215-763-8100, www.philamuseum.org.

- Shaun Brady