Music this week

Live music and more, tonight through Thursday, compiled by Tom Di Nardo, Shaun Brady, Sara Sherr, Jonathan Takiff and Damon C. Williams.

POP

Widespread Panic: Seasoned, Southern-fried jam band hits the pier again. Festival Pier at Penn's Landing, 7:30 tonight, $35, 215-336-2000, www.livenation.com.

Van Morrison: It's always a marvelous night for a Moondancing Morrison, as he's learned to deliver a bunch of the hits along with whatever new stuff he's pedaling in his funky, Celtic-soul vein. (At these prices, he better.) Tower Theater, 69th and Ludlow streets, 7:30 tonight, $75-$350, 215-336-2000, www.livenation.com.

Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons: Thanks to their hit bio-musical, "Jersey Boys," these distinctive harmonizers are standing tall again. Walk like a man, my friends. Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 52d Street and Parkside Avenue, 8 tonight, $29-$89, 215-893-1999, www.manncenter.org.

Jon McLaughlin: Hot young piano rocker picks up where Elton, Billy and Ben leave off. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut Street, 10 tonight, $19-$24, 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

Uncle Rock: Former bass player for the Fleshtones, aka Robert Burke Warren, plays real good for the kids, with self-penned tunes drawing inspiration from Maurice Sendak, Shel Silverstein, Woody Guthrie and the Beatles. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. 11:30 a.m. tomorrow, $7 for children (ages 1-12), $10 for adults, 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

Crue Fest: Motley Crue's back, with some rockin' good new material to expose - along with their latest tattoos. Also on the bill - Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Crue bassist Nikki Sixx's side project Sixx A.M. and Trapt. Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbour Blvd., Camden, N.J., 5 p.m. tomorrow, $35.25-$99, 215-336-2000, www.livenation.com.

Daryl Hall: You might miss John Oates's shout backs, but truth is, it's Hall's voice we hear the most in our heads, whenever humming H&O's Philly soul, pop and rock tunes. And Daryl's solo material's got the grooves, too. Opening act Mutlu, a young local in the same blue-eyed-soul tradition, previews material from his forthcoming major-label debut. Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 8 p.m. tomorrow, $45-$55, 215-572-7650, www.keswicktheatre.com.

Sones De Mexico: Grammy nominated this year for best Mexican-American album, this Chicago-based folkloric group keeps alive the varied styles of Mexican traditional music. Longwood Gardens, 1001 Longwood Blvd., Kennett Square. 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, $14-$16, children $6, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org.

Elf Power: As the name suggests, these Athens, Ga., guys are musical charmers, with a whimsical, old-school, psychedelicized rock approach. With Ham 1 and Cheers Elephant. Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 8 p.m. Sunday, $8-$10, 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.

Grant-Lee Phillips: The former leader of Grant Lee Buffalo, roaming alone these days, settles in for a two-night stand. Matt Keating opens the first evening, Nels Andrews the second. Tin Angel, 20 S. 2nd St., 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 8:30 p.m. Monday, $16, 215-928-0770, www.tinangel.com.

Crooked Still: Wow, does this alt-country band impress big time. While decidedly down home, their original music also proves surprisingly high-toned, refined and varied - chamber twang at its best. Kindred spirits Chatham County Line and the Infamous Stringbusters also pile on the good-'n'-rootsy Americana acoustic stuff. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

Noah Babayof: Israeli singer/songwriter arrives with her first English-language album and U.S. release, a flinty, artsy-craftsy outing in the Beth Orton vein, produced by local guy Greg Weeks (of Espers fame.) She performs here with Thinguma*Jigsaw, Sharon Van Etten and Meg Baird, likewise from Espers. First Unitarian Church Chapel, 2125 Chestnut St., 8 p.m. Tuesday, $10, 866-468-7619, www.r5productions.com.

Alkaline Trio: Emotional, hardcore music makers bare and burn their souls. TLA, 334 South St., 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, $20-$22, 215-922-1011, www.livenation.com.

Grupo Fantasma: You can't stay in your seat when this uproarious, brass- and percussion-pumped Latin orchestra starts playing. People are still buzzing about their gig backing Prince at Coachella. Upstairs at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, $10, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

Cavalera Conspiracy: Brothers Max and Iggor Cavalera of Sepultura fame lead the attack. Other heavy-hitters sharing the stage include the Dillinger Escape Plan, Throwdown, Bury Your Dead and Incite. Electric Factory, 7th and Willow streets, 8:30 p.m. Thursday, 215-336-2000, www.livenation.com.

Robyn Hitchcock: Let him take you down, 'cause he's always going to the strawberry fields of his mind. Absurdist, surreal folk pop, very British and very, very good. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

Pistolara: Mexican alt-folk group spices things up with a twist of rock. Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce streets, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, $20, 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org.

ALTERNATIVE

'Girls Rock! The Movie': Documentary follows little rockers attending a Portland, Ore., rock camp. Proceeds go to Girls Rock Philly. 941 Theater, 941 N. Front St., 7 tonight, $7, 215-235-5603, girlsrockphilly.org.

Get Positively Sick on South Street: July installment of punk-and-roll party includes the Motorhead/Lynyrd Skynyrd-inspired Son of a Gun, glam-rock NYC band Rabbits on Trampolines and Philly's own punk-rock goddesses KeN. Tritone, 1508 South St., 9 tonight, $6, 215-545-0475, www.tritonebar.com.

Hell Under the El: Return of old favorites Dead Gerber Babies, Orlando punkers Moral Decline, F-Bombers and local kids Our Time. El Bar, Front and Master streets, 9 tonight, $5, 215-634-6430, www.myspace.com/hellundertheel.

Philadelphia International Noise Conference Benefit: Drums Like Machine Guns, Serpents of Wisdom, Dave Smolen, Charles Cohen and more perform to help with equipment repairs and tour costs. Vox Populi, 319 N. 11th St., 3rd Floor, 6 p.m. tomorrow, $5-10, all ages, myspace.com/lowestfidelityrecordings.

Mark Farina: House music king spins with DJs Dirty and Brendan Bring'em. Mojito at Moshulu, 401 S. Columbus Blvd., 10:30 p.m tomorrow, $10-20, 215-923-2500, www.stun1.com/stun/viewRsvpForm.php?q=MzQ5MA==.

The Casualties: New Yorkers headline all-ages punk/hardcore matinee with Time Again, Lower Class Brats and Wednesday Night Heroes. Millcreek Tavern, 4200 Chester Ave., 4 p.m. Sunday, $14, all ages, 215-222-1255, millcreektavernphilly.com/music.html.

Girls! Girls! Girls! All-female Motley Crue tribute band plays its last show, with Desoto Jones, Running Red Lights, the Glory Days, Cretins and New Liberty. Trocadero, 10th and Arch sreets, 5 p.m. Sunday, $11-$13, all ages, 215-922-LIVE, thetroc.com.

Titus Andronicus: Jersey punkers who last opened for Times New Viking at Johnny Brenda's headline their own show with Wye Oak. Circle of Hope, 1125 S. Broad St., 2nd Floor, 8 p.m. Monday, $8-$10, all ages, 215-468-2726, http://circleofhope.

net/blog/whatsnew/.

Jay Reatard: Perfoming since the age of 16 with the Reatards and the Lost Sounds, the Memphis force of nature just released a CD/DVD collection celebrating his garage-punk blasts and Devo-like synth-punk. Popular Philly garage bands Dark Horse & the Carousels and the Tough Sh-ts open. Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 8 p.m. Monday, $10-12, 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.

Suicide Idol: X-rated Neil Diamond impersonator Dirty Diamond hosts his own twisted version of "American Idol" during Monday Night Club hosted by Needles Jones. Balcony Bar, 10th and Arch streets, 10 p.m. Monday, free, 215-922-LIVE, thetroc.com.

Love As Laughter: Beck collaborator and Modest Mouse buddy Sam Jayne plays with Man Man side project Coyote and Kill Rock Stars artist Imaad Wasif (Lowercase, Alaska, New Folk Implosion). Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 8 p.m. Wednesday, $8-10, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com.

Andy Rourke: Bassist for the Smiths and Badly Drawn Boy offers two-hour DJ set of his faves. DJ Andy Pry opens. Khyber, 56 S. 2nd St., 8 p.m. Wednesday, $8, 215-238-5888, thekhyber.com.

Nomo: Ann Arbor, Mich.-based collective mixes African polyrhythms with American free jazz. Agent Moosehead opens. World Café Live, 3025 Walnut Street, 9p.m. Monday, $12, 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

Jeremy Jay: Inspired by Harry Nilsson and Buddy Holly, the California newcomer makes his Philly debut at the bar owned by Three-4-Tens' Jamie Mahon. Green Rock Tavern, 2546 Lehigh Ave., 10 p.m. Monday, free, 215-203-1935, myspace.com/greenrocktavern.

IUD: Gang Gang Dance drummer Lizzi Bougatsos brings her crazy rhythms and skewed vocals to this side project. With Pulse Emitter and Weyes Bluhd. Marvelous Music, 208 S. 40th St., 8 p.m. Tuesday, 215-386-6110, myspace.com/themarvelousmusic.

Sunshine Recorder: Brian Eno-esque new project for Christopher Coello (the Cobbs, Bottom of the Hudson) makes its debut with Himalaya and Ravens & Vultures. Silk City, 5th and Spring Garden streets, 9 p.m. Wednesday, 215-592-8838, www.myspace.com/phillysilkcity.

Entertainment: Athens, Ga., band proudly lives up to the punk/new wave heritage of its hometown with a heavy helping of Bauhaus thrown in. Philly's glammy, Duran Duran-inspired TV Sound opens. Tritone, 1508 South St., 10 p.m. Thursday, $5, 215-545-0475, www.tritonebar.com.

HIP-HOP

It's the Year 2000: "Crossfaded Bacon 2008 Mix" is the latest from the production house of Emynd and Bo Bliz. Expect the crew to provide fresh beats while various emcees provide the lyrics for this stress-free get-together. Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 8 tonight, $5, 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.

Adina Howard and H-Town: Two of the names most responsible for the overtly sexual overtones of '90s R&B, given albums "Do You Wanna Ride?" and "Fever For Da Flavor," respectively. No telling when fans will see this pair again. North By Northwest, 7165 Germantown Ave., 8 tonight, $25, 215-248-1000, www.nxnwphl.com.

'My 106.1 Philly Freestyle Concert': Stevie B, Rob Base, TKA & K7, the women of Pretty Poison and others gather for this concert/organized battle. Liacouras Center, 1776 N. Broad St., 6 p.m. tomorrow, $35-$75, 215-204-2400, liacourascenter.com.

Unity Tour 2008: West coast rap pioneer Snoop Dogg will join fellow hip-hopper King Britt and decidedly less hip-hop bands 311, Fiction Plane and DJ Logic for a crossover show. Festival Pier at Penn's Landing, Columbus Boulevard and Spring Garden Street, 7 p.m. Tuesday, $49.50, 215-928-8801, www.livenation.com.

JAZZ

Kenny G: Make all the snide comments you want, but Kenneth Gorelick has withstood the choruses of criticism and howls of venomous derision from jazz purists for over 25 years now, accumulating a vast fortune despite the fact that no one admits enjoying the guy. The smooth-jazz icon (feel free to shudder) promises "an evening of rhythm & romance." Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside, 8 tonight, $46-$56, 215-572-7650, keswicktheatre.com.

Sci-Fi Philly: Squeeze in upstairs at West Philly Ethiopian restaurant for this increasingly packed avant-jazz series. This week, three fine local acts: the Chance Trio, the intimate chamber-bop threesome of trumpeter Bart Miltenberger, guitarist Matt Davis and bassist Mike Taylor; Lehigh Valley guitarist Mike Lorenz's quartet; and Hisswig, an exciting duo of bassist Evan Lipson and violinist Katt Hernandez. Gojjo, 4540 Baltimore Ave., 8 p.m. Sunday, $5, scifiphilly.com.

Euge Groove: Smooth jazz saxophonist Eugene Grove has an impressive funk pedigree, having served a tour of duty in Tower of Power and recorded or toured with the likes of Expose and Tina Turner. Wiggins Waterfront Park, Mickle Boulevard, Camden, N.J., 8 p.m. Tuesday, Free, 856-216-2170, www.ccparks.com.

Steve Tyrell: His solo career coming relatively late, after a successful run as a songwriter, producer and promoter, vocalist Tyrell has made up for lost time with a run of popular CDs in the Sinatra tradition. His latest, "Back to Bacharach" covers songs penned by the team of Hal David and Burt Bacharach, many of whose hits featured Tyrell's production. Jack Curtis Stadium, Cooper River Park, Camden, N.J., 8 p.m. Thursday, free, 856-216-2170, www.ccparks.com.

Frank Catalano: As a teenager, saxophonist Catalano lucked into a gig with legendary organist Charles Earland, an auspicious jump start to a career that has since seen the Chicago tenorman touring with Tony Bennett and playing on hits by John Legend and Destiny's Child. Catalano comes to the Tin Angel two days after the release of his latest CD, "Bang!" on Savoy. Tin Angel, 20 S. 2nd St., 7:30 p.m. Thursday, $10, 215-928-0770, www.tinangel.com.

CLASSICAL

Lenape Chamber Ensemble: Group's 22nd three-Saturday season kicks off with three masterful works: Haydn's C Major Piano Trio, Brahms' A Major Piano Quartet (both featuring pianist Marcantonio Barone) and the ravishing Debussy Sonata for flute, viola and harp. Delaware Valley College, routes 202 and 611 in Doylestown, 8 p.m. tomorrow, $18, 610-294-9361, www.lenapechamberensemble.org.

Delaware Valley Opera Theater: Company presents two-thirds of Puccini's dramatic "Il Trittico," the moving "Suor Angelica" and the raucous "Gianni Schicchi." The latter, a hilarious tale of avariciousness and greed in medieval Florence, has been transplanted to modern-day South Philly, where slippery conniving is just as believable. Doris Coleman will lead both operas from the piano. Roxborough High School Theater, 6498 Ridge Ave., 8 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday and July 19, $20, 215-725-4171, www.dvopera.org.

Philadelphia Orchestra: British conductor/composer Bramwell Tovey and pianist Orion Weiss make their Orchestra debuts. Tovey, who prefaced his recent New York Philharmonic summer concerts with entertaining commentary, has chosen two works by Berlioz, the "Rakoczy" March from "The Damnation of Faust," and the audience favorite, "Symphonie fantastique." In between, Weiss solos in the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1. Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 52nd Street and Parkside Avenue, 8 p.m. Thursday, $30-$50, lawn tickets $10, 215-893-1999, manncenter.org.

Felix Hell: Youngest organ major ever to graduate from the Curtis Institute, the 22-year-old Hell has already performed in 42 states. He'll play the Fred J. Cooper instrument in a fascinating program: Reger's Fantasy and Fugue on B-A-C-H, Dupre's Op. 7 Prelude and Fugue, Liszt's immensely challenging Fantasy and Fugue on "Ad nos ad salutarem undam" and an arrangement of Barber's famous Adagio for strings.

Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Broad and Spruce streets, 7 p.m. Thursday, $10, 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org.