The Xx

The primary reference points for the Xx come from the early '80s, from sparse and moody British bands such as Young Marble Giants, the Passions (remember "I'm in Love With a German Film Star"?), and the early, minimalist Cure. But these young Londoners also have a jones for contemporary R&B. They've covered Aaliyah and Kyla and dug deep for a Womack & Womack classic. And their most extroverted song, "VCR," cribs liberally from David Bowie's Heroes. With coolly disaffected coed vocals dialoguing atop slow, deliberate guitar and bass lines, songs such as "Basic Space" and "Crystallized" make space and silence stylistic moves: a keyboard chord here or a drum machine rhythm there can become a startling addition. Tonight, they play the spacious nightclub Voyeur (the former Pure) for a Making Time event, with NYC's perky Phenomenal Handclap Band.

- Steve Klinge

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The Xx with the Phenomenal Handclap Band play at 9 tonight at Voyeur, 1221 St. James St. Tickets: $12. Phone: 215-735-5772; www.voyeurnightclub.com.

Shonen Knife

Shonen Knife must have come off as a real novelty while opening for Nirvana on the classic Nevermind tour. Since 1981, the all-girl Japanese trio has been bashing out garage rock with one foot in crude proto-punk and the other in blinding cuteness. Singer-guitarist Naoko Yamano is the only original member remaining, since her sister Atsuko departed in 2006, but Shonen Knife still sounds like the work of overeager teenagers set loose on an unsuspecting populace. The band is now touring behind its 16th album, Super Group!, on which Yamano sings in cartoonish tones about guitars, parties, and electromagnetic waves. Swarming with hooks and harmonies, the songs are cheery and infectious, but unmistakably sturdy.

- Doug Wallen

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Shonen Knife with Jeff the Brotherhood play at 9 p.m. Monday at Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., $12. Phone: 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Stay positive, Philadelphia: Our Phils "Beat L.A." again, dumping the Dodgers to retain the National League crown (and likely would've dusted the American League runner-up "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim" in the World Series). One benefit is again shamelessly enjoying things Angeleno - and the triple-bill this Sunday of adventurous Los Angeles world-indie art-pop-rock acts at the First Unitarian Church deserves due appreciation.

Most indigenous is Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, a shaggy, 10-strong outfit formed by Ima Robot singer Alex Ebert. They sound a bit as if Arcade Fire were steeped in Laurel Canyon vibes: neo-hippie-ish but eclectic, putting soulful tropes in their West Coast rock along with some Spanish vocals. Fool's Gold is an excellent immigrant aggregate of Russian, Iraqi, Israeli, Argentine, Brazilian, Mexican, etc., personnel who produce quality tunes (an eponymous full-length just out), distinguished by Congolese soukous guitars, distinctly Ethiopian horns, and Tuareg desert-blues grooves - often with Hebrew vocals. Local Natives open, a harmonizing quintet oft-compared to Fleet Foxes - albeit more percussive/guitar-driven - supporting their debut album Gorilla Manor (referencing the band's house in the hip Silver Lake district - L.A.'s Northern Liberties, approximately).

- David R. Stampone

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Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Fool's Gold, and Local Natives play at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St. Tickets: $12/all ages. Phone: 1-866-468-7619 (toll free).