Our Weekly Concert Picks: April 10–April 16

4 artists changing the game

Thursday, April 11: Hoodie Allen at the Electric Factory

Party rapper Steve "Hoodie Allen" Markowitz graduated from Wharton, then worked for Google for a few months before quitting for good to focus on music. Not exactly your typical career trajectory, but then again little about Markowitz is typical, including his tunes, which shy away from mainstream hip-hop themes like politics or violence, in favor of more light-hearted fare. His breakout EP, All American, is a fun collection of accessible summertime raps about girls and partying; the record debuted at Number 1 on iTunes, fueled by catchy single "No Interruption."  Since, then he's gone on to release a new mixtape (the super fly Crew Cuts), plus a slew of singles, including the doo-wop tinged "Fame Is for Assholes," feat. Chiddy Bang. Yet through it all, he's remained surprisingly down-to-earth, taking time to interact with fans. "If you tweet me, I tweet you, write on my wall I'm there to write back," he wrote on Facebook. No one says party masters can't be nice guys too.

8:30 at the Electric Factory, 421 N. 7th St., $20. Tickets available here.

Friday, April 12: SENDMSG With Dan Deacon at the Kimmel Center

Baltimore weirdo and electro-pop mainstay Dan Deacon has been subverting the traditional "rock show" convention for years now—eschewing the traditional audience-stage set-up in favor of something more intimate, and often choosing to set up shop in the middle of the floor, surrounded by fans. For his upcoming stop at the Kimmel Center (part of the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts), he'll take it one step further: by performing on a giant turntable stage, and encouraging show-goers to download a smart phone app beforehand that allows them to control the lights and sounds during the show. The result is a completely unique, interactive experience. Also unique: Deacon's live show repertoire, which draws heavily from his 2012 record America, a genre-bending journey through national landscapes and politics.

8:30 at the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., $15. Tickets available here.

Saturday, April 13: Skaters at KFN

NYC's SKATERS might be the best band you've never heard of (until now). The raucous pop-punk trio are not, in fact, skaters (neither ice nor board; "we just don't have the coordination," explains front man Michael Ian Cummings), but rather are inspired by the laidback attitude and good times associated with youth skate culture.  Other major influences: '70s punk in all its glory (think The Clash, The Cars, Suicide), garages, dance parties, city life. Prior to forming SKATERS, the members cut their teeth in a variety of other bands, including The Dead Trees, Little Joy, and Dirty Pretty Things; their debut EP, Schemes, dropped last summer to mild buzz. Recently, the group signed with Warner Brothers Records, which means they could be well on their way to becoming The Next Strokes; catch 'em now in a tiny venue while you can. Before you go: Scope their new video for "I Wanna Dance (But Don't Know How)"  so you can bust out some moves on Saturday.

7:30 at Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., $8–$10. Tickets available here.

Monday, April 15: Deerhoof at Union Transfer

San Fran experimental noise rockers Deerhoof have been making records for nearly two decades now, yet continue to delight fans with a constantly-changing take on orchestrated cacophony, anchored only by a belief in invocation, and by vocalist/bassist Satomi Matsuzaki's playful, child-like vocals. They're now touring in support of their eleventh studio record Breakup Song (streaming full via YouTube), a bloopy, synth-y, set of party tunes that see the group moving towards dancier fare. Live, the band is a wonder to behold, between the constant thrashing and antics of guitarists Ed Rodriguez and John Dieterich—and Matsuzaki's odd, doll-like poise. Before you go: Check out their video for "We Do Parties" and plan a party of your own for Monday night (glow-sticks and karaoke optional.)

8:00 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., $15. Tickets available here.