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Our Weekly Concert Picks: January 30–February 5

With a new month comes some great, new shows.

With a new month comes some great, new shows.

Friday, February 1: Buke and Gase at Johnny Brenda's

Brooklyn duo Buke and Gase have one of the most interesting stories in rock today. The band's name is a nod to its members' custom-built instruments: Arone Dyer plays the buke, or self-created baritone ukulele, fashioned from reclaimed metal—while Aron Sanchez plays the gase, or self-strung guitar-bass hybrid. These unique concoctions allow them to create a wider range of sounds, and on debut record General Dome (out now), they match nervy post-punk with Dyer's floaty and capricious vocals. Live, the band is a wonder to behold, as they also take on a range of percussion instruments, including the toe-bourine, or (you guessed it) tambourine that straps to one's shoe. Anyone who says it's all been done before has never seen Buke and Gase.

9:15 at Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., $10–$12. Tickets available here. 

Saturday, February 2: DRGN KING Record Release at PhilaMOCA

Philly's DRGN King craft big, exuberant rockers imbued with psychedelic flourishes and a whole lot of heart, and this Saturday they'll celebrate the release of their debut record Paragraph Nights (out now on Bar-None Records) with a headlining show at PhilaMOCA. Comprised of core duo of Dominic Angellela (vocals/guitar/songwriting/hair) and Brent "Ritz" Reynolds (production/keyboards/beats/vibes), plus a slew of collaborators and friends, the band has been riling crowds since 2010, and this Saturday promises to be extra wild, thanks to groove-inciting numbers like "Wild Nights" and "Holy Ghost."   The band was recently named one of Esquire's 15 bands to watch in 2013—  after listening to Nights, we can see why!

8:00 at PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., $7-$10. Tickets available at the door.

Saturday, February 2: The Vaccines at Union Transfer

London's The Vaccines write punk-y, sardonic nuggets about youthful revelry and dissolution…and are hugely popular across the pond, where their sophomore record Comes of Age peaked at #1 on the charts. The appeal is not lost on American audiences—melodies rollick and rage with a fury best released through dancing, and the band boasts the impressive ability to burst into spontaneous harmony mid-frenzy. But perhaps most remarkable are front man Justin Young's lyrics, which tow that fine line between snarky and snotty, admitting—and reveling in—confusion, carelessness, and romantic failure. "I don't really care about anyone else when I haven't got my whole life figured out," he snarls on single "No Hope." Horrifying, refreshing, and totally punk.

8:30 at Union Transfer, 1024 Spring Garden St., $20. Tickets available here. 

Tuesday, February 5: Eternal Summers at Kung Fu Necktie

Eternal Summers' sophomore record Correct Behavior was one of our fave, underrated releases of the year, navigating through punk-y riffs, sparkling dream pop, and new wave-inspired experimentation with ease. Live, the band is equally adroit: Nicole Yun schreeches and shreds on vocals and guitar, and Daniel Cundiff is a proven maniac on drums. The addition of bassist Jonathan Woods more than a year back means the live band is full and in-your-face…a perfect match for KFN's intimate interior. Don't sleep!

8:00 at Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., $10. Tickets available here.