Musical events in the area this week
Live music and more, tonight through Thursday, compiled by Shaun Brady, Tom Di Nardo, James Johnson, Sara Sherr and Jonathan Takiff.
POP . . . plus
Fountains of Wayne: These Jersey peaches squeeze out juicy acoustic versions of "Stacy's Mom," "Mexican Wine" and "Too Cool for School" with friend and collaborator Mike Viola opening. Sellersville Theater, Main and Temple streets, Sellersville, 8:30 tonight, $29.50, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com.
John Gorka: The trenchant story teller who gave us "I'm From Jersey" (see a thread here?) entertains at this suburban BYOB music venue. Kennett Flash, 102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 8 tonight, $30, 484-732-8295, www.kennettflash.org.
Project/Object: This orchestra's mission is to keep alive the dense, daft and gloriously diverse music of Frank Zappa and his band, the Mothers of Invention. Two true Mothers, Ike Willis and Don Preston, are front and center. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 7:30 tonight, $30-$35, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.
Amy Speace: If you've loved and lost, you'll connect with this dark and stormy contemporary folk singer. Speace's commanding new crop of songs "The Killer in Me" delves passionately into the breakup of her marriage. "I kind of spilled blood all over this project," she declares. Upstairs at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 8 tonight, $15, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.
Sheryl Crow & The Roots: We're expecting some Michael Jackson moments at this year's July 4th Welcome America! bash on the Parkway. Headliner Crow cut her teeth as a background singer to Jackson on the "Bad" world tour of 1987, dueting with him every night. And how can Philly-based, funk/hip-hop/jazz fusing openers The Roots not share some love for the king of crossover? Steps of the Art Museum, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 8:30 p.m. tomorrow, Free (fireworks follow), www.americasbirthday.com.
Richie Havens: Forty summers after he opened the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, Havens retains his empathic warmth, sensitivity and icon status as voice of the generation(s). Local notable Carsie Blanton opens. Concerts Under the Stars, 175 W. Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, $10, free for children ages 16 and under and adults 62 and over. 610-265-1071, www. uppermerionparkandrec.org.
Fam Jams!: Prior editions of this free family-music show served up the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato. This year, the star attraction is the Naked Brothers - the sunniest of poprock sensations spawned on TV (Nickelodeon), as fronted by the brothers Alex and Natt Wolff. Sharing the stage are Meaghan Martin, who kids know from "Camp Rock," plus Cody Wise, Josie Andrews and our own Timmy Kelly. Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, Columbus Blvd. at the foot of Chestnut Street, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, free, 215-922-2FUN, www.delawareriverevents.com.
Rock Royalty: Come out for the hits of The Zombies (Colin Blunstone, Rod Argent), The Yardbirds and The Spencer Davis Group. Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Ave., Glenside, 8 p.m. Wednesday, $44.50, 215-572-7650, www.keswicktheatre.com.
Jimmie Van Zant: This Southern rocker pays tribute to his late cousin Ronnie's group Lynyrd Skynyrd and his other cousin Donnie's band 38 Special. Warming up the night - Citizens Band Radio. Sellersville Theater, Main and Temple streets, Sellersville, 8 p.m. Wednesday, $19.50, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com.
Matisyahu/Umphrey's McGee: Enjoy this complementary yet distinctively different pairing of talents. Matisyahu has an excellent new album's worth of spiritually driven, reggae-rap-rock mashups (called "Light") to spring on 'ya. Progressive rockers Umphrey's McGee go off on their own, more florid tangents. But invariably for both, it all gets back to the jammin'. Electric Factory, 7th and Willow streets, 8 p.m. Wednesday, $28.50-$31.50, 215-627-1332, www.livenation.com.
Rosanne Cash: One could argue Rosanne is the best thing that dad Johnny ever created - a most thoughtful, frank and vivid singer/songwriter (and fiction writer!) with one foot planted in Nashville country and the other in the cement of Greenwich Village. Stephen Kellogg is her featured guest. Keswick Theatre, Glenside, 8 p.m. Thursday, $35-$45, 215-572-7650, www.keswicktheatre.com.
New Riders of the Purple Sage: An early offshoot of the Grateful Dead, you'd have thunk these psychedelic country originals would be totally fried by now. But NRPS' just-out "Where I Come From" album attests that there's still plenty of heady charm to be had - especially when they get into a snakish guitar dance (pedal steel and otherwise) and toss out some of that down-home (but kite-high) mysterioso/paranoid imagery. "Ghost Train Blues," indeed. Sellersville Theater, Main and Temple streets, Sellersville. 8 p.m. Thursday, $21.50-$33, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com.
HIP-HOP, R&B
3rd Of July Party: tU pHAce, Philly's towering icon of alternative hip-hop (seriously, he's at least 6-foot-5!), will play host for this pre-Independence Day party while DJ Phsh spins hip-hop, funk and house. Pub Webb, 1527 Cecil B. Moore Ave., 10 tonight, $5, 267-687-8256, www.pubwebb.com.
The Bounce: While Emynd and Bo Bliz's monthly mash-up of everything cool tends to lean towards the hip-hop side of things, fans of all genres will find something to dance to while enjoying the open bar and crazy skating videos. Barbary, 951 Frankford Ave., 9 tonight, $5 (free before 10 p.m.), 215-634-7400, myspace.com/thenewbarbary.
Eavesdrop Sessions: DJs Lil' Dave and DJ Junior of Eavesdrop Radio bring cutting-edge and genre-bending artists to highlight their Eavesdrop Sessions. Headlining this time around is producer/songwriter Erik Rico who will be joined by Dotmatic, Kanu and Mydnite Angel. Silk City, 435 Spring Garden St., 10 p.m. Wednesday, $10, 21-plus, 215-592-8838, www.silkcityphilly.com.
Kindred The Family Soul: A staple in Philadelphia's soul-music scene for the past five years, this husband-and-wife duo have become fan favorites through their incredible live shows and captivating albums. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 9 p.m. Wednesday, $25, $35 mezzanine, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.
Afton Live Hip-Hop Show: At a dollar per act in advance, or slightly more at the door, this underground hip-hop series offers a considerable amount of bang for your buck. Featuring RYDAH, Legacy, S.W.A.T. Camp, P. Features, T-ZuK, KA$H KANNON, Fast Eddie and Don Dotta. Fluid Night Club, 613 S. 4th St., 6 p.m. Thursday, $9 advance, $12 at the door, 215-629-3686, www.fluidnightclub.com.
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