Drivin' in My Car
Stereolab w/Quasi
Trocadero Theatre
1003 Arch St.
November 12
7 p.m., Doors, $17
(215) 922-LIVE
A cornerstone of the current indie rock scene, Stereolab is an experimental yet catchy blend of French pop, electronica, Muzak and all other tidbits of this and that. The radio may not feature its tunes, but the always-trendy Volvo and Volkswagen have used its music in their commercials. Sure, half the lyrics are in French, but you know those indie kids, always finding one way or another to prove that they are just naturally a notch above everyone and everything. And at least it sounds melodic when they do it, in contrast to the pithy attempts at accents by Christina Aguilera, Li'l Kim, Mya and Pink. Sure, the driving but always rolling background rhythm may lull you into a nice out-there-and-not-here state, but the crowd is thankfully not prone to crowd-surfing and mosh pits. Instead, expect hip hoity-toity crowd members who can't bring themselves to admit that they enjoy singing along to Shaggy's "It Wasn't Me" on the radio along with the rest of us normal folk.
The Matt Mugmon Experience
Mugmon's Box
Meet at Williams Hall to be taken to an undisclosed location
8 p.m., All Ages
(215) 417-8094
Equal parts John Tesh and Boy George, Matt Mugmon is an undiscovered jewel in the American pop landscape. Rarely has the music world seen such complete mastery of the ukulele, which is not to draw attention away from Mugmon's precisely executed dance steps and pitch-perfect falsetto. It comes as no surprise that Mugmon's seemingly boundless talent has led many young boys, known as Mugmaniacs, to leave home to follow the Experience on the road and suck in all they can of their idol. We hope you too can come to appreciate the phenomenon that is Matt Mugmon. Before long you'll know every word to his smash hit "U So Freaky" and you'll feel right at home in his box.
