The First Unitarian Church – Legendary San Francisco punk band The Avengers plays with Pansy Division, “the first queer punk band ever,” and Philly-based Witchhunt. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. $12.

The Vacuum – Time to get noisy. Magik Markers (pictured) take the stage at the Vacuum with Tall Firs and Ospreys. Show starts at 9:00 p.m. $10.

Tower Theatre – It’s been real, but after tonight, The Smashing Pumpkins leave Philly and take Explosions in the Sky with them. Expect a half-acoustic, half-electric set. Show starts at 8:00 p.m. Ticket prices range from $37.50 to $47.50.

Sanctuary of the First Unitarian Church – The Freewheeling Yo La Tengo Tour blends story-telling and music at the Church’s Sanctuary. Show starts at 8:00 p.m. Sold out for now, but maybe you can buy a ticket from someone on Chestnut St. for $20.

Tower Theatre – The Smashing Pumpkins / Explosions in the Sky Philadelphia takeover continues. Show starts at 8:00 p.m. Tickets range from $37.50 to $47.50.

FRIDAY

Shoegaze your night away at the First Unitarian Church with dream-like experimental act Jesu, indulge your Billy Corgan crush with one of many Smashing Pumpkins concerts at the Tower Theater, feel a surge of power when Kanye West, Rihanna, Akon, Swizz Beatz, Soulja Boy and many more take the stage at the Wachovia Center or check out Pure’s Making Time party with DJ Erol Alkan and New Young Pony Club. I can make you ice cream… Of course, there’s always the Oh My Todd!-sponsored costume gala at Level Lounge, too, if you’ve got a crop top. Do your TTN research on the gold-Spandexed Leslie Hall (pictured), then dress up like the Liberty Bell and head over for some drinkin’ and dancin’.

SATURDAY

Put some freak into your folk at the Castanets (pictured) show at Johnny Brenda’s, make love and listen to… MSTRKRFT (not Death from Above, sorry) while moving your body at Transit, experience the mid-’90s like you’ve never experienced the mid-’90s before (The Wallflowers are playing at the Borgata) or help make a Philly band “the best in the world” by lending your applause to the Emergenza Festival at the M Room.

SUNDAY

It would be quite the injustice (ooh, cheesy joke, I know) to miss out on dancing around in your ironic T-shirt to Justice‘s “D.A.N.C.E.” during their show at the Trocadero Sunday night.

I’ve had a few friends tell me Spoon’s live performances have been less than stellar, and I completely see it. They have a tight sound full of popping grooves and quirks that manage to feel fresh…on a CD. Spoon doesn’t so much write complete songs as take one awesome idea and stretch it out for a few minutes. The songs never really go anywhere, but soon enough, you’ll start nodding your head in approval.

I’m going to see them because I know their CDs are great, and I want to see if there’s anything to these Spoon-haters I know. While we’re in such a pessimistic mood; I admittedly felt a little bored watching their SNL performance. But TV performances are rarely telling of what a band is capable of in a set.

So much of their success depends on acute timing, and creating an atmosphere of cool around their hooks. I’m a little scared that unless Spoon is really on their game, they’re going to have a tough time getting it right at the Electric Factory. It’s not typically the first, second, third, or fourth best place to go for sound quality.

(OK, stopping the pessimism now) Go see Spoon because, of all things concerning indie rock, lead singer Britt Daniel is the master of minimal groove, and has one of my favorite voices in rock and roll.

Check out one of the best songs on their new album Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, and the adorable yellow Nerf thing (called a “Keepon”) that dances with it. I love that little Nerf thing.

Spoon and The Ponys at the Electric Factory.
$22.00 day of show (10/19)

Philly is set to conquer New York this weekend. As the indie hemorrhage that is the CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival packs up its Ray-Bans and nose candy and gets ready to leave Greenwich Village, Philly music showcase CMJAWN comes to town and shows them how it’s done in this part of the Northeast. The late-night, all-Philly party features performances by spacy psych-pop band The Cobbs, genre-bending hip-hop-meets-pop-and-rock act Nouveau Riche and, one of my personal favorites, The War on Drugs, whose lead singer (pictured) sounds more like Bob Dylan than Bob Dylan does now. Rock Tits will be DJing all night, or at least until the City of Brotherly Love lovefest ends early Sunday morning.

If you’re still battling an addiction to Monster Energy Drink thanks to last spring’s POPPED! Festival, you might want to start looking into Chinatown bus schedules: this event will be like a bite-sized POPPED! and help raise funds for POPPED!: Part Deux, taking place in June. It’s road trip time.

The First Unitarian Church – HxC! Death Before Dishonor, Damnation A.D., Unholy and Reign Supreme destroy their instruments and voices in the Church basement tonight. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. $10. All ages.

The Electric Factory – Everyone’s favorite pop-punk band, Bad Religion, hits up the Electric Factory with The Briggs and Jena Berlin. Show starts at 8:00 p.m. $20. All ages.

The Vacuum – West Philly noise act Normal Love (pictured) performs with Ruins and Made in Mexico. Show starts at 8:00 p.m. $10.

Silk City – Philebrity.com presents their monthly Foggy Notion party with British singer-songwriter Jack Penate and the Broadzilla DJs. Doors open at 9:00 p.m. $5. 21+.

Johnny Brenda’s – Joy Division-esque indie pop outfit British Sea Power performs at Johnny B.’s with Stardeath & White Dwarfs and The Grey Race. Show starts at 8:00 p.m. $12. 21+.

The Fillmore at the TLA – Pop-punk meets post-emo when The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (pictured) plays at the TLA with Amber Pacific, New Year’s Day and Monty Are I. Don’t forget to gel your A-line. Show starts at 8:00 p.m. $17. All ages.

North Star Bar – Re-live those younger, more emotional years with Saves the Day, Single File and Dr. Manhattan. Show starts at 7:00 p.m. $16.

The Trocadero – Tuesday’s the new Monday. Check out the belated Monday Night Club with host Needle James, DJ Evan G. and a performance by Boxer. Party starts at 10:00 p.m. Free. 21+.

Tritone – Jack Johnson wannabes take the stage at Acoustic Philly Big Ass Open Mic. Event starts at 10:00 p.m. Free. 21+.

The World Cafe Live – As usual, the World Cafe Live hosts its weekly Philly Rising Open Stage. Sign-ups begin at 6:30 p.m., performances start at 7:30 p.m. Free. All ages.

Fluid Night Club – The Document Tour brings DJ Andy Smith, Cosmo Baker and DJ Excel to Fluid. Event starts 10:00 p.m. Free if you’re on the list. 21+.

The Electric Factory – Time to put on some serious face paint. Insane Clown Posse takes the stage. $30. All ages.