Philadelphia Weekly

Reunited/re-energized indie-rock/quasi-alt-country band Clem Snide drops by World Cafe Live tonight. Which kinda comes as a surprise to me, since when I interviewed frontman Eef Barzelay last summer — who was out touring behind his second album, Lose Big — he sure sounded like he had put Clem Snide well in the rear view mirror: “Clem Snide began sort of ending right as it started doing something. Around 2001, when The Ghost of Fashion came out, is when it started falling apart, and it was a long, slow, somewhat painful demise.” And when I asked him if he was happier now, he said, “I’d say so. I function much better in more intimate environments. My desire has been to get a lot quieter with music. I really don’t wanna do a big rock thing anymore. I am a family man. That’s what I am, and I’m happy for that. I’m not gonna lose my family for rock and roll. Sometimes I feel like rock and roll is mad at me for that, because rock and roll is a very demanding mistress; she wants it all, man. But, yeah, I’m pretty happy with the way things are going now.”

However, at the end of 2008, it was announced that the band had re-formed, and now they’re out on tour in support of newly released Hungry Bird, which was actually recorded three years ago. Everyone’s entitled to change their mind, and based on how good Clem Snide can be both live and on album, their unlikely return — however long it may last — is certainly welcome. Show’s at 8pm and tickets are $15.

Meanwhile, arty Brooklyn indie-rock outfit Takka Takka bring their Afro-pop-meets-Yo La Tengo vibe to Kung Fu Necktie. Penny loafer grooves meet dreamy keyboards and droney guitars on their most recent album, last year’s Migration, which was produced by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah drummer Sean Greenhalgh (and it kinda shows). Sometimes it feels a bit too careful and pedestrian, but I’m willing to take a flier on these guys live. Plus, they do a pretty fascinating cover (delicate and ethereal) of Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight.” 8pm/$8. (Michael Alan Goldberg)

If you can't make the shows, you can always entertain yourself with highlights from today's PW blogs:

MUSIC: Philly rapper Reef the Lost Cauze is yet another local act heading down to Austin, Texas this week to tear it up at SXSW. We caught up with Reef this afternoon:

How do you plan to rep Philly at SXSW?

People know I’m from Philly before I open my mouth, I rep this fuckin’ place every time I step on stage. Also, I’ll be dressed like a mummer and plan on shooting maaaaaad people, kid!

STYLE: There’s just something about St. Patrick’s Day that’s so goddamn pathetic (at least, the parts that are ferried into my life via the Erin Express). The lightweight dudes that smell like vomit before 2pm. The embarrassing Irish-themed pick-up lines. The green Cat-in-the-Hat hats. The girls wearing the totally sexy green costumes, about 20% of whom look good in them and 80% of whom looked good in them four years and 25 pounds ago but are squeezing into them anyway, because hey, it’s St. Patrick’s Day!

SPIKOL: As a lifelong Philadelphian, I have to say I feel a little triumphant to hear Vince Fumo has been indicted on all counts. Since I was a little girl — and I’m not exaggerating here — I’ve been hearing about Fumo’s being corrupt. Even a decade ago, you’d hear people saying, “No one will ever catch up with him. He’s Teflon.” Well, not anymore. And it pains me to hear other politicians declare their sympathy for him. Come on. Like you didn’t know what he was doing? Every yahoo in town knew Fumo was bankrupt ethically. I’m just surprised that anyone else is acting surprised.

POLITICS: Democrats, Shelby Steele says, succeeded with African Americans not so much because they helped African Americans, but because they were seen as at least trying to do something. And there’s probably something to that. But Steele goes wrong when he looks at the other half of the equation. Conservatives, he suggests, have been undone by their noble devotion to the timeless principles of individual freedom. And that simply couldn’t compete with the showy activism of the left.