This week in music

Live music and more, tonight through Thursday, compiled by Tom Di Nardo, Shaun Brady, Sara Sherr, Jonathan Takiff and Damon C. Williams.

POP

Albert Cummings: Electric blues rock guitarist has recorded albums with the Double Trouble rhythm section – which should tell you he's right in the bag with their former front man, the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan. Warmdaddy's, 1400 S. Columbus Blvd., 8 & 10 p.m. tonight and tomorrow, $15, 215-462-2000, www.warmdaddys.com.

Railroad Earth: Riding that train, high on ... whatever. With Old School Freight Train. Fillmore at TLA, 334 South St., 9 tonight, $22, 215-336-2000, www.livenation.com.

Austin Lounge Lizards: Their name is their musical address, yahoo! Delaware Rag opens. Sellersville Theater, Main and Temple streets, 8 tonight, $19.50, 215-257-5808, st94.com.

Francis Dunnery/Hamell On Trial: Come early for the winsome balladeer, then get a shock of reality (and twisted laughs) with the late show's star. Tin Angel, 20 S. 2nd St. Dunnery, 7:30 tonight, plus 7 & 10 p.m. tomorrow, $23; Hammel, 10:30 tonight, $12. 215-928-0978, www.tinangel.com.

The Tough S***s/Creatures of the Golden Dawn: Garage rock rules for these South Philly and Bethlehem bands. Tritone, 1508 South St., 10:30 tonight, $7, 215-545-0475, www.tritonebar.com.

Max Raabe & Palast Orchester: With his elegant, dexterous 12-piece band, this campy German crooner will charm you with pre-war Euro-flavored, takes on "Cheek To Cheek," "Singing in the Rain" and the inevitable "Bei Mir Bist Du Shoen." Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce streets, 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, $34 and $44, 215- 893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org.

Saosin: Melancholy, big chord power-rockers are HUGE on myspace.com. With Norma Jean, Alexisonfire, Envy on the Coast. Fillmore at TLA, 334 South St., 8 p.m. tomorrow, $15, 215-336-2000, www.livenation.com.

Police: The arresting trio hits the shore. Fiction Plane (featuring Sting's kid) is in the warm-up slot; be kind. Boardwalk Hall, 2301 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, 8 p.m. tomorrow, $50-$350, 215-336-2000.

Phil Roy: Ruminating balladeer is the special desert at a "Sumptuous Brunch" event. Eats at noon, music at 1 p.m. Sunday. Upstairs at World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., $28.50, 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

Ryan Shaw: Our favorite new-yet-old-school R&B belter is definitely worth a drive down I-95. Live at the Baby Grand, 818 N. Market St., Wilmington, 7 p.m. Sunday, $27, 800-37-GRAND, www.grandopera.org.

The Color Fred: Coatesville native and former lead guitarist/co-vocalist/songwriter for Taking Back Sunday, Fred Mascherino illuminates a bright crop of power pop tunes. With Pink Spiders, Paper Rival, plus You, Me and Everyone We Know. North Star, 27th and Poplar streets, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, $12 (all ages). 215-684-0808, northstarrocks.com.

Sia: Best known as featured vocalist with the atmospheric Zero 7, this Australia-born talent works a harder-rocking, more emotionally stressed-out style on her own. Still groovin', though. World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 7:30 p.m. Sunday, $15-$17, 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

Thursday: Post-hardcore screamo band blows it up on their "Kill the House Lights" tour with Portugal, The Man and Circle Takes the Square. Fillmore at TLA, 33 South St., 8 p.m. Sunday, $16, 215-333-2000, www.livenation.com.

Susan Werner: The sophisticated Ms. W offers her perspective on contemporary spirit folk and gospel, as one no longer certain she's a believer! Tin Angel, 20 S. 2nd., 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday, $22, 215-928-0978, www.tinangel.com.

Jill Scott: Homegirl has reasons to celebrate: her aggressively sexy-sounding new album, "The Real Thing: Words and Sounds, Vol 3.," her marital emancipation and her featured role in Tyler Perry's hit, "Why Did I Get Married?" She's on a tour sponsored by Bailey's Irish Cream. Fillmore at TLA, 334 South St., 8 p.m. Monday, tickets at www.baileys.com.

Robert Fripp & the League of Crafty Guitarists: One of the more legendary of rock guitarists, sound crafters and producers, working with everyone from Brian Eno to David Bowie to Talking Heads - and duly famous as inventor of a sound-multiplying, tape-delayed style of playing called "Frippertronics." World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St. 7:30 p.m. Monday, $35, 215-222-1400.

The Samples: Folk-rocking, jam-centric, counterculture band is celebrating its 20th anniversary. In lieu of presents, just come out and have a good time. Also, the worthy Shannon McNally and Alexa Wilkinson. World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, $16-$18, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com.

Colbie Caillat: One of the year's more prominent breakouts, thanks to lots of TV show placements for tunes like "Bubbly." One of her influences, Brett Dennen, opens. Fillmore at TLA, 334 South St., 7 p.m. Wednesday, $20, 215-336-2000, www.livenation.com.

Menomena: Surreal mix of dappled sunlight vocals, barely fathomable lyrics, slurred drums and washes of tinkly psychedelia and techno pop. With Illinois and His Michief. First Unitarian Church, 2025 Chestnut St., 8 p.m. Wednesday, 215-563-3980, wwwr5productions.com.

Blue Cheer: Named after the acid, not the detergent, this heavy-hitting, recently revived power trio from the late '60s still wants to raise a fuss and holler. With Backwoods and Empty Shapes. Khyber, 56 S. 2nd St., 8 p.m. Wednesday, $15, 215-238-5888. www.thekhyber.com.

Trollyvoxx: Philly-based band celebrates all that used to be vocally harmonic, richly melodic and instrumentally finessed in British and West Coast U.S. rock 'n' roll, bless their anachronistic little hearts. With kindred souls Canadian Invasion and Trentalange. Upstairs at World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 9 p.m. Thursday, $6, 215-336-2000, worldcafelive.com.

Afropick: Billed as an outlet for alternative music created by people of color, this set has the rockish vibe covered with Tribal Scream, the Po Po and Omegand on the bill. Nouveau Riche, with Roots alum Dice Raw, adds a hip-hop twist. Rotunda, 4012 Walnut St., 8 p.m. tomorrow, donation for the Human Rights Coalition, 215-573-3234, foundationarts.org.

Afropick: Billed as an outlet for alternative music created by people of color, this set has the rockish vibe covered with Tribal Scream, the Po Po and Omegand on the bill. Nouveau Riche, with Roots alum Dice Raw, adds a hip-hop twist. Rotunda, 4012 Walnut St., 8 p.m. tomorrow, donation for the Human Rights Coalition, 215-573-3234, foundationarts.org.

Bring Your A Game: If it's a 215hiphop.com-powered event, it's sure to be worthwhile, made even more so with DJ Cru-Cut on the wheels. Expect a splendid blend of old-school breakbeats and rare rhymes. Bubble House, 3404 Sansom St., 10 p.m. tomorrow, 21+, $5, 215-243-0804.

Kings & Queens of Caribbean Comedy: You've never seen comedy like this. Jamaican comics Ity, Fancy Kat and Blakka join Trinidadian jokesters Deborah Milard, Susan Kennedy, Fat Man George and others for this rare performance. Longtime reggae DJ and promoter Hopeton Brown hosts. Festivals, 5222 Walnut St., 7 p.m. Sunday, $30, 21+, 215-729-0142, www.radiowestindies.com.

ALTERNATIVE

Devil Music Ensemble: Eclectic Boston trio performs live score to classic vampire flick "Nosferatu." Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th Street and Ben Franklin Parkway, 5:45 tonight, free with admission, 215-684-7506, www.philamuseum.org.

Isis: Arty metal band turns 10, celebrating with the free jazz influenced Oxbow and moody, intense 27. Trocadero, 10th and Arch streets, 7 tonight, $16, all ages, 215-922-LIVE, www.thetroc.com.

Thermals: Seattle trio performs some of the catchiest songs you'll ever hear about God and the government. Reporter and War on Drugs open. First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 8 tonight, $12, all ages, 267-765-5210.

Jennifer O'Connor: A cross between Liz Phair and Aimee Mann, O'Connor's smart songwriting is the gift that keeps on giving. Also: Darren Jessee (Hotel Lights, Ben Folds Five) and Clint, Michigan. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 9 tonight, $13, 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

Sea Wolf: The man behind the Wolf is Los Angeles singer-songwriter Alex Brown Church, whose style should appeal to fans of Elliott Smith and Badly Drawn Boy. Also recommended: Hong Kong Stingray, the latest vehicle for Philly singer-songwriter Chet Delcampo. North Star Bar, 27th and Poplar streets, 9 p.m. tomorrow, $10, 215-684-0808, northstarbar.com.

Three 4 Tens: Philly psych-pop faves, along with the Art DiFuria-led Photon Band, are worth braving Old City on a Saturday night. Gildon Works opens. Khyber, 56 S. 2nd St., 9 p.m. tomorrow, $8, 215-238-5888, www.thekhyber.com.

Alasdair Roberts: Scottish folkie who also records as Appendix Out has collaborated with Will Oldham, Jason Molina and Belle & Sebastian's Isobel Campbell. Intoxicating Texas psych-folkies Charlambides open, plus Heather Lee Murray. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 8 p.m. Sunday, $11, 215-222-1400.

Jesca Hoop: Tom Waits describes his protégé's haunting folk-pop as "going swimming in a lake at night." She opens for Philly expat Matt Pond PA, debuting songs from the just-released "Last Light." Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 8 p.m. Sunday, $10, 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.

Monday Night Club: Afropunk band the Baptist Preachers throws a birthday bash for its guitarist, John Cecil Price, with post-Goats project Black Landlord. Balcony, 10th and Arch streets, 10 p.m. Monday, free, 215-922-LIVE, www.thetroc.com.

Lesbian: Psych-metal band from Seattle heads up a mind-bending bill with World of Ghosts and Conifer. There are no lesbians in the band, just dudes with beards. Khyber, 56 S. 2nd St., 8 p.m. Tuesday, $8, 215-238-5888, www.thekhyber.com.

Black Angels: Texas band, a droning cross between the Velvet Underground and Spacemen 3, returns with like-minded Spindrift. Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9 p.m. Tuesday, $12, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com.

Warlocks: Not to be confused with the Velvets' or Grateful Dead's former monikers, this eight-piece L.A. band (four guitarists) was inspired by the Paisley Underground of the early '80s. Also: Darker My Love, Silver Rockets. Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9 p.m. Wednesday, $10, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com.

Flosstradamus: Vice Records artists and Chicago DJs Curt Cameruci (aka Autobot) and Josh Young (aka J2K) spin hip-hop, mash-ups and everything in-between. Silk City, 5th and Spring Garden streets, 10 p.m. Wednesday, 215-592-8838, www.myspace.com/phillysilkcity.

Trentalange: Solo project for Barbara Trentalange of Crooked Fingers is a cross between Portishead and PJ Harvey. She opens for prolific power poppers the Trolleyvox and Canadian Invasion. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 9 p.m. Thursday, $9, 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone: The name says it all. It's one man and his lo-fi electronics, somewhere between Stephin Merritt and the Mountain Goats. Opening: To Bad Catholics and Trtl Soup. Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9 p.m. Thursday, $10, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com.

JAZZ

Hoenig-Pilc Project: You can throw the word virtuoso around when discussing both French pianist Jean-Michel Pilc and Philly-born drummer Ari Hoenig, but that might obscure how much scintillating fun these guys have on the bandstand. A longtime partnership, this trio with bassist Johannes Weidenmueller consistently rises to each other's considerable challenges. Chris' Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom St., 8 & 10 tonight, $12, and tomorrow, $15, 215-568-3131, www.chrisjazzcafe.com.

Min Xiao-Fen Asian Trio: Pan-Asian trio of Chinese pipa player Min Xiao-Fen, Korean cellist Okkyung Lee and Japanese percussionist Satoshi Takeishi blends jazz and traditional musics in surprising and intriguing ways. Fleisher Art Memorial, 719 Catharine St., 8 p.m. Sunday, $15, www.arsnovaworkshop.com.

Diaspora Kristallknacht: Semi-regular experimental/world hybrid Diaspora Series brings two groups playing music written in or inspired by WWII prison camps. Brooklyn-based avant-cabaret quintet Barbez performs "Force of Light," a set of songs inspired by Romanian-Jewish Holocaust poet Paul Celan. Philly's Oscuro Quintet performs Olivier Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time." Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., 8 p.m. Sunday, free, myspace.com/diasporaseries.

TEST: Long-running improvising quartet of saxophonists Daniel Carter and Sabir Mateen, drummer Tom Bruno and bassist Matthew Heyner began in the subways of New York and continues with a certain degree of street-level aesthetic. Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce St., 8 p.m. Monday, free, www.arsnovaworkshop.com.

Willem Breuker Kollektief: Dutch saxophonist/bandleader brings his 10-piece avant-big band on a rare visit to perform a live score for F.W. Murnau's classic 1926 silent film version of "Faust." International House, 3701 Chestnut St., 7 p.m. Wednesday, $14, www.ihousephilly.org.

Jim Dragoni: Chestnut Hill-based guitarist begins weekly stint at Rollers Flying Fish, 8142 Germantown Ave., 9 p.m. Wednesdays, $10, 215-247-0707, www.rollersrestaurants.com.

BALLET

Pennsylvania Ballet: "Dracula," a theatrical dance spectacle created by Ben Stevenson to music by Franz Liszt. Academy of Music, Broad & Locust streets, 2 and 8 p.m. tomorrow, $22-$124, 215-893-1999, www.paballet.org.

CLASSICAL

Philadelphia Orchestra: Czech conductor Jiri Belohlavek leads Brahms' Second Symphony and "Toccata e due canzoni" by his countryman Bohuslav Martinu. Favorite violinist Sarah Chang solos in the beloved Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Broad & Spruce streets, 2 p.m. today and 8 p.m. tomorrow, $38-$113, 215-893-1999, www.philorch.org.

Lionel Party: Curtis faculty member in a harpsichord recital of works by Bach, Couperin, Scarlatti, Frescobaldi and Froberger. Field Concert Hall, Curtis Institute of Music, 1726 Locust St., 8 tonight, free, 215-893-7902, www.curtis.edu.

Philadelphia Classical Symphony: Karl Middleman conducts the first season concert with gems for string orchestra such as Hugo Wolf's Italian Serenade and Stravinsky's stirring Concerto in D. Revered local soprano Julianne Baird solos in Roger Quilter's song cycle "To Julia" and Alessandro Scarlatti's Cantata for soprano, trumpet (Darin Kelley) and strings, "Su le Sponde del Tebro." Kelley also solos in the Concertino for trumpet, piano and strings by Andre Jolivet. Trinity Center, 2212 Spruce St., 8 tonight, $15-$35, 610-664-8481, www.classicalsymphony.org.

Timothy Fain: Violinist and graduate of both Curtis Institute and Juilliard School teams with pianist Benjamin Hochman in Sonatas by Mozart (K. 379) and Ives (No. 3), Schubert's D.934 Fantasia and the local premiere of "Arches" for solo violin by Kevin Puts. Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th Street & Ben Franklin Parkway, 8 tonight, $22.50, 215-569-8080, www.pcmsconcerts.org.

Opera Delaware: Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" opens the season, with Temple's John Douglas heading across the border to conduct. Leland Kimball directs. Grand Opera House, 818 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del., 8 tonight and tomorrow, $25-$68, 302-652-5577, www.operade.org.

Mendelssohn Club: John Adams' gripping "On the Transmigration Of Souls" receives its local premiere, with Alan Harler also leading members of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Bel Canto Children's Choir and the Pennsylvania Girlchoir. Also, Karol Szymanowski's "Stabat Mater" and James Primosch's "Fire-Memory/River-Memory," commissioned by the ensemble for its 1998 premiere. Girard College Chapel, Girard and Corinthian avenues, 8 p.m. tomorrow, $25-$29, 215-893-1999, www.mcchorus.org.

Orchestra 2001 & Imani Winds: Our local ensemble, led by James Freeman, teams with the 10-year-old Imani woodwind quintet in an imaginative outing. Imani flutist Valerie Coleman's Concerto No. 2 for wind quintet and orchestra gets its world premiere. Also, Imani does Scherzos by Bozza and Frank, plus a setting of Ravel's magical "Le Tombeau de Couperin," transcribed by Mason Jones. Orchestra 2001 offers the Mozart Divertimento, K.270. Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Delaware Ave., 8 p.m. tomorrow, $32; and Lang Concert Hall, Swarthmore College, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, free, both 800-595-4849, www.orchestra2001.org.

Davis Hardy & Lambert Orkis: Cello/piano team of Temple faculty members performs the second half of their traversal of the complete Beethoven Cello Sonatas. Rock Hall, Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue, 3 p.m. Sunday, free, 215-204-7600, www.temple.edu/boyer.

Musicians From Marlboro: String players visit in this first of three programs, performing Kodaly's Serenade for two violins and viola and Beethoven's Op. 29 String Quartet. Flutist Marina Piccinini joins the players in Beethoven's Op. 25 Serenade. American Philosophical Society, 427 Chestnut St., 3 p.m. Sunday, $22.50, 215-569-8080, www.pcmsconcerts.org.

Jeffrey Siegel: Pianist/raconteur's Keyboard Conversations bring audiences into the world of the composer. This time out, Schubert's piano music includes Two Impromptus, the "Wanderer" Fantasy and an arrangement by Liszt of the "Trout." Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center, 7:30 p.m. Monday, $30, 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Czech conductor Jiri Belohlavek leads Brahms' Second Symphony and "Toccata e due canzoni" by his countryman Bohuslav Martinu. Pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin takes over for Sarah Chang on the Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1. Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 8 p.m. Tuesday, $38-$113, 215-893-1999, www.philorch.org.

Orion String Quartet: Highly regarded ensemble performs quartets by Haydn (Op. 74/1) and Mendelssohn (Op. 13). Violinist Ida Kavafian and cellist David Soyer join the group for the Brahms Op. 18 String Sextet. Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center, 8 p.m. Wednesday, $22.50, 215-569-8080, www.pcmsconcerts.org.

Philadelphia Orchestra: French conductor Stephane Deneve of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra makes his podium debut with a cornucopia of favorite Gallic works, but first, "blue cathedral" by our own Jennifer Higdon. You can't go wrong with Ravel's tender "Mother Goose Suite" or Roussel's richly orchestrated Second Suite from the ballet "Baccus and Ariadne." Organist Vincent Dubois solos in the plangent Concerto for organ, strings and timpani by Poulenc. Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center, 8 p.m. Thursday plus 2 p.m. Nov. 9 and 8 p.m. Nov. 10, $38-$113, 215-893-1999, www.philorch.org.