Johnny Brenda’s welcomes Heyward Howkins this evening as he celebrates the release of Be Frank Furness. The follow-up to last year’s debut, The Hale & Hearty, is a multi-purposed album whose title/song is a nod to the famous 19th century Philadelphia architect Frank Furness. What captures one’s immediate interest is Howkins’s tantalizing turns of phrase as he crafts vivid descriptions showcasing an attention to detail while demonstrating songwriting abilities that interweave literary meaning with phonetic functionality. However, the words only represent a portion of Be Frank Furness. The instrumental elements breathe life into Howkins’ tales. Some songs provide an energetic open airiness, while others shift toward an intense weighty direction. The great unifier is a musician that finds balance, enriching lyricism via instrumentation. Add the premium blend of jangly psychedelic boogie rock of Needle Points and the first full band appearance of Sad Actor, and you might forget that it’s below freezing outside. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita
