There’s something beautiful about the Great Unknown. It’s not only because of the stark and bewitching alt-country they weave, or the yearning intones and the seizing rhythms. It’s also because of their collaboration with the American Society of Composers (ASCAP) and the national after-school program, American SCORES, in late 2010. As part of this team up, the ASCAP Songwriter Residency at America SCORES brought the West Philly outfit in to write and record a collection of songs with public school youth from underserved communities in Washington DC, Cleveland, Milwaukee, New York, and Boston. The result of that is the brilliant and heartwarming 5-track EP, Other Voices, Other Rooms, available July 19 (you can preorder the album HERE and receive a bonus audio commentary with frontman Todd Henkin. All proceeds go to the ASCAP Songwriter Residency). It was a positive, enlightening experience for the four, so much so that Brad Jacobson decided to leave the band to pursue teaching again, according to a recent Making Major Moves interview. And with the lap steel/banjo/guitar player gone, the now-three piece is switching sonic gears, exploring fresh, not-yet-pinned down territory on new material they began recording for their upcoming album. It should be a refreshing change in direction, one in which you can hear twinkles of it tonight when they perform at Kung Fu Necktie with hometown folk eccentrics The Spinning Leaves. But don’t just head out to the show to support the Great Unknown. Go to support the 120 kids they’ve helped inspire. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., $7, 8pm, 21+ -Annamarya Scaccia