Tonight at Johnny Brenda’s is a meeting of some “old heads” (term used in the most respectful way) who have helped to lay the foundation for our burgeoning local indie music scene. The Strapping Fieldhands have been sporadically performing out again since their recent resurgence. Originally creating music simply for their own amusement with no real plans of ever releasing anything, it seems like their body of work has withstood the test of time, and feels more fitting on the landscape of music scene in this day and age than when they were first written and recorded. They’ll be opening for proud New Jersey native Daniel Smith and his ever-evolving project Danielson. He returns with a mostly new crew of collaborators which also includes impressive contributions by core member Sufjan Stevens on banjo and vocals as well as vocals from Jens Lekman on his latest release Best of Gloucester County. Hermit Thrushes will also be tossing in their avant-garde folk compositions into the mix for the evening. (You can check out their recent Daytrotter session HERE.) Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, 10 adv/$12 door, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman
