American Babies the creative off shoot of Brothers Past frontman Tom Hamilton makes a stop at Johnny Brenda’s tonight. With a revolving door of talented backing band members centered on the constant of Hamilton, American Babies play a brand of Americana grounded in a tight musical unit. It’s a sound that easily fits the barrelhouse to the backyard barbecue any and everywhere in between. Warm soulful vocals that connect both in tone and lyric, developing a comfortable layer of familiarity that is further reinforced by a rich driving groove on up-tempo songs or a slow and steady pace that takes the chill out of the air essence on the simpler ones. The energy is always there, whether it’s an internal yearning on an outward striving that keeps the musical wheels turning. American Babies will be opening for Jesse Malin & The St. Marks Social who take folky singer-songwriter material and push it forward with a punk edge. Johnny Brenda’s 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $12, 21+ – Michael Colavita
