Lantern is a mess. Led by Montreal native Zachary Fairbrother, the Philly three-piece is a kind of good, awful mess that breeds beautiful, insane chaos. Just listen to their last two EPs – Lantern Summer EP 2011 and Stranger I Come. Stranger I Leave. – and you’ll get what I mean. It’s a jagged fireworks show of fuzzbox guitars, pounding drums and snotty vocals that crash together to produce sparks of sped-up psych, sickening blues-garage, and vintage punk-rock. We’re not sure how Johnny Brenda’s stage will be able to contain Lantern’s exploding sound, but you can see first-hand tonight when they perform at the venue with Cali’s bluesy throwback White Fence and Brooklyn’s folk-jam hybrid Woods. While you’re at it, throw a few bucks Lantern’s way for their North American Tour Kickstarter campaign because, seriously, their music can’t–and shouldn’t–be confined. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 8PM, $12, 21+ – Annamarya Scaccia
