Weekend Warrior, February 3 – 5

Break ups are hard (duh). There’s always more emotion than expected and, if you’re on the receiving end, you’re left battling snot-filled nights of Jim Beam and self-loathing. It takes a toll (duh-twice). But – and this is an ancient secret – there are more productive ways to get over that stab in the heart. Just take a cue from local outfit White Birds (ex-Drink Up Buttercup), whose upcoming LP, When Women Played Drums, is a therapy session sifting through the post-relationship debris (it drops on Valentine’s Day, as a "fuck you" to the red-stained holiday). On the album, the trio, who’s playing Kung Fu Necktie tonight, takes the heaviness of despondency and turns it into this swirling, lo-fi mass of overwhelming defiance – of heavy reverb and jazzy shoegaze and jangly dream-pop that hisses and snaps, pulling the vocals down under its currents and watching them struggle to the surface. It defines everything a break up leaves behind while setting it free – an ode to stubbornly moving on. For this evening’s show, White Birds will be joined by Univox, who hones in their trademark spastic garage-punk for a more ’90s power pop-meets-punk choir polish for their recently released Tonight 7-inch, and fledgling local outfit Tutlie, who’s upcoming LP, Young Cries, is sure to burst with sweet, effervescent and gentle chamber pop. Consoling yourself with music is always the best medicine, so go forth. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $8-$10, 21+ – Annamarya Scaccia