- Steve Klinge
Neil Young & Crazy Horse, with Patti Smith and Everest, perform 8 p.m. Thursday at the Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St. Tickets: $53-$258. Information: 215-336-3600, www.wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
Maxwell
R&B/neo-soul crooner Maxwell - on the mend from vocal cord problems that caused him to cancel a planned summer tour this year - will test his onstage moves, vocal and otherwise, for the first time in two years at the Borgata Friday night. While no one can predict how the 39-year-old singer's voice will fare, they needn't worry about his stage presence. The man is an electrifying showman who moves between suggestive (but never raunchy) ballads and high-powered, gospel-infused soul. He's expected to cover much of his musical catalog Friday, including songs from the as-yet-unreleased second disc of his BLACKsummers'night CD trilogy. The Brooklyn native earned raves for his last tour in 2009-10, which launched in midsize venues, moved into arenas, and was capped by two sold-out nights at Madison Square Garden. After eight years out of the limelight, BLACKsummers'night, Maxwell's fourth album, was a triumphant return, entering the charts at No. 1 and earning a Grammy for best R&B CD. He'll undoubtedly use his time on the Borgata stage to get the momentum going again and remind fans why he's still such a star. - Nicole Pensiero
Maxwell plays at 8 p.m. Friday at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City. Tickets: $75, $95, $125. Information: 1-800-298-4200, www.theborgata.com.
Kid Koala
The sweet-looking, doe-eyed Eric San chose his stage moniker well. Spinning records and scratching as Kid Koala, San has released nearly a dozen albums since signing to British electronic label Ninja Tune in 1997. While hip-hop and electronic influences play a large role in San's music, he also incorporates a playful, whimsical vibe into his expert turntable skills and ear for breaks, creating a sound that has endeared him to many. While he has always had a strong affection for blues and ragtime, his latest release, 12 Bit Blues, sees him even more in that camp. Like a mellow, funkified Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, 12 Bit Blues is sassy and raw, a dirty blues opus San created using little more than a late-'80s sampler. The album release tour, which stops in Philadelphia Friday, promises dancing robots, puppets, and gigantic cardboard turntables for a modern vaudeville experience.
- Katherine Silkaitis
Kid Koala, featuring Adira Amram and the Experience, performs at 10 p.m. Friday at Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St. Tickets: $15. Information: www.undergroundarts.org.
