The Chickens is the side project of Street Kyle with help from his FNU Ronnies bandmate Michael Reaser. Judging by tracks like “Inside the Chicken Den” and “Phocumolous vers. #1,” expect fuzzy barely intelligible punk-ish vocals with sharp angular post punk riffs. However, they are a relatively new band and looking to add more members so there should be plenty of experimentation as they search for their unified sound. I’m really enjoying the track “Untitled #1” which sounds like it was made to be the soundtrack for an updated version of Space Invaders by mixing a little ominous psy-trance with pulse pounding industrial. The Chickens’ debut release on cassette, The Chicken, is available on Fan Death Records. The invasion will not be televised! myspace.com/therealchickens - Q.D. Tran

So there’s been a lot of talk lately about how no one says “Merry Christmas” anymore, and everyone goes for the politically correct “Happy Holidays.” Who fuckin’ cares!?! Eat, drink and be merry because you get the day off! And once you’re over being cooped up in the house with your crazy family, head out to Johnny Brenda’s Saturday night for mewithoutYou. The Weiss brothers and friends have parked their vegetable oil running ’76 Charter bus, and will be celebrating the holidays locally this year. They’ll be joined by avant-garde art rockers Make A Rising, but sorry if you don’t have a ticket because the show is SOLD OUT, and so is the one on Tuesday at First Unitarian Church with both bands and last year’s Deli Best of Philly Poll winner Drink Up Buttercup. We hope that it’s a Happy Festivus for the rest of us! We’ll see you around the pole for The Feats of Strength. Johnny Brenda’s 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, SOLD OUT, 21+

It’s a slow weekend, but it should allow you to rest up for next week’s New Year’s festivities.

The Khyber (56 S 2nd St.) SUN South Broad

World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT (Downstairs) Jealousy Curve, Pawnshop Roses

North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) SAT The Groovement

Lillie Ruth Bussey (a.k.a. Bianka Brunson) is a singer-songwriter who's eclectic yet modest. Each tune (or "ditty," as she so aptly tends to call them) feels like it was handcrafted and endearingly gift-wrapped just for you. Certain sounds pervade throughout, like the chiming bells and piano tinklings, but most of the ditties are built around a single stark element, like the minimal, but warm, analog synth sounds of "Doors Locked," the more traditional acoustic guitar meditation of "Can't Help," or the ukelele-based "Heart You Protect." Her lyrics, personal and beautifully earnest, revolve around "love, loss, ghosts, America and a car full of monkeys." But as easily as she can tug at your heartstrings, Miss Bussey knows how to "jam on the one" which always turns her shows into a raging dance party where sometimes the line for lap dances starts behind her. It’s Brunson’s unique ability to instantly wow crowds that keeps the Deli staff coming back for more. Lillie Ruth Bussey will be joined tonight at North Star Bar by fellow earSnake labelmate rocker Shawn Kilroy and elegant folk outfit A Stick and a Stone. North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar Street, 9pm, $8, 21+ myspace.com/lillieruthbussey - Joe Poteracki

Talk about properly named artists to see when there’s snow outside! The North Star Bar takes the storm inside for a bit when Polar Ice Cap takes their indie alternative rock to the stage. The band is still fairly new to the scene, but with a sound that’s fairly reminiscent to the likes of Hum and Weezer, they may be on the right track. They’ll be joined by Machine Gun Joe. You might have caught them playing shows with the likes of The New Time and Levee Drivers before, and their rock music has a strong Neil Young influence with subtle hints of psychobilly. North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., 9pm, $8, 21+ myspace.com/polaricecaptheband - Bill McThrill

You can probably lump SuperGoose in with the number of Bucks County artists that I think have been really spicing up the Philly indie music scene for years (as well as the Brooklyn/NYC scene). I’m not sure what’s in the water up there, but I do know that the wooded areas and open spaces leave little to do while growing up except think, listen to music, take drugs and have sex which certainly helps nurture great musicians (and can often be their downfall). SuperGoose is a power trio that combines ominous mechanical sounding indie rock with layers of fuzzy synth-noise and vocals that ooze rock n’ roll. It’s a big sound that I’d like to hear through arena speakers. Check out the video above for “Do the Catapult” from the Pipedown Finale, and decide for yourself! myspace.com/supergooseband - Q.D. Tran