The freak-folk collective of On the Water whimsically taps into one’s imagination. Ornate, tightly-bound instrumentation and refined harmonies create a nuanced sonic fabric – one that flourishes in its intricate attention to detail and simultaneously remains attached to its guttural, ground-swelling reality. The band accesses personal circumstances, while hedging toward an alternative fantasy. Tonight, On the Water will celebrate the arrival of their latest EP Failing Upwards, with a release show at West Philly’s The Mothership. They’ll also be supported by the tumultuously eerie punk of Northern Liberties, the glam-psych, space invasion of STARWOOD, and the funky dance-punk of Van Goose. – Michael Colavita
Other places where Hurricane Florence won’t hit this weekend…
The Mothership (602 S. 52nd St.) FRI On the Water (7-inch Record Release), Northern Liberties, STARWOOD
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Jay Laughlin, Roger Harvey, Lowercase Roses, SUN Rylan Brooks
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Deadfellow (Record Release), Sean Danger Smith
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Only On Weekends, Nobody Yet, Danger Club/Night Drive, SAT Trash Beach/DJ Cousin Mike, SUN The Helicopter Scuba Divers, Tinmouth, Los Ricos
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) FRI Americanadian
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Dean and Company Presents The Philly Spectrum Series, SAT Shannen Moser
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Mt. Joy, Petal, SAT Pinkwash
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SUN Big Handsome, The Fainz, John Brown and the Hatchets, The 1940’s, Steel Crowes, Nipper the Band, Shock Value
TLA (334 South St.) SAT Year of the Knife
The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) FRI So Far Gone: Dirty South Joe, Magglezzz
The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) FRI Lör
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT Greg Sover Band
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Year Of The Knife, SAT Snow Villain, Cowbell Superstar, The Mojo Machine, Gibbous Moon, SUN Jackson Howard
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Behind Deadlines, SAT Sonni Shine (Album Release), Vessna Scheff, Fawz
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Laura Lizcano, Sophie Coran, SAT Tiny Vices, SUN Desperate Living, Josh Agran
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Andorra, Palatine, Teeth, SAT Camera Thief, Love? said the Commander, Jacopo De Nicola
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Sylo, Astro 8000, SAT DJ Deejay
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Triage, SUN Rusty Cadillac
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Jesse Ruben, SUN Lisa Chosed, Rachel Eve
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Supreem Da Rezarekta’, Artimës Prime, Orlando RsrJuice Jackson, M.A.S , SAT Palatine, Knightlife
The Tusk (430 South St.) SAT Apertures, Misfit Holiday, Monoceros
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI DJ Mighty Mike Saga, Elijvh Vrms, SAT Amora, Flowercrown, SUN Traitor, No Nothing
Century (1350 S 29th St.) SAT The Company Corvette, SUN Trashcats, Fucksake
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI DJ Beatstreet
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) SAT A Vacation
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI The Madeleine Haze (Farewell Show), In The Presence of Wolves, Nakama, SAT Jordan Flaherty
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SAT Jordan Caiola, Katie Frank, SUN Stanley Clarke Band, Ernest Stuart Trio
No Face Studios (5213 Grays Ave.) FRI Bandit, A Virgin, SAT Lester, Buster, Gender Work
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SUN RunHideFight, No Thank You, Wildflowers of America
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Aphid Daughters, Michael Norris, SAT Teenage Bigfoot, Assemble, SUN Hallowed Bells
Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN FLNG, Mud Guppies, Overwinter
The Music Ward (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Overwinter, Mattress Food