Prolific Philly songwriter/recording artist Scotty Leicht, a.k.a. Shelf Life, just released another new album, titled Nu Testament, his tenth in about four years. Grim, churning, guitar-driven tracks lay the groundwork for hushed vocals. Looming disenchantment stirs the sonic pot in a room of isolation. Shelf Life is slated to appear this Saturday, August 26 at Darren Point Breeze, with Quincy, The Four Of Us Are Dying, and Steve Laymen.

September 4 is the official release date for Yanked, the new EP from Yankee Bluff; however, it’s currently available to streaming and download. Subdued melodies create a quick catchiness, with lyrical precision, revealing itself with each additional rotation. It’s a tightly spun musical fabric, whose push and pull between upbeat optimism and dreary downs rocks one into submission. The band is set to perform at Space 1026 this Thursday, August 24, on a lineup that also includes Amanda X, Permanent Body, and Doe.

Krust Toons: "Got Any Vinyl?" by Tedd Hazard – please feel free to drop him a line at teddandthehazards@gmail.com if you dig or have any funny ideas. You can also check out more of his illustrations and animation shorts HERE.

All over North America, folks are getting ready to witness the first total solar eclipse to appear in the U.S. skies since 1979. And Skull Eclipses, a new collaborative project from Philly’s own Lushlife, a.k.a. Raj Haldar, and Austin-based producer Botany, with assistance former local native/harpist Mary Lattimore, has provided us a soundtrack of celestial sounds for this afternoon’s momentous occasion. "Totality Piece" will also be aired on Philly’s WXPN and Austin’s KUTX during the height of the eclipse, in their perspective areas. Keep a lookout for more to come from Skull Eclipses, and please safely enjoy this rare event!

A dimly lit, funky groove makes up the foundational, sonic setting of “Yottahertz,” a new single from Philly emcee Ralphiie Reese, featuring neighbor from the north Rigz. Found on his latest album Takeda Ahki, Rigz opens and Reese closes the door, with each emcee exuding a cool, composed confidence against the ominous backdrop, laying down a lyrical challenge in the process. Are you up for it?

The Deli’s reigning Best Emerging Philly Indie Rock Artist, The Retinas, set up shop this Saturday at The Barbary. As we await the arrival of new material currently in the works and potentially on display, the band lay down a faded, fuzz-out set of well-crafted, rambunctious tunes. Filtered through a casual disenchanting haze, The Retinas cultivate unassuming, episodic adventures that tackily grab hold and gradually accelerate into anthem status without pretense. The psych-surf trio of Secret Nudist Friends twists and turns between a temperate sway to a ripping torrent. New York natives The Lounge Act channel secluded emotions into dominoing jams.

Meanwhile, many will their annual trek to Old Pool Farm, flocking for the 56^th Philadelphia Folk Festival. Among the cavalcade of acts throughout the weekend, the absorbing Vita and the Woolf, the multi-dimensional, baroque folk of Hezekiah Jones, and the harmony-stacking, campfire Americana of The End of America represent a small but potent sampling of what will be a long-ass weekend of good vibes and tunes. – Michael Colavita

Other places to soak in the summer this weekend…

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Spank, SAT Philly Loves Michael Jackson

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Overcoming Gravity, Camp Candle, SAT Bel Heir, Blame Candy

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Drowse, Manbeast/Big Nothing/WhiteRice, Gummibear, BeeTee Beats/The Dull Blue Lights, SAT Midwestern Exposure, Brom Bones, Canyon Ride/DJ PHSH, Low Budget, SUN Androgynous Jesus/Crazy Bull

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) FRI McRad, Thantophobe, Barnes

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI In the Presence of Wolves

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT Lucid By Midnight, Public Noise/DJ Sylo, Astro 8000, Wes Walker, Charley Coin

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) FRI Dayne Jordan, DJ Ferno, Beano, The Bul Bey

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT (Upstairs) Lily Mae

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Thunderbird Divine, SAT RFA, Soraia, Ellen Siberian-Tiger/The Retinas, Secret Nudist Friends

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) SAT DJ Baby Berlin, DJ Nightwitch, Korine

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI The Barren Marys, SUN Thrills, St. James & The Apostles

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Birthday Boy, Caracara, SAT Vincent John

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Bo Bliz, Low Budget, SAT DJ Deejay

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI No Mere Machine, SAT Roxy Rollz, SUN Port Arthur, Cavity Kids

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) SAT Lloyd Maz, Hashland, Blaq N’ Nappy, Ryze High, Zac Oracle

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Boulevard) FRI DJ PiERSON, SAT DJ Beatstreet, SUN Burnt Sienna

The Grape Room (105 Grape St) Liberty Music Fest  FRI Chad Jenkins Band, Riverside Odds, Shadow Merchants, Lonesome Crow/Monie & Meeks, John Fahres, Mack & the Hooligans, Vinnie Paolizzi , SAT Xpresidents, The Sly Foxes, Aviance, Redux Envy, In Different Sounds, CHVNCE/Vanderlyle, E.Joseph and The Sparrows, A Better Class Of Criminal, Tyler John, Firm Taqtics, Steve Oakley Band/DJ 21HNDRD, Mike Nappi, Camp Candle, The Duke Brothers , Eloise Sharkey, Prin$e Alexander, Rotation Records Showcase, SUN Primatives, Fauxtron, Popular Creeps, Adventure Lost, Illusions Of Grandeur, Granz, A Ship Named Beagle/The Local Smokes, Bazmati Vice, Josh Nussbaum, Bluestime, Novyy Stil’

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SAT Splintered Sunlight, SUN Steal Your Peach, Brown Sugar

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Ben Aire, SAT Ed Christof

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Whipworm

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Crossed Keys, Peter The Pianoeater, Wax Wav / The Mellowells, Snakeboy, Twin Beds

Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St., Suite 76) SAT The Dull Blue Lights, SteveO & The Crippling Addictions

Hole Foods (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Garden Club, Sinceres, Whine Moms

Philly Folk Festival (Old Pool Farm) FRI Andrea Nardello, Apache Trails, Ben Arnold and the 48 Hour Orchestra, A Fistful of Sugar, Anna Cecilia, Black Horse Motel, Butter Queen Sister, Chickabiddy, Dani Mari, David Amram, David C Perry, Deer Scout, Edge Hill Rounders, Gene Smith Band, Hezekiah Jones, Jessica Graae, Kicking Down Doors, Ladybird, Man About a Horse, Michael Braunfeld, No Good Sister, Rare Spirits, Ray Naylor, RUNA, Spirit Wing, Stevie and the Bluescasters, Sweetbriar Rose, The Theologicals, The End of America, SAT A Fistful of Sugar, Greg Sover Band, Hannah Taylor, Jay Smar, Jesse Hale Moore, Kalob Griffin, Lisa Chosed, Matt Wheeler & Vintage Heart, Michael Braunfeld, Rare Spirits, RUNA, Sarah Chodak, Silverton, Saul Broudy, The Theologicals, Two of a Kind, Vita & the Woolf, SUN Almshouse, Andrea Nardello, Boulevard Express, Courtney Malley, Dani Mari, David Amram, Dawn Hiatt, Instant Bingo Jam, Jessica Graae, John Flynn, Kicking Down Doors, Ladybird, Man About a Horse, Michael Braunfeld, Michelle Miller, No Good Sister, RUNA, Saul Broudy, Sylvia Platypus

It makes perfect sense that childhood friends Bob Hunter & Matt Fleming would start a band together, after all they were banging on a piano together, before Hunter could even walk. That’s a lifetime of experiences and ideas that has brought us their sonic experiment, known as Noise and Sound, a name inspired by Richard Linklater’s Waking Life. The duo released its debut EP Cycle Theory, earlier this summer via Exotic Fever, and is already set to drop a new single in the not-too-distant future so keep a lookout for that. Noise and Silence recently won The Deli Philly’s Featured Artist(s) Poll, and we’d like to help you to get to know them a little better, which you can do so HERE. 

We’re very excited to share with you a new track and video from one of our favorite local acts Radiator Hospital. Led by the heartfelt, beautiful words of songwriter Sam Cook-Parrott, “Dance Number” is a “meta-commentary about the way we use music to help us cope, even when everything seems to be falling completely apart.” Cook-Parrott also says, “On the surface it’s a portrait of a sad lonely moment. Ultimately though it’s about trying to go through life with an open heart and mind in a world that seems bleaker every day." The song is the first single off the band’s forthcoming full-length Play The Songs You Like, which was recorded by Jeff Zeigler (of Uniform Recording) and is due out on October 20 via Salinas Records. You can catch Radiator Hospital live on Monday, August 28 at PhilaMOCA with Lost Balloons. (Photo by Catherine Elicson)

Post-rock quintet Allora Mis covers vast territory on their new self-titled EP. As one gradually sifts farther into the sonic depths, pondering the shapes that form their surroundings, a rejuvenating clarity emerges within the evolving cinematic complexities. Those bright but powerful forces of nature sculpt a meditative sanctuary.

Pine Barons‘ Keith Abrams, a.k.a. Tremellow, just released a new single. "Look Up" sets a somber mood, as the song instrumentally expands, loosening into loose futuristic grooves. It shares a tale of continuing to live and thrive, despite the beckoning of failing health. Regardless of the negative circumstances, a desire to remain active and persist optimistically looms.

Earlier this summer, the pairing of Rachel Levin & Tyler Black, known collectively as Fred Beans, released The Peanut Butter & Jelly Dogs. Unfiltered, open-book narratives react with unprocessed, instrumental reverberations, peeling back to the exposed, emotive core. Fred Beans will be at PhilaMOCA tomorrow evening, supporting Cerulean Blue‘s record release celebration that will also include Line Leader and Two Inch Astronaut.

Warm echoes of synth are thrown into percussive motion as dreamy musicality is contrasted by a harsh tale of reality in Pool Radio’s “Voices”. Against the soft synth silhouette, a dialogue of disappointment, isolation, and separation from family matriculates, expressing regret and sincerity despite a physical absence. What begins in the sleepy clouds is shaken awake to its senses.