Waiting/Wasting is the new EP from Candice Martello-led Hemming. A pensive, piano-anchored, personal journey unfolds. These songs occupy a solemn, isolating space that gathers and exhibits a resilient strength. You can catch Hemming performing next in Philly on Friday, May 31 at Ortlieb’s.

Meshing a grimy aesthetic with wisdom refined by maturation, DistantStarr creatively captivates on Fine. Delivering thematic storytelling against classic jazz-R&B grooves with experimental ends, the songs occupy a cruising but crucial space. Press play, and allow the poise of the music to take over. DistantStarr is slated to perform as part of the Duality: First Friday music and art show on Friday, June 7 at Philly Art Collective.

A punk-psych hybrid, "Cold Hands," the debut single from the trio of Broke Body, is out now via Good How Are You Records. Propelled by its backend and vocals that cut through by proximity, the recording creates an air of mystery. The dichotomy of free-floating yet aggressive vibes provides an intriguing perspective. "Cold Hands" will be featured on the band’s forthcoming EP Bleed.

A somber, slow-burning haze cultivates a particular kind of comfort when listening to In The Shape Of…, the new record from the quartet of So Totally. Those hypnotic qualities, created by the soft, somewhat whispered vocals and the steady progression of music, can quickly be thrown off kilter by jarring instrumental shifts and turns. A cathartic, gentle, swaying calm is combated by the escalating inferno of fuzz that potentially awaits around any given corner. Get comfortable, but maybe not too comfortable. (Photo by Maureen Murphy)

The trio of Hurry recently shared a new single release via Lame-O Records. “Frustrate You” stews in a reserved, reflective tempo as the lingering, melancholy, rainy day vibe plays out in delicate melodies. On its B-side, “An Element Of Surprise” picks up the pace, creating a sense of urgency and optimism over a final stand/opportunity. You can find Hurry sharing a billing this Friday, May 10 at Everybody Hits with Gladie and Happy Accidents.

The Dove & The Wolf just released their first full-length record, Conversations, via Tone Tree Music. Led by Paloma Gil and Louise Hayat, intertwined harmonies radiate in a soothing yet emotive manner. The delicate, crisp instrumental accompaniment perfectly complements the group’s exquisite, wandering, daydream vocals. You can catch The Dove & The Wolf’s record release show at Johnny Brenda’s on Saturday, May 25, where they’ll be supported by Shamir and Michelle Blades. (Photo by Marcus Maddox)

Active Listening: Night on Earth, the full-length debut from the quartet of Empath, is now available via Get Better Records. Merging shimmering melodies with stormy, noise-effected discord, the band finds a catchy, chaotic balance. Groundswells of rhythm are countered by ethereal synth as the contrast of feathery-ferocity grabs one’s focus with an intriguing intensity. Get lost in its unpredictability. (Photo by Troy Memis)

Pleasure Systems is the soft pop alias of Clarke Sondermann, a Philadelphian who is also a member of the band The Washboard Abs. With Pleasure System’s newest release Terraform, Sondermann strives for intimacy and contact in a digital space, working within the paradox of separation and emotional distance during a time in which we are said to be closer than ever to one another. The stay relatively downtempo, with delicate synths and gentle rhythms swirling around Sondermann’s somber ruminations. Terraform is reminiscent of early 2000’s pop like The Postal Service, but is reimagined in the context of their contemporaries like Body Meat, Ada Babar, and Kasra Kurt. Tracks like “Milk & Honey” actively take time to delve into more experimental musical breaks, embarking into danceable sequences throughout the album. Terraform plays more like a warm herbal tea than a Four Loko, perfect for those quieter moments in this rainy season. – Josh Kelly

Krust Toons: "You’re Booking Cover Bands Now?" 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.

Vanishing Forms, the latest release from ambient-trio Hotel Neon, was is out now via Archives. One is drawn toward the tranquil instrumentation that gradually washes over you, providing and revealing an internal clarity. That peacefulness results from the intricacies of sonic layers wrapping around you and wearing at the troubles of daily life. PhilaMOCA will play host to the band’s record release show, on Friday, May 17, supported by Christopher Tignor and Slow Meadow.

If you are looking to efficiently max out your support of local music this weekend, then you definitely want to hit the 3^rd annual Good How Are You Fest. Brought to us by Good How Are You Records and Paper Scissors Media, the two-day event will be kicking things off this afternoon at its de facto homebase, South Philly’s Tralfamadore, where Philly acts such as Gender Work and Yeenar will be getting folks warmed up for the stacked Day 2 festivities. On Saturday at Pleasure Mountain Ballroom, you might notice some familiar names on the billing from this corner of The Deli. There will be past Record of the Month recipients Curtis Cooper, Secret Nudist Friends, and Blushed, alongside former Featured Artist(s) Poll nominees and winners Kelsey Cork & The Swigs, Puppy Angst, and Busy Bee Project, so it should be easy to see why we think this is the place where you need to be this weekend. Because you surely deserve a bit of pleasure in your life! – H.M. Kauffman

More places where you can support local music this weekend…

Pleasure Mountain Ballroom (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Good How Are You Fest: Curtis Cooper, Trash Boy, Secret Nudist Friends, Blushed, Kelsey Cork & The Swigs, Puppy Angst, Busy Bee Project, Too DoGs 

Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Good How Are You Fest: Gender Work, Elaine Rasnake, Overwinter, yeenar, Broke Body, BB GUNS, Elissa Janelle Velveteen, Rebecca Zimmerman

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Oldermost, SAT Don McCloskey

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Cypher Clique

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Nematode/DJ Deejay, SAT Something Like a Monument

The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) SUN Naeem

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Alex Shaw, SUN (Upstairs) Grace Vonderkuhn/(Downstairs) Ruder Than You, Catbite

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Youthfool, SAT Black Cat Habitat, Sharon Lia Band, Steady State, 100 Men On Mars, SUN Twice Brothers, Rowhome

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Creem Circus, SAT Dave Patten, Psychic Agency, Aaron Parnell Brown 

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Line Leader, The Bigness, Rare Spirits, SAT I Think Like Midnight/MCA Day: Stop Not Playin

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Felipe Pupo, Shane Reimer, Family Friend, Egocentric Plastic Men, Vassal, SAT Kissing The Klepto, Twin Beds, Bored As Hell

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI Johanna Baumann, SAT Delmont (EP Release), Stealing From Thieves, Goodthief

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SUN Omni MC, Teef and E1 Beats present: Da Vida, Kahlil Ali 

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Paul Green Punk Rock Brunch, SUN Rusty Cadillac 

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) FRI All That 90s Party

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Cabaret Sauvignon/DJ Chris Urban, SAT Philadelphia Burlesque Academy Student Showcase/Ed Christof, SUN Honeygasm

Century (1350 S. 29^th St.) FRI E.D.S., The Stutter, SAT Ritual Earth, Space Caravan, Bear/moth

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Presidential Top Knot, Knightlife, The Missing Frets, The Jumping Juvies, SAT SomaRai, Slophouse, Dead in Dog Years, Little War

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SUN Under The Oak

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Caracara (EP Release Show), Cave People (Solo)

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) SAT Bree and the Reeds, Sophie Coran/Humilitarian

Warehouse on Watts (923 N. Watts St.) FRI Astro 8000, 1-800 Happy Hour, DJ Kenny Dollaz

The Music Ward (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Gnarbot, Medusa’s Disco, Miss Cantaloupe

Cousin Danny’s (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Downtrodder (Last Show), Demodex

Truck (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Tombo Crush

Free Candy (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more infor.) FRI Slenko & McKeys, Kyle Press, Guitars and Drums

Twilight Time (Long Song Records), the new LP from Desertion Trio, is nothing to sleep on/or through. An unpredictable, musical adventure lies around every corner. Led by one of Philly’s finest guitarist Nick Millevoi, the band can hover in a hypnotic, transportive state and then quickly transforms into a revved up, jazz-surf amalgamation or a funky, groovin’ stomp. Morphing a multitude of genres, the group creates an elegant, ever-energetic collection of familiar tracks, etched with their unique signature.