Krust Toons: "Loaded or Load In?" by Teddy 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.

Balance and Composure just announce that their new album will be coming out on October 17 via Vagrant Records, and will be titled Light We Made. The follow-up to 2013’s The Things We Think We’re Missing was recorded with producer extraordinaire Will Yip (Studio 4), and you may be finding the group exploring some new sonic terrain on its latest endeavor. Take a listen to "Postcard," the record’s first single, below.

Dream-pop outfit Queen of Jeans recently stopped by Out Of Town Films headquarters at Berks Warehouse in Philly to record a live session. Performing two songs from the group’s self-titled debut EP, the sultry, swagger of "Moody" effortlessly charms, while "Pup" languidly caressess and comforts, taking you away from all your worries in the world. Marissa Lesnick’s lead vocals and the band’s backing harmonies sound spectacular. You can catch Queen of Jeans live, and fall under their spell on Thursday, August 18 with Grubby Little Hands as part of the Spruce Street Harbor Park Waterfront Sessions. (Photo by Bob Sweeney)

Tonight is a special all-ages show at Boot & Saddle, the second night of two for impassioned pop group Wild Child. Last night was for the 21+ folks, so this evening is for all the youngsters. It’s an especially good thing for opener Family Volleyball, who most likely would not be allowed in the venue otherwise, or maybe I’m just getting old. Either way, try to make it in time for their dreamy, eclectic set. While the group might stay in the realm of indie rock most of the time, they jump around with their sound, recalling Real Estate, Pinback, A Great Big Pile of Leaves, Pomegranates and Yo La Tengo at different times across their limited amount of releases. The band obviously has an ear for a catchy melody, and can explore/express those ideas in a number of inventive ways. Family Volley doesn’t seem to take themselves too seriously, which is to their benefit, as they are creating keen-eyed and intricate songs that have a youthful exuberance and mature, well-crafted structures that are both surprising and familiar. Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 8:30pm, $20, All Ages – Adam G.

The lifespan of an indie band is often short-lived in these modern times, and the Philly DIY scene is bracing itself for another little heartbreak, as half the members of four-piece Littler prepare to move across the country. It hurts to see them go, especially as they were starting to receive a bit of national attention. Their bubbly brand of Slumberland-soaked twee-punk and emotion sheathed in prickly fuzz will be sorely missed, and I’ll be keeping an eye to the western horizon in hopes of their return. The band’s last booked show in Philly will be held tonight at Everybody Hits, with a host of avant acts that will add an interesting contrast to Littler’s unabashed pop devotion. Ursula, a recent transplant to Philadelphia and self-proclaimed no-wave band, will open the night with songs that know structure but no tune. Their decidedly unmelodious, repetitive riffs and harsh vocals hang in tattered shreds from steady, plodding beats, seemingly the only orienting component of the music. Palm, another local favorite, will also be performing their incredibly nuanced, arcane, avant-math-pop, which treads the seam between melody and dissonance, while covering more compositional ground within a single song than many bands cover in an entire album. Everybody Hits, 529 W. Girard Ave, 7pm, $7-$10, All Ages (Photo by Emily Burtner) – Bryce Woodcock

Tonight, Magic Pictures is conjuring a ritual assembly for us aspiring and practicing occultists at the First Unitarian Church for a celebration of music, spooky shit, and the untold magic of that lurks in the seams of reality. The show, which will supernaturally cram nine bands in the space of four hours, will be a glimpse into Magic Pictures’ conceptual crystal ball, detailing their notions of visual, musical and performance art. All bands were curated with the intent to emphasize their principles of “theatrics, spectacle, and awe,” and create an ideal context for such performances. Among the chosen group of musical conjurers is Philadelphia’s own Evil Sword, whose raggedy, minimalist, cauldron-stirring incantations are an unholy brew of experimental post-punk, literal bells and whistles, deathrock, and paranormal revelation. Kate Ferencz’s vocals move at a harsh recitative pace, punctuated with odd, rhythmic emphasis where inflection replaces melody. Also channeling his magic into the ritual will be Gavin Riley Smoke Machine, whose se set incorporates audio-visual, choose-your-own-adventure-style storytelling to the tune of 80’s quasi-futurist synth tones and inventive narratives. Palberta, another cornerstone, noisy, experimental post-punk band, will add their clamor to the celebration with tunes that effectively immolate the entire western pop music canon in an attempt to access something willfully outside, providing an essential experience for comprehending a post-comprehension world. First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 8pm, $15, All Ages – Bryce Woodcock

Boogie-woogie psych outfit Needle Points just threw in its hat for this year’s summertime jam. The group’s latest single/song title, "Needlove," is rather apropos, considering that’s what the band named their fledgling record label earlier this year. Do you need love this Friday morning? We sure do. Come give Mama some sugar. (Photo by Ryan Collerd)

Below is a new lo-fi, garage-pop ditty from Line Leader called "Bubblegum". The warm, breezy melody harkens to a simpler time, while the lyrics hint at a shadowier tale. Relationships get complicated. 

The powerful dynamic of raw emotively drenched vocals, coupled precise heart-pounding instrumentation, will manifest in the hardcore intensity of Soul Glo this evening at Everybody Hits. Bringing those all-in fiery wails and letting them stew in a thick broth of deep digging and equally ripping grooves, it becomes clear that these combative musical expressions carry a significant worth that can be felt immediately. With their new album Bruise Easy due out on September 4, the measured melody and unflinching instrumental punch of Marge has been injected into the lineup, and the gear–shifting pop-punk of Loose Tooth will provide this bill at the batting cages plenty of local talent at the lead off position. Marrying a temporary comforting calm, butted up against surges of impending destruction, New Englanders Pile hit cleanup on this night. Everybody Hits, 529 W. Girard Ave., 8pm, $8, All Ages – Michael Colavita

After releasing a new remix album of tracks from their LP Awkward Pop Songs, JANK premiered their latest album, Versace Summer, over at Noisey. You might be familiar with two of its tracks, "Alligator" and "This Is A Song About My Bike Ralph And It’s Called ‘Ralph’," which they put out last month, donating all the poceeds to the PULSE Tragedy Community Fund on GoFundMe. The new record officially comes out July 27, and you can catch JANK this evening at PhilaMOCA opening for Dikembe, Slingshot Dakota, and Timeshares. (Cover Art by Olivia Knowles)

In the van, performing on stage, in the studio, shopping, and just getting goofy together, Year Of Glad’s video for “Grass“ offers a myriad of candid touring home-video style imagery. The song found on their new EP I Don’t Know Where I Am Either, released via Lame-O Records, compacts a bright up-tempo yet gritty tone. There’s a lot to look at, but the music and fun shenanigans shine front and center.