Raj Haldar, a.k.a. Lushlife, weaves silky lyrical lines, incorporating a mindfulness into a texturally rich sound. A white-hot yet controlled fire burns in his delivery, etching a place within one’s head as you follow the thread. Riding the wave of releasing a pair of new albums, Should I Remain Here at Sea? and Taste earlier this month, Islands sweep you up, hitting on a wide subject-ranging and emotional spectrum. Wade into Johnny Brenda’s waters, and anchor down for an evening of musical depths. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 8pm, $15, 21+ – Michael Colavita

Punk outfit Beach Slang has hit the shores of Philly’s DIY community with a vigorous punch. The group’s gritty anthems, with their tenacious tones, contain a rollicking, vibrant energy, even in the darkest of places. They refer to themselves as "weird and wild," and these distinctions are certainly recognized within their music and performances. The band has started working on its second full-length album, the follow-up to The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us. To close out the end of an extensive spring tour, Beach Slang will return home to Union Transfer tonight, where they’ll be joined by Potty Mouth, Dyke Drama, and Positive No. Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., 7:30pm, $15, All Ages – Gina Rullo 

Tonight at Everybody Hits is the long-awaited release show for Thin Lips’ debut LP Riff Hard, coming out via local tastemakers Lame-O Records. Thin Lips are a venerable supergroup of longstanding Philly stalwarts who have hit a sweet spot of triumphant pop rock and confessional, introspective lyrics without sentimentality. Chrissy Tashjian, formerly of Dangerous Ponies and The Bee Team, captains this ship with her commanding, casual, and versatile vocals. The hard riffs are largely courtesy of longtime bandmate Kyle Pulley (ex-Dangerous Ponies) and Chris Diehm, a punk-rock lifer who cut his teeth in Lancaster’s 1994! before coming to Philly and lending his talents to Thin Lips, as well as Year Of Glad. The band is filled out by Mikey Tashjian (The Superweaks, ex-Dangerous Ponies), who shows his ability to shift rhythms and help craft intriguing songs, while maintaining a not-too-serious rock ‘n’ roll sheen. Celebrating with the Lips will be Casey Magic, Lame-O labelmates Lowercase Roses, folky psych rockers Pine Barons, and Pure Pop, a “new pop-punk trio comprised of Lame-O, Superweaks, and Modern Baseball angel babies.” Everybody Hits, 529 W. Girard Ave., 8pm, $5-$10, All Ages – Adam G. 

Written in the fallout of a short-lived yet impactful relationship, listen to “Mutual” the latest single from Clique. Steady surges of instrumentation pace the narrative, as the song quickly gains a guttural grip. It’s featured on the band’s forthcoming sophomore album Burden Piece which will be released via Topshelf Records on May 27. A record release show, which also includes Stove, Self Help, and Loose Tooth , will be held at Everybody Hits on June 10. (Photo by Eric Bishop)

Ranch has released a split cassette featuring Sun Organ and The City & I. Each band serves up an original and a cover of sorts. The emotive punk of Sun Organ deliver their spin on Sparklehorse’s “King of Nails”, while The City & I bring the welding of funk & r&b on  “What You Won’t Do For Drug” a twist on Bobby Caldwell’s “What You Won’t Do For Love”. Give it a spin and catch The City & I on a billing for Boy Lawyer, Spill, and Mumblr on June 2 at Kung Fu Necktie.  

The Dove & The Wolf have a new EP I Don’t Know What To Feel, which was produced by Dave Hartley (The War On Drugs, Nightlands) and Nick Krill (The Spinto Band, Teen Men). The lead single “The Smell Of Us” focuses on the duality of living within the temporarily fantasy created in intimacy, while simultaneously understanding the changing tides of reality. Those complex thoughts are delivered in a percussively snappy breezy pop daydream. Catch their record release, which also includes Jesse Hale Moore, June 15 at Johnny Brenda’s. 

Drawing Down The Moon the debut EP from the quartet of Swanning led by Cynthia Ann Schemmer (of Radiator Hospital) will be released will be released on May 27 via Salinas Records. This evening at the Waiting Room Schemmer is set to perform as a solo act.  “Sleep My Pretties”, the EP’s first single offers a balance of steady backend thump as her vocals are a blend of composed calm with an underlying agitated aggression. This evening she may provide furtherer insight into the framework of the new record/project.  Tonight’s show, which is a fundraiser for A First Time’s The Charm, includes the gritty garage-pop of Marge. The emotive-charged loner post-punk of Dog Tears (formerly known as Girl Dog) hit you with a sense of unguarded immediacy.  Topping things of Waxahatchee provides personal narratives that offer fly on the wall perspective revealing relatable imagery delivered with a relaxed yet resounding impact. The Waiting Room (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more information.), 7pm, $7-$10, All Ages – Michael Colavita

Warm florescent flashes of color highlight the duo of Pinkwash aka Ashley Arnwine and Joey Doubek as they perform in the video for “Gumdrop”. Featured on their recently debut LP Collective Sigh, available via Don Giovanni Records, the song accentuates the band’s ability to instantly develop a combative heavy groove. That explosive energy can release aggression while providing a mesmerizing fireworks-like sonic display. 

Enjoy the gentle gliding tone of “One of Every”, the latest single from experimental-pop trio Son Step. The song is by the soft pulse of keys and percussion washed over with vocal harmony creating daydreaming atmosphere. It’s featured on the band’s forthcoming Natural Majique LP, which will be released on May 27. Bourbon & Branch hosts Son Step’s record release show May 28 with Minka, and Circadian Rhythms. (Album Art by Nicholas Bohac)

Honey Radar will release their latest album Blank Cartoon via What’s Your Rupture on May 20. “Fort Wayne Mermaids”, the new song from Jason Henn and Co., balances soothing vocals over the groove created by merging twisting guitar lines and the steady snap of the backend. However in a flash, just as you begin to sink in to it’s over.  Honey Radar is scheduled to perform a record release show show at Kung Fu Necktie on May 31, with Telepathic, People Skills, and Life Stinks.

Guitarist Nick Millevoi dips his feet into a myriad of musical of outlets (Many Arms, Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel,  Hollenberg-Millevoi Quartet etc.) So, it’s not surprising when one hears that he’s releasing new material. His forthcoming album Desertion, will be released via ShhPuma /Clean Feed May 20. It is currently streaming over at Noisey.  Melodically smoothing over a union of Americana and psych-rock, the record ventures onto boundless terrain beautifully experimenting while hinting at the familiar. 

“Decade of Nothing,” the new single from the trio of Blood Sound, hits a solemn yet pleasant tone befitting the current aesthetic outdoors. The insistent movement created by synth, percussion and bass is enhanced by the grimness of the track’s vocals. The song will be available for purchase/download this Friday, May 20, and will be featured on the group’s forthcoming EP that is due out later this year. Catch Blood Sound with Gwenno tonight at Boot & Saddle.