Ominous clouds set in as The Cloth hits the stage this evening at Johnny Brenda’s. The band shreds through obstacles as a combination of fury and torment fuse, revealing themselves in the determined, emotive immediacy of the primordial vocals. Loaded with a batch of freshly recorded songs as they prepare for a tour in late spring, the band steadily moves forward, wielding an unrelenting heaviness that storms the gates as plunging bass and pummeling drums are joined by serrated guitar. The clashing of tranquil subdued melody meeting swift blasts of fuzzed-out grunge creates an intriguing juxtaposing dynamic to Blue Smiley. Pop-punk quartet Left and Right celebrate their new EP, Pivot Foot, released today. With their own new record Life is Alright, Everybody Dies, Boston’s Kal Marks explores the dreary avenues of the mind with a pronounced heavy yet captivating personal touch. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita

Hot on the heels of The Deli Philly’s February Record of the Month, You Break Me, Jo Kusy (Far-Out Fangtooth, The Whips) has quickly issued a follow-up. Wild Violets, which will be officially released on April 3, is currently available for streaming, and is chock-full of pillowy lo-fi pop, allowing one’s imagination to subconsciously float. Kusy will perform on the Sunday afternoon of its release date at Beautiful World Syndicate, as part of a double tape release with Birds courtesy of Time Castle Recordings.

Despite initially depicting ideal daydream-like success, the new music video for "Nothing To Say" consistently finds Hurry‘s Matt Scottoline’s literary pursuits rejected. As a result, the dejected writer deposits his old school G3 Powerbook in the trash. Found on the band’s forthcoming LP Guided Meditation, which is set for release on April 29 via Lame-O Records, "Nothing to Say" possesses a gentle swaying melody that captures the apathetic sadness of failure. Everybody Hits will be hosting Hurry’s record release show on Friday, May 6, and the bill will also includes Telepathic and Cave People.

Scotty Leitch (Shelf Life) and Cameron Kennon (Cold Foamers) combine creative forces, injecting Tommy Fala into the fold, as Emily Doom. Their debut EP E.P. measures melodic fragility and grit against an eerily isolated cinematic backdrop. That sensitive exposure is contagious and simultaneously slightly chilling.

Post-punk trio Psychic Teens is scheduled to release its new album, NERVE, on May 13 via SRA Records. The band recently shared the album’s closer, aptly titled “End”. The track jars with its roaring guitar and percussive thrust as Larry Ragone’s centered, baritone vocals bellow, building up to the demolition-aimed, combative instrumental chaos that comes at the conclusion. Psychic Teens will celebrate their third full-length album with a record release show at Johnny Brenda’s on May 28 that also includes Vivatape and Mt. Billions.

Krust Toons: "America’s Funniest Home Videos…" 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.

As Michelle Zauner (Little Big League, Post Post) moves on to her next musical journey with the solo project Japanese Breakfast, you can now stream the new record, Psychopomp, which premiered over at Hype Machine. The synth-driven, bedroom-pop album is set for release this Friday, April 1 via Yellow K Records. You can help Zauner celebrate its arrival that same evening at Ortlieb’s with Littler and Myrrias.

Three Man Cannon recently released a new music video for “Coma’d,” a track that was featured on their latest EP, Will I Know You Then, released on Lame-O Records. The video blossoms as the band journeys into the woods, experiencing a ritualistic enlightenment, which is culminated with a cleansing in the natural waters. While the imagery provides a pleasant charming aesthetic, the brief, morphing facial contortions of the leader/high priest are haunting.

Three Man Cannon // Coma’d (official video) from Federico R. Casanova

Garage-punks Straw Hats just released their debut self-titled EP, which was recorded, mixed and mastered by Ryan Farber. The band features The Districts‘s frontman Rob Grote and drummer Braden Lawrence reversing rolls and letting go of some pent up aggression. The two are also joined by pal Breshon Martzell on bass and vocals, and the album is available on cassette via Gawk Records.

With the dissolution of his band The Ambulars, songwriter Michael Cantor has moved his attention to his blossoming solo project The Goodbye Party. This latest undertaking carries many themes over from his old group, including the jangly power-pop tonality evocative of Teenage Fanclub that makes songs into anthems. But going solo has also given Cantor room to explore other avenues of his musical inclination, giving rise to tunes that aren’t necessarily fashioned to be played onstage in a high energy environment. Some of the more sedate songs take an almost mournful tone, best described by the self-coined genre descriptor “heavenly blues.” This distinct flavor of jaded melancholy seems to permeate the majority of Cantor’s solo output and stands almost at odds with The Ambulars’s bubbly light-hearted tone. However, it puts on prominent display another side to the artist, while also carrying over enough artistic idiosyncrasy to be unmistakably, patently Michael Cantor. The Goodbye Party will be opening this evening’s Sunday billing at LAVA Space with Richmond, VA’s Atta Girl, Ohio transplant and Father/Daughter Records artist Addie Pray, and power-pop rock ‘n’ rollers Missing Earth. Lava Space, (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.), 7:30pm, $5-$7, All Ages – Bryce Woodcock

The atmospheric instrumental trio Square Peg Round Hole are celebrating the release of their new album Juniper with a show tonight at MilkBoy. The sound is built around tight, intricate percussion, be it the super technical drumming, dueling vibraphones, or other found sound. Reminiscent of The Album Leaf or Lymbyc System, the group’s latest effort succeeds with complex, driving undertones and dexterous melodies that carry the listener through. The songs are nimble and jazzy, calming while expressive. Slated for direct support is Philly’s own Moon Bounce, a funky Martian who makes R&B from the future, with his silky, theatric voice and sticky sweet synth lines. The energetic grooves fly in and out of frame, turning on a dime at any moment, making for a manic, but extremely fun experience. Also on the bill this evening will be  the experimental pop of Son Step. MilkBoy, 1100 Chestnut St., 8:30pm, $10, 21+ – Adam G.