It’s been nearly five years since we’ve gotten any type of official recordings from the Levee Drivers. They just released Live Studio Session – East Coast Recordings, a four-song record of old and new tracks that was captured during a live studio session on August 24, 2013 at Grammy award-winning East Coast Recordings Company in Warminster, PA with producer Matthew Phillips. They’ll also be celebrating the release of their long-awaited official studio EP entitled Speakin’ Bourbon Coated Blues on Friday, December 6 at Kung Fu Necktie with The Lawsuits and Ron Gallo so now you have plenty to look forward to before the year ends.

Call us Scrooges, but we generally hate Christmas songs. However, when they come with a music video featuring Jesus Christ and Santa Claus dancing, limboing, drinking and smoking pot, we guess that we can make an exception. Here’s a new one from Killer Bangs, the latest project from Shakey Jake (ex-Cold Fronts), for the band’s single "I Was Born on Christmas." Their third official video was directed by Roe Jennings. We guess that it’s never too early to celebrate the Son of God’s bday.

Below is the opening and standout track, "The School of Athens," from The Bad Doctors‘ latest EP Re Animate, which was released digitally via FDH and P.Trash Records. The four-song release is a precursor to the band’s upcoming full-length album, Burning City, currently slated for release in spring 2014. (Photo by Mattias Nilsson)

Here’s the video of a solo performance by Waxahatchee, a.k.a. Katie Crutchfield, for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series. Her set consisted of the songs "I Think I Love You" and "Bathtub," from last year’s American Weekend, and "Tangled Envisioning," from Crutchfield’s latest critically acclaimed LP Cerulean Salt. Enjoy!

Check out the debut single and music video from Son Little, a.k.a. Aaron Livingston, who is best known for his collaborations with The Roots and rjd2! The track’s lyrics "bear witness to two departed friends" and were "inspired by Trayvon Martin…a defiant prayer to remember the lost." Livingston is the most recent signee to Anti- Records, who also houses Philly favorites like Dr. Dog and Man Man. Son Little will be opening for Thudercat this Wednesday, Nov. 27 at The Boot & Saddle.

Congrats to The Districts for signing to Fat Possum! We’ve heard for a bit now about labels who have come a knockin’. It’s been very cool to see the Philly music scene help foster such young talent. Props to our collaborative cohorts HotBox Studios for putting together the excellent video of the band performing "Funeral Beds" that we are sure turned many folks out there on and to Toy Soldiers‘ Ron Gallo for sharing one of his discoveries from the road. The Districts will be heading on tour early next year with White Denim. [We also heard through the grapevine that the band could be heading into the studio with Bill Moriarty (Dr. Dog, Man Man, The Lawsuits, etc.) for their next release.] Stay tuned for more from the impressive teenage crew. Things are just getting started. Cheers, fellas!

Between their debut release, Along the Gallows, and its follow-up, All the Blood in the World, which was dropped over the summer, The Bailey Hounds have managed to forge a macabre blend of alt-country and 70’s style folk rock with plenty of gloomy ballads. The band will be in their element when they play The Boot & Saddle tonight, and it should be an interesting show since they recently talked about playing some new tunes. The evening will also feature the Americana roots rock of Philly/Brooklyn ten-piece Northern Arms. The Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 9pm, $10, All Ages – Bill McThrill