New Years 2009: dressed in my Sunday’s finest, I exited my friend Mike’s vehicle somewhere in the streets of North Philadelphia. Fumbling with a case of Miller High Life, I tried checking my iPhone for the address of what was only described to me as a “kick-ass party.” The faint sound of live music led me to the nondescript warehouse door. Kids were paying their admissions and piling in. It was at the Ox that I arrived to see a now defunct Algernon Cadwallader, but this was also the first time that I was ever exposed to The Joint Chiefs of Math. Since then, the duo has further established themselves as deeply rooted members of the Philly DIY scene. Guitarist Kevin Keenan’s use of multi-layered noise blends a brand of beautifully atmospheric ambience with most righteous shredding while drummer Marcus Denke provides the driving precision of epileptic, time-changing rhythms. Their debut full-length, Wires, has become a staple in my musical diet. Due for a summer EP release via their own label, Associated Sounds, Ltd., The Joint Chiefs will be heading on a two-week tour in April, and then a second waves of dates will occur in June. In tow this evening at a yet-to-be-named DIY space will be macabre lo-fi act Pill Friends. This past January, the band released their sophomore demo titled Murder Me for My Sins, and is currently juggling performances while writing more new material. New Unnamed Space, (Please contact one of the acts for more info.), 9pm, $5, All Ages – Ed Newton

The Interest Group has gone through a bit of a lineup change since they first took the stage last year with May Cote taking over vocal duties from Marissa Lessnick. However, frontman Yohsuke Araki continues to keep the psych-pop train on its rails as they pull into PhilaMOCA tonight. The Interest Group will be opening for Portland, Oregon experimental pop quartet Parenthetical Girls, who are on tour in support of their new release Privilege (Abridged), and Brooklyn indie rock outfit The So So Glos, who are on their way back home from SXSW. Don’t miss out on this sweet evening of music! PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 8pm, $7 – $10 Donation, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman

Popular Science, the experimental music series organized by Grimace Federation and Brooklyn dubstep maestro Sonkin, comes to an end tonight at Kung Fu Necktie. And it ends in a loud way as the local electronic trio is joined by metal psychpaths A Life Once Lost. The band has been grinding away since 1999, and returned last year with their latest full-length album Ecstatic Trance. So expect a rager, especially since Grimace Federation could be previewing some new tracks from their most recent recording session. Add in the industrial doom of Author & Punisher and the electronic cello of Helen Money, and you have an eclectic evening of music that is sure to expand your musical taste. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $5, 21+ – Bill McThrill

Philly hip-hop heads, the hip-hop gods have blessed you with a must-see show this Sunday at The Blockley. The University City venue and Mecca for local hip-hop shows lately is hosting The Gold Rush Tour featuring (wait for it) STS (a.k.a. Sugar Tongue Slim) with special guests Reef The Lost Cauze, Truck North, Grande Marshall, Saudi Money (a.k.a. Asaad), The Wurxs & Mz. Lynx, and DJ sets by AfroDJiak and Chaisley Lussier. Ah…yeah, you know where you need to be this weekend! The Blockley, 3801 Chestnut St., 9pm, $12, 21+ – Q.D. Tran

Enticing, one-of-a-kind varietals of performance and visuals are Highwire Gallery’s stock in trade. This evening’s show, featuring the combo of Mary Lattimore & Jeff Zeigler and Fursaxa, is unique for several reasons. Not the least of them being that it’s an opportunity to see two of Philly’s most ubiquitous – and disparate – performers take on their own sets. Mary Lattimore, the city’s best known indie harpist, is releasing her first solo album The Withdrawing Room next month, after years of building a reputation providing filigreed, ethereal backing for such notable artists like Thurston Moore, Daughn Gibson, Kurt Vile, Meg Baird, Nightlands, and many others. She’ll be joined on stage by Jeff Zeigler, who (in addition to his recognizable stature in Arc in Round) produced her record at his studio Uniform Recording. He also has his own solo sound plus a gift for collaborating with Lattimore on some mind-bending synth-harp work. These two will be sharing the bill tonight with Fursaxa, a project born of Tara Burke’s avant-garde roots and a fondness for the Philly experimental scene – her collaborators include Helena Espvall and Bardo Pond. Highwire Gallery, 2040 Frankford Ave. 8:00pm, $6 – $8 sliding scale, All Ages (Photo from The Key) – Alyssa Greenberg

Sleep disorders often lead to interesting, yet curious behavior; excessive and pointless Internet research, surmising impractical scenarios, and obsessing over the best possible ways in which to deal with them (see: zombies) are all things that I can attribute to having too much time before my brain and body escape to that idle state. Sometimes, you lay awake and think about super groups of musicians unrealistically joining forces in a most rock and roll pursuit. This one time, I thought about how cool it would be for Stephen Malkmus of Pavement to front a math rock band that could be, but not necessarily Tera Melos. These thoughts seemed impossible, and I disregarded them as both naïve and idealistic. That was until I heard the music of Ted Nguyent. If you have seen a show flyer in recent months, then you probably have become familiar with the name. These basement dwellers have been hitting the underground circuit hard, lending their sound to any space that could be considered a venue. Their full-length is set to drop, and is promised to be every bit the Adderall-induced punk that your brain can handle. They’ll be performing tonight at Clown Can Country Club along with bratty favorites Slutever, fresh from their recent sophomore trip to SXSW. Also making an appearance will be much-beloved emotive indie act Ghost Light. Clown Can Country Club, (Please contact one of the acts or the venue for more info.), 7:30pm, $5, All Ages – Ed Newton

Here’s an adorable new video/"commercial" from Kurt Vile featuring his daughter and the track "Never Run Away" from his upcoming album Wakin On A Pretty Daze due out April 9 via Matador Records. The actual ad aired on the CW in Philly, and was directed by Don Argott. Vile will be back in town with the Violators on Saturday, May 18 at Union Transfer.

Update: You can now download "Never Run Away" for free via Spin.com.

Check out the second half of our Choice/Cuts session with Grandchildren! We are happy to give you the first taste of the group’s next single from their upcoming album Golden Age called "End Times." The band also shared a hilarious tale of their most ill-fated tour. Golden Age will be released on May 7 via Ernest Jenning Record Co. Special thanks to our friends at HotBox Studios for another amazing job!

Below is a new music video from Mont Brown and ARF (a.k.a. Astronauts Really Fly) for their song "Hold On." The track is off the group’s upcoming EPAstronauts Really Fly The Band. Mont Brown will be performing next in Philly on Friday, April 5 at The Blockley opening for Juvenile.