The duo of Chris Caulder & Patrick Norris, a.k.a. Seldom Family, recently shared a new EP Society (Vol. 1). A lush, dreamy sensibility creates an intimate, soothing, lullaby ambiance. The gentle sway of the instrumentation and the the echo of the vocals brings you back to those summer evening walks by the lake shore. The natural melodies ripple with a gentle breeze, creating an ideal isolation.

Produced by Joe Michelini (American Trappist), Maybe I’ll Feel Better When I’m Dead, the forthcoming album from The Vernes, is marked for release on September 28. A wistful nostalgia disperses on the record’s title track and lead single. There’s a certain rainy day sadness, as one sifts through memories. Places are the same; the person isn’t. That cathartic, melody-driven walk, even when your stuck in a rut, can be rewarding. You can find The Vernes supporting American Trappist this Saturday, August 25 at Boot & Saddle, along with Carroll.

We are very excited for the return of local freak-folk legends Espers to a Philly stage. This Friday, August 24, we’d like to send you and your favorite concert partner to Union Transfer, where they’ll also be joined by Andy Cabic’s Vetiver and guitar wunderkind Ryley Walker. Now, that’s certainly a stacked lineup for indie-folk fans! To enter for a chance to win a pair of tix, just send an email to thedelimagazinephiladelphia@gmail.com with the subject line "Let’s Get Freaky". Please also include your cell number in the body of the message (in case of an emergency). Good luck!

Suicide Bong Tapes recently issued So Far…, the new release from punk outfit Trash Knife. An unrelenting energy races ahead in an ongoing stream of consciousness commentary. Bursts of unfiltered honesty rumble past and sweep you up in their contagious, rambunctious fits and starts. Before heading out on a European tour, you can catch the band’s sendoff on Sunday, September 9 at The Buffalo, supported by Kids, Los Gueys, and Episode.

Last week, a surprise [untitled] EP from mewithoutYou arrived via Run For Cover Records. Thoughtful, personal literature lingers in the air, bringing a sense tension and weight/importance. As one negotiates through a maze of thoughts. there seems to be a balancing act of the internal and external existence. mewithoutYou also announced that a new full-length album, [Untitled] (Run For Cover Record), is slated for release on October 5. The TLA will also be hosting the band on Wednesday, December 5. (Photo by Hayley Rippy)

Krust Toons: "Punk Dad Remembers" by Tedd 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.

The Balloon Goes Down Over Kensington is the new album from The 1910 Chainsaw Company. With a slightly warped vocal transmission and a skipping-through-the-park cheerfulness, the band finds a lovely, psych-pop balance. The smooth-sailing sound is peppered with guitar grit that dreamily drifts. Let the music set the tone, and make your escape.

Hardcore and noise converge in the music of Great Weights. The band’s self-titled EP is jarring – a raw release of inhibited emotion. There’s a heaviness that pushes back in agitated expression. That ability to expose personal vulnerability and make it work as a source of strength creates a powerful universal dynamic. The stakes are high as unimpeded observations and analysis are on full display, as the music stews in calm yet formidable swells, or blitzes ahead with an uncontainable tenacity.  This Saturday, the band represents part of the slate, which also includes Soul Glo, Demodex , and Rainbow Crimes [a new project from Leah Basarab (Ex. By. V.), Alex Smith (Solarized), Katy Otto (Callowhill, Trophy Wife)] at Children’s Community School of West Philadelphia, which will be host The Trans Equity Project Fund-rager. The Trans Equity Project offers peer-based support for trans individuals, sexual health and HIV prevention counseling, mentorship with transitioning, legal advocacy, and much more. It’s a rager for a good cause so come join! – Michael Colavita

More spots to hit this weekend…

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SUN Bardo Pond, Mt. Vengeance, Concentration Moon

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Looseleaf, Kyle Sparkman

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI DJ Deejay, SAT Burnout Star, Hey Mark, Let’s Riot!, Holy Gifts/DJ Dame Luz, SUN Adventure Lost, Beach Bod, Mattress Food

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) SAT Ivy Sole, Lojii 

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI DJ Wassup Gina, DJ Haram, SAT KuKui Glow Your Mind Fest

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Enemy Soil, Secret Cutter, Congenital Death, SAT Renaissance Blvd., The Willies, Karmalatta, Rob Levy, Eleven/Youthfool 

TLA (334 South St.) FRI Chill Moody, Shawn Smith, SAT Martha Graham Cracker

The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) FRI Dirty South Joe, Magglezzz

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) FRI Fame Lust, SAT Dayne Jordan, ill Fated Natives, Miles Chancellor, Filson, Kid The Great, Goody Gunz, DJ Lean Wit It

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) John Vettese/Taylor Kelly, SAT The Hype presents: Love Fest

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI ’90s Alternative/Grunge Sing Along: In The Presence Of Wolves, SAT Curtis Jr., 46 Reasons, The Quixote Project

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Holy Gifts, Santi Suede, SAT HiSoft, Jo Kusy/Bad Heaven Limited, Vivian K, SUN Erin Fox, Overwinter, Vessna Schef 

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) SAT L.M.I., Those Troublemakers/Body Spray, Faking, SUN Tessellations, Badnew, Fairy Godmother, Ready Now, Slugqueen/Rally, Screamcloud, Mesa Glow

Century (1350 S 29^th St.) FRI Those Troublemakers (Tape Release), Kahlil Ali, The City & I, SAT Roadkiller, Grey CELL, None But Equals

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI The HYPE! Presents Love Fest, SAT Pete Hill (EP Release), Haunted Continents, Flat Ernie, Nuna & The Wayward Spirit

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Bo Bliz, SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Dotgov, Urban Shaman Attack

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac 

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI Insignificant Others, The Pogos, Chino, Suffacox Mach2, SAT Anomie

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) FRI  Prince and MJ Experience: DJ Marco, SAT 30 And Over League

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI DJ Beatstreet

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI  The Peek-A-Boo Revue/Ben Aire, SAT  The Peek-A-Boo Revue/Brian Toll, SUN Shattered: A Burlesque Tribute to Black Mirror

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Sitting In Cars, Psychoskunk, SAT Cowboy Bohemian, Rock Bottoms, Knightlife

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Splintered Sunlight, SAT Lady Alma, King Britt 

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Roxy Rollz, Mr. Unloved, Endless Taile, SUN Aether Eater

Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) FRI In Different Sounds

The Music Ward (5101 Grays Ave.) SAT Secret Nudist Friends, Trash Boy

Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Sieve

The Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Shadow Band, SAT Lovelorn

Truck (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Who Loves You, Susie Derkins

Philly Folk Fest (Old Pool Farm) Bethlehem and Sad Patrick, Black Horse Motel, Brittany Ann Tranbaugh, Charlie Miller & Bob Beach, Christopher Davis-Shannon, The Cornerstones, David C. Perry, David Dye, Deb Callahan, Dukes of Destiny, Earth Radio, Gene Shay, The Gene Smith Band, Glengesh, J Solomon, Jason Ager & The Golden Eagles, Reed Brothers Band, The Jayplayers, The Jersey Corn Pickers, John Beacher & Matt Kresge, John Byrne band, Johnny Shortcake, Kicking Down Doors, Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise, Lolly & YoYo, Trickster Sister, Matt Santry, Meghan Cary,Michael Braunfeld, Midwestern Exposure, The Naked Sun, Orion Freeman, Poor Man’s Gambit, Rachel Eve, Rare Spirits, Reverend TJ McGlinchey, Texas Rose Band, Tin Bird Choir, Todd Fausnacht, Vanessa Collier, West Philadelphia Orchestra, Whirled

Saying “goodbye” can often be a difficult act, and on Goodbye Max’s self-titled debut album (which is available on cassette via Fox Food Records), the Philly singer-songwriter beautifully and elegantly captures those conflicted feels. Unpacking an “old box” of memories, he leaves you drowning in a pool of emotions, before surfacing for that much-needed gasp of life. Goodbye Max’s desire this year is to find other musicians to collaborate with. So take a listen below, check out what this project is about HERE, and get in touch with him ASAP!

Pairing lyrical lines with opposing viewpoints, “No Surprise,” the latest single from Trilobytes, covers multiple angles. Building from a somewhat menacing guitar riff and then marching on, the track’s subject appears to consider the possibilities without locking into a particular path. Sitting in the middle of dueling outlooks, a resignation of optimism appears to win out, but not before a brooding, instrumental foray.

Ahead of its August 24 release date, Dance On The Blacktop (Relapse Records) the new album  from Nothing is available for streaming via NPR’s First Listen. The searing-soothing dichotomy the shoegazers channels the tug and pull between the hope that we can turn it around and the dreariness that we witnesses daily. One can brace for the bleakness of  the storm, and remember that the potential of positivity lies in its aftermath. On Saturday, August 25, a day of music, fun and food for all ages will be had , with a rad record release block party that will be taking place at the blocks of Livingston and E. Lehigh in Port Richmond. This serves as a precursor to Belly Of The Beats – a fundraiser for The Pennsylvania Prison Society, presented by WXPN and R5 Productions on Saturday, October 6 at Union Transfer, which also includes Swirlies, Big Bite, and Smut.

Power Animal bandmates Megan Gouda and Matt Hampson further their creative collaboration as Bodyguard. The duo’s debut EP, Allow Yourself The Frame, merges electro-r&b in a crisp, futuristic-leaning manner. Vocals sync in serene unity, and at other points, offset in staggered directions, creating a theatrical dynamic. Ethereal harmonies, which hone in on specific points, are countered by the adventurous, beat-driven leaps, landing in unexplored territory.