Noise sculptor Akasha Blade a.k.a. Adam Cooper will be joining in on the psychedelic mayhem tonight at South Philly’s Little Bar when he opens for Houston’s Indian Jewelry and Brooklyn’s Prince Rama. It’s somewhat of rare solo appearance by the usual team player Cooper. You may recognize him from working on stage alongside lo-fi indie dreamcatcher Annie Sachs (a.k.a. Tickley Feather) or in the twangy garage four-piece the Chimeras and most recently with post-industrial post-punkers Hot Guts, who are all most enjoyable projects that kindly display his talents. Well, this evening’s lineup will be a perfect opportunity for the mad scientist to showcase what experiments he’s been up to lately all alone in his lab. Little Bar, 738 S. 8th St., 8pm, $8, 21+ (Photo by Molly Landergan) – Q.D. Tran

Exploding World is an experiment in the avant garde. Listen to the local outfit’s four-track EP, Pasts, which was released in September HERE, and what you’ll hear is a mixture of all things strange: barking synth keyboard chords, off-kilter vocals that are surprisingly hypnotizing supported by drums/guitar that are creepily present but far from overpowering. Even the slow-moving and lamenting "Highway Grave" has a touch of post-world insanity. But that’s what you want to hear from an eclectic and crafty one-man-show turned four-piece with a moniker that suggests beautiful catastrophe. You can check out the recent Deli Featured Artist(s) Poll winner (read the interview HERE) tonight at Little Bar, where they’ll be performing with rad K Records artist, Christmas. Little Bar, 738 S. 8th St, 9PM, $6, 21+ – Annamarya Scaccia

Harvcore Records, out of West Chester, are hosting a label showcase this afternoon at The Barbary featuring the crushing sounds of Lifeless, Punishment, Agitator, Carrying the Fire, Bottom Out, Burdens and Unite Resist. Agitator will be representing local hardcore with their abrasive fusion of hardcore and metal. The straight edge crew out of Philadelphia/Boyertown recently released their Walls Closing In EP, which has been creating a buzz in the hardcore scene, building on the success of last year’s Enter The Vicelord’s. The last time Agitator thrashed in Philly was for Joe Hardcore’s Birthday Bash and their performance left the crowd devastated from their punishing riffs and double-bass pedal assaults on drums. (The full set is available in its entirety HERE.) It’s an early one. The Barbary, 951 Frankford Ave., 2 pm., $10, All Ages – Dan Brightcliffe

It’s kind of hard not to get psyched whenever Philly’s Constant Hitmaker returns to his hometown to perform a show. And since this will be the first of what’s most likely to be of many times that Kurt Vile & the Violators play the already beloved Union Transfer this Saturday night, it’s sure to be an extra momentous occasion. The crew will be home in support of the deluxe edition of their buzzworthy album Smoke Ring For My Halo, which also includes the new 6 song EP So Outta Reach that has 5 unreleased tracks originally recorded during the Smoke Ring sessions with John Agnello as well as a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Downtown Train”. As a bonus, anyone who attends will have a chance to pick up a limited edition free exclusive 7” while supplies last so you should definitely get there early. You’ll also be treated to lo-fi, psychedelic goth garage rockers Far-Out Fangtooth and recently added avant-noise duo Blues Control. It’s going to be a good one, folks! Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., 8pm, $15, All Ages (Photo by Elena Morelli) – Bill McThrill

Record label and music collective earSnake, and its leading symphonic virtuoso Michael McDermott who is better known as Mikronesia are no strangers to using multi-media to weave art into their elaborate soundscapes. So it should come as no surprise to anyone in the know that Mikronesia has been hard at work on a multi-media opera for the past 15 years. The end result Pangaea: When The Continents Were One debuts at the Rotunda tonight and conjures up a tale of new mythology about the first humans who lived on the super continent. It will be backed by a 17-piece ensemble of strings, horns, flute, percussion, piano, electronics, and guitars with a lineup of vocalists that include Lillie Ruth Bussey, Steve Quaranta of Paper Masques and Zelda Pinwheel, and Gemini Wolf’s Megan Pandar Cauley among others. This vibrant world will come alive thanks to life-size puppets courtesy of Liza Goodell of Spiral Q Puppet Theater, masks by Tigre Bailando, and intense visuals courtesy of VJ Nico Dominguez. Come experience the spectacle! The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., 8pm, $10, All Ages – Bill McThrill

DRGN King are planning the release of a full-length album scheduled to come out next month entitled Paragraph Nights. Below is a chilled out new music video for its title track starring leading man Dominic Angelella, Ritz Reynolds, Norwegian Arms’ Brendan Mulvihill, and Phrequency’s Leah Kauffman. It was directed by Dan King.

Conversations with Enemies are recording a new release that is schedule to be out this spring. The upcoming concept album will once again be accompanied by a comic book. You can check out the track “Hoist the Sails” below as well as a couple of other songs that were posted as a Halloween treat HERE.

What’s a better match than video games and booze (or maybe energy drinks for the under 21 crowd)? I’m not sure, but you’ll be able to live that surreal pair in public as a bunch of 8-bit bands gather to rock out gaming-style tonight at North Star Bar. Philly’s own Chipocrite and Animal Style are opening the night with their computerized auditory journey. Joey Mariano, the man behind Animal Style, delivers its 8-bit adventures through homemade gear from the bodies of dated gaming consoles. Chipocrite’s Paul Weinstein (former bassist of local jamtronfusion MJ Project) has been making music with Game Boys since 2009, and will be bringing the crowd a dose of that tonight. Closing out the evening will be Protomen (who placed in The Deli Nashville’s Best Emerging Artist of 2009) with their 80’s rock vibe and I Fight Dragons (who were voted The Deli Chicago’s Best Emerging Artist of 2009) supplying its own 8-bit amusement with pop-rock vox. Bring your favorite portable video game and warm up those thumbs. North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar Street, 7pm, $10, All Ages – Brandi Lukas