Allegra Anka (of Cayetana) recently shared Dreams We Talk About, an EP comprised of two new/old songs, which were engineered & co-produced by Matt Schimelfenig (Three Man Cannon). “Walls” warmly blooms in a relaxed, afternoon groove, as a drum machine coaxes a casual, uplifting beat, set off by clean, strolling guitar lines. That optimistic instrumental setting mingles with lyrics that explore reading personal relationships and the complexity of allowing someone in, compared with fortifying yourself.

Nyxy Nyx recently shared a new full-length album, HappyLand. Wading into the soothing waters of melodic, psych-pop isolation, a spellbinding, stripped-down strangeness grabs one’s attention. However, on the other end of the spectrum, a grittier, fuzzy friction helps to shape the dynamic. That lullaby, run-ragged sound envelops in a haunting haze of comfort.

It seems fitting that our first sonic snippet from Diamond Thomas‘ forthcoming album is “The Prelude”. Stepping into a church/gospel sample, the track (which was produced by Fel Sweetenberg) lifts with an assertive lyrical tongue. Sharply announcing his presence amid the upbeat backdrop, there’s a confident aggression at play. This preview lays a strong foundation for what’s to come.

Krust Toons: "At The Deli" 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.

Proudly burying listeners in the ragged, rushing sonics of 90’s alt rock, Birthday Boy creates crushing, melodic avalanches on its new EP Mercy Rule. Never one to shy away from a memorable hook, a familiarity forms. The quartet is set to hold its record release celebration on Saturday, March 31 at Creep Records. Birthday Boy will also be supported by Sun Opus as well as Nashville’s The By Gods and Australian rockers Pat Chow.

“How’s the Weather?” is one of three tracks featured on New To This, the latest release from Tate. The song serves as an olive branch, hoping to reconnect and potentially start a relationship over. Opening the lines of communication, personal revelations are brightened by the bass & percussion combo, setting an optimistic tempo. Hopefully it will serve as a conversation starter.

Today, the debut album from The Skull Eclipses drops via Western Vinyl, and tonight, the dynamic duo showcases their sonic chemistry on stage at Johnny Brenda’s. Raj Haldar, a.k.a. Lushlife, grafts his masterful emcee skills with Austin-based producer Spencer Stephenson, a.k.a. Botany. A cool-commanding passion taps into an uncanny ability to thread storylines at a lightning pace.  Making sharp lyrical turns while creating unexpected connections via a torrent of terms, there’s an explosive precision. That premium blend of speed and control doubles down, interacting with complex beats that calmly stack layers of sound within the deck-balancing elements, bridging points of the past, through the present and into the future. Hypnotically tunneling with an ear and eye on the ground, reacting to the world real-time, this feels like a combination of foreshadowing and flashback that fits in the here and now. This evening’s lineup will also be fortified by the heady, heavy, noise-lace hip hop of Dälek and the full eclectic, electro/hip-hop spectrum of Hprizm. – Michael Colavita

More places to hear jams this weekend…

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI The Skull Eclipses (Lushlife +Botany), Son Step, Ellen Siberian Tiger, The Ada Babar Situation

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Red 40 & The Last Groovement, OOLALA

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Mark Lanky/DJ Deejay, SAT Miggs Son Daddy/Mat Burke and The Painkillers, Emmett Drueding/Fame Lust/Night Sweats, SUN Sonja

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) SUN Dark Blue, DJ BCBG (Matt Korvette of Pissed Jeans)

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI The Pete Donnelly Combo, SAT In The Presence Of Wolves, Moonstriker, Tyler John

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

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) The Planets

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Ringtail Howitzer, Onett, Blueroom, SUN Flamingo Chicks

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Little Stranger, D. Lynch, SAT GainStrive (EP Release), Egocentric Plastic Men, Skyline the City, Oblivion Her Majesty

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Low Energy, Crazy Tom Martin, Faringwell, Readership, SAT Mesmeric Haze, Flat Mary Road, Dan Malloy, SUN Benefit Music Matters Project

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Port Arthur, Pete Hill, SUN Wrong Planet, 3weekoldroses

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Sylo, Astro 8000, SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Francisco Collazo

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Johnny Moskal, SUN Rusty Cadillac

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI The Towering Pine, SAT Mage Hand, Gnarbot

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Royale, SAT Ian St. Laurent

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI Sour Kid, Swim Camp, Caleb Michael, Key Oui, SAT Fitzwater’s 4th Annual Concert for Student-Run Emergency Housing: Super Bonanza

Century (1350 S. 29^th St.) FRI The Invasive Species, Thunder Thighs, SAT Decap Attak, Acolytes, SUN Deathmonger A.D, Hold Down The Ocean

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) SAT Generation Empty, Goddamnit, Alpha Audio

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Delmont, Vanderlyle, Queue, Somarai, SAT Overcoming Gravity, The Parameters, Caterpillars, Easily Amused

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Menace Of The Canvas, Xpresidents, SAT Drums Like Machine Guns, Chronic Anxiety/Douse, Chloe Likes Olivia, SUN Moon-liters

Space 1026 (1026 Arch St.) SUN Augusta Koch, Anika Pyle, Worriers (solo)

Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Caracara, Brave Face

Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Mavis The Dog, Spring Onion, Jesse Magenta

While we were already expecting a new 7" single release from Shamir today, the fearless, prolific, multi-talented artist also dropped a surprise LP, Resolution, from the ether for our listening enjoyment. The album takes hold from the very start, with the powerfully empathetic "I Can’t Breathe," before opening the door for a much-needed look inward, for both the artist and listener. Shamir’s continued songwriting maturation is quite evident with his latest, no-hype-needed release. 

One finds him/herself in a relaxed seductive haunt as Sixteen Jackies perform “You Came” for a Swell Tone session. Draped in blue and pink lighting, the band feels at home on stage. However, the alternative white/grey of the empty warehouse stirs up some ghosts.  Sixteen Jackies’ double EP Movie Was Bad/Mascula is due out on May 4 via Philly’s own Born Losers Records, which you can preorder HERE. In the mean time, you catch them next in Philly on Wednesday, March 21 at Bourbob & Branch, with Stereo League and Monogold.

The quartet of Great Weights will be releasing a self-titled EP on April 13 via Bunny Cat Records. Spinning tumultuous instrumentation, the band sets the table on “Morning Sickness”. Meredith Haines vents in a powerfully personal, vocal display, affectively weaving between a relaxed and roaring approach. On Sunday, March 18, No Face Studios will be hosting Great Weights, alongside Ursula, Florry, Susie Derkins, and Spandrels.

After meeting each other at The Vigil 4 Peace & Ecology, Kate Dressed Up and London-based Ganda Boys began a collaborative musical effort, which culminated in their new single “I Wish”. Intertwining acoustic guitar and keys into an elegant, peaceful tone as the hopeful beauty of vocals blend English and Swahili. The self-produced video captures the continuous movement and travel in the universal search of one’s true place of purpose. As we await the first full-length album from Kate Dressed Up, this song serves a primer to embrace the positives around you.

Young Statues recently released a new EP Amarillo via Run For Cover. Composed, calculated musicality casually covers emotive ground. Building relaxing, exuberant waves, it gently guides one’s thoughts with a purpose. This latest batch of tracks holds the listener without lamenting in stagnation.