Poppy continues keeping it in the family, as Kate Campbell, her husband Brian Campbell (Mt. Vengence), and brother Craig Heim (Scram), once again combine forces. The trio recently shared a new EP Hand In the Lion’s Mouth. Campbell’s spirited vocals lead the charge on “Moomoo & Goadie,” which was engineered & produced by Brian McTear at Miner Street Studios. The united, rambunctious energy sends you enthusiastically out the door.

Love You, Mean It, the debut EP from Terrence Walsh, was recorded and produced by Jacob Ewald at The Metal Shop. Following a folk-rock trajectory, Walsh’s vocals harness a wounded yearning. Specks of harmonica pull one in closer to the personal scenes. The personal-narrative of “Codependent” contains a persistent train-rumbling in the self-awareness, while the serene, swaying simplicity of “Sexinthemorning” carries a loving sadness. Walsh will be performing at Oxford Coma: Last Writes on Thursday, March 22 at Wooden Shoe Books and Records.

“Fight To Love,” the new single from Dark Blue, is now available via 12XU. Recorded at Uniform Recording with Jeff Zeigler, the song grimly pushes back against gentrification. A measured solemn strength resounds. On its B-side, you’ll find a cover of Anti-Nowhere League’s “For You”. The band tempers the traditional tempo, allowing the lyrics to sink in deep. On Sunday, March 11, Dark Blue is slated to share a bill with the UK’s IDLES and DJ BCBG (a.k.a. Matt Korvette of Pissed Jeans) at PhilaMOCA.

“The Knockdown” is the new single from Jake Clarke of Superheaven. Ruminating in a state of melancholy/distress, Clarke searches for some help to get to his feet. While an instrumental bleakness stews throughout, things start to temporarily ramp up towards the song’s conclusion. That final push offers a glimpse of light through the darkness.

Krust Toons: "Sleep With A Drummer Day" 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.

With so much focus on the presidency these days, is it time for a concept album about our 22^nd & 24^th president, Grover Cleveland? Dominy mastermind John Dominy certainly thinks so, and what we do know is that John’s family will certainly be behind this truly original idea, as they have always been in regards to his musical endeavors. The band, which is also made up of his brother Alex (on keys), cousin Michael Youngkin (on guitar), and childhood pal Zakary Iannitelli (on drums), is getting ready to return to the studio next month to flesh out the ambitious concept. And while we wait to hear the life of Grover Cleveland come to fruition in song, you can learn more about Dominy, our recent Featured Artist(s) Poll Winner, HERE!

Let’s talk about The Dialogue, the new LP from Dani Mullen, a.k.a. Danimakesmusic. Liquid beats establish an enticing, energetic yet laidback, sonic flow. Set into motion, an open, intimate, lyrical discussion unfolds. Relaxed, unguarded honesty is paired with a sense of mobility that continues the musical engagement.

Wish You Hadn’t, the debut EP from Corey Flood, is out today via Fire Talk, and tonight, the quartet, featuring Ivy Gray-Klein (Littler), Em Boltz, Noah Jacobson-Carroll, and Juliette Rando, will be celebrating its release at Planet Phitness. An ominous exposure permeates throughout the album. An intriguing textural dynamic is created as the somewhat soft-spoken/sung, isolated internalizations are surrounded by a shadowy, pre-dawn, sonic darkness. That solemn stir of uncertainty still retains accessibility. This evening, they’ll be joined by the dichotomy of chaotic, combustible noise meets clairvoyance of Empath, and balancing the floating ascension of melody with grounded grungey aggression, the trio of Eight hovers. This local lineup is rounded out by the in-your-face, menacing punk of Preen. – Michael Colavita

More places to be this weekend…

Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Corey Flood (EP Release), Empath, Eight, Preen 

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Live Band Karaoke with Pat Finnerty & The Full Band, SAT Taggart (Album Release), KeN, Kevin

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Caracara, SAT Deadfellow, Stereo League, Sun Hat

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Familiar Things, Saver/DJSC/Michael The Lion, Shawn Ryan, Elvin T, SAT Mohican/Diamond Girl, Lisa/Fame Lust, SUN Allarms, Call Me Clever

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) SUN The Drowned God

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Stereotytans, SAT Nick Rotundo Memorial/Fundraiser Show: Boysetsfire, Walleye, Railhed, All Else Failed, I Hate You

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) FRI Shizz Lo

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Dan Malloy, SAT (Upstairs) A Benefit For Living Beyond Breast Cancer: The Miners, Ballard Spahr Galactica, Solar Plexus/(Downstairs) Live at the Fillmore, SUN Kids Rock Philly

The Fire (412 E. Girard Ave.) FRI Panophonic, Hidden Lights, Primitive Heart, Vicious Blossom, SAT Melancholyfox, Flamingo Chicks, Slow Reader  

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI La Capitaña, Among Criminals, Behind The Grandstand, SAT Prowler (Release Show), False Tracks, The Fantastic Imagination/Suburban Living (DJ Set), SUN Henri Tyler, Rachel Andie and the Fifth Element

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Alright Junior, St. Brendan, Teeth, SAT Siravo, Night Mission, Pravda

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Aktive, SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Solar Circuit

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

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI Eddy Echo/DJ’s Jay Hill, Blueshift Gummibear, Leo, SAT Rachel Andie, Rare Spirits, Black Horse Motel, SUN Children’s Books, Spumoni, Ringtail Howitzer

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI Tough Guy Soda, Infinity, Barry Phillips, SAT Raw Street Cabaret Fundraiser and 2018 Season Reveal

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Killer Kind, Wax Wav, Cologne, SAT The Duke Brothers, Bonehead, Mike Weyrauch

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Zach Djanikian, Hemming, SAT Marc Brownstein, Tweed

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Chris Urban, SAT DJ Brian Toll

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Remember Sports, Tall Friend, Boosegumps, Slow Ref, SAT Hurry (Record Release), Amanda X, Worriers (Solo), SUN No Thank You, Major Pursuit

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Kilamanzego, Vertex Pro, Argyle, SUN Good Luck Hornet

Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) SAT Mad Conductor, Sunchoke, Merit

Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Church Girls, Dylan Jane

Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Machine Gun (7” Release Show), Blank Spell, Crazy Bull, SAT Family Volleyball

The  Rotunda (4014 Walnut St.) SAT Two Piece Fest: Boon, Bocce Party, Bungler, Craig & Peter, Danjo, Drums Like Machine Guns, Geb The Great Cackler, Honey Tiger, Madam Data/Mental Jewelry, Sandcastle, Scream Team, Shrill, Slenko & McKeys, Static Brothers, Suuduer, Tiffany’s House, Welcome Center

All Nite Diner (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Snake Boy Gang, Slow Ref 

Uncompromising in its ability to clash yet sound fabulous, Ada Babar‘s Leaked is an imagistic mesh of warped, labyrinthine rhythms, canned sound effects, and heady bedroom production. The intricacies and folds within any particular song on the album are plentiful; each track a tightly wound spring. However, if someone listened closely, they could locate a seat in the center of the action. There’s something peaceful about Babar’s vision, even when hurtling past at a high speed – like a tiny astrologer living inside a hard drive, placidly gazing up into a stream of luminescent data whirring off into the night sky. – Josh Kelly

Miranda Taylor (Black Wine, Full of Fancy, Hunchback) unites with the trio of Psychic Teens to form Exmaid. On April 6, the quartet will release its debut LP Fair Sex via SRA Records and Don Giovanni. With its lead single, “Devoted,” Taylor sings of switching gears, as an enthusiastic, battering-ram riff clears an opening of possibility; it’s bright with a brutal edge. And on Saturday, April 21, Long In the Tooth will be hosting the band’s record release show with Dialer.

Tapes & Tubes, a.k.a. Austin Potter, recently shared his new EP Horse Trailer. Draped in an eerie, cinematic, western-folkie simplicity, the hushed, secret-delivering vocals reverberate and then vaporize. Those bare atmospherics allow one to slow down, collect their thoughts, and maybe flashback to the unresolved questions of the past. Tonight, Potter is part of a lineup at South Philly’s The Pharmacy that also includes Slenko & McKeys, Alpha_Alpha, Suuduer, and Automatic Colors.

Chris Coulton, a.k.a. Dream Safari, has returned with a new single, “Ruby Red”. A pattern of strings peacefully wades into the momentous, wave-crashing groove. Taking a breath in a time of assessment and cataloging points in the past with an eye on what lies ahead, the song delightfully advances. Dream Safari will be sharing a billing this evening with Max Swan, Rover Rover, and DJ Sylo at MilkBoy.