Tonight, Strand of Oaks begins a weekend-long stay at Boot & Saddle, billed as Winter Classic 2017. Each evening’s billing includes a different ascending opening act, doubling down on the local lines. Unfortunately, Friday and Saturday’s shows with Slaughter Beach, Dog and John Dyer Baizley are already sold out. However, that leaves Sunday night’s twin billing with Hemming. An earnest ease materializes within; heart-worn stories tap into a time-tested folk-Americana grit and resilience. Whether pared-down to its soulful singer/songwriter essence, or pushed to volatile instrumental ends, Candice Martello can shake one down to the core. – Michael Colavita

More places to be warm in this weekend…

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Strand Of Oaks, Shannen Moser, SAT Strand Of Oaks, John Dyer Baizley, SUN Strand Of Oaks, Hemming

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Young Statues, Steady Hands, SAT Orion Sun

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Drones for Queens, Atomic Cretins/Lamplighters/DJ Deejay, SAT All This Huxley, Kid Felix/Darko The Super, Mahatma X, Sudo Williams/Fame Lust/Night Sweats, SUN Caracara

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) SAT The Morelings, The Silence Kit, Hidden Lights, SUN Joy Again, Ursula, Sitcom

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SUN Desoto Jones: 10th Anniversary of Aurora – A Benefit for Adam & Tracey Francois, Cassettes

Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St,) FRI The York Street Hustle

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SUN Stealing From Thieves

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) FRI Civil Youth

Electric Factory (421 N. 7^th St.) FRI Get The Led Out, SAT Running Of The Santas: Split Decision, LeCompt, Shot of Southern, Lovekilledkurt, Flannel, TrainWreck, Romeo Delight

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT (Upstairs) Philadelphia School Of Rock, SUN (Downstairs) Cartoon Christmas Trio

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Elissa Janelle Velveteen, Lauren Scott, Vessna Scheff, Rachel Andie, SAT John Morrison, DJ Skipmode, DJ Caliph Now, Bo Bliz +Emynd, SUN Snake Charmer

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI Harvey Cash, Stevie Rogers, Reseyolo, Lil Pill, Morskamo, SUN Christine Irizarry, Erin Fox, Lisa Chosed, Vessna Scheff

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Line Leader, Local Honey, Tiny Hueman, The Cold Spring, SAT Ryan Tennis (Album Release Show), The West Powelton Drumline

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St) FRI Mo Lowda and the Humble, Commonwealth Choir, SAT Mercury Retrograde, Solar Circuit

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) SAT Kingfisher, Will Brown and the Jamboree Band, Evan Scheerer

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT John Byrne and Mass Folk Commons, SUN Rusty Cadillac

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) SAT The Twilights, Urban Resist, Fucksake

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Bree and the Reeds, Peace & the City Grease, Gobble Ghoul, SAT Kate Says,Megan Ann Saville, Paige Sawin,Julie Miller,Justin DePaola,Whackbat, SUN Sonni Shine, Katie Burke

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Everyone Orchestra (Including Aron Magner, Claude Coleman Jr)., Hezekiah Jones, SAT Everyone Orchestra  (including Claude Coleman Jr, Marc Brownstein, Nik Greeley), Nik Greeley& Friends, SUN Tapes & Tubes

First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) FRI Radiator Hospital

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Aphra, Tygerstrype, Heatmap, SAT S.T.O.P., Lightninging, SUN Carcara

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Iamlive (Release Show), Career Crooks, Shane Great, SUN Canine10

Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Jason Killinger

Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Control Top, Corey Flood

JJ’s Diner (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Henri Tyler (EP Release), James Barrett, Tessellations, Alyssa Joseph, Blueroom

LAVA Space (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Camp Candle

“Richie Tozier” is the first single from Dad Rock, the forthcoming album from OK Otter. A loose, exuberant tale of returning to one’s roots, the song ascribes to a newfound focus. Heartfelt-harmonies marry with a dedicated backend. Sprinting from the jolt of a fresh start, the song injects energy with a nostalgic backdrop.

Simply titled Demo serves as the introduction to fledgling punk quartet MINT. Melding agitation/aggression lyrically and vocally with a raw instrumental tenacity, the band becomes instantly gripping. Those blitzing, unabashed quick-hitters really rip. 

Feng Shen (which is Chinese for "wind spirit") is the newest release by Maxime Primault, under his moniker Black Zone Myth Chant. Primault has released music over the years under a variety of projects such as High Wolf and Enfer Boreal; his repertoire has expanded from psychedelic drone to synth-laden dance tracks. The album’s transcendental nature is revealed through seamless transitions, from fluorescent rhythmic barrages to serene ambience. Feng Shen is out on vinyl via French label Editions Gravats, and will be made into a limited batch of cassettes by Hospital Productions. – Josh Kelly

Americanadian have a new single out; it’s their last before their debut EP arrives. “Apple Cider Vinegar” hovers in a breezy, contemplative state. Guided by a pleasant, low-key rhythm, the song sits on the threshold of being individually unsettled yet soothing, at the same time. Americanadian will be appearing at Dimmadome on Friday, January 12, where they’ll be joined by Grant Pavol, PhillyGreen, and Nowadays.

“Call Me Cool” is the latest single from Sam Huntington, a.k.a. Very Bad Vibes (formerly of The Original Crooks and Nannies). Its accompanying video, directed by Devon Voelkel, is segmented into contextualized fragments of self-absorption and the resulting ramifications. Centralized on phone use as an object/action of consequence, the song is a pop-oriented, low-end heavy commentary. Demonstrating destructive behavior in playful plot twists, you may think twice the next time the phone rings.

Borzoi Boy, a.k.a. Alexandra Gordon, has a new EP out, entitled Bad At Math. Among the six-song set of lo-fi, bedroom-pop ditties, you’ll find album standout “Your Name”. Uniting minimalistic keys and percussion in a gentle, twisting flashback, the playful, daydreaming instrumentation counters the dull ache of a desire to go back to a point in the past. We learn to move forward, yet the pangs of heartbreak still linger in the present.

The Morelings recently released a new video for “Before,” which is featured on their debut full-length Same Century (Mostly Venus Records/Custom Made Music). Enchanting vocals, meshed with a percussive push and an ominous, foreboding undercurrent, shape the atmospherics. When that spellbinding music combines with the fragmented, glitchy, VHS visual filter, the final outcome shimmers, and the song’s full effect is realized. The video (which was directed/edited by Shane Gallagher) will surely get you into the mood for Excursions in Light, a new music, visual, and design showcase, taking place this Saturday, December 9 at PhilaMOCA, where The Morelings will be joined by Hidden Lights, The Silence Kit, and Dead Leaf Echo. (Photo by Bob Sweeney)

Sleepy Freak, a.k.a. Kate Lord, and Greg Mendez have issued a new split release. Guided by acoustic strums, Mendez’s tranquil, melodic narratives blanket one in steady, harmonic reassurance. Meanwhile, Sleepy Freak’s selection of tracks establishes an emotive core, while measured vocals provides accessible, penetrating imagery that lays akin to fellow Philadelphian Kississippi. Presented by Home Outgrown, Mendez is slated on a bill at Hole Foods on Wednesday, January 31 that will also include Marigold and Major Pursuit.

The triad of Etheric Felines recently released its debut EP The Selves We Bury via Magic Death Sounds. Threading components of electro-noise and hip-hop within a fog of murky mystery, these songs impose a will of dangerous, dreamy discovery. Shrouded in the unknown, one wanders through the abandoned buildings of the future, using the sonic signal as a honing device. Trek through the cluttered and chaotic ambiance in pursuit of the final destination, lying in the distance.

Below is a new music video for Aphra‘s single "Honey," which can be found on her debut EP Sadness is a Gesture. Though Rebecca Waychunas may be best known around these parts for her ethereal pop tunes, she reveals another talent in her repertiore, with a powerful, emotionally-revealing modern dance performance. The routine was choreographed by Megan Matuzak and filmed by Ella Miller and Tim O’Donnell at Underground Arts. Aphra will be appearing next in Philly this Saturday, December 8 at Everybody Hits with Tigerstrype, Dolores, and Heatmap. All proceeds from the show will be donated to Prevention Point Philadelphia, a Kensington-based harm reduction organization that is focused on preventing drug overdose deaths. They’ll also be collecting toiletries that evening to help supply the nonprofit’s homeless outreach team.

Krust Toons: "The Only Support…" 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.