From the start, in this case – the opening set, Mercury Girls deliver crystalline compositions that appear ready to break loose in precise, instrumental strides as the steady, percussive spring clears a path for the fiery/jangly hybrid of guitar, which at times, forges a path with melting precision and at others, cruises along in a casual, determined pace. All the while, an intricate feathery blend of endearing, elegant vocals cascades among the crisp mountainous air. This evening, Mercury Girls will be leading the way to emotively-fueled Missouri outfit Foxing. Melding refined melody and raw expression, Balance and Composure completes this night at the former Spaghetti Warehouse. Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., 8:30pm, $20, All Ages – Michael Colavita
Other things to hit this weekend…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Spelling Reform (Record Release), Night Windows, Cherry
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Field Mouse, SUN Kiska, Coronal Mass Ejection
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Congenital Death/The GTVs, SAT DJ Phish, DJ G33k, The Bul Bey, SUN Trap Rabbit, George Engel Brooks
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SAT Void Vision, Westov Temple
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SUN Wisdom In Chains, Nation Of Wolves
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Little Strike, SAT Stellarscope, Henri Tyler, The Cultour, Sadhound, SUN Maps and His Mothball Fleet, Timur And The Squad
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Downstairs) Pasión y Arte, SAT (Upstairs) Not My Dogg, SUN (Upstairs) Owl & Wolf
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Reef The Lost Cauze, 30 And Over League, SAT Adlib w/Space Kamp, J.O the Last Man, DJ Nobi, SUN Last Minute Hero, Only on Weekends, The Mad Splatter
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Darby
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Remote Control, DJs:Shari Vari, WDR, Brandon Setta, SAT Saint Brendan & The Navigators, Joshua Bright
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Bo Bliz, Low Budget, SAT DJ Deejay
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) SAT Dive In The Box, Beer Me
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT Activate
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) SAT Ed Christof & Friends
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Sweet Eureka, Knightlife, The Black Market Opera, SAT Argonautic, Groove Merchants
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Flux Capacitor, SAT Tommy Conwell & the Young Rumblers, SUN Skip Denenberg
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Evil Sword, Ursula
All Night Diner (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT MS Saint
Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Downtrodder, Kelsey Cork, Gravers Lane, Harmony Woods, Busy Bee, Cheyenne Bartram, Amanda Silberling, Drea Rose
Birdhouse (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Bad Heaven, Crooked Spine
The Blink (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI To the Teeth, By Us, Universe, The Vernes