Krust Toons: "The Wall" 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.

The trio of Goldenaire celebrate their new EP Modern Meltdown with a release show this Saturday at Creep Records. The songs buzz and swirl enriched by the stabilizing force of melody. As the chaotic, dystopian tones of the world race around you, the vocals exhibit a tunneling, personal focus. Swept up in a tranquil, dream-gaze headspace, one finds a cloud which allows for temporary escape. With that sense of distance, one can more clearly organize their thoughts, embracing the refreshing, breezy qualities in the midst of a never-ending storm. Goldenaire will be joined by Matt Scheuermann, a.k.a. Lowercase Roses, whom cultivates a shimmering/jarring dynamic, and the ominous surging darkwave of SOLD, as well as the revving, roaring power of Oh, Are They?. – Michael Colavita

More places to escape this weekend’s unfavorable weather…

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Void Vision, SAT STARWOOD, Medusa’s Disco, Mage Hand, SUN Beano French, Ki Brown

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Flightschool, Bird Watcher

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Drama!, OverEasy, Along The Way/DJ Deejay, SAT St. Brendan, Hartline, Knightlife/DJSC

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) SAT Chromelodeon , nmlstyl, Korine, SUN Chromelodeon, Chipocrite, Exmaid

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI The Company Corvette

TLA (334 South St.) SAT g1000oz, Run Up Rico

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Little Strike, SAT (Upstairs) Johnny Shortcake

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Tree Rats, The Sly Foxes, Kingsound Vibration, Camera Magic, SAT  The Output, Famous & Fallen, South on Sunday, Evergo, SUN JT & The Stardusters, Jason Ager

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Max Seidman, Maggie Mae, SAT Reef The Lost Cauze (Album Release), DJ Caliph-NOW

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Uncle Dan, Oh Jeezus, SAT St. James and The Apostles, The Bad Larrys

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI The People, Namarah, iNFiNiEN, SAT Satellite Hearts, No Sailor, Kirby and the Vibe Tribe

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Broke Body, SAT Joe Kenney, Della Chase  / The Rectors, Canine 10

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Bo Bliz, SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Frank Sriracha, Og Juan Shinobi

Century (1350 S 29th St.) FRI Apt A, Dunning Kruger, Somnolent, SAT Goddamnit, Gozer, Poppy, Breaklite

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

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT Anytime Soon

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Ben Aire, SAT Ed Cristof

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Box Of Rain, The Big Jangle

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Johnny Football Hero, Primatives, This Kills Me, SAT Mattress Food, In Different Sounds

Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) SAT Goldenaire (EP Release), Lowercase Roses, Sold, Oh, Are They?

No Face Studios (5213 Grays Ave.) SAT Snake Charmer, SwitchBlvde

The Mothership (602 S. 52nd St.) FRI Hallowed Bells, Mitch Esparza

Cousin Danny’s (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Solarized, Hirs, Dialer, Gaz

As last year drew to a close, local emcee Reef The Lost Cauze dropped a new LP. The Majestic embodies a take-no-prisoners assertiveness. Steadfast in the face of adversity, there’s a composed, genuine fight in these tracks. You can join Reef this Saturday, January 19 at MilkBoy, for the album’s belated release celebration, with DJ Caliph-NOW, The Philadelphia Project, and Skrewtape. (Photo by Jimmy Giambrone)

In the Long Light of the Failing Sun (Cicada Choir), the new album from Justin Roth-led Soft Idiot, officially arrived today. Introspective, evaluating folk exuberantly springs forward. Gently swaying or dashing in an energetic rush, there’s a reassuring honesty. Soft Idiot will be co-hosting a dual record release show with Screamcloud on Friday, February 8 at The Conservatory, where they’ll be supported by Dan Clifford and High Noon.

The duo of Anna & Dani, a.k.a. Hermit High Priestess, recently released their self-titled EP. Elegant strings, soulful, theatrical vocals, propulsive percussion, and compact, combustible, electronic sequencing combine forces. A richly detailed adventure unfolds – one which weaves precision and experimentation. Hermit High Priestess will be performing at PhilaMOCA on Saturday, February 9, as part of Syd Torchio and Debora Dias art opening, that will also feature Dr. Ketchup and Taupe.

Lizdelise‘s Holy Matrimony is slated for release on February 1, but you can take a listen to her latest single, "Probably Die," below. Synth and vocals lift one into the clouds in a confessional, intimate, love letter kind of way. Expressing the impact of potential loss, whilst simultaneously describing the ability to bounce back, the song maintains an enchanting, rough-around-the-edges-in-all-the-right-places dynamic, with its crunchy guitars and siren vocals. You can catch Lizdelise at Silk City on Monday, January 21, supporting Tiger Oil‘s album release show, along with Death’s Dynamic Shroud.

Whaler Jr., a.k.a. Brendan McHale (of RFA) recently posted his new EP. Atta Boy begins with its compact, breezy title track, while “Tired” casually coasts contrasting its self-accessing narrative with a sense of ease, throwing in some guitar sparks for good measure. “Coffee Fiddles” delicately awakens in acoustic strums, as wafts of morning brew welcome the day. This latest batch of recordings brightens with its thoughtful, bouncy bursts of energy.

All Of Us Laughing is the forthcoming album from the quartet of Boon, and is scheduled for release via Glass Orchard Recs. In the meantime, the band has shared a B-side, called “Caterpillar.” Enveloped in an aquarium-like atmosphere, the song explores personal transformation. Bubbles and echoes mix as a meditative, internal monologue moves through the membrane of one’s mind.

A new song from Colins "Bear" Regisford’s The City & I has emerged. "A.D.D." captures a raw, funky, fuzz-punk tone. There’s a genre-melding, guitar-ripping openness to the track. It’s in your face and heavy yet exudes an intimate vulnerability. Hopefully this is a precursor to a new album, a long-awaited follow-up to his debut Downer. (Photo by CJ Harvey)

Mental Chillness, the new EP from the quartet of Lazy Eye, was recently released via local label Nap Time Records. Led by singer-songwriter Hannah LaRocca, soothing, dreampop melodies float yet exhibit points of tenacious friction. Calm and steadfast whilst weaving through turbulent emotive moments, there’s a resilient confidence which continuously moves forward, demonstrating a poignant power at pivotal occasions. Lazy Eye is scheduled to perform next in Philly at a house show on Saturday, February 9, with Midnight in Rome, Popular Kid, and Mandala.

Krust Toons: "Snubbed Again!" 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.

A Mild Circus, the debut EP from the trio of Yarrow (which features member of Great Weights an King Azaz), is slated for release on February 15 via Get Better Records. Its lead single, “Rescind,” opens by initiating a sense of a noise-accented tension. Pointing out the misplaced malice of those dispersing negative actions and attitudes, it notes the clear discrepancy in ideological goals and perspectives between the aggressors and their victims. You can find Yarrow this Thursday, January 17 at Hubris House, as part of a lineup that also includes Absinthe Father and Fox Hollow.