Philly experimental sound sculptor and emcee Moor Mother is featured on multiple track of Wrecked, the forthcoming full-length album from Zonal, the collaborative project of God Flesh/Jesu’s Justin K. Broadrick and electronic producer Kevin Martin (The Bug, King Midas Sound). Below is the initial offering from the LP, called "System Error". It’s a pulsating, mesmerizing, ominous reminder of how completely broken our current system is. The lead single is also accompanied by shadowy visual imageries that you can totally zone out to on this Monday while avoiding work. Wrecked is scheduled for release on September 20 via Relapse Records.
Debut Fracture EP Available for Streaming & Download
Hardcore quartet Fracture recently shared its debut five tracks as Demo. The band instantly tears in with menacing determination. An unrelenting steamroller of concise, compact ferocity simply makes you want to burn it all down. (Obviously digging the cover art as well!)
Weekend Warrior – August 23 -25
Somber, sincere songs with a barroom grit and smokiness, Don Babylon captures the feel of pushing through the gray days in the hope that tomorrow represents a fresh start. As the clouds weigh heavy overhead, the band captures a rough-around-the-edges, honest, in-the-moment sound that’s willing to expose its flaws with storytelling that makes those tales ring true. With their new album Does It Even Matter, Party Muscles delivers crisp, melodic rippers, while Madalean Gauze delivers mesmerizing, psych-infused rock. The Brooklyn-based, garage-rock quintet, Damn Jackals, rounds out this Saturday evening lineup at Boot & Saddle. – Michael Colavita
More places to hit for the non-beach goers this weekend…
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Erin Incoherent, Joe Jack Talcum, The Spirit World, Lust for Nothing, SAT Don Babylon, Madalean Gauze, Party Muscles
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Hardwork Movement, Martronimous, LikeBirds
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI You Do You, Rubber, SAT Andhera, Dark Waters End / Fame Lust, SUN Julia Rainer
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SUN Deep Tissue
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Riverside
The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) FRI Function
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Maddogg, Vixen77 / (Downstairs) 25th Anniversary of Jeff Buckley’s Grace (Presented by The Key) The End of America, SAT (Upstairs) A Day Without Love
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) SUN Mrs. Kitching
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) Soraia (Vinyl Release), Siravo, Mach 22, SAT Rosu Lup
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Space Donkey and the Moonbouncers (Record Release), Somethin’ Divine, Dot Gov, Archpalatine, SAT Stealing From Thieves, Delmont, Threefold Fire, SUN Fast Car Slow Car, Starberry
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Line Leader, Puppy Angst, SAT Leon Budrow, Blueprint
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Camp Candle (EP Release), Overwinter, Weekend Athlete, SAT The Groove Merchants, Kirby & the Vibe Tribe, Petite Sketches, SUN Mike Space, Highnoom
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Aktive, Richard Issa, SAT DJ Deejay
2nd Street Brew House (1700 S. 2nd St.) FRI Roger Harvey & The High Lifers, Bobby Barnett
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Live Band Karaoke, SAT Live Band Karaoke, SUN Rusty Cadillac
The Tusk (430 South St.) SAT The Lot, Lamplighters
Century (1350 S 29th St.) FRI Tartarus Horde, Since the Fire
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI The Death of Saul, Port Arthur, Radish
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI DJ Mighty Mike Saga, Elijvh Vrms, SUN The End of Summer Bash
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SAT DJ Ricky Lee, SUN Frank Daly
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Lower Case Blues, James Pace Band, Ghost of the Mill, SAT This Kills Me, Erin Incoherent
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Jellyroll, Kenn Kweder, SAT Splintered Sunlight, The Newspaper Taxis, SUN Catullus
Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) FRI Moral Code
The Mothership (602 S. 52nd St.) SAT Impressionist, Likebirds, Hermit High Priestess
Couchtown (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Twin Beds, Mechanical Canine, Carly Cosgrove
New Trash Boy LP Available for Streaming & Purchase
Trash Boy’s new full-length album, Who Will Take the Trash Out When We’re Gone? (which was produced by Kyle Pulley at Headroom Studios), is now available via Good How Are You Records. Energetic, venting vignettes express frustration/agitation over daily personal, professional, and societal issues. It’s a cathartic collection of tracks with anthemic hooks. The quartet is currently scheduled to perform in Philly on a Wednesday, October 30 at Johnny Brenda’s, on a billing that also features Full Bush and Teenage Bigfoot.
Debut Amby Moho Demos Available for Streaming
Andy Molholt (Laser Background, Coughy, Speedy Ortiz) recently shared a collection of five demos, under the moniker of Amby Moho. The set of recordings is a tranquil, melodic, lo-fi sampling of what the DIY Philly music vet has been up to of late. We are looking forward to seeing/hearing where and in what form these songs will take shape next. Laser Background is slated to perform at Ortlieb’s on Friday, October 18, with Jimmy Whispers and Sitcom. (Photo by Marie Alyse)
New Will Henriksen LP Available for Streaming & Purchase
Nothing Left Behind is the new LP from Will Henriksen, which is available now via local label Sleeper Records. Backed by Andrew Keller (Snow Caps), Jack Washburn (Remember Sports), as well as Will Kennedy and Ari Ratner, the ensemble creates subtle instrumental arrangements that lay the foundation for candid, endearing songwriting. With transportive lyricism, reinforced by melodic warmth, these recordings easily relate and adhere. Just allow them to do so. (Photo by Ari Ratner)
New Track: “a friend.” – Augusta Koch
Augusta Koch (Gladie, Sheena, Anika & Augusta, Cayetana) recently shared her latest solo effort, “a friend.,” which describes and observes thoughts and actions of isolating loneliness, within the search for connection. The sparse, instrumental backdrop allows the lyrical sincerity to shine. Simple Pleasures, the forthcoming EP from Sheena, Anika, and Augusta, is set to arrive on September 6 via Asian Man Records, and the trio is scheduled to perform at South Philly’s TRUCK on Saturday, September 14.
New Crooked Spine EP Available for Streaming & Download
Crooked Spine recently dropped its new tape End of Days, which is "about a UFO cult." A mysterious urgency holds one in a suspenseful state. However, amid the torrent of instrumentation, a first-person narration offers a kind of levity against the sonic surge. With the recent departure of bassist Garrett Bolin, the next incarnation of the band plans to touch down this fall.
New Music Video: “E.C.C.B.” (Starring LUNCH) – American Trappist
American Trappist and LUNCH recently issued a split EP, aptly titled LUNCH with American Trappist. Directed by Ian Kelly, there’s new video from Joe Michelini and friends for the single “E.C.C.B.,” which also stars the gang of LUNCH. Set along the shoreline, the footage depicts a day at the beach & boardwalk, with the custom quirkiness/oddity of that mask-adorned sea creature. You can catch both bands this Thursday, August 22 at Bourbon & Branch, along with Minor Moon. (Photo by Kara Donnelly)
New Soft Idiot EP Available for Streaming & Download
Byrrie is the latest EP from Philly singer-songwriter Justin Roth, a.k.a. Soft Idiot. Intimately enchanting, nostalgic, bedroom-folk tales retain a sense of endearing beauty and warmth. However, the fractured fragility of a relationship hangs in the air. Soft Idiot is slated to perform at Ortlieb’s on Sunday, September 1, with Dead Neighbors and all boy/all girl.
Ticket Giveaway: Talib Kweli with Chill Moody & Dell-P at The Ardmore Music Hall Next Thursday
Consciousness-raising emcee Talib Kweli (Black Star) will be bringing his words of wisdom to The Ardmore Music Hall next Thursday, August 29, where he’ll be supported by local Philly talent Chill Moody and Dell-P. To enter for a chance to win a pair of tix, just send an email to thedelimagazinephiladelphia@gmail.com with the subject line: "Independent Thinkers & Doers Wanted". Please also include your cell number in the body of the message (in case of an emergency). Good luck!
Krust Toons: “More Shoes?” by Tedd Hazard
Krust Toons: "More Shoes?" 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.