Greg Mendez’s songwriting seems to pull away from the periphery, focusing in on subject matter that makes the musical plots play out like intimate scenes. One becomes entranced by the gentle swirl of acoustic guitar and the reverberating haunt of melodic progressions. Subdued but dripping with insanity, there’s the feeling that you’ve been in these rooms/places before, yet something is just a bit off-kilter. Tonight at The Pharmacy, Mendez will be part of a lineup that also includes the tranquil, swaying, fuzz-flecked psych of Sun Organ. In support of their recent debut album It Felt Like Glass (No Sleep Records), the upbeat emo of California quartet No Better, and the eclectic noise-pop of Lava Gulls complete the billing. – Michael Colavita
Other shows to help get you through these dog days of summer…
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Greg Mendez, Sun Organ, SAT Prototype:AT, SUN Too Many Talk Shows
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Line Leader, Fred Beans, SUN Full Bush, Jenna Pup
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI The Dove & The Wolf, SAT E. Joseph and The Sparrows, The Classic Hunt
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Mat Burke and The Painkillers, Breaker Breaker, Pete Hill/Night Drive, SAT Tailgunner, Se7en Heads/Fame Lust, SUN Springbrooke
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI The Stonethrowers, The Cheddar Boys, SAT Pure Jerry
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT Party On The Meekend
TLA (334 South St.) FRI Warchyld, SAT Flannel, White Limo
The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) SAT Yolo Ono, DJ Sylo, Tay Banga
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SUN (Downstairs) The Off Switch, Earth7, As Annie Falls, Set in Stone, Steel Crowes, Zymotic Flow
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Mad Conductor, SAT The Good Mess, The Hook, SUN Bohemian Mule
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Chris Kush, John Gilbride, Supreem Da Rezarekta’, Gabrielle, SAT Red 40 and the Last Groovement, Trap Rabbit
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Earth Telephone, No Thank You, SAT Kirby & the VibeTribe, Vilebred
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Die Choking, SUN At Best
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Sylo, Astro 8000, SAT DJ Deejay, DJ Matthew Law
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Joshua Bation, Dizzy Valdez, Patrick Feliciano, SAT Fad Nauseam
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) FRI Too Many Talk Shows, Pajent, SAT Stepping Razor (CD Release), The End A.D., The Blessed Muthas, Thorazine
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Gross, Disinhume, SAT Left to Vanish, SUN Big Handsome, Big Mind
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SAT DJ Lean Wit It
Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Royale, SAT Ian St. Laurent
Century (1350 S 29th St.) FRI Sharkbullet, World Below, SUN Zombie Shark, The Taste of Vomit, Moyogash, Hallucinogenic Bulb
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Nick Schneblen Band, Greg Sover, SAT Something Divine, Slyfoxes, Jamie & the Guarded Heart
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Splintered Sunlight, SUN Philly Does Willie Nelson: Amber Rae & The Raetones, Jim Mitchell & The Repeat Offenders, Grady Hoss & The Sidewinders, Ali Awan
Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) SAT McGuire’s Mob, TV Violence, SUN Eli Capella (Album Release)
LAVA Space (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Mint
Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Busy Bee Project (EP Release), Honeytiger, Canine 10
Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Walte Young, Tiffany’s House, Plumslugger
The Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.)
The Tusk (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Chino, Kitty Rotten
Tundra Dome (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI A Million Dollars