Blues music at its core drips with desperation gathering an internal strength, which is the byproduct of fearlessly exposing one’s personal tribulations, opening the curtain for all to see and in turn hear. Despite their youth, The Districts, playing upstairs at World Café Live tonight, have already learned the furtive power of harnessing raw yearning despair, etc. to create music that takes the things lodged deep down in the pit of one’s stomach and pulls them to the surface. Rob Grote delivers explosively intense vocals oozing with emotion, intertwined with guitar work that stealthily lies in the weeds, dishing out well-fitted fits of fury to create a dramatic dynamic. The coarse sandpaper Americana folk of Goodnight Texas, who strips it down and sucks you in with excellent strings and storytelling, will be joining them, as well as psych rock quartet Satellite Hearts. World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 7pm, $10, All Ages – Michael Colavita
Weekend Warrior, July 19 – 21
More places to hide out from the heat…
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Mock Suns, SUN Arc In Round
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI (Early) Johnny Miles
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St. Philadelphia) FRI Norwegian Arms, Dream Safari
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Cultureal, The Underwater Sounds, Katie Barbato, Members of The West Philadelphia Orchestra, Philewephia, Sacred Vibration
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Seven Second Suicide, No Remorse For The Fallen, SAT Luther, SUN Wild Rompit
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Kevin Killen, SAT Rafiya, Rotimi
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI The Echo Cellar Rockers, SAT Citadel, Cheers Elephant, W.C. LIndsay, Lucy Stone
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Ang & The Damn Band, Shorty boy-boy
M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Alien Architect, Droid Daughter
TLA (334 South St.) SAT Chic Raw, Inner City Hustlers, Dollar Boyz, Young Savage
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT Midsummer Mayhem w/Us, From the Outside, After The Glory, Mercy Starts With Me, Stealing Skies
The Blockley (3801 Chestnut St.) FRI Jason Fraticelli & The Wet Dreams, SAT Phantasm
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Ryan Weidman, Ado James, SAT The Jack Roses, SUN Rusty Cadillac
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Downstairs) Jeff Thomas’ All-Volunteer Army, Divers, Chelsea Reed and The Fair Weather Five, (Upstairs) The Districts, Satellite Hearts, SAT The Better Half, Dime Street Joker, Brett Talley Band, Quixote Project, Rodger Delany, SUN Woman’s Way Benefit Concert w/Wounded Healers
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) SAT Brithers In Exile, SUN Supreem & The New Experience, Supreem Da Rezarekta, Silvercord
The Station (1550 McKean St.) FRI Braille, Window Liquor
Voltage Lounge (421 N 7th St.) FRI No Such Noise!, The Stonewall Vessles, SAT Flesh Engine
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Soraia, Counter Riot, Banned Books
Pageant Soloveev (607 Bainbridge St.) SAT Mincemeat or Tenspeed, Dungeon Broads, Some Pepper, Unguent
Golden Tea House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Restorations, Run, Forever, Ma Jolie
Yarga’s Basement (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Marietta, Smoother, Airman Trout