Listening to the songs of Alabama-by-way-of-Brooklyn-transplant, Waxahatchee, is getting a glimpse of her soul. Katie Crutchfield’s style is fuzzy, lo-fi (even on the primarily acoustic tracks), but her voice cuts through the melody, revealing a slight southern lilt and a whole lot of honesty. It’s easy to imagine Crutchfield as a friend, her lyrics read like a conversation – the kind of talk that happens in the dwindling hours of darkness, fighting heavy lids and sharing hazy secrets. The same cathartic lyricism exists with the night’s other local act, Trophy Wife. Except with their songs, there’s no gentle romance – just two exposed, beating hearts. Katy Otto and Diane Foglizzo take their incredible vocal range and pair it with an unapologetic outlook on the world. They test themselves and their listeners, to face, head-on, what makes them uncomfortable. Belted over heavy guitar lines and crashing drums, their music will cut to the bone. Both acts and Wisconsin’s Tenement lead into Sunday evening’s headliner at the Church, New Brunswick’s own Screaming Females. The Female’s brazen punk style has garnered them a large following over their seven years, but their musical integrity hasn’t strayed. Frontwoman, Marissa Paternoster, owns the stage with her own brand of might and fury unleashed through her magnificent guitar work and vocals. While each act carves their own musical style, there’s no doubt they’ll all leave a mark. First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 8pm, $10 adv/$12 door, All Ages – Shaylin O’Connell
Other things to do during this fall weekend…
First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) FRI Work Drugs, Lockets, Bridge Underwater
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Marc Neibauer, Scott Churchman, The Fantastic Imagination
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Hound, SAT Ugh God, SGNLS
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St. Philadelphia) SUN Jeff Ziegler & Mary Lattimore, Laura Baird
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Kingsnake, SAT Sean Graham, Red Richards, Jason Evan, Blueshift, SUN Heathen Reign, Sunburster
The Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI The Bigness, SAT The National Rifle
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Moonstirker, Left of Logic, North Broad, Barncat, SAT Kwesi Kankam, Nicky P, SUN D&M
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The Meta, Silverton
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) SAT Anjuli Josephine, Attic Dancers
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SUN Air Is Human, The Saturday Giant
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 3rd St.) FRI Family Vacation, Slothrust, SAT Sunshine Superman
The Blockley (3801 Chestnut St.) FRI Splintered Sunlight, SUN Bridging The Music Presents: Pennsylvania Solo Artist Awards
Millcreek Tavern (4200 Chester Ave.) SUN Knucklehead, The Charley Few, Wimp Talk
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI The Philly Zombie Prom
TLA (334 South St.) SAT Ground Up
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI (Early) John Train, (Late) The Donuts, SAT Jersey Corn Pickers
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI Chris Kasper CD Release Party w/Hezekiah Jones, SAT Absolute Zeros, SUN Cream: The Best of Philly Rising
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI In The Presence of Wolves, Lor, SAT Electric Boa, Torsion, SUN Andrew Winter and The Reckless Dodgers, Midnight Bottle Service
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) SAT Jacopo De Nicola
Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SAT Pr$ph$t, Charlie No Face, A Decent Distraction, SUN Higher Level Trap Boys
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Besting Tensions, Alex Dimattia, SAT Stealing Fame, Mike Nappi
Little Berlin (2430 Coral St.) SUN Van Sutra
The Dream Oven (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Secret Plot to Destroy The Entire Universe, King God, SUN Placeholder, Sex Cross, Herb
Moonbase Nix (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Alex G, Dogs on Acid, SHMNS
Glitoria (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Fuck SS, Batworm
The Mitten (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Mitten Garden Show and Potluck w/ Mikey Cantor, Cynthia Ann Schemmer