Kurt Vile stopped by the Public Theater in NYC for a taping of Joe’s Pub Presents: A Holiday Special. Leading a "heavenly chorus" that also included Lisa Loeb, Bridgett Everett, and event host Tony Hale, the motley crew got in the holiday spirit with an improvised Christmas rendition of "Wakin On A Pretty Day". Now, we’re not sure if you’ll hear this version at his upcoming New Year’s Eve concert this Saturday at The Fillmore Philly with Woods and Nathan Bowles, but Vile will definitely be pulling out some fan favorites for the hometown crowd.

The new video for NAH‘s "May 7th" pulses with a horror-movie urgency, as the track’s eerie soundscape is effectively complemented by the gritty black & white backdrop. Directed by Gabe Coffey and NAH, the single features fellow rising experimental Philly artist Moor Mother, and can be found on his rad new LP Michael. The prolific sound sculptor has also wrapped up this 2016 with three more releases in Untitled Works 2016, Enduring, and Garbage Crap so you have plenty to dig into this holiday weekend! (Photo by Phil Rudich)

Stocked with a full complement of emcees, producers and singers, Ladies Night, the new album from STS, arrives as the year draws to a close. Available via Artists First, the collection of songs serves as the soundtrack to a Friday night at the club. The sharp-witted, smooth-talking emcee continues to deliver the goods, backed by dance-catalyzing beats, soulful vocals, and a commanding confidence that sets the wheels in motion.

The Guild’s Holiday Jawn has us feelin’ some kind of way about covers today. Below is one from Beach Slang of Green Day’s "2000 Light Years Away," off 1991’s Kerplunk. It’s part of Kerrang!‘s Green Day tribute compilation that comes with their year-end issue. BTW: Beach Slang recently announced that there will be a new touring lineup backing James Alex that will consist of Cully Symington (Okkervil River, Afghan Whigs, Cursive) on drums and Aurore Ounjian (Mean Creek, Potty Mouth) on guitar. (Photo by Lauren Obadiah)

Featuring Seattle emcee Dave B and produced by Kam DeLa, "Life," the new single from Ivy Sole, seamlessly intertwines an elegant, simplistic beat with a blend of reflectively active lyrical lines. They mesh the soul-oriented nature of the chorus, and then enhance the depth of detail with decisive rhymes. The track, which can be found on her forthcoming release East, maintains a natural ease, while demonstrating power.

Let’s face it. Not much work gets done these last two weeks of the year so you might as well enjoy what’s left of 2016 and catch Sand Diego garage-punks Hot Snakes next Wednesday, Decemeber 28 at Underground Art on us! To enter for a chance to win a pair of tix, just send an email to thedelimagazinephiladelphia@gmail.com with the subject line "Hot Snakes on a Plane". Please also include your cell number in the body of the message (in case of an emergency). Good luck!

Kurt Vile made a guest appearance on the latest single from Toronto’s The Sadies called "It’s Easy (Like Walking)". Vile had toured with the alt-country group many moons ago, and they’ve "been friends ever since." The track will appear on the band’s forthcoming LP Northern Passages (Yep Roc), and Kurt has a big show this New Year’s Eve with Woods and Nathan Bowles at The Fillmore Philly so grab your tix ASAP.

The beginning of the week often suffers from a monotony of motion as individually one falls back into a robot-like routine. However, Boot & Saddle offers a temporary respite this evening. Celebrating their newly released full-length debut Top Ten, available via No Sleep Records, Spill headlines a stacked show. Balancing the explosive force of emotive energy, which spikes in sparks of anthem-esque choruses and downhill instrumental surges, with melody-oriented laments, the sound fleshes reflective anecdotes in catchy, polished flourishes. Riding the riff-and-rumble, pop-and-punch feel, Thin Lips infectiously slip into a casually precise groove, lifting with their locked-in raw refinement. The fuzz-ringing possessive thunder of Straw Hats and the stretching shimmering emotives of Lancaster’s Seasonal help to shape an evening that will be further sweetened by the serene sincerity of an acoustic Kississippi set. Boot & Saddle 1131 S. Broad St., 7:15pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita

Krust Toons: "Swamp Gas" 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.