The three-piece of Birthday Boy immediately rushes forward as the emotive pop-punk sound generated is unified, dashing through the twilight streets. The murky undertow of bass prowls, while percussion triggers anxious anticipation and the guitar picks points to jump ahead; meanwhile, first person observations paint the ever-moving exterior. Tonight, the sonic canvas can be found at Kung Fu Necktie, where they’ll be joined by the sparse yet revealing slowcore of Glenn Matthews and episodic folk of Spot Collins with its endearing descriptive lyricism. The rousing pop-punk energy of New York’s Dizzy Bats applies the finishing touches. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $6, 21+ (Photo by Andrew Tomasino) – Michael Colavita

Whether it’s a gradual climb, turbulent, enriching, guitar boosters, or a backend thrust that tempers those confident gravitational vocals, Ceramic Animal catches ones ear with their psych-pop semblance. That casual air lures, and then invigorates, tapping into astral grooves that sharply tunnel at warp speed as the instruments push toward their limits. It’s loose with the capacity to quickly flip the switch and push the afterburners. Tonight, as the band participates in the final night of the 5-year celebration for Milkboy, they’ll be joined by soulful blues inferno of Foxtrot & the Get Down and the energetic contemporary southern rock of The Weeks. Milkboy, 1100 Chestnut St., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita

Following the breakup of Family Vacation, two of its former members, Cody Bluett and Luke Harsel, have continued to collaborate in the project Dweller. Their debut album, This Is What Happens When You Wait Too Long, simmers in a folk-indie pot. Incorporating electro specks into low-key vocal harmony, the album feels refreshing in that faint nightly breeze off the water kind of way.

Dena Miller, a.k.a. Deer Scout, drafts songs that are relatable, personal narratives that feel like part diary entrees/part letters. That bedroom-folk simplicity is brightly detailed and sincere as is her latest EP Customs, which is available to streaming and purchase digitally below, as well as on cassette via Fox Food Records. You can catch Deer Scout’s tape release at PhilaMOCA on Thursday, August 18 with Kississippi, Fits, and Boosegumps. (Photo by Amanda Silberling)

Hello Shark, a.k.a. Lincoln Halloran, has a new full-length album, Delicate, coming out on September 30 via Chicago-based label Orindal Records, which was produced by Attic Basement‘s Michael Rheinheimer with Katie Bennett (Free Cake For Every Creature) on bass and vocals throughout the record. Below is the first single from the LP called "Drake Night" (available for streaming at Stereogum), and it finds Halloran reflecting on lost love after a run-in with an ex at the artist-themed club night. The lo-fi ditty also features Florist’s Emily Sprague on backing vocals. Hello Shark will be heading out on the road next week with Advance Base, and they will be ending the tour in Philly on Wednesday, August 31 at PhilaMOCA.

Kevin Nickles (Ecstatic Vision, Taiwan Housing Project) and Daniel Provenzano (Purling Hiss, Spacin’) rocket through space as The Writhing Squares. Tonight, the duo celebrates their latest album In The Void Above (Siltbreeze) with a performance at Kung Fu Necktie. The hard-driving record circles as components of chaotic noise emanate amid the locked-down bass and percussion, while the vocal interjections serve as captain-esque reference points. Splashed with the additional sonic colors of flute and saxophone, this noise-rock meets jazz ambiance steers toward the unexplored in a twisted futuristic groove. This evening’s festivities will also feature the local psych-punk of Igneous Eyes and the commanding psych-rock power of Birds of Maya. The genre-elusive, jazz-rock freak-out that is Massachusetts’s The Blues Dream Box completes this adventurous night of music. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $8, 21+ (Photo by Ben Leaphart) – Michael Colavita

“No,” the new track from Eric Slick (Dr. Dog, Lithuania), will be featured on his forthcoming album Palisades. Surrounded by the ringing echo of guitar bouncing against the steady crisp pecussion, the keys offer a sense of melancholy and warmth, reinforcing his calm approach to the personal lyrics. Slick is part of a bill on Tuesday, August 16 at Johnny Brenda’s that also includes Mary Lattimore, Ahleuchatistas, and Shimmer.

A film of filtered, floating clouds runs across the daydreaming vocals, but just as one plants his/her feet, the raunchy blues injection of guitar shoots like a lightning bolt. A Mountain of Nonsense, the newly released album from Them Jones, finds a sweet spot between drifting harmony amid the light rain of instrumentation and the band’s capability to spike into heavier blues-psych scenarios. In that duality of reserve passivity and assertive aggression, the music enthusiastically lives.

CLOAKZ, a.k.a. Zachary Ciancaglini (Raccon Fighter), creates for us an intense psychedelic experience in his latest video for "Fools," the opening track off his debut EP Semi-Autographic. The multi-instrumentalist proves to be a bit of a Renaissance man, shooting and editing the video himself. CLOAKZ will be performing live at Bourbon & Branch on Wednesday, September 21 with Kississippi and Hodera.

A rapid pace and the searing split of guitar frame the sound of “More,” the new song from dream-pop/noise combo of Ghost Gum. The track will be featured on the band’s forthcoming debut album The Past, The Future, Dwelling there like space. While dissecting existential questions and suggesting a desire to be buried at the sea, the song implores a pleasant tonal outlook.

Where are all our old-school, hip-hop heads at? We would like to send you and a friend to see EPMD, along with Styles P, this Friday, August 12 at the TLA. To enter for a chance to win a pair of tix, just send an email to thedelimagazinephiladelphia@gmail.com with the subject line "Strictly Business". Please also include your cell number in the body of the message (in case of an emergency). Good luck!