We’re not surprised by this announcement because it’s been quite some time since many of us have made the trek to the Fairmount area, but Philly.com just reported that the North Star Bar will cease being a music venue after 34 years. The establishment is shutting down this Saturday, October 17 in order to begin renovations, and it will be converted to a bar-restaurant promising "even better food" and "’more better’ beer," experiencing the similar fate as The Khyber – both had a stronghold on the city’s indie music scene at one point in time with Heyday Entertainment. However, with the emergence of Johnny Brenda’s in 2006, the music community shifted to Fishtown, and continues to spread throughout the city with spaces like Boot & Saddle, PhilaMOCA, and Union Transfer. Being in music is certainly a tough biz. Farewell North Star, we’ll miss the good times and when it used to be kind of scary to walk from our cars and the Broad Street Line.

Mercury Girls, featuring members of Literature, Little Big League, and Pet Milk, recently shared two new tracks, "Sulk" and "Collisions," over at Brooklyn Vegan. They were both recorded live to tape during a recording session. Mercury Girls will be performing this evening at Bourbon & Branch with Suburban Living and Eternal Summer.

Every August, droves of Philly college students flood Benjamin Franklin Parkway for performances from some of the music industry’s most prominent hip-hop and indie-rock names at the Made In America Festival. While MIA definitely fills its purpose in providing a large-scale, corporate-up-the-wazoo exhibition in music industry gluttony (alongside some really solid acts, I acquiesce), this event is not what the locals would call a representation of our city’s unique DIY culture. Philadelphia, which is brimming with young underground talent, will be celebrating the 8-bit/chiptune community for the next three days with 8static Fest, which is in its 3rd year and is being held once again at the First Unitarian Church, featuring artists such as Cheap Dinosaurs, nml styl, random, Marshall Art, Storm Blooper, NO CARRIER, Ultrasyd, Bit Shifter, Inverse Phase, Mail Order Monsters and ohhinaifu. (You can check out the entire schedule HERE.) The annual event has certainly compiled an international lineup that demonstrates the nuanced differences of the chiptune genres in all of its chaotic, electro-psych computer music glory. First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 6pm (All Three Days), $20 per night/$50 for all three nights, All Ages – Blake Oetting

mewithoutYou provided us with a treat yesterday at Pitchfork. The band premiered and linked two videos for its tracks "Red Cow" and "Dorothy," off the group’s latest LP Pale Horses (Run For Cover). You’ll find frontman Aaron Weiss amidst a frenetic train-hopping adventure before the footage morphs into a more reflective, down-tempo state, with both clips directed by Daniel Davison. mewithoutYou are scheduled for big back-to-back evenings on October 23 & 24 at Union Transfer with The Menzingers, Restorations, and Pianos Become The Teeth. Grab your tix ahead of time because we predict that these shows will sell out.

While we await Petal’s debut album Shame, scheduled for release on October 23 via Run For Cover Records, another sneak peak, “Silly Heart,” has emerged over at Brooklyn Vegan. Accompanied by electric guitar, the song places the endearingly honest lyrical imagery at center stage. Exhibiting strength while demonstrating an open vulnerability, the song is beautiful and simultaneously heartaching. Petal performs at PhilaMOCA this Friday, October 16 on a lineup which also includes Pity Sex, Wildhoney and Spencer Radcliffe.

Tamar Dart, a.k.a. Little Strike, cultivates eclectic, thought-provoking electropop. Her confidently elegant vocals draw one’s concentration toward her consciously positive and hopefully uplifting messages. Leading listeners on a tour of lyrically guided experiences driven by a system of relaxed beats, guitar, keys etc. Mindfully aware, embracing imperfections while attempting to consistently improve and grow, Little Strike tactfully hits a universal chord. Tonight at Bourbon & Branch, she will be joined by the earth-pulsating, deep-etching blues of The Ill Fated Natives. Having just released a new album Limbs, Athens, Georgia psych-rockers Houston In The Blind dabble with atmospheric shifts in noise while largely maintaining a clean and clear folk-dreaming vibe. The beautifully bright jazz-folk of San Francisco’s Vessna Scheff completes this shimmering lineup. Bourbon & Branch 705 N. 2nd St., 7pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita

Shoegaze-y indie-rock trio Janelle continues to mature and evolve with its latest EP JNL. The six-song synth-driven album is now available via Suicide Bong Tapes/FDH Records. You can also stream and purchase it below.

Shari Heck has released a new song simply titled “01”. Via sparse instrumentation, the song captures a beautiful sense of intimacy with honest lyrics that cast strolling images – “What’s in the bottle?” Play the track a few times, it’ll brighten your day, but according to Cyberbully Mom Club’s twitter, “Don’t get your hopes up.”

While Questlove may have broken the seal at The Foundry in the new Fillmore Philly with his DJ night this past Sunday, grungy psych rockers Creepoid will be kicking the doors wide open when they take its stage this evening. They’ll be co-headlining the bill with No Devotion, the project from ex-Thursday frontman Geoff Rickley and former members of the Welsh band Lostprophets. They’ll also be joined by San Francisco goth-pop outfit Wax Idols and Philly hardcore four-piece Socialite, who are signed to Jade Tree. It’s a stacked lineup and a rad way welcome the city’s latest concert space! The Foundry at The Fillmore Philly, 1100 Canal St., 8pm, $15 (+fees), All Ages – Alexis V.

Local dream-pop outfit The Soft Spots just released its second EP Life Is But A Dream. It’s a companion piece to the band’s record Gently Down The Stream. The trio’s latest album was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Doug Raus at Brighton Sound Studios.

At the intersection where endearing emotives and crisp melodies converge into an energy-releasing surge forward, Marietta flips the script, creating songs that turn personal anguish and despair into a collective resounding outpouring. Taking those internal contemplations and pushing them outside bedroom walls, the pop-punk quartet generates anthems that unite individuals in communion. Tonight, The Joint Chiefs of Math open the proceedings, pushing the boundaries with an intense, high-octane-fueled excursion in atmosphere-altering, noise-inflected math rock, exploring the outer limits with warp-speeding instrumental interplay. Armed with explosive instrumental transitions that play off fervent vocals, Japanese rockers Tricot headline. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $14, 21+ (Photo by Kasmine) – Michael Colavita