A Flourish And A Spoil, The Districts‘ sophomore LP and full-length debut on Fat Possum Records will be officially released on February 10. However, for those who can’t wait any longer, it is currently available for streaming via NPR’s First Listen. The Lititz natives turned locals continue delivering the goods unleashing songs that work the ebb and flow of emotion while capturing the highs and lows in a jarring blend of intense vocals and instrumentation. Take a listen, and catch the band in person February 14 at Union Transfer with Pine Barons and newly added to the bill, The Lawsuits.

Wordsmith/emcee Dewey Decibel teamed up with producer Zilla Rocca for his latest EP A Different Drum (a titled inspired by La Colombe’s latest venture into the rum-running world). Available via World Around Records, the results speak for themselves. Fun, tongue-twisting, coffee-brewed rhymes with arched beats that loosen you up with their beatnik/jazz stemming points. You can stream and download the album below.

Three Man Cannon‘s Matt Schimelfenig had his hands in the production of some of our favorite albums last year like Cayetana‘s Nervous Like Me and Cave People‘s Older. Tonight, his band’s own music will be on display in the upstairs of Kung Fu Necktie. Three Man Cannon also impressed with their own LP, the emotive and introspective Pretty Many People (Lame-O Records). It’s been a moment since we’ve heard new material from the Scranton transplants so hopefully they’ve been hiding out in the studio taking advantage of their bandmate’s multi-faceted skills. Joining them on the bill this evening will be local shoegazers Ghost Gum and NYC’s Painted Zeros and Bethlehem Steel. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $6, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman

Local quartet Church Girls celebrate the release of their self-titled debut EP tonight at MilkBoy Philly. Mariel Beaumont’s vocals vary from joy-filled to half-spoken downcast and world-weary. The instrumentation on the album captures a crisp steady fervent feel anchored by a tightly wound backend and electric guitar runs that are ready to spring loose. Multi-instrumentalist and audio engineer Jesse Gimbel, who contributed backing vocals on the release, dishes a rocking take on the singer-songwriter genre, incorporating lively licks into personal tales. Marc Neibauer’s tunnel-traveling, melodically peaceful tunes open this evening. MilkBoy Philly, 1100 Chestnut St., 8:30pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita

 

WHAT’S NEXT: These results end the first phase of the poll. It’s now time for our readers and fans to influence this Year End Poll for Philly Emerging Artists with their vote. Look out for the Readers’/Fans’ Poll on the right column of this same page – coming soon!

Cheers,
The Deli Philly Staff

With their debut LP, Great Pine, ready for re-release on vinyl this Tuesday via Yellow K Records, Seagulls are set to take the stage tonight at Bourbon & Branch. The former Featured Artist (s) Poll Winners quickly grabbed our attention last year with their debut LP, and became last September’s Record of the Month. It’s the type of album that you gradually absorb with its open-air vibe and delicate, lifting harmonies and instrumentation that remain vibrantly layered, somehow toeing the line between nostalgic and fresh with its 8-bit flourishes. The music radiates a natural warmth, allowing listeners to ease into the weekend. (BTW: Attendees will receive a free CD while supplies last.) Baltimore brotherly duo and fellow Yellow K labelmates, New God, bring a blend rich harmonies with an experimental side. New York’s Jagged Leaves unleash a high-energy variety of folk with an electronic bite, and Brooklynites Laura & Greg open the festivities with a tight, twinkling traditional take on folk. Bourbon & Branch 705 N. 2nd St., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita

We’ve been waiting for this release. Check out and download the debut full-length album Nightclub from Blood Sound below! This is music to dance your depression away alone in your room in an 80’s teen movie. The band is made up of Chris Jordan (vocals, drum machine, synths), Tristan McKeever (bass, synths), and Vincent Tkac (guitar, synths), and you can catch them live on Thursday, February 5 at North Star Bar.

On their way through Chicago, Young Statues stopped in at Audiotree to record a live session. The set features a solid sampling of The Flatlands Are Your Friend including: “Natives,” “Run The River Dry,” “Flood,” “No Shadow,” “Flatlands (pt. 2)” and “Strangers In a Dream.” Enjoy the earnest tunes, which manipulate textures, developing a more immediate ambiance in the process. View the session, and grab two additional songs “Half Light” and “Spacism” by purchasing the download.

Let’s develop a groove. Letting the bass bob, the drums snap their way back in line, and the guitar picks its place to drift in, all the while the vocals encompass that soulful personal funk. Now, submerge yourself in that groove allowing it to evolve and roll with the tide. Immerse yourself in the flowing tunes of Mo Lowda & The Humble opening this evening for Rusted Root at Ardmore Music Hall. This trio has a well-hone grasp of what locking in means, and while it’s easy to let that sound melodically wash over you, stay alert because that relaxed, subconscious sway has an underling power, which boils below the surface only to reveal itself when the group inevitably turns up the heat. Tonight, Mo Lowda & The Humble set the table for the percussive jam vets Rusted Root. Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Lancaster Ave. (Ardmore, PA), 8:30pm, $25, 21+ – Michael Colavita

Check out the video for “Pieces,” the latest offering from Lithuania, the project that combines the forces of Dominic Angelella (DRGN King) and Dr. Dog’s Eric Slick! Having expanded to a four-piece, “Pieces” is a fine example of what Lithuania’s debut LP Hardcore Friends might sound like. Paced by a battering-ram combination of percussion and guitar, the song takes a grunge edge that you can dig your teeth into. The old-school skateboarding footage with lyrics injected as notes provides an enjoyable homespun touch. (Photo by Abi Reimold)