Former Clockcleaner and Puerto Rico Flowers frontman, John Sharkey III, came up with the concept for his latest album, Pure Reality, when he was working the graveyard shift as nightwatchman at a university in Canberra, Australia while his wife was giving birth to their daughter. When faced with the “pure reality” that Australia was a temporary move, they headed back to Philadelphia, and realized the significant differences bewteen down under and Kensington. Upon settling in, he linked up with former Puerto Rico Flowers bandmates Andrew Mackie Nelson and Mike Sneeringer (who have also collaborated with the likes of Ceremony, Paint It Black, The Loved Ones, Strand of Oaks, and Purling Hiss) to form Dark Blue and work on their debut album, which was recorded by Jeff Ziegler and will be available via Jade Tree starting October 7. Dark Blue will be having an early celebration for its arrival this evening at Boot & Saddle, where they’ll be joined by Melbourne, Australia’s Dick Diver. Rounding out the lineup will be the dark and enchanting synth-driven musings of Shari Vari’s Void Vision, whose upcoming full-length Sub Rosa will be coming out mid-fall. Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Bill McThrill

This weekend, University City is sending off their 40th Street Summer Series with one hell of a high note: Man Man will be playing a free outdoor concert this afternoon! The prodigal local outfit is known for their insane mashup of styles, grandiose over-the-top lyrics, frantic keyboardsmanship, and one of the most impressive mustaches in modern music. Their music could be described as a head on collision between heyday surf-rock and soulful indie, with just enough pseudo-hip hop to make things interesting. They’ll be joined by opener Needle Driver, an NYC avante-garde rock outfit, who will certainly add to the weirdest, most exhilarating way to say goodbye to summer. Behind the Walnut Street Free Library, 40th & Walnut Sts., 6pm, Free, All Ages – Daniel Ludwig

A celebratory atmosphere fills Johnny Brenda’s this evening as a trio of local acts is slated on the bill, headlined by The Lawsuits, whom just released their new EP Tumbled earlier this week. The album builds on the group’s foundation of genre interplay, touching on aspects of folk/Americana, R&B, and rock and creating a polished sound that consistently draws listeners with its tight fluid shifts. Speaking of new records, DRGN King is due to release their latest Baltimore Crush on October 28 via Bar None Records. In the midst of a fall tour, DRGN King unleashes an eclectic upbeat tone, with psych accents and Dominic Angelella’s commanding front-of-the-pack lead vocals. The ever-evolving lineup of chamber/baroque-pop outfit, Tutlie, opens the show, developing a strong hold through delicate yet authoritatively layered vocal harmonies, elevated through a wide range of environment shaping instrumentation, creating a thoughtful sonic setting. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita

If you’d like to really be assured free admission into this Saturday’s Red Bull Sound Select Presents showcase with rjd2, S.T.S. (a.k.a. Sugar Toungue Slim), and Marian Hill, we’d love to provide it to you. To enter for a chance to win a pair of tix, just send an email to thedelimagazinephiladelphia@gmail.com with the subject line "Guaranteed." Please also include your cell number in the body of the message (in case of an emergency). Good luck!

The musical alias of Lou Rogai, Lewis & Clarke, has steadily built a devout following among indie music circle with several ambitious and rightfully acclaimed recordings. But the songwriter and record label founder of La Societe Expeditionnaire takes it up a notch with his first new album to be released in nearly half a decade, Triumvirate. The twelve-song full-length is as vibrantly beautiful as it is filled with heartbreaking melancholy. Before its official release on October 7th, the avant-folk artist is all set to celebrate it arrival this evening at Boot & Saddle tonight. He’ll be joined by weirdo-folk crew Norwegian Arms, who also have a reason to party down since Keith Birthday and the gang just wrapped up the recording of their next album. And when they play tonight in support of Rogai, they’ll be unleashing a whole set of new material. Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St, 8pm, $10, 21+ (Photo by Dan Papa) – Bill McThrill

There is something quite relatable in the lyrics of Restorations‘ Jon Loudon. The wisdom of learning from your past while finding your way through the difficult realities of the present with the uncertainty of the future looming over the horizon is something that most of us are constantly struggling with in our daily lives. Combine that with epic bursts of instrumentation, and you have music that will remain timeless in your collection. Restorations are getting ready to release their third full-length album, LP3, which is aptly named like its predecessors. It will be available next month via SideOneDummy Records, and below is the latest offering, entitled "Misprint."

Local alt-soul man Cookie Rabinowitz just shared a cover of "Fall In Philadelphia" from Philly blue-eyed soul greats Hall & Oates. The original version appeared on the group’s 1972 debut Whole Oats. You can stream Cookie’s interpretation below and download it for free HERE.

Tormenting yet playful like some delightfully twisted subconscious dream concoction, where slightly off-kilter becomes the status quo, OhBree will be performing tonight at The Fire. With songs that tap into a theatrical/dramatic with quirky, catchy lyrics and instrumentation that varies from bright, cheery keys and horn combinations to more heavily clouded, grey mood makers, you can’t help hearing the influence of local favorites Man Man. Like their forefathers, OhBree warps listeners into their musical world, and it’s a compelling place. Joining OhBree on the bill will be Mike Bell‘s previous incarnation Mike Bell & The World’s Most Unremarkable Band, as well as local pop-punk outfit The Goodbye Party (featuring Michael Cantor of The Ambulars) with New York’s Gladshot completing the bill. The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 8:30 pm, $7, 21+ – Michael Colavita

Nothing just posted an acoustic version of their song "Suns And Lovers," which you can take a listen to HERE. It features guest vocals from Creepoid‘s Anna Troxell that were recorded in 2011. The track will appear as an addition to Downward Years To Come V2.0 that will be reissued on 12" vinyl (black, white & black/white split) via A389, which is now available for pre-order.

Garage-psych trio St. James & The Apostles just dropped its new full-length album Via Dolorosa today. You can stream and purchase it below. The band will be celebrating its release on Friday, October 10, and if you can’t wait until then, St. James & The Apostles will also be performing at the Uke Club on Saturday, October 4, along with a plethora of local acts.