This year’s XPoNential Music Fest was one of the most crowded (if not the most crowded) ever, which is not surprising since it teamed up with Americanarama featuring the likes of heavy-hitters Bob Dylan, Wilco and My Morning Jacket. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t play in our favor with the skies pouring down biblical amounts of precipitation on its final day causing the non-Americanarama section of the weekend to get rained out during Justin Townes Earle’s set cancelling Dawes’ performance. While most ran for cover, others made the best of it by playing Slip n’ Slide on the muddy hills. Overall, the atmosphere was very peaceful with the exception of John Butler Trio dragging in the frat-boy-meets-’90’s-tribal-tattoo element. Philly’s own DRGN KING and The Fleeting Ends provided the more rockin’ sets of the weekend, while high schoolers The Districts continued to impress with a moving, emotional performance. You can check out some of our photos from last weekend HERE. (Photo by Brandi Lukas)

Orbit To Leslie’s latest EP, Preppy Spooky, delightfully veers off course from their previous work. Their former releases featured space-age, surf rock, but the band’s recent venture crash lands on the Moon’s lonesome reality where the group is stranded to piece together what’s left of their equipment to record some lo-fi tracks. The five-song album coats prior sounds in a gothic veneer, upbeat optimism maturing into wizened nostalgia. 

Setting the tone is opener, “Stop Drop And Roll”- casual ambience, a steadily tapping drum, and bluesy guitar riffs move through a dense fog of unrequited love. Rather than the typically cheerful yearning found in similar mid-century styling, doo-wop takes on the darker shade of “doom-wop” (a term coined by rock outfit Mister Heavenly). Just like the recovery stages of love lost, the track shifts from melancholy reminiscence to determined possibility. Using the all-instrumental “Ballad of Shortie Smalls,” Orbit To Leslie forces the pace, surging on heavy drums and a deep bass line. This sets the stage for the EP’s standout “KCKC” and its growling waves of surf rock. Both tunes pump blood into the band’s already impressive instrumentals; each individual piece folding into the whole with a slow simmer of raw aggression. The following track is the after-effects of emotions boiled over, a psychedelic daze aptly titled “Saturn Files.” Contrasting percussion accompanies stark strums on guitar and bass, all of which play out in off-kilter rhythms, cycling back into a doom-wop state on the final song, “Straight Thru The Night.” 

Despite its brevity in length, Preppy Spooky manages to take listeners through the full cycle of moving on and the honesty in regressing back to square one. Amongst the ups and downs, Orbit To Leslie’s acquired nonchalance stood constant: the album’s greatest asset. Personified in frontman Chris Woods’ echoing vocals, there isn’t an unconcern for the music but in its resulting emotional conveyance. The group performs their EP’s structured musical foundation without a ceiling, allowing the music to evolve organically as each song progresses. It’s this ability to let loose of their grip that adds volumes to the mere five tracks of Preppy Spooky. – Shaylin O’Connell

Freewheelin’ psych rockers Spacin’ are back from their jaunt through Europe, and you can welcome them home tonight at Ortlieb’s. It will also double as their Accidentally Unreleased CD-R Release Party for a three-song EP that the group put together for their Portugal/Spain/France tour. They will also be joined by pals Watery Love who will be opening the celebration. It’s an impromptu night of music, and good reason why living in Philly has its perks. Ortlieb’s Lounge, 847 N. 3rd St., 9pm, $5, 21+ – Alexis V. 

The TLA is serving up a bit of home cooking tonight with The Homophones and Needle Points warming things up for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. The Homophones are anchored by Jason Ferraro’s deep baritone vocals and captivating yet slightly dark storytelling technique with a musical backdrop that shares elements of indie rock/pop/folk dropping in a well-placed groove and ripping guitar so that everything remains in constant motion. Newcomers Needle Points appear intent on creating a warped psych-rock atmosphere that makes you want to commune with nature and stare at lava lamps for way too long. Then, there is CYHSY, whose new EP Little Moments wets one’s appetite for their next full-length scheduled for release early next year. TLA, 334 South St., 8pm, $19, All Ages (The Homophones Photo by David Turcotte) – Michael Colavita

Wow – after being bedridden and hopped up on drugs (not the fun kind), normality is starting to set back in again today. Here’s a new track called "Iron Fist" from Emmett Drueding & the Cowboy Killa that feels like it captures the gloom and doom of this morning’s weather. It’s also available for free download.

Feeling under the weather on this nice summer day and needing a pick-me-up, so where do you turn? That’s an easy answer: Trippin’ Balls with Brother JT. In this latest episode, he has invited local guitar-making wiz Chris DiPinto in for an always awkward chat as well as a performance with his band Creem Circus. And DiPinto is definitely decked out in his finest rock ‘n’ roll attire for this momentous appearance.

This evening, R5’s free concert series at Morgan’s Pier will be hosting another big show with Waxahatchee opening for Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. Katie Crutchfield, the mastermind behind the heavily lauded Waxahatchee, immediately pulls you in with her lyrical magnetism, as song after song seems to capture a deeply personal moment or situation with her vocals delivering these intimate stories in a straightforward unmasked manner that at times exudes confident and strength and in others reveals pain and anguish. There is a genuine aesthetic that fits Waxahatchee’s tendency toward minimalism as moments of distorted guitar and heart-thumping bass are used to accentuate and elevate each tune. Crutchfield has that innate ability to gain strength and authority over an audience by sharing her thoughts through her music fearlessly. And you should already be familiar with DIY garage-punks Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, whose live performances are legendary in the underground music community. It’s going to be another packed night of great performances and drunken debauchery on the water. Morgan’s Pier, 221 N. Columbus Blvd., 9pm, Free, 21+ – Michael Colavita

Check out Pill Friends’ new LP Blessed Suffering, which is available for streaming and purchase below! The album was produced and recorded by Scott Stitzer. Enjoy!

Tonight independent promoters/musicians Andy Molholt and Brendan Mulvihill will be wrapping up their month of curating Tuesday Tune-Out at PhilaMOCA with Literature. The Austin transplants really caught me off-guard with their wonderful full-length album Arab Strap – some of the best jangly indie pop that I’ve heard in years (listen for yourself below). A record label with a larger distribution network really should reissue this LP. Also, Zoolander will be this evening’s featured film. It’s going to be a rad night, and you should join us! PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 8pm, $5 Donation, All Ages (Photo by Abi Reimold) – Q.D. Tran

Psychic Teens premiered another new rager off their forthcoming album COME called "H#TE" yesterday over at Brooklyn Vegan. The LP will be officially available on August 13 via SRA Records, and you can celebrate with the trio at their record release show on Friday, August 9 at Center City record store Long in the Tooth where we are sure that you’ll be able to grab your advance copy. 

DJ Bearbeat (a.k.a. Chris Ward from Pattern Is Movement) just shared a gorgeously headie, sexified remix of Son Lux’s "Flickers" and D’Angelo’s "Lady," which he calls "Son Lux Meet D’Angelo." We’re guessing that you’ll be able to hear it this Saturday, August 3 when he deejays at Lost Bar for the last time before he takes off to Europe backing Strand of Oaks.