Philly natives Blood Feathers are back at Johnny Brenda’s tonight in full force now that drummer Patrick Marsceill is on a hiatus from the road with his other band, Sun Airway, working on a new album. The core of Blood Feathers is made up of Ben Dickey and Drew Mills. The duo formed the band back in 2005 after performing in various projects throughout the ‘90s in the local music scene. With the goal of performing new material that they had written, what came to fruition is a nostalgic brand of good ole fashion American rock n’ roll deeply rooted in the blues, soul, gospel, and jazz music. Their sound can be summed up as fuzzy retro-rock guitars, backed by sixties girl group drum patterns, with the clean dual lead vocal harmonies of Dickey and Mills. Rounding out tonight’s show are fellow psych-garage rockers St. James & The Apostles. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., $10, 9pm, 21+ – Dan Brightcliffe

The drums pump along at a running pace, and then as you begin to sweat, intense electric guitars join you making the ground beneath your feet feel slightly uncomfortable as loose gravel penetrates your skin. However, once you reach maximum speed, there’s no slowing down, and a sweet feminine voice steadies the course. You lock in. Your body seems to move in one fluid motion, until it becomes effortless, and you’re left to your own unfiltered thoughts. The terrain is ever-changing, and the soundtrack is Bleeding Rainbow.

Bands can take your mind to many places. West Philadelphia Orchestra brings you on a welcomed journey to the old country of some Eastern European town with their Balkan-inspired tunes that are bursting with energy and in their own words “tinged with punk rock, soul, and cheesesteaks.” The massive gang is performing at Johnny Brenda’s tonight, and will be joined by like-minded Brooklyn outfit Raya Brass Band. WPO can roll in 13 performers deep with various musical backgrounds. It’s always interesting to see how many people they can fit on JB’s stage. Both bands will be delivering two rollicking sets with Raya Brass Band starting off the festivities and alternating with WPO who will close out the evening. Expect people gettin’ down Balkan styley for the Yards-presented Philly Beer Week event. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ (Photo by Jen Kertis-Veit) – Maura Filoromo

Below is another nocturnal, contemplative track called “Moonbeams” from Brooklyn/Philly indie-folk outfit Family Band. Their forthcoming album Graces and Lies will be released on July 24 via No Quarter.

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Alter Ego Collective (AEC) will be direct support tonight for Ryat’s  Philly Record Release Show at Johnny Brenda’s. The crew, represented by FLOTE, Chris Are and Binary Bits, will be meshing their “styles ranging from lo-fi tape beats to off-kilter future funk” as well as hip hop and EDM influences. Other members of AEC also include West Philly’s Beam&Deem and Brooklyn’s La Confidential. Former Philly native turned LA gal Ryat will be celebrating her latest release TOTEM, which is available via Flying Lotus’s indie label Brainfeeder. She’ll be joined this evening on stage by Jason Fraticelli on bass and Mark Guiliana on drums. Rounding out the lineup is two-headed electronica beast Gemini Wolf. The whole bill will also be taking it on the road this Sunday to Brooklyn’s Cameo Gallery for the second half of Ryat’s record release celebration. Also keep your ear to the ground about a surprise performance this Saturday by the new Brainfeeder signée. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman

We mentioned earlier this week that Diplo is running a contest to win free lifetime entry into all his shows to celebrate the upcoming release of his Express Yourself EP on June 12. (Sorry dudes, apparently it’s for females only, and unlike Donald Trump and Miss Universe, we highly doubt transgender individuals will be allowed to enter. However, we don’t think that they’ll be testing so we’d love to see one win just to see the disappointed look on Diplo’s face. ;o) Well, you can now get a sneak preview of the album via Spotify, which also has contributions from Elephant Man, GTA, Datsik, Nicky Da B and more, so pop into that handstand and “let your booty go.”

Blues Control recently premiered a new music video for the track “Love’s A Rondo” via Stereogum. It was directed by Tara Sinn. The experimental duo will be releasing their forthcoming album Valley Tangents on June 19 via Drag City.

If you’ve ever checked out the music of recent Featured Artist(s) Poll Winner Ecce Shnak, then you’d expect nothing less than really peculiar answers to our latest set of interview questions. Well, you can read their second draft HERE, since they deemed the first one to be “terribly silly.” Would anyone like to translate parts of it for us? ;o)

The year and a half of playing and promoting songs from their Sounds from the Underground EP is coming to an end for Former Belle since tonight will be their last full band show before they step into the studio to work on their first full-length Cathedral. And they’re set to make sure that Kung Fu Necktie will be abuzz with plenty of new tunes. Former Belle’s biggest moment of the year thus far has been touring Europe with Peasant in support of the folk crooner’s latest Bound for Glory. And their good friend will be returning the favor before he packs his bags for a move to NYC. Add in an opening set from Bridge Underwater, and you have an entertaining hump day hang. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $8, 21+ – Bill McThrill

We are very happy to see the return of Adventuredrum, the massive side project from Need New Body/Man Man’s Christopher Sean Powell a.k.a. Pow Pow. The group made their public debut in March at Philadelphia Art Museum’s Art After 5, and Powell was joined by fellow Man Man bandmates Jamey Robinson and Matt Gibson, Chris Ward (Pattern Is Movement), Jason Kourkounis (Bardo Pond), Chris Wilson (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists), Ricardo Lagomasino (Many Arms), David Fishkin (Extreme Fishkin), Stephen Buono (Split Red), Koofreh Umoren (The Extraordinaires), Adam Hershberger (Bobby Zankel’s Warriors of the Wonderful Sound), Sam Belkowitz, Eugene Lew and Ellen Houle. Adventuredrum will be making their sophomore performance on Saturday, August 25 as part of the annual 40th Street Summer Series which will also be hosting Slavic Soul Party (June 23), Sun Ra Arkestra (July 28), and Bobby Zankel’s Warriors of the Wonderful Sound featuring Dave Liebman and Odean Pope performing John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme (September 22). There will be complimentary Rita’s Water Ice while supplies last, and Tsirkus Fotografika (or the “Photographic Circus”) will bring their antique mobile portrait studio to offer free antique photos to concertgoers for the June and July events. All this sounds really fun! Just hope that the weather has mercy on us.