Tonight will be the inaugural run of TUESDAY TUNE-OUT at PhilaMOCA. The multipurpose art space is inviting local music folks (bloggers, DJs, musicians, etc.) to curate a weekly night of music and movies each month. Local musicians will be chosen to perform, and they’ll also be introducing a previously unannounced film of their choice. The screening will be preceded by an explanation of why they chose the film and how it has inspired them. This evening will be presented by Rockaphilly.com, and features Deli fave Lushlife. I’m looking forward to seeing what cinematic piece Lush will be sharing and of course, a smokin’ set from the gifted South Philly emcee/producer. Come tune-out the rest of the world with us! PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 8pm – Show/9pm – Movie, $5, All Ages – Q.D. Tran

So Diplo has been playing mind games with his fans for a while now teasing the release of his new EP Express Yourself. Well, the album finally has an official drop date of June 12 – although we’ve heard that one before. However, he also just announced a contest to win free lifetime entry to any Diplo/Major Lazer show. (That’s a lot of rad bills and festivals – fo sho!) All you have to do is tweet to #EXPRESSYOURSELF a photo of you expressing yourself in the craziest location possible. Submissions will be posted HERE, and Diplo himself will be picking the winner on June 16. Check out the contest’s promo video for more deets below.

While psychedelic blues rockers Birds of Maya have settled into performing a handful of shows each year, the band has spawned side projects Purling Hiss and Spacin’, which have turned into its founders’ mainstays as of late. The former led by Mike Polizze’s ferocious, snarling guitar work has already released albums on well-respected indie labels (Mexican Summer, Woodsist, Permanent Records, Richie Records) and toured with the likes of The War on Drugs, Dr. Dog and now Wilco. However, I’m here to talk about the latter. Former punk kid and now early ‘70s Grateful Dead lover, Jason Killinger, invaded my subconscious when his solo lo-fi demos “Ego-go” and “When You Come Around” surfaced on Bandcamp last year under the moniker Spacin’. Since then, he has recruited Acid Kicks’ Sean Hamilton on bass, wife Eva Killinger on skins, and Paul Sukeena (formerly of The Spooks) on electric guitar to flesh out sounds to complement his effortless stream of melodies and experimental hijinks.

The cover of their debut album Deep Thuds (Richie Records) hints at what you may find on the vinyl with a play on the Rolling Stone’s iconic Sticky Fingers cover, which is altered with a dripping, melt-y tongue indicating classic psych rock is alive and well. From the opening words of “yeah, rip it” followed by the good time power chord progressions of “Empty Mind,” you’ll find Killinger, with a laidback drawl, delivering some rock ‘n’ roll zen with the song’s opening line: “All I want is an empty mind.” It’s a sort of shoshin (meaning “beginner’s mind”) that Zen Buddhist strive to achieve. The track invites its listeners to rid themselves of the preconceived notions of what music should be blasting through their stereo speakers. Challenging those preconceptions, the outro jam fades into the ambient noise of “Some Future Burger,” a whimsically named instrumental that pulsates. Guitar lines ring out like sirens warning villagers about a storm on the horizon. Thunder-crashing-freak-out chords are added into the mix to awaken the senses reminding you that there is still a lot more music to go on the album. The jam’s dark, eerie ambience is abruptly interrupted catching you off guard as sleazy rocker “Wrong Street” takes over followed by “Chest of Steel” with its anthemic strums and delectable guitar licks interwoven to close out the first side of the vinyl. Side B’s “Oh Man” starts off briefly frenetic before dropping into its jungle boogie groove, while later on, parts of the track remind me of something that might be found on The Flaming Lips’ Embryonic. “Sunshine No Shoes” provides a taste of the rockin’ honky-tonk blues that so influenced a generation of musicians. Deep Thuds ends where the origins of the album might have begun – the party rock vibes of “Ego-go,” but the lo-fi ear-catcher has been filled out sonically on its album version, and like a lot of the record, it leaves itself wide-open for live experimentation.

What Deep Thuds successfully accomplishes is capturing the feeling of those late-night after-hours jam sessions in your friend’s basement when your lost in the communal vibrations with your friends (and ther are no mics around to record). The album has a timeless, youthful feeling that good rock ‘n’ roll can bring out in all of us. – Q.D. Tran

When entering a crowded room (maybe a party or local watering hole), the sheer magnitude of the social situation can become overwhelming. However, as one sifts through the masses seeing a familiar face or becoming accustomed to one’s environment has the ability to shift one’s feelings of chaos to that of comfort. Nothing provides a sound to accompany those internal struggles. Heart-thumping percussion pushes your body forward as you scan your surroundings. The guitar races ahead aggressively undeterred elbows-out in the battle for self-preserving positioning. Finally, the vocals reassuringly sit back playing it cool allowing you to adjust to the new terrain. The melding of these parts creates a mixture that is potent yet controlled. Comfort staring in the face of chaos and playing it cool. Silk City, 435 Spring Garden St., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita

If you enjoy attending concerts in unusual places like the rest of our staff, then I’d like to suggest for you to attend The Bailey Hounds performing at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Yes, a cemetery – you are reading correctly. The alt folk four-piece will be trespassing on hallowed ground dating back to the mid-1800s to bring you songs from their LP Along the Gallows as well as some new tunes and covers, and all this will be happening at sundown. Does this sound creepily fun to you? Yeah, me too! It’s also BYOB, and don’t forget your beach blankets and chairs. Laurel Hill Cemetery, 3822 Ridge Ave., 8pm, $10 (BYOB), All Ages – Alexis V.

Weird Hot will be celebrating their album release party tonight at Johnny Brenda’s. The group was started by songwriter/producer Shawn Kilroy in 2011 after a string of solo releases in an effort to be able to replicate the layers of his previous works in a live setting. The new album is entitled Million Dollar Movie, and is the second LP by the group. On their latest effort, you’ll find Kilroy giving the band a little more creative freedom in the studio, as well as experimenting with influences from 70’s film scores, creating an eclectic mix of sounds pulling from genres like art rock, psychedelic folk, goth and even funk to get the crowd moving this evening. Come out and get weird! Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave, $10, 8 p.m., 21+ – Dan Brightcliffe

The Roots Picnic comes to the Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing this weekend, and the annual event (now in its 5th year) will bring its usual blend of hip hop and indie/electronic acts. The Roots will be earning their money this Saturday and Sunday when they headline both nights along with backing legendary rappers De La Soul and the man with a master plan Rakim. Both days will feature indie darlings like St. Vincent, tUnE-yArDs, James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem), and Diplo. And plenty of more national/international and local acts will be occupying both stages (just check out the rest of the list HERE). Most of our staff will be there so hopefully you will be too. It’ll also be beautiful weather for a picnic so we hope to see you sooner than later. Cheers! Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing, Columbus Blvd. and Spring Garden St., 12pm (Saturday) & 5pm (Sunday), $50-$80, All Ages – Bill McThrill

Hop Along are celebrating the release of their album Get Disowned (which you can read about in our review HERE) at First Unitarian tonight, along with Little Big League, Mary Lattimore and Bandname. On the continuum of bands who specialize in the soft-loud dichotomy, Hop Along  – fresh off the set of their debut music video for “Tibetan Pop Stars” (below) –  is winning a good amount of Philly’s attention. They come at it by way of Frances Quinlan’s gossamer vocals, paired with punk and pop-folk campfire sounds, setting an achingly introspective mood that stays behind even when the band careens between tiptoeing, unhurried interludes and angular outbursts. Their supporting acts are a collage of both the art-punk and delicate folk ends of Hop Along’s spectrum. Bandname bring the good times with Philly garage rock and roll. Little Big League contain ex and present members of Strand of Oak, Post Post and Titus Andronicus. And Mary Lattimore gives you the chance to see punk and classical harp all in one set. First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 8pm, $10, 21+ (Photo by Tiffany Yoon) – Alyssa Greenberg

Start your weekend off right with some garage rock – Philly style with The Shakes and The Tough Shits, who will be opening for all girl group ATL rockers The Coathangers at Kung Fu Necktie tonight. The Shakes will be kicking the evening off with their soulful brand of sing-along garage punk. Back in March, the four-piece dropped their latest 7-inch featuring the keyboard-laden party jam “Full House (Come Over)” and their love song(?) “No One Likes My Baby.” Next up will be the Pabst-soaked drunken harmonies of The Tough Shits. The group is infamous for their extremely catchy anthems of debauchery like “Heard She Kisses on The Mouth” and “Born Drunk.” It’s Friday, and you ain’t got shot to do. Come test out your livers tonight! Kung Fu Necktie, 1201 N. Front St., $10, 7:30pm, 21+ – Dan Brightcliffe