“Harsh Reality,” the new single from hardcore outfit Luxe, can be found on the Fresh! Volume One compilation, which is now available via New York imprint Teeny Tiny Records. A rumbling rush pushes out the gates, spilling over with a raw release of intensity. Those hard-driving tones momentarily give way to a percussive breakdown and demented power chords and licks, before the final blitzkrieg unfolds. Be the last one standing when Luxe joins Open City, Red Hare, and Greg Electric (featuring members of Loose Tooth and Nine of Swords) on Saturday, June 2 at Everybody Hits.

The tandem of Lauren DeLucca and Rachel Dispenza, a.k.a. Coping Skills, will be celebrating the release of its sophomore album Worst New Music (Citywide Records), with a show tomorrow night at Everybody Hits. The duo delves into the daily ups and downs via episodic songs, providing peeks into the songwriters’ psyches. Unobstructed, personal insights create a genuine connection of shared experience. Whether exploring points of doubt or frustration or finding moments of contagious euphoria, there’s a gritty, unpolished closeness that simultaneously bubbles over into jubilation. On this showcase (which will benefit No More Dysphoria), they’ll be joined by the dreary-romantic, shoegazing daydream of So Totally (whom have a new record in the works), the acoustic-driven, emo-crashing waves of Vivian K., and the raw, riff-rockin’ Big Quig. Also, hailing from Venezuela,  the experimental-punk of Zeta completes this billing. – Michael Colavita

Other places to hit this weekend…

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Past Life, Whine Moms, Punk Hands, SAT Coping Skills (Record Release), So Totally, Vivian K, Big Quig

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Straw Hats, SAT Grandchildren

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Goodnight/Goodluck (Record Release), Secret American, Wax Wav 

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Sparrow Steeple, Yuzo Iwata/Brother JT, Jo Kusy/Night Drive/OneSixty, SAT Timothy Tebordo, The Bells/Fame Lust, SUN Loafass, Fucksake/Saint Wilde

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) FRI FV, Rich People, Moses Mosima, SAT Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SAT Dean & Company, Whiskeyhickon Boys

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI (Balcony) Black Panther Burlesque, SAT Cosmo Baker

TLA (334 South St.) FRI Varial 

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) SAT Mo Lowda & The Humble, Kirby & The Vibe Tribe

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT Monnette Sudler, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Diane Monroe, Lee Smith, Sonny Troy, V. Shayne Frederick, Byron Landham, SUN Minas Mother’s Day Brunch

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Dysphoria, Vicious Embrace/Jacopo & The Late Saints.  Zap Goes Pop!, This Way to the Egress

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnust St.) FRI Mike Pinto, Jay D Clark, SAT Stella Ruze, NorthEast Corners  

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Hetz, Berdmajik, Night Bloom, DCTC/Tiger Castle, Dear Forbidden, I Am Not The Universe, SAT Hallowed Bells, The Russian White, Argyle Rings

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Sylo, Astro 800, SAT DJ Deejay

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Johnny Moskal, SUN Rusty Cadillac

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^ndSt.) FRI Mike Matteson & The Sketchy Freaks, Line Leader, Slomo Sapiens, SAT Tucker Hill Band (Album Release), Miss Cantaloupe, Sitting In Cars, SUN The Ones Group Mixer

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) SAT BrainFest: Stinking Lizaveta, Alright Junior, Camera Thief, The Good Mess, Resilient, Dirty Dollhouse, School of Rock Philadelphia, The Sea Tease, The Cozy

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SAT DJ Pierson

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Royale, SAT Ian Saint Laurent

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) SAT Alexis Cunningham

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SAT Catullus

 

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI In Different Sounds, Kate Dressed Up, Wallace / Grimace Federation, Nakama, Gorgeous Porch, SAT Of The Archive, Echo Lad, Countdown From Ten, SUN Echo Lad

LAVA Space (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Leadrs, Buster, Spring Onion, SUN Knifeplay, Spellbinder

Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Good How Are You Fest: Ntive Flora, Yeenar, Elissa Janelle Velveteen, Honeytiger, Busy Bee Project, Secret Nudist Friends, Mavis the Dog, Overwinter,StateSchoolGirl

Slime Time Live (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Good How Are You Fest:Puppy Angst, Kat Hamilton, Elaine Rasnake, Erik Kramer, Kelsey Cork & the Swigs, Trash Boy

Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more information.) FRI Eliza Edens, Brian Hamilton, Sudden Forever

JJ’s Diner (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more information.) SAT Blueroom, James Barrett

The Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Arthur, Buddie, SAT Dialer, The Invasive Species, Aphid Daughters

Hole Foods (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Earth Telephone, Party Muscles

Philly singer-songwriter Katie Miller, a.k.a. Kate Dressed Up, first caught our attention when she released a music video for “I Wish” (below), a transatlantic folk-fusion collaboration with London-based Ganda Boys. The wistful nature of the song and its mellifluous harmonies and melodies transported us away from the abrasive sounds of the city, if only for a moment. Miller has been quite active, of late – recently winning our Featured Artist Poll and wrapping up an April residency (hosted by Lost Compass). She’ll also be kicking off her Midwest Tour with Elaine Rasnake this evening at The Pharmacy, backed by a full band. However, before all this takes place, take a moment to get to know Kate Dressed Up HERE.

Pairing partners Augusta Koch (Cayetana) and Matt Schimelfenig (Three Man Cannon), a new project, Gladie, has emerged. Sean Hallock (Rozwell Kid) and Candice Martello (Hemming) currently round the band into form. With a debut EP Everyone is Talking About You due out on May 17, the band’s first single “The Problem Is Us” has just arrived. Akin to the reverberating buzz of traffic, the song sets an ambient beginning. Then, Koch delivers personal observations, which gather momentum as the instrumentation (keys, percussion, etc.) is further fleshed out, joined vocally by Schimelfenig to create an emotive yet calming discourse. The band is slated to perform at Everybody Hits on Wednesday, May 23, alongside Doll Baby, Bat Boy, and Big Nothing.

Fight Amp‘s Mike McGinnis, Jon DeHart, and Dan Smith have teamed up with Itarya Rosenberg (formerly of Legendary Divorce) to bring us Low Dose. “For Sure” serves as the debut single from the band’s completed but yet-to-be-released debut self-titled LP. Formidable rhythms plow a path to the door in the form of a grunge breakup track. Itarya’s vocals exhibit both a sensitivity and strength. The blend of raw pain and power are the natural forces that bind this promising combination together.

“Stranger,” the latest single from the quartet of Rover, subtlety steps out. A sense of hesitation hovers in one’s mind, as the lingering affects of the prior pain resonate. A slowed-down, somber state expresses a design to move forward, while the pull from the past remains strong. Don’t allow the past to dictate your future.

It’s been quite some time since we’ve heard from former Mazarin frontman Quentin Stoltzfus’s Light Heat. However, like a long-time friend making an unexpected call, in the form of an album, we received V yesterday. Whimsically buoyant instrumentation cultivates a delicately-detailed, daydreaming state. Get swept away in its heartfelt, sensory-rich experimental-pop. 

Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band recently dropped a live EP, entitled Rare Dreams: Solar Live 2​.​27​.​18, capturing a three-song sampling of their performance at London’s Café Oto. Bookended by Peter Kerlin & Jason Robira (both of Sunwatchers), Forsyth launches into a cosmic sojourn. The amped-up trio sound connected and ready to push sonic boundaries at rocket speed. Wedged in between a couple of originals ("Dreaming In The Non-Dream" & "The First 10 Minutes of Cocksucker Blues"), Forsyth also lyrically adapts and personally contextualizes a cover of Neil Young’s “Don’t Be Denied,” off 1973’s Time Fades Away. You can catch Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band tear things up this Saturday, May 12 at PhilaMOCA, supported by Sunwatchers.

"Eyes Wide" is the new single from garage rock trio Well Room. As an acoustic guitar lead gradually awakens the song, that delicate, melodic vibe is quickly traded back and forth with the rattling roar of vocals and fuzz. The tug of war between the sunny and scorching tones is an enticing/intense combination. You can find the band performing at the Boy Tears Mag release and artist showcase on Saturday, June 2 at Spreehive, alongside Family Volleyball, Afloat, and Drainer.

Bern and the Bastards recently unveiled a new EP You’re Only As Good As Your Propaganda!. This latest batch of punk/ska ditties is loaded with snarky satire. Infusing enthusiastic energy with evaluations about the current state of affairs, there are moments of humor, while acknowledging the sobering sadness. Have a good laugh, cry and sing-along! (Photo by Stephanie Czapla)

Krust Toons: "Spoilers" by Tedd Hazard – please feel free to drop him a line at teddandthehazards@gmail.com if you dig or have any funny ideas. You can also check out more of his illustrations and animation shorts HERE.

Glam-pop/rock outfit Sixteen Jackies just released a new double EP 12" vinyl via Philly’s own Born Loser Records. Consisting of their wonderfully unique debut Movie Was Bad and equally captivating latest project Mascula, this gem of recordings is a must-have for your collection. You can grab your very own copy at their record release celebration on Friday, May 18 at PhilaMOCA, with Madalean Gauze, Isles Isles (featuring members of The Lawsuits), and Long Hots. Bring your best self.