Read it digitally here.

P.S. 10k free copies of this issue hit the street of Austin during SXSW Music week!

When local artists and businesses throughout a music scene unite as a community in celebration and support of each other, good things are the result. Philly Music Fest serves as an opportune event. What began yesterday at Johnny Brenda’s with Pissed Jeans and Soul Glo continues for the next two days at World Cafe Live. Tonight, the elegant hypnotically galvanizing pop of Vita and the Woolf, the endless boogie of Low Cut Connie, the raw and ragged, sweat-saturated, surf-infused, garage rock of The Whips, and the earnest, scene-transporting, songwriting force of Waxahatchee are among those that shape its sonic surroundings. And tomorrow, Palm cultivates an experimental push-pull, hovering between tranquil waves and frenetic, unconventional changes in direction. The melodic, eruptive, dynamic swings of The Districts, the tenacious, cosmic-rocking, riff-combusting charge of Ruby the Hatchet, and the soothing, introspective vulnerability of powerpop trio Hurry are also slated for Saturday. Come take part in this locals only weekend! – Michael Colavita

Other places where locals will be this weekend…

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI Philly Music Fest: The Whips, The Mysteries, Secret American, DJ Royale/Vita and the Woolf, Waxahatchee, Low Cut Connie, SAT Philly Music Fest: Great Time, Levee Drivers, Orion Sun, Kingsley Ibeneche, Hurry, Man About A Horse/End of America, Hardwork Movement, Ruby The Hatchet, Palm, The Districts

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Worriers, Harmony Woods, Earth Telephone, SAT It's The Year 2008: DJ Emynd, Bo Bliz 

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Beru Power Trio, SUN Storks

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI CatBite/DJSC, SAT Automatic Colors, Thank You Thank You, Tapes & Tubes/DJ Lean Wit It, SUN Brother Martin, Jane Carver

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) SUN Drums Like Machine Guns

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Dice Raw, SAT DJ Sylo, Joshua Lang, SUN Lyve Harmon, Tray Verse

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI (Balcony) Tony Season Show, Shawn King, SAT Steal Your Face, SUN Sean Taylor, Folk Fugitive, Andrew Montoya

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) SUN New Sound Brass Band

North Seventh (421 N. 7^th St.) SAT DJ Robert Drake, SUN Philly Bluegrass Revival: Midnight Flyer

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Craig Lynch’s 30th Birthday Party

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) SAT Matt Cappy, SUN Derrick Hodge's Philly State of Mind, Treway & the Now Generation

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI S.T.O.P., High Reeper, SAT Jukebox Zeros, The Prisoners, Thorazine, SUN The Stone Eye

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Hootsie, Buddie/A Charity Benefit Show for United We Dream: The Stammer, Full Bush, Young Pilgrims, SUN Birthday Boy, 3weekoldroses

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) SAT Aleana

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI Fall Fest: DJ Beatstreet, SUN New Pony

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Chris Urban, SAT DJ Shawn Ryan, SUN Forever 27: A Burlesque Tribute to the Artists of the 27 Club

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Montoj, Trap Rabbit

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT James Pace Band, SUN Rusty Cadillac 

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) FRI The Lot

Century (1350 S 29^th St.) FRI Witching, Night Raids, SAT Violet Waves

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Rover, SAT The Strange Heat, Athensville(Cd Release), Parsnip Revolt, Scott McClatchey

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Echo Lad, Blueroom

Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Puppy Angst, Rebecca Zimmerman, Heaven Man

Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Bad Heaven Ltd, Susie Derkins, In Trouble

Over the course of two sold-out evenings, The Districts headline the locals-only billings at Johnny Brenda’s, waving goodbye to 2017. The quartet’s evolution continues as evidenced by the band’s latest album, Popular Manipulations (Fat Possum). The group reaches new depths, while still pulling from unsheathed, emotive, narrative bookmarks, with an experienced melodic refinement. Those gravitational, guttural swings and riff-fueled stompers still resound, as the collective can push the pedal to its limits, but by the same token, attention to the details that steer the sonic ship are well attended. On Saturday’s slate they’re paired with Mannequin Pussy, whose highly energized volatility galvanizes with pop-sensibilities.  Earnestly unabashed and catchy, Permanent Body will lead things off. Meanwhile, Sunday’s affair will be set off by the groove-generating folk rockers Pine Barons, whom branch off into experimental, psych trajectories while still maintaining traditional roots. With their new album White Reindeer in tow, the sticky, rumbling sensitivity of Lithuania reinforces a weekend worthy of capping off the year.  – Michael Colavita

Damn, it’s cold! Other places to stay warm and get numb this weekend…

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Matt Cappy, John Train, SAT New Year's Eve Eve with The Districts, Mannequin Pussy, Permanent Body, SUN New Year's Eve with The Districts, Lithuania, Pine Barons

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Lefty's Deceiver, JJL, I Think Like Midnight, SUN Kississippi

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Sweat Daddy/Matthew Law, Astro 8000, SAT Bad Luck 13 Riot Extravaganza, Urban Resist/Dev79, Sideswipe, SUN Fame Lust

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) FRI Petal

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI The Superweaks, Yankee Bluff, SAT The Great Enough, Andorra, Resilient, SUN West Philadelphia Orchestra, Johnny Showcase & The Mystic Ticket, Red 40 and the Last Groovement, Mambisa

Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St,) SUN Making Time New Year's Eve: Dave P., Zillas on Acid

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SUN Shannen Moser

TLA (334 South St.) FRI Boy Wonder, Chris Gennett, E-Hos, Dear Forbiden, Saint Wilde, Rachael Rota, John Gilbride, SAT Band of Brewers

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) FRI Phat Geez, Pound$ide Pop, 100Proof Yannie, Reco Havoc, Lil Nizzy, ButterKnife, Lihtz Kamraz, SAT Billy Mungus Big Band, Archawah, Camera Thief

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Tiny Hueman, Past Life/(Downstairs) Bilal, SAT (Upstairs) Stu and the Gurus, SUN (Upstairs) Darla, Nik Greeley & The Operators/(Downstairs) Philly Bloco

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI Promise of Redemption, Triangle Shirt Factory, SAT Promise of Redemption, Sleepy Limbs, SUN DJ Kirsh

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) SAT No Option, SUN Imperial, DJ Ha, Left Rite

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Dave Patten, Luke O’Brien, Made Modern, SAT The Newspaper Taxis, Bickel Brothers

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Craig Dash, SAT Shawn Ryan

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Red Means Run, The Vinegar Creek Constituency, SAT Alice In Underpants: A Tim Burton Cabaret, SUN Ruby The Hatchet, Hound

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Christine Irizarry & The Foolhardy, Seth Aaron, George Engel Brooks, SAT Ringtail Howitzer, Children’s Books, Pray To Keep/Afrobear

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Rich Medina, SAT DJ Deejay

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Nero Catalano, SUN Brown Sugar

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) SAT Menace of the Canvas, Adventure Lost

Frankford Hall (1210 Frankford Ave.) SUN Vacationer, Mo Lowda & The Humble, Commonwealth Choir

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Vanderlyle, Luis, Free Pizza, SAT Slophouse, Hopscotch Jefferson, SUN Los Festingos

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Chris Forsyth, SAT Huffamoose, Rugby Road, Transistor Rodeo, SUN Start Making Sense, Swift Tchnique

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Soul Glo, DJ Haram

Locals via Lititz and The Deli Philly’s 2013 Emerging Artist of the Year, The Districts will be congregating at a sold-out show this evening at Union Transfer to celebrate the release of their new album Popular Manipulations (Fat Possum). Still evoking an earnest pit-in-the-stomach power, the band’s sound ventures into more polished production depths on their latest release. Utilizing control within a hallowing, personal, vocal force and the detail of densely woven instrumentation, The Districts tap into unified sonic waves. Tonight, they’ll be joined by The Spirit of the Beehive’s tumultuous torrent of psych and the enchanting yet eruptive rock of Abi Reimold. A plethora of young, Philly talent will be taking over the old Spaghetti Warehouse! – Michael Colavita

More places to be this weekend...

Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI The Districts (Record Release), The Spirit of the Beehive, Abi Reimold

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Sad Heaven, SUN Rosu Lup

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Deadfellow, Sixteen Jackies, Emmett Drueding, SAT QQQ, SUN The Charley Few, Night Raids, Disjawn

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.)  FRI Weak Knees, Slophouse/Starkey, Dev79, SAT Torito/Strange Parts, The Vernes/DJSC/Wolf Dem, KT Caustic, Teknacolor Ninja, SUN Beasters, Durian, Down The Way/Honeytiger, Sublaymen, Kelsey Cork & The Swigs, Sidenail

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) FRI Ursula, Dark Web, Lizdelise, SAT Posers, Pushin' it 2 the Limit

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Kingfisher, Tucker Hill Band, OhBree, QQQ

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI George Engel Brooks, Boy In A Stitch, Saver, SAT Natalie Bermudez, Tucker Hill, SUN SkateWink, A1-Twig, Dev Leone, Geechi Gus, Trippy Drugz

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI (Balcony) Johari Nassor & Family, Duv & RJ Revolver, SAT (Balcony) DJ RL, SUN (Balcony) Cthulhu Martini

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT (Upstairs) Snake Club

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Joey Stix

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI In The Presence of Wolves, SAT SteveO & The Crippling Addictions

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Huffamoose, Stargazer Lily, SAT Kuf Knotz

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI The Space Cats, Mercury Retrograde, SAT The Stammer, Summer Scouts, Last Full Measure, SUN The Sideshow Prophets

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Lee Mayjahs?, DJ Everyday, SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Francisco Collazo

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Dave Steel Blues Band, SUN Rusty Cadillac

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI King Ani Mal, Atomic Cretins

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) SAT Alex Catrambone, Trey Day, Squid Mchale

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Boulevard) FRI DJ Beat Street, SUN Courtney Jansen

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

Century (1350 S. 29^th St.) FRI The Stone Eye, The Mountain Chiefs

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Canyon Ride, American Dinosaur, Madame Jones, & Bluestime, SAT Max Seidman, Athensville, SUN Tektonic, Zoidzilla

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Marah, SAT Love Killed Kurt, White Limo, Purple to the Core

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Novyy Stil', SUN Heavy Harold

Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Yeenar, Very Bad Vibes

Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Tall Friend, MS Saint

Twilight Festival (Parks on Tap – MLK Jr. Dr.) SUN Grandchildren

Contrary to her bedroom pop musical style, Soccer Mommy’s new music video is all outdoors, featuring different shots of lead singer, Sophie Allison, strolling out near the water, woods, and her car over the delightful single, “Allison”. This is one of two songs released off their upcoming album, Collection, set to release on August 4th. “Allison” and “Out Worn” both share similar aspects, an introductory reverbed guitar riff, accompanied then by echo-y, dreamy layers, but the directions of both songs evolve differently, "Allison" bringing forth blissful yet melancholic aspects, and “Out Worn” sounding more upbeat, drum-driven. Soccer Mommy will be touring this summer, which will include a show at Terminal 5 with The Districts--the Philly quartet featured on the Cover of the Deli Magazine's SXSW issue a few years back, who are also set to release their album, Popular Manipulations, the following week. Come celebrate with both bands at their show on August 16th in NYC. – Pearse Devlin