After being a man down due to a wedding at their last show at Morgan’s Pier with Free Energy, Grandchildren should be back with their very best at Johnny Brenda’s tonight when they open for The Very Best. The West Philly crew have been taking their usual easy summer tending to their many other non-musical obligations, but you’ll find the group fine-tuning some of their new material as a new album peaks over the horizon. You can take a listen to the band’s lead single called “Where’s the Knife” HERE, or soak in their all-encompassing sound live this evening - not bad for a lazy Sunday. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $13, 21+ - H.M. Kauffman

Break out your tambourines, hand-drums, castanets, maracas and good old-fashioned hand-clapping for this Saturday’s R5 free concert series at Morgan’s Pier featuring Philly’s own Grandchildren and Free Energy. Grandchildren’s singular brand of head-contusion-pop, distinct in its complex layering of rhythms and unexpected, powerful percussive notes promises to seamlessly complement those drifts of (hopefully) cool air rising from the Delaware River, just as Free Energy’s light-hearted melodies and youthful lyrics will have you skipping down the sidewalks of summer nostalgia. Both bands create music that is quite danceable. Free Energy is heavy on the guitar power chords, and lead singer Paul Spranger’s voice is straight-forward and melodic, while the voices of Grandchildren pour in from all sides like last night’s rain. Get there early, and get ready to sweat out some of these red-hot summer blues! Morgan’s Pier, 221 N. Columbus Blvd., 6:30pm, Free, 21+ - Sarah Allard

Check out the video of Grandchildren performing an acoustic version of new track called “Into Gold” on March 17, 2012 from SXSW. It was filmed by Philly-based Out of Town Films. Below is also a little something that they had to say about the session. You can catch Grandchildren live this Sunday at PhilaMOCA. Enjoy! (Photo by Sean Flannigan)