Sussing, the debut EP from Weekend Athlete, is a multifaceted, captivating release. Earnest, unfiltered songwriting draws the listener to an intimate, vulnerable distance. A mercurial, instrumental atmosphere aids in developing a sense of tense friction. Pensive, penetrating lyrics and rough-around-the-edges guitar and drums combine to create a haunting heaviness that resonates on a personal level. This Saturday at Boot & Saddle, Weekend Athlete lays the foundation for Aster More’s final performance, which also serves as the record release show for their new album Dog-Eared. The affecting, absorbing narratives of Gladie will also bridge the gap. – Michael Colavita

More locals at play this weekend…

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Northern Liberties (Record Release), Evil Sword, Sour Spirit, SAT Bahamadia, Ursula Rucker, Reef The Lost Cauze, DJ Mike Nyce

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Aster More (Album Release/Final Show) Gladie, Weekend Athlete 

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Grave Bathers, Yuckmouf/DJ Deejay, SAT DJSC, FRI Philly Dell, Tripel AAA, DJ Digital Crates

TLA (334 South St.) FRI Marsha Ambrosius, Johnny Popcorn, SAT Reef Royalz, Leaf Ward

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) SAT Beano French, Dayne Jordan, Just Frenchie, AIME, Eli Capella, Seraiah Nicole, DJ HVNLEE, SUN School of Rock Philadelphia Summer Season Fest

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Brother Martin, Flat Mary Road, SAT (Upstairs) Adam Travis & The Soul, Tree Rats

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI The Bul Bey, Cult Objects, SAT Yeenar, All This Huxley, SUN Wexler & the Better Humans, Mr. Smith, Bright Yam Suns, Nicole June, Cop Jokes, Digital Rot

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Love? said the Commander (EP Release), The Naked Sun, SAT City Dressed, SUN Sophie Coran 

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Bo Bliz, SAT DJ Deejay

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Live Band Karaoke, SAT Live Band Karaoke, SUN Rusty Cadillac 

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI The Ancient Mariners, Frost Giant, SAT The Grip, Future Victims, SUN Reef the Lost Cauze, Space Kamp, 3T3N, DJ Kirsh

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) SAT The Droogettes, Illusions Of Grandeur, Atomic Cretins, The End A.D., THE WORKHORSE III, Voodoo Death Cult, Vixen77, Trash Knife, Erin Incoherent, Less Dead, Disoriental

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI Ryan Tennis, SUN Afton Live presents

The Tusk (430 South St.) FRI The TC Cole Riot, Live Not On Evil, 7th Victim

Century (1350 S. 29^th St.) FRI Quantum Zoology, SAT King Azaz, The Invasive Species, Beloved Binge

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) SAT DJ Pfeffer, SUN Michael Thompson 

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Jac with No K, SAT The Cluster Flies, Knightlife, Jumping Juvies

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SAT Splintered Sunlight, SUN Lady Alma

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Trash Boy, Secret Nudist Friends, Meat Sweats

Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) FRI AM0RA, The Classic Hunt, SAT Youthfool

Warehouse on Watts (923 N. Watts St.) SAT Sideswipe, Backpack/Matthew Law presents Friends & Fam

Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more information.) SAT Rebecca Zimmerman, Hoochi Coochi

Couchtown (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Brackish, Harmony Woods (solo), Alenni 

House of Yarga (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Bad Sleeper, Lucky House, Marcelyn

The Buffalo (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Coffin Dust, Covered In Sores

Old Pool Farm (Philadelphia Folk Fest) THURS-SUN: Bethlehem and Sad Patrick, Charlie Frey’s Blue Plate Specials, Dan Blacksberg, Dave Fry, Driftwood Soldier, Emily Drinker, Great Time, Homestead Collective, J Solomon, Jackson Howard, Jackson Pines, Joshua Fialkoff, Julia Levitina, Last Chance, Lolly & YoYo, Marion Halliday & Trickster Sister, Matthew Gordon, Meghan Cary, Michael Braunfeld, Michael Spear Duo, Nina de Vitry, North Star Puppets, Rachel Andie & The Fifth Element, The River Drivers, Sharon Katz & The Peace Train, Stella Ruze, The Carryons, The Cornerstones, The End of America, The Jayplayers, John Byrne Band

Julia Rainer crafts a clear cathartic musical vision. A power lies in the open expression of the singer-songwriter’s folk/Americana. Amid the serenity of open natural spaces, a stirring haunt develops. Perhaps, it’s that the lyricism casts vivid imagery into the atmosphere, resonating and reverberating throughout your being. Soulful vocals chronicle earnest narratives, serving as a catalyst to a captivating calm. Tonight at No Face Studios, Rainer will be joined by the duo of Hetepsa and Nu Ra, a.k.a. Camp Candle, whom dispense hypnotically sleek, airy electropop. The sparse, eerie, dimly illuminated yet resounding songs of Weekend Athlete find a way to linger/stay with you, completing this three-pronged local lineup. – Michael Colavita 

More places where you can find the locals this weekend…

No Face Studios (5213 Grays Ave.) FRI Camp Candle, Julia Rainer, Weekend Athlete

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Mo Lowda & the Humble

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Chestnut Grove

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Dear Forbidden, Valentina Janie/DJ Deejay, SAT Ramona, Teenage Bigfoot/DJSC, SUN Grave Blankets, Usti Waya

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI DJ Shearn

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI 21st Annual Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Convention Afterparty: Nightfall, Asthmatix, SUN Theory of a King, Enigmyst, 100 Men On Mars, Big Handsome, MarsDog

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) SAT DJ Love, Killsing, Yolo Ono 

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Jackson Pines, SAT (Upstairs) Kayleigh Goldsworthy, Jesse Barki

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Magnificent Birds of Prey, BEES, Good Morning, Daydreamer, SAT The Prisoners, The Barren Marys, Seeing Snakes, Vixen77

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Deadfellow, Something Like A Monument, Chalk & the Beige Americans, Starterjacket, SAT The Dull Blue Lights, Scantron, SUN Barney Cortez, The Fleeting Ends, Earth Radio

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI Bears Have Hearts, VAS, Firm Taqtics, SAT Tom Mackell, J Solomon, JW Farrell, SUN Mew Kardo, Jiliyah, Buckavali

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Tigerbeats/Sweat Daddy, SAT TheresDrinkingToBeDone.com

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Jacky Bambam, DJ Deejay

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT The Joe Borsellino Trio, SUN Rusty Cadillac 

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI Rover Rover, Cubbage, SAT The Robinsons, Wrong Turn

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Dottie Riot’s Music Revue/Ben Aire, SAT Ed Christof

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) SAT Goalkeeper/Sad & Boujee 

The Tusk (430 South St.) FRI The Haunting, THE END A.D. Voodoo Death Cult

Century (1350 S. 29^th St.) FRI Loafass, The Boardwalk Kings, Wrong Turn, SAT Wrists (Tape Release)

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) SAT The Output, Ryan Corcoran, Dom & Jesse, Cookie Rabinowitz

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Splintered Sunlight, Wax Future, SAT Hannah Taylor & Rekardo Lee

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Beach Bod, SUN Past Life

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Fallible Being, Rasan In the Heyday 

First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) SUN Alone In A Crowd :a Benefit for Howie: Pagan Babies, Let Down, Nowhere Roads

The Music Ward (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Flux Capacitor, Solar Circuit

Gentle guitar gradually opens the hushed, semi-secretive recollections of “Learned Behavior” by Weekend Athlete. Counteracting the ache of vocals with harmony, the song unwinds as a subdued but smoldering guitar run gives way to the fading trail of voices. There’s a lingering resonance of proximity with an underlying identity of isolation.