“A song cycle about the first Jewish American matador, Sidney Franklin,” Bullfighter, the forthcoming EP from Eric Slick, was co-produced by Michael Johnson (Ape School), and is slated for release via Boiled Records on January 18. Strings, piano, and percussion collide in an ominous illusion, breaking reality on its lead single, “Nothing Is Real”. Those menacing tones are realized in the song’s video, which was animated and directed by Slick. There’s a dramatic grace to the imagery, with its impending implications hanging in the balance, seen from various angles. You can catch Eric Slick at Johnny Brenda's on Sunday, January 6, as part of a lineup that also includes Mdou Moctar and Skyler Skjelset.

One witnesses a stripped-down, endearing vulnerability in Sad Reality: Palisades Demos, the latest release from Eric Slick. Hearing these songs at a moment closer to their starting point reveals a sense of their evolution. The sparse, subtle nature of the instrumentation further shines a light on the lyricism as a hallowing/haunting beauty solemnly saturates. You'll also be able to find a copy of Slick's out-of-print meditation zine with your download of the album.

Eric Slick tackles break-up for the first time in song with his latest single, "Hesitation". It can be found on Amazon's Valentine's Day playlist, Love Me Not, which is due out February 9. He doesn't currently have any Philly solo dates on his calendar, but you can catch him keeping the beat with Dr. Dog at The Festival Pier, where they'll also be joined by (Sandy) Alex G.

Summertime has come and gone, and fall is upon us. However, those in need of some music therapy can hone in on one place, and make a two-day appointment. This Friday and Saturday, World Café Live hosts the succinctly named Philly Music & Arts Fest. Among the plethora of local artists canvassing both levels, the spellbinding free-floating melodies of Kississippi, the experimental existential-searching of Eric Slick, the serenading surges of Abi Reimold, the cruising, cosmic psych-pop of Ceramic Animal, and the infectious, rumbling emotives of Cayetana. The quintet of Tiny Hueman kicks off the affair on Saturday afternoon with the endearing open-book of Dominic continuing down the line. Familiarity meets futuristic in the groove-spiraling, psych folk of Pine Barons. Exploring personal depths with a robust energetic push, Sports instantly adheres. And the episodic, comforting narratives of Slaughter Beach, Dog and the candidly soulful hip-hop, hybrid observations of Ivy Sole serves as a snapshot of a lineup that offers a solid sampling of the litany of artistic excellence within our city. – Michael Colavita

Other places where the locals will be hanging out this weekend…

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI Philly Music Fest: (Upstairs) Slomo Sapiens, Kississippi, Harmony Woods, Abi Reimold, Skull Eclipses, West Philly Orchestra/(Downstairs) Chris Kasper, Eric Slick, Ceramic Animal, Work Drugs Cayetana, SAT Philly Music Fest: (Upstairs) Tiny Hueman, Sea Offs, Dominic, Local Smokes, Shannen Moser, Sports, Ivy Sole New Sound Brass/(Downstairs) Sixteen Jackies, Cheerleader, Pine Barons, Deadfellow, Slaughter Beach Dog, Strand of Oaks, SUN (Upstairs) Jeremiah Tall

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Frances Doefeen, American Trappist, Greg Mendez, SUN Matt Pond PA

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Career Crooks, SAT Phantasm (Release Show)

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI This Way To The Egress (Record Release)/Petunia, Lawn Talk/Philly Soul Syndicate/FeauXX, SAT No Gods, Assayer/Total Discharge/Fame Lust/Labyrinth, DJ Ha, SUN Full Blown Cherry/Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band, Long Hots

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) SUN Remote Control

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Burlesque-N- Beyond Presents: Music To Strip Bi

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.)  FRI The Russells, Automatic Colors, Down The Way, SAT Dev79

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) SAT Only On Weekends, Saver, Faringwell, SUN Boogieman Dela (Album Release), E. Berrios / Twiceyoung

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI 1AM, Shon Goner, Jermie Falcone, Scottie Kash, SAT Mo Lowda & The Humble, SUN Jim Stephens, Boy Wonder, Xpresidents, Melissa Clampffer

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Long Miles, SAT Soraia (Record Release)

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Muppet's Titanium Stardust Machine, Mercury Retrograde, SUN The Tisburys, Mat Burke & The Pain Killers

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Breathing, House Plant, The Ardvark Felon

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI S.R. Frost & The Sanctuary Band, Samryebread, SAT The End A.D.

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI The Cozy, Shark Tape, Under This Fire, Stealing Fame, SAT Matt Duke, Greenough+ Wilde

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SUN Conjunto, Ensemble Novo

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SAT DJ Kevin Kong SUN Burnt Sienna

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Chris Urban, SUN You’re Welcome Philadelphia

First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) SUN Solarized, Callowhill

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SAT DJ Haram, DJ  Delish, Andre Altrez,  SUN Yowler, Junipur

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Cavity Kids/Sidenail, Kelsey Cork, SUN The Retinas, Tremellow

LAVA Space (4134 Lancaster Ave.) SAT Manikineter, Downtrodder, Disappearances

Double H Ranch (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Loose Tooth, Clique, Yankee Bluff

Eric Slick (Dr. Dog, Lithuania) opens for Laetitia Sadier Source Ensemble and Art Feynman this Saturday at Johnny Brenda’s. Exploring and evaluating one’s internal monologue and balancing that against the openness afforded by nature, Slick finds a happy medium. While one is continuously harmonizing conceptual ideals and realities, Slick ventures into the thicket, tapping into a somber sense of key/percussive-oriented calm and peaceful acceptance. However, the mood isn’t one of resignation; there are upbeat, attitude-adjusting points, in which clarifying, melodic pop shines through. Slick leads the way to Art Feynman, a.k.a. Luke Temple (Here We Go Magic), whom recently released a new album, Blast Off Through the Wicker, via Western Vinyl, and multi-textured, thought-provoking Laetitia Sadier Source Ensemble. – Michael Colavita

More places to enjoy your summer this weekend…

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Eric Slick, SUN Dream Safari

The Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Ben Kessler, SAT Evan Wize

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Sun Hat, Rat Daddy/DJ Deejay, SAT Lito and the Shepherds, John Dominy/DJ Baby Berlin, DJ Jem, Voltheque/Rob Diioia, Cliph, Musho, SUN The Tough Shits, The Little Kicks

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) SAT Shy Boyz (Record Release), Ali Wadsworth, Charley Coin

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Mars Parker, Aleana, Troi Lauren, Camp Candle, Orion Sun

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT Andrew Meoray, Jermie Falcone

TLA (334 South St.) SAT Box of Rain

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI Taylor Kelly, The Phonies, SAT Hambone Relay

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Crazy Bull, Along The Way, Tiny Hueman, Jason Jeffries and The Talltrees/(Downstairs) Conjunto, Sat (Upstairs) Beta Hi-Fi Emerging Music Festival Finals, SUN (Upstairs) Darlingtyn, Dino Petaccio & The Intruders/Nijah, The Soundcheck, Maria Leonetti, Pariadin, The Fridays, Hemispheres, Casual Friday, Marchi

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Tre Way and The Now Generation, GR Stone Band, The Chronic Project, SAT Cole Brightbill, Mariano/Echo Lad, Telyscopes

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Suzie Brown (CD Release), Scot Sax Soul Revue, SAT Black Horse Motel

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI PHL 4 Change Benefit Show (David Bowie Night): Justin Pellecchia, Erin Fox, SAT Wyldflowers, Chvnce, Dear Forbidden

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Dav, Reed Streets, SAT DJ Deejay

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI Noise and Silence, Hueman Garbij, SUN Carolyn Thorn, Lady Parts, Brother Martin, Liz Fulmer Band

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) SUN ACTiVATE, No Gods

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Chris Urban, SAT Ed Christof

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Boulevard) FRI DJ Pierson, SAT DJ Beatstreet, SUN Burnt Sienna

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Telyscopes, Something Divine, Bazmati Vice, Granz (EP Release), The Classic Hunt, SAT Mat Burke

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SAT Freeway, Scholito, Frankie Vado, Ayo, SUN Jeff Washington Band, Swamp Ash

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) SAT Mauled By A Bear, Commencement, Uncle Dan, Avestial, Catharsis/The Keystones, The Pink Angels, SUN The Dirty Queen

LAVA Space (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Julia Rainer, Puppy Angst, Timothy Tebordo

Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Busy Bee, Elaine Rasnake