The freak-folk collective of On the Water whimsically taps into one’s imagination. Ornate, tightly-bound instrumentation and refined harmonies create a nuanced sonic fabric – one that flourishes in its intricate attention to detail and simultaneously remains attached to its guttural, ground-swelling reality. The band accesses personal circumstances, while hedging toward an alternative fantasy. Tonight, On the Water will celebrate the arrival of their latest EP Failing Upwards, with a release show at West Philly’s The Mothership. They’ll also be supported by the tumultuously eerie punk of Northern Liberties, the glam-psych, space invasion of STARWOOD, and the funky dance-punk of Van Goose. – Michael Colavita

Other places where Hurricane Florence won’t hit this weekend…

The Mothership (602 S. 52nd St.) FRI On the Water (7-inch Record Release), Northern Liberties, STARWOOD

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT Jay Laughlin, Roger Harvey, Lowercase Roses, SUN Rylan Brooks

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Deadfellow (Record Release), Sean Danger Smith

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Only On Weekends, Nobody Yet, Danger Club/Night Drive, SAT Trash Beach/DJ Cousin Mike, SUN The Helicopter Scuba Divers, Tinmouth, Los Ricos

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

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Dean and Company Presents The Philly Spectrum Series, SAT Shannen Moser

Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Mt. Joy, Petal, SAT Pinkwash

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SUN Big Handsome, The Fainz, John Brown and the Hatchets, The 1940’s, Steel Crowes, Nipper the Band, Shock Value

TLA (334 South St.) SAT Year of the Knife

The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) FRI  So Far Gone: Dirty South Joe, Magglezzz

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) FRI Lör

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT Greg Sover Band

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Year Of The Knife, SAT Snow Villain, Cowbell Superstar, The Mojo Machine, Gibbous Moon, SUN Jackson Howard

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Behind Deadlines, SAT Sonni Shine (Album Release), Vessna Scheff, Fawz

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Laura Lizcano, Sophie Coran, SAT Tiny Vices, SUN Desperate Living, Josh Agran

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Andorra, Palatine, Teeth, SAT Camera Thief, Love? said the Commander, Jacopo De Nicola

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Sylo, Astro 8000, SAT DJ Deejay

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

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI Jesse Ruben, SUN Lisa Chosed, Rachel Eve

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI Supreem Da Rezarekta’, Artimës Prime, Orlando RsrJuice Jackson, M.A.S , SAT Palatine, Knightlife

The Tusk (430 South St.) SAT Apertures, Misfit Holiday, Monoceros

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) FRI DJ Mighty Mike Saga, Elijvh Vrms, SAT Amora, Flowercrown, SUN Traitor, No Nothing

Century (1350 S 29^th St.) SAT The Company Corvette, SUN Trashcats, Fucksake

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

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) SAT A Vacation

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI The Madeleine Haze (Farewell Show), In The Presence of Wolves, Nakama, SAT Jordan Flaherty 

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SAT Jordan Caiola, Katie Frank, SUN Stanley Clarke Band, Ernest Stuart Trio

No Face Studios (5213 Grays Ave.) FRI Bandit, A Virgin, SAT Lester, Buster, Gender Work

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SUN RunHideFight, No Thank You, Wildflowers of America

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Aphid Daughters, Michael Norris, SAT Teenage Bigfoot, Assemble, SUN Hallowed Bells

Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN FLNG, Mud Guppies, Overwinter

The Music Ward (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Overwinter, Mattress Food

Psych-folk collective On the Water recently shared a new 7”, titled Failing Upwards. Elegance and tenacity unite as the layers of instrumentation and vocal harmonies come together. That grand/guttural marriage grabs one’s attention, sweeping you into a mystical, ethereal world. You can catch the band’s record release show at The Mothership on Friday, September 14, supported by Northern Liberties, STARWOOD,  and Brooklyn's Van Goose. (Photo by LJ Brubaker)

The clouds continue to perspire, but don’t let it bring you down. Rather, soak in Superposition, the latest release from chamber-folk troubadours On The Water. The EP takes on an adventurous, instrumentally-quilted mythos with a gutturally earnest grip, toeing the threshold between ragged-precision. Currently in the midst of a tour, the band heads straight into labyrinths of musical depths, inviting one to explore beside them.

Rowdy, restless, riff-charged Dark Web tied us in with their self-titled album (The Deli Philly’s April Record of the Month). This Saturday, their nonstop sewer punk sounds serve as the primer for a Record Store Day lineup at Repo Records that doesn’t quit. The stampeding, snarling, punk anthems of Posers enter the fray, while a fire-breathing, raw-rock fury explodes from the down and dirty exploits of Residuels. The murky, mystic, synth-laced, darkwave of Remote Control will dial you in, and sticky, psych grooves and sweltering exploratory guitar runs set off the closing solo set from Purling Hiss. 

As the day dwindles down, Eris Temple Arts will host the release show for chamber-folk ensemble On the Water’s new EP Superposition. Whether dashing forward in exuberant rock or swaying in reflective melodies, Dominic resonates. Potentially showcasing material from their forthcoming album Burn Bridges, Burn Pies, the Mad-Hattered, quirky concoctions of OhBree is on the slate, as are the adventurous-eclectic instrumentation merged with captivating songwriting of Dear Rabbit. The duo of Baby & Shylow, which features Aleks Martray (Grandchildren), kicks off the proceedings. - Michael Colavita