Musicians usually have a broad range of influences to draw on, but few can pinpoint them with such specificity as Simon Hanes. As the composer of the 15 piece ensemble band Tredici Bacci, Hanes has a very precise set of inspirations: 1970s Italian film scores. Listening to the music of Tredici Bacci feels like the peeking into a truly eccentric world - Hanes often performs as various characters of his own invention, playing songs that are in turns melodramatic and raucously buoyant. The project's imagined scores could fit perfectly in a movie by Fellini, for example, and carry all the best elements of camp and drama from the genres the group admires. Their next album, La Fine Del Futuro ’70, is set to be released March 11th - stream their featured single "In The 1970s" below. - Sunny Betz

Grandchildren celebrates its latest, eponymously-titled album (out now via Ernest Jenning Record Co.) with a performance this evening at Johnny Brenda’s. The former Danger Danger Gallery house band creates elaborately detailed instrumental frameworks, which despite their complexities retain an inherent, endearing optimism. With the addition of Shari Amanda, the group has added yet another facet. There’s a soothing cinematic quality to the songs, utilizing instrumentation with pinpoint precision, creating a spacious yet dramatic atmosphere. A sonic story is told that covers a vast expanse, while the dual-lined vocal harmonies capture a heartfelt proximity. Tonight, they’ll be joined by the reassuring, psych-inflected dreampop of Stereo League and singer-songwriter Vessna Scheff, whom soulfully merges folk and jazz with a ukulele in hand. – Michael Colavita

More tunes to fill your soul this weekend…

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Grandchildren (Record Release), Stereo League, Vessna Scheff, SAT Rich Medina Presents: Jump N Funk - America’s Original Fela Kuti Tribute Party

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Morning River Band, Driftwood Soldier

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Poppy, Jukebox Zeros, Chino/DJ Deejay, SAT Adder/Vic B, SUN Birmingham Six, The Daggered Hearts

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) SAT Nonfiction (Album Release), Twentythreenineteen, Rich People

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Conjunto Philadelphia, SAT (Downstairs) PhillyBloco, Unidos da Filadelfia Samba School

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Socko, Bored As Hell, Kissing the Klepto, SAT Brother Martin, Georgey V, The Last Generation On Film/Breakfast for Turtles

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Levee Drivers, The Bad Larrys, Slomo Sapiens, SAT Dull Blue Lights, SUN Cheeky

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) SAT The Rectors, Slomo Sapiens, Secret Nudist Friends 

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

Hard Rock Café (1113-1131 Market St.) FRI Great Time

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

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI The Tisburys, Blueroom, SAT Tone Bandits, The Pink Angels, Vixen77

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) FRI DJ Marco: The Prince and Michael Experience, SAT Lower Wolves, Strange Attraction (The Cure Tribute Band), Dj Baby Berlin

The Tusk (430 South St.) FRI Voodoo Death Cult , Cold Blood Creep, Let's Disinfect, SAT Malphas, Corners of Sanctuary, SUN At Best, Allarms, Dear Forbidden, Friendo

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

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

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Two Rocks Rye, Colin Lenox, Dylan Jane, SAT Hoochi Coochi, Earth Radio, Atomic Sky

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Splintered Sunlight

Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) SAT Man Like Machine, The Stonewall Vessels, Paradrei, Black Melanite

No Face Studios (5213 Grays Avenue) FRI Bungler, Sun Organ, Sandcastle

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SUN Cheer Up, Psychic Flowers, Half Thought

First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) FRI Mannequin Pussy, SUN Sieve 

Ahimsa House (5007 Cedar Ave.) SAT AnnonXL, Leeyuh Neptune , Sitcom

Warehouse on Watts (923-929 N. Watts St.) FRI Zejibo, Backpack

The Music Ward (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Gender Work

Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Telyscopes, Broke Body, Annalise Curtin

One wouldn't expect the front man of self-defined "panic rock" band Flagland (a punky trio whose latest record was released in 2017) to drop a mostly instrumental record that's as delicate and well orchestrated as Dan Francia's Come Back to Life (streaming below). Released by Explolding in Sound early in 2019, the album blends an overall understated vibe with a playful, collaborative approach, consisting in several guest appearences by noteworthy local artists like The Feelies, Speedy Ortiz, Sharkmuffin, Ovlov, Field Mouse, gobbinjr and Titus Andronicus - all accurately reported in the album's Bandcamp page. Each track sounds like a humble experiment in sound exploration not necessarily aiming at forging a unified style, but succeeding at it nonetheless, creating a sound in part reminiscent of a less sample-heavy Beta Band. Those rare times when Dan's voice comes into the picture ("Come Back to Life," "No Matter What"), his gentle bedroom melodies add an extra relatable element to the record, and in the titletrack's chorus ("Come back to life, you can do anything") seem to offer the clue through which this record should be interpreted: a statement of the freedom granted by life.

Ace of Wands is the music and songwriting of Lee Rose along with Anna Mierniks and Jody Brumell. Their debut LP is set for release on February 22^nd and features the single “Lioness”. This intense track features Rose’s powerful vocals as well as her multi-instrumental talents that have her playing guitar, bass and violin. Her classically trained violin skills are mixed with folk and rock n’ roll influences to give Ace of Wands a unique sound. In their words they expand their songwriting “to incorporate facets of cinematic soundscapes, pop melodies and interlocking guitars and vocals”. The “Lioness” Release Party goes down February 22^nd with Joan Smith & The Jane Does, Kate Boothman and When Particles Collide at the Horseshoe Tavern. – Kris Gies

Is it a paradox for playfulness and gravity to exist in the same breath? It might be easy to jump to that conclusion, but if we’ve learned anything from Kate Bush, it’s that whimsy can often be a great vessel for complexity. If anyone has taken that message to heart, it would be Natasha Jacobs, the brain behind Brooklyn based musical project Thelma. Her debut self titled album, an alt-folk meditation on chronic illness and loss, brimmed with unconventionality, whether it be from a surprising electronic breakdown or a yelping vocal performance. Jacobs writes songs that practically do dances around your mind, distracting you with baroque glitter for just a moment before pulling you back to reality again with a masterful lyric. Thelma is poised to release her second album The Only Thing on February 22nd (with release party at Secret Project Robot the day after) Below you can have a listen to single “The Only Thing”, a lyrical exploration of identity that practically saunters into your ears. - Sunny Betz