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

Grandchildren are known for their eclectic, intricate sound that flourishes in expansive, stacked, sonic layers. Now, with Shari Amanda in the fold, the band recently shared a self-titled album released via Ernest Jenning Record Co. Threaded with vocal harmonies, there’s a buoyant/grounded approach, harnessing a radiating, earnest warmth, while shining a light on the thoughtful details. Johnny Brenda’s will play host to the group's record release show on Friday, March 1, where they'll be supported by Stereo League and Vessna Scheff.

Below is Grandchildren's new single, "Zuni," which shares the name with the band's 2015 full-length release. Recorded a couple of months too late to make their last record, it ending up serving as a "musical compass" for the group's forthcoming self-titled LP, with its more sparse, acoustic arrangements and concentration on harmonies. The album was recorded at beloved but now defunct West Philly DIY space Danger Danger Gallery. It is scheduled for release next year via Ernest Jenning Record Co.

Grandchildren cultivates an adventurous, adrenaline rush of complex compositions. A marriage of intricately spun instrumentation comes at you in waves of precision. Those bright buoyant tones innately shimmer and groove, accenting infectious melodies that feel time-tested, while simultaneously exhibiting a refreshing innovation. Tonight at the Sound Hole, they’ll also be joined by the garage-pop quintet of The Vernes, whom have a new record on the way, and the laidback yet upbeat dream pop of Americanadian.

Oh - by the way, speaking of marriage, Grandchildren will be participating in West Philly Porchfest tomorrow as well. Their performance will also be doubling as an engagement party of sorts. Grandchildren mastermind and all-around good guy Aleks Martray and the band’s newest member, songbird Shari Amanda, would like to celebrate their recent good news with everyone, so come out and feel free to share in the love HERE! – Michael Colavita

A lot more things to do this weekend…

The Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Grandchildren, The Vernes, Americanadian, SAT Taiwan Housing Project

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI RunHideFight, Control Top

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Vermilion/River Bones Band (EP Release), Wanamaker Lewis/DJ Deejay, SAT Violent Society, Atomic Cretins/Statesmen/DJ LittleSpaceyy & Andrew Hagiwara/DJ Baby Berlin and Jem 

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) SAT The Superweaks, SUN Boon, Breathing

Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Pissed Jeans, SUN Japanese Breakfast, Radiator Hospital

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SUN Richards Rock Fest IV

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI Conjunto/DJ Shaun Klassic, SAT Valerie West, Earth7, Somerville Band, The Mojo Machine

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Badnew, The PLIBmen, SAT Zombieshark

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Tioga, SAT Lightning Jones, Peace & The City Grease, SUN Nik Greeley

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Faking, Tiny Vices, Helen Back, SAT Don Babylon, Wild Dust, SUN Lisa Chosed

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI DJ Emynd, Bo Bliz, Wassup Gina, SAT The Bachelorettes/The Dull Blue Lights

Bourbon & Branch(705 N. 2^ndSt.) FRI Tiger Castle, Ntive Flora, SAT BetterDucks

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

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

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) SAT Ben & Dima, Scott Ratinoff, Ami Elinich, Nicklas Hughes, Katie Barbato, Alec Stewart

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) SUN Murder’s a Drag! A True Crime Drag Show

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) FRI Activate, SUN Summer BreakOut

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Anthony Michael, SAT Von Roz, Adventure Lost

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Solomonic Sound System, SAT The Sermon

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Open City, Luxe , Greg Electric

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Sushi From The Future, SAT Lamplighters, Brandish/Douse, Canine 10, SUN Paul Harrold, Andrew Victor

Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Brother Nino, Gracie Martin, Dani In Public

JJ’s Diner (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Major Pursuit (Record Release), Sinceres, Highnoon

Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Friendship, Habitat 67, Sadurn

All Nite Diner (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Caracara, Grayling, Who Loves You

Tundra Dome (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI The Cavemen, Dolly

The Bath House (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI So Totally, Coping Skills

West Philly Porchfest (Various Locations) SAT Various Artists

Festival Pier (601 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd.) SAT Roots Picnic: The Roots, Black Thought, Lil Uzi Vert

Philly DIY stalwarts Grandchildren are returning with a new self-titled album, scheduled for release in April via Ernest Jenning Record Co. Below is their new single/rendition of "OK I'm Waiting," which can originally be found on the band's 2010 debut LP Everlasting. It is also accompanied by a new music video that was directed by Bettina Escauriza. In it, you'll fine the group's performance brought to life through the imaginative eyes of a child. Take a proactive aprroach to your dreams, before time passes you by.