Slaughter Beach, Dog's new LP Safe And Also No Fear officially comes out on vinyl tomorrow via Lame-O Records, but you can now stream and purchase it digitally below. Pulling influences from musicians such as Wilco and gothic Americana writers like Raymond Carver and Cormac McCarthy, there is an obvious evolution to the songwriting of Jake Ewald that fans of Modern Baseball should take notice of almost immediately. With the band's lineup solidified by Nick Harris (NONA, LUTHER, All Dogs) on guitar, Zack Robbins (Dark Mtns, Superheaven, Petal) on drums, and former MoBo bassist Ian Farmer, you'll find the songs on Ewald's latest album to be more spacious and deliberate, with a shadowier side to their tales. Slaughter Beach, Dog is also scheduled to perform next in Philly on Saturday, September 21 at the First Unitarian Church, supported by Cave People. (Photo by Jess Flynn)

The first singles from Slaughter Beach, Dog’s forthcoming album, Safe And Also No Fear, have arrived. “One Down,” the LP's opener, recalls and catalogs one’s actions in an isolating, step-by-step progression. A subdued sense of routine allows a bit of sadness to enter the equation; however, it may just be a way of reviewing one’s day and clearing thoughts before going to sleep. Safe And Also No Fear is scheduled for release on August 2 via Lame-O Records.

This Sunday, a congregation heads to the First Unitarian Church, celebrating the bounty of beautiful music that local imprint Lame-O Records has curated in its first 5 years. Jake Ewald’s Slaughter Beach, Dog creates a sense of melodic ease, whilst working through the humbling hurdles of day-to-day living, via thoughtful perspectives. Cutting directly to the core of emotions with songwriting spun out of sincerity, Shannen Moser establishes an inviting folk proximity, drawing one in with blankets of relatable harmonies that ache and simultaneously provide room to breathe and process. Fuzzily rekindling mementos of the past with a clean-slated set of eyes, Cherry is freshly familiar, while No Thank You brings the tangle of guttural pensions to the surface, demonstrating a cathartic grit. They'll also be pre-partying in the Side Chapel with a pop-up acoustic show that will feature "Lame-O and friends". Congrats to Eric Osman and the Lame-O family! – Michael Colavita

More places to hang this Thanksgiving weekend…

First Unitarian Church (2125 chestnut St.) SUN Lame-O & Friends Acoustic Party at the side chapel (2pm)/Lame-O Records 5^th Birthday: Slaughter Beach, Dog. Shannen Moser, Cherry, No Thank You

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Deadfellow, Sixteen Jackies, SAT Secret American (ex-Cheers Elephant), Satellite Hearts, The Mysteries

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Brother JT

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI DJSC/Sean Hearn, Jesse Tyler, M//R, SAT Matthew Rineer, Nick Cove & The Wandering, Cory Paternoster, Tim Osborne/Poppy, Mt Vengeance/Diamond Girl, Sean Thomas, Elvin T/Fame Lust, SUN E-Dubz

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) SUN Mhysa

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Hardwork Movement MCs, Kuf Knotz, Attic Tapes

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SUN Surreal Nation, The Boardwalk Kings, The POF, Centrifuzed

TLA (334 South St.) SUN mewithoutYou

Electric Factory (421 N. 7^th St.) FRI Circa Survive, Balance and Composure, SAT Circa Survive, Balance and Composure

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI Flightschool, Matt Kelly, SAT (Upstairs) Mardi, Hub & the Sprockets/(Downstairs) Beru Revue, SUN (Upstairs) Manatawny Creek Ramblers

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Apex Predator. Nasuta, Infant Mortality, Syberia

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Nik Greeley & The Operators, SAT Soraia, Cold Roses

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Sublaymen, Thee Idea Men, SAT Suburban Living (DJ Set), SUN Kirby & The VibeTribe, Ali Wadsworth

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) SAT Dominy, Tigers + Thieves

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI Peace & The City Grease, Chet Williams, The Captain The Pilot The Driver, Static Flow, Apple Juice Jones, SUN Daja

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Ed Christof, SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Jay Ortiz

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

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI Breaklite, Forever Vista, SAT Mr. Unloved, Gibbous Moon, Blessed Muthas, Slagmatter.

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) SUN Kaonashi

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Uncle Dan, SAT Trap Rabbit, Zoidzilla, Max Seidman, Jonny Drucker, Wolf Accent

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Cabinet, Mason Porter, SAT Stanley Clarke Band, Dave Bakey

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) SAT Moonstriker, Hand Me Downs

Ahead of its official release date, you can now stream and purchase Slaughter Beach, Dog's new full-length album Birdie (Lame-O Records). Jake Ewald reinforces his ability to write songs that have an inherent, familiar, folk ease, crafting detail-rich, animated scenes. One naturally transplants himself/herself into the self-evaluating, melancholy-tinged moments, finding a new place of refuge. Next week, Slaughter Beach, Dog will be heading out on a November-spanning tour with Shannen Moser and Walter Etc.

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