For the past 7 years, Toy Soldiers have been riling up audiences and gaining acclaim (USA Today’s Band to Watch in 2013). But after “20+ musicians, 3.4 million highway miles, 9 thousand rest-stops and a lifetimes worth of experience,” the band will be giving Philadelphia (you’ll still be able to travel with them for a couple festivals well into next month) one final hurrah at Union Transfer tonight. It’s far from goodbye though as Ron Gallo recently released his first solo effort on American Diamond Recordings (which features a few of his TS family as backing musicians), and drummer Dom Billett and guitarist Matt Kelly are getting ready to unveil their next project, Coin Purse. But for now, this will be the final opportunity to see them as a collective in the city that raised them. This evening’s show will also mark the first Philly homecoming for their longtime friends Cheers Elephant, who packed up for sunny Southern California pastures last year. Rounding out the lineup will be the buzzworthy indie outfit that started as a bedroom project between longtime friends Joe Haller and Chris Duran, Cheerleader. Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., 9pm, $14, All Ages - Bill McThrill

Toy Soldiers just announced that their show on Friday, July 18 at Union Transfer with Cheers Elephant and Cheerleader will be "a sort of farewell, final hurrah for now, blowout bash" for the band. This really doesn't come as a big surprise to us since frontman Ron Gallo released his new solo LP Ronny last week and the group had noticeably lost momentum after its raucous eleven-piece (or so) lineup disbanded in 2011. The most recent split seems amicable with its "never say never" vibe, and you can find out what the band's latest members will be up to in the "long version" of their "R.I.P." message HERE. We'll always remember them as the headliner of one of our first Deli Philly-presented showcases at a short-lived DIY space in a plastic bag factory across from Kung Fu Necktie that none of our staff and the people, who we still keep in touch with that ran it, can recall the name of, holding over four hundred drunken Temple students and future friends that evening. Good times - cheers, fellas! (Photo by Caitlin McCann)

Ron Gallo just announced the launch of a new record label. Named after the intersection where it is located, American Diamond Recordings is comprised of a collective, who aside from Gallo also includes Marley McNamara (manager of The Districts & Levee Drivers), Brian Dale Allen Strouse (The Lawsuits), Dan Bruskewicz (TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb), and Reed Kendall (Up the Chain). The label’s lineup of artists will include the aforementioned Gallo, The Lawsuits, Levee Drivers, TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb, and Toy Soldiers.

Gallo’s solo debut entitled Ronny (scheduled to drop June 24) will serve as the initial release for American Diamond Recordings. It will be commemorated with a free show June 26 at Spruce Street Harbor, which will also include The Lawsuits and Up the Chain.

Check out this beautiful, laidback cover of The Lawsuits' "Anybody's Girl" by Ron Gallo (of Toy Soldiers) for Root Down In The Shadow's #CoverClub! It was recorded at West Philly's Nomad Recording Studio and directed by Bob Sweeney. Enjoy!