clockwise from left: The MAKs | photo by McKenna Romasko // Automatic Love | photo by Keaton Thandi // Lunison | photo by Dylan Eddinger // lightheaded | photo by Luke Reddick

WXPN Local Picks – Week of August 4, 2025

By John Vettese

August 04, 2025

10:08 AM

Every weekday afternoon in the 1:00 hour, WXPN celebrates the Philly-regional music scene with the WXPN Local Picks. That’s when midday host Mike Vasilikos presents a hand-picked new song by an artist rooted in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware. Here’s who Mike has on deck this week! Tune in to hear these songs on the radio every day at 1 p.m., and for more Philly music, don’t miss the WXPN Local Show with John Vettese every Tuesday night at 8 p.m.

Monday 8/4: The MAKs – “Liar”

They grabbed our attention during the WXPN 24 Hour Song Challenge; now The MAKs are back with a brand new single. The rootsy pop singer-songwriter trio of “Your Three Fave Delco Babes” — aka Melissa Menago (of June Divided), Angelique Zuppo (of Zupang), and Karina Patricelli (of Valendina) — The MAKs’ brand new song “Liar” packs a punch with stunning harmonies and cutting lyrics.

Tuesday 8/5: Automatic Love – “Automatic Love”

Justin Pellecchia and Keaton Thandi cut their teeth in the Philly scene over a decade ago in the rock outfit Satellite Rides. They’re living on opposite coasts these days, with Pellecchia in the California desert and Thandi holding it down in Philly, but the old friends don’t let distance stop them from making gnarly psych rock together. Their project Automatic Love just released an album, Automatic Love, that opens with the song “Automatic Love,” and it should go down as one of the great triumvirates of local rock history.

Instagram | Bandcamp | Apple Music

Wednesday 8/6: lightheaded – “Same Drop”

Rooted in North Jersey and signed to the revered indiepop label Slumberland Records, lightheaded is a little bit Belle & Sebastian, a little bit Softies, and a lot of catchy melodies and heartstring-tugging refrains on their latest album, Thinking, Dreaming, Scheming!, out now. We’ll spotlight lead single “Same Drop” ahead of a Philly gig this Friday at the Fishtown art space Spicy Boys Club, where they’ll play a set while an array of local visual artists show their work.

Instagram | Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music

Friday 8/8: Lunison – “Susciety Gurl”

Drawing undeniable influence from generations of modern rockers, Spoon to Elvis Costello, Matt Vantine is a longtime player in Philadelphia’s music scene. The power trio Lunison is his latest project, and its got sharp hooks and clever lyrics that play on two forces at the band’s core: lunacy and unison. Their self-titled album is out Friday and they’ll play MilkBoy Friday night to celebrate.