WXPN Local Picks – Week of August 18, 2025

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 8/18: Maria Mirenzi – “Let It Steep”

Philly-based singer-songwriter Maria Mirenzi writes what she describes as “semi-autobiographical songs on a velvety electric guitar.” Her latest, “Let It Steep,” is a winner, recorded in waves at local studios Silent Partner, Miner Street and The Greenhouse.

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Tuesday 8/19: The Describers – “Home On Time”

When he’s not rocking out with Artist To Watch The Tisburys, Philly’s Jason McGovern makes hooky music of his own under the name The Describers, and has been releasing a steady stream of Petty-infused singles this year. This week we’ll spotlight “Home On Time”; see The Describers Tuesday night 8/19 at the Sundown Music Series in Haddon Heights NJ.

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Wednesday 8/20: RNIE – “BITTERS”

Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer and vocalist Lamont Brown has lived all over the east coast: Pittsburgh, Virginia, North Carolina, NYC, and now, Philly. He’s new to town but his eclectic music fits right in, with vivid arrangements of racing drum and bass rhythms, hazy keys, and strong pop melodies in the spirit of Mac DeMarco and Alex G. His album FULL NEPTUNE is out on Friday, and we’ll get a taste with “BITTERS.”

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Friday 8/22: Beauty – “Acid Baby Girl”

A new power pop trio direct from Red Bank, NJ, Beauty released its debut album I’d Do Almost Anything For You at the top of this month on Strange View Records, and is on a run of late summer tour dates. They play Holy Frijoles in Baltimore on Thursday and a Philly house show on Friday, with gigs in Brooklyn and Boston over the weekend, before a 9/6 homecoming in Asbury Park; details on their tour dates at their Instagram!

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