Tonight, a pair of excellent new releases are commemorated. Heartfelt harmonious songs that explore personal narratives in an emotively expressive, warm way, Queen of Jeans’s new album, If you're not afraid, I'm not afraid (Topshelf Records), will be celebrated this evening at Boot & Saddle. The songwriting and graceful air of the vocals invite you along for a ride, utilizing delicately detailed instrumental elegance to reinforce the mood with a refined rhythmic drive. 

You can also find Underground Arts hosting Curtis Cooper’s record release celebration, as part of The House Key Showcase, presented by House Cat & The Key. The album holds true to its name, Graceful, as Cooper taps into vulnerability across a diverse musical landscape, which resonates in its authentic, interconnected, ethereal through lines, harnessing a passionate power and precision. (Queen of Jeans Photo by Bob Sweeney) – Michael Colavita 

Other places where you can fall into this weekend…

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Queen Of Jeans (Album Release), Gladie, SAT Bells, Everywhen, SUN Elison Jackson

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI XPN Welcomes: The House Key Showcase: Curtis Cooper (Record Release), Amanda X (European Farewell Show), Jacqueline Constance

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI West Philadelphia Orchestra, Tubular

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI DJ Deejay, SAT  DJ Aktive, DJ AMH, SUN Tiny Hueman, Droopies

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) Crypt Sermon (Record Release), Plague Dogs, SAT The Divine Hand Ensemble (10th Anniversary Celebration)

Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St,) FRI Soul Glo

The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) FRI So Far Gone: Dirty South Joe, Magglezzz, SUN Simply Christopher

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) FRI Goalkeeper, SUN Anthony Green

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Conjunto Philadelphia

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Scarlet and the Degenerates, Socko/Big Mind

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Creem Circus, Ruby Dear, SAT CHOP Benefit: Greg Sover Band, Blues Reincarnation Project, Mighty Joe Castro & the Gravamen

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Philip James, Hannah Krupa, Stillwatcher, SAT The Classic Hunt, Rocky Kaminski, Yeenar

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) SUN Bad Heaven Limited, Highnoon, Very Bad Vibes

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Day, Reed Streets, SAT DJ Deejay

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI Pizzle and the Sizzle Sisters (Album Release), Euphonious, My Funky Brethren, SAT Stone Cold Grace, SUN Matthew Schuler, Grant Owen, Just Shad 

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI Live Band Karaoke, SAT The Paul Green Rock & Roll Brunch, SUN Rusty Cadillac 

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI Reverend TJ McGlinchey, The Wonder Bars, Jack Shoudy, SAT Wolves Can't Dance, The Side Chicks, Rabbit Heart

The Tusk (430 South St.) FRI Overcoming Gravity, Ketosis, Loafass, Primadonnaz, SAT The Tone Bandits, Lust for Nothing, Burned In Effigy, Live Not On Evil

Century (1350 S. 29^th St.) SAT PLOT (Tape Release), Nowhere, Body Spray

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) SAT Here/Now, Vague Advice

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI DJ Beatstreet

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Rebecca & The City, Curtis Jr., SAT Pet Lizard, The Smoking Lightbulb

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Spaga, Grimace Federation, SAT AM Radio Tribute Band, Idlewild South 

First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut St.) SAT Ramona, Hurry

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Mike Kennedy, Brushstroke, Shoot the Messenger, SAT The Magnificent Shit Hawks Of The Greater Northern Americas, Manikineter, The Plibmen, Gristmill

Warehouse on Watts (923 N. Watts St.) SAT PiERSON, Jabair .

Anthorna Gallery (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Noera, Georgey V, Emospacebird

Haus of Yarga (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Schotzi

Tide Pool (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Yahnboi, Slowsie, Telyscopes, City Dressed

Graceful, the new full-length album from Curtis Cooper, exhibits an honest, emotive vulnerability - one that reveals a vast, genre-traversing elegance. While touching on turbulent times, Cooper also exudes perseverance and positivity. The album holds one’s attention with compelling narratives and a charming, calm/intense dynamic. Along with Lucky Cat, they are scheduled to support Mal Blum on Sunday, July 21 at PhilaMOCA.

Philly's own Curtis Cooper has a new album coming out on June 3, titled Graceful, and you can now listen to its lead single, "Breathe Out," below. The song lyrically depicts how tension and anxiety tend to build and weigh us down. That compounding effect is countered by the bright, jangly guitar and percussive patterns. Then, the warm, vocal harmony relieves in an airy, uplifting manner as the recording opens up. That ability to create complex, vivid imagery and sound, while retaining a personal connection easily grabs one's attention and makes Cooper's next release something to look forward to.

If you are looking to efficiently max out your support of local music this weekend, then you definitely want to hit the 3^rd annual Good How Are You Fest. Brought to us by Good How Are You Records and Paper Scissors Media, the two-day event will be kicking things off this afternoon at its de facto homebase, South Philly’s Tralfamadore, where Philly acts such as Gender Work and Yeenar will be getting folks warmed up for the stacked Day 2 festivities. On Saturday at Pleasure Mountain Ballroom, you might notice some familiar names on the billing from this corner of The Deli. There will be past Record of the Month recipients Curtis Cooper, Secret Nudist Friends, and Blushed, alongside former Featured Artist(s) Poll nominees and winners Kelsey Cork & The Swigs, Puppy Angst, and Busy Bee Project, so it should be easy to see why we think this is the place where you need to be this weekend. Because you surely deserve a bit of pleasure in your life! – H.M. Kauffman

More places where you can support local music this weekend…

Pleasure Mountain Ballroom (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Good How Are You Fest: Curtis Cooper, Trash Boy, Secret Nudist Friends, Blushed, Kelsey Cork & The Swigs, Puppy Angst, Busy Bee Project, Too DoGs 

Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Good How Are You Fest: Gender Work, Elaine Rasnake, Overwinter, yeenar, Broke Body, BB GUNS, Elissa Janelle Velveteen, Rebecca Zimmerman

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Oldermost, SAT Don McCloskey

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Cypher Clique

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Nematode/DJ Deejay, SAT Something Like a Monument

The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) SUN Naeem

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Alex Shaw, SUN (Upstairs) Grace Vonderkuhn/(Downstairs) Ruder Than You, Catbite

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Youthfool, SAT Black Cat Habitat, Sharon Lia Band, Steady State, 100 Men On Mars, SUN Twice Brothers, Rowhome

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Creem Circus, SAT Dave Patten, Psychic Agency, Aaron Parnell Brown 

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Line Leader, The Bigness, Rare Spirits, SAT I Think Like Midnight/MCA Day: Stop Not Playin

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Felipe Pupo, Shane Reimer, Family Friend, Egocentric Plastic Men, Vassal, SAT Kissing The Klepto, Twin Beds, Bored As Hell

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI Johanna Baumann, SAT Delmont (EP Release), Stealing From Thieves, Goodthief

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SUN Omni MC, Teef and E1 Beats present: Da Vida, Kahlil Ali 

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Paul Green Punk Rock Brunch, SUN Rusty Cadillac 

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) FRI All That 90s Party

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Cabaret Sauvignon/DJ Chris Urban, SAT Philadelphia Burlesque Academy Student Showcase/Ed Christof, SUN Honeygasm

Century (1350 S. 29^th St.) FRI E.D.S., The Stutter, SAT Ritual Earth, Space Caravan, Bear/moth

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Presidential Top Knot, Knightlife, The Missing Frets, The Jumping Juvies, SAT SomaRai, Slophouse, Dead in Dog Years, Little War

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SUN Under The Oak

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Caracara (EP Release Show), Cave People (Solo)

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) SAT Bree and the Reeds, Sophie Coran/Humilitarian

Warehouse on Watts (923 N. Watts St.) FRI Astro 8000, 1-800 Happy Hour, DJ Kenny Dollaz

The Music Ward (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Gnarbot, Medusa's Disco, Miss Cantaloupe

Cousin Danny’s (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Downtrodder (Last Show), Demodex

Truck (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Tombo Crush

Free Candy (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more infor.) FRI Slenko & McKeys, Kyle Press, Guitars and Drums

A haunting, volatile, vulnerability seeps into your ears and under the skin in the music of Curtis Cooper. There’s a confessional, candle-lit closeness that encircles lyrically, as the room appears ready to rip itself apart. They create a keen, lingering, emotively-embedded sense of personal narrative – one which shifts the plot forward with a dramatic edge, wielding the sonic vehicle in a precise manner, while pushing the limits around every corner. These songs mesh an at-home, endearing familiarity with a pressure-regulating heaviness that rains down. Tonight at Everybody Hits, Cooper will be supported by garage-psych quartet Secret Nudist Friends, whom recently made their way home after a string of tour dates. Also, fellow Good How Are You Records labelmates Puppy Angst will be joining in the festivities, along with Atlanta glam-punks Material Girls. – Michael Colavita

Other places to hit this weekend…

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Curtis Cooper, Secret Nudist Friends, Puppy Angst

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Sparrow Steeple, Hermit Thrushes, SAT It’s the Year 2000: DJ Emynd, Bo Bliz, SUN Cabana Wear  

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Cassettes (Record Release), Savage Dads, SUN Concert for Jen Devor: Sweetbriar Rose, Roberta Faceplant

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) SAT George Engel Brooks/Fame Lust

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) FRI Yowler, SAT Tate

Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Lotus, Tweed, SAT Lotus, Tweed

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT The Willies (CD Release), Renaissance Blvd., Red Letter Life, Whiskey Drippin'

The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) SAT Sy Mosquiat, Shaun Sloan

Franklin Music Hall (421 N. 7^th St.) FRI Scholito

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) 5th Annual Benefit for Living Beyond Breast Cancer: The Miners, Travel Lanes, Flies in the Kitchen/(Downstairs) Liz Longley, Jesse Ruben, SAT (Downstairs) Live at The Fillmore, SUN (Upstairs) GTS Presents 4th Annual Winter Wreck

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI The Gene Smith Band, Haha Charade, Surreal Nation, SAT Sins Of Magnus, Syberia, Voodoo Death Cult 

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI American Dinosaur, Thee Idea Men, Full Bush, SAT The Lunar Year

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Lightninging, Soft Crime, Rubber, SAT Hotbed, Cosmic Lottery

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Kingsnake, The Age Of Truth, Clamfight, Ritual Earth/Past Life, Rare Spirits, Drew Sestito, SAT 90’s Alternative Singalong: In The Presence Of Wolves, DJ Baby Berlin

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI DJ Aktive, SAT DJ Deejay 

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT The Chedder Pickers, SUN Rusty Cadillac 

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI The People, Ellen Siberian Tiger

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI Tough Guy Soda, Fuzzy Slippers, Frankly Lost, SAT The Ancient Mariners, Knights Reign

The Tusk (430 South St.) FRI The Heels, Beer Me,  Loafass

Century (1350 S. 29^th St.) SAT Erin Incoherent, The Russells, Los Gueys, Grey C.E.L.L.

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Chris Urban, SAT DJ Brian Toll

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Somethin' Divine, XPresidents, Jac with No K, SAT Adder, Egocentric Plastic Men, Grunge Puppy

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Broken Arrow, AM Radio, SAT Splintered Sunlight, SUN Whiskeyhickon Boys

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI  Glass Leaf, Kobika,The Poms, SAT Babe Grenade, Lisa Chosed, Annalise Curtin, Fauna Finch, SUN Copley Woods, Almost People

Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) FRI Great Time, The Bul Bey, Dahi Divine, Destiny X

The Music Ward (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Bad Leather, SAT Fox, Backpack, ILY