At the core of Northern Arms are two friends of fourteen years who first met when they realized that they were dating the same woman. Since that moment, Keith Richard Pierce and Eric Bandel have built a strong musical bond that has seen them come together as a duo, growing to a quartet, and the quitting music as they went on to find romance and sobriety, only to rekindle that musical brotherhood in 2012 at a wake for a friend, and going on to form the enigmatic ten-piece ensemble that they are today. The end result is an emotive blend of group vocals, indie rock melodies, and orchestral arrangements. And their debut album features a mix of songs that were produced by the likes of Jeff Zeigler (The War on Drugs, Kurt Vile, etc.), Brian McTear (Dr. Dog, Sharon Van Etten, etc.), and Mike Kennedy (BC Camplight). Northern Arms have much to celebrate this evening during their release party at Johnny Brenda’s, and they’ll be joined by the appropriately named Weird Hot, who just completed a short tour of the south and released their new two-song single “The Wasp Woman”/”I Was at a Party.” Rounding out the lineup will be the alt-rock outfit, A Brood of Vipers, who are still riding high from the release of their latest record Ghosts of Bedlam. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Bill McThrill
