Powerful yet sometimes delicate compositions will be emanating from Boot & Saddle this weekend. The South Philly watering hole will be playing host to Northern Arms’s record release tonight for Chapel Cabaret. It’s a fitting title for the band’s new album, which feels, at times, holy and intimate, while sounding joyous and celebratory, at others. The sextet will most likely be joined by special guests on stage this evening to bring the record’s grandiose sound to fruition in a live setting. Northern Arms have invited psych-pop outfit HiSoft to open the festivities. The band is fronted by Gerhardt Koerner, who also lent his recording talents on the latest release.
And you may find yourself, once again, camped out in the beautiful sounding square box of a room the following evening, where The Lunar Year will also be holding their record release celebration. Led by Katie Burke’s mellifluous vocals, the band recently shared its beautiful, revealing, piano-driven full-length album Herodias. They’ll be supported by alt-folk crew Rosu Lup and the “bookish indie rock” of The Chairman Dances. – H.M. Kauffman
More places to spend your holiday-ish weekend…
Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Northern Arms (Record Release Show), HiSoft, SAT The Lunar Year (Record Release Show), Rosu Lup, The Chairman Dances
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SAT S.T.A.R.W.O.O.D. (Record Release Show), Northern Liberties, Curtis Cooper
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Crackhouse, Surgeon/DJ Tony Modica, SAT Narcos/DJ Royale/A Black Celebration: DJ Baby Berlin, DJ Jem, SUN KingTay
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St.) SUN Joy Again, Bahdeavn
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SAT Hound
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.)
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Montega Picasso, Maverick The Poet, Montana Blak, Gran Centennial
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Michele Lynn, SAT (Upstairs) Batiyah, El Gahnt, Saudah Al-Akbar/The Hype presents: Love Fest
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Tessellations, SAT Vanderlyle, John Dominy
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Desoto Jones, Bright and Early, Keeper, SAT Oolala. The Ardvark Felon, You Do You
The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Man About a Horse (Album Release Show)/ The Bigness, The Upticks
Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3rd St.) FRI Secret Nudist Friends, Tannins
Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Rich Medina, SAT DJ Deejay
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac
Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9th St.) SUN Autumn Passing
Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2nd St.) FRI Soraia, Tubey Frank, SUN Jus O
The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Bamboo Tommy, Greenough Wilde
Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Swift Technique, Lets Danza, Johnny Popcorn, SAT Splintered Sunlight, Whiskeyhickon Boys, SUN Splintered Sunlight, The Jawn
Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Boulevard) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SAT Menace Cartel
Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Clique, Weller, Tombo Crush
The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18th St.) FRI Sublaymen, Hallowed Bells/The Magnificent Shit Hawks, Felipe Pupo, Manikineter, Planet 88, SAT Joshua Alvarez, Child Savage