After a pressure cooker of a week, this weekend offers the opportunity to let out some steam, ease the tension, and let loose. This evening, Cheerleader heads the billing at Johnny Brenda’s. The quintet’s misty, refreshing melodies wash over you in a pleasantly cruising daydream. An inherent, rolling, rhythmic optimism sticks into the grooves, escaping the day-to-day grind. Tonight, they’ll be supported by Buffalo garage-rock trio Made Violent and the Brooks Brothers-led musical ensemble of Louds, whose bright, bubbling pop-rock naturally spills over on to the dance floor.

On Saturday at Johnny Brenda's, the quirky sing-along, carnival, musical troupe of OhBree brings out all the bells and whistles, celebrating their new record Burn Bridges, Burn Pies. Orchestrating their precision-oriented, multi-faceted soundscapes, Grandchildren helps in setting the musical scene, along with the engaging, energy-rich ebb & flow of Mumblr and the subdued pop of Glenn Matthews.

And whether you simply aren’t ready for the party to end or are an early riser ready for some Sunday day-drinking, get on over to The Barbary for the first annual Psychedelic Breakfast with psych-garage trio Residuels, local grindcore three-piece Die Choking, An Albatross, and much more. - Michael Colavita

Other places to escape the chill this weekend…

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Cheerleader, Louds, SAT OhBree  (Record Release), Grandchildren, Mumblr, Glenn Matthews, SUN Scantron, Matt Kelly

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Milton, SAT Oh, Are They?, Starterjacket

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Rosali, Valley Exit/Sky Valley, SAT Chvnce, Matt Arthur, Ellen Siberian Tiger/X-Hunters/Fame Lust, SUN Decap Attak, Buzzherd, Blasphemous, My Son Bison

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) SAT Palm, Palberta

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Splintered Sunlight, SAT Elvin T, Siyoung, Alex Burkat, Chris B, Shawn Ryan, Fosho & Tell

Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI Tigers Jaw, SUN Hemming

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI 56 Men, Teen Dads, I Think Like Midnight, SAT On The Cooling Board, North Lawrence Midnight Singers, TC Cole Riot, SUN Tapes & Tubes, Jesse Gimbel

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Blac Papi, Kyte Wilson , Blum Bros., Born Cold, SUN Lee Mazin, Kur, DJ Diamond Kuts, Bri Steves, Phat Geez

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT (Upstairs) Chris Paterno Band / Joe Trainor Trio (Evening of Billy Joel)

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Geisha Façade, So Totally, SUN Die Choking, Residuels

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.)  SUN Marielle Kraft

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) SAT Cold Roses, Chalk & the Beige Americans, Christine Irizarry

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Broad St. Burlesque, SAT Family Volleyball, Salfi

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SAT Drama, Spazz Ripley, Xilomen/DJ Deejay

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT The Ellipses, Wack Cheddar, The Phonies, SUN Rusty Cadillac

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI Riverside Odds, 66 Stitches, Seeing Snakes, Beer Me, SAT Thunder & Glory, The Charley Few

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) FRI J.O. The Last Man, SUN Heavensake

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Boulevard) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SAT DJ Kevin Kong, SUN Slainte

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI The Sly Foxes, Bazmati Vice, The Cultour, Jam Traffic, SAT Spicy Meatball, Adam Travis & The Soul, Brodi Valos

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI The Sermon. SAT Jah People

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Eagle Daddy, Black Dirty, Mage Hand/Disappearances, Sunstroke, Kochiyama, SAT The Stone Eye, Highburnator/Birthday Boy, SUN Clique, The Point Breeze Country Club/Truant Minds, Rentboys, Pretty Words

Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Elaine Rasnake, Gravers Lane 

Glitter Galaxy (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Thin Lips

The Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Carroll, Cerulean Blue

Philly/Minneapolis-based indie label Dirty Pillows just announced that it will be dropping a series of 7" records that will benefit the ACLU. The releases will be split between each of the cities, with proceeds going to their local chapters. Volume 1 features previously unreleased tracks from Purling Hiss ("Sit Down"), Harsh Vibes ("Laser Floyd"), and Dulls ("Find You"), as well as a remix from Sad13 and contributions from LOUDS and many other talented artists. You can stream the compilation in its entirety below, and feel free to purchase multiple copies via a variety of formats. Donate what you can for a good cause!

Electropop outfit LOUDS is taking a different, more organic approach to recording in the studio. Bypassing a digital audio workstation, the group, led by brothers Charlie and Petie Brooks, discovered "a burst of creativity" while doing all the recording for their latest song, "Touch My Body With Your Skin," on a vintage 1/4" reel-to-reel 8-track. "We love the limiting aspects of being forced to use only what's in front us." All proceeds from the new single will be donated to the ACLU and Planned Parenthood. Also, expect to hear more new music from the band shortly!

Thank you, all, who tuned in yesterday to Y-Not Radio for The Deli Philly's takeover, and extra special thanks to Josh T. Landow for the invitation and support over the years! Below is the playlist that I shared, and if you haven't taken a listen to it yet, please feel free to do so now and enjoy. As always, I hope that you discover your new favorite artist and latest obsession. You deserve it. TREAT YO SELF! - Q.D. Tran

The Retinas – “Accident”

Abi Reimold – “Morning”

Eric Slick – “The Dirge”

Allison Crutchfield – “Rose Knows”

NAH – “Same Fucking Line”

RemoteControl – “Wasteland”

The Writhing Squares – “Astral Trane”

The Afterglows – “Born Again”

Spring Onion – “Egg (Driving Song)”

Cherry – “Alligators”

Jo Kusy – “New Devil Beat”

Honey Radar – “Ft Wayne Mermaids”

Them Jones – “Outburst”

Queen of Jeans – “Rollerdyke”

Suburban Living – “Lovely Times”

LOUDS – “Speak”

Residuels – “Valley Of Fire”