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

In stark contrast to the frigid force that currently occupies the outdoors, the garage-surf quartet of Blushed creates an inviting, somewhat humid, melodic atmosphere – one that sinks into your skin like the breeze off the water as the temperature rises. There’s a tranquilizing yet combustible nature, reminding you that the mesmerizing glow of the candlelight is capable of causing serious damage at any moment. Tonight at the Music Ward, they’ll be joined by the garage-psych torrent of Line Leader. Welding emotively-laced lyrics and also exhibiting a carefree side, Canine 10 is enthusiastically engaging, while the tumultuous, jangly-emotive, surf-rock haze of Asbury Park trio Dentist completes this lineup. (Photo by BigHitzz Enetertainment) – Michael Colavita 

Other places where you can wait out the polar vortex this weekend…

The Music Ward (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Blushed, Line Leader, Canine 10, SAT Native Maze

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) SUN DJ Baby Berlin

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Thin Lips, Grace Vonderkuhn, Trash Boy

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Big Stall, Effusion 35/DJ Deejay, SAT RunHideFight, The Improbables/DJs Mike Shaffer & Skeleton Lipstick, SUN Cancer Priest

Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) FRI FRI Subtronics

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Pig Iron Theatre’s Annual Benefit Cabaret, SAT Sixteen Jackies, Petunia 

The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) SAT G. Love & Special Sauce

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Conjunto Philadelphia/(Downstairs) Osler Circle Presents a Benefit for Children’s Hospital, SAT (Upstairs) Max Swain

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Presidential Top Knot, Overcoming Gravity, Delmont, Andrew Loper & the Only Memories, SAT Absinthe Father, Snowhore, No Stranger/Hashgrinder, Fucksake

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Joe Jordan Benefit Concert: Rockers Galore, Boy Wonder, Lamont Caldwell, SAT Ill Fated Natives, Local Smokes

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) SAT The Bigness, The Nielsen Family Band, Wax Wav

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Rebel Foster, DJ Emynd, Bo Bliz, SAT Making Time

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI Taylor Kelly, Dot.gov

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) SUN Osagie, Alex Burkat, Billa, Paul Jones

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Joe Kenney, SUN Rusty Cadillac 

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI Sonny Knockout, Whiskey Effect, SAT Endless Taile, 7th Victim, The Plibmen, SUN Voss, 610 Smoke, Dell-P

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) SUN Johnny Action Figure, Here/Now

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

The Tusk (430 South St.) FRI Jukebox Zeros, The Justines, SAT Decontrol, The Tone Bandits, Under 95

Century (1350 S. 29^th St.) FRI Hivelords, SAT Backwoods Payback, Decap Attak, Buzzherd, Dour

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Somarai, American Dinosaur, Mission of Mind, Angus Road, SAT Naps Past Noon, Hootsie, No Mere Machine, Blackjack Rose

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Jah People, Big Mind, Solomonic Sound, Jah T Junior, SAT Maximus Animae Musicae

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) SAT Coping Skills, Everywhen, Corey Flood

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Sad Sinderella, Fox Memorial, Blame Jakob

No Face Studios (5213 Grays Ave.) SAT Pinwheel, Glassleaf

Horrorland (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT My Name Is Tom, COMPs

Paper Scissors Media in conjunction with Good How Are You Records present Great How’ve You Been Fest 18 this weekend. Split between Tralfamadore and Pleasure Mountain Ballroom on Saturday and Sunday respectively, the event assembles a large contingent of local talent. Saturday’s slate includes the down-to-earth, figuring-it-out-as-it-goes, melodic, pop-punk narratives of Yeenar. Conversely, Francis Ponton, a.k.a. Overwinter, smoothly simmers into the void on a multifaceted electro/synth-pop vessel. With another new EP, There's Nothing More I Can Do, due out tomorrow, Dani in Public lays word-weaving, introspective lyrics over neon-lit, electro-experimenting beats, wrapping the listener in a vulnerable groove. Among those featured on Sunday are the quartet of Blushed, who mesh ethereal, head-in-the-clouds dreampop with turbulent groundswells in surf-garage hybrid. Riding a rhythmic wave, the rambunctious alt-rock of Full Bush invites you into a rowdy release of energy, while garage-psych rockers Secret Nudist Friends captivate with their rippin' jams. You’ll be feeling just fine at Great How’ve You Been Fest 18 this weekend! – Michael Colavita 

More places where you’ll feel fine this weekend…

Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Great How’ve You Been Fest 18: Kelsey Cork & the Swigs, Overwinter, Dani in Public, Canine 10, Busy Bee Project, Yeenar, Erik Kramer, Elissa Janelle Velveteen 

Pleasure Mountain Ballroom (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SUN Great How’ve You Been Fest 18: Full Bush, Trash Boy, Blushed, Secret Nudist Friends, Puppy Angst, Rebecca Zimmerman

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) SAT Beggars (Record Release), Deadfellow

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI The Last Generation On Film, Keely Sibilia, Josh Agran/DJ Elijvh Vrms, DJ Richard Reich, SAT DJ Cousin Mike

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Ellen Siberian Tiger, Hemming, Camp Candle, SAT Luxe

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI FRI (Balcony) Matty Moonshine, Alex Catrambone, Nicky Bruh, Lil Zip & JGriff

The Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal St.) SAT Circa Survive, Queen of Jeans

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) Birthday Boy, Past Life, SAT (Upstairs) Strawberry Runners, Grayling

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Philly Alternativo 1st Annual Benefit Concert, SAT JW Farrell, Rare Spirits

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) SAT PanSong

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI William H. Travis, Birdie Busch, C. Hundreds, SUN Knightlife, Medium Rare, Jac with No K

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI The 1940s, Lovebuckle, Erik Kramer/High Reeper, Green Meteor, Thunderbird Divine, Ritual Earth, SAT RunHideFight

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI Hannah Krupa, Dylan Jane Band, SAT J Solomon, SUN Butter Queen Sister, The Cheddar Boys

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

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac 

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Craig Dash, SAT Ed Christof

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI Jeremy Adam, Crooked Ways, Matthew Trexler, Ashton John, Christine Irizarry  & The Foolhardy, SAT Mr. Unloved, The Mojo Machine, The Prisoners

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) FRI Bok Nero, Shizz Lo, Swizzymack, DJ Lean Wit It, Rob Diioia 

The Tusk (430 South St.) FRI The Sixth Year, Popular Creeps, Snakes & Vultures

Century (1350 S. 29^th St.) FRI Felipe Pupo, The Magnificent Shithawks of the Greater Northern Americas, Thyla, SAT Thee Minks, The Tone Bandits

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI The Barker Brothers, Stargazer Lily, SAT Local Smokes(CD Release), Slomo Sapiens, The Tisburys, Tulpa, Whackbat

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI The Urban Guerilla Orchestra

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Heavensake, Last Minute Hero, The Drowned God

The Mothership (602 S. 52^nd St.) SUN Stinking Lizaveta

Super Wimpy (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Knifeplay, Sitcom

It’s a joy to see what happens when artists come together and collaborate on projects, especially when the outcome bears something like So Cool, the new split cassette from Blushed and Secret Nudist Friends, who happen to also share bandmates Matty Klauser and Missy Pidgeon. Coming from the DIY community of South Philly’s Tralfamadore, our July Record of the Month is out now via goodhowareyou records.

Pidgeon initially takes the reins with Blushed. It might not exactly be the first time you’ve heard these three tracks, which also appeared on the band’s debut DEMO EP. However, with the addition of guitarist Dan Leinweber (to Klauser on drums/percussion and Alyssa Milman on vox/bass) and recording/mixing help from Kyle Pulley and Jackie Milestone at The Headroom, these tracks have proven to be deserved of a revisit. Side A opens with “Weak,” a grunge-pop ditty that pulls at your heartstrings. The endearing yearning in its vocals captivates, drawing you in, before giving a playful smack across your face. It’s a good lead up to the rambunctious cheer of 90’s riot grrrl, gang sing-along – “Webcam,” which kicks things into another gear, while still hinting at the group’s ever-present lazy-day, surf sound. That sun-blistered imagery is fleshed out in Blushed’s final track, “It’s So Cool,” which is reminiscent of the bittersweet dichotomy that can found on Anna Troxell-led Creepoid recordings.

Handing the mic over to Klauser and his Secret Nudist Friends, which also includes Pidgeon on keys), Brian Hullihen (vox/drums/percussion), and Andy Slepman (bass/keys), there is a shift in sonics, as well as decades. Inspired by a plethora of artists, ranging from The Kinks, to The B-52, to contemporaries like Oh Sees, Klauser crafts soul-filled songs that often feel timeless. With “Something on Your Mind,” you can find a bit of that beloved, old time rock ’n’ roll that might feel absent from the airwaves these days, while “Triangle” comes at you from all sides, building from its math-y introduction, before letting loose and giving way to EP closer and Side B standout, “I Can’t Love Anyone”. Taking us on a psychedelic voyage of reverb, distortion and self-loathing, the anthem of the loveless hits home with a sobering gut-punch.

With So Cool, you’ll have a hard time deciding which side you like best. And that’s a good problem to have. – Alexis V.

So Cool, the new split EP from Blushed & Secret Nudist Friends, arrived today via Good How Are You Records, and tonight, their collaborative release will be commemorated with a show at HH Ranch. A sunny, surf setting converges with a coarse, sandy texture in the sound of Blushed. The quartet finds a happy medium between relaxed, adrift waters and spirited, rumbling waves, which threaten to engulf, unless one climbs on board. It’s calm with a capricious volatility that keeps one’s head on a swivel. With Matty Klauser and Missy Pidgeon serving as the common/shared threads, Secret Nudist Friends cultivate a laidback, garage-psych headtrip, which momentarily spins off course in a jam-fueled spectrum and then pleasantly sways you into submission. They’ll also be supported by the buoyant indie rock of Church Girls and NYC alt-rock three-piece Warpark. – Michael Colavita

Other places to go this summer weekend…

HH Ranch (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Blushed, Secret Nudist Friends (Split EP Tape Release), Church Girls

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N Frankford Ave.) SAT Deadfellow, Ali Awan

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Lower Wolves, Unloveable, SAT Chestnut Grove, The Dull Blue Lights, SUN Thorazine

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI DJSC, SAT Girls Rock Philly benefit: Goodnight / Goodluck, Taxes, Booklegger / Blood Sound, Kiss of the Whip/ Homegirl

Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St.) SUN Kaonashi

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI (Balcony) Nicky Bruh, Figgadelli, SAT Evan Wize, Night Bloom

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) FRI Fame Lust, SAT Minka, SUN Air Is Human

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Plague Dogs, Devil Master, SAT The Output, Nothing To See Here, The Evergreen Drive (EP Release), Scars Like These, SUN Hellings, Jamie and the Guarded Heart, St. Brendan

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) SAT American Trappist

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Machine Gun Joe, SUN Douse, Cheap Seats, Pithair

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Control Top, Chronic Anxiety/DJ Deejay, SAT Doug Wartman, Cave Women, Full Bush/Transmission

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI Departures: Salvo, John Raffaele, Deana Sophia, TPATT, SAT Matt McAndrew, Matthew Schuler, Joshua Howard

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

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT The Mallory Project, SUN Rusty Cadillac 

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI Sonny Knockout, Behind The Grandstand, Magnificent Birds of Prey, SAT Mikie May

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7th St.) FRI Thunder & Glory, SUN DJ Mighty Mike Saga

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI DJ Beatstreet, SAT Lean Wit It, SUN Ear Me Now

Franky Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Philly’s Foxes: DJ Chris Urban, SAT Take It Off: Burlesque Battle

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI The Parameters, The Tisburys, SAT Parsnip Revolt, Chaos Theory, Minerva

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Broken Arrow, The Newspaper Taxis, SUN Greg Sover Band

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Camp Candle, Gender Work, SAT Space Pizza, Nightjar

The Tusk (430 South St.) FRI Suicide Conspiracy, SAT False Front, Loafass, Beer Me

LAVA Space (4134 Lancaster Ave.) FRI Bike Crash, Twelve Gardens

Festival Pier (601 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd.) SAT Dr. Dog, (Sandy) Alex G

Century (1350 S 29^th St.) FRI Dumal, Necrosexual, SAT Eastcoast Noisefest, SUN Trash Knife, Atomic Cretins, Roadkill, Demodex 

Tralfamadore (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Erik Kramer, Very Bad Vibes, Screamcloud

Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI June Gloom, Teen Spaceship