Messy, The Deli Philly’s December 2017 Record of the Month and the latest album from Curtis Cooper, is being celebrated with a release show this evening at Johnny Brenda’s. Cooper harnesses an ability to expose an emotional intensity that’s endearingly accessible, developing a well-conceived, melodic framework, while still tapping into a raw, rip-it-out-of-your-chest, guttural tone. In contrast, they can create a sense of stillness, instrumentally illuminating pensions with a dim, folk backdrop, allowing the weight of the words to wrap around you in a comforting manner that still sends chills up the spine. The Andy Molholt-led Laser Background will also be joining them tonight, instilling ease as waves of playful, candy-coated dreams wash over. And infusing joy and humor into their infectious bummer-pop, the duo of Coping Skills will be leading the way. – Michael Colavita

More places to be this weekend…

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Curtis Cooper (Record Release Show), Laser Background, Coping Skills, SAT OOLALA, David Fantasy & Adult Content

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI 722 (Reunion Show), Church Girls, Dylan Jane

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Eliza Edens/Slagmatter, Thunderbird Divine, The Gravies/Lil' Dave, Dr. Plotkin, Gummibear/DJ Deejay, SAT The Charley Few, Fucksake/Pet Lizard, The Space Cats, Mesén Around/DJ Sylo, DJ PHSH, SUN Scantron, Trash Beach

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) SUN Kohoutek, Northern Liberties

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) SAT Al-Tarik

Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St,) SAT Patrick Richards

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SUN Glenn Bryan & Friends

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Mt Vengeance, Bryant Eugene Vazquez, SAT Fixation/Traitor, Blasphemous

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Damn Right (Album Release), American Dinosaur, Greg D., SAT Mach22, Everlit, Siravo, Night Mission

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Air Is Human, SAT Goodnight Lights, Witch Bomb

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) SAT Creem Circus, RunHideFight

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI Reed Streets, SAT Queue, Lizdelise, SUN Plastic Shrines, Styrofoam Dinosaur

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Bo Bliz, Low Budget, SAT DJ Deejay

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SAT Hambone Relay, SUN Rusty Cadillac

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI Joey Sweeney & The Neon Grease, Hannah Taylor & The Rekardo Lee Trio, DJ Dan Reed, SAT Adventure Lost, Tyler Kingsley

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI Ben Aire, SAT Ed Christof

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) SAT The Exclusive Tri-State Showcase

Century Bar (1350 S. 29^th Street) SAT Blackhand, Buzzherd, Off Meds

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Port Arthur, Tiger Castle, This Kills Me, Justin Kerecz, SAT Kenny Price, XPresidents, Hank Henny

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Music For The Arts (11^th Annual Benefit): Old Soul Revival, Chris Grunwald & The Slow Response, The TC Cole Riot, Droppin Deuce, The Bad Larrys, SUN The Whiskeyhickon Boys, Hannah Taylor and the Rekardo Lee Trio

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI PT Benefit: Narra, SUN Small Circle, AllegrA

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Seeing Snakes, Billy Bollinger, The Absolute Sky/Heaven Man, Swwik, Sitting in Cars, The Ugly Barnacles, SAT Badnew, Snakeboy, Flamingo Chicks, SUN Shelf Life, Mavis the Dog/Fred Beans

Planet Phitness (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.)FRI Maryn Jones, Mowgli’s Mirror, SAT Crooked Spine, Tim Woulfe

The Spreehive (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.)  SAT Supine, Get Well, Jennifer

Skulls (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) SAT Leadrs, Median

Equal parts confessional and self-veneration, Curtis Cooper’s latest offering begins without a shred of hesitation or apology. Starting off with the full throttle swell of “Freak Out,” Messy unfolds with a satisfying in-your-face bravado. As Cooper croons, “I dare to say that I’m not scared,” screeching riffs, hissing cymbals, and deliberately executed diction amplify the satisfying defiance of survival on your own terms and the intoxicating thrill of reveling in what other’s might consider flaws. A dance-worthy homage to vulnerability, “Freak Out” reminds listeners that it’s okay not to be okay and that sometimes the best way to save yourself is by embracing your inner chaos.

Throughout Messy’s second track, “Philly Jelly,” Cooper channels their inner Billy Corgan circa Machina of God, reviving the best of the grunge era’s zeitgeist. Passion laced with angst and yearning, the song captures the contradiction of being defined by external factors like lovers or hometowns. Through dissonance and sincerity, “Philly Jelly” proves itself to be a perfectly tempered exploration of how proximity can inform desire and a sense of belonging. Prefaced by a whispered countdown, “Crazy” shines a spotlight on Cooper’s softer side. With melodic licks of guitar and proclamations like “I heard your words and I fell for your lines,” the track is as much as it is a love song as it’s an anthem about hero worship. Disillusioned, yet nostalgic, it captures a far too often omitted perspective on romance and remembrance.

“Percs of Life,” prefaced by a calm yet evocative interlude, examines the highs and lows of life with initially sparse instrumentation that gradually blooms into gut-wrenching chords. When Cooper sings, “Time to feel alive again/time to be confined again,” the song, like an ouroboros, turns in on itself, resembling the cyclical nature of mortality implied by its lyricism. “Yeah, No,” a psych-infused melody, feels like a vivid fever dream, enveloping its listener in a brief yet lush soundscape reminiscent of a Devendra Banhart b-side or Brian Jonestown Massacre at their tamest.

With the similarly subtle yet instantaneously catchy “Jkayla,” they pick up the tempo. As the track progresses, it carves out an unpredictable topography of its own. By the time Cooper confesses, “I could have been you/I should have been you,” Messy’s listeners will believe them as if it each word was gospel truth. “Everyone Loves You” is a dark and brooding ballad about the thin line between love and objectification and the ever present promise of escape. Ending with “everyone loves/everyone loves you/everyone stays,” the tune sets the proverbial stage for the equally grim “Everybody’s Dying.” Whether the death in this song is literal or metaphorical, Cooper’s macabre lyrics and heavy riffs continue to echo in the minds of listeners as it eases into the LP’s second interlude.

The album’s closer, “Is It Real,” is a hushed yet existential meditation on love and the meaning of life. Here, Cooper’s fondness for the late great Elliott Smith shows, leaving their audience with a sense of melancholic nostalgia mixed with undertones of hope. Similar to 2016’s Laughing in a Line, Messy is required listening for any Philly native who considers themselves a music lover. Cooper’s anthems aren’t just timely; they’re necessary. (Photo by Abigail Townsend) – Dianca London

Messy, the new album from Curtis Cooper, was recently unearthed. A transfixing torment registers throughout this collection of songs. Encircling lyrics of solitude will engulf the mind, creating a canvas of beautiful despair. Enlisting Scott Stitzer (of Mumblr) to produce and play an array of instruments, with Jack Zaferes occupying bass duties, these tracks creep into your head and take up temporary residence. It feels like a deeply personal release that pushes toward detonating grunge instrumentation at points, while still showcasing a folky feel, at others. Johnny Brenda’s will play host to Cooper’s record release celebration on Friday, January 19, where they'll be supported by Laser Background and Coping Skills.

We are nearing the end of this year's Deli Philly Best Emerging Artists Poll. After compiling the jurors', readers'/fans' and writers' votes for the Alt Rock category, congrats go out to Curtis Cooper! The Philly songwriter caught our attention towards the end of 2015, and then truly emerged on the local music scene last year with the release of his debut Laughing In Line. The album begins in a more radio-friendly manner, but as you delve deeper into the cuts, it becomes apparent that gifted artist has a much more diverse musical palette that we predict will only expand as time goes on. BTW: We absolutely flipped over the video of his powerful performance of the previously unreleased single "2016," which you can view below.  

And coming in a very close race for second and third are the good time boys of Mumblr and the pot-lovin', rockin' ladies of Marge. We'll also be back very soon with our final Readers'/Fans' Poll for the categories of Hip Hop/Funk/Electronica, so stay tuned!