KOOP 91.7 FM has had a rough couple of years, dealing with accidents and arson. KOOP serves our city daily with quality programming and their mission “is to provide high quality, innovative, and diverse community-oriented programming to Austin with an emphasis on those communities that are ignored or under-served by mainstream media” (Read it in its entirety on their MySpace page.)

Tonight, Now Playing Austin (on air every Thursday at 6 p.m.) presents KOOP Pop Prom at Club de Ville, a benefit for the oft-embattled radio station. The cover charge is $5 if you attend in prom attire ($7 otherwise) and proceeds will be utilized to rebuild the KOOP studio. Not only is the cause worthy, the event also boasts a class line-up of local acts. The Bubbles kick things off at 9:30 p.m. before making way for some very special guests -- Jason and Cari from Belaire. The Always Already is next up, scheduled to take the stage at 11:30 p.m. and BASIC closes out the shindig after midnight. Spiked punch? Check. Streamers and balloons? Why not? Photographer for those memorable prom pictures? Yes please. What excuses could you possibly have to miss this extravaganza?

Not interested in helping KOOP repair and re-groove? Some of the other Friday evening choices include Liars at Red 7 (Inside), The Jungle Rockers at Trophy’s, Infinite Partials at Lamberts, and Sabbath Crow at Headhunters.

Peel and Prince Klassen at Beauty Bar, and Opposite Day and Muchos Backflips! at Room 710 offer further alternatives. Peel is celebrating the release of their brand new, D-I-Y EP August Exhaust Pipes at the afore-mentioned Beauty Bar show. According to keyboardist / vocalist Allison Moore the self recorded, self produced five song effort is “Peel stripped down to our panties”! The event is presented by Lipstick Pages and DIY Revolution Magazine. Another record release party takes place at Antone's this Friday where Guy Forsyth performs material off Calico Girl; the album will hit streets on May 20th (but will probably be available at the show). Forsyth will then take his introspective Americana ditties on tour throughout Texas as well as Louisiana before returning for some more gigs in town in June. Calico Girl is Forsyth’s fourth for his label, Small and Nimble Records; his earlier work was released on Antone’s Records / Texas Music Group during his Asylum Street Spankers days. He’s been playing various venues in Austin for many years now, having moved here in 1990 and has picked up an assortment of accolades since including “Best Male Vocalist” at the 2005 Austin Music Awards.

There is a tribute to The Cure at Elysium on Friday night to get you in the mood for their June 8th show in town, no doubt. Rescue Mission, Seaholm Electric, and Christian Hicks will provide renditions of Cure classics and a ticket giveaway for the big show at the Austin Music Hall next month is also on the agenda.

Reverend Horton Heat headlines the Texas Rockabilly Revival at Stubb’s on Saturday. The festival actually kicks off at same venue on the night before with The Rockats being one of the featured acts on Friday evening. Emo’s hosts Chaos In Tejas 2008 starting on the 15th through till the 17th -- check out Emo's website or Prank Records’ blog for more information.

Nashville Pussy and Scott H. Biram at Red 7 (Inside), Japanther and The Pharmacy at Red 7 (Outside), DixieWitch and SuperHeavyGoatAss at Room 710, Pink Nasty and Frank Smith at The Mohawk, and Diagonals and Baby Robots at Lamberts are some other worthy options for Saturday night.

Images from MySpace, Flickr, or provided by entity.