I haven’t written in quite some time and with this review, I break my silence. The past two months have been a huge whirlwind of changes. I’m sure many can relate to the sentiment of change – whether it’s something as natural as the changing of seasons and growing ages, or something that you work so hard for and finally achieve. Either way, the past two months have been filled with change, the nice positive kind. And with such changes, I tend to reflect back from time to time. The first concert I ever went to [...]
Young Summer is DC's own Bobbie Allen. I recently got the chance to watch the Virginia Tech alum open for BOY at Jammin' Java and what I saw were the makings of someone with a bright future. Bobbie's voice is something quite special, so much so that it's been compared to both Florence Welch and Sarah McLachlan. Not bad company at all. Her talents, coupled with honest songwriting, are what will resonate with listeners and keep them coming back for more. In "Fever Dream," we get Bobbie's alluring alto over music that would feel at home on the Drive [...]

Electro-pop stalwarts CSS return to the 9:30 Club with IO on Monday, July 1st, their first DC appearance following the release of their upcoming Dave Sitek-produced LP, Planta . We've got two tickets to give away to see our favorite Brazilians. What do you have to do to win? In Portuguese, CSS stands for cansei de ser sexy ("tired of being sexy"). We want you to take a band name - an existing one is fine, but bonus points if you make one up for [...]

forecast va chiner APRES LE PARC @ Le Bric à Brac forecast revient au Bric à Brac pour une nouvelle "APRES LE …", où les tourne-disques sont ouverts à tous et toutes. Après une bronzette dans le parc, une balade au bord du canal, ou un barbeuc dans le métro, viens, toi, écouter les dernières trouvailles de nos artistes et nos invités, avides de brocante et de bric à brac. See Facebook Event b o n u s [...]

Former War on Drugs frontman Kurt Vile will be making his way to the 9:30 Club on June 20th to make his first live appearance in DC since the release of his latest album, Wakin On A Pretty Daze . We've got a pair of tickets to give away for this special show. What do you have to do to win? Kurt said that Wakin On A Pretty Daze is "just about [his] life, without thinking too much about [...]

The Sweetlife Festival will cement itself as a District music tradition this Saturday as it returns to Merriweather Post Pavilion for its third annual run. To get you excited we've teamed up with the fine folks at Sweetlife to bring you the official kick-off party this Thursday, May 10th at U Street Music Hall. Headlining the night will be MS MR - who will also be playing on Saturday - along with support from Sir Sly and Magic Man . Three of our favorite artists together in one place - it doesn't get [...]
Young Moors consists of Brandon Stewart aka Beatnet and Corbin Howard Butler aka 1/4th of $urreal . Two of trillest 909 natives I know. 'Moor Life' represents some of cousins finest collaborative work up to date. Its carefully cultivated, shot, directed, written, and produced, by two very talented musicians and lyricists. Keep an eye out for more of them in the future. Get informed with Young Moors.

Last April we outdid ourselves and pulled off two New Noises in one month at the always-amazing Gibson Guitars DC Showroom . Our second show featured amazing sets from All Things Gold alums Black Light Dinner Party and DC's own Honest Haloway . After the jump you'll find a bunch of amazing photos from the show, courtesy of Alexandra Friendly . Big thanks to Gibson Guitars, ASCAP and Palm Beer for help out with yet another amazing New Noise . Stay tuned for news on our next one. [...]

Beach House returns to the 9:30 Club here in Washington, DC on Thursday, June 6th. We've got a pair of tickets to give away before they go on sale to the general public. We know you want them. What do you have to do to win? Beach House is one of Baltimore's finest exports. Aside from these guys, we want to know what your favorite thing about Charm City is. Please, surprise us (so no, not Joe Flacco). We'll pick a winner on Friday morning. Have at it! STREAM: Beach House - "Myth"

We had the chance to ask Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. some questions before they tore things up at the Rock and Roll Hotel here in DC last Thursday. Read what the Detroit duo had to say - including their thoughts on the new EP, 2013 so far and the lost art of trying a bow tie - after the jump. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.'s Patterns EP is out now on Warner Bros . STREAM: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - "If You Didn't See [...]
Not long before they took the stage at New Noise at the Gibson Guitars Showroom earlier this month, we sat down for an interview with one of our favorite DC bands, GEMS . We ask them about their upcoming plans, the D.C. music community, their favorite bands of late and more. Big thanks to Jacob Zverina for his video mastery on this one. Watch it above. STREAM: GEMS - "All I Ever"

"I saw the world, and it was beautiful" sing DC four-piece Paperhaus on Helicopters ; the first cut from the bands forthcoming EP. It might not be the most whimsical of statements, however set it against the bands warm instrumentation and burned-out vocals and it seems to take on far greater meaning. Helicopters is solid indie-rock but much better than that short description suggests. Everything here is wonderfully in-place, but seemingly much more by desire than design. Nothing feels overly planned; it has a loose, somewhat jammy feel but yet it's in the finer [...]

Amtrac continues his rise to the forefront of electronic music, this time remixing Ellie Goulding 's "Without Your Love." The original song begins with a brief but grandiose piano intro, before yielding to an urgent drumline and Ellie's unmistakable vocals. Amtrac's take adds pitched down vocals, a buzzing undercurrent and a steady kick drum, transforming "Without Your Love" from a sweeping power pop song to a darker, late night dance track. Several of Amtrac's distinct touches are present - glitchy vocal splices, rollicking bass synths and steady buildups that give way to grooving dance beats. Nike [...]

DC is quickly becoming one of the hottest places in the country for new acts, and today we introduce you to PLOY . The electronic-pop duo have concocted quite the synth gem in new tune “VRDSNT”. Alex Trimble-esque vocals placate proceedings over an array of seducing synths, that will win any girl over. It has a way of being both upbeat and utterly relaxing, a feat that is achieved by very few.

As the resident New Orleansologist here at ATG, I'm delighted to write about Generationals . The band formed in 2009 as an indie take on shimmering 60s pop, and their debut album, Con Law , more or less broke the NOLA indie scene when it was released four years ago. (You probably heard the infectious single " When They Fight, They Fight " that summer.) Heza , out now on Polyvinyl Records , is an updated sound, building on what the band does so well. [...]

There are certain things I enjoy in life: the first windows-down drive after winter, my Spotify Premium account and guacamole, to name a few. Way above all those, however, is being blown away by opening bands. Washington D.C.'s PLOY did just that when they played before The 1975 at DC9 last March, and again - although this time expectedly so - before GEMS at the latest installment of New Noise last week. Today they added to their already-incredible collection of songs on Soundcloud with a brand new single, "VRDSNT." The local duo, comprised of Gil Wojcik [...]
It's been a hot minute since we've heard from Middle Distance Runner , but DC's finest are back with "Cherry Blossom Bop," an explosive rock 'n' roll ode to their hometown. Clocking in at just under two minutes, "Cherry Blossom Bop" is both a celebration of springtime in the District as well as a lamentation of "the arrival of hordes of blissfully oblivious tourists." In the band's words, the track is a "catchy and upbeat meditation on nativism, isolationism and horticulture." Couldn't have said it better ourselves. Grab a copy of the song below. MP3: [...]

Where once existed the Water St. warehouse - remember our show with Penguin Prison there? - now stands Malmaison. Opening this Spring, Malmaison is situated on K St. right along the Waterfront and will soon be the go-to place for all things music in Georgetown. We're proud to be kicking things off at this venue on Friday, April 26th with an all-DJ night featuring a headlining set from our homies for life, The Knocks . The NY duo has long been a staple of our live shows and most recently put out the incredible "deep [...]

Oberhofer 's got a gift for melody. On Friday, May 3rd, Washington, DC will get the chance to see Brad and co.'s raw pop rock in action at U Street Music Hall . We've got a pair of tickets to give away for the show. What do you have to do to win? Oberhofer has decided to go with the deliberately misspelled NOTALGIA as the title of their upcoming LP. We want to know what your favorite instance of ignored grammar in music is. Whether it be the vowel-less band du jour [...]

We first fell under Misun ’s seductive spell with “Darkroom”, and now they have released their booming new single “Promise Me”. We see a lighter, poppier side of the DC aquawave group as these swirling synths take over proceedings, and will cause impromptu celebrations all over the universe. As you will out, it’s hard not to fall for the hypnotizing romance of this electro-pop beauty. Nacey again provides the excellent production on the track.