This Friday 5/18 at the Black Cat, new DC based duo Astra Via (featuring Olivia Mancini and Jarrett Nicolay of Virginia Coalition) will be releasing their debut EP. Check out the first single "Be Where You Are" from the EP, below. Get to the Cat in time to catch more local support via DC folk group Vandaveer , and DC Americana rockers Beanstalk Library . Black Cat, 5/18, Doors @9 PM, $12.
Everywhere has some sort of sound. I'm sure this has to do with being over saturated in a bath of media, but whenever certain places come into mind, certain types of music do as well. When we think of the high peaks of eastern Asia, we think of a soothing style of music that's reminiscent of their culture. The same goes for places in the Middle East (drones), Spanish countries (salsa and flamenco), and Sweden (death metal). It would be foolish to say that America doesn't have a distinguished sound because it totally does. For rich, upper class fuckers, it's [...]
We have a jam-packed Friday Mixtape for you this week and with names like Yo La Tengo, Lou Barlow, Ben Harper and Wale included, it's also a stellar one at that. So, without further adieu, please enjoy this week's mix of the best new singles, remixes, and covers, along with mp3s from some up-and-comers you just might want to check out. NEW Singles: "Hustle Beach" by Baby Teeth "At The Cut" by The Cave Singers "Soldier" [...]
One of the first DC-area bands that I discovered when I moved down from New York in late 2007 was The Beanstalk Library . At the time, I had this to say about the band's excellent debut album, America at Night : The Beanstalk Library write catchy, often jangly Americana rock. If that bunch of pseudo-rock criticism makes you think of Wilco, R.E.M., The Byrds or The Old 97's, well, good, because that's what I meant to say. The band's debut album, America at Night , reflects a hodgepodge of these influences, [...]
DC's The Beanstalk Library have been MIA for awhile. However, we have recently learned that after some tweaking of the lineup, the band is getting ready to return with new songs and a new live band. The new version of the band will debut on Memorial Day at IOTA with support from In Technicolor and Typefighter . The music? Well, that will debut a lot sooner. During the down time, songwriters Ryan Walker and Brian Kent finished five new recordings. In advance of the show, and to celebrate this [...]
Squaaks The weather is slowly turning to what it should be for this time of year. A couple of festivals are going on and quite a few of shows are in the area over the next few days, so get out there and enjoy. Hampdenfest dominates Saturday afternoon in Baltimore. Running 11 AM until 7 PM, there are 3 stages of entertainment, along with plenty of food and vendors. Some of the artists performing are our friends Thrushes and Squaaks . Also check out Impossible Hair [...]
Many, many options this weekend in the area to catch your favorite music. Every night has something definitely worthwhile, all over the region. Friday Imperial China is having a CD release party and they want you there! They are with Double Dagger , Zulu Pearls , and the Black & White Jacksons . Catch them at the Rock and Roll Hotel in DC. One of my picks for Best of Philly '07 (and in serious contention for it this year [...]
I'm not a huge fan of Cloud Cult, but I just noticed that their April 19th show at the Rock and Roll Hotel has gotten a lot more interesting -- they've got New York's The Forms and excellent, underappreciated DC locals The Beanstalk Library opening up. I think I'm gonna have to go to this. The Beanstalk Library, "Fog Over My Mind" Cloud Cult, "Take Your Medicine" (via Spinner) The Forms, "
As I previously mentioned, I'm in the process of trying to listen to as many Washington, D.C.-area bands as possible to try to get a sense as to my new local music scene. It's still pretty early, but I'm finding a number of really interesting bands. I've already discussed The Julie Ocean and The Fake Accents. Here's two more good ones: The Jet Age Of all of the DC bands that I've heard over
I only have Instrumental Analysis to blame for my recent addiction to the Caribbean. Don't take this to mean anything, I'd just like to point out that they're (The Caribbean, that is) a very grim looking bunch. Maybe they've spent to much time riding the metro with the morning rush hour crowd who always have exactly that look on their faces, every one of them reading the Washington Post , all of them united in complete silence. Onto the music. In "Bees, Their Vision and Language" we're told of [...]
Alright, tonight is pretty crazy. There are solid bands everywhere and you have a lot of choices. You really can't go wrong with any of these. Tokyo Police Club The big ticket buzz show of the night is at Rock & Roll Hotel . Tokyo Police Club will be in town and they will be joined by Ra Ra Riot and local darlings, Jukebox the Ghost . Tokyo Police Club - [...]
Let's keep this simple. To me, this site has always been about supporting the local music scene. So I decided, that there is no better way to celebrate our first anniversary, than to make a mix of local music from the past year. I had so much fun, that I ended up making two discs. Some of these bands have come a long way in the last 12 months, some didn't even exist when we started and others are no more. That said, every song is from a band that claims (or claimed) the Baltimore/Washington metro area as [...]
The Deli Magazine
Consequence Of Sound
Baby, You Got a Stew Goin'!
Instrumental Analysis
The Glorious Hum
Bobby Womack & Lana Del Rey
Video: Chromatics – “These Streets Will Never Look The Same”
Video: 2:54 - "Creeping"
