Artist: Joan as Police Woman ------ Carol Bui Date: January 14, 2010 Location: Black Cat (Backstage), Washington DC I have a new musical love and her name is Joan Wasser. When a friend sent me "The Ride" a few years back, I wasn't an immediate convert. But then "To Be Loved," the lead single from 2008's poignant To Survive , made me reconsider my initial impression . The hour that I and about 100 others spent with Joan as Police Woman on Thursday [...]
http://www.flickr.com/photos/s etoutrunning/4198404524/ We are currently in the midst of an "historic" snowstorm here in Virginia. The (mostly unnecessary) blizzard warning has been lifted, but the sky's still an opaque grey and dropping powdery flakes by the cloudful. I wouldn't call the weather frightful--and there's no fire, so it's not delightful, either (or maybe it is, considering I'm terrified of flames)--but cabin fever always threatens to set in on days like this. So far, I've kept myself busy with a little holiday baking. That task is a bit simpler this year thanks to the bevy of [...]
Well, it seems it's that time again--time to get in the holiday spirit (also known as "stress") and reminisce on the events of the past 12 months... the people you met, the places you saw, the things you neglected to accomplish for yet another year, but will nonetheless optimistically pencil in for 2010. Yes, the year is coming to its inevitable close and, if you ask me, it's about time. For a year that seemed to pass so quickly, 2009 still felt unbearably long. So, let's put the soon-to-be-past behind us with a short ode to the final year of [...]
Artist: Amy Millan ------ Bahamas ------ Canary Date: November 8, 2009 Location: DC9, Washington DC HEY Y'ALL. I've tried to write this entry about 397 times now and, every time, I've fallen asleep. Considering it's now multiple days overdue, giving it another go seems like a good--and, because it's the middle of the night, possibly productive--idea. In celebration of the music (and because I feel like it), the entry will have a heavy-handed country tint that may or may not simply mean gratuitous overuse of the word "y'all." [...]
Artist: Sea Wolf ------ Port O'Brien ------ Sara Lov Date: October 19, 2009 Location: DC9, Washington DC Sea Wolf, Port O'Brien, and Sara Lov were all in town Monday night and scheduled to grace the humble stage at DC9. Familiar with all of them, but having seen none of them before, I decided to stay out past my bedtime and see what the three had to offer. Sara Lov [...]
Artist: Yeah Yeah Yeahs ------ Services Date: September 25, 2009 Location: Nightclub 9:30, Washington DC This one doesn't really need a review. It was exactly what one would expect of a Yeah Yeah Yeahs show--a colorful, confetti-filled, sing-along dance party. Karen O., Nick Zinner, and Brian Chase played a well- selected set of songs from Fever to Tell , Show Your Bones , Is Is , and It's Blitz! that clocked in just under 90 minutes. Karen hopped off [...]
Artist: Autolux ------ Sleepy Sun ------ Mini Mansions Date: September 8, 2009 Location: Black Cat, Washington DC Autolux's show at Black Cat last night was an event more than 4 years in the making. If I'm not mistaken, the last time the band stopped in the District was in 2005 at the same venue, opening for The Raveonettes. When I missed that show, I promised myself I'd see them the next time they passed through the area. Now that it's finally happened, I'm grateful that my interest in Autolux [...]
Artists: St. Vincent , Mates of State , Jet , The National , Weezer , and more Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia MD This past Sunday's Virgin Mobile FreeFest was a relatively small, one-day affair that served as a fine introduction to the world of music festivals. As someone who's not much a fan of warm weather or crowds, I was thankful for the moderate temperature and thoughtful organization. Aside from the massive queue for pavilion seats and crowded main lawn later in the day, Merriweather's [...]
Quickly, a few things I've been listening to lately. Phantogram - When I'm Small [mp3] I have to credit the KEXP Song of the Day podcast for introducing me to Phantogram . In my opinion (though this may be influenced by the fact that it was the first I heard), "When I'm Small" is the standout track from Eyelid Movies . The entire album, though, has broad appeal--e.g. listening to it makes mock-up iPod ads float through my head--and I imagine this band will receive more exposure [...]
My friend Melody, a.k.a. the Singing Lamb , asked me to write a more thorough review of last week's Neko Case show for her readers. (Yes, it's a Toronto blog. No, the show was not in Toronto.) Read the review here and then check out the rest of the wonderful interviews, reviews and photos!
In a year thus far filled with multiple-night runs and repeat performances from artists seen in years past, next week's Federal Reserve Collective First Mondays showcase at IOTA Club & Cafe in Arlington should present a welcomed change. At only $5, the monthly event offers a hodgepodge of performances from area musicians and guests, including Kitty Hawk, These United States and Vandaveer (full list on the Collective's official myspace ). While unassociated with the DC area, Indiana natives and current Brooklyn residents Courtney Kaiser and Benjamin Cartel--logically named KaiserCartel --will be at IOTA this [...]
Artist: Neko Case ------ Imaad Wasif Date: July 24, 2009 Location: The NorVA, Norfolk VA As a general rule, it's rude to use your mobile phone at a concert. Accordingly, I need to start bringing a notebook and pen with me instead of sending unintelligible text messages to myself. This account--as it is an account and not a review (my thoughts on Neko Case are by now clear)--will attempt to decipher and translate into articulate English the following notes for those who are also amused by Neko and Kelly Hogan's onstage dialogue, [...]
via Arts&Crafts : Amy Millan (also of Stars and Broken Social Scene fame) returns with Masters of The Burial , a wistful yet warm collection of songs and the follow up to her 2006 solo debut, Honey From The Tombs . Masters of The Burial includes interpretations of Death Cab for Cutie’s “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” and “Old Perfume” by Sarah Harmer. Recorded at The Well and produced by Martin Davis Kinack (Broken Social Scene), the album features [...]
The presale for Virgin Mobile FreeFest begins tomorrow at 10am (unverifiable passwords available online for savvy 'net users). The headliners, touted in oversized capital letters on the website, are Blink-182 and Weezer. If you can't stomach sitting through these acts--come on, not even for nostalgic value?--be comforted by the fact The National, St. Vincent, The Hold Steady and others will likely be playing early in the day. And, if you keep your (crooked) fingers crossed, maybe Matt Berninger and Annie Clark will take a cue from the August heat and throw in their breezy cover of "Sleep All [...]
Artist: Metric ------ Sebastien Grainger ------ Smile Smile Date: June 18, 2009 Location: Nightclub 9:30, Washington DC This next song is dedicated to anybody who's continued to follow what they believe in, despite the fact that, for some reason, people your whole life will line up to tell you ... that they know that you can't accomplish what you want to accomplish. This song is for anyone who's kept dreaming. - Emily Haines, prefacing "Gimme Sympathy" I've been trying to write a review of last [...]
Artist: The National ------ Colin Stetson Date: May 24 & 25, 2009 Location: Nightclub 9:30, Washington DC The National delivered three--well, two, undeniably, but I assume a full three--incredible performances to a sold-out and sweltering DC crowd this long Memorial Day weekend. Matt Berninger, Bryce and Aaron Dessner, and Bryan and Paul Devendorf have garnered a steadily growing following over the past few years, moving from one-night stands at Black Cat to multiple-night runs at the 9:30 Club. As the most recent shows illustrated, their growing popularity is well-deserved. Live, The National [...]
Artist: St. Vincent ------ Lo Moda Date: May 22, 2009 Location: Black Cat, Washington DC Annie Clark (St. Vincent) used words sparingly throughout her 75-minute set last night at Black Cat. Apart from a few brief quips--including a thank-you to the audience for continuing to laugh at the line "... without the kid " (from "Marry Me") and a comment on her drummer's excellent jump kick--she was mostly business, stopping only to greet and thank attendees, introduce her band and comment on the current tour between songs. Of course, when your [...]
That it took me over 24 hours to even think to post this here attests to exactly how "out" of blogging I am. But, the actual news-- Autolux recently announced a small number of shows for fall 2009. East coast fans have likely realized in recent years how rarely the band visits our side of the country--I believe this is their first stop in DC since opening for The Raveonettes in 2005--so snap up tickets when/while you can. (Aside from ATP, tickets do not appear to be on sale yet.) I definitely was not expecting [...]
Neko Case performed on Letterman last night. Of course, I forgot to watch it, despite reminding myself to repeatedly over the past week. Thank goodness for YouTube. I swear everything this woman does is perfection. Please note my lack of objectivity. Thank you, YouTube user, annoyingly unnecessary watermark and all.
Artist: Ladytron + The Faint ------ Crocodiles ------ FIGO DJs Date: April 14, 2009 Location: Nightclub 9:30, Washington DC As of last night, I have one more trip to DC under my belt and one more encounter with the mechanical sounds of Ladytron. Yesterday was exactly six months three years to the day since I first saw Helen, Mira, Daniel, Reuben and the ever-changing touring lineup live, and while my love for Ladytron is not quite what it used to be --(not so) secret [...]
Counting Stars on the Ceiling
Download: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Can’t Hold Us (Major Lazer Remix)
Who is BANKS?
Edwarde Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros // Better Days [Download]
Cantanti famosi apparsi nei Simpson: da Lady Gaga agli U2
