Friday Strikes Back

After a hazy, hot, humid and stormy week, the skies are set to clear up and the weekend forecast is gorgeous. Celebrate with a great Friday night out.


Baltimore has it going on tonight. Start out early with the continuation of the free Friday concert series at Walter's Art Museum. Tonight they have one of their best shows yet. Local favorites Two if by Sea will be taking the stage and apparently there is a visual accompaniment.

Two if by Sea - High Water Mark


Another Baltimore favorite is playing tonight, when The Payola Reserve take the stage at Ottobar. They will be joined by a solid lineup that includes DC's Let's French, who are making a rare Baltimore appearance in support of their new album Victory.

The Payola Reserve - Music Is Not Music
Let's French - Here She Comes (There She Goes)


Speaking of DC bands, These United States will also be making their way to Baltimore tonight. They will be playing Charm City Artspace and they'll be joined by Laura Gibson and Casey Dienel. You will also have two other opportunities to catch this great bill over the weekend. They will be playing The Sugar Tank in Lancaster, PA on Saturday night. For those of you with kids, you can catch this bill at the family themed Rock-n-Romp tomorrow afternoon.

Since they will be playing these shows as a 2-piece, here are a couple of fantastic videos of the Jesse and Tom version of These US.

These United States - "We Go Down To That Corner"


These United States - "So High So Low So Wide So Long"


These United States - So High So Low So Wide So Long
Laura Gibson - Hands In Pockets
Casey Dienel - Tundra


Finally, there is a solid show in DC. Casiotone For The Painfully Alone and The Donkeys will be at The Red and The Black.

Casiotone For The Painfully Alone - Young Shields
The Donkeys - In The Morning

Tuesday in DC

It's Tuesday and there isn't a huge slate of shows tonight. That said, there are a couple worth noting. While the guys have generally decided to take tonight off, the women are out in full force.


New York noise rockers Gang Gang Dance are playing a show at Rock 'N Roll Hotel tonight. They will be supported by local favorites Exit Clov.

Gang Gang Dance - Nomad For Love (Cannibal)
Exit Clov - Violent Berries


Back in the 90's, Velocity Girl were local heroes. Tonight you can welcome one of your own home when Sarah Shannon returns to Black Cat. She will be joined on the bill by DC's The Andalusians.

Sarah Shannon - City Morning Song

Lejeune At Fort Reno Tonight

Tonight's Fort Reno is being headlined by Lejeune. The IA favorites will be playing their last local show before our Anniversary Party on August 10. Definitely check them out. Plus, it's free! You can't beat that...

The Latest Greatest

Friday: The Return

Alright, it's time to do that Friday thing again. It doesn't matter where you will be tonight, because there is quality everywhere!


In DC tonight, The Red and The Black are having their one year anniversary. There will be a big party, complete with drink specials and great bands. Black Tie Revue and The Subjects will be providing the entertainment, along with locals Nunchucks. If you have never seen Pittsburgh's Black Tie Revue, this is the perfect opportunity.

Black Tie Revue - Absent Radio


Out in northern VA tonight, there is a big CD release party at IOTA. Greenland will be unveiling their excellent new baby Call Message to the world. Local favorites Bellman Barker will be there to entertain as well and this will be their last local show before they play our anniversary party at Rock and Roll Hotel on August 10.

Greenland - Greenland Pt. 2
Bellman Barker - Molly Maroon


In Baltimore, you can start your night at the museum. Local band Faster Faster Harder Harder will be playing a free acoustic show at Walter's Art Museum. Check out a quality band in a different setting and take in some art as well. It's an early evening well spent and you'll still have plenty of time to hit the bar.

Faster Faster Harder Harder - Calm Down


Finally, three quality bands make their way to Baltimore. The Hourly Radio, Stars of Track and Field and Shiny Toy Guns bring their road show to Sonar tonight.

The Hourly Radio - Deaf Ears
Stars of Track and Field - Movies of Antarctica
Shiny Toy Guns - Le Disko

A Big Thursday

It's Thursday in the region. The week is almost over and there are all sorts of shows happening. So look over your options, get out there and support.


Let's start with a band that you have never heard of, but will thank us later for introducing you to. Meowskers are from Brooklyn and I guarantee that you will be hearing a lot about them in a few months, so you might as well get acquainted now. They are playing Black Cat tonight as support for The Slip and Bobby Bare Jr. I'll include some mp3s to whet your appetite. If you like what you hear, the rest of the EP is available on myspace.

Meowskers - I'll Be By Your Side
Meowskers - Colors That Lie


The band that has been getting the most local press in the last couple of months, has a surprise show at Velvet Lounge tonight. Le Loup will be playing at 10pm sharp in support of their friends The Bang and Koshari.

Le Loup - We are Gods! We are Wolves!


The big name coming through the region tonight is Wilco. They bring their much publicized live show to Merriweather. Low will be providing the support.

Wilco - Box Full of Letters


Local favorite Paul Michel is celebrating his 30th Birthday with a show at The Red and The Black. He will be joined by Rebecca Pronsky and Luke Brindley.

Paul Michel - The Ways and Means


Tonight's Fort Reno show features a couple of the more popular local indie bands. The Hard Tomorrows and Let's French will be trading riffs. This is also the penultimate show for The Hard Tomorrows.

The Hard Tomorrows - Glossy-Eyed Sweetheart
Let's French - She Says She Loves Me

Monarch

Due to their gorgeous songs, Monarch is one of my favorite Baltimore bands. They are a 2-piece comprised of multi-instrumentalists Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack, but their live shows don't sound like they only have 2 people on stage. I finally found a video that accurately portrays this. Notice Andy drumming and playing keys at the same time.


Monarch - Family Glue



I highly recommend their CD If Children, as well. Currently, you can only get a copy by going to a show or writing the band. They are working on distribution. Until then, they have several tracks available here. They are also touring, so be sure to check out a show when they come to town.

Family Glue
Warning

The National @ 9:30 Club

It's Wednesday and there isn't a lot happening tonight. However, one of the biggest indie bands of the year is headlining 9:30 Club. Fresh off of their tour with The Arcade Fire, The National will be in town supported by Shapes and Sizes and Talkdemonic. Following the normal DC trend for indie darlings (warranted or not)*, the show is of course sold out. However, I'm sure that you can find a way to get in if you really want to. If not, you can stream the show here.

Now, I must admit that a good number of the indie darlings secretly make me cringe. With The National, that is not the case. I've been a fan since I first discovered them in 2005. Their music generally features intelligent lyrics over lush arrangements. While they aren't the most upbeat band in the world, they are the kind of band that actually make you think and there is nothing wrong with that.

The National - Fake Empire
The National - Mr. November
Shapes and Sizes - Alone/Alive
Talkdemonic - Mountaintops In Caves

*Admit it, if a band gets any sort of national indie push that makes them project coolness (even if they suck), they tend to sell out DC, while the normal array of local hipsters are always in attendance and a good portion of the local bands are intelligently standing outside waiting to hand you a promo CD as you exit. If a band is still well under the radar when they come to town, there is usually enough room to pitch a tent.

Shows For Your Tuesday

It's Tuesday, but there are definitely some shows worth seeing in DC tonight. Here's an overview of what your choices are...


Illinois has been generating a lot of buzz lately. Tonight, they will be in town and headlining at Rock 'N Roll Hotel. Tallest Highest will be providing the support.

Illinois - Alone Again


Great Northern is a band from Los Angeles that you have probably never heard of. They are worth checking out and you can do so tonight at Black Cat.

Great Northern - Telling Lies


Finally, there is a solid show at DC9. Arms and Legs will be in town and they have Vandaveer and Hot Coffee, Mississippi providing support.

Arms and Legs - Let Go
Vandaveer - Marianne, You've Done It Now
Hot Coffee, Mississippi - Postal Service

Thrushes - Ghost Train

Baltimore's Thrushes have an excellent new video for their song "Ghost Train" from sun come undone. The video was created by Salty Bovine Films. Enjoy.

Ghost Train by Thrushes


Ghost Train

While you are at it, vote for Thrushes here. They are competing as an NME Breaking Band.

Contest: Greenland

DC's Greenland has a great new CD coming out. Call Message will be released on Friday night at IOTA, with Bellman Barker and Brice Woodall supporting. To celebrate, they are sponsoring a contest. The prizes are:

Grand Prize
1 Guestlist Spot
1 Autographed 8x10
1 Call Message CD

First Prize
1 Guestlist Spot
1 Autographed 8x10

To win, send us an e-mail that includes your name and location. The winners will be selected at random and notified later this week. Good luck.

Greenland Pt. 2

Stylish Sunday in DC

The weekend is winding down, but there are a couple of shows in DC that will end your weekend on a high note. Both are good choices, so pick wisely.


The Mary Timony Band and Welcome have a show at Black Cat. I remember seeing Helium in 1995. I have been a fan of Mary ever since. She has infectious tunes and puts on a great show, so this is definitely worth checking out.

The Mary Timony Band - Sharp Shooter
Welcome - All Set


Let's French, Kitty Hawk and Prabir and the Substitutes are playing a show at Velvet Lounge. This show will definitely close out your weekend in style.

Let's French - She Says She Loves Me
Kitty Hawk - Silence Won't Work On Me No More
Prabir and the Substitutes - Slow

Saturday

It's Saturday and the weekend is in high gear. There are some serious shows to entertain yourself with this evening.


The big one in DC is at 9:30 Club. Washington Social Club will be releasing their new CD Bigger Than Your Boyfriend. They will be joined by local favorites The Dance Party. To learn more about WSC's thoughts on the new CD and to check out a crazy photo spread, go here.

Washington Social Club - Bigger Than Your Boyfriend
The Dance Party - Lipstick


Another great local show is happening at Galaxy Hut. City-State and J. Forté + the Secret Pop Band will be playing a twin bill that is definitely worth checking out.

City-State - Mary
J. Forté + the Secret Pop Band - Come Back Now Baby (Your Data's Good)


There is a nice show happening at The Red and The Black. Moxie Motive and People Noise will be in town. If you aren't familiar with these bands, look into them.

Moxie Motive - Lonely Lifeguard
People Noise - The Killing Fields


Finally, The Sketches will be having a free Baltimore CD release show at 8x10 Club.

The Sketches - Secret Alphabets

Friday Night in Wilmington

Just a quick heads up. Dont miss the great DC band Georgie James at Mojo 13 on the Philly Pike tonight (Friday 6/15).

Need Your Needs

Friday

It's finally Friday and the weekend is staring us in the eye. The bitch says party, so you better listen. Fortunately, she makes it easy to comply, by presenting you with a solid offering of shows.

To start the weekend off on a high note, French Kicks return to DC. They play a show at Rock 'N Roll Hotel and bring a little bit of New York with them in the form of Bon Savants and The Childballads.

French Kicks - So Far We Are
Bon Savants - Between the Moon and the Ocean
The Childballads - Cheekbone Hollows

Local roots rockers Junior League have a CD release at Black Cat. They call on their friends A Fine Frenzy and Essie Jain to help celebrate the occassion.

Junior League - Chess Records
A Fine Frenzy - Rangers
Essie Jain - Glory


In Baltimore, The Oranges Band return to Ottobar. Palomar will be providing support.

The Oranges Band - If These Stars Are Struck
Palomar - Bury Me Closer

Thurday Night Is Upon Us

This has been a long week, but Thursday is finally upon us. You can almost taste the weekend, so kick it off with a great show. Baltimore and DC both have something worth seeing tonight, so there aren't any excuses.


For those of you in Baltimore, there is a great benefit show at Metro Gallery. Local favorites Rain the Shining headline the evening. They'll be joined by Brooklyn buzz band The Diggs and local band Kadman.

Rain the Shining - To Point B
The Diggs- Everyone's Starting Over
Kadman- Blue Walls


Now for our DC readers... There is a great show at The Red and The Black. Ironically, Baltimore's Page France will be in town. They will be joined by Chris Garneau and Austin buzz band Peel.

Page France - Hat and Rabbit
Peel - Workers Wake Up
Chris Garneau - Not Nice

Some Velvet Morning

It's been awhile since I fired up a post about a band, just because I felt like it. Well, that time has come. I'd like to introduce you to Some Velvet Morning. The band hails from London and recently signed to the indie label Rhythm Bank. Their debut will be out later this year. Check out a track and let me know what you think. Personally, the song immediately struck me as something that I wanted to hear... repeatedly.

Settle Down

Wednesday In The Region

It's only Wednesday, but in addition to the previously discussed Voxtrot show, there is a lot happening in the region tonight.


Heartless Bastards and Earl Greyhound play Rock 'N Roll Hotel tonight. They will be joined by locals Engine Room and Boxcar Collision.

Heartless Bastards - Searching for the Ghost
Earl Greyhound - S.O.S.


Feist and Grizzly Bear have both been getting a lot of buzz lately. So it's no surprise that they will be playing a sold out show at 9:30 Club.

Feist - 1234
Grizzly Bear- Easier


Finally, for those of you in Baltimore, Son Volt returns to the region. They will be bringing their road show to Sonar for the evening.

Son Volt- Windfall

Voxtrot Tour

Austin's Voxtrot is touring in support of their first full length. They are being supported by Favourite Sons and Au Revoir Simone. Over the next couple of days, they will be in the area and you can catch them as follows:

6/12 Ottobar, Baltimore w/ Two if by Sea
6/13 Black Cat, DC

*Update: The Baltimore show has been rescheduled for 7/17. The DC show is still on as scheduled.*

Voxtrot - Ghost
Favourite Sons - Tall Grass
Au Revoir Simone - Fallen Snow
Two if by Sea - Summer Borne For Sleep

Monday

Yeah, it's Monday and that sucks. However, there is a decent slate of shows tonight.

New Zealand's The Veils will be at DC9 along with The Comas. Locals Zulu Pearls will be providing support.

The Veils - Advice For Young Mothers To Be
The Comas - Red Microphones
Zulu Pearls - Come Back

Local favorites Exit Clov are playing IOTA, along with their friends The Eames Era from Baton Rouge, LA.

Exit Clov - Violent Berries
The Eames Era - Could Be Anything


The Stills are back and play a show at Sonar tonight. They will be supported by Baltimore's own The Seldon Plan.

The Stills - Still In Love Song
The Seldon Plan - Holding Patterns Are Slow


There is a really good show at The Red and The Black. Arckid will be playing along with Paris band Rock&Roll. For those of you who aren't familiar with Arckid, watch the video below and see if you recognize the voice. They are basically Spacehog with a new name and attitude. Check out the great video directed by Joaquin Phoenix.

ARCKID - I'll Stick Around

Saturday Shows

Saturday is upon us in the Baltimore/Washington region and of course, there are plenty of shows to be seen.


The Sea and Cake/Loney, dear/The Zincs @ Black Cat

The Sea and Cake - Lightning
Loney, dear - I Am John
The Zincs - Head East Kaspar


Califone/These United States/The Bitter Tears @ Rock 'N Roll Hotel

Califone - The Orchids
These United States - Remember, Dear
The Bitter Tears - Grieving


The Sketches (CD Release) @ Jammin' Java

The Sketches - Secret Alphabets


J Roddy Walston & The Business/Soft/Impossible Hair/The Jennifers @ Ottobar

J Roddy Walston and the Business - Used To Did
Soft - Higher
Impossible Hair - My Little Brother
The Jennifers - Oh Caroline

Friday Night in Wilmington

Forget the beach for one night and stay close to home. One hell of a show will entertain the masses at Mojo 13. A pair of locals and some out-of-towners share the bill.

Shade, who is now being featured on American Airlines in-flight music, comes in from Pittsburgh. If you miss them Friday, check them out at The Fire in Philly Saturday.

From Brooklyn, billed as "The Loudest Band In New York City", A Place to Bury Strangers is not just noise, but have an awesome sound and great lyrics. Check out the definite Joy Division influence. I heard a rumor they may not be there and nothing is stated on their myspace page about the show...come and see what happens. *No Longer On Bill*

Gemini Wolf from Philly is an eclectic mix of electronica and pop. Get up and dance! Check them out again 6/12 at The Fire.

Lastly, Wilmington's favorite two-piece Sky Drops will entertain the hometown crowd.

So get yourself down the Philly Pike, just a short drive down I-95. Its gonna be a great show.

Shade - Jade Dagger

A Place to Bury Strangers - I Know I'll See You

Gemini Wolf - Owl Song

Sky Drops - Green To Red

Tonight In DC

I apologize for the lack of updates this week. I'm fulfilling my civic duty, so computer access is limited. That said, there are some good shows happening in DC tonight, so I wanted to give you a quick rundown.


The Long Blondes, Nicole Atkins and The Sea, Five Four @ Rock and Roll Hotel

The Long Blondes - Weekend Without Makeup
Nicole Atkins and The Sea - Carouselle


The Bravery, The Cinematics, The Photo Atlas @ 9:30 Club

The Bravery - Believe
The Cinematics - A Strange Education
The Photo Atlas - Handshake Heart Attack


Lavender Diamond, Entrance @ Black Cat

Lavender Diamond - You Broke My Heart
Entrance - Pretty Baby