The Area Weekend

Summer is winding down, kids are going back to school and bands are finishing their summer tours or starting fall ones. This weekend is very front heavy with a lot of action on Friday then tapering down to a single show on Sunday. Most are one city shows so be sure to check out who is where.


The 80's are making a huge comeback. So many artists and groups that thrived in the early MTV era are going out on reunion tours after years of not performing. Following that trend in Billy Idol. There is something about his hits from that time that I have to listen to when they come on the radio. I never bought one of his albums but I know every word of "Rebel Yell", "White Wedding" and "Dancing With Myself". Billy has just released a retrospective, Idolize Yourself, that features all the hits and two new tracks. You can catch him perform all your favorites this Friday at Pier Six in Baltimore then over at the House of Blues in Atlantic City Saturday.

Friday

Speaking of '80s revival, British popsters Squeeze are touring. After a Thursday in DC, they are heading up to the Philly 'burbs and playing the historic Keswick Theater in Glenside. Opening is The Spring Standards (formerly Old Springs Pike) from New York, who have just released a new EP, No One Will Know.

mp3: Squeeze - Black Coffee In Bed (live)
mp3: The Spring Standards - Your Lie

Still following the '80s vibe, our favorite (and only) Smith's tribute band is calling it quits. Girlfriend in a Coma is playing their final Baltimore show Friday night at the Ottobar. This is your last chance, unless you head to Charlottesville September 6th for the band's final show, to catch one of the best tribute bands in the country. It is spot on. We will miss these guys.

mp3: Girlfriend in a Coma - This Charming Man

Another local band is hanging it up. DC's Telograph is having their farewell show at the 9:30 Club supporting No Second Troy and joined by another local favorite Exit Clov.

mp3: Telograph - Eye For an Eye
mp3: Exit Clov - MK Ultra

Subpop artist Oxford Collapse is on the front leg of a fall tour, playing Talking Head in Baltimore. They are joined by Love as Laughter and locals Impossible Hair. Don't worry those of you in DC and Philly, the second leg brings them back through at the end of September.

mp3: Oxford Collapse - Please Visit Your National Parks
mp3: Impossible Hair - My Little Brother

New Orleans songstress Theresa Andersson is taking on Towson at The Recher on Friday then is joined Saturday at DC9 by The Spring Standards fresh off their opening for Squeeze.

Elsewhere:

Nico Muhly/Doveman/Sam Amidon @ First Unitarian Church
The Hush Sound/The Cab/Steel Train/The Morning Lights @ TLA
Don Caballero/An Albatross/Ponytail @ Johnny Brendas
New Radiant Storm King/Photon Band @ Manhattan Room
The High Strung/National Eye/New Motels @ North Star

mp3: An Albatross - The Revolutionary Politics of Dance
mp3: Doveman - Sunrise Medley
mp3: National Eye - Juno3
mp3: New Motels - Modern Thinker

Saturday

It is a night of indie-pop at Johnny Brenda's with an all local line-up featuring Audible, as you may have heard on NPR and The OC, joined by Buried Beds and Missing Palmer West.

mp3: Audible - Sunday Bell
mp3: Buried Beds - Insomnia
mp3: Missing Palmer West - God Knows Im No Saint Paul

Over at The Chameleon, Lancaster's Kheris plays a home town show with Philly favorites The Swimmers.

mp3: The Swimmers - St Cecilia

Keeping with the local shows, DC's Greenland and Tiger and the Snow share a bill at the Rock & Roll Hotel.

mp3: Greenland - Forward Frame to Frame
mp3: Tiger and the Snow - Window Panes (live)

Sunday

Not much to say about Sunday night, but if you cello-based rock, then you want to head over to the Ottobar for Rasputina. Those in DC can catch them Monday at the Black Cat.

mp3: Rasputina - Cage In A Cave