The Area Weekend

Another weekend, another set of great shows. Here's the lineup.


Parts of Swervedriver, Interpol and The Album Leaf join to create Magnetic Morning. Lead singer Adam Franklin seems to be everywhere, doing solo work, reuniting with Swervedriver and working with MM. They will be performing in DC at the Rock & Roll Hotel Friday night and Johnny Brenda's in Philly Saturday. Joining them is Springhouse. Also on board for the DC how is Julie Ocean and The Jet Age.

mp3: Magnetic Morning - At A Crossroads Passive
mp3: Julie Ocean - At The Appointed Hour
mp3: The Jet Age - O Calendar

Cold War Kids are on tour in support of their recently released new album Loyalty to Loyalty. Catch them at TLA Friday and 9:30 Club Saturday with A.A. Bondy.

mp3: Cold War Kids - Bullies Always Win
mp3: A.A. Bondy - Theres a Reason

Also doing multi-city stops is indie-popsters The Little Ones. Friday at the Khyber New Motels is the opener. Sunday at DC9, they are joined by Via Audio and locals Pash as well as The Postelles.

mp3: The Little Ones - Morning Tide
mp3: New Motels - Modern Thinkers
mp3: Via Audio - Modern Day Saint
mp3: Pash - Kill The Rich Boys II

Shiny Toy Guns can be found at Sonar Saturday and North Star Sunday. If you like a loud show, this is one to see.

Screen Vinyl Image is at the Metro Gallery with The Water, Luxa and Monocle. Saturday, you can catch SVI at the Velvet Lounge with Black Nite Crash.

Friday

Wilmington's own The Spinto Band is having a CD release party at the First Unitarian Church. Joining in on the fun is The Swims with their raucous stage manner and infectious pop songs and Scots Frightened Rabbit.

San Francisco's Citay is in Philly for a show at Johnny Brenda's. Their sound is described as dreamy shoegaze with ethereal vocals and layered acoustic guitars. Two local acts round out the night. Gianmarco Cilli, part of National Eye and a great act from the Philly folk scene, and East Hundred are also set to perform.

Over at the World Cafe, Jonatha Brooke takes the stage.

Keeping it local at the North Star, Wilmington's The Sky Drops perform.

Sweden's Blackstrap is in the midst of a North American tour. Catch them at DC9.

mp3: The Spinto Band - Summer Grof
mp3: The Swims - We Need Lava
mp3: Citay - First Fantasy
mp3: Gianmarco Cilli - Empire (Acoustic Home Demo)
mp3: East Hundred - Leave It
mp3: The Sky Drops - Now Would Be

Saturday

Only a couple of shows for Saturday not already mentioned. Pierced Arrows are at DC9 with The Shirks, Love City and Hollywood. Rock & Roll Hotel hosts US Royalty. They are joined by Bear Hands, Blonde Acid Cult and Fever.

mp3: Bear Hands - Long Lean Queen
mp3: Blonde Acid Cult - Shake It Loose (Remix)

Sunday

Now I know a few of the IA staff members are salivating over this show. Swedish pop sensation Lykke Li is at Black Cat in DC. Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson just adds to the appeal of this show.

mp3: Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance
mp3: Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - Buriedfed