The Weekend in the IA Area

The middle of fall, nothing like it. It is also a huge weekend for shows in the area. Quite a few big names are rolling through the area and pulling multiple city stops. Here's what to check out.

The Pacific northwest has produce numerous indie acts. One of the biggest, The Decemberists are playing two shows this weekend with fellow Portlanders Loch Lomond. You can catch them at the Electric Factory Friday and Rams Head Live in Baltimore Saturday.

mp3: The Decemberists - Shiny
mp3: Loch Lomond - Carl Sagan

The Sea & Cake have a new album coming out. Hear the full album streaming on their myspace page. Also, see them at First Unitarian Friday and Black Cat saturday with Death Vessel.

mp3: Death Vessel - Deep In the Horchata

Former Talking Heads front man and world music guru David Byrne is at the Tower Theater in Philly Saturday, then heads to the Warner Theater in DC to finish out the weekend.

Murder By Death is heading to Baltimore for a show Saturday at Ottobar with Baltimore's own J Roddy Walston and the Business and William Elliot Whitmore. Philly gets the pleasure Sunday at First Unitarian.

mp3: William Elliot Whitmore - Does Me No Good (Daytrotter)

The Bloodsugars are joined by The Lisps for a couple of shows in the Baltimore/DC metro. Friday head over to the Metro Gallery. Then saturday you can catch them at Dahlak.

mp3: The Bloodsugars - Purpose Was Again
mp3: The Lisps - I'm Sorry

William Fitzsimmons is on tour with a new album. He headlines at Jammin' Java Friday night with Slow Runner and Caitlin Crosby. Saturday, The Chameleon Club in Lancaster is the venue for a great show.

Friday

Always an entertaining show, The Mountain Goats bring their diary pages turned songs to the TLA in Philly. Folk songtress Kaki King opens.

Messiah College always gets great shows. This Friday is no different as Conor Oberst shares the stage with Texas native and killer live act Ben Kweller. Rig 1 kicks it all off.

The Gutter Twins are still riding high off of their release earlier this year. They are at the Black Cat with Italians Afterhours.

Illinois is kicking off their new 6 part album with their Chapter One show at The Fire. Making it an all region lineup is Aderbat and Drink Up Buttercup.

Down at the 8x10, Eureka Birds are having a CD release party for their new self-titled disc. Joining the festivities is The Lonely H and The Names.

Also playing Friday night is Nicole Atkins with Salt & Samovar at Rock & Roll Hotel and Scott Miller with Vandaveer at IOTA.

mp3: The Mountain Goats - Sax Rohmer No. 1
mp3: Kaki King - Gloves Off (Daytrotter)
mp3: Rig 1 - Dirty Little Sica
mp3: The Gutter Twins - Idle Hands
mp3: Illinois - Hang On
mp3: Aderbat - Pilgrim
mp3: Drink Up Buttercup - Young Ladies
mp3: Eureka Birds - Goodbye Space and Time
mp3: The Lonely H - The Meal
mp3: Vandaveer - However Many Takes It Takes

Saturday

Huge show at the Electric Factory when The Hold Steady comes back through Philly, this time joined by southern-fried rockers Drive-By Truckers.

The Capitol Theater in York, PA is getting some huge names. This weekend songstress Kathleen Edwards and former X member John Doe take the stage. I sure hope my little hometown is ready for it.

Husband and wife combo Mates of State make a stop in Philly at The Troc with Brother Reade.

For something more local, Like A Fox is release a new CD at Johnny Brenda's. BC Camplight shares the bill. Also on the local scene, Adam & Dave's Bloodline are in West Chester at The Note.

mp3: The Hold Steady - Chips Ahoy
mp3: Drive-By Truckers - Zip City
mp3: Kathleen Edwards - In State
mp3: Mates of State - My Only Offer
mp3: Adam & Dave's Bloodline - Where You Are

Sunday

Only a few one-nighters for Sunday. Catch The Shaky Hands and The End of the World at DC9. Over at the Rock & Roll Hotel, Stellastarr* headlines with US Royalty in support.

mp3: The Shaky Hands - We Are Young
mp3: The End of the World - I Don't Wanna Lose
mp3: US Royalty - Every Summer