The Local Weekend: A Little Warm Up

OK Go
(via bands myspace)

After that blast of snow Monday and the frigid temps the rest of the week, the weekend is shaping up to be a good one, so no excuses. Get out and see a show or few.

A few bigger name acts are pulling double duty this weekend, hitting two cities in the IA area.

Always a crow pleaser, OK Go is rolling through the Mid-Atlantic, hitting the TLA Friday and then down to Towson and the Recher Theater Saturday. And be sure to get there early. Opening is Longwave and Oppenheimer. I saw Oppenheimer open for TMBG, well worth the early admission.

stream: OK Go - Invincible (via band website)
mp3: Longwave - Secrets Are Sinister (via RCRDLBL.com)

There is something about most female Irish singers that send me swooning. The slightest hint of brogue in the enunciation of the lyrics, the lilting quality of their voices. Simply beautiful. Not getting what I'm saying? Get yourself to the World Cafe Friday or 9:30 Club Sunday and get caught up in the melodic stylings of Dublin's Lisa Hannigan and hear what I mean. Opening is Providence's Americana-folk group The Low Anthem. Rich and harmonic, this band could be the next CSN&Y. Get there early.

mp3: The Low Anthem - Live Show (World Cafe 12/5/08)

The anti-folk movement is strong and the de facto leader Kimya Dawson is out and about once more. Best known for her work with The Moldy Peaches and the Juno Soundtrack, get to the 2640 Space in Baltimore Friday and the Black Cat Saturday to experience more of her music. Don't worry Philly fans, she's in the area early next week.

mp3: Kimya Dawson - I Like Giants (via artist website)

Finishing off the multi-city stops is the electronica-indie of Heart of Darknesses and Lemonade. They are pulling off the area trifecta. Danger Danger Gallery in Philly hosts on Friday, Floristree in Baltimore Saturday and the best place for food and ping-pong in DC, Comet Ping Pong has the honors Sunday.

mp3: Hearts of Darknesses - One Twenty (via RCRDLBL.com)
mp3: Lemonade - Blissout (via RCRDLBL.com)

Friday

Ladies and gentlemen, the next chapter in the continuing saga of The Adventures of Kid Catastrophe is now available. Illinois' epic journey is still moving along and the 5th installment is set for release. Catch the Buck County natives at The Fire in Philly with another local favorite Cheers Elephant.

Musicians from Austin have a special place in my heart. Austin-based Seth Walker is making his way to Puck Live in Doylestown for an intimate show of Americana-blues in support of his extremely new album (released this week) Leap of Faith.

Couple of widely known acts pull through as well. Johnny Brenda's is hosting Georgians Black Lips with Gentleman Jesse & His Men and The PoPo, while the Ottobar has Michigan's mega-group Anathallo with locals We Read Minds opening.

mp3: Illinois - She's So Funny (via band email)
mp3: Cheer Elephant - Wide Eyed
mp3: Seth Walker - Rewind (via Hyena Records)
mp3: Black Lips - O Katrina! (via SXSW.com)
mp3: Anathallo - The River (via SXSW.com)

Saturday

CD release alert! Philly's jangly country/rock/soul band The Mean is dropping a new disc upon the populace. Also on the bill is West Philly's The Great Unknown and a collaboration between Hezekiah Davis and Tone Whitfield known as Johnny Popcorn.

Elsewhere in Philly, the North Star is hosting Pete & J along with the ever increasingly popular local band Drink Up Buttercup and Carmen Costa. Over at the Tritone, catch The Volunteers. They have been likened to two Philly joke-rock bands Ween and The Dead Milkmen.

DC is definitely a hot bed of activity, with great shows to choose from. New Orleans comes to DC as songstress Theresa Andersson entertains at Jammin' Java. Big show at the Rock & Roll Hotel as Lydia and Black Gold share the stage. All the Day Holiday open. Here We Go Magic teams up with fellow Western Vinyl artist Callers at The Red & The Black. Typefighter opens. And Velvet lounge has a great local show with the (mostly) all-girl band Five Four, indie-metal act Caverns and Mother.

mp3: Drink Up Buttercup - Young Ladies
mp3: The Volunteers - Rock and Roll (Will Kill You)(via themusebox.net email)
mp3: Black Gold - Plans and Reveries (The Teenagers Remix)(via RCRDLBL.com)
mp3: Here We Go Magic - Only Pieces (excerpt, via Western Vinyl)
mp3: Callers - More Than Right (excerpt, via Western Vinyl)
mp3: Five Four - Creepy Cool Ways (via band website)

Sunday

Johnny Brendas does is again, this time hosting DC and Philly (and our) favorite Jukebox the Ghost before they get very well known as they open for Ben Folds in the near future. The show retains the local flavor with The Armchairs and Hop Along Queen Ansleis.

The Caribbean is out and about and is joined by Catbird Records artist Fulton Lights at Galaxy Hut.

The Chameleon has Madi Diaz, now of Nashville, but originally from Western PA, joined by other PA bands Perkasie and Slimfit.

mp3: Jukebox the Ghost - Hold It In (via band)
mp3: Hop Along, Queen Ansleis - For the Bonsai Tree U Bought 4 Me (via band)
mp3: The Caribbean - The Go From Tactical (via band website)
mp3: Fulton Lights - I Love Your Point of View and Full Album ZIP(via Catbird Records)
mp3: Madi Diaz - Nothing At All (via SXSW.com)