The IA Area Weekend

Another weekend in upon us. Of course that means great shows playing the area. Here's what to check out.

Friday


The Oranges Band are set to release their new album The Oranges Band Are Invisible upon the masses and to celebrate the new disc, they are having a little shindig at the Ottobar with a few friends from the area. Also on the bill are Gary B & The Notions, Deleted Scenes and Dead Mechanical. Great local line-up to start the weekend.

For those of you up in Philly, another stellar local show is at Johnny Brenda's. The Swimmers continue their Mid-Atlantic dominance, this time joined by Missing Palmer West and Bitter Bitter Weeks. I highly recommend this show.

The District is not letting Baltimore and Philly have all the fun. Wilmington's The Spinto Band, with new album in tow, are joined by our favorites Middle Distance Runner and Title Tracks at Black Cat. Saturday, you can catch MDR for free at the 8x10.

Current insurance shillers Cloud Cult (love the commercial) are up at Lehigh University at the Zoellner Arts Center with locals Exit Clov. Sure to be a great show for those who make the trip.

Matador Records artist Brightblack Morning Light are still out in support of their September release. Catch them at Talking Head.

If singer-songwriters are your thing, you got a couple of choices to sate your appetite. Brett Dennen is on tour with a new album. You can catch him at Ram's Head Tavern in Annapolis. Philly's Tin Angel hosts him Saturday. The Tin Angel also has a good set Friday with William Fitzsimmons, Slow Runner and Caitlin Crosby.

mp3: The Oranges Band - ArtStar
mp3: Gary B & The Notions - Lori
mp3: Deleted Scenes - Fake IDs
mp3: Dead Mechanical - New Alchemy
mp3: The Swimmers - St. Cecilia
mp3: Missing Palmer West - God Knows I'm No Saint Paul
mp3: Bitter Bitter Weeks - Terrified
mp3: The Spinto Band - Summer Grof
mp3: Middle Distance Runner - Top of the Stairs
mp3: Exit Clov - Working Class Hero
mp3: Brightblack Morning Light - Hologram Buffalo

Saturday/Sunday

The trend for local shows continues Saturday night at the Rock & Roll Hotel. Get your dancing shoes on and get ready to party when The Dance Party hits the stage. Joining them are Ra Ra Rasputin, Greenland and Nunchucks.

Southern rock didn't die with Skynyrd. It is alive and well with Kings of Leon. Playing back to back nights at the Electric Factory, they unleash their Nashville sound with help from We Are Scientists and The Whigs.

Elsewhere, Luego is at the Red & the Black Saturday. Sunday, Swedish pop band Fredrik play the Khyber.

mp3: The Dance Party - A-List
mp3: Greenland - Sorrow in the Snow
mp3: We Are Scientists - Inaction

Don't miss the other acts playing this weekend that played elsewhere earlier this week.

Thursday In The Area

Shows are light this Thursday. Here's what to check out:


It's a CD release party at Johnny Brenda's in Philly for Aderbat. Due out today is We Belong To The Sea, "a missive on longing, memory and the experiential Life". Joining the party are Philly bands East Hundred, finishing on a new album themselves, and Bitter Bitter Weeks. If you miss Aderbat tonight, they will also be releasing at The Factory in Doylestown Friday and down at the Lo-Fi Social Club in Baltimore Saturday.

mp3: Aderbat - Pilgrim
mp3: East Hundred - Killing Moon (Echo & The Bunnymen cover)
mp3: Bitter Bitter Weeks - Terrified

Also in Philly, for a more danceable groove, Gang Gang Dance is at the Manhattan Room. You can also catch them at the Ottobar Friday night.

mp3: House Jam (XXXChange Remix)

Over in the District, another all local show is at DC9, featuring Kitty Hawk, Richmond's Hot Lava and Texas transplants Sweet Teeth.

mp3: Kitty Hawk - Bear In The Morning
mp3: Hot Lava - Apple Option Fire
mp3: Sweet Teeth - We Shake (live)

Big Friday In Philly

Lots of good shows to kick off the weekend. So get out there and check them out!


The big ticket item Friday is violinist Final Fantasy, fresh off the Arcade Fire tour and supporting his new album. With him is Alberta native rapper-producer (a Canadian rapper?) Cadence Weapon. Don't let the north of the border thing fool you. He has quite the musical heritage. You can find them at the First Unitarian Church.

Final Fantasy - This Lamb Sells Condos
Cadence Weapon - Sharks
Bonus: Final Fantasy w/ Cadence Weapon - Paris 1919


Up at Johnny Brendas, the always entertaining Hoots and Hellmouth take the stage. Keeping the local flavor together, they are joined by Frog Holler, a folk-roots-country-rock fusion group from Virginville (yes, that is a real place), and all-star Philadelphia band Bitter Bitter Weeks.

Hoots and Hellmouth - It's Close, I'm Undone
Frog Holler - Berks County Boy
Bitter Bitter Weeks - Danger In The Halls

Over in Old City at The Khyber, Philly band Jotto is having their CD release party. Celebrating with them is locals RunRunner and Papertrigger.

RunRunner - Bad Timing
Papertrigger - We Are Nations Now!

A-Sides CD Release party

It's the start of the last weekend of summer. The Phillies game is over, the Eagles are just going through the motions in pre-season, so get to Johnny Brendas tonight (Thursday night)! It is an all local show with The Capitol Years, Bitter Bitter Weeks, and the CD release party for The A-Sides. From the looks of it, this may be the last time for at least a month to see them in the area. Oh, and its for a good cause with all proceeds going to charity.

The A-Sides - Cinematic
The Capitol Years - You Can Stay There
Bitter Bitter Weeks - Danger in the Halls