Northern Invasion

Photo By Brianna Hughes
Last fall, I booked an indie showcase in Pennsylvania. A couple of the NYC bands that played will be coming through the area over the next couple of days and I wanted to quickly mention both of them.

Wakey!Wakey! is Mike Grubbs and a supporting cast. Their music is best described as piano pop. Mike's heartfelt ballads and intelligent lyrics are sure to draw just about anybody in. Check out a couple of mp3s below and feel free to grab free downloads of his covers EP and a live show.

9/24/08: Black Cat, Washington, DC

If you like your indie rock with a good bit of energy, a dash of pop and plenty of keys, you may want to check out Bridges and Powerlines. They will be heading south for a few dates, put on a great show and they are always looking to say hello.

9/24/08: The Fire, Philadelphia, PA
9/25/08: Velvet Lounge, Washington, DC


mp3: Wakey!Wakey! - Falling Apart (Live)
mp3: Wakey!Wakey! - Say It Ain't So (Weezer Cover)
mp3: Bridges and Powerlines - Floods and Fields

Your Local Weekend

Last weekends These United States and Apparitions shows were a hit. Thanks for all that came out. Not to be outdone, we here at IA have our name on another show, this time at the Rock & Roll Hotel in DC featuring The Dance Party and Via Audio and showcasing new talent from the area with Feral Kids. Also on the bill is a DJ set by our friends from Middle Distance Runner. Check out the prior post for some tunes.

Now I know everyone can't make it to our show, so if you must go elsewhere, here is what to see.

All weekend long up in the middle of Montgomery County is the annual phenomenon known as the Philly Folk Festival. If you are going for the day or camping throughout, the weekend looks a little wet, but don't let that deter you. Check out the likes of Steve Earle, Kimya Dawson, Judy Collins, Janis Ian, and Hoots and Hellmouth along with many more.

Quite a few bands are playing multiple shows this weekend.


Philly favorites Creeping Weeds are joining forces with BOAT for an East Coast tour and are kicking it off at Johnny Brendas. Creeping Weeds has a killer cover of "I'm a) Donkey For Your Love", so I am wondering if any collaboration is in store. Also getting in on the fun for this show are two other Philly bands, the perpetually performing Drink Up Buttercup and Greyhounds. The tour continues onward Saturday to The Crackhouse in Honey Brook, PA (somewhere between Coatesville and Morgantown).

mp3: Creeping Weeds - Long Way Down
mp3: BOAT - (I'm a) Donkey for Your Love
mp3: Drink Up Buttercup - Young Ladies

Texas transplant Jana Hunter is on a nation wide tour that kicked off Thursday night in DC. The Texas influences are hard to miss with slide guitar and country-infused melodies. She is on tour with Baltimore acoustic folk artist Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez who is also a member of her touring band and just released a new CD. Check them out in Philly Friday at the Manhattan Room.

mp3: Jana Hunter - Valkyries
mp3: Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez - The Letter B

Omaha's The Faint have a new album out and are going on tour in support. Catch them this Saturday at the 9:30 Club and The Troc on Sunday with Shy Child and Jaguar Love.

mp3: The Faint - Paranoiattack
mp3: Shy Child - Astronaut
mp3: Jaguar Love - Highways of Gold

Californians Bodies of Water and Port O'Brien are coming through the area this weekend, playing shows at Johnny Brendas Saturday and Black Cat Sunday. The Philly show also has one the best live acts in Papertrigger, who are putting together their first full length album.

mp3: Bodies of Water - Under the Pines
mp3: Port O'Brien - From Port
mp3: Papertrigger - Fox Hunting

Titus Andronicus, a New Jersey band with a new album The Airing of Grievances (it's a Festivus miracle!) are playing three shows throughout the region. The Rosewood Thieves are sharing the stage with them at The Red & The Black Saturday, then catch Titus at Ottobar Sunday and The Barbary Monday.

mp3: The Rosewood Thieves - Silver Gun

There are plenty of one city shows this weekend as well.

Friday

If you are heading down the Jersey Shore, Nicole Atkins will be found at the House of Blues in Atlantic City.

Saturday

Bob Dylan is also in AC at the Borgata.

Bridges and Powerlines are in my neck of the woods at Mojo 13 with Philly's Adam & Dave's Bloodline.

Boy Genius is in Philly at The Manhattan Room.

DC favorites Exit Clov are joined by Bostonians You Can Be A Wesley at IOTA.

mp3: Bridges and Powerlines - Uncalibrated Guns
mp3: Adam & Dave's Bloodline - The Lonely Pioneers
mp3: Exit Clov - Working Class Hero

Sunday

Julie Ocean is playing Galaxy Hut.

Baltimore's Squaaks are doing a local show at Fletcher's.

mp3: Julie Ocean - At The Appointed Hour
mp3: Squaaks - Be Dry My Bleeding Heart

IA Anniversary Present: Bridges and Powerlines

NYC's Bridges and Powerlines first contacted me in late 2006. I've kept in touch with Keith quite a bit since then and even had them at one of my shows last fall. When he heard that we were celebrating 2 years, Keith sent over a cover they just finished recording of Fugazi's "Song #1". It will be on a charity Fugazi tribute album, this fall. You can also catch them on the road in the coming months, including a few confirmed stops in the region.

8/16: Mojo 13, Wilmington, DE
9/25: Velvet Lounge, Washington, DC
9/27: The Third Floor, Fredericksburg, VA


mp3: Song #1 (Fugazi Cover)

Big Weekend in the Area

We know the DAM! Fest is going on in DC, but if you are not going to any of those shows or want to travel a little, check out some of these:


Brooklyn's Grizzly Bear is on tour with Baltimore's Beach House through the area.

10/13: 2640 Saint Paul Church, Baltimore
10/14: First Unitarian Church, Philly

Grizzly Bear - Knife
Beach House - Apple Orchard



Nada Surf go beyond their 90s hit Popular with great new music. They share the stage with The Jealous Girlfriends.

10/13: Johnny Brendas, Philly *SOLD OUT!*

Nada Surf - Do It Again
Nada Surf - Popular (a little throwback action for ya)
The Jealous Girlfriends - Something In The Water



NYC's Earl Greyhound make a stop tonight in Lancaster at Chameleon Club. For those of you who like your indie sprinkled with some classic rock, you won't be dissapointed.

S.O.S.



Baltimore's Thrushes have a big show at Ottobar tonight. It's a part of the monthly Automatic Dance Party.

Heartbeats



Bridges and Powerlines from NYC make a stop in Baltimore tonight. They will be playing at Metro Gallery.

Floods and Fields



California's The Finches make their way to DC this evening. They will be playing at The Red and The Black. On Sunday, they will play Big Jar Books in Philly.

House Under The Hill


Middle Distance Runner comes to Philly. Come check out why we love these guys so much.

10/14: The Khyber, Philly

Up In A Tree


Finish off the weekend/Start the week with a big show. Hot Hot Heat is on tour with Bedouin Soundclash and De Novo Dahl and they are in the region.

10/14: TLA, Philly
10/15: Rams Head Live, Baltimore

Hot Hot Heat - Let Me In
Bedouin Soundclash - 12:59 Lullaby
De Novo Dahl - Be Your Man

indie at the abbey: Bridges and Powerlines & Creeping Weeds

Last week's show was sort of ridiculous. We ended up having 3 bands and it was quite possibly the best bill that I have seen all year. Between Monarch, Vandaveer and These United States, it was a hell of a night. Tonight, we are back in Harrisburg for yet another round of indie at the abbey at ABC . This show should be really good as well, as we have a couple of great bands making their first ever stops in town. Like always, show starts at 9:30, and admission is a measly $2.


NYC's Bridges and Powerlines will be bringing their brand of upbeat indie rock to town. Last year, they released their debut EP and it was full of straightforward tracks that crossed danceable synth with darker guitars. They just finished recording their full length that will be out next year and I have noticed a change. They have started to expand on the ideas laid out on their debut and have begun a metamorphosis to a more expanded sound that includes greater dynamics and more harmonizing vocals. I am quite enthusiastic about their future and tonight is a great chance to learn what they are all about.

Carmen (from EP)
The Thieves, They Are Everywhere (from forthcoming LP)


Philly's Creeping Weeds are a 5-piece that is all over the musical map. They range everywhere from folk to indie pop and definitely have some noisier moments. They are not afraid to try a wide range of instruments in their songs and you can tell from their CD, that they are very particular about every sound and it's placement. People who enjoy acts like Modest Mouse, Built to Spill and Pavement will definitely like this very dynamic band.

Billy Pilgrim
Eternity Is A Long Time


Upcoming Shows:

10/03/07
Middle Distance Runner (Washington, DC)
Bugs Multiply (Asheville, NC)

10/10/07
Jukebox The Ghost (Washington, DC)
Peasant (Doylestown, PA)

10/17/07
Shade (Pittsburgh, PA)
The Sky Drops (Wilmington, DE)

10/24/07
Warm in the Wake (Decatur, GA)
Bellman Barker (Washington, DC)

10/31/07
People Noise (Louisville, KY - former VHS or Beta)
Thrushes (Baltimore, MD)

11/07/07
The Epochs (Brooklyn, NY)
Wakey! Wakey! (New York, NY)

11/14/07
Tartufi (San Francisco, CA)
Low Red Land (San Francisco, CA)

11/28/07
Canadian Invasion (Philadelphia, PA)
Paul Michel (Washington, DC)

12/05/07
The Jaguar Club (Brooklyn, NY)
The Shackeltons (Chambersburg, PA)

indie @ the abbey mix: Volume 1

I am booking a weekly indie rock night at a club in Harrisburg, PA. There will be 2 bands each week for a measly $2. Since it starts next week, I wanted to do a mix for the first 4 shows. I'll be back next month with the second volume. Enjoy!

9/12/07
Black Tie Revue - Absent Radio
Squaaks - Hot Tub

9/19/07
These United States - So High So Low So Wide So Long
Monarch - Warning

9/26/07
Bridges and Powerlines - All In
Creeping Weeds - Eternity Is A Long Time

10/03/07
Middle Distance Runner - Man Of The People
Bugs Multiply - Thinking Still

Bridges and Powerlines

Bridges and Powerlines are an indie pop band from NYC. They formed in the summer of 2005 and have built a loyal following ever since. They will be in DC on Friday night, playing The Red and The Black. For those of you in NYC, you can check them out at Mercury Lounge on Sunday. Either way, try to make it out. From the sound of "Carmen," you will not be dissapointed.

Bridges and Powerlines - Carmen