Thursday and The Local Weekend

By the feel of the temperatures outside, winter is coming fast. Supposed to be a great weekend. Halloween is upon us and that makes for some interesting shows.

Not much going on as far a multiple city stops for bands, but there are a few highlights:

The biggest band in the world, Coldplay is coming back through the area, playing DC Halloween night at the Verizon Center and Philly at Wachovia Center Saturday.

Henry Rollins is out on a spoken word tour, sure to be a heavy political riff this time around. Sunday, catch him at the First Unitarian Church in Philly, then Monday, day before election day, he hits the Birchmere in suburban DC.

Castanets is spending the entire weekend in eastern PA. Catch them with Dylan Metrano & Paper Birds at Suba Thursday in Harrisburg. Granville Theather hosts them Friday and Saturday they are in Kutztown at Eckhaus Gallery.

mp3: Castanets - All That I Know

Jaguar Love is sporting two shows in the area. Thursday at the Black Cat, see them with Japanese artists Polysics. They are also joined by Black Gold. Saturday, Jaguar Love is in West Chester, PA at a new venue, The Note.

mp3: Jaguar Love - Highways of Gold

Thursday

Known for his work with Television (the band, not the medium), Matthew Sweet and other, Richard Lloyd is a great solo artist in his own right. See him in a small venue, The Manhattan Room in Philly, with South Jerseyites Stars Apart and locals Greyhounds.

Singer-songwriter Amos Lee, originally from the Philly area, makes a homecoming tour stop at the Keswick Theater in Glenside. Those in the DC area can catch him Monday at 9:30 Club.

The Tings Tings are hitting south central PA with a show at The Chameleon in Lancaster. This is sure to be a great show.

The Omaha music scene is well represented at The Barbary in Philly as scene mainstay and Saddle Creek artist Neva Dinova take the stage. City-mates and Team Love artist McCarthy Trenching open.

mp3: The Ting Tings - Traffic Light (Daytrotter)
mp3: Neva Dinova - Clouds
mp3: McCarthy Trenching - Cassette Tape Massacre
mp3: Greyhounds - No Slogans in 76

Friday

The joys of Halloween on a weekend. Costume parties are everywhere, so put on your best outfit and enjoy the night.

Of Montreal is at the Electric Factory with Gang Gang Dance. This is one hell of a party.

Another Philly party features local faves Man Man, joined by Tim Fite and Pit Er Pat at the Starlight Ballroom. Costumes are required! (Maybe just highly recommended).

Junior League is having their own party down at IOTA with Massachusetts band The Resurrectionists.

And don't forget about Hoots & O'Death at Johnny Brenda's!

mp3: Of Montreal - ID Engager
mp3: Gang Gang Dance - House Jam (XXXChange Remix)
mp3: Man Man - Top Drawer
mp3: Tim Fite - Forty Five Remedies
mp3: Junior League - Puppeteers

Saturday

If you are partying in AC for the weekend, head to the Borgata for former Talking Heads front man and world music afficianado David Byrne.

Philly's Drink Up Buttercup is heading outside the home area and playing a show with Bishop Allen at Black Cat. Also on the bill is Electric Owls from North Carolina.

IOTA has another great local line-up with Deleted Scenes, Feral Kids and Nunchucks.

mp3: Bishop Allen - Middle Management
mp3: Drink Up Buttercup - Young Ladies
mp3: Deleted Scenes - Fake IDs
mp3: Feral Kids - Wild Women

Sunday

Haven't heard much from Jersey native Danielson since his last release in 2006. The wait is finally over as a new album is due out soon (Trying Hartz now available for pre-order). Catch him at 941 Theater in Philly with Cryptacize.

Chicago's Horse in the Sea and Idaho's Finn Riggins play the Manhattan Room.

Down in the DC area, 9:30 Club has Hercules and Love Affair, while Jammin Java has a good set featuring Seabird and Ten Shekel Shirt.

mp3: Danielson - Animal In Every Corner
mp3: Cryptacize - No Coins

Johnny Brendas Saturday Night

Big show in Fishtown tonight and a rather interesting mix of artists. Castanets, from San Diego and featuring members of Pinback, Rocket From The Crypt and Tristeza, headline the show. With them are the aptly labeled next-one-to-blow-up-and-become-famous The 1900s. See them in a more intimate setting before they become huge. Philly songstress Birdie Busch and electro-folk (!?) artist Ponieheart add the local flavor.

Castanets - Three Days Four Nights
The 1900s - When I Say Go
Birdie Busch - Mystical
Ponieheart - Don't Lie

Thursday Night In DC

There are a lot of good shows tonight. This has been a pretty crazy day and I'm running behind, so I'm just going to list them...


Baltimore's Two if by Sea is joined by DC locals The Alphabetical Order and Paul Michel at IOTA. You don't get a much better regional music showcase than this.

Two if by Sea - Summer Borne For Sleep
The Alphabetical Order - Submarines
Paul Michel - The Ways and Means


Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard is playing two sold out shows at 9:30 Club. He will be joined by David Bazan of Pedro the Lion and Johnathan Rice.

Death Cab For Cutie - The Sound Of Settling
David Bazan - Backwoods (SSL Rough Mix)


DC's City-State is having a CD release for Monument at Black Cat. Philly's A Study In Her will be providing support.

City-State - Mary
A Study In Her - Favorite Actor


Brandon Butler has a special in store at Crooked Beat Records.

Brandon Butler - Sparks


New York bands Meowskers and Quintus play a show at The Red and The Black.

Meowskers - I'll Be By Your Side
Quintus - Old Guitar


Viking Moses, Castanets and Phosphorescent come to DC9. For an evening of interesting singer songwriters, they will be joined by DC's own Jesse Elliott (of These United States).

Viking Moses - I Will Always Love You (Dolly Parton Cover)
Castanets - Three Days Four Nights
Phosphorescent - I Am A Full Grown Man (I Will Lay In the Grass All Day)
These United States - Already Got A Girl Who Calls Me That (Daytrotter Session)