Regional Update

Over the past few days, I have had a build up of videos and special performances to share from various regional artists. I figured that I would take a few minutes and share all of them at once.



DC and Philly favorites Jukebox The Ghost recorded a lounge act for WOXY last week and the entire thing is available for download. They gave an interview and performed a set of:
"Victoria"
"Good Day"
End Of The World trilogy:
"Fire In The Sky"/"Where Are All The Scientists Now?"/"A Matter of Time"
"Hold It In"

Take a listen and be sure to check out their CD release party at Black Cat on Saturday 1/26/08. Bellman Barker and Pash round out the great lineup.

01/10/08 Lounge Act



DC's Carol Bui has a new video for "Modern Dance." The video was filmed by Max Sorensen of Let's French fame. Carol will also be opening for The Rosebuds at Rock and Roll Hotel on 1/17/08.





Last Monday, Chris went to the monthly Federal Reserve showcase at IOTA. While he was there, he took some pictures and video. You can find the pictures here and below is the video that he took of Laura Burhenn. The picture quality isn't the best, but the sound isn't bad.

Tereu Tereu has a new video for "Furwinked! (The Lion/Bear song)." You can check them out tonight at Black Cat for their first DC headlining show.





Baltimore's Celebration recorded a studio session for Prefix. They played "Heartbreak", "Wild Cats" and "Fool's Gold." Here is the video for "Heartbreak", but you can download mp3's for all of the tracks here.




Finally, the 22nd annual Wammies are under way. They are basically the local music awards for the DC area and they will be given out in February. Between now and February 4, you can vote for your favorite band as part of the "fan's favorite" award. Your vote can be cast here. This is a great opportunity to support many of the bands that have been covered on this site.

Weekend Regional Concert Highlights

I know, it has been rather quiet around here lately. I have had a rather awful November on the personal side of things and that has kept me away for most of the month. Those of you who have spoken to me, know how ridiculous it has been. Between bizarre illnesses, strange accidents and other random events, I haven't been in a state to write much. Anyway, I promise that December will be better. We have a lot of things coming up, including the return of one of our most popular features of '06 and our various best of lists. In the meantime, I'll leave you with the weekend regional show highlights.

These United States - credit
Washington, DC
Friday
Ra Ra Riot/Jukebox The Ghost/These United States @ Rock 'N Roll Hotel

Baltimore, MD
Friday
M.I.A. @ Sonar

Philadelphia, PA
Friday
The Teeth/The High Strung/Via Audio @ North Star Bar
The Caribbean @ Tritone

Saturday
M.I.A. @ Electric Factory
Celebration/Dragons of Zynth @ Johnny Brendas

Sunday
The Clean @ Johnny Brendas

Ra Ra Riot - Can You Tell
Jukebox The Ghost - Good Day
These United States - Burn This Bridge
M.I.A. - Paper Planes
The Teeth - It's Not Funny
The High Strung - The Baddest Ship
Via Audio - We Can Be Good
The Caribbean - The Go From Tactical
Celebration - Heartbreak
Dragons of Zynth - Get Off
The Clean - Tally Ho

Representing at CMJ

Several bands from the Baltimore/DC region will be at CMJ this week. If you are going, here is a list of the bands that are playing, their dates and venues. Some of these are day shows, so please link to the specific band sites for more details. I'm sure that I missed somebody, so comment away.

Celebration
10/16 Union Pool
10/17 Pianos
(mp3) Heartbreak


Georgie James
10/19 Soundfix Records
10/20 Pianos
10/20 Mercury Lounge
(mp3) More Lights


John Bustine
10/18 Mo Pitkins
(mp3) This Guitar Says I'm Drunk


Jukebox The Ghost
10/16 Pianos
10/19 The Gothamist House
10/20 Indaba Loft
(mp3) Hold It In


Le Loup
10/16 Soundfix Records
10/17 Pianos
10/18 Pianos
10/18 Knitting Factory
10/19 Galapagos
10/20 Galapagos
10/20 Bowery Ballroom
(mp3) Le Loup (Fear Not)


Middle Distance Runner
10/17 Indaba Loft
10/17 Fontana's
10/18 The Delancey
(mp3) The Sun and Earth


The Cotton Jones Basket Ride
10/19 The Cake Shop


Thrushes
10/16 Trash Bar
(mp3) Aidan Quinn

This Week's Releases

This week brings big names and big releases. With bands like Radiohead, Beirut and Band of Horses releasing albums, I have to wonder why anyone else would bother putting anything out this week. However, there is still some great stuff out there that you should still check out..

One of the greatest albums I have personally listened to lately is Beirut's The Flying Club Cup and it is my pick for this week and possibly for this year. I know that the album has been getting mixed reviews from different people all over, but I think it's a masterpiece. Many of you may already have the album, since it was released digitally at the beginning of September. For those of you that like something physical, it is finally in stores. Songs like "Nantes" and "Forks and Knives" will have you singing your lungs out as you walk down the street completely embarrassing yourself (I may have done that once or twice). Be sure to head over to TheFlyingClubCup.com to see live videos of every song taken throughout Brooklyn.

A Sunday Smile

Another favorite band of mine, Band of Horses has a new album out this week called Cease to Begin. To be honest I don't think this album lives up to their debut Everything All The Time. They changed locales from Seattle to South Carolina to record this album and I think it shows. With a more southern feel to it, the songs don't sound as full as the first album. Not that the album itself is bad, but I feel the only really good songs are the ones that sound like they belong on the first album, such as "Is There A Ghost?"

Is There A Ghost?

The biggest news this week comes from Radiohead, who released In Rainbows digitally through their site. If you are not in to digital releases, you will have to wait a while. This release has also been getting some mixed reactions, as the sound is more like Kid A than anything else. The trend setting option of allowing you to pay what you want (even though the band says they did this only for themselves), this has received more publicity than any other album this year.

All I Need

Also in a record store near you... Fiery Furnaces release what has been called a their best album yet, Widow City. An interesting release from a band that will never give you "normal," this album is something worth investigating. I haven't read a bad review of the album yet, so give "Ex-Guru" a listen and decide for yourself.

Ex-Guru

A collaborator with The National, Doveman gives us his new release With My Left Hand I Raise the Dead. Beautiful music with soft lyrics are the first things you hear listening to these songs. A very mellow sounding album, it is the type of thing you listen to while you relax or when you are spending some quality time with someone special. This album is well worth checking out for anyone that can appreciate music that doesn't overpower you, but will leave a lasting impression.

Sunrise Medley

One of my favorite electronic indie bands The Octopus Project has their fourth full length out this week, entitled Hello Avalanche. Traveling all across the country with several stops in our area, the band gives us a quality release. Not to fit into any category, this release blends soothing melodies with some quirky hooks and some great beats. If you are looking for some music that will put a smile on your face, then give these guys a try.

I Saw The Bright Shinies

Other releases from great artists can be found below:

Celebration (from Baltimore)

The Modern Tribe: "Evergreen"

Enon

Grass Geysers... Common Clouds: "Mirrors On You"

Loch Lomond

Paper the Walls: "Carl Sagan"

Scout Niblett

This Fool Can Die Now: "Kiss"

Sunset Rubdown

Random Spirit Lover: "Winged/Wicked Things"

New Celebration

Baltimore's Celebration has a new album coming out in October. The Modern Tribe will be released on 4AD. The band made the first track "Evergreen" available for download. Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs contributed guitar to the track. Take a listen and see what you think.

Evergreen

Pumpkins Return To DC

Just wanted to let you know that Smashing Pumpkins are playing 9:30 Club on Tuesday 7/10, which is also the day that they release Zeitgeist. Baltimore's Celebration will be opening. Tickets go on sale at 10am on Friday 7/6 and they are $30 (plus the normal surcharges out the ass). There's a 2 ticket limit with all sorts of other rules and you can buy your tickets here. Good luck!

Smashing Pumpkins - Mayonaise
Celebration - War