Midweek Shows

Tereu Tereu by Shervin Lainez

Now that the summer is more or less here, the area is starting to get some great shows during the week. A few bands are stopping through the area with a couple of dates, so whether you are in Philly, Baltimore or DC, you should get a chance to see them. Here is a run down of the highlights through Thursday.

Tuesday
DC has the pick of the litter with three great shows to satisfy you no matter what your musical tastes are. Local favorites Tereu Tereu are headlining their CD release party at DC9 and with them are Roman Candle, Motel Motel and The Deep Vibration. Another big show is The Helio Sequence opening for Keane at Constitution Hall and The Helio Sequence always put on a great live show. The final show is an up close and personal show with Elvis Perkins in Dearland headlining at IOTA and opening for them are The Woes.

In Philly the only big show is Ben Lee with LA's Low Vs Diamond and Dawes opening. I love LVD and seeing them live would be a real treat so I highly recommend it. The show is being played at World Cafe Live.

Tereu Tereu - Perpetual Motion (via band)
Motel Motel - Coffee (via Big Hassle)
The Deep Vibration - Coal Mine (via The Syndicate)
Elvis Perkins in Dearland - Shampoo (via Beggars Group USA)

Wednesday
The reversal of show popularity happens as there are no shows of note in the district and only one in Baltimore, while Philly has 3 great ones. Dawes drops from the lineup in Baltimore while Ben Lee and Low Vs Diamond soldier on to bring their music to The Quarter.

Get off your keisters and on to the dance floor as local darlings The Dance Party are playing North Star. After recently seeing them at Virginia Tech when they opened for Girl Talk, I can confidently say that their shows only get better every time you see them. Along with this show, Keane and The Helio Sequence move north to delight masses at the Tower Theater. The final show in Philly sees Easy Star All-Stars bring their new reggae cover of The Beatles' Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band on the road with a show at World Cafe Live. If you loved their reggae covers of Dark Side Of The Moon and OK Computer, I'm sure this will be a don't miss show.

The Dance Party - Sasha Don't Sleep (via band)

Thursday
While Thursday is short on shows, it probably has the must see show of the week. Deleted Scenes, The XYZ Affair and Casper Bangs all join forces for a show at the Black Cat.

Not to be outdone by DC, Philly's First Unitarian Church is hosting St. Vincent with openers Pattern Is Movement. I have yet to see either band live yet, but from what I hear it should be a pretty good show.

Deleted Scenes - Fake IDs (via band)
The XYZ Affair - Sock You In The Face With Love (via Tell All Your Friends)
Casper Bangs - Always On (via band)
St. Vincent - The Strangers (via 4AD)
Pattern Is Movement - Right Away (via Home Tapes)


You can also check out our DC/Baltimore and Philly region calendars for more great shows this week and beyond.

DC Does Texas

These United States

What happens when the bands from the District and surrounding area head down to Austin for SXSW? You get something like this: Billed as DC Does Texas, you get some of the best acts from the region playing in one place. So if you are some of the lucky ones who are making the trip, head to the Friends Bar on 6th (in the center of it all). It starts early Wednesday, so you may want to turn that St. Patty's Day bender into a 48 hour affair.

The line up includes:

12:30 - Carol Bui
1:15 - Laura Burhenn
2:00 - Deleted Scenes
2:50 - Middle Distance Runner
3:40 - US Royalty
4:30 - These United States

In my opinion, it doesn't matter who is playing elsewhere, I would grab some lunch at Chuy's or Freebirds, then park myself at this location for the duration of the afternoon, but I'm biased.

mp3: Carol Bui - This Is How I Recover
mp3: Deleted Scenes - Turn To Sand
mp3: Middle Distance Runner - Brother John
mp3: US Royalty - Every Summer
mp3: These United States - West Won
(all songs via artist)

A Regional Holiday: Deleted Scenes

Photo By Peter Wadsworth
Next in our regional holiday series is DC/Brookyln band Deleted Scenes, who have gone the very non-traditional route. Their selection is "Get Your Shit Together For The Holidays," the closing track off of their forthcoming CD, Birdseed Shirt.

mp3: Get Your Shit Together For The Holidays

Weekday Music

The year is soon coming to an end, the college students are done the first semester and heading home and looking for something to do. Quite a few shows during the week for those looking for something to fill the time usually spent working or studying.

Photo from artist myspace

Playing back-to-back nights at the Birchmere, Aimee Mann is having a sort of homecoming (born in Midlothian, VA). Out on tour promoting @#%&*! Smilers, these shows Monday and Tuesday are sure to be a good time.

Monday

The guys at R5productions call this possibly the best show they saw all year. See what the words are all about when Bon Iver comes to the Troc in Philly. Opening is Scandanavian folksinger Kristian Matsson aka The Tallest Man On Earth, who happens to be the latest to receive the title 'the next Dylan'. Some say it's true. Get there early to find out.

For something a little more local, Galaxy Hut is hosting Rose and Brandon Butler.

mp3: Bon Iver - Skinny Love
mp3: The Tallest Man on Earth - I Wont Be Found
mp3: Rose - Another Sad Song
mp3: Brandon Butler - Sparks

Tuesday

Great show at the Ottobar in Baltimore with Ra Ra Riot. Also on the bill are So Many Dynamos from the St. Louis area, who are set to release their new album The Loud Wars on Vagrant Records in the spring. Californians Princeton round out the lineup.

Staying in Baltimore, the Metro Gallery gets a little sleazy with Sleazetone artist Ssion. A little bit of disco with some electro-punk under some thinly veiled smutty lyrics, it will get you dancing.

mp3: Ra Ra Riot - Dying Is Fine
mp3: Princeton - The Waves
mp3: Ssion - Clown

Wednesday/Thursday

Not much to say about Wednesday other than Messiah College is having a great free show with Philly's Pattern Is Movement. It's a great venue and you usually can get up nice and close.

Thursday is much more lively. Johnny Brenda's is hosting a great local lineup with Secretly Canadian locals The War On Drugs. Philly's premiere banjo folk artist Joshua Marcus is set to open with Comoros.

Deleted Scenes is having a CD release party for the new disc Birdseed Shirt at the Black Cat. Exit Clov, who puts on a great show, will also be on the bill as well as La Strada from NYC.

The Oranges Band are back in their hometown, still living it up after their release of The Oranges Band Are Invisible. Catch them at Talking Head with Sal Bando, featuring former members of Two If By Sea, and Philly band Blood Feathers

Eyes Night of the Baltimore Round Robin happens Thursday at Sonar. The big name band on the bill is Beach House, but so many more will be playing in the round for you. And down at The Red & The Black, catch Karate Coyote from Columbus.

mp3: Pattern is Movement - Bird
mp3: The War On Drugs - Taking The Farm
mp3: Joshua Marcus - Coal or Smoke
mp3: Deleted Scenes - Get Your Shit Together for the Holidays
mp3: Exit Clov - Violent Berries
mp3: La Strada - The Sun Song
mp3: Beach House - Master of None
mp3: The Oranges Band - ArtStar
mp3: Blood Feathers (album stream)

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

Thursday and a Little Beyond

It is definitely Autumn. The weather is getting a bit cooler, kids are back in school and bands are out on their fall tours.


It's the last hurrah down the beach. The Dewey Beach Music Conference starts tonight and runs through Saturday. With over 100 bands from all over the country at 7 different venues, it is sure to have something for everyone. The best part is all nighttime shows are absolutely free! Local acts playing that we have covered are Philly favs The Swimmers and Hershey's The April Skies. And it's not just a local showcase either. Milwaukee's Fever Marlene and Brooklyn's In Flight Radio are just a few non-regional acts making their way to southern Delaware.

mp3: The Swimmers - St. Cecilia
mp3: The April Skies - Here Comes the Rush
mp3: Fever Marlene - Lemon King Mahoney
mp3: In Flight Radio - Red Flags

Big shows tonight and tomorrow as Cut Copy comes through the area with countrymen The Presets. Also on the bill is synth-pop duo Heartbreak. You can catch them at The Troc in Philly tonight, but it is a little late if you don't have tickets to the Friday show at 9:30 Club as it is sold out.

mp3: Cut Copy - Lights and Music

Another set of indie darlings are doing the city swap. SubPop artist Oxford Collapse is taking the stage tonight at Black Cat with Takka Takka. Then they head up to Philly for a show Friday at the Manhattan Room.

mp3: Oxford Collapse - Please Visit Your National Parks
mp3: Takka Takka - Everybody Say

Salt Lake City's Alt-country group Band of Annuals is joined by Hymns for two shows in the area. Starting Thursday at DC9, they end up at The Fire Saturday.

mp3: Hymns - Stop Talking

For a more local flavor, The Talking Head is featuring Rahim supporting new album Laughter with the Snowmen and Deleted Scenes. Over at IOTA, Bellflur is on stage with Pree.

mp3: Rahim - Through a Window
mp3: Deleted Scenes - Trying to Remember
mp3: Bellflur - First to the Moon

Deleted Scenes

DC/Brooklyn band Deleted Scenes have been laying low for awhile. Now, they have a new album ready to go (though the release is TBD) and a big tour planned. Their new material for Birdseed Shirt is definitely bigger and more experimental. Check out a couple of tracks.

8/03: Milcreek Tavern, Philadelphia, PA
8/04: Black Cat, Washington, DC

mp3: Fake IDs
mp3: Ithaca

The Local Weekend

It's the weekend again. You know what that means, a ton of shows to choose from.


If you aren't going to either of The Black shows (Kids or Keys) Friday, there are plenty of other options. A few shows are pulling back-to-back nights, starting in DC Friday and landing in Philly on Saturday. Back in September, Local H was on tour with a set full of B-Sides and unreleased music. Now with a new album just released, they are back in the area supported by Lions from Austin. Local act in DC is CTC and Twelve-Twenty in Philly.

5/16: DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel
5/17: Philly @ The Khyber

Local H - Toxic

Looking for bouncy pop? Then check out Los Campesinos! At the DC show, they are joined by The Aquarium and Pash.

5/16: DC @ Black Cat
5/17: Philly @ Johnny Brendas

Los Campesinos! - We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives
Pash - Palindrome

Finally at the bigger venues, there is DeVotchka with the folkish stylings of Basia Bulat.

5/16: DC @ 9:30 Club
5/17: Philly @ TLA

DeVotchka - How It Ends
Basia Bulat - In The Night

For the one city shows, there are plenty, mostly in the DC area.

Friday

Wye Oak/Pattern Is Movement/Engine @ Metro Gallery, Baltimore

Wye Oak - Warning
Pattern Is Movement - It's The Wine

Saturday

The Alphabetical Order @ IOTA, Arlington (FINAL SHOW FOR TAO EVER!)
The Long Blondes/Drug Rug @ Rock & Roll Hotel, DC
Junior League/John Bustine/Garland of Hours @ Black Cat, DC
Bell X1 @ Rams Head Tavern, Annapolis

The Alphabetical Order - Submarines

Sunday

Cotton Jones Basket Ride/Rarebirds/Bellman Barker/Astral Lounge @ M Room, Philly
Bishop Allen/War On Drugs/Deleted Scenes @ Black Cat, DC

Bishop Allen - Click Click Click Click
The Cotton Jones Basket Ride - Had Not A Body

Deleted Scenes and Friends

Later this week, DC's Deleted Scenes will embark on a US tour that will stretch into mid-June. Tonight, they will be having a big kickoff party at The Red and The Black and several of their tourmates will be joining them. The band is excited about this show and Dan describes their friends as follows...

The Hero Cycle is dense indie rock from Burlington, VT.
Hot Lava is milky, very pretty electro-folk from Richmond, VA.
Paper Airplanes is shambling, charming indie pop from Wichita, KS

Samples are included below, so feel free to form your own opinions. If you like what you hear, check out tonight's show.

Deleted Scenes - Trying To Remember A Dream
Hot lava - JPG In The Sun
Paper Airplanes - The Fences
The Hero Cycle - Breathing In

Chris's Favorite Songs of 2006, Part One

*Update: The Epochs Link Has Been Added*

So I've been M.I.A. for some time. I blame many things: holiday turkey, flights to and from Chicago, and marathons of Law & Order (seriously - can we make a rule that the USA network needs to stop with the eight hours of SVU? Please? For the sake of my productivity?)

But tonight (this morning?) marks my return! Yes, I am late on my "favorites" list, but I had hoped to share a few things that you may not have heard, and some that you probably have.

This past year, I listened to a lot of things that were from the Washington DC area - much more predominantly than I did things from around the country. However, this list is just a random smattering of things I really liked. Some of them I've mentioned before, and I'm going to build on this list as I have the time over the next week or two. So stay tuned - I'll post parts two, three, four....well, however many there end up being. They're alphabetical because I'm just going through my playlists and picking out favorites at random. Enjoy!


Angela Desveaux - Heartbeat

I wrote about this tune after seeing Angela play alongside locals Revival, and this stood out that show as the obvious single from her album Wandering Eyes. This isn't necessarily the most revolutionary or inventive song...its just really catchy, and has such a pitch-perfect melody. Natural and effortless - as any pop song should be. The country twinge is perfect for a winter evening.


The Bonapartes - Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

The Bonapartes are no longer; they were not terribly well known outside of our fair District of Columbia. This five piece was a DC band that did a few shows outside of the District, and split up earlier this year. However! They put out an EP in LATE 2005 (okay, I'm bending the rules) that really had some gems on it. While "Concentric" was the track that was hawked as the single, I think this one is a bit more catchy - albeit more straightforward. Mosey on over to their MySpace page to check out "Concentric" as well - but "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" ultimately did more for me. They'll be missed.


Calexico - All Systems Red

This closing track from Calexico's Garden Ruin is just fantastic...I love the slow building crescendo, the subtly determined vocals at the helm of a cresting wave of instrumentation. When those drums fall in - if you don't get goosebumps, you're missing out. Just a wonderfully beautiful song from this seasoned band.


Cedars - Holiday for the City

Cedars put out a new EP this year titled Another Season, and it is such an amazing accomplishment for them that I can't help but include this song on my list - but I had a hard time choosing between "Holiday for the City" and "Lamb" (featuring Aloha vibraphone player TJ Lipple). As a triumph of songwriting and arrangement, this fantastic DC foursome has created an atmospheric sound that is distinctly American, yet echoes some of the best of sounds from across the pond. This is among the catchiest from the EP, and one of my favorite songs of the year. To hear the rest, head over to Amie Street.


Damone - Now is the Time

Guilty pleasure alert. Okay, its cheesy. But man...it rocks. RAWKS. I stumbled across this band during South by Southwest last year - my friends in Exit Clov were playing on the same showcase (I have NO idea who put that bill together...). In any case, I loved this record. I played it over and over and over againagainagain. Honestly, the only reason I choose this song over the single, "Out Here All Night," is because of the way Noelle delivers the line "well then you can bet that I know who they are" at the end of the second verse. She sort of clips off the end of the phrase and makes it sound perfectly natural and yet injects it with this perfect "fuck you" attitude. Man, this rocks. RAWKS.


Deleted Scenes - Trying to Remember a Dream

So I reviewed Deleted Scenes for the last magazine that I wrote for, and I compared them to the Shins. I don't really like the Shins very much. But I do like this song quite a bit - its a quiet, catchy tune from this DC group - and shows a lot of promise for them. Its off their debut EP, and I'm looking forward to seeing what else they come up with as time goes on.


The Epochs - Mouths to Feed

Harmonies and more harmonies! And crazy rhythm changes! And pianos! And a fantastic arrangement! And weird percussion blips! WOO! And I'm sold. For more, check these guys out over at Amie Street.


Exit Clov - Violent Berries

Exit Clov are friends of mine, admittedly, but I greatly admire their songwriting and musicianship. Like Cedars, Exit Clov put out an EP this year that shows incredible growth - Respond Respond contains this beauty of a track that should make any indie rock playlist in the country. Simple, lush and quite wonderful, pay particular attention to the harmony breakdown in the bridge - the split vocal beginning when Susan and Emily sing "I play the game, and hope that the day won't fade away," is just stunning.


Faithless - Miss You Less, See You More

No Roots did not come out in 2006. It actually came out in 2004. But I don't care. I found this band this year, and wish I'd known about them for years. For dance music with a rock influence, I don't think there is anything better than Faithless. The album is a concept where every song is written in the same key (C), and thus flows together from track to track. Thus I had a little trouble isolating a personal favorite - but I think this one does quite nicely. DEFINITELY find this band if you haven't heard them before.


Forget Cassettes - Venison

Oh man...what would happen if you combined Sonic Youth with the Smashing Pumpkins, and invited Caithlin de Marrais of Rainer Maria to sing? Forget Cassettes would happen. And you'd have one of my new favorite bands. This opening track off of Salt is particularly demonstrative. Awesome.


Gnarls Barkley - The Last Time

Yes, "Crazy" is the single of the year. We all know it. Everybody and their mom has written about it. But actually...I might like this song just as much. The disco-neo-soul crafted here is just as catchy as the first single, and the "doo-doo" backing vocal is about perfect. As a closing to St. Elsewhere, it is a phenomenal cap to one of the best records of the year. If you haven't heard it yet, you should. Now.


Grand National - Talk Amongst Yourselves

I just love the way that this song is structured - the synth arpeggios that open the tune are fantastic, and I don't know that there is a better disco influenced rock epic from the past year. For some reason, I feel like strutting down 14th street like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever whenever I hear this one. Now if only I can find a white leisure suit...if any kind reader has one and wants to send it to me, email me...please.


That's it for part one. I'm sleepy. And posting these tunes takes awhile. I'll try and post more this week.

Oh! And if any of you make it out to the Soft Complex show this coming weekend, do say hello. We've got a number of them coming up in the next month - you can check our website for details. I'd be thrilled to meet anybody there and say hi.