Ringing In The New Year

Don't settle for some champagne toast at some dress-up ball or some crappy cover band at your local dive bar. Bring in 2009 at a show this year. Quite a few good one's to choose from.


Two shows are in Philly this year, both a little quirky and a bit geeky, but worth seeing. The Grand Poobahs of geek rock are coming to the TLA. John and John of They Might Be Giants will be performing all of your old favorites and some new songs from their latest in two different shows. Of course, the late show (11:00) is the place to be for the celebration, but those not able to stay out past midnight or just have stuffy parents can catch the early show (7:30). Opening the first show is .357 Lover. Basically take late show opener Corn Mo and put a band around him. Ben Folds and Andrew W.K. have good words for them and you will to.




Up in Fishtown at Johnny Brenda's is local band made good, Pattern Is Movement. Opening is The Mural and The Mint. While celebrating the new year, take time to bid farewell to Philly Weekly writer Doug Wallen, as he moves on to Australia. Here's a snippet of his writing about Pattern Is Movement.

The combination of Thiboldeaux’s swooning, near-operatic singing style and Ward’s fierce yet deconstructive drumming, surrounded by flurries of shimmering keys and sometimes strings, makes Pattern Is Movement more unusual than ever.

And TM&TM

The single ‘Builders’ is precisely that—a breezy standout that brings us into the album while making the most of Jones’ backing vocals. Like the rest of Private Pockets, it twinkles gently but burns with sincerity, romantic and critical at once.

mp3: Pattern Is Movement - Bird
mp3: The Mural & The Mint - Private Pockets (entire album for free on website)

For the big night in the District, Rock & Roll Hotel is also getting in the party mood with local favorites. Catch US Royalty along with Pash, Lode Runner and a ton of DJs for a festive night.

mp3: US Royalty - Every Summer
mp3: Pash - Four Straight Days
mp3: Lode Runner - Dirigibles

The big ticket in Baltimore is Wu-Tang at Sonar. This place is going to be a mad house. After a night like that, you want more Wu? 9:30 Club is hosting a New Year's Day show.

The Area Weekend

It's the unofficial last weekend of summer. Those of you that are not heading towards the coast, have a few options available. There are mostly local acts playing local venues, with a couple big name shows thrown in for good measure.


Austin is representing this weekend at Towson University, when What Made Milwaukee Famous takes the stage. They are on tour in support of their new album What Doesn't Kill Us and I definitely recommend it. Those of you in Philly can catch them at the Khyber on the 4th, with Wild Sweet Orange.

mp3: What Made Milwaukee Famous - Resistance St.
mp3: Wild Sweet Orange - Ten Dead Dogs

Ben Lee has been making music for half his life. I remember listening to him back in high school and that's a long time ago. Pick up his new album Ripe and get to the Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis. You can get some podcasts of Ben Lee at his website.

Here's the rest of the weekend:

Philly band Relay is heading to the Velvet Lounge for a DC show then returns home Saturday to Johnny Brenda's, joined by Violens and Ape School and featuring a DJ set by Pink Skull.

mp3: Relay - Driver
mp3: Violens - Violent Sensation Descends
mp3: Ape School - No Shame

Friday

If you like ambient and electronica, head to the North Star Friday for an all Philly area line up featuring Cloud Minder, Quintero, In Secrecy and Sounds From Atlantis.

mp3: Cloud Minder - Casimir Effect
mp3: Sounds From Atlantis - 0505

Saturday

The Red & The Black is hosting Prabir & The Substitutes. They are joined by Red Racer, Tereu Tereu and Wakey!Wakey!. I highly recommend this show.

Over at the Black Cat, our friends Bellman Barker have their first headlining show there and are supported by locals Andy Zipf and Cobra Collective.

mp3: Prabir & The Substitutes - Oh Marie
mp3: Tereu Tereu - Don't Be Sore, Farmer John
mp3: Wakey! Wakey! - Get Away
mp3: Bellman Barker - Charles Kil
mp3: Cobra Collective - Young Serbia (live)

Sunday

The Ottobar is hosting the final show of one of the first bands we made contact with here at IA, Two If By Sea. Sending them off is The Oranges Band. Get out there and give them your love, they deserve it.

Across the Potomac at IOTA, Pash is playing with Poor But Sexy and Club Scout.

mp3: Two If By Sea - Transmission (Joy Division Cover)
mp3: The Oranges Band - If These Stars Are Struck
mp3: Pash - Palindrome

Monday

Most bands must know it is a holiday, because there are slim pickings. So grab a burger from the grill and head to IOTA for the Federal Reserve Presents to end your holiday weekend right.

Sunset Photo credit: Joe

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

The Regional Weekend

It's a good weekend in the IA region. I've already mentioned the Northern Liberties Winter Music Festival. Here's what going on elsewhere.

Friday


Joe and I will be heading to Harrisburg, PA Friday night to The Abbey checking out the best thing to come out of Chambersburg probably ever, The Shackeltons and one of my Best of Philly 2007, Papertrigger. They are joined by two other Philly bands, Jotto and Univox.

Yeasayer/MGMT/Fang Island @ Johnny Brendas SOLD OUT!
Hoots and Hellmouth @ Jammin' Java

The Shackeltons - The Breaks
Papertrigger - Fox Hunting
Jotto - Backyard Circus
Yeasayer - Sunrise
MGMT - Time To Pretend
Fang Island - The Landing
Hoots and Hellmouth - Want On Nothing

Saturday


The big show is at The Fire for the Music fest, but if you can't get in there A.K.A.C.O.D., featuring former members of Morphine, are at The Red and The Black. Imagine the same Morphine you knew and substitute feminine lead vocals.

Drug Rug/The Bye Byes/Movable Type @ North Star
Hello Tokyo @ DC9

A.K.A.C.O.D. - Trouble Part 1
The Bye Byes - Brass Tacks
Movable Type - Edward Said
Hello Tokyo - Radio

Sunday


Local faves finish off the weekend in two separate shows. Our friends Bellman Barker are joined by Tereu Tereu at The Lab and Exit Clov share the stage with Pash at The Recher.

De Novo Dahl @ Velvet Lounge
Scary Monster/Dan Malloy/Papertrees/Rarebirds @ The Khyber (Benefit for Action AIDS)

Bellman Barker - Two Bees
Tereu Tereu - Lion Bear
Exit Clov - Violent Berries
Pash - ABCD
De Novo Dahl - The Funk
Scary Monster - Gold
Dan Malloy - Things Are Looking Brighter
Rarebirds - Wishing Well

One Crazy Party

I am back from a weekend in the District, seeing the sights, going to museums, and attending one of the best CD release parties ever. Up on the mainstage Saturday night at the Black Cat was Pash, Bellman Barker, and the guys who party this was, Jukebox the Ghost. The energy from the minute I walked in was electric. You could just tell something big was happening.


Pash started out the night with a solid set. Not very familiar with most of their work, I will have to listen a little more closely now.


Up next is one of our friends and favorite bands, Bellman Barker. They played a great set and the crowd ate them up. If you weren't sure who the headliner was, you may have guessed these guys. The crowd just kept growing through the night, and by the middle of their set, the announcement was made. Sell Out! Closing out, they threw in some new songs for good measure. Expect more good things from these guys. And for those who have only heard, the 'stache is sweet!


Finally, the main attraction hit the stage. Jukebox the Ghost was having a party and everyone was invited, and everyone came. Introducing their full-length CD, Let Live & Let Ghosts, Ben, Tommy, and Jesse wasted no time in entertaining the throngs of rabid Jukebox fans. This place was insane. Trying to get pictures, I was relegated to a corner near the speakers, as the crowd was so packed near the stage. They were definitely having fun, talking to the crowd, thanking us at every opportunity. One of the highlights was the three-parter "Fire in the Sky"/"Where Are All The Scientists Now?"/"A Matter of Time. This trilogy of songs tells a great story and is so much fun to watch live. The usual ending of "Hold It In" and "Good Day" was interrupted by a Beatles cover, the epic from Abbey Road, "Golden Slumbers", "Carry That Weight", and "The End". Joining them on vocals and guitar were a couple of members from Exit Clov. All I can say is, good lord, that was f'in amazing! They finished off with the usual ending, "Good Day" with everyone in the crowd singing along.

What an amazing show! Even though the year is still early, this may be back on the best of 2008 list. Congrats to Jukebox on the new disc, and we hope to see you, Bellman, and Pash real soon.

Pictures of the night's event here.

The Last Two Week's Releases, A Mix

The last two weeks worth of new releases seem to have been more for the niche market. There have been very few big names. However, a few gems snuck in there. I will let you listen to some songs off of the new albums and sort out which are worth buying. Things pick up again next week, so I'll see you then. Enjoy!

August 28th:
Aesop Rock - Citronella
Jamie T - So Lonely Is The Ballad
New Young Pony Club - The Bomb
Northern State - Better Already
Pash - The Best Gun
Super Furry Animals - Run Away
Warm In The Wake - She'd Never Seen It
VHS or Beta - Can't Believe A Single Word

September 4th:
The Holloways - Dancefloor
Manu Chao - Tristeza Maleza

You can find the full list for the two dates here and here.

CD Release Weekend

It's a nice and long weekend in the region and there are a lot of things happening. Several of them seem to include CD release parties.

Pash - credit
Friday night has a nice show at Black Cat. Pash is releasing their brand new CD and they will be joined by Exit Clov and Carol Bui. Justin Jones and The Driving Rain will also be having their CD release party at Rock and Roll Hotel.

Pash - The Best Gun
Justin Jones and The Driving Rain - If I'm Wrong
Carol Bui - The Year After
Exit Clov - Violent Berries


Saturday night has some interesting choices. Mike already told you all about the big show at Rock 'N Roll Hotel. Snoop Dogg will also be doing his thing at Love. Deerhunter will be bringing their newly trimmed down show to Ottobar in Baltimore. In Virginia, Travis Morrison Hellfighters are having their CD release at IOTA. The will be joined by Gist and The Caribbean.

Snoop Dogg - Gin and Juice
Deerhunter - Heatherwood
Travis Morrison Hellfighters - As We Proceed
Gist - Asunder
The Caribbean - The Go From Tactical