Music In The Mid-Week

Shows are usually pretty limited over the winter, especially on weekdays. Following the trend, this week is a little light. Most being one city stops, but with some definite highlights.

My Brightest Diamond
(photo from r5productions)

Tuesday

In my opinion, Rachael Yamagata is under-appreciated. She creates elegant melodies and well-textured songs. When I first saw her perform, it was in 2004. She was a better version of Fiona Apple and her latest album Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart continues that form. Get to the First Unitarian Church for a great show by one of the best singer-songwriters out today.

mp3: Elephants

The Gray Kid is set to release his new EP January 1st for free on his website. If you can't wait, get to DC9 to hear what the new disc holds and to revisit some of his previous work.

Coming down from Toronto to the Ottobar is Constantines. Out to support a new 7" inch just released a few weeks ago, they are joined by Tim Fite.

mp3: Tim Fite - No Good Here

The M-Room is hosting Nashville's Parachute Musical. Opening duties fall to Philly's Glass Empires.

East Coast and West Coast unite to form PWRFL Power. Join them with local faves Kitty Hawk, Pree and Hume at the Velvet Lounge.

mp3: PWRFL Power - Alma Song
mp3: Kitty Hawk - Some Kind of Monster

Wednesday

Up from the bayou comes We Landed On The Moon. Completely infectious, this is what we had to say about them: "I’m already beginning to count the number of times that I’ll be putting it on repeat." Dahlak has the pleasure and Mittenfields is set to open.

mp3: We Landed On The Moon - Everything is Fine

It's local favorites at DC9 with Ra Ra Rasputin and Fffever. Messiah College stays local as well with Farewell Flight.

Thursday

The Rock & Roll Hotel is hosting a great show Thursday night. Truly mesmerizing songs is what My Brightest Diamond produces. Clare & The Reasons create jazz-infused melodies with lilting, breathy vocals. All in all, it is a stellar line-up. My pick of the mid-week. Don't worry Philly, they get there Friday.

mp3: My Brightest Diamond - Golden Star
mp3: Clare & The Reasons - Pluto

Having already played elsewhere in the IA area, Manchester Orchestra head to Baltimore with Dead Confederate and Kevin Devine in tow. Also on the bill is All Get Out.

mp3: Dead Confederate - The Rat

Jukebox the Ghost played on hell of a show Saturday in Philly. This time they bring their always entertaining show to Talking Head with Pete & J and Pretty & Nice. They'll return to DC this weekend.

mp3: Jukebox the Ghost - Victoria
mp3: Pretty & Nice - Tora Tora Tora

The Velvet Lounge is hosting The Bloodsugars. Opening is Poor But Sexy and Typefighter.

mp3: The Bloodsugars - Purpose Was Again

Up in Philly, Johnny Brenda's has the sparse "desert pop" of Radar Brother, along with Roomtone and Swivel Chairs, while just down the block at the M-Room, Iceland's Kira Kira perform.

mp3: Roomtone - Here's Where The Story Ends (Sundays cover)

The Area Weekend

Black Kids (photo from band's myspace)

The weekend is finally here and it is loaded with shows to see.

Rachael Yamagata is set to release a new two part album A Record in Two Parts: Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Hear. After playing a few shows in the area recently, she is at the World Cafe Friday for XPN's Free at Noon.

Weezer is back on tour for the Red Album. Opening is Canadians Tokyo Police Club. Friday they are at the Borgata in Atlantic City. Maybe after the show you can catch them on the gaming floor. Saturday, they make the short trip to Camden and the Susquehanna Bank Center.

mp3: Tokyo Police Club - In a Cave

Three cities, three shows, Black Kids don't stop. Joined by The Virgins and Magic Wands, they are playing Black Cat Friday, Ottbar Saturday, then First Unitarian Church Monday.

mp3: Black Kids - Hurricane Jane
mp3: The Virgins - Private Affiars (Daytrotter)

Local folk-jam band Hoots and Hellmouth head west to the Capitol Theater in York for a Friday night show, then head back home to Philly for a Saturday show at Johnny Brenda's with troubador Jim Bianco.

mp3: Hoots and Hellmouth - It's Close, I'm Undone

Friday

Geek rock is alive and well and the high priests They Might Be Giants are still going strong. I believe they have some of the most entertaining shows around. Catch them at The Chameleon Club in Lancaster.

Lancaster's Kheris heads across the river with The Thrives for a show at the Harp & Fiddle in downtown York.

Danger Danger Gallery has an interesting line-up featuring Virginians Hot Lava joined by Philly locals Gang, Reading Rainbow and Hermit Thrushes.

The district's own Five Four is playing a hometown show at DC9.

mp3: Hot Lava - Blue Dragon
mp3: Five Four - Crazy

Saturday

Dressy Bessy just released a new album, Holler and Stomp and is out on tour. Opening for them is Squaaks at the Talking Head in Baltimore. Hot Lava joins the line-up for a Tuesday show at the Black Cat.

Robert Pollard's Boston Spaceships and The High Strung join forces for a show at the Black Cat. Philly fans, you can catch them Monday at Johnny Brenda's.

Chicago-based The Interiors is in the midst of an East Coast swing. They make a stop at The Red & The Black. The North Star in Philly has the honors on Wednesday.

mp3: Dressy Bessy - Just Once More (Daytrotter)
mp3: Squaaks - Fire
mp3: The High Strung - Beautiful Summer (Daytrotter)

Sunday

Indie hip-hop is a breath of fresh air into a genre that has become way too corporate. Sunday, The Fire in Philly is guaranteed to be raucous when Mr. Lif takes the stage.

Kerr Park in Downingtown is hosting Karmafest. What is karmafest? Don't ask me, check out the website for more answers. Anyway, Philly's musical siblings Sisters 3 and the always playing Cheers Elephant just so happen to be performing.

Later that evening, Cheers Elephant makes another appearance, this time in Fishtown at the Manhattan Room. Creeping Weeds and Butane Variations add to the fun.

Down in Baltmore, The Dodos are playing Sonar with Au and local darlings Wye Oak.

Prabir & The Substitutes are in Arlington at Galaxy Hut.

mp3: Sisters 3 - Bermuda Triangle
mp3: Cheers Elephant - Wide Eyed
mp3: Creeping Weeds - Long Way Down
mp3: Butane Variation - Jackie
mp3: The Dodos - Fools
mp3: Au - Are Animals
mp3: Wye Oak - Warning
mp3: Prabir & The Substitutes - Slow

And be sure to check out the other posts about those playing this weekend

Theresa Andersson
Throw Me the Statue
Multiple Shows

Rachael Yamagata Releases Two Part Album

Photo Credit: Hilary Walsh
A few years ago, Rachael Yamagata began to appear on the public’s radar with her full-length album Happenstance. In addition, I’ve heard her music covered at least a dozen times at local open mics by aspiring female songwriters. Her follow up album, A Record in Two Parts: Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart comes out on Warner Bros. Records on October 7, 2008. The two halves present a complete, emotional timeline circling around complicated relationships and the accompanying fallout. “Elephants is much more intimate” Yamagata says. “It’s about being willing to take a risk even if it’s not going to end up well. Teeth is like rediscovering your backbone after you’ve gone through the loss.” Check out a few of her local shows with my love, Kevin Devine (woot) and hear new tracks on her myspace.

9/22: Birchmere, Alexandria, VA
9/24: Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA