The Mid-Week and Beyond

Since I am heading out of town for a long weekend, the usual weekend show preview is combined with the shows that will be coming through the area today and Thursday. Quite a few big names are playing as well as some hitting multi-city stops.

TV on the Radio just dropped their new disc Dear Science and are on tour with the Dirtbombs, playing at the Electric Factory in Philly Friday night.

After a long hiatus, Shudder to Think is back together and out on tour. This Friday catch them with Philly's Pattern Is Movement at the 9:30 Club in DC.

mp3: Pattern Is Movement - Bird

Speaking of long hiatus, Wire is out on tour as well, playing Johnny Brendas Friday and the 9:30 Club Saturday.

mp3: Wire - One of Us

Find out if sampled electro-pop and hip-hop mix when Girl Talk takes the stage with Grand Buffet and Hearts of Darknesses for a sold out show at the Starlight Ballroom Thursday night. If you can't get enough, this line-up hits the 9:30 Club Friday and Sonar Saturday.

mp3: Grand Buffet - Dark Autumn

One of the originals of the East Coast punk scene, Ted Leo + Pharmacists are mixing it up with Against Me! and Future of the Left for a show Wednesday at the Black Cat, then head up to Philly and the Electric Factory.

mp3: Future of the Left - Manchasm

Another band with a new album, Apollo Sunshine is out on tour, hitting Johnny Brenda's Wednesday, then are joined by Tulsa for a show at DC9 Thursday.

mp3: Tulsa - Whissper

With a forthcoming new release, Talkdemonic is taking the new material on the road with Bon Savants. Friday night, see them at the Khyber. Sunday, locals Albatross are added to the line-up at The Red & The Black.

mp3: Talkdemonic - Duality of Deathening
mp3: Bon Savants - Between the Moon and the Ocean

The Wedding Present and the Jealous Girlfriends are joined by Philly folk locals Brown Recluse Sings for a show at the North Star Friday. You can also catch the two headliners Saturday at the Black Cat in DC.

mp3: The Wedding Present - The Thing I Like Best
mp3: The Jealous Girlfriends - Roboxulla (Daytrotter)
mp3: Brown Recluse Sings - Western Meadowlark

Wednesday

One of the best line-ups I have seen for a small club show in awhile, Philly's The Swimmers share the stage with Catfish Haven (check out the new album) and Dead Confederate.

Hot Chip/Growing @ 9:30 Club

mp3: The Swimmers - St Cecilia
mp3: Catfish Haven - Devastator
mp3: Dead Confederate - The Rat

Thursday

Uniquely out-there Georgians Of Montreal grace the 9:30 Club with their presence with Love Is All.

York, PA is getting one hell of a show with Langhorne Slim and Heartless Bastards at the Capitol Theater. DC can catch them Monday at the Black Cat.

The New Year/Dirty On Purpose/Tre Orsi @ Johnny Brendas
Laura Burhenn/Olivia Mancini & The Housemates @ Rock & Roll Hotel

mp3: Of Montreal - ID Engager
mp3: Langhorne Slim - Restless
mp3: Heartless Bastards - All This Time
mp3: The New Year - The Company I Can Get
mp3: Olivia Mancini & The Housemates - I Wouldnt Worry

Friday

DC meets Philly in Arlington at IOTA when Middle Distance Runner and Drink Up Buttercup perform. Also on the bill is New Rock Church of Fire.

Title Tracks/The Carribean/Moscow Telephone/Nathan Bell @ Metro Gallery
US Royalty @ Jammin' Java

mp3: Middle Distance Runner - Man of the People
mp3: Drink Up Buttercup - Young Ladies

Saturday

Lach @ The Red & The Black

Sunday

Local troubador Peasant makes the end of the weekend a little bit better with a show at the Tin Angel in Philly

Ra Ra Riot/Walter Meego/The Morning Benders @ Black Cat
Delta Spirit/Andy Zipf/The Moderate @ Rock & Roll Hotel
MSTRKRFT @ TLA
Jonathan Richman (The Modern Lovers) @ First Unitarian Church
Paramount Styles @ Khyber

mp3: Peasant - Those Days
mp3: Ra Ra Riot - Dying is Fine
mp3: Delta Spirit - Bleeding Bells (Daytrotter)

Big Weekend In Philly

Great shows coming this weekend to Philly. Start February off right. If you are out and about, make sure to check these out.

Crooked Looks

After Thursday in Baltimore, The Whigs, Spinto Band, and Plants and Animals come to Johnny Brendas Saturday.

The Whigs - Right Hand On My Heart
The Spinto Band - Oh Mandy
Plants and Animals - Faerie Dance

Over at The Khyber Saturday, a little electro-pop action with Crooked Looks and East Hundred.

Crooked Looks - Pay Day Baby
East Hundred - Killing Moon (Echo & the Bunnymen Cover)

After playing DC on Friday, Pittsburgh's Good Night, States makes their way to The Fire.

Good Night, States - Change of the Seasons

Sunday night at Johnny Brendas, check out a memorial and benefit show for local music fixture Steven Keller and his family. The highlight of the show is Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio. Enjoy some great music while supporting a good cause.

TV On The Radio - Playhouses

Finally, Baltimore's Dan Deacon brings his beats up I-95 to First Unitarian Church on Sunday to break bread with his congregation.

Dan Deacon - The Crystal Cat

Friday Night Lights

It's Friday and like usual, there is a lot to do. Tonight, it seems like there is a party around every corner and you don't have to try very hard to find one.


Alright, so the big one in DC is at Black Cat. Local darlings The Dance Party are having their CD release party, but they wouldn't be who they are if they stopped there. Nope, the party is doubling as a prom. There will be tuxes, dresses, corsages, photographers and people getting busy in the bathroom. Let's French and De Novo Dahl will be providing support for what is sure to be a crazy night.

The Dance Party - Lipstick
Let's French - Here She Comes (There She Goes)
De Novo Dahl - The Funk


Speaking of theme parties, there is another one at Rock 'N Roll Hotel tonight. The Gaskets, New Rock Church of Fire and The Invisibles will be playing and this time, everyone will be decked out in their Halloween costumes. Insanity ensues.

The Gaskets - Left Hand


For those of you looking for a straight forward rock show, IOTA has one. DC locals Lejeune and The Glory and The Majesty will be sharing the stage for what is sure to be a solid night of music. No gimmicks.

Lejeune - The Latest Greatest


Finally, I have a treat for those of you that are up for a little trip. Lancaster, PA's Chameleon Club had a last second announcement for tonight... TV on the Radio! Imagine 9:30 Club, but with about 1/3 of the capacity and you get the idea. Anybody going?

TV On The Radio - Staring At The Sun

TV on the Radio and Noisettes Coming To Your Town

Experimentation abounds! TV on the Radio, still on tour supporting Return to Cookie Mountain, come to the area for 3 shows. Joining them are the UK rockers Noisettes, who are promoting their new album What's the Time Mr. Wolf? I hear that this is a hard ticket to get, so I'll leave you with some tunes that you can use to decide how high you will go.

April 18 & 19 @ 9:30 Club, DC
April 20 @ Trocadero, Philly

TV on the Radio - Staring at the Sun
TV on the Radio- Wolf Like Me
The Noisettes - Scratch Your Name