R.I.P. The Hard Tomorrows

After 4 years on the DC scene, it's the end of an era. The Hard Tomorrows play their last show tomorrow night at The Red and The Black with Eons and Ladycop. As a tribute to them, several of their peers sent in their personal thoughts on the band.

"Our first experience with The Hard Tomorrows was right around the time we were doing our residency at DC9 (spring 2006). We met a lot of great local bands, whether they were sharing the bill with us or just curious as to how a band of lanky, goofy guys from neighboring Baltimore would fare doing a residency there.

The shows all went well & we kept in touch with many of the bands that we met there. What struck us about Rob & the HT's was how laid back they were in a time where it seemed like everyone was pushing their band so hard. They gave off a really good vibe - like they were doing this for the right reasons.

After seeing them play a handful of times, we were hooked. This led to us doing a dual CD release show with them, which turned DC9 into a sardine can. We've only played a handful of gigs with them, but we're definitely going to miss the sincerity & catchy tunes that they brought to the scene."

- David, Two if by Sea


"It's a huge bummer that these guys are throwing in the towel. "There's No Reason" is one of my all-time favorite tracks, and for completely selfish reasons, I would have prefered that they stay together and write more great tunes, but there's nothing anybody can do at this point. I just hope the individual members keep writing and performing in other groups. At least I have their CD. I'll miss 'em."

- Ian, Middle Distance Runner


"They were one of the first bands I met in the city and they have remained some of my better friends. I had the privilege of playing bass with them in a jokey one-off REM cover night a couple years back and we (Tom and I) have for the past 2 years teamed up with the HT's at the Black Cat's annual Run For Cover show. We played together at this year's 6 points music festival--sadly, the only time we shared a stage. Oh wait, we played Polly's together way back when... Rob and I. The HT's are fun guys who care about their friends and friendships and they write beautiful songs. I remember shouting "Put Yourself Out" with Tom in my pickup on the way to one of their Black Cat shows. I had tears in my eyes the first time I heard the guitar intro on Lights Out--there's nothing ordinary about that music. I remember the release show at DC9--the way they performed, and especially the way Rob sang that night--such force, such emotion, like there was nothing left but that moment and that note, each note--that was pure, that was inspiring. I love the HTs; I'm going to miss them immeasurably. What the fuck... I can't wait to hear them kick ass on Saturday."

- Aaron, Bellman Barker


And on that note, I will leave you with their entire catalogue... fully downloadable. You can thank them tomorrow. They will also be giving away copies of the CDs at the show.



Lights Out

1 Take Down
2 There's No Reason
3 Glossy Eyed Sweetheart
4 Stop and Shoot
5 Patterns
6 Darling
7 Lights Out
8 Counterfeit
9 Wrecking Ball
10 Fences Around Lawns
11 Fiction Aide



5 Songs

1 Put Yourself Out
2 Jaywalker
3 Dear Mary
4 I Never Write Anyone
5 Stay Cool


And...
Teenage Kicks (The Undertones cover)

For Rob's thoughts on each song and an exclusive track, go here. If you have your own tribute, comment away.

A Big Thursday

It's Thursday in the region. The week is almost over and there are all sorts of shows happening. So look over your options, get out there and support.


Let's start with a band that you have never heard of, but will thank us later for introducing you to. Meowskers are from Brooklyn and I guarantee that you will be hearing a lot about them in a few months, so you might as well get acquainted now. They are playing Black Cat tonight as support for The Slip and Bobby Bare Jr. I'll include some mp3s to whet your appetite. If you like what you hear, the rest of the EP is available on myspace.

Meowskers - I'll Be By Your Side
Meowskers - Colors That Lie


The band that has been getting the most local press in the last couple of months, has a surprise show at Velvet Lounge tonight. Le Loup will be playing at 10pm sharp in support of their friends The Bang and Koshari.

Le Loup - We are Gods! We are Wolves!


The big name coming through the region tonight is Wilco. They bring their much publicized live show to Merriweather. Low will be providing the support.

Wilco - Box Full of Letters


Local favorite Paul Michel is celebrating his 30th Birthday with a show at The Red and The Black. He will be joined by Rebecca Pronsky and Luke Brindley.

Paul Michel - The Ways and Means


Tonight's Fort Reno show features a couple of the more popular local indie bands. The Hard Tomorrows and Let's French will be trading riffs. This is also the penultimate show for The Hard Tomorrows.

The Hard Tomorrows - Glossy-Eyed Sweetheart
Let's French - She Says She Loves Me

Contest: Middle Distance Runner, Telograph and The Hard Tomorrows

There is a huge show at Black Cat on Friday night. Middle Distance Runner, Telograph and The Hard Tomorrows will all be playing the main stage. To celebrate, I have a pair of tickets to give away. To enter, send me an e-mail (instanalysis@aol.com) with your first name and location. Since I currently have 2 contests running, please specify which one you are entering. Winner will be contacted by the end of the week. Good Luck!

Middle Distance Runner - Man of the People
Telograph - We Won't Settle Down
The Hard Tomorrows - Glossy-Eyed Sweetheart

Enter the Bellman Barker contest here.

The Twelve Bands of Christmas: Day Three - The Hard Tomorrows

Another great band from DC is The Hard Tomorrows. This year saw the highly anticipated release of their first full length. While they are still relatively unknown outside of the region, they are starting to receive some love. This is likely to expand as word continues to get out about their energetic live shows and solid releases. As long as they can keep Jesus Crisis away from the zoo, the future looks bright for this band.

Band:
The Hard Tomorrows
Location:
Washington DC
Formed:
September 2003
Members:
Rob Pierangeli: vocals & guitar
Rishi Chakrabarty: guitars
Mike Tasevoli: drums
Jesus Crisis: keyboards & vocals
Charlie Flexon: bass
Label:
Death Row
Recordings:
5 Songs, May 2004
Lights Out, September 2006
Upcoming Live Dates:
January 11th, 2007 at the Wonderland Ballroom

How did the band form?
Over drinks at a bar.

How was '06 for you?
It was great. Lights Out is doing is well.

Highlight of the year?
Jesus Crisis getting arrested for verbally abusing Tai Shan the Panda.

***Local Musician Fined for Verbally Abusing Pandas at National Zoo***
WASHINGTON, DC
Nov. 21 2006
Twenty-four year old Jesus Crisis, keyboardist and conceptual disorganist for local pop band the Hard Tomorrows, was apprehended late Monday afternoon near the Panda habitat at DC's National Zoo after launching a furious verbal assault on the zoo's 16-month-old Panda cub, Tai Shan. The eccentric musician was caught on tape taunting the young cub: "Don't you see the deep evil surrounding your harem of sycophants and googley-eyed onlookers? You're one of trillions of life-forms on this filthy glittering globe. Shall I scale this divider and destroy you, or will you allow your keepers to do that gradually, pathetically, like candy left to rot in a vending machine?" Crisis was part of a clinical trial at the National Institutes of Health in 1999, testing, "substances that may induce violent psychotic outbursts and proto-predatory bloodlust in mammals." "Saddle up to ride the comets into oblivion! You're lower than Koala shit, and they're not even real bears!" he was heard saying as he was led to a Park Police cruiser. In a telephone interview with one of NIH's chief clinicians, we learned, "We can't quite figure it out--Mr. Crisis was part of the placebo group."

What do you have in store for '07 (touring, albums, etc)?
We’re going to do some long weekends up north and down south in February or March. We’re also working on new material now and hope to have an EP out in mid 2007.

Goal for '07 and beyond?
To make music that is interesting to us.


Lights Out (2006)
Patterns
Darling
Lights Out

Bonus
Teenage Kicks (Undertones cover)

*Go here for more mp3s


3 favorite songs of '06?
Rob:
Pass the Hatchet, I think I’m Goodkind – Yo la tango
Everybody Daylight – Bright Black Morning Light
O the Deed – Nethers

Jesus :
Sexyback – His Majesty Timberlake
Paxilback – The Gray Kid
I’m So Close – Maiden Rider
The new weirdly produced Beatles album
That one good song on Thom Yorke’s record (title?)
Anything Jim O’Rourke is doing.

Favorite album of the year?
Rob: I haven’t been buying that much new music. Mostly older stuff because I have so many holes to fill. This is kind of sad - and shouldn’t even count because it came out almost 12 years ago - but it’s brand new to me: Get Lost, by the Magnetic Fields. I have a major crush on Stephin Merritt right now.

Rishi: I’ve been getting older stuff too. The only new record I can think of that I bought this year is Yo La Tengo “I am not afraid of you and I will beat your ass” and it is great.

Charlie: Show Your Bones – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

JC: Pass the Hatchet – The Tomahawk Kids

Best live show you saw this year?
Rob: Bright Black Morning Light and Espers at DC9

Rishi: Jeremy Enigk at Rock Hotel. I kind of feel obligated to say Beck at the Backstage too.

Charlie: Massive Attack at 9:30 Club

JC: Vwar (the all-female Gwar tribute band)

Favorite holiday song and artist?
Rishi: A Durga Pooja to Remember by Ravi Khan and the Siva-lites

Charlie: Holidays in the Sun by The Sex Pistols

Rob: Frosty the Snowman by Billy Idol

JC: What Child is This when sung by my mom

Best present you ever received?
Rob: My first guitar from my parents when I was nine.

Rishi: A photo of an orangutan.

JC: A BJ in a movie theater while watching ‘Amelie”

Worst present you ever received?
Rob: A used hammer and a roll of duct tape from my brother, which really isn’t that bad of a present come to think of it.

JC: The shattered windshield of my friend’s car on my bed when I came home from work.



The Twelve Bands of Christmas
Introduction
Day 1: Telograph
Day 2: AVEC
Day 3: The Hard Tomorrows
Day 4: Middle Distance Runner
Day 5: Thrushes
Day 6: Georgie James
Day 7: Exit Clov
Day 8: Jette-Ives
Day 9: These United States
Day 10: Cedars
Day 11: Two if by Sea
Day 12: Soft Complex