IA Area Weekend

Your team out of the tournament? Got a little cabin fever? Luckily, there are plenty of good shows rolling through the region this weekend, most doing double duty in Baltimore/DC and Philly.


After spending the better part of this decade living in Austin, the must-see show for me this weekend is Ghostland Observatory. Unfortunately, they are only hitting DC, but you can see them Saurday night at the 9:30 Club. Hopefully, they will hit Philly soon.

Ghostland Observatory - Robotique Majestique

The Raveonettes are working extra hard. After doing a show in Philly Thursday night, they pull two shows on Friday in different cities and cap it off in the District on Saturday. They are on tour with Black Acid and local friends Thrushes join the bill in Baltimore.

3/28: Philly @ World Cafe Live *XPN Free at Noon* (Raveonettes only)
3/28: Baltimore @ Ottobar w/ Thrushes
3/29: DC @ Black Cat

The Raveonettes - Dead Sound
Thrushes - Heartbeats

Two tours of reinvented 90s indie cross in the night along I-95, swapping cities. Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks with John Vanderslice in tow switch it up with the return of The Eels.

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks/John Vanderslice

3/28: DC @ 9:30 Club
3/29: Philly @ TLA

Eels

3/28: Philly @ First Unitarian Church
3/29: DC @ Sixth and I Synagogue

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Baltimore
John Vanderslice - The Parade
Eels - Novacaine for the Soul

Other shows in the area:

Langhorne Slim/Wes Mattheu/Sisters 3

3/28: Philly @ Johnny Brendas

Langhorne Slim - Mary
Sisters 3 - Giggling Gremlins

Caribou/Fuck Buttons

3/29: Philly @ TLA
3/30: DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel

Caribou - Melody Day
Fuck Buttons - Sweet Love For Planet Earth

The Dodos

3/30: DC @ DC9

The Dodos - Fools

This Week's Releases

This week features so many releases, that I don't even know where to start. Instead of talking about my favorites, I'll let you listen for yourself. There is plenty for everyone, so find something new. Enjoy!

The Epochs

The Epochs (Buy) - "Opposite Sides" & "Full Album Stream"

Bell X1

Flock (Buy) - "Rocky Took a Lover" & Full Album Stream

The Republic Tigers

EP (Buy) - "Buildings and Mountains"

The Mountain Goats

Heretic Pride (Buy) - "Sax Rohmer #1"

The Raveonettes

Lust Lust Lust (Buy) - "Aly Walk With Me" & Full Album Stream

Bon Iver

For Emma, Forever Ago (Buy) - "Flume"

Atlas Sound

Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel (Buy) - "Quarantined"

The Big Sleep

Sleep Forever (Buy) - "Bad Blood" & Full Album Stream

Headlights

Some Racing, Some Stopping (Buy) - "Cherry Tulips"

Throw Me The Statue

Moonbeams (Buy) - "Your Girlfriend's Car"

Apes (DC band)

Ghost Games (Buy) - "Beat of the Double"

Crushed Stars

Gossamer Days (Buy) - "Spies"

Speaker Speaker

Call It Off (Buy) - "We Won't March"

Flowers Forever

Flowers Forever (Buy) - "Black Rosary"

Monade

Monstre Cosmic (Buy) - "Regard"

No Kids

Come Into My House (Buy) - "The Beaches All Closed"

Panther

14 Kt. God (Buy) - "Violence, Diamonds"

American Music Club

The Golden Age (Buy) - "All Lost Souls Welcome You to San Francisco" & Full Album Stream

Megafaun

Bury The Square (Buy) - "Lazy Suicide"

Goodies from the Raveonettes

While I'm still learning their bag of tricks, I have to say that I'm really starting to get into The Raveonettes. The first time I came across the Danish band was with their debut a few years back. I took a free listen at Tower Records, as they were one of their "Bands to Check Out" (remember those days? actual record stores? good times, good times). At the time, I was intrigued, but not necessarily overwhelmed. I didn't even pick up the CD. However, when I first heard "Aly Walk with Me" from their latest, Lust Lust Lust, I'll admit, my interest level was upped many notches. That distorted fuzz over seductive vocals just did something for me.

Apparently, The Raveonettes (or at least their promotion company) want you to love them, too. As such, they've sent out a boatload of goodies for your listening and viewing pleasure.

To stream the entire new album, check out their MySpace.

If you're interested in checking out the video for the track, "You Want the Candy," it's here. Comprised of concert footage, stills from the road and various backstage what have you, this is a fun time. While it's not groundbreaking by any stretch of the imagination, I will say this--I now MUST see these cats live. As if Sharin Foo weren't cute enough, those on-stage dancers in their skiivies alone are worth the price of admission, to say nothing of how engaging the song itself is.



That's all good and well, you may be saying to yourself. Sure, I dig the feedback driven sound, but how do they sound acoustic? Well, wonder no more. Your answer is here (and while you're there, you can enter to win a $500 gift certificate from Guitar Center).

We also have "Dead Sound" and a remix. The track kicks off with their beloved fuzz, immediately bringing to mind some of Grandaddy's more upbeat romps. Then the surf guitar kicks in compliments of Sune Rose Wagner, followed almost immediately by Sharin Foo's lusty vocals. Throw in a couple of keys, puree and you've got a winner on your hands. The Peter Holmstrom and Jeremy Sherrer remix doesn't stray materially from the original, but attempts to give listeners a more dance friendly, "poppy" alternative. The end, however, has some nice loop action that's interesting.

Dead Sound
Dead Sound (Peter Holmstrom and Jeremy Sherrer Remix)

Now if this isn't enough for you, I don't know what else to tell you. Perhaps we can contact the label together and have the duo stop by to clean our apartments, but that's really asking for a bit much, don't you think?

Assuming your appetite is good and truly whetted, they're coming to the area, too.

03-27 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
03-28 Baltimore, MD @ The Ottobar
03-29 Washington, DC @ Black Cat