The IA Area Weekend

Another weekend in upon us. Of course that means great shows playing the area. Here's what to check out.

Friday


The Oranges Band are set to release their new album The Oranges Band Are Invisible upon the masses and to celebrate the new disc, they are having a little shindig at the Ottobar with a few friends from the area. Also on the bill are Gary B & The Notions, Deleted Scenes and Dead Mechanical. Great local line-up to start the weekend.

For those of you up in Philly, another stellar local show is at Johnny Brenda's. The Swimmers continue their Mid-Atlantic dominance, this time joined by Missing Palmer West and Bitter Bitter Weeks. I highly recommend this show.

The District is not letting Baltimore and Philly have all the fun. Wilmington's The Spinto Band, with new album in tow, are joined by our favorites Middle Distance Runner and Title Tracks at Black Cat. Saturday, you can catch MDR for free at the 8x10.

Current insurance shillers Cloud Cult (love the commercial) are up at Lehigh University at the Zoellner Arts Center with locals Exit Clov. Sure to be a great show for those who make the trip.

Matador Records artist Brightblack Morning Light are still out in support of their September release. Catch them at Talking Head.

If singer-songwriters are your thing, you got a couple of choices to sate your appetite. Brett Dennen is on tour with a new album. You can catch him at Ram's Head Tavern in Annapolis. Philly's Tin Angel hosts him Saturday. The Tin Angel also has a good set Friday with William Fitzsimmons, Slow Runner and Caitlin Crosby.

mp3: The Oranges Band - ArtStar
mp3: Gary B & The Notions - Lori
mp3: Deleted Scenes - Fake IDs
mp3: Dead Mechanical - New Alchemy
mp3: The Swimmers - St. Cecilia
mp3: Missing Palmer West - God Knows I'm No Saint Paul
mp3: Bitter Bitter Weeks - Terrified
mp3: The Spinto Band - Summer Grof
mp3: Middle Distance Runner - Top of the Stairs
mp3: Exit Clov - Working Class Hero
mp3: Brightblack Morning Light - Hologram Buffalo

Saturday/Sunday

The trend for local shows continues Saturday night at the Rock & Roll Hotel. Get your dancing shoes on and get ready to party when The Dance Party hits the stage. Joining them are Ra Ra Rasputin, Greenland and Nunchucks.

Southern rock didn't die with Skynyrd. It is alive and well with Kings of Leon. Playing back to back nights at the Electric Factory, they unleash their Nashville sound with help from We Are Scientists and The Whigs.

Elsewhere, Luego is at the Red & the Black Saturday. Sunday, Swedish pop band Fredrik play the Khyber.

mp3: The Dance Party - A-List
mp3: Greenland - Sorrow in the Snow
mp3: We Are Scientists - Inaction

Don't miss the other acts playing this weekend that played elsewhere earlier this week.

The Area Weekend

Another weekend, another set of great shows. Here's the lineup.


Parts of Swervedriver, Interpol and The Album Leaf join to create Magnetic Morning. Lead singer Adam Franklin seems to be everywhere, doing solo work, reuniting with Swervedriver and working with MM. They will be performing in DC at the Rock & Roll Hotel Friday night and Johnny Brenda's in Philly Saturday. Joining them is Springhouse. Also on board for the DC how is Julie Ocean and The Jet Age.

mp3: Magnetic Morning - At A Crossroads Passive
mp3: Julie Ocean - At The Appointed Hour
mp3: The Jet Age - O Calendar

Cold War Kids are on tour in support of their recently released new album Loyalty to Loyalty. Catch them at TLA Friday and 9:30 Club Saturday with A.A. Bondy.

mp3: Cold War Kids - Bullies Always Win
mp3: A.A. Bondy - Theres a Reason

Also doing multi-city stops is indie-popsters The Little Ones. Friday at the Khyber New Motels is the opener. Sunday at DC9, they are joined by Via Audio and locals Pash as well as The Postelles.

mp3: The Little Ones - Morning Tide
mp3: New Motels - Modern Thinkers
mp3: Via Audio - Modern Day Saint
mp3: Pash - Kill The Rich Boys II

Shiny Toy Guns can be found at Sonar Saturday and North Star Sunday. If you like a loud show, this is one to see.

Screen Vinyl Image is at the Metro Gallery with The Water, Luxa and Monocle. Saturday, you can catch SVI at the Velvet Lounge with Black Nite Crash.

Friday

Wilmington's own The Spinto Band is having a CD release party at the First Unitarian Church. Joining in on the fun is The Swims with their raucous stage manner and infectious pop songs and Scots Frightened Rabbit.

San Francisco's Citay is in Philly for a show at Johnny Brenda's. Their sound is described as dreamy shoegaze with ethereal vocals and layered acoustic guitars. Two local acts round out the night. Gianmarco Cilli, part of National Eye and a great act from the Philly folk scene, and East Hundred are also set to perform.

Over at the World Cafe, Jonatha Brooke takes the stage.

Keeping it local at the North Star, Wilmington's The Sky Drops perform.

Sweden's Blackstrap is in the midst of a North American tour. Catch them at DC9.

mp3: The Spinto Band - Summer Grof
mp3: The Swims - We Need Lava
mp3: Citay - First Fantasy
mp3: Gianmarco Cilli - Empire (Acoustic Home Demo)
mp3: East Hundred - Leave It
mp3: The Sky Drops - Now Would Be

Saturday

Only a couple of shows for Saturday not already mentioned. Pierced Arrows are at DC9 with The Shirks, Love City and Hollywood. Rock & Roll Hotel hosts US Royalty. They are joined by Bear Hands, Blonde Acid Cult and Fever.

mp3: Bear Hands - Long Lean Queen
mp3: Blonde Acid Cult - Shake It Loose (Remix)

Sunday

Now I know a few of the IA staff members are salivating over this show. Swedish pop sensation Lykke Li is at Black Cat in DC. Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson just adds to the appeal of this show.

mp3: Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance
mp3: Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - Buriedfed

The Spinto Band

Wilmington, Delaware's The Spinto Band have returned and will be releasing Moonwink in October. The insanely catchy "Summer Grof" has been lost on my hard drive for awhile now and I thought that it was about time that I shared it. If it is any indication, this will be one of the better regional releases this fall.

10/17: First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA
11/14: Black Cat, Washington, DC

mp3: Summer Grof