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

Big Weekend of Shows

It is going to be another beautiful weekend, but if you aren't going to the beaches or other destinations, there are plenty of shows to see.

Big Names and Double Duty


After shows all over the region this week, Liverpool's surgical-mask clad Clinic comes to Philly. Check out the anti-epk epk video. Classic. They are joined by one-man band BBQ (Mark Sultan).

5/30: Philly @ Johnny Brendas

BBQ - Justify

Former Sunny Day Real Estate member Jeremy Enigk is joined by singer-songwriter force and fellow Seattlean (Seattler?) Damien Jurado.

5/30: Philly @ North Star
6/3: Vienna, VA @ Jammin Java

Four big acts come together for a monster show. Check out the neo-goth of She Wants Revenge, but be sure to get their early for Be Your Own Pet, Switches and The Virgins. Enjoy the SWR video for "These Things"

5/30: DC @ 9:30 Club
5/31: Philly @ TLA



Another big show, the NON-COMMvention 2008 sponsered by XPN, features Austinite Alejandro Escovedo, Canadian songstress Kathleen Edwards, and one of my favorite Austin bands, What Made Milwaukee Famous.

5/31: Philly @ Electric Factory

Alejandro Escovedo - Five Hearts
Kathleen Edwards - In State
What Made Milwaukee Famous - Resistance St.

You can't beat free and the ABC in Harrisburg has just that. Former Soul Coughing front man Mike Doughty will be performing at the ABC anniversary show, followed by a DJ session later in the evening.

5/31: Harrisburg @ ABC

Mike Doughty - Thank You Lord, For Sending Me The F Train

Finally, California duo The Submarines are playing two shows with Headlights. In Philly, they are joined by the great local band, Papertrigger.

5/31: Philly @ North Star (w/ Papertrigger)
6/1: DC @ Black Cat

Headlights - Cherry Tulips
Papertrigger - The Late Roman Republic

Locals and One Stops

Other than the big names coming to town, plenty of local favorites are playing.

Friday night, Army of Me is joined by Philly's Jealousy Curve and The Kin in DC at the Rock & Roll Hotel, while Baltimore's Ponytail is at Danger Danger Gallery in Philly with other Charm City bandsThank You, Wzt Hearts and Austin band The Carrots.

Saturday at The Black Cat in DC, Exit Clov, Zulu Pearls and Bryan Scary & The Shredding Tears perform.

Ponytail - Celebrate The Body Electric (It Came From An Angel)
Exit Clov - Violent Berries
Zulu Pearls - Come Back
Bryan Scary & The Shredding Tears - The Blood Club