This Week's Mix - Anniversary Style

Since this week's mix coincides with our site's anniversary, I thought that it would be appropriate to make a mix of some bands that have helped keep us in business over the years.

The Vita Ruins - Godspeed To That Polytheist
The Jaguar Club - The Sirens
Bound Stems - Taking Tips From The Gallery Gang
Jukebox the Ghost - Victoria
Telograph - The Fever
AVEC - Ageyeva
Papertrigger - We Are Nations Now!
These United States - The Business
Middle Distance Runner - With Swords
Thrushes - Flying

IA Anniversary Present: The Vita Ruins

The Vita Ruins have definitely been one of my favorite DC bands over the past 2 years. Last year, they recorded some demos in advance of the album that they are currently recording. One song that came out of it was "Sequestered Human." While much more mellow than we are used to from them, it works on a rather intimate level.

They will be taking some time off to reconfigure the band and get their first full length completed, but you will be hearing from them again, in the not so distant future.

mp3: Sequestered Human (demo)

No Second Troy / Vita Ruins / Lejeune @ Black Cat

A little over a week ago, I was getting ready to head back to school and I was looking for a show to see before I left. I was in luck, as there was a great local showcase at the Black Cat. As we have written about both Lejeune and The Vita Ruins before, I will not be doing a review. Instead, I will post some pictures of the bands and a video of "Rabid Men" by The Vita Ruins. Enjoy!

Lejeune:

All Photos

The Vita Ruins:

All Photos

No Second Troy:

All Photos

The Vita Ruins - "Rabid Men"

Contest: Lejeune, The Vita Ruins & No Second Troy At Black Cat

There is a great local show happening at Black Cat on Friday night, featuring Lejeune, The Vita Ruins and No Second Troy. We have a couple of pairs of tickets to give away. Drop us an e-mail to enter and we'll notify the winners by Friday morning. Good luck!

Lejeune - The Latest Greatest
The Vita Ruins - My Last Days On Earth
No Second Troy - Brighten Up

Contest: The Dance Party & The Vita Ruins

Since The Decemberists cancelled their tour, 9:30 Club had some weekend slots to fill. On Saturday night, they decided to throw a big ass party. The Dance Party and The Vita Ruins will kick your weekend into gear with style. We wouldn't be IA, if we didn't hook you up with a contest. We are giving away several prize packs. There will be tickets, CDs, t-shirts, stickers and who knows what else. All you have to do is send us an e-mail with your first name, general location and why we should hook you up. Can't make the show, but still want to win some of the other stuff? That's cool too. Winners will be notified by the end of the day on Friday. Good luck!

The Dance Party - Lipstick
The Vita Ruins - My Last Days On Earth

This Week's Mix

I'm going camping this weekend, so I thought that I would make this week's list all songs that I would love to hear while sitting around the fire. Enjoy!

+/- - Trapped Under Ice Flows
Sufjan Stevens - Chicago (adult contemporary easy listening version)
Fields - Charming The Flames
Zulu Pearls - Dancing + Drinking
Pinback - From Nothing To Nowhere
Shout Out Louds - Parents Living Room
Voxtrot - Kid Gloves
The Vita Ruins - My Last Days On Earth
Wilco - Hate It Here
Radiohead - House of Cards

VHS or Beta and Walter Meego

Enjoy the long weekend, with retro 80's throwbacks. VHS or Beta invades the region. Joining them are experimental popsters Walter Meego from Chicago.

8/31/07: Johnny Brendas, Philly
9/01/07: Rock & Roll Hotel, DC (w/ The Vita Ruins)

VHS or Beta - Night On Fire
Walter Meego - Through a Keyhole

Free download of The Vita Ruins' EP here.

The Jaguar Club and The Vita Ruins

Two bands that I have a personal fondness for are touring the Northeast this week. Brooklyn's The Jaguar Club and DC's The Vita Ruins kick things off tonight in the DC area and finish off this weekend in NYC.

8/20/07: IOTA, Arlington, VA*
8/21/07: Ottobar, Baltimore, MD*
8/22/07: The Manhattan Room, Philadelphia, PA
8/23/07: Lava Lounge, Pittsburgh, PA
8/24/07: Cake Shop, NYC

* With Baltimore's Faster Faster Harder Harder

The Jaguar Club - The Sirens
The Vita Ruins - Alien
Faster Faster Harder Harder - Calm Down

You can also download The Vita Ruins' EP here.

The Vita Ruins - Black Cat (Mainstage) - Friday 7/13

The Vita Ruins

I recently discovered The Vita Ruins on myspace. When I found out about their July 13 Black Cat show, I knew right away that I wanted to go. Once I found out that they were giving away copies of their EP, it became a no-brainer. I mean, how much does that rock? As I opened the doors to the mainstage, I saw a huge stack of CDs on the Merch Table. I quickly grabbed one, grabbed a beer and waited for the set to start.

When the guys got up on stage, there was a pretty good turn out. I tried to get as close as possible, but there were two or three photographers going back and forth and that kept me from getting too close. That said, the guys played all of my favorite songs from the EP and they played some new songs as well. More and more people kept showing up during their set and everyone was really into it. It was my first time listening to that type of slow melodic music in concert, but it was just as enjoyable as an energetic rock show. You could really feel the emotion flowing from the stage.

I got the chance to talk to a couple of them after the show to see what their future plans are. They are going on a 5 or 6 day tour with The Jaguar Club starting on August 20th at IOTA. On September 1, they will be playing a show with VHS or Beta at Rock and Roll Hotel. A full length is also in the works and they hope to have that out by the end of this year or at the beginning of next year. I will leave you with a track. If you like it, you can download the whole EP here.

The Vita Ruins - The Song of Ariel

This Week's Music Mix

Since I am going away for the weekend, I won't be able to post my normal weekend mix. Instead of waiting until Monday to post it, I will post it today! I have been getting a lot of new music and listening to many different things, but these are all songs that I have playing on repeat on my mp3 player:

1. Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
2. The Vita Ruins - Godspeed To That Polytheist
3. Sigur Ros and Mob Deep - Untitled Shook Ones (Emancipator Mash Up)
4. Shout Out Louds - Tonight I Have To Leave It
5. Iron and Wine - Boy With A Coin
6. Zulu Pearls - Half Hearted
7. Fields - Charming The Flames
8. Film School - On & On
9. Wild Sweet Orange - Ten Dead Dogs
10. Ra Ra Riot - Each Year
    
11. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Isis (Video Shown Below)<hype machine>

I have two local bands in there, The Vita Ruins and Zulu Pearls. The Vita Ruins played an amazing set last Friday at Black Cat and Zulu Pearls are having their CD Release Party this upcoming Tuesday at the Rock & Roll Hotel. I will definitely be attending this show and I highly recommend it! Enjoy the music and I will be back with a lot more next week.

The Vita Ruins EP

Washington, DC's The Vita Ruins are in very good spirits after their Black Cat show. They are in such a good mood that they have decided to offer their entire debut EP as a free download. I was fortunate enough to be the person that they asked to exclusively host it. So download away...

The Vita Ruins - Thanks For Your Concern (But We're Okay)


Godspeed To That Polytheist
Alien
My Last Days On Earth
The Song of Ariel

Friday

It is once again Friday in the region and there are a pair of shows to check out in both Baltimore and DC. Tonight is very good for music.


In Baltimore, there are two big CD release shows. At Sonar, The Seldon Plan is having a soft release for their upcoming full length. Over at Metro Gallery, The Payola Reserve drops their new disc upon the world.

The Seldon Plan - Holding Patterns Are Slow
The Payola Reserve - Music Is Not Music


In the fair district, there is a big all local show at Black Cat. The Vita Ruins, City-State and Metropolitan will all be gracing the main stage. In honor of this occasion, The Vita Ruins will be giving away copies of their debut EP to everyone in attendance.

The Vita Ruins - My Last Days On Earth
City-State - Mary
Metropolitan - Homeroom


At DC9, Bamboo Shoots are coming to town. They are always entertaining and are sure to not disappoint the masses.

Bamboo Shoots - Hey Girl

Post-Holiday Blues

Alright, so we have all made it through the holiday weekend. Now we must survive going back to work. To make things easier (or to relive the glories of your weekend), there are some shows tonight that will help ease your troubles.

Of course, you could go see Keane at 9:30 Club, but what fun would that be? Instead, there is a better, cheaper and less sold out alternative. That would be in the form of a pretty good show at DC9. Philly's Grammar Debate! will be joined by locals The Vita Ruins for a great night of indie rock.

Grammar Debate!- Believe It Away
The Vita Ruins - My Last Days On Earth

Coming This Weekend

There are a lot of shows happening today and tomorrow. I have talked about some of them already and others have only appeared on the calendar. As a quick reminder, here are your choices...

SATURDAY


Exit Clov/Jukebox The Ghost (EP Release)/ Le Loup @ Black Cat

This is sure to be a ridiculous show. You have local sweethearts Exit Clov supported by two of the biggest new buzz bands in the area. Jukebox The Ghost and Le Loup are two names that you will be hearing a lot about in the coming months. This is your chance to see them early in the game.

Exit Clov - Violent Berries
Jukebox the Ghost - Hold It In


Cedars/Shade/The Vita Ruins @ IOTA

Cedars and The Vita Ruins are two local bands that have been covered quite a bit on this site. Shade is a great band from Pittsburgh. Throw them all together and you have a great night of atmospheric rock.

Cedars - Arrivals/Departures
Shade- Broken Ribs
The Vita Ruins- My Last Days On Earth


Low Red Land @ Warehouse Next Door

Low Red Land is a great band from San Francisco. They are an indie rock band that has a strong helping of alt.country sensibilities. They also know how to put on a great live show.

Low Red Land - West Texas


A Lot Of Bands @ Rock 'N Roll Hotel

11 local favorites including Middle Distance Runner, These United States, Telograph, Let's French and The Hard Tomorrows, are all playing together. This show has each band playing their favorite upbeat cover songs.


SUNDAY


Summerbirds in the Cellar @ Lo-Fi Social Club

They delighted DC on Monday. Now it is Baltimore's turn to check out the great band known as Summerbirds in the Cellar.

Summerbirds in the Cellar - The Night Thief (Demo)


Blonde Redhead/The Fields @ 9:30 Club

Blonde Redhead has been around for awhile. Their latest CD has been gaining them some of the best reviews of their career. They will be joined by Fields.

Blonde Redhead - Spring and By Summer Fall
Fields - Brittlesticks

This Weekend at Six Points

For those of you who will be in DC this weekend, Six Points put together a sick show for IOTA tonight. Local indie pop darlings Middle Distance Runner will be joined by local indie alt country darlings These United States to create a ridiculously good bill that also includes Pittsburgh's Black Tie Revue. Ian from MDR was a founding member of BTR, so that should make for a very interesting addition to an already stellar night.

Middle Distance Runner - Man Of The People
These United States - Remember, Dear
Black Tie Revue - Absent Radio



In addition to that, Six Points also put together another solid show for tonight at the Rock and Roll Hotel. Kenna will be joined by local favorites The Dance Party, The Vita Ruins and The Sentiment. This show is sure to have the ladies out in full force.

Kenna - Out of Control
The Dance Party- Victory Will Break Your Heart
The Vita Ruins - My Last Days on Earth
The Sentiment - The Proletariat



On Saturday, Six Points put together a rocking lineup at DC9. Baltimore's Two if by Sea will be joined by locals The Roosevelt and Alfonso Velez and NYC's Bridges and Powerlines. Make sure you stop by and wish Happy Birthday to David from Two if By Sea.

Two if by Sea - Summer Borne For Sleep
The Roosevelt - Start It Over
Bridges and Powerlines - All In
Alfonso Velez - End Of The World Blues