A Weekend For CD Releases

A ridiculous amount of regional bands are releasing CDs this weekend and they are all having parties to celebrate. With one Saturday exception, they mostly go down tonight.


The Brakes are unleashing the bluesy-roots rock Tale of Two Cities upon the populace at Johnny Brendas in Philly. Not to worry DC. You can catch them Monday at IOTA.

mp3: Big Money (live)

Also in Philly, House of Fire and Bells Bells Bells are having a dual party at North Star.

mp3: House of Fire - Twelve Stars
mp3: Bells Bells Bells - The Doctor

Not to be outdone, there's a triple release happening at IOTA in northern VA. Julie Ocean is celebrating Long Gone and Nearly There, released last week. They are joined by fellow celebrants The City Veins and Yell County.

mp3: Julie Ocean - At The Appointed Hour
mp3: The City Veins - Toe The Line
mp3: Yell County - We're History Now

Over at the Black Cat in DC, Mikal Evans is releasing her new disc, A Jailhouse...A Kingdom. Also on the bill, but not releasing anything, is The Cotton Jones Basket Ride.

mp3: Mikal Evans - Virgin Wind
mp3: The Cotton Jones Basket Ride - Had Not A Body

Saturday, before heading on a tour of Europe, The War on Drugs release Wagonwheel Blues at Johnny Brendas. They are joined by Ape School.

mp3: The War on Drugs - Taking The Farm
mp3: Ape School - That's OK

The Local Weekend

It's the weekend again. You know what that means, a ton of shows to choose from.


If you aren't going to either of The Black shows (Kids or Keys) Friday, there are plenty of other options. A few shows are pulling back-to-back nights, starting in DC Friday and landing in Philly on Saturday. Back in September, Local H was on tour with a set full of B-Sides and unreleased music. Now with a new album just released, they are back in the area supported by Lions from Austin. Local act in DC is CTC and Twelve-Twenty in Philly.

5/16: DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel
5/17: Philly @ The Khyber

Local H - Toxic

Looking for bouncy pop? Then check out Los Campesinos! At the DC show, they are joined by The Aquarium and Pash.

5/16: DC @ Black Cat
5/17: Philly @ Johnny Brendas

Los Campesinos! - We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives
Pash - Palindrome

Finally at the bigger venues, there is DeVotchka with the folkish stylings of Basia Bulat.

5/16: DC @ 9:30 Club
5/17: Philly @ TLA

DeVotchka - How It Ends
Basia Bulat - In The Night

For the one city shows, there are plenty, mostly in the DC area.

Friday

Wye Oak/Pattern Is Movement/Engine @ Metro Gallery, Baltimore

Wye Oak - Warning
Pattern Is Movement - It's The Wine

Saturday

The Alphabetical Order @ IOTA, Arlington (FINAL SHOW FOR TAO EVER!)
The Long Blondes/Drug Rug @ Rock & Roll Hotel, DC
Junior League/John Bustine/Garland of Hours @ Black Cat, DC
Bell X1 @ Rams Head Tavern, Annapolis

The Alphabetical Order - Submarines

Sunday

Cotton Jones Basket Ride/Rarebirds/Bellman Barker/Astral Lounge @ M Room, Philly
Bishop Allen/War On Drugs/Deleted Scenes @ Black Cat, DC

Bishop Allen - Click Click Click Click
The Cotton Jones Basket Ride - Had Not A Body

The Thermals and Reporter on Tour

Coming through the IA area are two Portland-based bands, The Thermals, who have been Pitchfork darlings since their inception and Reporter. Check them out over this weekend.

11/2: First Unitarian Church, Philly w/ The War On Drugs
11/3: Black Cat, DC w/ History

The Thermals - A Pillar of Salt
Reporter - Green Death