The Run Down - Sunday April 13, 2008

I'm crazy tired right now...but if you have an abundance of energy...GO SEE SOME SHOWS!!! My suggestion would be to check Nada Surf at the Troc in Philly with Illinois or perhaps Casiotone For the Painfully Alone and Clue To Kalo at the First Unitarian Church. There's a banger in DC with Wye Oak and These United States at the Black Cat or how about Colin Meloy and Laura Gibson at the 9:30 club.

mp3: Laura Gibson - Hands In Pockets --> website --> buy
mp3: Nada Surf - Do It Again --> website --> buy
mp3: These United States - Burn This Bridge --> website --> buy
mp3: Wye Oak - Obituary --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Saturday April 12, 2008

The weekend is here and a swarm of shows have come with it. In Baltimore check out Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, These United States, Clue To Kalo, and The Cotton Jones Basket Ride at The Talking Head. In DC the 9:30 has Nada Surf, Kaki King, and The Jealous Girlfriends, while the Velvet Lounge has De Novo Dahl, Modern Skirts, and Parachute Musical. Finally in Philly the M Room has The cobbs, The December Sound, and Asteroid #4, The Fire has An American Chinese, East Hundred, Akudama, and Bebek, and Johnny Brenda's has Superdrag.

mp3: Nada Surf - Treading Water --> website --> buy
mp3: Kaki King - 2 O'Clock --> website --> buy
mp3: The Jealous Girlfriends - How Now --> website --> buy
mp3: An American Chinese - Panic Pilgrim, Quick Grab Your Suitcase --> website --> buy
mp3: East Hundred - Climbing Up The Walls --> website --> buy
mp3: De Novo Dahl - Marketplace --> website --> buy
mp3: These United States - Burn This Bridge --> website --> buy
mp3: Asteroid #4 - Outside --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Monday March 3, 2008

Heeeeere we go. In Philly there's Say Hi at Johnny Brenda's. In Virginia catch These United States at IOTA. In DC you have the choice between The Sketches opening up for Blind Melon at the 9:30 club, The Muggabears and Sisters at the Red and the Black, or Ilad, Lindsay Holler & the Dirty Kicks, and Stella Schindler at DC9. Have a good one.

mp3: Say Hi - Bluetime --> website --> buy
mp3: The Sketches - Dizzy --> website --> buy
mp3: The Muggabears - Automatic Others --> website --> buy
mp3: Ilad - Looking Glass --> website --> buy
mp3: These United States - Burn This Bridge --> website --> buy

Not Those United States, THESE UNITED STATES

So I've been waiting for this one for a while now. I think Jesse Elliott and David Strackany aka These United States have been waiting for it also. A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden is their brand spanking new LP that comes out on March 4th. For those that are unfamiliar with These United States, then let me bring you up to speed. They play soulful folk rock that doesn't blend with the ordinary too well. There's spice and flavor with each note and verse. And there's something else. Maybe it was the open mind I had when I first gave this album a listen. There was a freedom within the music that really allowed my thoughts to wander through this world created by Strackany's unique production and Elliott's emotional croon. I felt as if I was floating on a little row boat drifting out to sea, singing along with some fantasy melody, and it was the only thing keeping me sane. Strange, I know. But hey, I am what I am and These United States are that friggin good.

mp3: These United States - Jenni Anne --> website --> buy

mp3: These United States - First Sight

Oh yeah...they're on a crazy 33 date tour (not including SXSW)(and when are these guys not touring?) Here are the dates:

03/03 - Experiment #1 - Arlington, VA - IOTA, 03/04 - Experiment #2 - Richmond, VA - Gallery 5, 03/05 - Experiment #3 - Chapel Hill, NC - Nightlight, 03/06 - Experiment #4 - Asheville, NC - The Rocket Club, 03/07 - Experiment #5 - Athens, GA - Flicker, 03/08 - Experiment #6 - Birmingham, AL - Jonathan Benton Bookseller, 03/10 - Experiment #7 - Shreveport, LA - The Actor's Cafe, 03/11 - Experiment #8 - Dallas, TX - Club DaDa, 03/12 - SXSW - Austin, TX - Emo's Main Room, Terrorbird/ForceField Party, 03/13 - SXSW - Austin, TX - Cream Vintage, DC Does TX Party, 03/14 - SXSW - Austin, TX - AfterTheJumpFest Party, 03/16 - Experiment #9 - El Paso, TX - Q8, 03/18 - Experiment #10 - Tucson, AZ - Plush, WXSW Festival, 03/19 - Experiment #11 - Phoenix, AZ - Trunk Space, 03/20 - Experiment #12 - San Diego, CA - The Epicentre, 03/21 - RADIO - Los Angeles, CA - Indie 103, 03/21 - Experiment #13 - Los Angeles, CA - Echo Curio03/22 - Experiment #14 - Merced, CA - The Partisan, 03/23 - Experiment #15 - San Francisco, CA - Hotel Utah, 03/25 - Experiment #16 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios, 03/26 - Experiment #17 - Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern03/27 - Experiment #18 - Boise, ID - Area Code03/28 - Experiment #19 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge, 03/29 - Experiment #20 - Denver, CO - Hi-Dive, 03/31 - Experiment #21 - Minneapolis, MN - 400 Bar, 04/01 - Experiment #22 - Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews. 04/02 - RADIO - Iowa City, IA - KRUI 89.7, 04/02 - Experiment #23 - Iowa City, IA - Mission Creek Fest, 04/03 - TROT - Rock Island, IL - Daytrotter Encore Session, 04/03 - Experiment #24 - Chicago, IL - The Hideout, 04/04 - RADIO - Cincinnati, OH - WOXY Lounge Act, 04/04 - Experiment #25 - Louisville, KY - The 930, 04/05 - Experiment #26 - Lexington, KY - The Dame, 04/07 - Experiment #27 - Providence, RI - AS220, 04/08 - Experiment #28 - Somerville, MA - P.A.'s Lounge, 04/09 - Experiment #29 - Portsmouth, NH - Studio Verte, 04/10 - Experiment #30 - New York, NY - Cake Shop, 04/11 - Experiment #31 - Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall, 04/12 - Experiment #32 - Baltimore, MD - Talking Head, 04/13 - Experiment #33 - Washington, DC - Black Cat

The Run Down - Thursday February 14, 2008

Before I run down the list of ridiculously good Philly shows, I must mention a fine Valentine's Day show right here in Baltimore. The Lo-Fi Social Club is dimming the lights and lighting candles for Famous Lovers and the Soundscapes. Find someone and go to that show. If you're in Philly, you can't complain about the shortage of shows for the next couple of days. Today is no different. Johnny Brenda's has A Sunny Day In Glasgow, Remote Islands, and The Offering. North Star has Small Town Fires, Sounds Under Radio, Hey Angel, and The Armchairs. Finally the epic Northern Liberties Winter Music Festival continues at the Fire with a folkish night of These United States, Wes Matthews and the New Way Down, Extraordinaires, Birdie Busch, Hezekiah Jones, Bee Team, and Sister Three. Go. Love. Listen.

mp3: A Sunny Day In Glasgow - No. 6 Von Karman Street --> website --> buy
mp3: Remote Islands - Philadelphia --> website --> buy
mp3: Small Town Fires - The Abdomen Drum --> website --> buy
mp3: Famous Lovers - John Batt --> website --> buy
mp3: The Soundscapes - Here's When --> website --> buy
mp3: These United States - Slow Crows Over --> website --> buy
mp3: Hezekiah Jones - Albert Hash --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Friday January 25, 2008

Holy crap there's a ton of shows tonight! Let's start here in Baltimore. The Ottobar has a quality concert lined up for you with The Fiery Furnaces, The Oranges Band, and Thank You. At the Lo-Fi, Waterschool, Human Host, Pygmy Lush, and Automatic Stallions play. In DC, Cornelius takes the stage at the 9:30 club. Over at the Rock and Roll Hotel, DC's Junior League command the stage along with Justin Jones and Driving Rain. Or maybe you're broke. If that's the case, head on over to George Washington University's Mitchell Theater to watch These United States, Vandaveer, Tut Tut, and The Winter Sounds play F-R-E-E! In Philly, the North Star has The Cobbs, Papertrigger, Jotto, and The Greyhounds. Finally, if you missed them in Baltimore and DC, you can catch DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist's The Hard Sell at the Fillmore with Kid Koala. Wow!

mp3: The Fiery Furnaces - Ex-Guru --> website --> buy
mp3: The Oranges Band - Sweater Weather --> website --> buy
mp3: Water School - Whole Town --> website
mp3: Cornelius - Cue --> website --> buy
mp3: Junior League - Chess Records --> website --> buy
mp3: These United States - Burn This Bridge --> website
mp3: Vandaveer - Parasites & Ghosts --> website --> buy
mp3: The Cobbs - Say You Never Knew Me --> website --> buy
mp3: Papertrigger - We Are Nations Now! --> website --> buy
mp3: DJ Shadow - Divine Intervention (feat. Divine Styles) --> website --> buy
mp3: Cut Chemist - What's The Altitude (feat. Hymnal) --> website --> buy
mp3: Kid Koala - More Dance Music --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Saturday December 22, 2007

Jam packed. That's the only description for this Saturday in terms of live shows. In Baltimore, the Ottobar hosts Squaaks, The Payola Reserve, The Motorettes, and John Hardy Boys. In DC, These United States govern the Black Cat with The Hackensaw Boys and John Bustine. The Velvet Lounge has a hip hop showcase featuring Flex Mathews, Good Will Ink, Oddisee, Enoch, XO, YU, and DJ V-Roc. Finally in Philadelphia, New Motels roll into the Khyber along with The Minor White, The Moneynotes, and Paul Rogai. Have a good one!

mp3: Squaaks - Be Dry My Bleeding Heart
mp3: These United States - Burn This Bridge
mp3: Flex Mathews - R.F.C.
mp3: Oddisee - Camera
mp3: Oddisee - Ride'N (featuring XO)
mp3: Oddisee - iHate Rap (featuring YU)
mp3: New Motels - Modern Thinker

The Run Down - Friday November 30, 2007

November's going out with a bang. Well in the Baltimore/DC/Philly area it is. As I said yesterday, if you missed M.I.A. at the 9:30 last night in DC, be sure to check out her set at Sonar tonight in Baltimore. If you're traveling north, why not swing by North Star, where Via Audio, The High Strung, and The Teeth are playing. Finally if you want even more great indie rock then drop down to DC where Ra Ra Riot, These United States, and Jukebox The Ghost will be tearing down the Rock and Roll Hotel. Good Times!

mp3: Ra Ra Riot - Each Year --> website --> buy
mp3: These United States - The Business --> website
mp3: Jukebox The Ghost Good Day (Andrew Maury Remix) --> website --> buy
mp3: M.I.A. - You're Good (Diplo Mix) --> website --> buy
mp3: Via Audio - Modern Day Saint --> website --> buy