The Run Down - Wednesday April 2, 2008

There are some slammin' (sorry) shows in the DC and Philly area tonight. The Black Cat has Jens Lekman, The Honeydrips, and Marla Hansen (that's a pretty darn good line up). In Philly head to the Barbary to see Beach House and Papercuts (6:30 show) or swing over to the Fillmore to check De Novo Dahl and Jesse Malin (*****oops...scratch that...The Fillmore show has been postponed...dang!*****). ****OOPS I did it again...The Beach House show is tomorrow!!!!***** Sorry...my brain isn't working right today.

mp3: Jens Lekman - Black Cab --> website --> buy
mp3: The Honeydrips - Here Comes The Future --> website --> buy
mp3: Marla Hansen - Wedding Day --> website --> buy
mp3: De Novo Dahl - Make Some Sense --> website --> buy
mp3: Beach House - Gila --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Monday March 31, 2008

There's a great show tonight at the Galaxy Hut with DC's Paul Michel and Sad Crocodile. If you can't make it there, you should try to make the Black Cat in DC to check out electropoppers The LK with Meredith Bragg. That's all...hey it's Monday.

mp3: The LK - Tandem Bikes --> website --> buy
mp3: Meredith Bragg - Twin Arrows --> website --> buy

The Run Down - March 27, 2008

If you have a ton of energy and are looking to vent it somewhere, might I suggest the Lo-Fi Social Club in Baltimore. There you'll find the high octane performances of Matt & Kim, The Death Set, The Pharmacy, Naked on the Vague, and Soiled Mattress & The Springs. If you look for a much calmer, yet still entertaining evening perhaps mosey your way down to the Black Cat in DC to see Xiu Xiu, Thao With The Get Down Stay Down, and Chris Garneau.

mp3: Thao With The Get Down Stay Down - Feet Asleep --> website --> buy
mp3: Matt & Kim - Yea Yeah --> website --> buy
mp3: The Death Set - Had A Bird --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Tuesday March 25, 2008

If you want a really great great great show tonight head on down to The Black Cat in DC to bask in the sounds of Blitzen Trapper and Fleet Foxes. Word on the street is these guys are good. Or maybe you want to fire it up at The Fire in Philly with Hezekiah Jones, The Extraordinaires, Pleasureboaters, The Gunshy, and Joe Andorl. Enjoy!

mp3: Blitzen Trapper - Sci Fi Kid --> website --> buy
mp3: Fleet Foxes - Mykonos --> website --> buy
mp3: Hezekiah Jones - Nothing's Bound --> website --> buy
mp3: The Extraordinaires - The Warehouse Song --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Saturday March 15, 2008

This weekend is fairly light in terms of shows. First off the Pela show last night and tonight were canceled due to injury. Luckily they still have some locals playing Johnny Brenda's tonight. One of my faves, The Squaaks, is playing along with Jotto, The Chimeras, and Thinking Machines. If you missed the Black Lips in Philly last night, you can catch them in DC at the Black Cat tonight with Quintron & Miss Pussycat. Beware! The Ides Of March!

mp3: The Squaaks - Two Hippies --> website --> buy
mp3: Black Lips - Veni Vedi Veci (Diplo Remix) --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Monday March 10, 2008

There are three super sweet shows to speak of today. That's pretty good fro a Monday. At the Black Cat in DC there's a great show with The Fairlane Parkway, Kitty Hawk, and the Sean McArdle Band. Another great DC show is at DC9 with School Of Language, Medications, and Go Home Robot. If you're in Philly, the place to be is the Electric Factory where Justice performs for the special 'myspace' tour. Enjoy!

mp3: The Fairlane Parkway - Homesteaders --> website --> buy
mp3: Kitty Hawk - Brown Eyes --> website
mp3: Justice - One Minute To Midnight --> website --> buy
mp3: School Of Language - Rockist Part 1 --> website --> buy
mp3: Medications - Twine Time --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Tuesday March 4, 2008

Have I mentioned the crazy amount of shows this week. I mean good gravy boat gazoog(wha?) even Tuesday is jammed packed. Here in Baltimore be sure to bear witness to Savory James performing an all Nirvana cover set at the Talking Head with 4th Horsemen, Nocnitsa, and Red Rocket. At the Black Cat in DC do yourself a favor and take in Say Hi and Caverns. Finally in Philly, the only place to be is Johnny Brenda's to see the one and only Cadence Weapon along with Born Ruffians and Ape School. Well I lied. There is one other place to be in Philly and that's at the First Unitarian Church where Matt Costa and Jonathan Rice perform.

mp3: Cadence Weapon - House Music --> website --> buy
mp3: Born Ruffians - I'm One Of Those Girls --> website --> buy
mp3: Say Hi - Spiders --> website --> buy
mp3: Matt Costa - The Ballad Of Miss Kate --> website --> buy
mp3: Savory James - Sit Still --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Sunday February 24, 2008

There are a great plethora of shows tonight. Usually this never happens on a Sunday, but this is a crazy world we live in, isn't it? Here in Baltimore there is a magnificent line up at the Ottobar with Daniel Johnston, Jason Dove and The Magic Whip, and Lizz King. In DC you don't want to miss Bowerbirds at the Black Cat playing with Deleted Scenes and Kitty Hawk. Also in DC The City Veins, Lights Resolve, Shanghai Thrills, and Fall Back Plan all play the Red and The Black. Go ahead and savor this last day of the weekend.

mp3: Bowerbirds - My Oldest Memory --> website --> buy
mp3: Deleted Scenes - Day Off Work --> website --> buy
mp3: Kitty Hawk - Move Me --> website
mp3: Daniel Johnston - True Love Will Find You In The End --> website --> buy
mp3: Jason Dove - So You Know --> website --> buy
mp3: The City Veins - Don't See It Coming --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Saturday February 23, 2008

There are some great shows today, and you better hustle if you want to catch one of them. Thrushes is playing Space 2640 here in Baltimore from 10am-12pm for a Rocknromp show featuring the author of Alternadad, Neil Pollack. It's all ages (duh). Later on tonight in Baltimore you can catch an amazing show at the Metro Gallery with Telesma, Aligning Minds, and DJ Knowledges. Down in DC Daniel Johnston plays the Black Cat along with Benjy Ferree. Finally up in Philly, you don't want to miss The Sw!ms, The Besties, Cordova, and Castles at the North Star.

mp3: Thrushes - Heartbeats --> website --> buy
mp3: Telesma - Immanence --> website --> buy
mp3: Daniel Johnston - True Love Will Find You In The End --> website --> buy
mp3: Benjy Ferree - The Countryside --> website --> buy
mp3: The Sw!ms - We Need Lava --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Friday February 22, 2008

As usual, Friday brings a slew of great shows. Here in Baltimore The Macgregor Burns Band, Good Guise, and The Break Ups play the Ottobar. In DC the Black Cat has the show of the week with Travis Morrison Hellfighters, The Epochs, and Zulu Pearls. In Philly you could go see Atlas Sound, Valet, and White Rainbow at Johnny Brenda's or The Alien Architect, Children of Jah, Waheed, and Ghetto Songbird at The Fire.

mp3: The MacGregor Burns Band - Drink Anything --> website
mp3: Travis Morrison - Any Open Door --> website --> buy
mp3: Zulu Pearls - Ways To Wind You Up --> website --> buy
mp3: The Epochs - Right On --> website --> buy
mp3: Atlas Sound - Knife (Grizzly Bear Cover) --> website --> buy
mp3: Valet - Kehaar --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Thursday February 21, 2008

It's Thursday! And what a fine Thursday it is. There are two super fantastic shows tonight to our south. At the Black Cat in DC, Atlas Sound, White Rainbows, and Valet perform. If you really want to get fancy (not fancy at all, but it sounds good), go check out Evangelicals, Headlights, and We Were Pirates at IOTA in Virginia. There's even more tomorrow, but first, concentrate on today.

mp3: Atlas Sound - Without Headlights --> website --> buy
mp3: Valet - Kehaar --> website --> buy
mp3: Evangelicals - Skeleton Man --> website --> buy
mp3: Headlights - TV --> website --> buy
mp3: We Were Pirates - The Wolf --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Sunday February 10, 2008

So it's Sunday and you find yourself looking for some not-so-ordinary entertainment. Well the Black Cat has that for you ten fold. Brian Carpenter's Beat Circus has come to town with his brand of post-cabaret/new weird americana music. Beat Circus' songs are based on factual people and events from the turn of the century Coney Island Circus of the same name. So if you want to witness bizarre, yet oddly entertaining historical music, head on down to the Black Cat tonight. You'll also find the genre transcending band, The Cassettes there. They play rockabilly/CCR-esque/blues/folk/indie rock. They're a good fit with Beat Circus and should prove to be a great event. If you aren't quite into that scene, maybe you would enjoy Liars and no Age playing the First Unitarian Church in Philly. Enjoy the last day of the weekend while you can. Monday lurks.

mp3: Beat Circus - The Gem Saloon --> website --> buy
mp3: The Cassettes - Small And Tired --> website --> buy
mp3: Liars- The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Friday February 1, 2008

It's the first of the month...wake up...get up...go see some shows. The question is...which one? Well here are your options. In Philly there are two super sweet concerts. The first being National Eye, The Sw!ms and Pepi Ginsberg at Johnny Brenda's. The second is Sarsaparilla, Famous Lovers, Nicole Reynolds, and Alex Rodes at the Fire. In DC there are also two super sweet shows. The first is Exit Clov, Army of Me, Good Night States, and The Dance Party at the Rock and Roll Hotel. The second is at the Black Cat. Unfortunately Celebration has canceled from this show, but DC's Junior League has graciously filled in to play along with one of my new faves, Shortstack and Suns of Guns. Finally there are two more super sweet shows here in Charm City. The Talking Head hosts Ilad, Yeveto, Blackbirds, and Andy Abelow. If you want some serious rock with no fillers, then come with Pasta Primavera to the Lo-Fi to see Avec, Remote Islands, Karmella's Game, and A Sunny Day In Glasgow. Talk about the ultimate run down!

mp3: National Eye - Snowing In April --> website --> buy
mp3: The Sw!ms - We Need Lava --> website --> buy
mp3: Sarsaparilla - Only Hunt --> website --> buy
mp3: Famous Lovers - John Batt --> website --> buy
mp3: Nicole Reynolds - Call The Guard --> website --> buy
mp3: Exit Clov - MK Ultra --> website --> buy
mp3: Shortstack - House On Fire --> website --> buy
mp3: Junior League - Chess Records --> website --> buy
mp3: Ilad - Holy Wars --> website --> buy
mp3: Avec - Beautiful Veins --> website --> buy
mp3: Remote Islands - Philadelphia --> website --> buy
mp3: A Sunny Day In Glasgow - A Mundane Phone Call To Jack Parsons --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Wednesday January 30, 2008

While I may be a bit out of sorts today, that doesn't stop the good shows going on tonight. The 9:30 club has everyone's favorite MC, Lupe Fiasco lyrically tear the roof down. There's a solid show at the Black Cat with DC's Greenland, Len Bias (the band, not the deceased b-baller), and More Humans. Finally here in Baltimore, everyone should go check out Among Wolves, Sissy Jupe, and The Herd Of Main St. at the 8x10. Among Wolves is amazing live so don't miss it.

mp3: Lupe Fiasco - Daydreamin' --> website --> buy

mp3: Greenland - Cardplayer --> website

mp3: Among Wolves - Seems To Me --> website --> buy

In Review - Jukebox the Ghost and Bellman Barker - Live at the Black Cat - Jan. 26

The Black Cat in Washington DC played host to the sold out CD release party for Jukebox the Ghost.......What's that? ....... You didn't expect this show to sell out? Well, apparently no one did, including the bands. The large crowd slowed entry to a crawl, causing many people, including myself, to miss most of opening act, Pash. But there would still be no shortage of awesomeness this evening.

Bellman Barker took the stage, in all their unique glory. They powered through an energetic set that included much of their EP, Anise & Anisette. BB's power pop style and range impressed the crowd almost as much as Aaron's wicked handlebar mustache. All kidding aside, Bellman Barker are primed to become a really big deal in the mid-Atlantic and beyond. Their final song, showed how far these guys can go. Two Bees started with Thomas playing the clarinet, and then looping it through an FX box that built and built along with the xylophone and guitar into an amazing finish. Seriously, who can use a sampled clarinet sound well? Shades of Johny Greenwood on that one, and that's pretty good company.

But of course, Jukebox the Ghost was the main event tonight. The three piece from D.C. came out to quite an ovation, and couldn't disguise the awe on their faces. The crowd that showed up to welcome their new CD was both plentiful and excited. It seemed a little overwhelming for them at first, but it didn't take long before Jukebox was having a great time, and generally kicking butt.

What struck me quickly was how quircky Ben Thornewill is whilst playing keys. His facial expressions ranged from mad scientist to comedian. At times, it looked like he didn't know what notes his hands were going to play, but they were always the right ones. Also impressive is how well Ben and Tommy Siegel trade the role of frontman from song to song. They're each talented enough that they could split into two bands and each would still be amazing. Luckily they are in one band, aided by the sharp and steady drumming of Jesse Kristin. The obvious comparisons to Ben Folds will be thrown at Jukebox wherever they go, but don't let it fool you. Jukebox the Ghost have carved out their own style, and created a future that is quite promising.

Mp3: Bellman Barker - Charles Kil
Mp3: Bellman Barker - Two Bees ---- website ---- Buy
Mp3: Jukebox the Ghost - Under My Skin
Mp3: Jukebox the Ghost - Hold It In ---- website ---- Buy

The full length is not available online anywhere yet, so check back soon.

Bellman Barker

Aaron of Bellman Barker

Ben of Jukebox the Ghost

More photos available HERE

The Run Down - Saturday January 25, 2008

Strap on your dancing shoes because there's some serious concert goin' action tonight. In Philly, An American Chinese light up the Fire with Young Gene Buffalo, Slippery Coup, and Bee Team. Over at the Starlight Ballroom you can see an amazing show in Super Furry Animals and Holy Fuck. Finally in DC, I'll be at the kick butt show of the night! Jukebox the Ghost has their CD Release show at the Black Cat along with Bellman Barker and Pash. Don't miss it!

mp3: An American Chinese - Panic Pilgrim, Quick Grab Your Suitcase --> website --> buy
mp3: Super Furry Animals - Run-Away --> website --> buy
mp3: Holy Fuck - Lovely Allen --> website --> buy
mp3: Jukebox The Ghost - Good Day --> website --> buy
mp3: Bellman Barker - Pockets --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Wednesday January 16 ,2008

So many of you were itching to go to the Yeasayer/MGMT show at the Black Cat tonight. As we all know, it's sold out and nothing's going to change it. The good news is they're booking another show in April for the main stage. If that's too far away for ya, they're also playing the Troc in Philly next month. Luckily there are some other kick butt shows tonight in the area also. At the 9:30 Club, Blonde Redhead and School of Seven Bells will definitely put on a good performance for you. In Baltimore, Mary Nova rocks the Ottobar with Sparta Philharmonic, She Keeps Bees, and Sweet Basil. Finally in Philly at the Fire, Toy Soldiers garage rock it with British Lit.

mp3: MGMT - Weekend Wars --> website --> buy
mp3: Yeasayer - Red Cave --> website --> buy
mp3: Blonde Redhead - The Dress --> website --> buy
mp3: Mary Nova - Golden Rule --> website
mp3: Toy Soldiers - Wrecking Ball --> website

What Have You Got To Lose

Well as you locals probably know, the Yeasayer/MGMT show is tomorrow night in DC at the Black Cat and it's sold out. Apparently the main reason that it is sold out is that it's not on the MAIN STAGE WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST PLACE! So there's a rumbling going around now to move it to the main stage and make more tickets available. Word! Make your voice heard. Contact the Black Cat and let them know what's up!

info@blackcatdc.com

mp3: MGMT - Kids
mp3: Yeasayer - Germs

The Run Down - Tuesday January 15, 2008

There's some class act shows going on tonight. A sure bet will be down at the Black Cat where Vandaveer will style n' dial it up with Bottle Up & Go. If you want a big time show, get over to the 9:30 Club for Editors, Louis XIV, and Hot Hot Heat. Finally, up in Philly, Cheers Elephant continue their January residency at the Khyber with When Cars Ascent, The Danger Os, and Charles Latham.

mp3: Vandaveer - Different Cities --> website --> buy
mp3: Editors - Camera (SebastiAn Remix) --> website --> buy
mp3: Cheers Elephant - Wide Eyed --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Monday January 14, 2008

Once again there's not much to report on, but there is a Black Cat show that deserves to be mentioned and seen. Tereu Tereu blaze in from Virginia with a great indie rock sound (like a more free flowing light hearted Pinback). Sharing the stage with them is Perfect Souvenir and The Bronze Episode.

mp3: Tereu Tereu - Don't Be Sore, Farmer John --> website --> buy