The Deadly Syndrome Sets The Tone

A couple of months ago I was perusing the local calendars of different clubs and checking out various bands that I hadn't heard before. On this particular day I came across a band called The Deadly Syndrome. A look of fear drew across my face as I dared to open their myspace page. You see I'm from Baltimore. It may seem that we have a decent indie scene in the area...well we do, but for a long time Baltimore has had an infamous screamo/metal scene going. That's pretty much what I thought I was in for. 90% of the time a band that has 'Dead' or 'Syndrome' is going to not sit well with my musical taste. Luckily I have learned over the years not to judge a book by it's cover and proceeded to open the web page. What I found was a pretty phenomenal four piece from California that plays great indie rock in the neighborhood of early Flaming Lips and Cold War Kids. The Deadly Syndrome released their debut album, The Ortolan, last year on Dim Mak Records. This is a deep album that is held together by lead singer Christopher Richard's clever vocal stylings, but sometimes completely morphed into something amazing through blazing instrumentals for extended moments. This gives The Ortolan great mountains and valleys as music goes. Some instances they play simple melody bouncing sweet songs. The other instances they delve into more complex guitar laden arrangements. Sometimes it's in the same song. This was pretty astonishing considering it is their first release. Other blogs have thrown them into the Arcade Fire/Wolf Parade category, which is a great category to be in, but I don't quite see that. These guys from LA have defined their own powerful sound on this first cut. Now we just have to wait for the next.

mp3: The Deadly Syndrome - Eucalyptus --> website --> buy
mp3: The Deadly Syndrome - Wolves In The Garden

The Run Down - Wednesday March 12, 2008

The quantity of shows may be small, but if you're into the whole electro dance indie dj thang then you're in heaven. In Baltimore the Ottobar has MSTRKRFT, Rye Rye, Uncle Jesse, and Oh Snap!. Or maybe you just want to trot down to DC to catch that whole myspace deely at the 9:30 club with Justice, DJ Medhi, and Fancy.

mp3: Justice - New Jack --> website --> buy
mp3: Wolfmother - Woman (MSTRKRFT Remix) --> website --> buy

VIDEO - Fishboy & Panther

Fishboy has just put out a new video of the song Parachute. It's pretty rad and goes along very well with Fishboy aesthetic. Check it out:


mp3: Fishboy - Parachute --> website --> buy

Panther has also put out new video for Violence, Diamonds that blends their live personas with interesting scratchy line drawings and stuff. Enough talk...watch:


mp3: Panther - Violence, Diamonds --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Tuesday March 11, 2008

There's a few Tuesday events that might perk your interest. In Baltimore, the Ottobar has Nightmare of You and The Dance Party. Up in Philly you can indie rock it at the Khyber with House of Fire, Swimmers Union, Isaac Hurt, and Danke or you can club it up at Philly's Woody's with MSTRKRFT.

mp3: Nightmare Of You - My Name Is Trouble --> website --> buy
mp3: House Of Fire - Walk Along The Sun --> website --> buy
mp3: New Young Pony Club - Get Lucky (MSTRKRFT Remix) --> website --> buy

Toofer Toosday - Famous Lovers & King Of Prussia

Montreal has produced many a good band as of late. I recently found a pretty sweet EP in the inbox from another four piece from Montreal. Was this the next big thing? Well I'm not the 'decider' of those types of things, but I did think it was pretty good. Famous Lovers, that's the name...of the quartet from Canada(though each member hails from a different part of the globe). Andrew Sepic sings the dark melodies while Jonathan Kelly supplies the aromatic guitar lines that makes each song a delicious meal. Think Interpol with a happier approach. There's a bit more sunshine than cloudy afternoons, but there's still plenty of heart ache to go 'round. This is a band to watch in the future...they have the ingredients to serve up a magical entree. When's the LP coming? (really...I don't know...but I want to know...so tell me).

mp3: Famous Lovers - Tocsin --> website --> buy
mp3: Famous Lovers - John Batt

We all know King Of Prussia. It's a town in Pennsylvania(duh). But have you heard of the one in Athens, Georgia. Not the town, but the band. No? Well you might enjoy them quite mightily. They put out their first LP, Save The Scene, earlier this year on Kindercore. Though it's short length wise, KOP makes up for it in the depth of each song. Many might compare their sound to Belle and Sebastian and The Shins, but it's pretty evident that the summer sound of the 1960's is in the blood of King Of Prussia. Each song on this album is a pop gem. Really. Aside from that, what takes this little LP to the next level is it's gorgeous production. The reverb drenched vocals and crisp acoustic guitars sparkle in and out through all the right places. I guess the only thing I can complain about is the length. I'm left wanting more, but I guess that's a good thing. You can find them at SXSW playing the Light Bar on the 14th and the Side Bar on the 15th.

mp3: King Of Prussia - Cheerleaders --> website --> buy
mp3: King Of Prussia - Misadventures of the Campaign Kids

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

Random Randomness For A Random World

Something in the air...here or there, we're already there...road to nowhere.

image via wooster collective

Just Another Day?

What are birthdays? What are weekends? What are parties? I'm not quite sure either, but I know if you combine these three things with music, food, and liquids, you'll experience what I'm about to experience tonight. Yep, you guessed it...it's my birthday...and a party is a comin'. Here's but a slice of the music I'll be listening to tonight...some new...some old...all friggin' great. Enjoy! Go Pisces!

mp3: Peanut Butter Wolf - Keep On Rockin' It
mp3: The Beatles - Happiness Is A Warm Gun
mp3: Voxtrot - Soft And Warm
mp3: RJD2 - Ghostwriter
mp3: The Knife - We Share Our Mothers Health (Ratatat Remix)
mp3: KRS One - Sound Of Da Police
mp3: Figurines - Ambush
mp3: Beastie Boys - Paul Revere
mp3: Cadence Weapon - Sharks
mp3: Radiohead - Just
mp3: The Roots - The Lesson Part 1
mp3: Gorillaz - Rock The House
mp3: Voxtrot - Rise Up In The Dirt
mp3: A Tribe Called Quest - Steve Biko (Stir It Up)
mp3: The Rosebuds - Unwind
mp3: Radiohead - Idioteque
mp3: Jurassic Five - What's Golden
mp3: The Lisps - Pepper Spray
mp3: Weezer - In The Garage
mp3: Nada Surf - Killian's Red
mp3: Pixies - Hey
mp3: Edan - Sing It Shitface
mp3: Beastie Boys - Get It Together
mp3: Boogie Down Productions - My Philosophy
mp3: Deltron 3030 - Madness
mp3: Neil Young - Heart Of Gold
mp3: Nirvana - Lounge Act
mp3: The Guess Who - These Eyes
mp3: Charizma & PB Wolf - Methods
mp3: Radiohead - Exit Music (For A Film)

image via

The Run Down - Saturday March 8, 2008

If I wasn't having my own party tonight, I would for sure be at the Rock and Roll Hotel. What more could you want from a line up including Jukebox The Ghost, Tereu Tereu, Bear Hands, and Modern Skirts? Or maybe you might want something like The Hives and The Donnas at the 9:30 club. Also in DC is Appomattox, Len Bias, and The Mussels at the Velvet Lounge. In Philly Jose Gonzalez plays the World Cafe Live. Finally you might want to consider Prabir & The Substitutes, Happy Anarchy, Orbit To Leslie, and OSO at The Fire in Philly. Have a great one!

mp3: Jukebox The Ghost - Good Day --> website --> buy
mp3: Tereu Tereu - Don't Be Sore, Farmer John --> website
mp3: Bear Hands - Bad Blood --> website --> buy
mp3: Prabir - This Little Heart Of Mine --> website --> buy
mp3: The Hives - Tick Tick Boom --> website --> buy
mp3: Appomattox - Gotta Run --> website --> buy
mp3: Jose Gonzalez - Heartbeats --> website --> buy

In The News - Mystery Jets, Portishead, Blockhead, & Among Wolves

Ahhh Mystery Jets. So much pop. So much energy. So much fun. So good. So they have a new single out Monday called Young Love. It's pretty darn good and the have a video for it right here:

Good ain't it?

mp3: Mystery Jets - Young Love --> website --> buy
mp3: Mystery Jets - Flakes
mp3: Mystery Jets - You Can't Fool Me Dennis (Justice Remix)

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If you're like me, you are super psyched about the new Portishead album coming out on April 29th on Mercury/Island. It's only been about a bazillion years since the last one. Hopefully it's good.

mp3: Bjork - Isobel (Portishead Remix)

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Speaking of music with the word 'head' in it, everybody's favorite DJ Blockhead has just posted a new remix of an old Nina Simone song on his myspace. Grab it up quick because apparently this will never be released. Never ever ever ever.

mp3: Blockhead - Nobody's Fault Remix --> website --> buy

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Finally our good friends Among Wolves are back in the studio recording a new album that hopefully will be out sometime this year. They've been posting some demos on their myspace and I have to say I like where they're going.

mp3: Among Wolves - The Lesson (demo) --> website --> buy

Just In Time For Airline

A couple of months ago I received an email from a band from Dallas Texas called Airline. They had some demo songs on their myspace and wanted to know what I thought. The first thing I said to myself was, "Airline? What kind of band name is that?" Curiosity then took over and I surfed on over to their site. Though the demos were rough (hence the term 'demo'), I really was taken by the four songs I heard. My ipod must of known this too, because it would always seem to play one of these demos every once and a while as if it was reminding me, "Don't forget about these guys!" Well...I didn't. They've just released their debut album, Farewell Republica, and I must say it's pretty sweet. It's really hard to believe this is their first album. The songs are superbly written and pack the emotional heat that keeps me interested all the way through. It's hard to pick out a highlight because every aspect is fairly polished (not over produced though). I could compare them to all sorts of prominent bands(Spoon, Wilco, The Shins, My Morning Jacket, Coldplay, Bends-era Radiohead), but this four piece really is standing on their own sound. You can find Airline playing various venues around Texas including this years SXSW. Hopefully they will come east soon. Right?

mp3: Airline - Denmark --> website --> buy
mp3: Airline - About To Bend

Friday (I'm A Remix)

So it's that glorious day again...and? Well for starters it's my birthday weekend, so I'm looking to celebrate a little more than usual today. I feel like making history! How? I dunno. I could always start a new catch phrase or slang...I mean Snoop did it, how hard could it be? Umm....uh...um... uh.... okay... I GOT ONE. Prolific. As in, "Man those shoes are prolific!" or "Damn, those beats are prolific!". Perhaps you could switch it around to a negative by saying, "Dude, your breath is prolific! Here's a tic tac." Well maybe I could have done better. Any suggestions. To get you thinking, here's some prolific remixes.

mp3: Memphis Bleek - Alright (Ratatat Remix)
mp3: Arcade Fire - Black Mirror (Andrew Maury Remix)
mp3: RJD2/Jay-Z - Dirt Off Your Shoulder (EL-P - Lazerface Remix)
mp3: Nas - Hope (Beirut Remix)

image via

The Run Down - Friday March 7, 2008

Friday is here at last and it brings a load of awesome acts. Here in Baltimore the Metro Gallery has a great show lined up with Panda Riot and Screen Vinyl Image. In DC, Sia plays the 9:30 club with Har Mar Superstar, and The Epochs play DC9 with Tigercirty. Finally in Philly you can check out Lightspeed Champion at the World Cafe Live or Drink Up Buttercup, Jukebox The Ghost, The Moneynotes, The modern Skirts, and Madi Diaz at The Khyber.
****UPDATE****
I've just received word that the Screen Vinyl Image/Panda Riot show at the Metro Gallery has been CANCELED. Dang!

mp3: Sia - Academia (with Beck) --> website --> buy
mp3: Drink Up Buttercup - Mr. Pie Eyes --> website
mp3: Jukebox The Ghost - Good Day --> website --> buy
mp3: The Epochs - Tug Of War --> website --> buy
mp3: Panda Riot - She Dares All Things --> website --> buy
mp3: Screen Vinyl Image - Chaser --> website --> buy
mp3: Lightspeed Champion - Galaxy Of The Lost --> website --> buy

Surrender To Appomattox

I'm not sure Appomattox is the music that will end wars (their name being the Virginia locale that the Civil War ended on), but it will definitely turn heads and spark ears. These three Brooklyn transplants play hard nosed indie rock that leaves nothing behind. Do you remember bands like Fugazi and Shudder To Think? Those bands pioneered an aggressive indie rock sound that I thought I would never hear again. Well Appomattox bring it back, but blend a resonating pop sound into it creating...well...something I haven't quite heard before. Nick Gaynier (vocals,guitar), Dave Nurmi (bass), and James Mello (drums) all come together (Voltron style) and put together songs that have inklings towards beautiful Pixies melodies. Then they smash those melodies apart with thundering rhythms and wild guitars...then some how they find themselves back at the melody again. It's definitely a trip worth taking. Appomattox's debut LP, A O, was just released on Brooklyn's Triple Down Records. They are also playing with Mussels at the Velvet Lounge in DC on March 8th before they head out for some shows at SXSW.

mp3: Appomattox - Attakk --> website --> buy
mp3: Appomattox - Too Slow

The Run Down - Thursday March 6, 2008

You can get a taste of Baltimore in Philly tonight by checking out The Courtesy Line at The Fire along with Ayundar and The Night Birds. In DC, the Cadence Weapon/Born Ruffians tour moves in to DC9 with US Royalty opening for them. Finally you can also check out Screen Vinyl Image and Julie Ocean at the Velvet Lounge in DC. Have a time to remember...or at least hazily remember.

mp3: The Courtesy Line - The Lake --> website
mp3: Screen Vinyl Image - Chaser --> website --> buy
mp3: Julie Ocean - At The Appointed Hour --> website
mp3: Born Ruffians - Hummingbird --> website --> buy
mp3: Cadence Weapon - In Search Of The Youth Crew --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Wednesday March 5, 2008

There's plenty of shows tonight to keep area fans happy indeed. First off in Baltimore, THE Cadence Weapon will be performing at the Ottobar with Born Ruffians and Food For Animals. In DC, Matt Costa and Jonathan Rice play the 9:30 club. Finally there are three great shows in Philly. At Johnny Brenda's you can check out the Stills. The Khyber has a great indieshoegazerelectro show with Panda Riot, Ports of Call, and The Coast. Finally the Fire has Spanish Prisoners, the Graboids, Northern Valentine, and Cheyenne.

mp3: The Stills - Retour A Vega --> website --> buy
mp3: Matt Costa - Cold December --> website --> buy
mp3: Born Ruffians - This Sentence Will Ruin, Save Your Life --> website --> buy
mp3: Cadence Weapon - Oliver Square --> website --> buy
mp3: Food For Animals - Swampy Summer Jam --> website --> buy
mp3: Panda Riot - Like Flowers At Night --> website --> buy
mp3: Spanish Priaoners - Some Among Them Are Killers --> website --> buy

VIDEO - The LK, TOUR UPDATES for The LK, Via Audio, and SSLYBY, & a REMIX of Apostle Of Hustle

The LK have recently released their first video for Stop Being Perfect off their recently released Vs. The Snow. Here's the vid:



They also have a US tour just about to get under way. Here are the dates:

03.08.08 - DC - House of Sweden
03.09.08 - DC - The Kennedy Center (free show at 6pm)
03.10.08 - Atlanta - Park Grounds
03.11.08 - Houston - Super Happy Fun Land
03.13.08 - Austin - Homeslice Pizza Day party
03.14.08 - Austin - Justin.TV Day Party at Peacock Lounge
03.15.08 - Austin - official SXSW kora showcase - Habana Calle 6
03.16.08 - Dallas - Good Records
03.17.08 - Little Rock - Easy Street Theater
03.18.08 - Urbana - UC Interactive Media Center
03.19.08 - Chicago - Darkroom
03.20.08 - Detroit - Scrummage University
03.21.08 - Pittsburgh - U of Pitt - W. Pitt Union's Assembly Room
03.22.08 - Cinci - Contemporary Arts Center
03.23.08 - Alfred, NY - Terra Cotta Coffee Shop
03.24.08 - Carlisle, PA - The 25-27 Space
03.25.08 - New York - Club Midway
03.27.08 - Baltimore - tba
03.31.08 - DC - Black Cat

mp3: The LK - Stop Being Perfect --> website --> buy

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In other news our friends Via Audio just clued us in that they are about to embark on a little spring tour with the amazing Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. Here are the dates:

04-12 Columbia, MO - The Blue Note
04-15 Indianapolis, IN - Locals Only
04-16 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
04-18 Toronto, Ontario - El Mocambo
04-19 Montreal, Quebec - TBA
04-20 Allston, MA - Great Scott
04-21 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall
04-22 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
04-23 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
04-24 Washington, DC - Black Cat Backstage
04-26 Charleston, SC - The Map Room
04-27 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
04-29 Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone Cafe

mp3: Via Audio - Modern Day Saint --> website --> buy
mp3: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Pangea --> website --> buy

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Also a few days ago Apostle of Hustle and Arts & Crafts put up a free download of a remix of 'Chances Are'. The original is off of National Anthem of Nowhere which we've posted about in the past. The remix was done by Jim Eno. Many of you might recognize him as the drummer of Spoon. The remix is pretty nice. I've always found that AOH remixes very well, perhaps due to the fact that the original song structures are so rhythmically sound. Enjoy!

mp3: Apostle Of Hustle - Chances Are (Remix by Jim Eno)

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

Toofer Toosday - The Muggabears & Bear Hands

The Muggabears are a trio from Brooklyn comprised of Travis Johnson on guitar and vocals, Emily Ambruso on bass, and Gabriel Wurzel on drums. They play a brand of music called noise pop, a genre that seems to be thrown around a lot these days. Sonic Youth pioneered this style and seemingly everything else pales in comparison to them. Well not anymore. The Muggabears do what most noise pop bands fail to do...and that's the pop side to it. They layer cacaphonic distorted guitars and wild sharp drums into fully realized and sometimes melodic pop songs. Their most recent EP, Night Choreography, is full of these rich strains that sit in your ears and echo through your mind. If you get a chance, check them out at SXSW later this month.

mp3: The Muggabears - The Goth Tarts --> website --> buy
mp3: The Muggabears - Automatic Others

Speaking of Brooklyn, there seems to be a lot of good music in that town. Who would have guessed? Another band that is consuming my musical rotation is Bear Hands, a four piece from Brooknam. They recently released a four song EP, Golden, that teases me with the short length, but satisfies every sense associated with great rock music. Dylan Rau on vocals/guitar, Ted Feldman on guitar, Val Loper on bass, and TJ Orscher on drums all form to make rhythmic catchy pop rock that doesn't concern itself with anything but getting you(the listener) to bob your head and sing along. The remind me of We Were Scientists in that sense. Forceful beats propel the songs, but Rau's pensive brooding lyrics and voice take it to the upper tiers of great indie rock. Bear Hands leave me with one question. When's the LP coming out? You can catch them at the Rock and Roll Hotel this Saturday on March 8th with Jukebox The Ghost, Tereu Tereu, and Modern Skirts (holy crap that's a friggin awesome show!).

mp3: Bear Hands - Long Lean Queen --> website --> buy
mp3: Bear Hands - Bad Blood

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

Random Randomness For A Random World

All alone at the helm, heaven in the backseat, I just had to die.

artwork by David Choe via Wooster Collective

The Run Down - Sunday March 2, 2008

There's not much going on 'round town tonight except for a super sweet band from Boston playing DC9 in DC. That's right, Tiny Whales takes the stage in all their electro new wave glory, so don't miss this one. They play with Abiku and Autorock.

mp3: Tiny Whales - Same Shoes --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Saturday March 1, 2008

There are some marvelous shows around town tonight. Here in Baltimore make sure to catch Abby Mott, Pulaski (CD Release), and The Jennifers at the Ottobar. In DC you might not want to miss Exit Clov, Dengue Fever, and Cordero at the Black Cat. If you're Philly bound, makes sure you stop at the Khyber to see Gildon Works, Beat Jams, The Tundra Toes, and The Sunshine Recorder. Finally if you happen to be in Skippack, PA(where ever that is), there is a quality show at the Village Coffeehaus with Sarsaparilla. Go have a good time.

mp3: Dengue Fever - Laugh Track --> website --> buy
mp3: Exit Clov - Violent Berries --> website --> buy
mp3: Abby Mott - Africa From Here --> website --> buy
mp3: Gildon Works - Artful Rifle --> website
mp3: Sarsaparilla - Sad Stars --> website