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

VIDEO - Headlights & Meligrove Band

Here's two fine new videos for your viewing pleasure. The first is Cherry Tulips by Headlights. It was directed by Julian Acosta and is filled with beautiful music, chairs, and of course floating tulips.



mp3: Headlights - Cherry Tulips

The next video is for Our Love Will Make The World Go Round by Meligrove Band. Directed and animated by Mike White this vid takes me back to the days when Saturday Morning cartoons were awesome even if they were on at 6am. The song is pretty awesome too.



mp3: Meligrove Band - Our Love Will Make The World Go Round

SASQUATCH! 2008

If you aren't able to swing the other big festivals going on this year, maybe this one will get you going. The SASQUATCH! Music Festival of Washington State has just announced the line up, the dates, and a pre sale. It's from May 24-26th (Memorial Day Weekend). Here's the line up:

R.E.M. / The Cure / The Flaming Lips U.F.O. Show / Death Cab For Cutie / Modest Mouse / M.I.A. / Flight Of The Conchords / Rodrigo Y Gabriela / Michael Franti & Spearhead / The Breeders / Built To Spill / The Hives / The Kooks / Tegan & Sara / Ghostland Observatory / Ozomatli / The New Pornographers / Blue Scholars / The National / Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks / Cold War Kids / Beirut / Rogue Wave / Okkervil River / Fleet Foxes / Kinski / Mates of State / Sera Cahoone / Crudo (featuring Mike Patton & Dan The Automator) / Battles / Destroyer / Dyme Def / The Blakes / Pela / Jamie Lidell / The Cops / Dengue Fever / Siberian / Say Hi / White Rabbits / David Bazan / The Little Ones / "Awesome" / Dead Confederate / The Heavenly States / 65daysofstatic / Grand Archives / Vince Mira with the Roy Kay Trio / Joshua Morrison / Throw Me The Statue / J. Tillman / The Shaky Hands / Thao Nguyen with the Get Down Stay Down / Matt Costa / The Cave Singers

Pretty sweet huh? Pre sale begins on March 8th here. On that weekend single day tickets are only $56.50 and three day packages are $154.50. After the 10th it's $66.50 per day. Or if you've got money simply falling out of your pockets you could buy a pair of VIP super tickets(only sold in pairs) for $750 per person granting you V.I.P. access, beer and wine, a buffet, a poster, a t-shirt, a bag, and private seating next to the sound board. Again this line up is pretty good, and if it were not for the fact that it's on the opposite side of the United States from me, I would definitely consider going.

mp3: Modest Mouse - Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes
mp3: M.I.A. - Paper Planes (Remix)
mp3: The Flaming Lips - Mr. Ambulance Driver
mp3: Death Cab For Cutie - Title And Registration
mp3: Built To Spill - Still Flat
mp3: Rogue Wave - Catform
mp3: Okkervil River - For Real
mp3: New Pornographers - These Are The Fables

The Run Down - Friday February 29, 2008

It's Friday and holy crap there's some main events toooonight! At George Washington University you can witness Via Audio and Tigercity. In Philly the Khyber has Bell Hollow's CD Release show with The Deadly Syndrome (seriously check these guys out), Apple of Dischord, and Red Orange Morning. In Virginia you can spy Junior League playing IOTA with High Society. In DC, at the Black Cat, Food For Animals, Apes (CD Release), and Kid Congo Powers battle it out on stage. Finally at the Red and The Black don't miss this show!!! One part The Lisps, one part Vandaveer, one part Audrey Ryan, makes a whole heck of an awesome show. Enjoy!

mp3: Food For Animals - Swampy Summer Jam --> website --> buy
mp3: Bell Hollow - Storm's End --> website --> buy
mp3: The Deadly Syndrome - Emily Pants --> website --> buy
mp3: The Lisps - Brackish Water --> website --> buy
mp3: Vandaveer - Crooked Mast --> website --> buy
mp3: Junior League - Nameless --> website --> buy
mp3: Via Audio - We Can Be Good --> website --> buy

Friday (I'm A Remix)

So...this week sped by quick...I think...I'll slow...it down...with a little...something...I call...dot...dot...dot...similar...to...yada...yada...yada...but...with the intention...of...reflecting on the week...that just...passed...by...I just read...that a man...was cured of blindness...by using his...son's tooth...they drilled.. a hole... in it... and...inserted a lens...through which...he now...sees...it's...called...Osteo-Odonto-Keratoprosthesis...or...OOKP...what have you...heard...lately?

mp3: Tegan & Sara - Back In Your Head (Tyler Fedchuk Remix)
mp3: Hot Chip - Just Like We Break Down (DFA Remix)
mp3: The Knife - Pass This On (M.A.N.D.Y. Remix)
mp3: Thom Yorke - Skip Divided (Modeselektor Remix)

image via Other

Beck Video, Joe Beats Tour, & Thrushes Remixed

Beck's got a great new video for Timebomb. Check it out.


mp3: Beck - Timebomb

Bonus crazy cool mashup of Timebomb and M.I.A.

mp3: The Illuminoids - BOY BOMB (Beck Vs. M.I.A.)

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One of our favorite DJs, Joe Beats, has announced a new tour. Here's the dates:

• March 24th -----Orlando, FL ---------WPRK (RADIO)
• March 27th -----Jacksonville, FL -----Club TSI
• March 28th -----Orlando, FL ---------Park Ave CD's (INSTORE)
• March 28th -----Orlando, FL ---------The Peacock Room
• March 29th -----Gainesville, FL ------Common Grounds
• April 1st --------Washington, DC ----- DC Nine
• April 2nd -------Annapolis, MD -------Kyma
• April 3rd -------Albany, NY ---------- Stone Crow
• April 4th -------Boston, MA ---------- Lizard Lounge
• April 5th -------Providence, RI -------AS220

mp3: Joe Beats - Black Heart

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Finally, our local friends Thrushes recently gave news of a Heartbeats remix album coming out shortly. You can actually go vote for the remix you like the most over at senbaltimore.com. Do it now!

mp3: Thrushes - Heartbeats