The Run Down - Friday May 2, 2008 - UPDATED

Edit: The Velocipede Bike Project show just got a lot cooler. Abby Mott and Baby Teeth are now on the bill, after the unfortunate Metro Gallery cancellation. Woo.

This is a super packed day for events. Here in Baltimore be sure to check out a great art opening down at Velocipede Bike Project that features the work of Alyssa Dennis, Charlotte Benedetto, David Cunningham, Kathy Fahey, Laurent Hrybyk, and Orlando Johnson. There will also be a performance by Yeveto. After that you can head right next store to Metro Gallery and catch the one and only Protomen or across from that you can swing by the Charles for the Maryland Film Festival.

Maybe you might want to travel a bit more downtown to the Talking Head for Abby Mott and Baby Teeth EDIT: (The Talking Head has had to cancel this show).... or trek over to Charm City Art Space for Caleb Stine, Among Wolves, Beans, Lost Thoughts, and Heavy Hangs The Head. In DC the Black Cat has The Kills and Telepathe while the Velvet Lounge has Hammer No More The Fingers, New Rock Church Of Fire, Caverns, and Black and White Jacksons. In Philly the Millcreek Tavern has Gildon Works, Cheers Elephant and a new favorite, Meowskers while the Khyber has The Acorn.

mp3: The Kills - No Wow (MSTRKRFT Remix)
mp3: The Acorn - Blankets
mp3: Hammer No More The Fingers - Fall Down, Play Dead
mp3: Gildon Works - Fourth But First
mp3: Meowskers - Colors That Lie!
mp3: Among Wolves - Hard To Die
mp3: Baby Teeth - Snake Eyes
mp3: Abby Mott - Aphrodite

The Run Down - Saturday April 26, 2008

Welcome to a great Saturday of shows. Here in Baltimore, don't miss Among Wolves at Frazier's on the Avenue in Hampden. Or head north to Towson, MD to see The Roots tear down the Recher Theatre. In DC, Jimmy Eat World take on Bender Arena, while the B-52s take out the 9:30 club with Eagle Seagull, and Five Four take over the Rock and Roll Hotel with Hello Tokyo and The Frustrations. In Philly, the Fillmore has Drink Up Buttercup, Poi Dog, and Abra Moore, while Johnny Brenda's has the A-Sides, The Explorers Club, and The Sw!ms.

mp3: Jimmy Eat World - Blister --> website --> buy
mp3: Drink Up Buttercup - Young Ladies --> website --> buy
mp3: The Roots - Black's Reconstruction --> website --> buy
mp3: Among Wolves - The Lesson --> website --> buy

Rolling Stone Gets In On It

I'm not an avid reader of Rolling Stone, but when they have their little lists they like to put together I usually take a gander so I can be one of those people that argues with a speechless magazine. This months edition chronicles 2008's best so far. My Morning Jacket, Radiohead, Vampire Weekend, etc. Low and behold guess who the Best Scene belongs to....BALTIMORE. Yes, apparently thanks to the success of Dan Deacon and Wham City combined with the growing number of indie acts, good ole Charm City has gained some props from the 'big media'. I can't really disagree, partly because we're based in Baltimore, but mainly because there's some great music coming out of here. Tons of variety....indie, folk, hardcore, club, electronic, experimental...screamo. Dan Deacon, Celebration, Animal Collective, The Death Set, Wye Oak, Double Dagger, and Among Wolves (one of our faves) just to name a few. Sure Baltimore isn't perfect (with all the crime and all), but hey, at least we've got a scene. Here's the article.

mp3: Among Wolves - Baltimore
mp3: Dan Deacon - Wham City
mp3: The Death Set - Selective Memories
mp3: Celebration - Lost Souls
mp3: Animal Collective - Did You See The Words?
mp3: Wye Oak - Orchard Fair

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

In (brief) Review - Among Wolves @ 8x10 - January 30

Our Pastappreciation (yeah, I made that up) for Among Wolves has been well documented HERE and HERE, so I'm just gonna give you some quick hits from their 8x10 show last night:

~ Billy Tiedeken is a trooper. He has been fighting laryngitis for two weeks, but still tried his best to make it through the set. Sadly, he lost the battle with his throat.

~ These guys clearly love playing together. They constantly joke and laugh. It's refreshing to see a band that really likes playing shows.

~ Among Wolves pulls off the mid-set band member switcheroo (that's a technical term) better then any band I've ever seen. Jason Butcher sings like his life depends on it.

~ I like doing quick hits. Take your "paragraph structure" and shove it! I didn't like you anyway!

Mp3: Among Wolves - Baltimore ---- 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 - Among Wolves & Others @ Lo-Fi 1/12/07

The Lo-Fi Social Club rests precariously between North Avenue and the Charles Theater. Being comprised of two row homes, the Lo-Fi brings a comfy and relaxed atmosphere with artwork and couches to peak your interest in between drinking and listening to music. It also hosted a wondrous show last night where indie pop rock blended seamlessly with blues, folk, and country music. The Red Vines led off the night with music that is comparable to indie legends Wilco. Featuring the drummer from Among Wolves, The Red Vines laid out a great set (with a trombone even) of prepossessing alt/country/folk/pop gems. After that, the audience was surprised to find an additional act that wasn't even on the bill. Justin Collins rolled in from Nashville with his guitar and a purpose - to astound listeners with his powerful 50s rock and roll voice. Seriously...he was marvelous. Abby Mott followed with a sound that I was unprepared for and, frankly, taken aback for a few moments. Mott has a tremendous voice that some might compare to others (Neko Case maybe), but shouldn't. Her songs were...how do I say it...the bee's knees...no no...treasures...yes that'll do. Pop treasures with a country song in there for good measure. Following Abby Mott, The Courtesy Line played. Short their lead guitarist due to a death in the family, TCL strung out a series of quality folk pop tunes. The real bonus came today when I popped their recently recorded demo into the old player. The tracks were superbly written and almost had the old Death Cab For Cutie sound going. Closing the night was Among Wolves. The crowd had thinned much by this time of the night (WHY?!!!) which is a shame, because AW put on the best performance of the night. Their music is fresh and unheard of in my mind. Who can blend experimental indie pop rock with synthesizers seamlessly with straight up country rock? Among Wolves. They threw it down, even throwing a Johnny Cash cover into the mix when they did the band member switch-a-roo (bass player played drums-piano player played bass- drummer played lead guitar and sang). If you get a chance, please go check them out...they put on a show that is worth every cent.

mp3: Among Wolves - Baltimore --> website --> buy
mp3: The Courtesy Line - The Lake --> website
mp3: Abby Mott - Wild Desire --> website --> buy
mp3: Justin Collins - Sweet Misery --> website --> buy
mp3: The Red Vines - Once --> website --> buy

Among WolvesThe Red Vines
Abby Mott
Justin Collins
The Courtesy Line

The Run Down - Saturday January 12, 2008

There are two shows that should satisfy your musical hunger tonight. In Baltimore, The Lo-Fi Social Club plays host to Among Wolves, The Courtesy Line, Red Vines, and Abby Mott. All you Philadelphians are in for a treat because Ravens and Vultures, Dragons of Zynth, and Ape School are rocking Johnny Brenda's tonight. Good times.

mp3: Among Wolves - Queen of England --> website --> buy
mp3: The Courtesy Line - Goodnight Goodbye --> website
mp3: Ravens and Vultures - Willow Song --> website --> buy

Toofer Toosday - Squaaks & Among Wolves

Squaaks is a B-more band that might seem like standard indie rock on first listen, but when you get closer to it you realize, there's something a little twisted going on. That's the good part. Squaaks is a band bred out of art school, a four track, and a wurlitzer, but soon grew into brash guitars and pop melodies. They remind me of bands like AM/FM. You think you're going to hear the standard pop tunes all the way through, but Squaaks tweaks their sound a little on each song leaving you off balance, but craving more. They're risk takers...and it pays off in the end. In 2007 they released Rock Control on Flatmeat Records. I suggest you go get it!

mp3: Squaaks - Two Hippies --> website--> buy
mp3: Squaaks - Be Dry My Bleeding Heart

Speaking of risk takers...enter Among Wolves. They're a folk-alt-country-pop-experimental band from Baltimore. I know you're looking at that description and saying WTF, but you can't really narrow these guys down any more. Here's my take. It's as if the Allman Brothers were travelin' west on a prairie wagon with their standard instruments to play. Along the way they picked up a theremin, short wave radios, casio keyboards, toys, and synthesizers. Then they reinvented themselves by playing Beach Boys songs for the rest of the trip. Basically Among Wolves has a strong grasp of the history of American music and can pretty much play it all. Instead of it sounding like mush, they blend it seamlessly into a unique modern style that should earn them acclaim in the future. Among Wolves is playing the Lo-Fi Social Club this Saturday along with The Courtesy Line, the Red Vines, and Abby Mott. Go...be...among wolves.

mp3: Among Wolves - Seems To Me --> website --> buy
mp3: Among Wolves - Love Pt. 7

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Hey, if you're looking for good show to see tonight in Philly, check out Cheers Elephant, Small Flightless Birds, The Feathertops, and Peasant at the Khyber. Should be good!

mp3: Cheers Elephant - Wide Eyed
mp3: Peasant - The Wind

The Run Down, Thursday December 6, 2007

It's cold and snowy here in Baltimore, but don't let that stop you from seeing some really good shows. At the Ottobar here in town, Redheaded Temper is up for rockingalong with The Blackjacks, The Izzy's, and, a new fave of mine, Among Wolves. If you are missing the hip hop in your life, then it doesn't get much better than Peanut Butter Wolf's B-Ball Zombie War tour which makes a stop in DC at the Black Cat. Featuring Madlib, J Rocc, and Percee P, it's sure to be a dynamite show!

mp3: Red Headed Temper - The Smell Of Fear --> website
mp3: Among Wolves - Baltimore --> website --> buy
mp3: Peanut Butter Wolf - Casio --> website --> buy
mp3: Madlib - Mystic Bounce --> website --> buy
mp3: Percee P - Reverse Part 2 --> website --> buy
mp3: PB Wolf - Legendary Lyricist Pt. 2 feat. J Rocc & Percee P