The Run Down - Friday February 15, 2008

There's not too many shows today, but the quality of the shows is awesome. First off, if you missed the Black Cat show a while back, you have another chance tonight to catch Yeasayer, MGMT, and the opener Fang Island at Johnny Brenda's. Of course if you don't have tickets, you're out of luck...sold out. Here in Baltimore, The Red Vines are having their CD release party (see our review here of the album) at the Golden West Cafe in Hampden along with Caleb Stine and the Brakemen and Small Sur. That should be pretty sweet. That's it!

mp3: MGMT - Boogie Down --> website --> buy
mp3: Yeasayer - Forgiveness --> website --> buy
mp3: Fang Island - The Landing --> website --> buy
mp3: The Red Vines - Puncturing Staples --> website --> buy
mp3: Caleb Stine and the Brakemen - Come Back Home --> website --> buy
mp3: Small Sur - Second Chances --> website

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 - Monday January 28, 2008

Shows on a Monday? Yep...and good ones too. Down in VA you can catch Middle Distance Runner, Ungdomskulen, and Lady In The Radiator at Jammin' Java. At Johnny Brenda's in Philly you might want to consider chcking out Mahjongg, Get Him Eat Him, and RunRunner. Finally at the Red and the Black in DC there's a great one in The Shackeltons, Raise Up Roofbeams, and Frenemies. Good times.

mp3: Middle Distance Runner - That's A Lie --> website --> buy
mp3: Mahjongg - Aluminum --> website --> buy
mp3: Get Him Eat Him - Exposure --> website --> buy
mp3: The Shackeltons - Your Movement --> website --> buy
mp3: Raise Up Roofbeams - Heavy Machine --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Thursday January 24, 2008

The good thing is if you missed any of last nights shows in the area, you can probably see the same ones at a different place nearby tonight. At the 9:30 club in DC Dj Shadow and Cut Chemist bring in the sequel to Brainfreeze with The Hard Sell. Here in Baltimore, the Ottobar has The Walkmen, White Rabbits, and the Subjects. Finally up in Philly at Johnny Brenda's there's Voodoo Economics, Cloud Miner, and Life In Bed.

mp3: DJ Shadow - Hardcore Hip-Hop (Instrumental) --> website --> buy
mp3: Cut Chemist - The Garden --> website --> buy
mp3: The Walkmen - Wake Up --> website --> buy
mp3: White Rabbits - The Plot --> website --> buy
mp3: Voodoo Economics - What if those heavy things cracked their brittle bones to the marrow --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Wednesday January 23, 2008

No plans for tonight? Well here's a few good options. Here in Baltimore Sonar has DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist's The Hard Sell performance with Kid Koala. I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty fantastic if you ask me. In DC, the Velvet Lounge has local hip hop acts Flex Mathews and Oddisee. Finally up in Philly, Johnny Brenda's has the kick butt show of The Walkmen, White Rabbits, and The Subjects.

mp3: DJ Shadow - Hindsight --> website --> buy
mp3: Cut Chemist - Storm (feat. Edan & Mr. Lif) --> website --> buy
mp3: Kid Koala - Stompin' At Le Savoi --> website --> buy
mp3: Flex Mathews - Up In My Room --> website --> buy
mp3: Oddisee - Once Upon A Mic --> website
mp3: The Walkmen - Subterranean Homesick Blues --> website --> buy
mp3: White Rabbits - Kid On My Shoulders --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Thursday January 17 ,2008

Holy Crap! There are a ridiculous amount of good shows tonight. Starting things off in Baltimore, Wye Oak plays the Talking Head with Hands and Knees and Small Sur. In DC, the Rock & Roll Hotel hosts The Rosebuds, Drug Rug, and Carol Bui. Finally in Philly, Johnny Brenda's has a good one in Aderbat, Bon Savants, An American Chinese, and Peasant. Go Music!

mp3: Wye Oak - Obituary --> website --> buy
mp3: Hands and Knees - The Day I Was A Horse --> website --> buy
mp3: Small Sur - Yosemite --> website --> buy
mp3: The Rosebuds - Unwind --> website --> buy
mp3: Drug Rug - Day I Die --> website --> buy
mp3: Aderbat - Come Love --> website --> buy
mp3: Bon Savants - Between The Moon & The Ocean --> website --> buy
mp3: An American Chinese - Panic Pilgrim, Quick Grab Your Suitcase --> website --> buy
mp3: Peasant - The Wind --> website --> buy

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

The Run Down - Friday January 4, 2008

If you want to be busy tonight, there are definitely plenty of options. Hopefully your first choice would be attending a fabulous art opening, Society Of Mary, at space 2640 (St. John's) on 27th and St. Paul in Baltimore. It's from 7-10 and features the assemblage work of April Wood, Claes Gabriel, Kelly Walker, Alyssa Dennis, Jed Digney, Outtama Tulachahn, Charlotte Benedetto, Kathy Fahey, Matthew Craft, Liz Kasameyer, Neilie Meyer, Laurent Hrybyk (that's me), David Cunningham, Chris Taylor, and Missing Eyes. There also be some great music there as well including Cakes Of Light, Violet Hour, Orion Rigel Dommisse, and Noble Lake. I hope to see you there. Also in Baltimore is a great show at the Lo-Fi Social Club with Savory James, Dirty Marmaduke Flute Squad, Wail Sounds, and Butane Variations. Finally if you head on up to Philly, you can check out Blood Feathers, The Cobbs, and Cowmuddy at Johnny Brenda's. Have a good one!

mp3: Orion Rigel Dommisse - Fake Yer Death --> website --> buy
mp3: Savory James - Sleep The Day Drive --> website --> buy
mp3: Butane Variations - Angels --> website --> buy
mp3: The Cobbs - Say You Never Knew Me --> website --> buy
mp3: Cowmuddy - Fire Warms Everyone --> website --> buy

The Run Down - Friday December 21, 2007

If you're like me, there's nothing a good show can't cure. The only problem is when there is multiple good shows on the same night. That's the case today. In Baltimore, home town heroes Lake Trout take on the Ottobar with Gunwife Gone and Cocos Palme. Down the road at the Talking Head, Judd and Maggie play with Water School, Steve Hefter & Friends of Friends, and Quick Step John. You couldn't ask for a better show at the Black Cat in DC where Hammer No More The Fingers take the stage with New Rock Church of Fire, Velvet(CD Release), and Mas Y Mas. Up in Philly at the North Star Bar a fantastic band called Small Town Fires plays the North Star Bar with Evro, Betty Iron Thumbs, and Somerset Project. Finally also in Philly Brown Recluse Sings plays Johnny Brenda's with The Neighborhood Choir, Hermit Thrushes, Surefire Broadcast, and DJ Kyle Intensified. Enjoy!

mp3: Lake Trout - Sounds From Below --> website --> buy
mp3: Judd & Maggie - Hunger --> website --> buy
mp3: Water School - Whole Town --> website --> buy
mp3: Hammer No More The Fingers - Fall Down, Play Dead --> website --> buy
mp3: Small Town Fires - Pink Pixels --> website --> buy
mp3: Brown Recluse Sings - Rainy Saturday --> website --> buy

The Run Down, Saturday December 8, 2007

If you re looking to see some great local music then tonight's the night. In DC, the great Bellman Barker take the stage at the Party Pit along with the many sounds of These Elk Forever and 5acrosstheeyes2k. In Philadelphia at Johnny Brenda's, treat your ears to some great all around pop music from B.C. Camplight, Audible, Buried Beds, and Girl Friday. Finally in Arlington, Virginia you can check out DC's Greenland who plays the Galaxy Hut with Twin Earth.

mp3: Bellman Barker - In Their Defense --> website --> buy
mp3: These Elk Forever - Pink Lights --> website --> buy
mp3: B.C. Camplight - Blood and Peanut Butter --> website --> buy
mp3: Audible - Sunday Bell --> website --> buy
mp3: Buried Beds - Insomnia --> website --> buy
mp3: Girl Friday - If You Are --> website --> buy
mp3: Greenland - Solace In The Sea --> website --> buy

I'm Going To Tulsa

Tulsa, a dynamic duo from Massachusetts, pours their heart and soul into their latest release on Park The Van Records, I Was Submerged. Carter Tanton and Eric Wormwood have put together a collection of songs that roll in like fog on the water. They sit with you and marinate as you listen to the light melodies and reverbed vocals, leaving you feeling a touch of melancholy, but mostly satisfaction. I've heard a lot of people compare them to My Morning Jacket and Band of Horses. I thought they sounded a bit like Rogue Wave on first listen. Really they just have a great sound. Tulsa is a place everyone should visit, and I think they will.

mp3: Tulsa - Shaker --> website --> buy
mp3: Tulsa - Rafter

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After the wave of good shows yesterday, it's hard to believe there is more today. Be sure to check out Baltimore's own Celebration at Johnny Brenda's in Philly along with Dragons of Zynth.

mp3: Celebration - China --> website --> buy