Instrumental Analysis

Add your own adjective to finish off the title (plus it ties in nicely with a little gem later). Snow, ice, rain and damn cold weather can’t keep this fine weekend of music away. Lots of talent from the region and elsewhere are out and about. Here is what’s happening.

Friday

The XPN Free at Noon session does it again and brings Annuals to the World Cafe for your lunchtime listening pleasure. The North Carolina band is also out with another new disc, Such Fun. If you can’t make it to University City, head to Johnny Brenda’s later for a great line-up featuring Jessica Lea Mayfield and Arizona natives that blend all sorts of styles into their songs What Laura Says.

Finishing out their week long residency at the 9:30 Club is the electronic mainstays and DC’s own Thievery Corporation. If you are in the District either Friday or Saturday, I highly recommend seeing this show.

The folks over at Aural States have put together quite a collection of the best Baltimore has to offer. 2 stages at Sonar and Talking Head feature the likes of Arbouretum, Wye Oak, Imperial China, Caverns and many more. Check here for the full details.

I know a few of our writers who are salivating over this show. Swedish sensation Lykke Li is hitting Philly and DC in turn, first at the First Unitarian then 6th & I Synagogue Saturday. Philly show is already sold out as is the DC show. If you don’t have your tickets already, you know how to get them, but please be discrete.

mp3: Annuals – Confessor
mp3: Arbouretum – Buffalo Ballet (via Aural States)
mp3: Wye Oak – Warning
mp3: Imperial China – There Is No Translation
mp3: Caverns – Brodown High Noon (via Aural States)
mp3: Lykke Li – Little Bit

Saturday/Sunday

Only a few one night shows close out the week, plus my boys in Black & Gold are playing in some kind of sports game Sunday that will have most of the area in its grasp.

At the 941 Theater in Philly, local acts come out to play. With a new album out in the UK and coming soon to our shores, BC Camplight takes the stage with his own brand of sugary 60s infused pop. More retro indie pop from The Bye Byes and Surefire Broadcast round out the bill.

The Rock & Roll Hotel is hosting Nashville band American Bang, their own show while in between dates opening for The Pretenders along with a few DC natives. One of our favorites Telograph is back at it with Cobra Collective as well as Pittsburgh band Triggers.

One lone show to tell you about on Sunday. The Fire in Philly has a great line-up of singer-songwriters featuring local Matthew Landis, Chicago’s Anna Vogelzang and Christine Lyons. Also on stage will be Philly group Papertrees.

mp3: BC Camplight – Hide, Run Away
mp3: The Bye Byes – Binoculars
mp3: Surefire Broadcast – Let It Snow (get the title of the post now?)
mp3: Telograph – The Fever
mp3: Cobra Collective – Hannibal at the Gates
mp3: Anna Vogelzang – Twisted (live)

With his Tom Waits-y vocals over lazy violins and weathered banjos, Don Chambers and GOAT stroll into DC this week. As I automatically love and wholeheartedly support anyone who can even look at a banjo in an adoring manner, Chambers’ ability to play has me all wound up and ready for what is rumored to be quite a show. As one might expect in such an Americana-based act, you can look forward to plenty of music detailing the fighting of devils and the wading of waters. A good mix of gospel and secular, look for Chambers playing all over the place this year and check out “Highwater” below.

1/27 Velvet Lounge Washington, DC

mp3: Highwater

Another week, another mix with lots of new music ranging from electro-pop to country. If you are still partying from the events earlier in the week or are just ready for a great weekend, this music will get you through. Enjoy.

Asobi Seksu – Familiar Light
De Rosa – Nocturne For An Absentee
We Swim You Jump – Sparks Fade Out
Brandtson – Earthquakes and Sharks
The Whitest Boy Alive – Island
Favours For Sailors – I Dreamt That I Dreamt That You Loved Me
The Phantom Band – Burial Sounds
Reigns – Everything Beyond These Walls Have Been Razed
Aiden Moffat – Big Blonde
Willie Heath Neal – Out of Highway

All the holidays are long over, the madness that was DC earlier this week has passed and I have finally situated myself into a new apartment and secured an internet connection. Now I can get you the low down on what to check out this weekend in the IA area. Not much on the multi-stop front. Most already played elsewhere earlier this week or are coming soon to your town.  That said, there are plenty of shows worth seeing.

Friday

WXPN time and time again brings great music to Philly. This Friday is no exception. Not just playing one show, but two at the World Cafe is DeVotchka. See them for free on your lunch break at the Free at Noon session, then come back later for the evening show. The Denver-based foursome unload their violin, sousaphone, trumpet and more for what is to be a great show. And if you haven’t got their latest release, A Mad and Faithful Telling, get it now.

mp3: You Love Me

Southern Rock comes north again as Athens, Georgia band Drive-By Truckers hit Towson and the Recher Theater.

mp3: Puttin’ People on the Moon

Jukebox the Ghost is out and about once again, this time at my home for four years, Ursinus College. Joining them is Boston group Pretty & Nice. These two have joined forces before and it should be a great show. All you current students and those near Collegeville, get there.

mp3: Jukebox the Ghost – Good Day
mp3: Pretty & Nice – Tora Tora Tora

DC is still basking in the glow of Tuesday. If you have finally come up from the post-party hangover, there are a few places to check out. Philly’s Hoots & Hellmouth head south to join up with DC locals Junior League and self proclaimed Irish Rock Extravaganza O’Tasty at the Black Cat.

Bryan Scary & The Shredding Tears have been getting a lot of buzz lately. But everyone says the live shows are what get you hooked. Check them out with Bottles/Cans at the Rock & Roll Hotel to see and hear for yourself.

Over at Dahlak, a couple more locals take the stage with The Caribbean and Mittenfield.

And not to be left out, Baltimore has a good show as a couple of out-of-towners play the Ottobar. New York’s Longwave and Oklahomans Colourmusic hit the stage with Baltimore’s own The Payola Reserve.

Philly has a few good shows in town as well. The North Star is hosting The Honey Brothers, who have a drummer that you may know as Vinny Chase.  They are joined by New Yorkers Xylos and Philly’s The Major Leagues.

The Naked Hearts, out in support of their new release, and The Antlers, set to release a new album in March, are playing The Fire.  While out on the Main Line, Pawnshop Roses and Justin Jones play an intimate show at the Ardmore location of Milkboy Coffee.

mp3: Hoots & Hellmouth – Rattle These Bones
mp3: Junior League – I Will
mp3: Bryan Scary & The Shredding Tears – The Zero Light
mp3: Bottles/Cans – Tabitha Calhoun
mp3: The Caribbean – The Go From Tactical
mp3: Longwave – Sirens In The Deep Sea
mp3: Colourmusic – Put In A Little Gas
mp3: The Payola Reserve – Music Is Not Music
mp3: Xylos – In The Bedroom
mp3: The Major Leagues – Fire
mp3: The Antlers – Bear
mp3: Justin Jones – Lie to Me

Saturday

A little bit lighter on the entertainment Saturday, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing to see. Hoots & Hellmouth are heading back towards home and playing the Chester County Historical Society, while Colourmusic is leaving Baltimore and heading to Alrington for a show at IOTA with local musician Ammar Malik.

DC has two great shows. Coming down from New York to the Rock & Roll Hotel is Via Audio. And coming up from Athens to meet them is Modern Skirts. This should be a killer show. And over at DC9, locals dominate as Black & White Jacksons share the bill with Ra Ra Rasputin and Loose Lips.

Up in Philly at the M Room, an intersting line-up featuring San Francisco’s Magic Christian along with Philly locals Blessed Muthas and The Midnight Beat and Central PAs Parallax Project. Over a few blocks at The Fire, catch something a bit more mellow as The Loom and Sisters 3 perform.

mp3: Via Audio – We Can Be Good
mp3: Modern Skirts – New York Song
mp3: Black & White Jacksons – Racing Horse
mp3 : Sisters 3 – Bermuda Triangle

Sunday

Sunday is all Philly. If you haven’t heard already, legend Vic Chestnutt has teamed up with fellow Athenians Elf Power and created a new album. Now they are taking it on the road. See them at the North Star, a great small venue for up close and personal viewing. If you missed them in DC or New York recently, get to Philly and see this show.

Expect a big turnout at the TLA for Chicago artist Andrew Bird, on tour in support of his hot off the presses Noble Beast.

mp3: Vic Chestnutt/Elf Power – Full Album Stream

This week saw first big release day of 2009. The long awaited Animal Collective album is out, as well as new ones from Bon Iver, Andrew Bird and even Matt & Kim. There is an astounding number of great releases so take some time to look over the long list and enjoy some new music.

Animal Collective

Merriweather Post Pavilion – “My Girls” & Full Album Stream

Cut Off Your Hands

You & I – “Turn Cold” & Full Album Stream

Or The Whale

Light Poles and Pines – “Call and Response“

Matt & Kim

Grand – Full Album Stream

E.Joseph and The Phantom Heart (Bmore)

All The Medicine In The World

Kyle Andrews

Real Blasty – “Sushi“

Andrew Bird

Noble Beast - “Fitz and the Dizzyspells“

Anya Marina

Slow & Steady Seduction, Phase II – Full Album Stream

The 1900s

Medium High EP – “Age of Metals“

A.C. Newman

Get Guilty – “Submarines of Stockholm” & Full Album Stream

Six Organs of Admittance

RTZ – “Resurrection“

Psychic Ills

Mirror Eye – “Fingernail Tea“

Bon Iver

Blood Bank EP – “Blood Bank” & Full Album Stream

Coconut Records

Davy – Full Album Stream

Modern Skirts

All Of Us In Our Own Night – “Soft Pedals” & Full Album Stream

Blue Giant

Target Heart EP – “Target Heart“

Roger O’Donnell

Songs From The Silver Box – “Tiny Pieces of You“

J. Tillman

Vacilando Territory Blues – “Steel on Steel“

Fiction Family

Fiction Family – “When She’s Near” & Full album Stream

Ladyfinger

Dusk – “Little Things“

Robert Pollard

The Crawling Distance – “Imaginary Queen Anne“

Titus Andronicus

The Airing of Grievances – “Titus Andronicus“

Gin Wigmore

Extended Play - “These Roses“

Antony and the Johnsons

The Crying Light – Full Album Stream

It’s going to be a cold weekend and what better way to warm up than staying inside and listening to great music? Be safe and enjoy the weekend.

Toubab Krewe – Autorail
Home Video – I Can Make You Feel It
Public Service Announcers – Beat Totem (Forest Floor Remix)
Bearries – Killing Time (FIGURE Remix)
Frankie Knuckles x Animal Collective – Your Love My Girls
Mason Proper – Love Lockdown Gets Innocuous
Francois Virot – Casscade Kisses
French Kicks – So Far We Are
Port O’Brien – I Woke Up Today
Midlake – Young Bride

Bonus: Ruby Isle – Skinny Love (Bon Iver Cover)

Photo By Gregory Keith
Philly electro rockers, Tigersapien, are releasing a new EP and they have decided to release it in pieces through some of their favorite sites. For round 2, they have sent out “God Knows” from the EP and the Designer Drugs remix of “Youth & Vitality.” The band had this to say:

“So, this week we have another double dose… a wicked Designer Drugs remix of “Youth & Vitality” as well as “God Knows” from our EP.

When Michael and Theo first sent us the remix, we pretty much flipped out. It’s a badass tune and different from most of their other stuff. A little bit angrier and really different from the original. As a matter of fact, we sent them as few bits from the original tune as we could get away with. We wanted a totally different spin on it and those boys delivered.

“God Knows” is, like, a really blatant song about sleazy sexual intercourse with loose women. The breakdown is one of our favorite parts of the entire EP. Tom Kee at Shotgun Audio got the guitars sounding lovely. This one is a bit more rock and roll…

At the moment, we are in the practice room getting the live set super tight. We will be playing shows really soon, so look out for that. We are also writing a single (or two?) with Michael and Tom from Shotgun. So, I mean, that shit is gonna be bonkers. Stay tuned, y’all.”

mp3: God Knows
mp3: Youth & Vitality (Designer Drugs Remix)

Our good friends from New York, Murder Mystery, just sent over their new single “The World.” Produced by the band and mixed by Roger Moutenot (Yo La Tengo, Lou Reed), it continues the evolution of their dreamy pop sound that was initially demonstrated on Are You Ready for the Heartache Cause Here it Comes in 2007. The band has been pretty quiet on the touring front, just sticking to shows close to home, but they should be making it south in the near future. Having hosted them at our CMJ party last fall, we look forward to it.

mp3: The World

The first full week of 2009 and the weather pretty much matched everyone’s feelings on the subject. I am headed up north in search of snow this weekend, but I leave you with some music that will hopefully have you forgetting the weather and enjoying yourselves.

Peter Broderick – And It’s Alright
School of Seven Bells – Iamundernodisguise
Ambulance Ltd – Stay Where You Are
Secret Machines – Now You’re Gone
Mobius Band – Hallie
Autodrone – Strike A Match
Ladyhawke – Magic
Ruby Isle – White Winter Hymnal (Fleet Foxes Cover)
CFCF – Crystal Mines
Miniature Tigers – Cannibal Queen

Keeping up with the trend of pretty much everyone sending us new music this week, DC’s hottest new band of 2008, U.S. Royalty, sent over a new track, a remix (by Ayad from Passion Pit) and an oldie from their debut EP. They will be touring all over the place during the early part of the year and you’ll have several opportunities to catch them regionally. Also keep an eye out for a new EP in the near future.

1/10: IOTA, Arlington, VA w/ Telograph
1/15: Black Cat, Washington, DC w/ Nightmare of You and Bottle Up & Go
1/16: Sonar, Baltimore, MD w/ Nightmare of You and Bottle Up & Go
1/23: Olde Club, Swarthmore, PA, DC w/ Bottle Up & Go

mp3: Rats
mp3: Raincoats
mp3: Keep It Cool (Bo Flex Remix)