Last Second Thoughts

The Beasties Make Some Noise

2011-04-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

Beastie Boys - Make Some Noise - Free Music Videos - Top Songs

Lovin' the new Beastie Boys first video off of their upcoming album Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2. It's a virtual star-fest, with a crazy ensemble of actors getting together for the old-school flavored track, "Make Some Noise." Elijah Wood as a young Ad-Rock? Winning!

"Got My Knives and My Heart Up My Sleeves..."

2011-04-21T19:22:00.002-04:00

Former Metro-area indie-poppers Jukebox the Ghost return to DC this Saturday, April 23rd, at the Black Cat. Yeah, the band is made up of three guys, but they’re not the typical “power trio” line-up, having ditched the usual bass for a piano. And it works quite nicely, thank you very much. Their newest album, Everything Under the Sun, is a remarkably catchy slice of herky-jerky piano pop, and they're is able to deftly shift between bouncy rave-ups (“The Popular Thing”) and sweeping grandiosity (“So Let Us Create”) without losing a sense of melody and hooks.

I Burned Down A Picture of a House…

2011-04-14T19:24:00.002-04:00

Singer/songwriter Robert Francis was an unexpected surprise last night, opening up for KT Tunstall. He took the stage by himself, looking pretty scraggly, wearing a shirt that looked like it’d been on his back for five days straight. But no matter, as soon as he started playing, that was forgotten. Even with just a guitar, his songs packed an intimate emotional punch, kind of like Joseph Arthur, and his raspy voice was able to soar or dive into grittiness, depending on what was needed.

I’d never heard of him before, but apparently he does a lot of touring in Europe, and he does pretty well there. “I’ve got, like, a number one hit in France, but when I come home I sleep on my parents’ floor,” he said. “They’ve painted my room pink…And filled it with stuffed animals.”

I'd definitely like to see him again, especially accompanied by the six-piece band he usually tours with.

Meredith Is A Man

2011-03-10T20:50:00.001-05:00

The title of this post clears up the most confusing thing about singer/songwriter Meredith Bragg. With that issue out of the way, you’re free to enjoy his lo-fi pop goodness on tracks such as the gorgeous “Next Time.” With vocals that exhibit a Ben Gibbard-esque fragile melancholy, Bragg’s songs fall in the vein of Elliott Smith and Joshua Radin. If you like what you hear, Meredith Bragg will be playing with a full band for the first time several years next Monday, March 14th at Black Cat.

Is It Love? No, It’s Valentine’s Day With Whitesnake!

2011-02-14T15:45:00.002-05:00

It’s Valentine’s Day, and Whitesnake is back with a new video off of their new album. Here’s “Love Will Set You Free." I'm kind of digging it, and the solo is pretty kickin'. The new CD, Forevermore, drops March 29th.

David Kitchen

2011-01-18T20:54:00.002-05:00

I've really been digging the music of local musician David Kitchen since I heard him at a Hungry For Music benefit a few weeks ago. He's got a lean, smart 80s pop sound, along the lines of Joe Jackson or Elvis Costello. Anyway, the chorus on "You Know That I Will" sticks in your head like nobody's business. Take a listen...

I Just Touched Down Like A New York Jet...

2011-01-04T21:54:00.005-05:00

Gilbere Forte's freestyle over Dr. Dre's new single, "Kush," is better than Dre's original track. Is Dre getting old? I'm just sayin'...

Gilbere Forte' - Kush Freestyle by gilbereforte

Olivia Mancini & The Mates Return to the Black Cat

2011-01-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

Back in September singer/songwriter Olivia Mancini left the comfy confines of DC to attend grad school up in New York City. But this Friday, January 7th, she’s back, baby! Mancini returns for her first show since her departure, and she’ll be rocking the Black Cat with her band, The Mates.

Olivia Mancini & The Mates bring a jangly pop sound with subtly sultry vocals provided by Mancini. And she’s obviously psyched to be coming back to the area. “We're chomping at the bit and ready to blast off with some new songs, stuff from our last few records and some deep cuts that we hope will bring back some happy memories for our longtime fans,” said Mancini. “Sweet harmonies! Thumping bass! Melt-your-face guitar! Pop melodies!”

Check out their irresistibly catchy track “Easy Way” below and the video for “Graphology” above. And no, she’s not really made of clay.

MP3: Easy Way – Olivia Mancini & The Mates

J. Cole / Who Dat

2011-01-02T16:29:00.002-05:00

Yeah, I'm probably a bit late to the J. Cole party, but I'm sooo loving the first single "Who Dat." Monster marching band beats with great turnarounds and J. Cole's smooth boasting flow make for something worth listening to.

The Deep Dark Woods / Peggy-O

2011-01-02T09:15:00.002-05:00

The Deep Dark Woods - "Peggy O" - HearYa Live Session 9/21/10 from HearYa.com on Vimeo.

I've always loved the Grateful Dead cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Peggy-O," but wow, Canadian band The Deep Dark Woods gave 'em a run for their money at their most recent Hear-Ya session. Take a listen. It's simply gorgeous.

The Damnwells / Werewolves

2010-12-30T09:41:00.001-05:00

The Damnwells' new album Nobody Listens to the Band Anymore is dropping in March, and I’m sooo looking forward to it. In the meantime, lead singer Alex Dezen has made a very informal video for the gorgeous track “Werewolves,” which gives us a chance to get an advance listen to the studio version.

Liam's"Four Letter Word"

2010-12-26T18:17:00.004-05:00

Check the video for "Four Letter Word," from Liam Gallagher's post-Oasis project, Beady Eye. More rocking than your average Oasis track, it's got a psychedelic tilt, with some very nice searing guitar lines, and of course, Liam's distinctive vocals. The new album, "Different Gear, Still Speeding," is scheduled for a February 2011 release.

Ho-Ho-Ho!

2010-12-25T08:00:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas, kids!

Rock for Christmas

2010-12-24T16:35:00.001-05:00

Angus apparently knows what he wants in his stocking this Christmas...

Dancing On My Own

2010-12-17T09:01:00.002-05:00

It's been a long, cold week, but at least it's Friday, kids. So here's Robyn performing an achingly lovely stripped-down version of one of the best songs of this year, "Dancing On My Own," on BBC Live Lounge.

Take Me Down, Little Suzy...

2010-12-07T21:33:00.002-05:00

For some reason, I'm in a Rolling Stones mood, and "Dead Flowers" popped up in the YouTube. Here's a nice stripped down version from a live show in Amsterdam back in 1995.

Darlingside @ The Red Palace Thursday

2010-12-05T15:50:00.001-05:00

If you’re in DC Thursday night, check out the Massachusetts 5-piece acoustic-pop act Darlingside. Rich-sounding harmonies that exceed the typical two and three parts, along with string instrumentation, give them a very polished, lush sound. Self-described as “string-rock,” they can also bring the hooks. Like what you hear? They’ll be headlining at The Red Palace (formerly The Red & The Black) in DC Thursday, December 9^th.

MP3: Good Man - Darlingside

"More" From Usher...

2010-12-03T20:41:00.004-05:00

I heard this RedOne Jimmy Joker remix of Usher's "More" on a mix today, and I cannot get it out of my head. The remix really takes the track to another level, and next time I'm in the club, I know what song I'm requesting! Oh wait, I don't really go to the club. But if I did...

I’d Teach My Heart To Lie If I Thought That It Would…

2010-12-02T20:35:00.000-05:00

I’d previously heard of folk singer/songwriter Lori McKenna, but I had never had actually listened to her, even though I had meant to. So when I got an advance copy of her new album Lorraine (1/25/2011 release) the other day, I immediately pressed play, and I’m very glad I did.

It’s bare, achingly lovely folk-country-think a combination of early Living With Ghosts-era Patty Griffin and Mary Chapin Carpenter. McKenna’s lonesome sound is enriched by the harmonies added by a smattering of various male vocalists (including producer Barry Dean) throughout. The melodies are strong and arrangements are sparsely elegant, though it sometimes takes a second listen in order to focus all of one’s attention on the lyrics.

While McKenna doesn’t necessarily break new lyrical ground on Lorraine (which happens to be her given name), the subject matter that she does cover is done well. It’s an intimate set of songs that tell of small towns, love, growing up and overcoming loss, with tracks ranging from the gorgeous ballad “The Most,” to the intensity of “You Get A Love Song.”

Lori McKenna will be performing at the Library of Congress this Saturday night December 4th, at 8:00 with the current top ten country artist Little Big Town. Tickets are “free,” but since they must be purchased from Ticketmaster, there’s of course a nominal service charge with each ticket order. There is a limit of 2 tickets per person.

Motel's "Somos Aire"

2010-11-23T18:16:00.005-05:00

One of my Facebook friends posted this video for "Somos Aire," by the Mexican power pop group Motel. I can only comprehend the occasional word here and there since it's sung in Spanish, but it's damn catchy just the same, with that bouncy chorus. And I haven't been able to stop listening to it all day.

Shane Hines CD Release Wednesday

2010-11-09T08:01:00.002-05:00

After spending some time in Nashville, local singer/songwriter Shane Hines has returned with a new album that's a little more personal, a little more mature-sounding, and maybe even a little more country, than his previous efforts. All the Quiet, All the Chaos is well-thought out acoustic-flavored pop, with the occasional subtle notes of pop country arrangements.

Nashville's influence is noticeable on the slower country-tinged piano ballad “It’s Not Home,” with the swooping pedal steel and gorgeous harmonies on the big chorus. And the lead single "Leave It All Behind" is one tasty slice of catchy electric guitar pop. All the Quiet, All the Chaos is available on iTunes starting today, and Shane Hines has his CD release party at Jammin Java this Wednesday, November 10th at 7:30.

MP3: Leave It All Behind - Shane Hines

Getting Lifted

2010-10-31T12:32:00.005-04:00

I hadn't listened to John Legend's Kanye West-produced album "Get Lifted" for quite awhile, so I brought it with me on my weekend trip up to NJ. I had forgotten just how much of a groove he gets going on the album. Legend's raspy and inviting vocals mesh perfectly with the strong beats, old-school instrumentation and gospelesque backing vocals. It almost made the tons of traffic that I had to face acceptable. Though the album fades out a bit the end, it's it's got a fearsome first half of tracks that more than makes up for it. Here's John Legend performing the slow burner "Alright" live in Rome. And I just sooo love the line, "Good lawd, you got body for days."

New Damnwells Coming Around...

2010-10-27T23:25:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite bands, The Damnwells, have a new album that should be dropping soon, and they'll be on tour later this year (at least lead singer Alex Dezen will be). Anyway, check them out performing one of the album's new tracks, "She Goes Around," live at Rockwood Music Hall (it's irresistably catchy). And you can get a free download of the kick-ass studio version by either pledging or signing up for their mailing list here.

The Parlotones @ DC9 Tuesday

2010-09-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

It’s not often that we get South African modern rock bands here in DC, but The Parlotones will be squeezing their stadium-sized act into the confines of DC9 this Tuesday, September 14th.

Already multi-platinum in their own country, they were one of the bands selected to play at this year’s World Cup, and lead singer Kahn Morbee was pretty geeked about it. “Pretty cool gig is an understatement,” Morbee recalled. “[It was the] most memorable show of my life, even though it was one song. Sadly all the players I was excited to see play really never sparkled-Milner, Rooney, Ronaldo, Torres and my favourite, ‘Messi.’ However there were still some amazing performances, and I enjoyed the vibe and period immensely.”

The Parlotones have yet to achieve the same success here in the U.S. that they’ve achieved in South Africa. But they’re hoping that’s to come with the release of their new album, Stardust Galaxies, and an American tour kicking off here in the nation’s capitol. Packing a pop-friendly punch with soaring, sweeping vocals by Morbee, they possess a grandiose sound that echoes bands such as James and The Killers.

It’s a strong CD all the way through, with songs ranging from the giddy energy of “We Call This Dancing” to the crooning balladry of “Fly to the Moon.” Still, Americans can be very fickle when it comes to embracing acts that are successful in other countries. “We write music that covers a spectrum of energies and we’d like to believe that it’s music that can resonate across borders,” says Morbee. ”Even if it doesn’t, we’ll certainly have fun trying.”

Words With Jesse Malin

2010-09-09T08:30:00.001-04:00

Hailing from New York City, Jesse Malin and his Noo-Yawk accent bring the genuine, rollicking, ragged dirty rock you didn’t even know you were missing. He’s touring with a backing band, the St. Mark’s Social, in support of a new album of original material, Love it to Life, and it’s brought an added electricity and intensity to his performance. Check him out this Sunday (9/12) at DC9, and check out my email interview with him below:

A lot of acts distinctly take on the character of their hometown. How do you recognize a New York City flavor in your songs?
I've been born and bred in New York City–been playing music here since I was a snotty little kid. It's a transient town, it's a town, as Woody Allen says, "a dying city," but I see it more as a cat that has many, many lives. A lot of my songs deal with renaissance, redemption & the phoenix act. New York is a great backdrop and metaphor for the cycles.

Describe your music in three words using all nouns.
Lovers, leavers & believers.

On your previous tour, you came through the area acoustic guitar in hand, but for this album tour, it looks like you’ve revved things up with a rocking band behind you. Were you looking for an energy boost?
I dig the energy I get playing acoustic, but I like the gang-like feelings of being in a band. St. Marks Social gives a little bit more rhythm to my blues, plus we have Todd Youth on guitar.

Do you have any favorite tracks in particular off of the new album? (It’s OK, I won’t let the other songs know.)
Songs are like your kids–you love them all, but some days other ones treat you better. Today I'm feeling "Revelations," "All The Way From Moscow," and "Disco Ghetto."

What do you want to leave the audience thinking after your set this Sunday night?
That life can be hard & dark & sometimes seem meaningless, but the music and the gathering of people together connecting, even for a couple of crazy hours, can help celebrate this discontent, striving to make the most out of this mortal experience. Make shit happen, give love, get love, live outside the main. Do it now. PMA (positive mental attitude).

MP3: All the Way from Moscow – Jesse Malin and the St. Marks Social

F*ck You / Cee Lo

2010-09-02T22:22:00.003-04:00

I haven't been able to get Cee Lo Green's oh-so-catchy ode to the f-bomb out of my head for the past few days, and there's finally a video for it. Just try not to catch the old school soul vibe...

Waters/Gilmour

2010-08-17T12:49:00.004-04:00

Hoping Foundation benefit performance from Hoping Foundation on Vimeo.

Finally, someone has posted video from the Waters/Gilmour reunion at last month's Hoping Foundation benefit show...

Ryan Star Finally Drops His New Album

2010-08-16T21:52:00.004-04:00

I first came upon Ryan Star during season two of Rock Star (Rock Star: Supernova). He impressed me with his raspy vocals and strong performance to finish out the competition; however, I really hadn’t considered what would become of him afterwards. But when I heard his intial recordings afterwards, my interest was definitely piqued. Unfortunately, Star's CD, 11:59, had its release date pushed back too many times to count. But the Matt Serletic-produced album finally dropped earlier this month, and it's and it's a very solid slice of anthemic, triumphant modern rock.

Under The Influence

2010-08-13T08:15:00.000-04:00

Virginia Beach modern rockers The Influence have got a new album, Falling Objects, dropping next month, on September 14th. It's produced by Ted Comerford, and MetroMusicScene.com is premiering the potentially seizure-inducing video (check out the flashing lights and rotating people!) for their first single, the DC101-ready “Slippin’.” The Influence brings their heavier-edged, yet melodic sound to the table, floating a vocal hook that sticks in your noggin' on top of a bed of some nice crunchy, churning guitars. Take a bite.

I Was A Teenage Anarchist

2010-08-03T12:44:00.001-04:00

Not much posting going on these days, I’m afraid. But I’m really digging Against Me!’s “I Was A Teenage Anarchist.” It’s razor-sharp pop punk, produced by Butch Vig. Though the vocals aren’t quite as snotty as Billy Joe’s, it’s still just as catchy as any Green Day single. And the video? A slow-motion chase and beat-down of the main character by the po-po. Don’t mess with the John Q. Law!

Robyn's "Hang With Me"

2010-07-27T13:09:00.002-04:00

Robyn - Hang With Me official video from Robyn on Vimeo.

I think I'm getting more and more addicted to Robyn. Here's her new video for "Hang With Me," off of the upcoming Body Talk Pt. 2.

Squeeze & Cheap Trick

2010-07-21T20:53:00.004-04:00

I saw Squeeze and Cheap Trick this past Sunday. I didn't know many of either bands' songs beyond their hit singles. Cheap Trick's sound was disappointing. The mix was extremely muddled, and pretty much all of Robin Zander's vocals were unintelligable. I expect more from a veteran band. Lead guitarist Rick Neilsen put on an entertaining show, however.

I knew even less Squeeze tunes than Cheap Trick tunes going in - pretty much all I thought I knew was "Tempted," but their performance was impressive, and honestly quite refreshing after Cheap Trick's set. Their songs were extremely tight and catchy, and Glenn Tilbrook's vocals were top-notch. And I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they sang one of my favorite songs from the 80s, "Hourglass." It's got a mouthful of a chorus that's a ball to sing along to.

Getting Funkadelic

2010-07-10T16:17:00.004-04:00

I never had given the whole Funkadelic/Parliament thing much thought before. Sure, I knew the “We Got the Funk” vibe, but that was about it. However, after seeing a DJ spin some old-school soul and R&B 45s with some cool drum breaks, I got to wondering if any of them were from the George Clinton tree.

So I checked out a few Funkadelic tunes, and I discovered some amazing solo guitar work coming down from the Mothership. I had no idea! Their first lead guitarist, Eddie Hazel, could tear the roof off the place. Check out his absolutely scorching leadwork on the funky “Get Off Your Ass and Jam,” as well as his psychedelic mind-blowing solo that is “Maggot Brain.” Hearing this stuff for the first time absolutely made my week.

MP3: Get Off Your Ass And Jam – Funkadelic

Foxy Shazam

2010-06-27T19:53:00.002-04:00

I had never heard of Foxy Shazam until just now, though they've got two a few albums out, but I'm digging their glammy, Freddie Mercury/The Darkness sound. From what I've seen on YouTube, their live show is entertaining as hell, and pretty much the same as this video...

A Second Listen: "Girlfriend"

2010-06-27T17:50:00.002-04:00

I never realized how much Matthew Sweet’s 1991 top ten single “Girlfriend” rocked until now. Sure, it’s melodic and catchy as hell, with irresistibly sweet (how fitting) harmonies and backing vocals. But it’s the instrumentals that allow it to rise above the level of simply “just power pop” – those squiggly, squealing lead guitar lines, the tight, powerful guitar riffs, and that funky instrumental breakdown. I was especially struck by the lead guitar work, and it turns out it was Robert Quine, who came up as an atypical punk guitarist with Richard Hell and the Voidoids, and then later went on to do some well-respected sessions with Lou Reed, among others. He’s #80 on Rolling Stone’s list of greatest guitarists of all-time. The studio version is great, but the band could bring it live, too – here they are rocking the Dennis Miller Show…

MP3: Girlfriend – Matthew Sweet

"Broken Headlights" by Joey Ryan

2010-06-03T19:21:00.003-04:00

The other week, I heard Garrison Starr and Adrianne (from The Rescues) cover a song called “Broken Headlights” by Joey Ryan, with one guitar and two voices. I had never heard of Joey Ryan before, but it was a gorgeous song, and it immediately transported me to the West Coast. Here’s Joey Young performing “Broken Headlights” live with Sara Bareilles (who I *have* heard of) and a couple others jumping in on vocals.

MP3: Broken Headlights (live) - Joey Ryan

LOST Alternate Endings

2010-05-24T09:31:00.001-04:00

LOST alternate endings...courtesy of Jimmy Kimmel.

The Rescues - "You're Not Listening"

2010-05-17T23:16:00.002-04:00

I had never heard of the group The Rescues until today, when I got notice that another act I like, Garrison Starr, would be opening for them next week. I decided to check them out, and ironically, I can't stop listening to this beautiful track "You're Not Listening." All four of the members sing with distinctive voice, trading-off on vocals and harmonizing their way throughout, eventually building the song to a wonderful vocal peak.

Take A Taste of Arlington This Saturday

2010-05-13T08:00:00.002-04:00

It’ll be a combination of craveable food and chill music this Saturday, May 16th, in Arlington, as the 2010 Taste of Arlington Festival occupies the Ballston area from 12-5. The forecast is good, and over 40 local Arlington restaurants will be taking part, including Willow, Jaleo, Carlyle and Lebanese Taverna, while Tarara Vineyards will be handling the wine. And DC’s own award-winning jazz pianist and band leader Marcus Johnson will be providing the music.

Words With These United States

2010-05-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

These United States are bringing their folky-rock stomp to the Black Cat this Saturday, May 15th. And what might you be in for? Check out the pulsing urgency of their live performance of “I Want You To Keep Everything” at the 2009 CMJ Music Marathon here. I spoke to lead singer Jesse Elliott this week via email about the band’s territorial preferences, future recording plans, and Elliott's apparent Phil Jackson mancrush.

So you've gotten a chance to tour around the nation, and now inquiring minds want to know – have you finally decided on a favorite state?
As with most things in These United States, this would be a matter of serious internal contention. Tom would go with Texas, maybe cause we’ve been here all this week and the weather’s been amazing and the crowds’ve been raucous. Justin’s thinking Kentucky – that’s where he’s from, and occasionally makes it back to when we’re not touring. In this sense, Justin’s keeping it very real. Colin’s seconding the vote for the Bluegrass State. “Anywhere but Pennsylvania,” Robby says – just to spite Tom. That’s where Tom’s from. In this sense, Robby is keeping it somewhat real. If I could live in the mountains of Idaho and somehow make Chicago and Denver and New York and Detroit and San Francisco all come to me on alternating weekends, I’d be in a state of total bliss.

What are you most proud of about your most recent album, Everything Touches Everything?
It’s the first record we did with the 5 of us here now, so in that sense it’s a new direction for us. We had a bit more time to work on it than the first two, and getting all the tracking done at Inner Ear with T.J. Lipple was a blast – nice to do that right in our own backyard in DC. We also love the album art, by this guy John Malloy, a truly amazing graphic novelist from Baltimore.

And anything up your collective recording sleeves for the future?
Definitely. July 20th. What Lasts. Be there or be square.

Characterize your music in three words, using all nouns.
Jordan. Pippen. Paxson.

What’s your songwriting process like?
Songs come from all over, though for me they’ve always been more of an externally induced thing. I don’t have a lot of feelings – not ones that I think are interesting enough that people’d wanna hear all about them, anyway. The stuff that interests me in life is usually the stuff I wanna point to when I’m walking through a new place with an old friend. Strange check-out ladies, gothic architecture, names I’ve never seen that seem like they might’ve come from other languages up on street signs. That’s the matter. The means is just those sketches I make stitched together more cohesively by the 5 of us, made more beautiful sometimes, sometimes just Frankenstein’ed until they’re a big grumbling ranting rocking slightly unnerving but generally well-intentioned kind of a being striking out into the world on their own. We do all this is a small dark basement, like most musicians.

When you’re out on tour and spending long, close hours in a van, what are three CDs you can all agree on for a long drive?
We only have two. Love and Theft – that’s Dylan’s – and, breaking to the front of the pack recently, Shame, Shame, the new Dr. Dog one. Mostly, we just listen to Radiolab, a podcast from WNYC that lights all of our brains on fire. Blinded by science!

And which of you has the best skills behind the wheel? Don’t be humble.
You gotta send different players in from the bench depending on what plays you’re calling and who you’re up against, you see what I’m saying here with this sports analogy I’m using? For instance, late nights, post-show, long-haul endurance, just barely getting through to the other side of dawn thanks mostly to Yo La Tengo, that zone is just owned by Tom. Justin comes through in a serious last-minute audible emergency – he recently saved everyone’s lives when our rear right tire blew out going 70 on the drive back from South by Southwest. I’m a bit of a utility man, known primarily for quick instincts and agile maneuverability – good in the mountains, even better in the cities, the more obstacles the better. You gotta know your talents and stick with 'em. Never be humble, exactly, yes – except in deference to the road itself. That thing is your master, and it’s a wildly undulating hydra-headed chameleon kinda beast to boot. You gotta be Phil Jackson, ready for any opponent, but real zen about it all. Life and life only.

I see you’re playing Lollapalooza this summer, very cool. Who are you most looking forward to seeing while you’re there? And it’s really OK if you say Lady Gaga…
Phil Jackson.

What do you want people thinking after you finish rocking the Black Cat this Saturday?
“The show that was just put on by These United States which I just saw at the Black Cat, that show really inspired me. It made me want to be a better person. Not necessarily a good person. Just better at what I do, like even if what I do is just being a rotten no-good bohemian of a drunk who occasionally, usually accidentally, gives someone around me a new eye on things, just a tiny little momentary sparkle in what’s an otherwise grating and grueling world to live in. These United States make me want to take that all to the next level…”

MP3: I Want You To Keep Everything (live, HearYa sessions) – These United States

Photo: Sarah Law

New Marah

2010-05-06T21:26:00.005-04:00

Marah fans that have been pining for the band's new album, Life Is A Problem (Valley Farm Songs) - it drops June 22nd - got a nice little surprise, thanks to Stereogum. SG is premiering "Valley Farm Song" right over here, and you can download it there, too. It's a rather jangly, trashy, wheezy, psychedelic-kind of track. Miss me some Serge!

Lisa, Blow My Speakers Up!

2010-05-04T14:39:00.000-04:00

The Simpsons spoofs Ke$ha’s “TiK ToK” for the opening credits…

One Hungry Mascot

2010-05-04T14:25:00.002-04:00

For some reason, this video of the Toronto Raptors' mascot "eating" one of the Raptors' cheerleaders amuses me to no extent.

The Troops Go Gaga...

2010-04-30T20:58:00.002-04:00

Telephone Remake @ Yahoo! Video

Our troops do their video version of Lady Gaga's "Telephone." It gets better as it goes on. Though not *that* much.

A Case of the Fridays

2010-04-29T17:35:00.002-04:00

Local modern-rockers No Second Troy just dropped a new album, Colors, this week. During the recording process, lead singer Jeff Wharen said they looked to “capture the band at its most authentic.” As a result, Colors is a more organic-sounding record, with less digital editing, and more focus on "pairing the aesthetics of the musical and the lyrical." Check out “Leap of Faith” from Colors below, a beautiful acoustic-driven ballad with its fragile harmonies and atmospheric electric guitar. No Second Troy will be having their CD-release party this Saturday, May 1st, at the Black Cat in DC.

MP3: Leap of Faith – No Second Troy

I first came upon Ryan Star (see above) during season two of Rock Star (Rock Star: Supernova). He impressed me with his raspy vocals and strong finish in the competition; however, I really hadn’t considered what would become of him afterwards. But when I heard his recent recordings, my interest was definitely piqued. Though Star's new album, 11:59, keeps getting delayed, several of its new tracks are available as an EP (Last Train Home) - kind of a teaser until the whole album drops, and the EP title track is a wonderful slice of anthemic, triumphant modern rock. If you like what you hear, Ryan Star will be at IOTA in Arlington Sunday, May 2nd.

MP3: Last Train Home – Ryan Star

El Prezidino Gives VA Props

2010-04-26T21:10:00.006-04:00

Yeah, no doubt you’ve heard Jay-Z’s ode to New York, “Empire State of Mind,” but doesn’t New York already have enough songs? So DC-based Virginia-native hip-hop artist El Prezidino takes things back, reveling in his proud twist on Jay-Z’s hit with his live recording of “Excuse My Commonwealth.” Hey, we’re in Virginia, and he knows we need an anthem (so put your damn hands up!) that you can check it out below. El Prezidino flips things VA-style, throwing out regional references left and right, even getting Richmond neo-soul singer Nickey McMullen to play Alicia Keys to his H.O.V.A. while his band, M.O.R., nails the instrumentals. His new mixtape, Almost Genius, Almost Crazy, is dropping May 31st, but you can catch him before that Friday, May 7th, in DC at The Red & The Black.

El Prezidino - Excuse My Commonwealth by 3Fingers Music Group

Gang Starr's Guru

2010-04-20T21:30:00.003-04:00

I had always meant to get around to listening to East Coast hip-hop legends Gang Starr. Unfortunately, it took today's death of their MC, Guru, to get me to do so. I'm really liking what I hear so far. And I'm especially digging the above track "Militia," with its irresistibly funky bassline and rhythm track and muscular rhymes.

Caleb Stine Takes Upperville

2010-04-13T19:03:00.003-04:00

Sunday night I was lucky enough to catch Baltimore singer/songwriter Caleb Stine at a house concert out in Upperville, VA, where I could actually see the Blue Ridge Mountains in the afternoon and the Big Dipper when the sun went down. Caleb has a folky bent to his music, playing solo acoustic guitar with a very nice finger picking technique, and vocally, he reminds me just a bit of John Gorka. There's a wonderful intimacy to Caleb's voice and lyrics, drawing the listener in, like he's sharing his inner-most secrets. Here's a very well-done video (not from the house concert, alas) of him performing the achingly lovely "My Service Isn't Needed Anymore" live.

1/10-Scale Nissan SE-R Still Drifts

2010-04-05T14:12:00.005-04:00

A 1/10-scale R/C Nissan SE-R does some very nifty driving and drifting in this Nissan commercial. Definitely worth a look.

More Gaga Coverage / Lissie

2010-04-01T20:45:00.003-04:00

I'm really digging this cover version of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" by Lissie. Her voice is a powerful growl, kinda smoky with a tinge of country, and it works extremely well on the alt-rockish arrangement of the tune.

"Telephone" by Lady Gaga

2010-03-29T18:04:00.004-04:00

Lady Gaga - Telephone ft. Beyoncé from choice tv on Vimeo.

Say what you will about Lady Gaga, but her videos are incredibly entertaining. In case you haven't seen the extended version of "Telephone" (f/ Beyonce), with its thematic nods to Tarantino and Thelma and Louise, check it out.

Harper Blynn @ DC9 Saturday 3/27

2010-03-26T21:34:00.001-04:00

Pete And J- Loneliest Generation- Live on Fearless Music from fearlessmusic.com on Vimeo.

Need something catchy to listen to this weekend? New York-based band Harper Blynn will be bringing their soulful brand of pop to DC9 this Saturday night, March 27th. Formerly known as Pete and J, their sweet harmonies and hooks caught me by surprise a year or so ago when they rocked IOTA as the opening act for The Damnwells, and I’ve been waiting patiently for their return ever since. But now they’re back with a new name (opting for a more formal combination of the last names of the two lead guys in the band) and a new album, Loneliest Generation. Check ‘em out.

MP3: 25 Years – Harper Blynn

In Pictures: Interview with Photographer Kyle Gustafson

2010-03-18T08:00:00.004-04:00

As a fan of both music and photography, the well-executed combination of the two is like the union of chocolate and peanut butter. Concert photography can capture the intensity of a performance, the beauty of the lighting, the essence of the performer, and it can plain just look cool. But all this is often easier said than done. Shooting usually occurs under difficult conditions, with little control of limited light and sporadic movement of subjects.

I've long admired the work of local concert photographer Kyle Gustafson. You've probably seen his photos on websites such as DCist, the Washington Post, or Pitchfork. His keeps his website interesting, posting mini-show reviews and shooting conditions along with his concert pics. I finally caught up with him to discuss his love of Oasis, shooting DC shows, and handling moshpits. You can check where Kyle's shooting next on his twitter page.

So what initially drew you to taking pictures at concerts? Do you have a musical background?
Not in an "I play an instrument" way. I became obsessed with music in high school. Nirvana blew up my senior year of high school and it opened up a whole new world for me. When I went to college, I DJ'ed at a club and also became music director of the campus radio station. Through that job I was able to score an internship in the college department at Epic Records (Oasis was - and still is - my favorite band so I wanted to intern at their label) in New York City. That was an incredible summer. I saw 100 concerts in 3 months. I was in heaven, so naturally I wanted to work in the music industry when I graduated school, which I did. I moved to NYC 2 days after graduating and I worked in the music industry for seven years. I've been going to 2 or 3 concerts a week for most of my adult life. I always tried to take photos at these concerts, but it wasn't until I moved to D.C. that I could actually afford a decent camera and started working at getting good results. Originally I wanted good photos to go with the concert reviews I was doing on my blog, Information Leafblower, and also DCist. It just kind of snowballed from there.

What are the primary factors that make shooting at a concert challenging?
There's not much about taking photos at concerts that isn't challenging. Generally, credentialed photographers are only allowed to shoot the first three songs of a concert. You basically have about 10 minutes to work. Lighting is the other main issue. It varies from club to club and different artists have different approaches to lighting. Rappers tend to like their lighting really, really low and when you combine that a hat and a hand with a mic, it's almost impossible to get a clean shot of their face. Photo pits are also an issue. The 9:30 Club and Verizon Center are the only two venues in town that generally offer a photo pit. If there's no pit then I have to get to the club when it opens and get a good spot up front. That can mean standing there for three hours in order to take 10 minutes worth of photos. And then I have to fight the crowd depending on the artist. I need that space in front of the stage because if I end up in the 2nd or 3rd row and the people in front of me like to jump around and hold their hands up the whole time, it means I can't get my shot.

Another challenge that is becoming more and more common is artists making photographers sign a contract, called a photo release, which depending on the language can take the copyrights of the photos taken during the concert and transfer them to the artist without compensation to the photographer. It's a sleazy tactic, especially from bands that speak out against people stealing their music via p2p. Not every band has them, and some are more restrictive than others. You don't have to sign a release to shoot U2, Springsteen or Metallica, but you do to shoot Taylor Swift, Cheap Trick or AFI. Pearl Jam had my favorite release ever. It basically said "Don't sell the photos you are about to take commercially, stay out of our crew's way while they are working and HAVE FUN." I can get behind that.

Are you constantly doing trial and error with different settings while you're shooting during a show?
When I go to a show, I generally set my ISO at 2000 and aperture at 2.8 and adjust my shutter speed from there. Once the show starts I adjust ISO, shutter speed and aperture as necessary. I check out Flickr and YouTube before every gig to try and get an idea of lighting and stage spacing. Flickr groups and Twitter have become invaluable resources as other photographers share the lighting conditions and stage setup as the tours come through their town. A friend may tell me that of the 3 songs I get to shoot for Kings of Leon, only the second one really has good light, so then I can spend the first song finding the best angle to get the shot I need during the second song.

Do you ever miss being able to just sit back and watch a show without having to snap pictures?
Occasionally. Although generally I only get the first three songs to shoot and then I have to put my camera away. So if I am shooting a show at the 9:30 Club, I shoot the first three and then take another song or two to pack up my gear and work my way to the back of the club. At that point I can either stay for the gig if I like the band or head home and start editing. Lately it's been more of the latter, but I try and stay for a bit of the show so I can get a feel for what the artist is doing on stage. The longer I stay the more I am punishing myself because I have to edit all the photos I just took and get it filed by the next morning.

What are your favorite concert venues to shoot at in the area, and why?
The 9:30 Club, obviously. It's a world-class venue with a world-class staff. A really great group of people work there and they are very, very accommodating to me and I am very appreciative of that. Same for the Black Cat (although obviously their lighting capabilities are much different than the 9:30 Club). I love going to both venues to see and shoot shows.

Any preference shooting acts that you’re familiar with versus acts that you’re not?
It depends on the act really, but I have no problems shooting bands multiple times. Obviously I'd rather shoot bands that move around on stage and actually perform for the audience, but I'll go wherever they send me.

That said, It's always nice to go see and shoot a band that I've never heard of before and be blown away. I shot a band called Dawes at Iota a week or so ago and Cory Chisel opened for them and he was AMAZING. He won me over as a fan that night.

Can you recall any instances of getting your camera broken or confiscated by angry bouncers or performers...or audience members?
I've never had a problem with bouncers. If I am not approved to shoot the show I just don't pull my camera out. It's not worth it. And as I mentioned earlier, it's a give and take thing with the crowd. They are there to see the show and not watch me take photos, and I totally get that. I try and stay as incognito as possible but at the same time I have to get my shot (or shots). I try and do my work and get out of there. But there definitely have been some instances when crowd members take offense to what I am doing, and it generally happens when they are drunk. That happened at an Eric Church show at the Sate Theater last year. Some drunk lady got all mad at me and started yelling at me and bumping in to me while I was shooting. She kept trying to convince her boyfriend to kick my ass. I just kept shooting and got out of there after the third song.

I don't do many hardcore shows, but you always have to be mindful of your gear when there are moshpits, but those shows can also be a lot of fun. Those crowds are generally very respectful of everyone else at the show but you always have to have your head on a swivel and keep a look out for the errant swinging limb or crowdsurfer.

I heard you recently changed your gear. What are you using now?
After shooting Canon for four years I switched to a Nikon D3 in January. I had six different Canon bodies over the course of those four years and I just could not find a body I was totally happy with. I worked my way up from a G6 point and shoot to a Rebel XT, 30D, 40D, 5D and 1Ds Mk II. All of them more or less did a lot of things right but were ultimately missing that final something. I generally lost faith in Canon the last few years because they weren't releasing the cameras that their customers wanted. The 5D Mk II was four years in the making but had the same focusing systen as the original 5D. The video options on that camera are amazing, but that's not why I buy a DSLR. I had read a bunch of things about how great the D3 was, and when my buddy offered me his at a very attractive price, I jumped at it. I was about to sink a lot of money into some expensive Canon prime lenses (so I could get better low light performance) but I took that money and switched systems instead. Nikon's D3/D3s and D700 are the kings of low light shooting right now and after I thought about it, I decided that there wasn't any reason to stay with an inferior product (for my needs). So I'm about 8 weeks in to my time with my D3 and I couldn't be happier. I definitely feel like I made the right decision. I'm getting shots that I never would have gotten before with my Canon bodies. I should note that I never owned a 1D Mk III, which was the Canon flagship camera. I might have been happy with that camera (or the new 1D Mk IV) but I ultimately decided that I wanted a full frame body and Canon does not offer a full frame body with a pro focusing system and 9 frames per second.

I get asked about gear constantly and what I tell people is to start with a starter or mid level body and work your way up. I wouldn't recommend starting out with a Nikon D3 or a Canon 1D Mk IV. It'll be too much camera for you. Buy a lower model and learn that camera inside and out until you reach the point that you've mastered it and it's holding you back. Bodies are disposable. Invest in good lenses. You'll have those forever and they hold their value much better. Start out with a 50mm/1.8 and work your way up from there.

Any particular favorite photo shoots where everything turned out just right?
Two that immediately come to mind are with two of my favorite artists. The first time I got the chance to shoot Morrissey was a huge treat. The show at D.A.R. in November of 2007 was a sort of make up from a string of dates he canceled earlier in the year. I had wrangled photopasses to shoot him at Wolftrap, at Ram's Head in Baltimore and PNC Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ (all with different publications) and the latter two got cancelled and Morrissey didn't let anyone shoot the Wolf Trap show because he was sick. I was gutted. But he came back and the show at D.A.R. was the best show I've ever seen him do and I took some of the best photos I have ever taken, including my favorite shot ever. I was walking on air when I left the venue that night. The best part of all was Morrissey (unknowingly) hit me in the face with his mic cord when he was whipping it around on stage. The cord was duct taped right in front of me on the lip of the stage and when he cracked it, it smacked me righ tbetween the eyes just as I was changing cameras. I'm a huge Morrissey fan and to see and shoot him was a huge treat.

The other show that comes to mind is Oasis at the Patriot Center at the end of 2008. As I said before, Oasis is my favorite band and back when Britpop was big, I would buy any and every magazine with Liam or Noel on the cover and obsess over the photos. Most of those shots were from Jill Furmonovsky, probably my favorite photographer ever. Her photos were a big influence on me. So to finally get to shoot them really was a dream come true. I think every concert photographer hopes to one day shoot their favorite band and really cherishes that experience. I was so nervous. I never drink when I'm working but I had a beer during the openers to calm my nerves a bit. And when the time came, I just buckled down and concentrated on my work and not the music that was being played or the Gallaghers that were 3 feet in front of me.

I thought I would get to shoot Oasis earlier in 2008 at the Virgin Festival in Toronto but it was not to be. I went up there specifically to shoot them but they turned away most of the photographers before their set, only a select few got access to the photo pit to shoot them. Again, I was gutted. But the Virgin staff told us we could shoot them from the crowd, so after I had a few gin and tonics, I jumped up on a picnic table and broke out my long zoom lens just to get a few photos for me. It just so happened that while I was doing that, some punter rushed onstage and attacked Noel. I was the only photog there that got the shot. I was able to sell that photo to newspapers and magazines all over the world. And if the band had approved me to shoot their set I never would have had my camera out. That just proves you have to be ready at all times. And no matter how good a photographer you are, a little luck certainly doesn't hurt.

Scroll over above images for info / Kyle Gustafson portrait shot by Brandon Wu

Matthew Ryan @ IOTA Friday 3/12

2010-03-11T20:24:00.003-05:00

It's been a busy past few weeks, and my posting has been erratic. But one of my favorite acts, the underappreciated Matthew Ryan, is at IOTA tomorrow, Friday, March 12th. Don't miss this wonderful gravelly-voiced singer-songwriter. Here's an old-school clip of him touring Germany back in 1998 performing one of my favorite tracks of his, "Chrome."

"32 Flavors" of Ani DiFranco

2010-03-04T13:49:00.001-05:00

Apparently the idiosyncratic Ani DiFranco didn’t play my favorite song of hers, “32 Flavors,” at her recent 9:30 Club gig the other night. So here’s a gorgeous high-quality live version of the track from Sessions at West 54th back in 1997.

Broken Bells

2010-03-02T12:49:00.002-05:00

Producer-extraordinaire Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley, Gorillaz, The Grey Album) has formed another strange collaboration, this time with James Mercer, lead singer of indie-poppers The Shins. For the most part, Broken Bells tracks are melodic with a laid-back vibe and stripped, low-key electro-beat grooves - perfect for chilling in the lounge. The new album will be streaming over on NPR here until its release March 9th. And yes, they’re a “real band,” performing live at SXSW March 17th.

New Marah

2010-02-16T20:48:00.003-05:00

Some news from the Marah front. They claim the new album, Life is a Problem will be dropping June 1st. We'll believe that when we see it. In the meantime, another new song has been released, the sweet acoustic "Waiting for a Devil." Get it using the widget above, or on their website here. Maybe it's just me, but I kinda wanted some rollicking rock n' roll...

Jersey Shore Reaction

2010-02-02T06:36:00.002-05:00

Hitler reacting to the new season of Jersey Shore not being filmed in New Jersey. This is actually pretty good.

Flying Pink

2010-02-01T08:54:00.002-05:00

Pink put on one amazing acrobatic (literally) performance last night at the Grammys.

How to Report the News

2010-01-29T12:54:00.001-05:00

Wondering how to report the news? This dude will set you straight.

Flaming Red

2010-01-28T14:26:00.003-05:00

Patty Griffin has been one of my favorite singers since I first came upon her amazing album Flaming Red back around 1999. The woman opens her mouth and beautiful voice just flows out. Griffin has just released a new CD, the gospel-tinged Downtown Church. Though I’ve enjoyed her CDs after Flaming Red, she has never again returned to that raw, rocking sound, live or on record.

Anyway, I was discussing this with my drummer friend Seth, and he was kind enough to send me a link to this awesome video of her performing the title track “Flaming Red” back in the good old days. It starts off slow, but things kick in with burning intensity at 1:32. That's some searing slide guitar work.

Ring of Fire

2010-01-26T23:08:00.004-05:00

I was reading an article on Turkmenistan in my dad’s December 12-18 2009 issue of The Economist, and it mentioned something called the Darvaza Gas Crater, describing it as “a giant red pit belching gases and flames into the night sky, created 30-40 years ago when a drilling platform sank through the earth’s surface.” It sounded like an impressive site to behold, and I was surprised I had never heard of this before. Needless to say, I was immediately intrigued.

Interestingly enough, it’s difficult to locate a definitive history of this site, but most reports date the creation of the crater as 1971 (though some sources date it as far back as 1950). Allegedly, Soviet geologists were drilling for natural gas deposits in the Karakum Desert (in the Derweze area of Turkmenistan) when they hit an underground cavern filled with gas. The ground beneath their drilling rig gave way, collapsing and creating a huge crater 60 meters across and 20 meters deep. Gas was escaping, and the geologists’ solution was to burn the gas off; however, what they thought would be a quick burn has been ablaze ever since. It’s a beautiful sight that can be seen glowing from miles away, but it doesn’t smell quite as pretty as it looks. The crater reeks of burning sulfur; locals have deemed it “The Door to Hell,” and it’s impossible to stand close to the edge for too long due to the odor.

Still interested in visiting? The site is located in central Asia, about 260 kilometers north of Ashgabat – that’s the capital of Turkmenistan for trivia enthusiasts and potential tourists. It's about a 3-hour trek into an unforgiving desert landscape. Also, there isn’t much in the way of permanent structures at the crater. Tourists usually arrange for a local guide, a jeep and supplies to get out to the site and then camp near the crater, since it’s best viewed in the dark.

So are flaming gas pits the norm in Turkmenistan? Turkmenistan holds the fourth largest reserves of natural gas in the world, so hopefully drillers will be careful. And the country is strengthening its position and lines of distribution. According to energy analyst Peter Paraschos, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Turkmenistan was dependent on the Russian-controlled Soviet-era pipeline network to export its natural gas, an arrangement that left the country at Moscow's mercy. However, Turkmenistan has developed new gas pipelines to China and Iran that recently commenced operation, undermining Russia's monopoly on the export of Turkmen gas.

So does this sound like a place you’d like to visit? Check out some cool additional pics here.

Photo Credit: Antonxiii / Flickr

Matthew Ryan, Uncooked

2010-01-26T18:25:00.003-05:00

Singer/songwriter Matthew Ryan has been doing a series of live, stripped-down, unplugged videos of his songs - "The Raw Versions." He let his Facebook fans vote for the third video in this series, and the people spoke, selecting the track "Guilty." Check it out.

The Sausage Factory

2010-01-22T09:20:00.002-05:00

Acclaimed chef Jose Andres (and former Iron Chef contestant), the owner of local restaurants Oyamel and Jaleo, orders customized chorizo from Simply Sausage in Maryland. So I thought it was pretty cool that my friend Brendan over at Smithsonian put together an interesting video interviewing founder Stanley Feder and documenting how the high-quality artisisanal sausage is made.

A Case of the Fridays - Tuesday Edition

2010-01-19T06:00:00.001-05:00

We kick things off this week with “Love Will Find You” by Findlay Brown (above). The Brits are liking things old school these days, and Brown obliges with his Stax-infused instrumentation and Roy Orbison-esque vocals. I wonder if he’ll be able to bring a full band around on tour, so I’m curious how he’ll sound if he has a stripped down accompaniment. If you like what you hear, Findlay Brown will be at The Red & The Black in DC this Friday, January 22nd.

And we close things out with “She Does,” by Locksley. They’re originally out of Madison, WI, but now they hail from Brooklyn, where all the cool kids are from these days. Clocking in under two minutes, this Jet-esque track is complete with Kinky, riffy guitars and fuzzed out solos – and best of all – it’s irresistibly-catchy. If you like what you hear, check them out at IOTA in Arlington, VA this Thursday, January 21st.

MP3: She Does - Locksley

Eight Questions To Dream

2010-01-18T06:00:00.003-05:00

The 12-string acoustic guitar and cello give The Dreamscapes Project a distinctive sound to begin with. Though they’re acoustic-based, they still maintain a powerful and dramatic sound, especially when the churning, propelling percussion jumps in. Then throw in Keith Center’s brooding lyrics and delivery to give it a minor bent, and voila, they have their own brand of “Folk-Core.”

The Dreamscapes Project have a new, as yet untitled, album dropping later this year. And what fun would a new album be without an unconventional method of release? They’ve got a cool one with their Twelve Days Project that involves artists all over the DC area. Each month they’ll be releasing one new track via a different DC music source; this month MetroMusicScene.com is hosting an exclusive download of their new track "Fragile" here. And The Dreamscapes Project will be featuring “re-imaginations” of that track by emerging DC-area filmmakers, creative writers, visual artists and DJs. This whole project will be supported by a series of month concerts in the DC area, with proceeds donated to a different charity each month.

I interviewed lead singer Keith Center and bassist Jeremy Rodgers via email about their CD release project, the origins of their name, how to score the best spot on King Street for their upcoming show at the Light Horse Tavern this Wednesday, January 20th.

You’ve got a new CD dropping in its entirety later this year – what about the album excites you the most?
Keith Center: Although it is always exciting to get new music into peoples hands, I think what excites me most with this release is how we are doing it. Our music has always been different, but we have always release our music in the typical way. This time I feel like the way its being released is fitting of the music that is being released. We have always included a lot of different styles of music into our songs, now we are incorporating many styles of art into our album, to me that is really exciting.

So how did the Twelve Days Project come about? It’s almost like a multi-media music video run wild…
KC: It started as a question. We sat in our rehearsal space and started talking about the next release. We had started recording three songs with Ted Comerford, our producer from our last album, last February. Those were supposed to be released last summer; however scheduling conflicts kept preventing us from finishing them. In the meantime. a couple of other recording opportunities fell in our laps. Here we were with two finished songs, three half-finished songs, and another half dozen or so unrecorded/unreleased tracks. We started asking ourselves what we could do with all this material. A traditional album would require us to get the other tracks all done before we could even think about releasing anything. We had all been talking about how much the industry was changing, then it hit us, this was our opportunity to stretch and try something different.

It started with releasing a different track on a different DC area blog every month. Then the idea of adding artists in was hatched and the floodgates opened. Film makers, writers, musicians/DJs/producers - we realized we could get everyone involved and really shine a spotlight on some of the incredible talent that people over look in this area. It has been a little overwhelming but it has also been incredible how warm and welcoming everyone we have contacted has been to the idea. I just feel lucky to have the opportunity to be a part of it all.

A lot of bands fizzle out pretty quickly, but you’ve been around in some form or another since the late 90s. What’s your secret to longevity?
KC: I think the secrets are managing your expectations, making sure you are having fun, and not taking yourself too seriously. So many people get caught up in what they could be, they disappointed by who they are. For us, however, the biggest driving force has been our fans. Getting to play for the incredible people who come out and support us every concert... seriously, how can you even think of quitting that?

Are there any secret origins of your name?
KC: Yes, it is actually derived from ancient Mayan practice. Dreams of the Kuhul Ajew (the name for the Mayan king and religious leader) were often interpreted by his scribes the following morning, with the belief that in them the gods may have hidden important messages for his followers. Since their language was logographic, using symbols and pictures, the message would end up as a finished scene or scape. If deemed valuable by the Kuhul Ajew, this final product would be displayed for the entire village, and, loosely translated, was called a "dreamscape."

What draws you to keeping things acoustic, versus going electric?
KC: Lack of equipment? I think at this point we are just convinced that if we switched to all electric instruments, some hole would open up in the space time continuum and everything would cease to exist. Or laziness. Honestly though, I think it’s the challenge of it. It’s the mother of invention, you know? Don't get me wrong, I simply adore sound of the 12-string acoustic and cello, but there is definitely this smile that comes across our faces when we create something that we are pretty sure you aren't supposed to do in an acoustic band.
Jeremy Rodgers: There is usually a smile on our face whenever we do anything we aren't supposed to be doing.

You don’t see bands performing live with cello very often. What do you think it adds to your sound?
KC: I believe Beethoven coined the term for that: "Badassitude".
JR: I was going to say "Balls' but if you want go all classical....

What are a few CDs the whole band can agree on when heading out to a gig?
KC: I can't speak for everyone, but I would fathom a guess that at least one of them would be a Tool album.
JR: I think we can all pretty much agree on Soul Coughing. And maybe WTOP on the radio.

What do you want to leave the audience thinking after Wednesday night’s (1/20) show at the Light Horse Tavern?
KC: "1 AM! Son of a bitch, I have to work in the morning! I swore I was going to leave at 11:30, but that was so worth it!"
JR: "That was definitely worth the street parking!"

Friday Morning With The Dictators

2010-01-15T06:00:00.005-05:00

The other day my friend Bret was playing me a recording from one his many cover band gigs, and a song came on that just leapt out at me. It was a nice gritty, punky rocker that sprouted hooks immediately, and I had to know whose song it was. “It’s The Dictators,” he answered. I had never heard of them, but I went home that evening and did a little digging.

Turns out they were one of the proto-punk bands in NYC back in the early 1970s, led by frontman Handsome Dick Manitoba. Though they were probably more skilled technically than other bands out there, The Dictators never hit it big, recording a few albums, and even losing a bassist to Twisted Sister. There have been reunions over the years, including one in 2008 (above).

Anyway, here’s that track - The Dictators' recording, of course - in its punky, Ramones-ey, power chordy glory. Just try not to sing along on that chorus.

MP3: Stay With Me – The Dictators

Photo Credit: Sarean.com / Flickr

A Second Look - Jamie Walters

2010-01-11T21:57:00.006-05:00

I admit it. Most Saturday mornings, chances are you’ll find me chilling out on my couch, watching the mini-marathons of Beverly Hills 90210 they show on SOAP.net.

Anyway, recent episodes have featured singer/songwriter Jamie Walters doing his wrong-side-of-the-tracks rocker turn as Donna Martin’s flavor-of-the-month. It was primetime exposure of the good kind, especially at first, but it didn’t help out Walters’ career quite as much as he had hoped. His character, Ray Pruit, would go on to develop into a cheating girlfriend-abuser, tossing Donna down a flight of stairs. And eventually people began having some difficulty separating Jamie Walters from the character he played on TV.

Watching the episodes, I was impressed enough by his breathy, soulful style of rock to check out his stuff on Amazon. Even though “Hold On” and “How Do You Talk To An Angel” (from Walters’ short-lived pre-90210 series, The Heights) are his big hits, I’m really digging “The Comfort of Strangers,” a moody burner of a track with some nice searing guitar.

MP3: The Comfort of Strangers – Jamie Walters

Rock On

2010-01-10T12:23:00.002-05:00

The Sundance Channel has been showing some cool live sessions from Abbey Road (Live From Abbey Road), and they've had good number of bands on. Here's a clip of Def Leppard doing a nice stripped-down and bluesy version of "Rock On."

Butch Liked You Better When

2010-01-07T12:02:00.002-05:00

Butch Walker has got a new album dropping on 2/23 (I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart), as well as a new name for his backing band (The Black Widows), as usual. And he's even covered Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me," making a swell video of it over on YouTube here. Anyway, you can check out "Trash Day" from his new album streaming over at EW.com here to hold you for now.

Jeff Campagna Interviews Jeff Campagna

2010-01-05T20:06:00.007-05:00

Google yourself and it’s likely you’ll find a few others who share your name. Of course, individual results may vary. Anyway, my name, Jeffrey Michael Campagna, is a bit more uncommon than most, so it was especially cool to find someone who not only shares my entire moniker, but who also does some very interesting things for a living.

The “other” Jeffrey Michael Campagna (above) is a Canadian filmmaker, screenwriter, blogger, author and music video director. I’ve been aware of “my brother from another mother” for several years now, keeping track of what he’s been up to via the Internet.

Since we’ve been friends on MySpace and Facebook awhile, we figured it was high time I interviewed my Canadian namesake via email about making Westerns, kidnapping actors, and his fondness for the Spice Girls. He’s pretty cool, so I suppose I can even overlook his hating on Jersey Shore. Check it all out below:

So you started off in the entertainment industry back in 2003 with the Canadian Food Network working on Look Who’s Cooking Now – what are you making for dinner these days?
Great question, but one I can’t answer truthfully without suffering some personal embarrassment, unfortunately. On a good day my dinner is a bag of popcorn and a few beers. When I have company or am with loved ones, I will unleash my culinary wizardry, but with the unholy mess it produces it’s simply not worth the labour just to cook for myself. I usually try to meet my agent for meals because he picks up the cheque (but it just comes out of his expenses so I end of paying for it anyway).

And then in 2005 you poured your life savings into Six Reasons Why, the Dead Man meets The Good, the Bad and the Ugly sci-fi Western with your brother Matt. How nerve-wracking was that?
Interestingly enough it didn’t bother me all that much at the time. I think any artist that has any level of faith in their work views the real world through a lens of indifference - though my creditors didn’t share the same liberties. They have all been paid off now, thanks to the surprising and lucrative sale of Six Reasons Why, but I screwed my credit up enough in the process that I still can’t get a credit card. A collection agency called me during post-production and asked when I would start to pay my monthly minimums and I told her ‘when I sell my movie to Paramount for a million dollars.' She thought I was kidding…

And how do you and Matt generally split up responsibilities on a Campagna Brothers film?
I am no stranger to this question, nor am I a stranger to the tension that the subject matter produces. Unlike a lot of other filmmaking brothers who take on different aspects of production, Matt and I split the entire process right down the middle. We work as a team all the way from writing the screenplay to storyboarding it to directing it, right through the editing process and final marketing stages. It may sound like sunshine and lollipops, but if I said we didn’t lock horns on a regular basis because of this joint-creative-custody; I’d be lying. So far however, the battle has always resulted in an interesting blend of my style and his style that we are consistently happy with. Unfortunately, that battle sometimes takes place around the family dinner table, which our mother doesn’t appreciate.

What do you find so compelling about the Western genre? (the Campagna Brothers’ new film, Roll the Hard Six, is also a Western)
It’s a brilliant genre and always has been. The first Western I watched with any sort of cinematic and cultural awareness was Leone’s Once Upon a Time in the West, and at that point, when the credits started to roll, a glaring distinction formed in my gut that there were now two kinds of films in the world; the one I just finished watching and all the rest. Now, I am not intimating that my goal is to create something of equal magnificence or perfection – as an artist, to require perfection is to invite paralysis – I simply now have a connection to the genre that I can’t ignore. Not to mention that if you put a beard and a cowboy hat on most actors and shoot them on an extreme close up so that every facial wrinkle appears like a canyon and every spot of dirt like an oil spill and you’ve got yourself a pretty engaging image.

I see actor Colm Feore (24, Pearl Harbor) is returning for Roll the Hard Six. Very cool. How did you get him to appear in Six Reasons Why?
We star-napped him, tied him up with gaffer tape and forced him to watch reruns of Roseanne until he agreed to act in our movie. No, all kidding aside, he stayed strong until the third season when Roseanne Barr takes a preggers test before he consented to play ‘The Preacher.’ It’s a testament to his will.

Colm is a great actor and extremely down to earth. I met him in an airport one night before we even shot the film. Then we shot the film and cut it together with a stand-in for Colm’s scenes. Then Matt and I went to Stratford Theatre where Colm performs and gave him a copy of the film and told him we want him in it. He liked the idea, thought we were crazy, and almost a year later I was driving to set with him in a bartered limo sipping $6.00 bottles of Spumonte Bambino.

You’ve been experiencing some success directing music videos (check out his video for “Beautiful” by Klooch) – would you consider yourself a big music fan?
Without a shred of doubt. My father raised me on a healthy diet of B.B. King, Robert Cray and Eric Clapton. My mother raised me on Michael Bolton, Mike and the Mechanics and Huey Lewis and the News – so I now have a very diverse and broad taste in music. Unlike many of my peers I can listen to a Nickelback album for just as long as I can Radiohead.

You’ve really embraced blogging – and maybe drinking a bit while blogging?
Yes and yes.

What are your guilty pleasures these days?
I gave up feeling guilty about pleasures when I got into a fist-fight for liking the Spice Girls. People like what they like. I don’t deem it a crime to enjoy the tackier things that our watered-down kitschy media furnishes us with. Except Jersey Shore. People who like that show should be jailed.

You have a book coming out in January, titled after your blog, A Writer Under the Influence. I know you’ve been doing a lot of world traveling lately – are any of the short stories based on your adventures?
Not in the least. A lot of writers create from life experiences and are inspired by the direct interaction with the world around them – I am not one of them. My stories come from some ubiquitous province that I know nothing of. It is a mystery to me as it is to the reader. Though, when I am writing, it feels as if I am writing from experience, that is to say, whatever story I am trying to tell seems nothing short of completely and unequivocally real, no matter how chimeric it is.

I’ve heard it can be a grind cranking out a book. You’ve got a pretty busy schedule with other projects – what was your secret to keeping focused?
Patience. The secret to patience is doing something else in the meantime. So when I need a break from writing a book I work on a screenplay or edit a music video – maximum productivity. For me, the battle is not trying to stay focused, it’s trying not to quit.

The Oscar race is heating up. How about some of your favorite films/performances of this year, or are you too busy to see many movies these days?
I am not too busy to see movies; however, I am too busy to separate them based on Oscar potential. In my opinion the Oscars are just a glorified high school prom where they hand out ‘Most Likely to Succeed’ awards. It’s a fun night and may get you laid. In Hollywood, quality and success have little to do with one another.

Say you and Matt are thrown into a wrestling royal rumble of brotherly directors – the Cohens, the Farrellys, the Wachowskis, and the Hughes – what’s the result?
If it was a hardcore match Joel and Ethan would bludgeon us all with the bald heads of their Oscars (see, they are good for something). But if no such weapons were sanctioned in the ring I’d have to say that The Campagna Brothers would be the last men standing simply because they are younger, more nimble and have absolutely nothing to lose.

www.JeffCampagna.com ~ Official Site
www.aWriterUnderTheInfluence.blogspot.com ~ Blog

Photo by Maciek Drozdzik

DJ, Blow My Speakers Up!

2010-01-04T20:33:00.003-05:00

Alright, I admit it. I just can't get enough of Ke$sha's track, "TiK ToK." With that giddily catchy chorus, it's one insanely guilty pleasure, and it makes me want to dance in my chair.

Amen Break

2009-12-30T21:00:00.002-05:00

Here's an interesting little video about the most sampled drum loop of all time, the "Amen Break." Drummer Gregory C. Coleman of The Winstons recorded it for a b-side back in 1969. Check it, even though the narration is a bit unemotive.

A Different Neville Gets Phunky

2009-12-30T12:16:00.004-05:00

I was watching the 1990 Christian Slater classic Pump Up The Volume last night, and a bluesy, organ-drenched slow-burner of a track jumped out at me. Now I've seen the movie before, but I didn't recall hearing the song before. Anyway, with a little research, I discovered it was "Why Can't I Fall In Love," by Ivan Neville, the son of Aaron Neville (the human vocal equivalent of helium). While I'm not a fan of Aaron, I liked Ivan's bluesy, gritty vocals, and his organ-playing is top-notch. Turns out Neville's got a pretty tight band together now, Dumpstaphunk, and here they are covering the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil."

All In Palindromes

2009-12-29T08:27:00.003-05:00

If I was very clever, I'd write this post as one gigantic palindrome, but I'm just too lazy. Anyway, it's the holidays, and I haven't had that much time to blog, so I've been posting random videos. So here's a Weird Al one for 'Bob' that was brought to light to me just the other day. All lyrical phrases are palindromes, so it ends up sounding like Mad Libs on crack. And did I mention it's done in the Bob Dylan musical and video style?

Richman & Taubenfeld Show Taylor Love

2009-12-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Perhaps some of you in the area remember singer/songwriter (and former GW student) Adam Richman from back in the day. He and Evan Taubenfeld penned a Christmas paean to Taylor Swift, “Merry Swiftmas,” and posted it to YouTube. It’s been getting some press, and even some notice from Taylor herself. Check out the video above.

Thanks to Mike Holden for the tip

Pomplamoose Does the King of Pop

2009-12-22T12:44:00.000-05:00

It’s difficult to do a compelling MJ cover – just ask the contestants on American Idol. But Pomplamoose is up to the challenge, working a cool instrumental and vocal arrangement into an interesting video for “Beat It.” Check it, kids.

"Hallelujah" the Week Is Over

2009-12-18T18:04:00.002-05:00

It's been a very long week, but it's finally over, and the forecast calls for a large amount of snow to be dumped on the area this weekend, which is kinda exciting. Anyway, today my dad sent me the link to this video of four Norwegian singers covering Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Just vocals and acoustic guitar, and it's beautiful. Each singer is strong on his own verse, respectively, and together, their harmonies on the choruses are gorgeous.

MC TXT

2009-12-15T16:11:00.002-05:00

MC TXT from paul notzold on Vimeo.

Check out these improv rappers using audience text messages for subject fodder.

thanks to Frank for the tip

Mike Dunn & The Kings of New England

2009-12-09T08:31:00.004-05:00

If you’re a fan of The Damnwells, chances are you’ll like the new album from Mike Dunn and The Kings of New England (Sundowner).

With a comfortable rasp in Dunn’s vocals (a la Alex Dezen of The Damnwells) and an anthemic quality to their rock, Mike Dunn & The Kings of New England have offered up an album that’s strong from start to finish, an uncommon feat these days. Hailing from Florida, their sound is influenced by a more traditional rock sound, along the line of Springsteen and fellow Sunshine Staters Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.

MD&TKONE first came upon my ears a few years ago when I heard their track “Paper Candy” from their Edge of America EP. I loved the sound of it, and it made me want to keep an eye on the band and see what they’d do next.

Dunn wrote on their Facebook page,“I want to make windows-down music,” which perfectly describes what they’ve done. And I want to listen to it.

MP3: The Promised Land – Mike Dunn & The Kings of New England

Stokery

2009-12-08T08:00:00.003-05:00

I'm loving this video from The Onion. Just make sure you don't get overstoked, kids!

Thanks to Jeff for the tip

Seven Questions With Cory Chisel

2009-12-07T08:30:00.002-05:00

Cory Chisel might look like a scruffier version of David Blaine wearing a porkpie hat, but there is no illusion when it comes to his music. His organic alt-country sound with the Wandering Sons and the sweet harmonies of Adriel Harris is Americana from the heartland, through and through.

Chisel’s got a new album, Death Won’t Send A Letter, and he’ll be opening for Brendan Benson at the 9:30 Club this Wednesday, December 9th. I caught up with him via email:

Death Won’t Send A Letter is your first “big label” release, and you worked with Grammy-winning producer Joe Chiccarelli (The Shins, The White Stripes) on the record. Was there a certain overarching sound or theme that you were going for?
I'm always looking for sounds that elevate me in some way, and Joe has made many of those records. I figured for my first step out the door I would start with someone who has lifted me many times with sounds he helped create.

Any particular favorite tracks off of the new album and why?
Well there are always songs that present themselves as favorites for one reason or another, and I think on this record I have really become fond of the song “My Heart Would Be There”. It’s a song I have tried to record several times, and in the end we finally got something that we all felt good about.

How do you think your Wisconsin roots influence your songwriting?
Well, we get lots of time to write music in our neck of the woods... many long hours of dark winter to sit and look at our guitars. I have always been a big fan of the time to reflect on whatever is going on around us, and we have many great characters up there to paint into our stories.

I’m not sure if you like football, but if you do - How are you feeling about Brett Favre these days?
I support the guy... but I will cheer against him if he plays the Packers.

So you collaborated with Brendan Benson on the track “Born Again” – how is it touring together?
It's an ideal situation...I get to play songs night after night with someone that I admire, and enjoy working with so much. I wish all things could work this way.

What are a few CDs that you and the Wanderers can heartily agree on for a cross-country sing-along drive in the van? Feel free to mention hair metal.
Most played records right now are:
The National, Boxer
Bob Dylan, New Morning
The Velvet Underground and Nico
Leonard Cohen, Songs Of Love and Hate
The Greenhorns, untitled and unreleased record (hope everyone will hear this someday)

And finally, what do you want to leave the audience thinking after you finish your set this Wednesday night at the 9:30 Club?
I hope we make a wave in the town so we can keep riding back in as often as we can. I happen to like the town a lot...it's edgy, strange, and full of a lot of music I have been into for years.

MP3: Born Again – Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons

Threefer

2009-12-03T21:47:00.003-05:00

HEARTBREAKING: Rolling Stone's got a very nice interview with Mr. Tom Petty here

WHACK: 5 Very Good Reasons To Punch A Dolphin In The Mouth - it's pretty self-explanatory

TOPS: A.V. Club's Best Films of the 00s, and Popdose's 100 Best Albums of the Decade

Even If It's Bold Italic...

2009-12-03T07:05:00.002-05:00

Who says Helvetica has to get all the props? Font love and Lady Gaga parody wrapped up into one poker-licious video.

Memphis 59 Gets Ragged But Right

2009-12-01T08:30:00.005-05:00

Locals Memphis 59 will be celebrating the release of their new album, Ragged But Right, this Friday, December 4th, at Jammin Java in Vienna, VA. Straying toward the rockier side of alt-country, their melodic sound is influenced by the likes of Petty and The Replacements. I caught up with lead vocalist Scott Kurt below via email to discuss the recording of the album, as well as drink recommendations for the band.

Did you have certain themes you were looking to get across with the recording of Ragged But Right?
I think there are certain themes that run through the album, (love, break ups, hook-ups, relationships, etc.) but we didn’t set out with these ideas when we decided to make the record. Some songs didn’t make the cut and some did. We just tried to choose the best songs to get the Memphis 59 sound across to the listener.

And I believe you were pretty psyched to work with Grammy-winners John Jennings (producer), Bob Dawson (sound engineer) and Jon Carroll (keys) in the studio?
Yes we were all excited to be working with such talent. We could have gone to any studio, plopped down a bag of money and made the record. But we wanted to work with people who have both experience and the hardware to back it up, and nothing says that like a Grammy. I did some research and decided to reach out to John Jennings to see if he would be interested in producing our record. He said he would have to come hear us play first and decide from there. So he came over to our practice space, we played a few tunes and he really liked what he heard. Through John Jennings we met Bob Dawson, Jon Carroll, and then the album really started to take shape.

I know picking favorite songs can be like choosing a favorite child, but were you particularly pleased with how certain tracks turned out?
No doubt. I would love for every song to turn out exactly how I want, but that is just not reality. When you have bandmates, a producer etc. everyone has their own vision of what they think the song should be. There is no right or wrong, just opinions and there has to be give & take. Some songs I gave more and some I took more, but in the end we are really happy with the album and very proud. It was a long journey but along the way I think we all learned a thing or two. My favorites are probably “Girl at the End of the Bar”, “Black & White TV” and “Way With Words”.

With all the over-produced pop out there on the radio, what, or who, inspires you these days?
My goal in writing is just to have the song be good. That’s it. I just want to write a good song. Something that when it’s over, the listener misses the song and looks forward to hearing it again. Inspiration to me has always come from guys like Tom Petty, Paul Westerberg, Ryan Adams etc. They really seem to put the song first, no matter what’s going on with the world, politics, music business etc. It’s all about the song first.

Do you prefer to base your songs on things going on around you, or do you like to live vicariously through your songwriting?
Both. Sometimes I take a story that happened to me and write the song around that experience. Sometimes it comes from a friend or I just make up the characters and write about things that happen in life. It all depends on the inspiration and the theme. I try to make it interesting to the listener, or at least something that they can relate to.

Describe the Memphis 59 sound in three words or less, using no verbs.
I skipped a lot of classes in school so I hope I don’t blow this one. I would say “honest, rootsy” and that way I have one word to spare down the road.

Do you find the DC area to be a supportive one when it comes to music?
Supportive is a strange word. Some venues can be, but they also have to look out for their best interests. Their goal is mainly to pack their room and sell drinks etc. A lot of bars/clubs in the area do that by booking cover bands. Nothing wrong with that, but it does not really help out with “the scene” as far as original local music in the DC area. There are some rooms that put more focus on the music like Jammin Java, IOTA, etc. but sometimes you will see a great band and the room will only be half full, and that’s not good for business, so it’s really tricky. As far as other bands supporting each other, no I don’t see a lot of that. I try my best to check out a lot of bands in the area. Sometimes I like them, sometimes I don’t, but you have to at least get out there and get a feel for the pulse. It’s funny to me when certain bands/artists complain that not enough people come out to see them play, but when they are not playing they are sitting at home instead of lending their support to other bands. A lot of the cities that we play are like DC, but some of them like Pittsburgh are great when it comes to bands supporting other bands.

Which drink do you think will best accompany the Memphis 59 CD release show this Friday at Jammin Java? Expresso? Gin and tonic? Or something else?
We are all fans of bourbon so anything with whiskey/bourbon will do just fine.

Davy's Got The Blues

2009-11-29T11:40:00.001-05:00

I had missed my previous chance to go see Isle of Man’s blues guitar wunderkind Davy Knowles and his band Back Door Slam a couple of months ago, and I made sure I didn’t take any chances this time. And the kid didn’t let me down. I was in the mood for some fiery blues guitar, and that’s what I got last night at the Rock & Roll Hotel.

Looking a bit like a younger, shaggier version of another English Davy (Jones), the fresh-faced Knowles (22) sounded like Paul Rogers (Bad Company), and played like Stevie Ray.

Back Door Slam kept things pretty basic on bass and drums, leaving plenty of room for the singularly-talented Knowles to lead the way on rhythm and lead guitar. Mixing in covers like Neil Young’s Cortez the Killer” and CSNY’s “Almost Cut My Hair” with originals throughout their set, they were always sure to include the sweet release of a string-bending guitar solo for the audience to eagerly look forward to.

Is Knowles groundbreaking? Not necessarily, but he’s extremely good and soooo young, and it’s very cool to see a rising guitarist up close. Plus, he’s been associating with some old masters in the field, playing and touring with guys like Warren Haynes, Joe Satriani, Jeff Beck, Peter Frampton, so I think we’ve got more good things to look forward to.

A Case of the Fridays - Thanksgiving Edition

2009-11-24T21:00:00.001-05:00

Bluesman Bobby Parker will help you get your holiday blues on this Saturday, November 28th at Madam’s Organ in Adams Morgan. With stinging guitar licks and years of experience playing and touring with musicians such as Bo Diddley, Sam Cooke and Chuck Berry, the blues are in his bones, and you can hear it when he plays and when he sings. Born in Lousiana, but a DC-area resident now, check him out above at a Madam’s Organ gig a year ago.

For a folkier sound, check out Elvis Perkins in Dearland at the Rock & Roll Hotel in Washington, DC, Wednesday, December 2nd. With a haunted voice, Perkins and his small band of multi-instrumentalists create beautiful Americana with an air of darkness.

MP3: Shampoo – Elvis Perkins in Dearland

Jason Segal Gets His Swell On

2009-11-21T15:31:00.002-05:00

You most likely know Jason Segal as Marshall in How I Met Your Mother or as that dude who wasn't afraid to let it all hang out in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. He bursts into the occasional comedic song or riff on HIMYM, but here he is doing a number a more grandiose scale - accompanied by The Swell Season at their show this past Wednesday. Check it.

Thanks to UnQ for the tip

Eggs Over Easy...

2009-11-17T20:37:00.005-05:00

After reading a post by Michael over at I Like Songs. And Songs Like Me awhile back, I was inspired to check and see what a live Lyle Lovett performance was like (thanks, YouTube). I mean, I have his Live In Texas album, but I've always meant to catch one of his shows at Wolf Trap and never have followed through. Anyway, here's a beautiful performance of "Nobody Knows Me" recorded for Austin City Limits back in the 90s.

Matthew Ryan Jams In Fairfax

2009-11-15T10:35:00.006-05:00

This past Friday I found out that one of my favorite singer/songwriters, Matthew Ryan, was doing a private house concert nearby, in Fairfax. One of my fellow music bloggers, Pete from Ickmusic, cleared things for my attendance, and my rainy Friday was made.

Driving out I had no idea what the house in question and atmosphere would be like. Turns out it was hosted by some very cool folks at a well-decorated house, and there couldn’t have been more than 20 or so people there. So we’re talking a nice intimate setting, with Matthew Ryan standing up and playing in the living room, hanging out with the everyone the whole evening. How cool is that?

Anyway, the two-set show was excellent. There’s just something so immediate about listening to someone just play and sing directly, and not having to hear their sound sent through a PA system. It was mostly Ryan with his acoustic guitar and a bit of harmonica, and he was in very strong voice. He played a good number of tracks off of his new CD, Dear Lover, and he hit a lot of my old favorites, too (especially enjoyed “Me and My Lover”). The audience got him talking throughout the evening; he’s very compelling to listen to, revealing a few stories about the music industry and answering questions about the logistics of being a musician.

Great evening, and thanks to John for hosting.

Concert photograph courtesy of Ben Maphis

Some Words With Danilo

2009-11-11T13:24:00.004-05:00

It's kind of funny. Though I'm more of a rock/pop/blues type of guy I've recently been getting the chance to write about jazz and talk to a couple of top jazz musicians. I just interviewed jazz pianist Danilo Perez here. I must say, he's got some fast fingers, and a very positive outlook on things.

John Gerrard Gets Virtual

2009-11-10T11:48:00.002-05:00

Irish artist John Gerrard has got a new exhibit over at the Hirshhorn that combines 360-degree American Dust Bowl photography and gaming software into a rather stark, hypnotic virtual reality. But with all that software power at his disposal, he doesn't even play video games! Check out my interview with him here.

Radiohead in Hi-Def

2009-11-09T21:08:00.002-05:00

This is some very nice hi-def footage of a 2008 Radiohead show in Japan. Quality sound, and some very cool lighting, courtesy of the hanging tube lights.

Butch Walker Belongs With You

2009-11-08T13:06:00.004-05:00

Watch Butch Walker go into his studio and bust out a jaunty studio cover of Taylor Swift's "You Belong To Me." For the kids, of course.

The Dark Horse

2009-11-05T19:26:00.003-05:00

I first came upon Ryan Star in season two of Rock Star (Rock Star: Supernova). Nicknamed “The Dark Horse” by crazy Dave Navarro, I was impressed by his strong finish in the show, but I hadn’t considered what would become of him afterwards. But when I heard his recent recordings, my interest was definitely piqued. Though Star's new album, 11:59, seems to keep getting delayed, several of its new tracks are now available as an EP (Last Train Home) - kind of a teaser until the whole album drops.

Anyway, I just found a very cool video of him performing an acoustic version of the anthemic “Last Train Home” acoustic for a Seattle radio station. And he just released his new single, “Breathe.” Perhaps that bodes well for the new album’s release…

MP3: Last Train Home – Ryan Star

Trey on "Push On Till The Day"

2009-11-03T13:55:00.001-05:00

Wow, here’s a very high-quality video of the Trey Anastasio Band live at Bonnaroo ripping through an oh-so-funky “Push On Till The Day.” I just love this song, and Trey just burns it up at the end. Awesome.

Matthew Sweet/Susanna Hoffs CD Giveaway

2009-11-02T20:39:00.002-05:00

Power-popper Matthew Sweet and lead Bangle Susanna Hoffs are at it again as duo “Sid N Susie.” Anyway, last time around it was 2006, and they were covering 60s classics. This time, they’ve progressed into the 70s, covering songs by acts like Fleetwood Mac, Rod Stewart and Mott the Hoople.

They’ll be in the area for two shows – this Sunday, November 8th at the Birchmere, and Monday, November 9th at the Ram’s Head Tavern in Annapolis. And you can win a copy of their new CD, Under the Covers Vol. 2 over at MetroMusicScene.com right here.

Walken Shows His Poker Face

2009-11-02T09:12:00.002-05:00

Christopher Walken recites Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" on Jonathan Ross' BBC show...

New Weezer

2009-11-02T07:03:00.002-05:00

Weezer's new album, Raditude, drops this Tuesday. But while you wait, you can check out the video for the very poppy and rather catchy "(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To" here.

Worse Than The Fourth Kind?

2009-11-01T19:54:00.005-05:00

As soon as I saw the ads for The Fourth Kind (you know, the ones that list different "kinds" of abductions), I felt they were missing the worst kind.