April 24, 2006
Weekly Music Agenda
MONDAY
>> Remember when rap-rock was cool? We try to repress the memories, but some bands just won’t let us forget. San Diego-based P.O.D. is one of those bands. If you’re feeling sentimental, they’ll be at the 9:30 Club, along with Pillar, The Chariot, and Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, as part of the Warriors Tour. It’s doubtful that “Warriors” is a slick reference to Walter Hill’s 1979 classic movie, but you never know. $17, 7 p.m.
>> It’s never too early for the 2008 presidential election in this town. Black Cat is screening "After W: The 'Rock Against Bush Tour' and Beyond." $5, 9 p.m.
TUESDAY
>> If you love jazz, the Dave Liebman Group will be at Blues Alley to serve up a nice order of saxophone. Yes, that’s the same Dave Liebman who appeared on Mile Davis’ “Get Up With It,” and he sports some other jazzy credentials. $20, 8 and 10 p.m.
>> Named after an old apartment building in northeast D.C., The Roosevelt haven’t quite established themselves in the city like their namesake, but it sounds like they are ready to give it a shot. Check them out at DC9 with fellow local bands Let’s French and Kitty Hawk. Too bad Let’s French isn’t also known as Let’s French Revolution because we would have another lineup for history geeks to drool over. 9 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
>> One DCist writer described They Might Be Giants shows as consisting of “the largest collection of post-graduate degrees in any rock concert audience.” It’s pretty hard to top that description. All we know is that TMBG put on a great show, and they’ve got plenty of hits to keep even the younger, ADHD-prone fans in check. They’ll be at the 9:30 Club with Michael Leviton and Last Car. $25.
>> Women want them and men want to be them. Well, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but The Strokes are good looking. What man doesn’t want to look good and have a name like Fabrizio or Julian? See them at DAR Constitution Hall, unless of course you don’t already have tickets. 8 p.m.
>> There is something charming about Sub Pop darlings the Fruit Bats and their weird folk ditties and 1960s-era pop symphonies, so we’ll forgive them for the bland band name. They’ll be at Black Cat with Amandine and Sam Jayne. $10, 9 p.m.
THURSDAY
>> For those of you longing for the heyday of the Elephant Six Recording Company, Athens-based Elf Power is playing Iota with The Instruments and Ike. Elephant Six blessed us with such bands as Olivia Tremor Control, Apples in Stereo, Beulah and Neutral Milk Hotel (to name a few), so expect the same psychedelic, pop rock to dominate tonight. $12, 9 p.m.
>> If Elf Power isn’t psychedelic enough for your trippy rock cravings, try D.C.’s (The Sounds of) Kaleidoscope, who will be at Black Cat with The Oranges Band, and Meredith Bragg & The Terminals (***). $8, 9 p.m.
>> D.C.'s Baltimore's Two If By Sea wrap up their DC9 residency this Thursday. It's a full four-band bill, with openers Neutral Mute, Telograph and Grubspoon. The residency's been drawing a pretty packed house over the past two weeks, so stop on by and see what all the fuss is about. $8, 9 p.m.
FRIDAY
>> Don’t know what to do with your Friday night? Maybe you could drive around this town and let the cops chase you around. Or you could go see the Gin Blossoms at the State Theatre in Falls Church. We know what you’re thinking: Gin Blossoms? $27, 9 p.m.
>> D.C.-based Shwa will premiere their new EP “Click Track” at Iota with headliners Bicycle Thieves. $10, 9:30 p.m.
SATURDAY
>> John Vanderslice brings his pixel revolt to Iota with Page France. $10, 9:30 p.m.
>> A little bird told us that Velvet Lounge has Middle Distance Runner and The Pawns (which includes Hello Tokyo vocalist Kat and Bellflur’s Blake on guitar) are playing at Velvet Lounge this weekend. Then another little bird informed us Middle Distance Runner is out, City State is In, and New York's Sad Little Stars have been added to thoroughly confuse us music agenda writers. Both little birds agreed, however, that you would like the show, so we at DCist do what little birds tell us to do and we are spreading the word.
SUNDAY
>> Vienna Teng has the piano chops of Ben Folds combined with Sarah McLachlan’s graceful vocals. If you don’t believe us, she’ll be at the Barns at Wolf Trap. She sold out her last show in October, so get your tickets now. $20, 7:30 p.m.
>> On the opposite side of the musical spectrum Sweden’s Arch Enemy will be headlining the 9:30 Club’s tribute to all things death, doom and metal. And yes, that is a woman singing vocals for Arch Enemy. No, we couldn’t believe it either. Chimaira, God Forbid, Hate Eternal, and Temple of Brutality round out the lineup. $18, 6 p.m.
As always, since we at DCist can’t be everywhere and know everything, feel free to suggest other shows in the comment section.
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And Islands are playing at the Black Cat on tuesday, made up of a couple members of The Unicorns. Good stuff
dredg will be at the 9:30 on Tuesday if you're into the prog-rock-ish sort of thing. They put on a mighty fine show.
I've had the Gin Blossoms "Follow You Down" in my head ever since I heard it at Potbelly's a few days ago. Ugg...
You're missing the best show of the week!
Wednesday 4/26 at the Birchmere you'll find Josh Ritter with opening act HEM. Josh's new album, Animal Years, just came out from V2 Records. Comparisons to Springsteen and Dylan abound but you really wont find a more talented songwriter out there. Check out his website to listen to the 9:30 minute epic "Thin Blue Flame", which is a protest song without being a protest song. Simply brilliant!!!
Jesus what a great week for DC music.
Oh, I think after the success of the "Malcolm in the Middle" theme song, TMBG's post-graduate-degree ratio might have slipped behind Yo La Tengo's.
"Comparisons to Springsteen and Dylan abound but you really wont find a more talented songwriter out there."
That sort of sounds like you're denigrating the songwriting talent of Springsteen and Dylan. Maybe you should proofread your breathless hyperbole to make sure it makes sense. One band that will not be caught denigrating the songwriting talents of Springsteen and Dylan (okay well maybe sometimes, everyone's got some turkeys) is the Beanstalk Library, at the Velvet Lounge tonight (4/24) with Buffali, Mara Levi, and Justin Trawick, all artists who would chafe at the hackneyed, overused epithet "simply brilliant."
Speaking of denigrating, I didn't realize that it was "Needless Attack Day" at DCist. My statement was meant to convey that Mr Ritter's songwriting is extremely talented and I probably should have put the word "today" after "...talented songwriter out there". Josh Ritter himself would never say he has eclipsed those two gentlemen. Please calm yourself, Mr. Fry. DCist requested that users suggest other shows this week. That is what I did.
It's Needless Attack Day everyday, when a songwriter with such a striking ability to manipulate and massage the human psyche is hyped with the equivalent of "Josh Ritter! It's teh awesome! Ur gonna totes
It's Needless Attack Day everyday, when a songwriter with such a striking ability to manipulate and massage the human psyche is hyped with the equivalent of "Josh Ritter! It's teh awesome! Ur gonna totes (heart) him 4 sure!" Put some thought into it. Quote a lyric. The kid's brilliant and you sold him short. I wanted to skip the show based on your description, and I know how good he is.
Yet another live music alternative for the fair citizens of DC Rock City...
THIS SATURDAY NIGHT!
The "Suggestive Material" CD Release Party
Assrockers w/Jonny Lives!
DATE: Saturday, April 29, 2006
PLACE: DC9, 1940 9th Street, NW, Washington, DC
DOORS: 10:00 p.m
COVER: $8
THERE'LL BE...
Cool free stuff and random prizes!
Assrock'n'roll!
Really attractive boys and girls in tight fitting clothing.
Of course you want to be there!
Isis on Sunday 4/30 at the Black Cat.
Some friends and I will be at Velvet Lounge this friday night to see The Sentiment and The Object Lesson. The other two bands I've never heard, so don't know if they're any good or not but I've seen TS and TOL before and they're pretty impressive.
I love it when pathetic hipsters hide behind the anonymous nature of commenting in blogs to needlessly belittle those simply wanting to use the power of the internet to freely disseminate information. Thanks for wasting everyone's time Gabe.
Oh yeah, and in case it may have been lost behind the seemingly superfluous slander from Frylock:
*************************
Josh Ritter w/ HEM
@ The Birchmere
4/26, Doors 6 PM, Show 7:30 PM
*************************
Thanks for your time.
What's so anonymous about Gabriel Fry? Gee, it almost sounds like his real name.
Power of teh internets!
Was anybody at the full minute of mercury/ the dance party show at the velvet lounge? i couldnt believe how packed it was when the dance party played. there were literally people standing on the steps coming upstairs trying to see the show. some chicks were trying to get into the sound booth to get a good view. there was NO room to move. it was rediculous.
I may be a prickly, elitist culture warrior, but "anonymous" is a word generally reserved for people who don't use their full given names. Hack.
In other news, Dredg's opener at the 9:30 is the severely under-rated Ours. Remember them? Their live show is life-affirming, for the vocals alone.
i was at the full minute/dance party/unlovables/vote quimby show, it was decidedly kickass...
i might've been drunk... but not as drunk as a couple of weeks ago... but still drunk nonetheless...
i'll be sober tonight at the beanstalk library show...
yay!!!
Touché Gabe, touché.
I hope we can at least agree that Josh Ritter is a fantastic musician who deserves the notice of the DCist community. As he serenades in "Snow is Gone" from Hello Starling, he's "singing for the love of it, have mercy on the man who sings to be adored". That's readily apparent when you see him in concert, joyfully playing and smiling to the entire crowd.
I'd like to apologize to all for wrongful use of the comment space - it's not a place for individual arguments; Please see http://www.gothamistllc.com/commentpolicy.php
Thanks and enjoy a wonderful musical week as Reid noted.
Two out of 11,000 DCist commenters agree, Josh Ritter is the real deal. Also, Hem, the opening act, are really delightful if you're into the whole large band acoustic folk thing. Their albums are a little slick for my taste, but the grit and charm of their live show is intoxicating.
Why do people keep calling Two if by Sea a "DC band" when their web site and bio make it pretty clear they consider themselves to be from Baltimore? I'm completely on board with extending the definition of "local" to include Baltimore, but that's not the same thing as saying they're from D.C. Which they're not.
I think Adam's real name is Josh.
two if by sea said they were from baltimore when they played last thursday...
I think Adam works for Josh, googling his name all day so he can drop some of that groovy viral marketing.
Nate -- duely noted, and corrected
DAMN! You guys found me out :)
All that talk about Josh Ritter made me go listen to clips on his website. Decided to go see him. But the show is sold out.
I think Adam is a very short boy with a severe napoleon complex. And, he seems to have a taste for very bland singer/songwriters. I also think that he probably thinks John Mayer is a really, really great artist. Ick.
I think Adam is a very short boy with a severe napoleon complex. And, he seems to have a taste for very bland singer/songwriters. I also think that he probably thinks John Mayer is a really, really great artist. Ick.
One more thing... My crystal ball is telling me that Adam also likes to date somewhat chunky girls with large noses.
John Mayer writes lyrics that sell clothing lines. Josh Ritter writes lyrics that wrestle your mind to the ground and beat it savagely with your still-beating heart. Doug writes poo.
Wow. Thank you to the music snobs for making feel so welcome here. I'll remember not to provide information to the DCist community in the future. Much appreciated.
Bad Comments(from the Comment Policy)
-Bad comments insult the writer of the post, other commenters, Gothamist, other websites, etc.
-Bad comments are often long, negative in tone, contain profanity, threats, or invective content.
Adam, you and anyone else should feel free to add to the music agenda. Adding to our post greatly enhances it, and it not only spotlights acts that our readers are passionate about and it adds to the scope of our intel. As much as possible, try not to be turned off by the...well, the comment policy forbids me from using the terms I would use.
This friday at Velvet Lounge is one of my personal favs - The Sentiment. I think it's a 4 band line-up? Dunno much about The Object Lesson or High Speed Changer (Charger?) but I hear good things about Enemy of Three.
I double the OURS recommendation at 930 Club tonight. They're one of those bands that reminds you why you fell in love with music in the first place.