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Photo of the Day: November 9, 2009
The Beanstalk Library, a mainstay on the local alt-country scene, have a new live lineup and some new recordings to celebrate. To launch their re-formation, they've taken to the internets. Five local blogs (DCist, BYT, District of Sound, Instrumental Analysis and Baby, You Got a Stew Goin!) are each streaming one of their five new songs. DCist's exclusive track is called "The Only Things I'll Take With Me," and it features another of our very favorite local musicians, Tom Hnatow of These United States, on pedal steel. It's a sweet reflective tune that's just right for long hot summer days, paired with a front porch and a glass of iced tea. If you like what you hear, you can see the guys perform this and other songs live on Memorial Day (Monday, May 25) at Iota (8:30 p.m., $10). It's the band's first local show in 8 months, and the first since replacing two members.
The Only Things Ill Take With Me - The Beanstalk Library
Ed. Note: Grr, it looks like only 30 seconds of the song are available unless you click through to the MP3 host. We're working to fix this for you, thanks for your patience.
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There is a "local alt-country" scene?
Right! I didn't know there was much of any scene in DC.
Hipsters!
enough with the hateration. you should love your local pedal steelsman. if it weren't for him, you'd have no local pedal steelsman. think about it.
Its always funny to me when people say "there's no 'scene' in DC." There is apparently enough music being made to support not only the local stalwarts - 9:30 Club, Black Cat, IOTA - but also to support the new venues that have opened in the last few years (DC9, Rock and Roll Hotel, to name just two).
I haven't seen very many other cities in the US - with the exception of New York - that have so many quality clubs or so many quality local bands.
Lest we forget, most "scenes" only become so when they're written about in retrospect. In all likelihood, there's plenty of things going down right now that will be worth writing about later on - you're just missing them.
Lest we forget, even the famed 80s hardcore scene took place mostly underground, in small clubs and basements. Read the papers. Read the blogs. Go see music - chances are you'll find something around here worth liking and will be able to look back and say "I knew them when".
930 Club, Black Cat and IOTA are places to see acts, not a "scene" per se. And I don't think local acts fill the majority of bill spots at 930 Club. Black Cat, sure. But one club?? That does not constitute a scene. Clearly you see the glass as half full.
I'm from TX. Austin, for example, has a music expansive and diverse music "scene". DC, in comparison, does not.
Dude, I lived that scene. Minor Threat, Bad Brains. Fugazi at that church up in Columbia Heights. I was just asking about this "alt country" thing. Guess I'm just too old and unhip.
-The Federal Reserve presents: First Mondays at IOTA (approximately 10 folk/country-oriented bands w/ national touring acts). First Monday of every month.
Local Bands/nearby bands worth your while:
-Jukebox the Ghost
-Vandaveer
-Pree
-Justin Jones & the Driving Rain
-Deleted Scenes
-The Sketches
-Exit Clov
-Bellman Barker
-Junior League
-Greenland
-Middle Distance Runner
These are all just bands off the top of my head. (With apologies to everyone obvious I've missed). I also know there's a thriving hip-hop scene here in DC (Which I am not-well versed in enough to expound on, sadly).
DC isn't Austin, for sure. And having struggled to make a living playing music here for years, I certainly don't see it as a "glass half full" city. For one, the cost of living makes it much more difficult to just play music. But over the past few years the national attention paid to a number of bands from here (see list above) certainly proves that there's enough worthwhile music being made here.
Nice beard, Brian.