Two years ago, Deleted Scenes released a diverse, irresistible and fun debut with Birdseed Shirt. Now the Brooklyn/D.C.-based quartet's latest offering Young People's Church of the Air finds the group expanding on its debut, while enduring a few growing pains along the way. more ›

Last year we reported on the strong presence the District had at the annual music industry spring break that is SXSW in Austin, TX. This year, in addition to official shows from The Hall Monitors, Benjy Ferree, These United States and, oddly enough, Frodus, there were a number of unofficial appearances as well. The DC Does TX day party returned to Austin for its second year, District-based Exotic Fever Records held a shindig of their own, and a few acts like Laura Burhenn and Wild Fictions had some performances without other locals on the bill. There are always at least 20 fantastic shows going on at the same time at SXSW, so we didn't make it to everyone's performances, but here's a quick look at some of the excellent shows that we did catch. more ›

In a past Three Stars interview, DCist Music Editor Amanda Mattos called D.C./Brooklyn quartet Deleted Scenes "not a great local band, but a great band in general." Listening to their debut LP, Birdseed Shirt, it's difficult to challenge that assessment. Named after an invention dreamed up by Jonathan Safran Foer's protagonist in the novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Birdseed Shirt is brimming with ideas — much like Foer's book — and clearly the work of artists destined to exist outside of the "local" category. more ›

The local music community has come together several times over the past year and a half to support Callum Robbins, the son of local music mainstay J. Robbins and Janet Morgan. Cal was diagnosed with a genetic motor neuron disease called Type 1 SMA, or Spinal Muscular Atrophy. As explained on the DeSoto records page supporting Cal,

The disease affects the brain's ability to communicate with the voluntary muscles that are used for activities such as crawling, walking, head and neck control, breathing, and swallowing. Type 1 SMA is usually fatal; most Type 1 babies will die before their second birthday. Those infants who survive into childhood are in for a long road of occupational therapy, wheelchairs, and assistive devices. Despite years of work on its treatment and "ongoing promising research," it has no cure.

Cal is doing very well for the moment. J., like any proud parent, is always relating stories of amazing things Cal does and how resilient he has been throughout his young life. According to the literature on SMA, a huge milestone for an afflicted child is his or her second birthday. The mortality rate is very high prior to that time, so the fact that Cal has passed that age is a huge deal. However, even during relative "good times" life with SMA is extremely difficult due to the limited mobility it creates, the need for constant assistance supervision for the child, and the amount of physical therapy involved to keep the child's muscle strength and motor skills from declining. This is why doing a benefit show like the one on Friday can actually make a difference, because the day to day cost of care for a child like Cal really piles on top the normal expenses any family must endure. Every little bit friends can do to help offset that expense helps Cal lead a healthier and happier life.

FRIDAY: >> It’s been over six years since he last had a properly released album, but crooner Bilal (left) has still managed to catch people’s attention with some of his latest material. Too bad it was illegally leaked and now his label is threatening never to let the refined product see the light of day. Regardless, his Black Cat performance should be noteworthy. 9 p.m., $22. >> We’ve told you about Deleted Scenes many times... more ›

>> We've been waiting for this all year, and it's finally here: Fort Reno kicks off this evening with Mass Movement of the Moth, Unbuckled alumni Deleted Scenes, and the Boom Orangutangs. Take Metro to Tenleytown/American Univeristy and head over to the grassy field at 3950 Chesapeake Street, NW. Shows usually start between 7 and 7:30. Picnics and camaraderie begin whenever you can get out of work. As always, leave the glass bottles and booze at home. more ›

MONDAY >> The wait is over! We've been anxiously awaiting the start of Fort Reno's season, and the day has finally arrived. Head up to the park and hear one of DCist's favorite local outfits, Deleted Scenes, along with Mass Movement of the Moth and The Boom Orangutangs. >> It's movie night at Galaxy Hut, and tonight the theme is 80s Surf Films. Get your Point Break on and drink an Alagash or twelve. It... more ›

As we mentioned in the Morning Roundup today, there are plenty of ways to define the start of summer. For music lovers in the D.C. area however, once Fort Reno starts, you know the lazy days of fire fly catching and swimming pool splashing are officially upon us. We told you last week about the opening lineup for this summer's series on June 18, but we're happy to tell you now that the full... more ›

Fort Reno, the long-running summer concert series that dates back to the days when Marion Barry wasn't dodging indictments, gives D.C.'s indie and punk faithful welcome respite from dark, dimly lit clubs, and everyone a chance to enjoy some great local bands during the long summer evenings. The stage has witnessed many amazing performances by a who's who of local luminaries including Fugazi, Q and not U, Ted Leo and Mary Timony, and was to... more ›

MONDAY >> Start out this lovely spring week right by taking in local group Deleted Scenes (***) and their particular brand of you-name-it-they've-play-it-surf/rockabilly/garage/punk rock at the Red and the Black. Hero Cycle, Hot Lava and Paper Airplanes open. $8, 9 p.m. TUESDAY >> Quirky and fantastical sister-duo CocoRosie play the Rock and Roll Hotel. One half of the duo sings and plays guitar and flute, while the other sings and covers percussion ("rattles things, makes... more ›

>> Wish you too were living the dream of working a flexible job from home? Free yourself from the shackles of your office in time to make it to the Warehouse Theater by 7:30 p.m. for a comedy-infused presentation by Michelle Goodman, Seattle freelance writer and author of The Anti 9-to-5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube. Men are also encouraged to attend. And it's free. >> Gear up... more ›

It's not over yet folks: April is about to culminate with the biggest art weekend in recent memory. Artomatic and ColorField.remix continue to bring us a healthy helping of visual and performance art, and now we get one big, fat cherry of an art fair to top it all off this weekend, sprinkled with about a billion other shows placed to coincide with it, including one at a particular venue that deserves your attention. >>... more ›

>> Check out Unbuckled alums Deleted Scenes at Warehouse Nextdoor with the rest of an intriguing line-up, including Brooklyn's rising bedroom blues star She Keeps Bees, the psychedelic-influences The Love Story and Pash. [1017 7th St. NW, 9:30 p.m. $8] more ›

Monday >> It’s been a few years since Strange and Beautiful brought English singer/songwriter Aqualung into the spotlight with his radio friendly sensitivity, but now he’s back touring to promote his latest release, Memory Man. He’ll be headlining the 9:30 Club with opener Sara Bareilles. $20. >> Three Stars favorites The Deleted Scenes will be out at the Warehouse Next Door tonight as part of a four band line-up including Pash, The Love Story, and... more ›

FRIDAY: >> Friends 'o DCist Middle Distance Runner have had quite a ride since playing our special Unbuckled/Anniversary concert last September. Despite a few bumps on the road, they've gone from little band that could to having their first headlining slot at 9:30 club tonight. We'll say we knew them when. With The Dance Party. 10 p.m., $10. >> Akron/Family impressed the pants off of critics in 2005 with their self-titled neo-folk stylings. They'll be... more ›

Call us old fashioned, but we like our year-end backward glances to come after we're done furiously ripping open presents and before we pop the champagne for New Year's. Rather than subject you only to what we on the DCist music staff deemed this year's best and brightest (don't worry, we'll do that too), we asked a handful of our favorite local artists what their favorite albums of 2006 were. A lot of great musicians... more ›

MONDAY >> You scream, I scream, we all scream for British and 70s-inspired rock. Double your pleasure tonight at the Black Cat, as The Points (Fredericksburg's answer to Kings of Leon) and The Cuts (think The Cure meets The Thrills) work the back stage. $7, 9 p.m. >> We caught The Parachute Musical a while ago, opening for Deleted Scenes (who you may have seen at last week's Unbuckled). They turn out impressive piano pop,... more ›

Thanks, again, to Holly Tegeler for our Unbuckled design. more ›

Tomorrow night at DC9, Unbuckled will feature Deleted Scenes, discussed on the site yesterday, and Georgie James, a new collaboration between John Davis, formerly of Q and Not U, and Laura Burhenn. You can read about the band and listen to their (excellent) songs here. Today, we talk to Davis, who was kind enough to take a few of our questions. Questions for Georgie James: So, it wasn't that long after Q and Not U... more ›

This Thursday, DCist will host Unbuckled at DC9, featuring Deleted Scenes and Georgie James. We typically preview our Unbuckled bands for you all before the show, and today the job is especially easy. Music Editor Amanda Mattos covered Deleted Scenes in April as part of our Three Stars local music feature, and today we're running that post again. Enjoy, and we hope to see you Thursday. "Local band." It's one of those combinations of terms... more ›

What are you doing next Thursday? With sweeps behind you and a long weekend in front of you, we can't think of a single excuse to miss Unbuckled 3.0. Georgie James and Deleted Scenes are the featured bands for the third installment of our concert series. We'll be joined as always by our favorite bluestate DJs, and show our reader appreciation in the form of door prizes. If history's taught us anything, it's that Unbuckled bands are always great, DCist readers are always friendly, and these events are packed with people and best-everness. So join us one week from today, Thursday May 25, at DC9 for our latest foray into event planning. Tickets are $8 and doors are at 9 p.m. See you there! more ›

Remember how much better Zoolander was the third time you watched it? And remember how by the third time you got drunk, you totally had it down? The same rule of threes applies to DCist events. We're very excited to announce the next installment of Unbuckled, our semi-annual concert series. We've done this thing pretty damn well twice before, but now we really think we've mastered it. On May 25th, join us at DC9 for an evening with the beloved Georgie James and Three Stars alums Deleted Scenes, along with our favorite Bluestate DJs. As with its predecessors, Unbuckled 3.0 promises an evening of the finest in music, giveaways for our guests, and your humble bloggers with beers in hand. Mark your calendars -- third time's charmed. more ›

This week we saw more and more news on church parking, took a look inside the District's restaurants, tried to find the region's cheapest gas and celebrated the nation's interstate system. We talked to Deleted Scenes and Alec Gross and the Districts, found some great roast beef, analyzed the region's ubersexuals and took a stab at Jenna Bush's new hairstyle. We remembered school lunches, reviewed the news in transit, and saw The Strokes at... more ›

You may have noticed a suspicious absence yesterday, this being the last week of the month and Tuesday being the usual Three Stars kick off day. Sadly, this month we're a star short, at no fault of the D.C. music community, but more at the fault of my car that wouldn't start when I was to travel from the burbs and into the city last Thursday to see The Daybreak Line. So this month we... more ›

Monday: Thank goodness for Iota, as most of the other clubs in the area are dark tonight. Head to Nearlington to see (The Sounds of) Kaleidoscope's (pictured) brand of noise-pop, with Brandon Butler (ex-Canyon), and Mike Maloney. $10. Alternatively, make a holiday mix-tape. Tuesday: Deleted Scenes are one of a number of local bands to do the catchy, up-tempo, New York rock thing really well. See them Tuesday as they release their new album at... more ›