You may remember Jim Spellman from such local bands as the High Back Chairs (late-80s Dischord) or Velocity Girl (90s indie-pop cult faves). Or maybe you’ve seen him recently with the local band he currently fronts, Julie Ocean (who open for oddball punk legends Half Japanese at the Rock and Roll Hotel next month). What we’ll bet you didn’t know is that Spellman pays his bills in a day job as a producer for CNN….
What better way to celebrate the release of your band’s new album than by taking the stage at Iota? How about sharing that celebration with two other local bands who are doing the very same thing. Tonight, Arlington’s great little venue is hosting the CD release parties for three very talented local bands — The City Veins, Julie Ocean and Yell County. We asked each of the bands a few questions about their albums. See…
>> The silent film version of the original Chicago will be presented with live musical accompaniment at the AFI Silver Theater. 7 p.m. >> New Yorker music critic Alex Ross will be at Politics and Prose to read from The Rest is Noise, a history of the 20th century through its music. 7 p.m. >> Brooklyn’s Black Dice are at the Rock and Roll Hotel with Ecstatic Sunshine, Baltimore’s Ponytail and The Methamphetamines. 8…
>> DAM! Fest kicks of with its first night of shows featuring a dozen different bands at three venues, including New York’s A Place to Bury Strangers (don’t miss our interview with the band) and Dirty on Purpose at the Rock and Roll Hotel, Vandaveer and Julie Ocean at the Red and The Black, and Foreign Islands at DC9, among many others. Check out our guide to the DAM! highlights. >> Two film festivals open…
TUESDAY >>If you like your rock hard, Rock and Roll Hotel is the place to be tonight. Burning Brides, who’ve been building a fanbase for nearly a decade now on solid riffing and opening slots with big names like A Perfect Circle and Queens of the Stone Age. Locals Wooly Mammoth (pictured) open, along with The Exponentials 8 p.m., $10 advance, $12 door. >> Classic ’80s college radio staples Hoodoo Gurus reunited back in 2004,…
>> Fort Reno soldiers on tonight, with Mess Up the Mess, Julie Ocean, and the final ever performance from Three Stars alums The Sentiment, who are calling it quits as a group after tonight. 7:15 p.m. >> Debuting tonight is “Bomb Shelter,” a weekly stand-up showcase featuring five local improv personalities. Why the militaristic name? Because there is no “bombing” here. The comedians promise to stun weapons of mass hilarity, which means no random drunk…
>> Mic Harrison (formerly of Superdrag) brings some alt-country goodness to the Velvet Lounge tonight, with The High Signs and Julie Ocean (ex-Velocity Girl). Show starts at 9 p.m. >> SILVERDOCS is in its first full day, so head on up to Silver Spring to check out a wide array of documentary film on offer. We’d recommend Oliver Hodge’s Garbage Warrior at 8:45 p.m., about New Mexico architect Michael Reynolds, who builds homes out…
>> We’ve already said a ton of great things about rising local band Le Loup, so odds are good you’re already planning on heading over to the Rock and Roll Hotel tonight to check ’em out. Brightest Young Things has a fun interview with the recently-Hardly Art signed band over at their site. They open for Raleigh’s The Rosebuds, along with Bowerbirds. $10, doors at 8 p.m., music starts at 9. >> Smithsonian American Art…
