The current theme in DC music is the ascendancy and ubiquity of women throughout every genre. We try to feature diversity with every episode of our podcast, so it’s not wall-to-wall straight white dudes, but for the last episode we put together, our first cut of songs featured women leading every one. 5 of our last 6 song and video posts are either solo female or female-fronted bands. Where ya at, bros? These ladies are showing you up, and R&B singer Reesa Renee puts a cherry on that trend with her new single “Hello Mama”. Producer Reggie Volume pumps the slow jam uptempo with a funky guitar riff and staccato brass section that makes it easy to fall for Renee’s sweet smile and floppy afro. The video by Minista Millz of Minista Cinema puts just the right animated touch to a tale of sweet summertime love connection. Grab her EP Lovers Rock now.
Hometown Sounds
Showing The World How DC Rocks
Monthly Archives: May 2016
Party Like It’s – Clockwork Lover
Making the leap from cover band to performing original music, Party Like It’s brings their love of the blasting horns and singalong choruses of late 90s pop-ska bands like Reel Big Fish and No Doubt to the modern day. Their YouTube channel includes undeniably fun covers of “Shake It Off”, “All About That Bass” and “The Boys of Summer”, and now their debut original single “Clockwork Lover” gets the full music video treatment courtesy of DC Brau and The Coupe. We dug this song so much that we kicked off yesterday’s podcast with it, but the music video is even more fun. Vienna’s Jammin’ Java hosts a Back to the 90s party this Saturday night featuring Party Like It’s and other bands paying tribute to Sublime, Blink-182, Smashing Pumpkins and No Doubt.
Podcast for May 18th, 2016
Paul recaps the Funk Parade and Tony explores the linguistic subtleties of the word “just”.
Tracklisting:
Party Like It’s – Clockwork Lover [single]
Rare Essence – Turn It Up feat. DJ Kool [Turn It Up]
K.A.A.N. – Phoenix [Eclectic Audio]
Bells and Hunters – Kid on a Bike [Modern Witch’s Songbook Vol II: Wives’ Tales]
Olivia Mancini – Easy Right Now [Walkabout]
Domingues & Kane – The Hunted Hare part 1 [Gut + Voltage: Viola da Gamba & Electronics in Synthesis]
Or listen in SoundCloud:
Subscribe to the Hometown Sounds podcast in the iTunes Store or your favorite podcast app! (and tell a friend too!)
Elena & Los Fulanos – Amor Migrante
Elena & Los Fulanos occupy a unique niche in DC music. Playing at venues like Black Cat and the Luce Unplugged series, Elena Lacayo sings in both English and Spanish, and writes about her own experiences immigrating to the US from her homeland of Nicaragua. She and her band just released a new music video for “Amor Migrante”, the latest single release from her debut full length album Miel Venenosa, depicting the emotional struggles of Rosario Reyes, an undocumented immigrant mother who has been separated from her son, José Ramón, for 12 years. The lyrics are in Spanish but the video makes excellent use of YouTube’s closed captioning feature to translate into English and allow all of us to fully experience its powerful message.
If you want to learn how Elena crafts songs and get help writing your own, join in her monthly songwriting workshop at BloomBars in Columbia Heights next on Saturday May 21st.
Olivia Mancini – Easy Right Now
WORLD PREMIERE VIDEO!
Olivia Mancini is DC music’s sweetheart. Her big friendly smile and laid back musical style instantly disarm and captivate a crowd. Over the years she’s evolved from badass bassist in mid-2000s buzz band Washington Social Club to develop her own career as frontwoman for Olivia and the Mates, as well as her own singer-songwriter work. She also supports Jarret Nicolay of Virginia Coalition fame in the duo Astra Via and is currently a member of Sara Curtin‘s band. Clicking on Mancini’s Bandcamp page brings up a huge collection of assorted singles and EPs with her many collaborators, which makes the release of her new EP Walkabout surprising as it’s her first album under only her name. The debut single “Easy Right Now” is a love song with a relaxed vintage style, and we’re honored to premiere the music video below. Shot by Lindsay Dirienzo and Amy Hutchinson, the video takes us through a romp through the city with Olivia, with many affectionately lingering shots. The whole thing feels like a happy day in a wonderful relationship.
Grab Mancini’s new EP out on the Aerobic International label and come see her play one (or both!) of two release shows in town. If you’re more a living room type, head to Bathtub Republic on Friday May 13th to see her play with Fluffer, K Pasa USA, and Antonette Garoch; if you prefer ordering exotic craft beers at the coolest bar in town, Galaxy Hut has you covered on Sunday May 15th when Mancini plays with Yours Truly Michele.
Podcast for May 4th, 2016
Paul and Tony preview this weekend’s Funk Parade and Mother’s Day, while wondering if a house plant is real or fake.
Tracklisting:
Cerulean City – My Love [single]
Basement Freaks – Little Red Afro (Tribute to Jon H) feat. Mustafa Akbar [single]
The Cowards Choir – You Give Too Much [Name the Fear]
Flasher – Tense [S/T Cassette]
Telyscopes – Who Is Brian Wilson? [Telescope Glasses: the Greatest Shits]
Max D – Bubblegum [Boost]
Or listen in SoundCloud:
Subscribe to the Hometown Sounds podcast in the iTunes Store or your favorite podcast app! (and tell a friend too!)
Color Palette – Heartless
Synth rock band Color Palette continue the run up to the release of their debut full length album with another in their live take video series. “Heartless” features a killer bass line from Josh Hunter and driving drum beats from Matt Hartenau that fit with the 80s-style keyboard hook. When Hollywood makes Top Gun 2, put this one on the soundtrack. Color Palette’s album release show goes down at the POV Lounge on the roof of the W Hotel on Thursday May 26th with Near Northeast, but if you just can’t wait that long to see these guys live, get to DC9 next Thursday May 12th to catch them opening for Day Wave.
Hometown Sounds 