House Studio DC displays their commitment to forward thinking with their Artist Grant program, developing new talent and providing them with the resources to jumpstart a musical career. Malik H. Carter, a rapper and producer from PG County under the name Primary Element, is the latest from House Studio’s grant program to deliver a music video for their $5 Music Video series. The zombie infested song Blasphemy is also available as a free download from SoundCloud.
Hometown Sounds
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Ticket Giveaway! U.S. Royalty @ U Street Music Hall Sat. Sept. 7th
U.S. Royalty‘s new album Blue Sunshine comes out Sept. 10th, and the well-dressed gents set out on a nationwide tour this week. Their hometown stop at U Street Music Hall is this Saturday at 7 PM with an opening set by Sunwolf, and we’ve got a pair of tickets to give away to one lucky winner! Just leave a comment below with your favorite DC band and you’re entered to win. Our contest ends and one lucky winner is chosen this Friday at noon, so enter now! If you missed out on our giveaway, don’t leave your Saturday night to chance. Buy your tickets in advance through Ticketfly.
Bella Russia – Madame X video
When a band decides to forgo vocals and lyrics for purely instrumental compositions, there’s naturally a much higher demand on the creativity and execution of the sounds to keep an audience engaged. Post-punk trio Bella Russia deliver the goods in their trippy debut music video “Madame X”, from their forthcoming EP Epaulet. I think this band would have found a natural fit on the much missed local label Sockets Records. Bella Russia celebrates their EP release this Saturday at the Artisphere, with an evening show featuring openers The Sea Life and Janel & Anthony and an 8 hour “endurance performance” with special surprise collaborators starting at noon in the Black Box theater.
Lowercase Letters – Turn Your Lights Down Low
The end of summer weekend is almost upon us, but realistically most of you have already checked out. Here’s a mellow jam that fits my mood right now. Neo-soul group Lowercase Letters covers Bob Marley’s 1977 song Turn Your Lights Down Low for House Studio DC‘s $5 Music Video series. Peace out.
We Were Pirates – Civilized Man live acoustic video
Mike Boggs’ indie pop band We Were Pirates has recently reactivated after a quiet period during the making of the score to the Calvin & Hobbes documentary Dear Mr. Watterson. Our Live Picks! contributor and podcast co-host Tony Porreco interviewed Mike for his debut installment of DCist’s Three Stars column, so go read that if you missed it last week. For today’s video, check out a live acoustic performance of Civilized Man, my favorite track from the former buccaneers’ excellent 2012 album Change, shot outside a church a few weeks ago by Tim Causa. Special shouts to drummer Pat Frank for banging on a guitar case.
Drop Electric – Blue Dream video
Stop the presses! Drop Electric just premiered a brand new music video for Blue Dream, from their upcoming album Waking Up To The Fire that drops October 22nd on Lefse Records. The cinematic quality of Drop Electric’s music inspires their music video directors to make some pretty amazing stuff, and for this one Christopher Michael Beer turns in a short narrative film that does not disappoint. This video is so involving, you’ll probably need to watch it twice to really hear the music, yet another tantalizing bit of Drop Electric’s anticipated new album. Their next hometown show is Friday September 27th at LivingSocial’s 918 F Street venue.
Pleasure Curses – PNKLKR video
Pro tip: If you want to make a music video that really stands out and endures as captivating visual art, go French. Pleasure Curses, the young synthpop duo of Jahn Alexander Teetsov and Evan Maxwell Grice, collaborated with Parisian director Guillaume Thuillier on an absolutely stunning music video for their newest single PNKLKR (FREE download alert!). I don’t want to talk too much about the video before you watch it, but it definitely reminded me of some of Michel Gondry’s best videos like Come Into My World and Sugar Water. Washington CityPaper recently featured this song in their One Track Mind column, so head there to find out more about the music. Clear your late Saturday night schedule to see them play live at Comet Ping Pong playing with DC’s Motion Lines and Soft Metals from the west coast.
Luray – The Wilder video
You know what your Thursday needs? A little more banjo. Shannon Carey’s band Luray just released a live video for the dreamy title track from their debut album The Wilder, shot by Mitchell Wenkus outdoors in southern Maryland. There’s something truly magical about a well-produced video of a band actually performing a song live instead of lip-syncing, don’t you think? Our ticket giveaway for Luray’s CD release show this Saturday night at 6th & I Synagogue ends in just a few hours, so head over to the post right now and leave a comment with your favorite DC band. See you Saturday night!
U.S. Royalty – Blue Sunshine video
Once upon a time (2011) U.S. Royalty were DC’s next big thing. That year’s EP release Mirrors got a lot of buzz but wider recognition eluded the stylish indie rockers. Now they’re back with a brand new video for the title track of their upcoming full length release Blue Sunshine. The new song impressed our friends over at D.C. Music Download, and the simple video shot by John Thornley should make you want to find a motorcycle and cruise Skyline Drive while the summer still lasts. Mark your calendars for U.S. Royalty’s next hometown show, an early slot Saturday September 7th at U Street Music Hall, presented by the 9:30 Club.
Hometown Sounds 