The perennial game of Bob Boilen show-spotting is on hold as DC’s biggest live music fan stays in and watches the 5,000+ entries NPR Music received for their Tiny Desk contest. We prefer the relaxed, one-a-day pace to showcase DC’s top quality entries. Here’s “Black Box”, the newest song by Steve Kolowich’s folk project Stranger in the Alps, produced and featuring beeps & boops by Louis Weeks. Mark your calendar for their album release show Sunday February 8th at the Black Cat with Fellow Creatures and Rachel Ries.
Hometown Sounds
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Category Archives: shows
The Beanstalk Library – Big Dumb Hooks (NPR Tiny Desk submission)
OMG so many Tiny Desk Concert submissions! Seriously, how many videos do you think bands from all over the world sent to Bob Boilen? I hope they way staffed up on interns this season. Best they not miss this gem from folk rock band The Beanstalk Library, performing a new unreleased song “Big Dumb Hooks” that’s a catchy singalong staple of their live sets. The cafe side of Iota provides a novel performance setting that still reminds you of the instantly recognizable main stage by the christmas lights in the background. Catch TBL live next at Del Rey’s hidden gem The Evening Star next Thursday with an opening set by Derek Evry.
Luray – Tidalground (NPR Tiny Desk submission)
Here’s another submission to NPR Music’s Tiny Desk contest. Banjo-wielding Shannon Carey’s mellow ensemble Luray performs “Tidalground” from their 2013 album The Wilder. Catch them on Thursday January 22nd at Gypsy Sally’s opening for River Whyless.
Spoonboy – Great Mistake Maker video
Singer David Combs splits his prodigious creative energies between well known DIY pop-punk group The Max Levine Ensemble and his solo moniker Spoonboy. His musical output in 2014 consisted of collaborative split releases with Philadelphia’s The Goodbye Party and UK bands Martha and Color Me Wednesday. Spoonboy’s prepping for a February UK tour by releasing a new music video for “Great Mistake Maker”, a feel-good pop song with a positive message from the split 7″ with The Goodbye Party. It’s ok if you can’t resist the urge to dance when watching this video. Catch the reunited Max Levine Ensemble this Saturday at Positive Force’s Net Neutrality benefit show this Saturday at St. Stephen’s Church with The Black Sparks, The Rememberables and Philly’s Radiator Hospital.
Anthony Pirog – Threshold video
Today I’m shamelessly jumping on the Anthony Pirog lovefest train. Yesterday the fine folks at DC Music Download premiered this new music video for Threshold, an angular, dissonant rock track from Pirog’s breakout album Palo Colorado Dream on Cuneiform Records. Sunday the masters of DC jazz at Capital Bop host a traveling edition of their Jazz Loft series at the Fridge, featuring Pirog’s trio and support from excellent saxophonist Brian Settles. Grab your $10 advance tix now.
The Cornel West Theory – I’ll Die For This Shit video
Hype for the new full length Coming From The Bottom by hip-hop thought leaders The Cornel West Theory keeps on building. Yesterday they dropped a new video for “I’ll Die For This Shit” featuring Queen Helene AKA Golden Athena of Les Nubians on vocals. The video, directed by drummer Sam Lavine, involves both lyrics and badass visuals of Queen Helene, Rashad Dobbins and Tim Hicks. And if you really want to follow along, they helpfully put all the lyrics in the details section of the YouTube page. Don’t miss your next chance to see the Theory live at the Ceremonies of Dark Men multimedia live performance event as part of the 5×5 Project along with poet Major Jackson and sounds from King Britt at the Hillyer Arts Space on Friday December 12th. Admission is FREE so RSVP now at http://www.the5x5project.com/event/codm-in-multimedia/.
Tereu Tereu – Spanish Lynx video
Tereu Tereu‘s Ryan Little created the visuals himself for the melancholy electronic track “Spanish Lynx”, the wrap up song from TT’s 2013 excellent album Quadrants. Yesterday Little’s occasional publisher the Washington City Paper premiered the abstract, washed-out video, filmed on Little’s HTC Thunderbolt phone. Tonight Tereu Tereu kicks off a refreshingly diverse lineup at the Black Cat mainstage with The Deadmen supporting the CD release event for instrumental heavyweights Black Clouds. Get there early!
Wanted Man – Pardon Me If I Stare video
This week seems to belong to Wanted Man. The bluesy garage rock group released their debut self-titled EP (name your price download!) just in time for their show tonight opening for Natural Child at the Black Cat. And today our compatriots at DC Music Download posted a ripping 3 song live set captured live at Thomas Orgren’s Persona Non Grata studio. Is everyone paying attention now? Here’s their newest music video for “Pardon Me If I Stare”, directed by Michael Hindert.
The Walking Sticks – One Sweet Thing video
The video we’ve all been waiting for is here! Yesterday young dream poppers The Walking Sticks unveiled the product of their recent live video shoot for “One Sweet Thing” at DC9. Superfans learned the choreography for the song from YouTube and wore fuzzy Silent Disco-esque headphones to show off their moves on stage. The result is goofy, sometimes awkward and contains a surprising amount of ass (worker bees beware!) for the sweet and fluffy song from their newest EP Pop Dreams, now freely available for your downloading pleasure. Don’t miss the EP release show this Saturday night at Rock & Roll Hotel with PLOY and Lean Quatifah.
The Very Small – Said and Done video
What’s not to love about a hot dose of melody-driven power pop? Despite their name, The Very Small deliver big time catchy riffs and sweet harmonies on “Said and Done”, the first single from their sophomore album Zoomed Way Out released earlier this year. Robin Smith and Aaron Mann channeled their love of 90s rock into their first self-titled album back in 2009, then went on hiatus after the departure of an original band member. Adding bassist Zack Berman brought the band back to life, and now they complete a short tour through Brooklyn and Baltimore with a hometown show this Sunday night at the Velvet Lounge in DC with Model Stranger and Time Columns. Check out this joyous music video PREMIERE for “Said and Done”, easily capturing the essence of having fun and rocking out with your friends. That’s what being in a band is all about.
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