The most exciting bands in DC today are the ones that don’t sound like anything else, and the retro-synth 80s dance-pop influenced Coup Sauvage & The Snips fit that bill. The sextet from the Haus of Sauvage focus on showmanship, fashion and catchy lyrics, as you can see in their debut music video “Sneaks”, the A side of their new single. Thumbs up for the stylish use of the checkerboard floor pattern at the Black Cat, the shooting location for this video. Tonight the Sauvage family opens for JD Samson & MEN at the always-hip Comet Ping Pong, with DJ Dean and DJ Jennder keeping the party going late into the night.
Hometown Sounds
Showing The World How DC Rocks
Category Archives: shows
The Cowards Choir – 2-Track Series Performance
Singer-songwriter Andy Zipf’s decision last year to recruit The Beanstalk Library’s Ryan Walker and drumming pair Adam Neubauer and Ben Tufts to form The Cowards Choir has drawn much deserved attention on Zipf’s excellent songwriting and clear, distinct voice. On tour last summer in Charlotte NC, the group teamed up with music video producers Small Creatures and the music blog Carolina Music Connection to record live takes of two songs from their debut pay-what-you-like EP Reunion, “Maybe I” and “Where The Hand Don’t Hold Me Down”. The outdoor nighttime setting on the second song is quite magical, don’t miss it! Check them out live next Tuesday February 11th opening for troubador Justin Jones to celebrate the 10th anniversary of DC9.
The video owner has chosen to restrict the embedding on this video, so please visit http://vimeo.com/85601723 to view it.
http://vimeo.com/85601723
Paperhaus – All Through The Night / The Lot @ Union Kitchen
DC has always enjoyed a thriving DIY house show scene, and the last few years its undisputed king has been the Paperhaus. The house holds the indie rock band of the same name, perhaps not a cunning masterplan but as it turns out a very good way to attract positive attention to both ‘hauses. Musician and booker Alex Tebeleff puts together diverse bills of both locals and touring acts at both Paperhaus and these days at Columbia Heights events space The Dunes. Last summer and fall the nexus of DC indie music, food trucks and good times came together at The Lot at Union Kitchen, an open air party curated by Tebeleff and others. Videographer Zambia captured the scene and assembled this fun video, and what else could the soundtrack have been but “All Through The Night” from Paperhaus’s 2013 EP Lo Hi Lo? For some true DC DIY spirit, come to the Paperhaus tonight for Philly’s Son Step, St. Louis’s Sleepy Kitty and DC bands Lies About and Greenland. Enter around back & bring some money to help the touring bands get to their next gig!
Drop Electric – Lucille video
Drop Electric are probably the most prolific music video creators in the DC music scene. I’ve run 14 of their videos on the Hometown Sounds DC music video of the day feature. On days when a new Drop Electric video premieres, I like to have a little friendly competition with my friends over at DC Music Download to write a post about it faster than they can. This time they had the jump on me, premiering the sexy (NSFW?) new video Lucille, from last year’s Waking Up To The Fire, along with an interview with DE’s drummer Ramtin Arablouei. Of course you’ll read that before buying advance tix to the 9:30 Club for DMD’s 2 year anniversary bash featuring Drop Electric, The Sea Life, Young Rapids and The Raised By Wolves. Of course.
The Walking Sticks – You Might Like This Song video
Mellow dreampop band The Walking Sticks put a welcome emphasis on singer Chelsea Lee’s vocals in their songs. Their new EP Send The Night, a FREE download released last month, is required downloading in advance of their slot on Saturday night at The Black Cat opening for Who Needs a Pulse (formerly Mike & Cody) and DC indie rock darling Olivia Mancini & her Mates. Videographer Sam Janesko created this music video for The Walking Sticks’ new song “You Might Like This Song” from live performance footage and a classic Jimmy Stewart film, and the catchy doo-doo-doo vocal chorus has me definitively liking the song.
Bonus video! Olivia Mancini & The Mates rehearse a new song “Where Are You? (The Science of Love)”, with Pop-Up Video style facts about your brain on love. Don’t miss this great all-DC music lineup Saturday night at the Black Cat!
Nita Chawla – Bite The Bullet video
Tonight The Circus Life podcast‘s Justin Trawick brings his We Are The 9 singer-songwriter showcase back to Iota. If you haven’t been before, it’s a great opportunity to hear a variety of new and established songwriters perform. One up-and-comer on tonight’s bill is Nita Chawla, recent recipient of a House Artist Grant from House Studio DC. The fruits of that grant are her new EP Grace and debut music video for “Bite The Bullet” as part of House Studio’s $5 Music Video series.
The Highballers – King of the Plains video
This Saturday night Iota hosts the release show for the new self-titled album by my fave alt country band in DC The Highballers, with an opening set by North Carolina’s John Howie Jr. and the Rosewood Bluff. Last year’s release show for their debut album Soft Music and Hard Liquor was a raging success, so get to Iota early this time so you don’t miss it! Singer Kendall Jackson imparts just the right amount of swagger and sass in his twangy songs, providing a respite from music that takes itself too seriously on songs like “I’ll Break Something More Than Just Your Heart” and “I Need My Ass Kicked”. Their newest music video for “King of the Plains” tells the story of a confrontation between a humble country farmer and a wayward alien invader, with wacky animation by Matt Rasch. If you’ve never seen The Highballers live, trust me on this. They are on the short list of the most entertaining live acts in DC today, and they only continue to get better with every show I’ve seen.
What Are You Doing New Years Eve?
New Years Eve, the biggest amateur night of the year next to Halloween, is tomorrow night! If you’re constantly checking your suggested Facebook events and trying to figure out what to do, have no fear. Here are the Hometown Sounds suggested no-ripoff NYE good times:
The Beanstalk Library, Derek Evry & His Band of Misanthropes and These Future Saints @ Iota ($18)
Iota always keeps it real with a no-nonsense DC rock show on New Year’s Eve. Bonus: Derek Evry’s misanthropic drummer Ben Tufts fills in on drums for the other two bands on the bill. All Ben Tufts all night!
RSVP here
Alex Vans & The Hide Away @ Bayou ($30)
Celebrate the new year and Bayou’s 3rd Anniversary with the full band Alex Vans experience!
RSVP here & Buy your tickets now
Bad Domes @ The Dunes ($60)
Granted, this event is on the pricey side. But for that you get an open bar from 9 PM – 2 AM, and you get THIS:
Buy your tickets now, no door sales!
Jonny Grave & The Tombstones, Benny and Louisa Hall @ Nanny O’Brien’s (FREE)
Want to keep things a bit more low key? Cleveland Park Irish bar Nanny O’Brien’s has a great lineup including DC blues paragon Jonny Grave, and they aren’t even charging a cover. Get there early for this!
RSVP here
Asheru – Mood Swing feat. Talib Kweli (Nappy Riddem Mix)
Hey DC, I got a hot joint for your Friday afternoon listening distraction. It’s great to see a tight-knit crew like the Fort Knox Recordings boys guesting, remixing and performing with each other, creating and maintaining one of the most interesting and cohesive scenes in the last few years. Saturday night H St. NE’s Rock & Roll Hotel hosts The Empresarios, Nappy Riddem and Asheru for a Winter Soulstice Party for the longest night of the year. To get you in the right mood, the Nappy Riddem duo of Rex Riddem and Mustafa Akbar updated Ash’s early 2000’s hit single Mood Swing featuring Talib Kweli into a drum & bass dance floor burner, and you can download and add this remix to your collection for free! Asheru is one of DC’s most underappreciated rappers, though that’s changing with the popularity growing of his full length album Sleepless In Soweto released last month. Tix are only $15, so grab them in advance and guarantee your Saturday night fun!
Here are the set times!
Doors 8 PM
Asheru 9 PM
Empresarios 10 PM
Nappy Riddem 11:30 PM
Ticket Giveaway: The Pietasters & Kill Lincoln @ 9:30 Sat Dec 14
This Saturday night the 9:30 Club hosts a killer night of punky ska music with DC’s Kill Lincoln, Boston’s Big D & The Kids Table, and the kings of DC ska The Pietasters. Do not miss this chance to see this legendary group on DC’s finest stage! Their 1998 song Out All Night remains one of my favorites.
Hometown Sounds is proud to give away a pair of tickets to this skankin’ good time. Just leave us a comment with your favorite DC band below and you’re entered to win! The deadline is 2 PM on Friday, and if you aren’t our lucky winner then buy your $15 tickets in advance through TicketFly.
Hometown Sounds 