Feb 20 2015
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Live Picks!

Live Picks! With Rachel Levitin: ‘Her Roots’ at Gypsy Sally’s, Sun Feb. 22

Her Roots graphic

‘Her Roots’ — a musical performance series created by locally-based performers Lauren Calve and Ben Tufts — launches this weekend, February 22, with the Lauren Calve Band, Olivia Mancini & The Mates, and Laura Tsaggaris at 6 p.m. (for only $6!) as a family-friendly, musically-driven community event highlighting the diverse talent of the area’s most accomplished female artists as well as up-and-coming female musicians, as hosted by Gypsy Sally’s.

The ‘Her Roots’ series stems from Calve and Tufts’ desire to form an intentionally strong female community of musicians in the greater-D.C. area. After several months of conversations between the pair, Calve and Tufts agreed to take the concept of hosting a conventional residency and turn it up a notch by expanding the focus and aiming the spotlight on female-fronted bands.

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Feb 19 2015
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shows, video

The North Country – The Cross We Bear video

Guys. You guys. Stop. Mute the conference call. Take a smoke break. Today’s music video can’t be missed!

Yesterday Andrew Grossman’s acoustic rock ensemble The North Country premiered the music video for the debut single “The Cross We Bear” from their upcoming album There is Nothing to Fear, dropping April 20. We played the single on this episode of the Hometown Sounds podcast a few weeks ago, but the video from DC’s favorite video director Nigel Lyons, along with TNC’s Grossman and Shaun Dubick, takes this to a higher level. Featuring cameos from BRNDA’s Leah Gage, the Church Night crew and others, the video opens & closes at DIT house venue Bathtub Republic (totally coincidentally where Grossman lives). This heartwarming fable of a downtrodden office worker is another great example of DC’s creative community working (doing it) together, making DC a top notch music town. Don’t miss TNC’s next hometown show on Thursday February 26th at the GWU Marvin Center with Stranger in the Alps and Laughing Man, presented by WRGW. Damn, what a lineup!

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Feb 18 2015
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video

ROM – Micro video

We got a great response on our recent series on the NPR Tiny Desk contest videos, but now it’s time to get caught up on all the DC music videos released in the last few weeks. And there’s no better place to start than ROM. Mark McInerney’s infectuous post-punk trio released this video for “Micro”, the latest single from their excellent 2014 pay-what-you-like album soda christ. We’re quite devoted to these talented gents, having premiered their debut video “Nuisance” back in July and getting song picking help from Mark on this podcast episode. DC’s own Church Night, always Devoted To Faith, featured Mark in last week’s VLOG leading up to ROM’s sold out headlining Church Night show last Friday night at the Black Cat. ROM is everywhere! Look carefully in this video for brief cameos by Bathtub Republic‘s Leah Gage and our own Mr. Tony Porreco!

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Feb 13 2015
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Podcasts

Podcast for February 13th, 2015

Tracklisting:
East West Hwy – Handle That [What’s New EP – name your own price download!]
Teenage Aviation – Take A Vacation From Yourself [Vacation single]
Pree – Hooks and Eyes [Rima]
Stranger in the Alps – Black Box [Pattern Matching]
Royal – Passenger [Cycles EP – free download!]
Stronger Sex – Temptation [Stronger Sex]

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Feb 11 2015
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video

MH & His Orchestra – Promenade Drive (NPR Tiny Desk submission)

Tomorrow the winner of NPR’s Tiny Desk contest is finally announced, so it’s time to wrap up our review of DC entries and get to praying that one of them wins. Perhaps it’ll be today’s entry? Bob is a known fan of the theatrics and showmanship of M.H. & His Orchestra. A band totally unlike any other in DC, they’ve even had fans write in attempting to describe their sound. This video for “Promenade Drive” gives you some idea of what to expect from this band: elegant costumes, choreography, set design, a clarinet, and abounding energy. Keep your eyes peeled for the next big show from Max Holiday and his well dressed gang.

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Feb 10 2015
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shows, video

Elena & Los Fulanos – Miel Venenosa (NPR Tiny Desk submission)

Our romp through DC area submissions to NPR’s Tiny Desk contest continues with a very different entry by Elena & Los Fulanos. Frontwoman Elena Lacayo’s bilingual upbringing in American and Nicaraguan culture feeds the fusion of styles in this performance of “Miel Venenosa”, the title track from last year’s debut full length album. The folk element from the banjo is unmistakable, but the Spanish lyrics transport the song to another place. Elena will sing a few solo songs as part of Justin Trawick’s The 9 Showcase this Friday night at Ebeneezer’s Coffeehouse.

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Feb 06 2015
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shows, video

Lowercase Letters – Stay (NPR Tiny Desk submission)

We’re nearing the end of our trove of NPR Tiny Desk contest submissions from DC area musicians, but there are a couple more gems that we hope get a lot of love from Bob and his judges. Here’s soulful R&B band lowercase letters doing a heartbreaking new song called “Stay”. Catch them tonight playing songs from their recently released self-titled full length album as they kick off an early Luce Unplugged show in just a few hours at the Luce Center for American Art with Art Sorority For Girls, presented by the CityPaper.

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Feb 05 2015
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video

The El Mansouris – Walden (NPR Tiny Desk submission)

Here’s a band that came out of nowhere, quite literally. The El Mansouris, composed of Alex Braden, Drew Hagelin, Fiona Kohrman, Margot MacDonald and Sam Raymond, just started their social media accounts in mid January and made a lasting first impression with their NPR Tiny Desk contest entry, this live version of “Walden” with lots of great drumming. Get in on the ground floor and keep your eyes peeled for their debut show soon.

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Feb 05 2015
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shows

DC Music Download Afterparty Sat. Feb 7th

DCMD Afterparty
Our dear friends at DC Music Download have thrown some seriously impressive events in their 3 years of covering the DC music scene. The 9:30 Club was packed for last year’s birthday show headlined by Drop Electric, and this year’s event promises no less with Loud Boyz, Baby Bry Bry & The Apologists and DC DIT champions Paperhaus, hosted by the Rev. Stevedore Maybelline Bidet and his saving ministry Church Night. Trust me, don’t snooze on this early show!
And don’t forget to pace yourself, because the afterparty goes late! When the show’s over, head to nearby Dunya for schmoozing with the DCMD crowd and DJ sets from Avervge, Lean Quatifah and Hometown Sounds (that’s me!) Admission is free with your ticket for those 21+.

Feb 04 2015
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video

The Girls Upstairs – This Rose (NPR Tiny Desk submission)

I pay a lot of attention to DC bands, as you might imagine, and yet this enthusiastic young group from College Park escaped my notice until their Tiny Desk submission crossed my path. The Girls Upstairs, normally a four piece indie rock band, crammed three of their well dressed members between a desk and an open closet to lay down this acoustic folk version of “This Rose”, the first track from their recently released EP Never Love You. (Guys, you sound great but $10 is pretty steep for a 4 song EP.) The harmonies and energy on this song are great, and having a solidly talented female drummer in your band is a surefire way to catch my attention.

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