Yesterday NOVA rapper Black Cobain released a new music video, The Prelude, paving the way for his new mixtape Perfect Contradiction to drop on November 3rd courtesy of Wale’s Board Administration label and LRG Clothing. Co-directors Amil Barnes and Gee “Future Mogul” Harrison showcase Cobain’s hometown Alexandria in the video, focusing on the Jefferson Village public housing complex.
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The Dismemberment Plan – Waiting video
Leading up to their first album release in 12 years and a pair of gigs at the 9:30 club last weekend, DC legends The Dismemberment Plan premiered a music video for Uncanny Valley‘s debut single Waiting on MTV last week (they still play videos?). The bar referenced in the song is The Ugly Mug, frequented by students at Gallaudet University for the deaf and hard of hearing, leading singer Travis Morrison to include American Sign Language interpreters in the goofy video. The D-Plan took that idea all the way into their full live show, involving a rotating pair of ASL interpreters attempting (and mostly succeeding) in signing Morrison’s rapid-fire talk-sing delivery.
Aaron Tinjum – American Road video
Recently Singer-songwriter Aaron Tinjum actually relocated to DC from Austin Texas, swimming against the tide of those talented musicians who make their mark on DC and move away. You’ll hear the Texas influence in his newest music video for American Road, a song about dysfunction in America that’s right at home in this town. Tonight Aaron joins Justin Trawick’s We Are The 9 singer-songwriter showcase at Iota alongside Dan Fisk, Louisa Hall and 5 other fine musicians. And while we’re talking about the hardworking Mr. Trawick, grab the latest episode of his podcast The Circus Life released today, featuring The Future of Music Coalition and our buds at Listen Local First!
Dot Dash – A Light in the Distance video
If you are into post-punk, you probably have all three excellent albums by Dot Dash on the Canadian label The Beautiful Music. If you aren’t quite sure what this post-punk sound is all about, A Light in the Distance (FREE download!) from Dot Dash’s latest album Half-Remembered Dream is a great place to start. Members of Dot Dash come from well-remembered bands Julie Ocean, The Saturday People on the Slumberland label, Swervedriver and Youth Brigade from Dischord. Check them out tonight at DC9 opening for hot newcomers Junior Prom.
Matt Tarka – Indigo Bunting video
After featuring more than 400 DC music videos on this blog, Hometown Sounds now presents an exclusive video premiere! Singer-songwriter Matt Tarka has honed his craft with a ton of live shows over the last few years. Songs from his 2011 EP Motorcycle Breakfast have recently been included in Relix Magazine‘s Oct/Nov issue and Derek Evry’s fantastic collection Music Still Happens Here Vol. 2. Matt tapped Baltimore’s Springwood Productions and director Jess Garcia to make a music video for the song Indigo Bunting, dramatizing the traumatic end of a relationship. This Sunday Matt kicks off a night of FREE music at top notch beer bar The Black Squirrel in Adams Morgan with The Gary Busey Syndrome and our dear friends Black Checker.
Drop Electric – Higgs Boson video
Let’s review, shall we? Post-rockers Drop Electric emerged on the scene with their 2010 album Finding Color In The Ashes (now a name-your-own-price download) and a series of top quality music videos primarily from director Patrick Ryan Morris of NYC based Dedalus Moving Pictures. In the summer of 2012 they released a 4 song Sampler Platter EP and a music video for the single Empire Trashed. After promising a new full length album this year on Lefse Records, the band has released 4 more music videos to build anticipation (hint: watch them all). Today 405tv premiered the video for Higgs Boson, the last appetizer before the main course called Waking Up To The Fire is served this Tuesday October 22nd. Directed by Patrick Ryan Morris in cinematic widescreen format better suited to a big screen than a puny YouTube embed, this video stars actress Brea Grant best known for Heroes and Friday Night Lights. Stream the entire new album now courtesy of Pandora Premieres!
The Max Levine Ensemble – Ghost Song video
Yesterday afternoon DCist beat us to the punch and posted the new animated video from pop-punkers The Max Levine Ensemble, featuring a cute animated ghost haunting the likes of Barack Obama and John Boehner. Today Congress appears to have finally figured out a deal to avoid default and reopen the government. Coincidence? Surely not. The Scooby-Doo style animation by Ben Levin accompanies an older cut called Ghost Song, from the name-your-price collection mr. gikokovich 2000-2005.
Wes Felton – Walked Away video
Happy Birthday to DMV rapper, singer and producer Wes Felton! The promotion engine for Felton’s newest full-length album Imagine The Future continues with a new music video for Walked Away, shot in an abandoned building under construction with some amazing views of the city.
Jason Steinhauer – Shutdown Blues video
DC, Hometown Sounds is back on the scene! I had a wonderful 2 weeks off in sunny California, not giving one passing thought to these ugly shenanigans in Washington’s halls of power. But now I’ve returned to the day job of a government contractor and everything is on hold. Like nearly everyone else in this town, I’ve got the Shutdown Blues. In case you missed it making the rounds when the shutdown began, government employee and The Grey Area frontman Jason Steinahauer penned a take on Bob Dylan’s 1965 song Tombstone Blues in response to the ongoing crisis. Here’s hoping things get back to normal real soon.
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