DC music video of the day! Drop Electric makes beautiful soundscapes that work both in headphones and on stage. Their vibrant take on shoegaze has gotten a lot of positive press among fellow DC music bloggers DC Rock Live, DC Music Download and DCist’s Three Stars. They recently released a single, Santo Domingo, as a teaser for their soon-to-be-released new album. Today we feature the video for the title track of their 2010 album Finding Color In The Ashes, which you can download right now for free!
Hometown Sounds
Showing The World How DC Rocks
Laura Tsaggaris – Get Yourself Right video
DC music video of the day! Singer/songwriter Laura Tsaggaris is a veteran of the DC scene. Her first EP came out back in 2005, followed by a full length album Keep Talking in 2009. Tonight you can see Laura perform at Iota in Arlington, opening for Bohème, Cassidy from Antigone Rising. Here’s the video for Get Yourself Right, from her album Keep Talking.
http://vimeo.com/groups/musicvids/videos/14421485
Is and of The – The Past Inside The Present video
DC music video of the day! Drew Bandos is a young student from Philadelphia studying here in DC and putting out some amazing electronic music under the name Is And Of The. He’s signed to the heavyweight Mush Records label, home of acts like Boom Bip, Daedelus, Aesop Rock and cLOUDDEAD, so you know you’re in for some challenging and appealing beats and sounds. Is And Of The’s recent EP Handpainted Glow is on sale at the Mush Records online store for only $3, and we’d strongly suggest getting it while you can for that cheap price! Check out this Facebook event for a mysterious Is And Of The show somewhere in Foggy Bottom Saturday evening, along with Pittsburgh acts Legs Like Tree Trunks and Plots. Here’s the awesome video for The Past Inside The Present, from the Handpainted Glow EP.
Ardamus – My Kinda Party video
DC music video of the day! Singer-songwriter Justin Trawick founded The 9 Songwriter Series in 2008 to pool the talents of local musicians and bring the artform to larger venues and crowds. Tonight the series makes a major expansion into hip-hop MCs at the Velvet Lounge. One of the featured rappers is Ardamus, a veteran of the DC hip-hop scene. With his frequent production collaborator The Metaphysical, Ardamus raised his profile with the well-received album When Nothing Goes Right. Ardamus has a huge library of albums and mixtapes available for free or cheap at his Bandcamp page. Today we’ve got the video for My Kinda Party, from his 2009 free mixtape A Day In The Life Of Modern Day Living.
Fort Knox Five – Shift video
DC music video of the day! Tonight is another chance to see DC’s top dance music DJs Fort Knox Five. They’re bringing hometown cred to a hot lineup at U Street Music Hall including breaks heavyweights Krafty Kuts and Deekline. Today we present the Fort Knox Five video for Shift, their collaboration with Afrika Bambaataa & Mustafa Akbar, from the 2009 Fort Knox Recordings compilation album The New Gold Standard 2.
Thunderball – Stereo Tonic video
DC music video of the day! The Thunderball trio of Steve Raskin, Sid Barcelona and Rob Myers go way back on Thievery Corporation‘s ESL Music label, putting out 12″s as early as 1997. Nowadays you’ll find Thunderball’s members cooking up sounds in Fort Knox Five, Liftoff, See-I and other groups on Fort Knox Recordings. Today’s video for the song Stereo Tonic goes back to Thunderball’s 2001 stylish & sexy album Scorpio Rising, and it’s directed by the sitar king Rob Myers. Fantastic!
The Cornel West Theory – Iron Emptiness video
DC music video of the day! The Cornel West Theory makes hip-hop unlike anyone else in DC, throwing together spoken word, jazz, electronic and other influences to create an energizing sound driving their amazing live performances. Tonight they headline a show at the brand new Monserrat House, also featuring New York’s Happy New Year and locals Redline Graffiti. The show is curated by Sasha Lord, who puts together the amazing bills at Comet Ping Pong. We featured their video for Patriotic Me a while back. To wake you up out of your Monday doldrums, check out the video for Iron Emptiness from the Cornel West Theory’s 2009 album Second Rome.
Recommended Shows This Weekend
Here are the Official Hometown Sounds recommended local music shows this weekend.
Friday
Andrew Leahey & the Homestead, the Petticoat Tearoom, and Tom McBride – Rock & Roll Hotel (check out DC Music Download’s Meetup Group for this!)
the Weathervanes, Whiskey Parade, the Reserves, and Orchard Wall – Black Cat Mainstage
Saturday
Electric Eel Shock, Hot Cha Cha, Thee Lolitas, and Caustic Cassanova – Black Cat Mainstage
Rebel Lion (Reggae) @ The Blue Banana [3632 Georgie Ave NW]
Sunday
Deathfix, Les Rhinocéros, and Many Arms – Comet Ping Pong
Washington Women in Jazz Festival‘s Vocal Showcase – featuring Howard Alumnae – Christie Dashiell, Jessica Boykin-Settles, and SAASY, with Amy K Bormet (piano), Karine Chapdelaine (bass), & CV Dashiell (drums) – The Hamilton
There are tons more options at Showlist DC. Don’t be afraid of a little rain!
Caustic Casanova – Short Commute, Live Forever video
DC music video of the day! Caustic Casanova bring the loud rock to a great lineup at the Black Cat Saturday night, along with HotChaCha, locals Thee Lolitas and headliners Electric Eel Shock. They just released an album, Someday You Will Be Proven Correct, produced by DC legend J. Robbins from Jawbox, so you know it’s quality. Check out the debut video from the album, “Short Commute, Live Forever” and see them live this weekend!
Vandaveer – Woolgathering video
DC music video of the day! Another classic video by DC’s favorite crooners Vandaveer. Woolgathering comes from their 2009 album Divide & Conquer.
