Hometown Sounds

Everyone in DC showing love to indie soul band Oh He Dead today. In advance of their [already sold out :((((] album release show Friday night at Pearl Street Warehouse, the Washington Post’s Going Out Guide published a feature on the band’s history and unlikely rise this year based on their viral Tiny Desk Contest entry “Lonely Sometimes”. The album’s final pre-release tease is the single “Show Me Love”, and the band blew all their earnings on crafting this sublime, artistic, and profound music video from a big-name director. Set aside some quality time to fully take in this mangnum opus.

We’re going to start out our 8th year of covering DC’s music videos with a soulful bang. Oh He Dead grabbed our throats last year with the Alt-J-esque tune “Blood In The Water”, the title track from their too-brief debut EP. To tease a new release hopefully coming soon, the band just premiered this deft music video for new song “This Time Around”, showcasing Cynthia Johnson assured vocals and biting lyrics with well-timed guitar licks from musical partner Andrew Valenti. The widescreen vid from director Colin Faust delivers a no-cuts wandering performance from Johnson through a series of rooms that make us ponder the purpose of this strange undulating work space.

As we said on yesterday’s podcast, it’s hard not to chuckle a bit at the band name “Oh He Dead”. The band’s core duo of Cynthia “CJ” Johnson and Andrew Valenti mix their distinct but complimentary voices with some truly lush instrumentation on their debut single “Blood in the Water”, the title track from their new 3 song EP. The song’s title refers originally to the feeding frenzy of sharks, but here music video director Scott Kenney transports the tension to basketball, with a sole player dribbling and shooting at Jones Point National Park in Alexandria. Grab your tickets now for Friday night‘s show opening for 10 piece New York ensemble Hollywood Anderson & The Hits at the 14th St. Busboys & Poets.