Picnibus describes their unique sound as psychedelic punk-hop, a fusion of some of the most popular musical genres in DC that will surely lead them to fame and dominance. On their new song “Bad Accent”, Sri Lankan-American frontman Navi and his crew rap about accents in America for their submission to NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Contest. The banjo is such a delightfully weird and unexpected touch. They headline DC9 this Sunday February 28th with Those Manic Seas and Flavor Waster, a fantastic way to close out the weekend.
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Tag Archives: Tiny Desk
Teething Veils – Webbed (NPR Tiny Desk Contest submission)
Greg Svitil’s experimental project Teething Veils is in the studio now, finishing up their third record after 2013’s Velorio and 2014’s Constellations with excellent (and difficult to pronounce) local label Etxe Records. Svitil and violinist Hannah Burris set up at Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Falls Church to deliver this live version of a new song called “Webbed” for NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Contest. The shift from the droning post-rock and experimental sounds allows Svitil’s songwriting to come into focus here nicely.
DuPont Brass – Common Tones (NPR Tiny Desk Contest submission)
By now everyone in town must have heard DuPont Brass playing outside metro stations and in hot spots like U Street. The clear advantage to the New Orleans brass band style is portability, allowing this ensemble to grow in popularity as it doubled in size. They play their first hometown show of the year this Friday night at Tropicalia, guaranteed to break a traditionally stoic DC audience into dance. I really dig the addition of hip-hop vocals to the jazz funk in “Common Tones”, their submission to NPR Music’s 2016 Tiny Desk Contest.
Justin Trawick – The End (NPR Tiny Desk Contest submission)
Troubador Justin Trawick stays as busy as possible with The 9 Singer-Songwriter Showcase, his weekly podcast The Circus Life, and his own performances with his backing band The Common Good. His twangy vocal delivery and signature trucker hats are unique in the DC music scene, and his hard work never seems to get the love it deserves. Hopefully the fine folks at All Songs Considered will notice Trawick’s submission to this year’s Tiny Desk Contest, the wistful ballad “The End”. Come help celebrate Trawick’s birthday, rescheduled from January’s blizzard, at Iota on Friday February 19th.
Sara Curtin – V D A Y (NPR Tiny Desk Contest submission)
It looks like Snowzilla forced stir-crazy musicians everywhere to record their submission to NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Contest while thoroughly snowed in a couple of weekends ago. That’s what Sara Curtin did, enlisting fiancé Brenden Chaney to film this solo version of seasonally-appropriate “V D A Y”, an old song thoroughly reworked for Curtin’s outstanding 2015 album Michigan Lilium. Curtin & her full band join with two other powerhouse DC women musicians, Lauren Calve and Marian McLaughlin, at Songbyrd in AdMo on Friday February 12th.
Kitchen Noise – The Host (NPR Tiny Desk Contest submission)
This is the best time of year to be a music video blogger. Bob Boilen’s now annual Tiny Desk Contest encourages so many musicians to set up the video cameras and polish off long-gestating new songs, and we’re excited to bring you the cream of the crop from our hometown. Kitchen Noise has been the off-and-on solo folk project of Cory Foley-Marsello for a few years, but now he’s recruited a full band to give his songs the depth they deserve. KN’s only album release, Ceramics, was way back in 2012, so check out the new material, including “The Host”, at the rescheduled album release show for Aaron Tinjum & The Tangents at the Rock & Roll Hotel on Sunday, February 21st along with producer extraordinaire Louis Weeks.
Near Northeast – What To Say (NPR Tiny Desk Contest submission)
Snowzilla’s thick white blanket is quickly retreating to towering, near-unmeltable mounds blocking sidewalks and lesser-used lanes of traffic, and super-hip indie folk trio Near Northeast seized the opportunity during the storm’s aftermath to film their submission to NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Contest, which ends tomorrow. “What To Say” is currently unreleased but distinctly memorable from their recent live sets at Black Cat and Luce Unplugged. Avy, Kelly and Austin intend to record a sophomore album later this year, so in the meantime, pay what you want for last year’s excellent full length Curios and keep your eyes peeled for more live shows in March.
Stranger in the Alps – The Mann Gulch Fire (NPR Tiny Desk submission)
Now that the calendar has rolled over to January, the new annual tradition of NPR All Songs Considered’s Tiny Desk contest has returned to spur rising, striving artists to create live music videos behind a desk of their choosing. This leads to much creative interpretation, such as this early entry by Steve Kolowich’s folk group Stranger in the Alps. I won’t spoil the twist, so enjoy this rendition of the beautifully narrative song “The Mann Gulch Fire (The Wag Dodge Escape)” from their 2013 album Honey If You’re Lucky.
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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