Have you checked out DC’s the Strangest Places video for "Could Someone" yet?  It’s right below this paragraph for your viewing pleasure. A lo-fi blast of drudgy guitars, light synths, and Chris Howard’s lyrics coming through asking "could someone like her, want me?" paired with stunning black and white images of masked lovers. Word.

A lot of amazingness was captured at Thrill Jockey’s 20th Anniversary party, including this live performance of Baltimore’s Future Islands‘ "Inch of Dust" from their 2010 album In Evening Air. If you haven’t seen them live yet, here is a great proof of how into it singer Samuel T. Herring really gets. They are currently on tour throughout the US with Talk Normal and Dope Body.

Future Islands – Inch of Dust (Live at Thrill Jockey 20th Anniversary) from Thrill Jockey Records on Vimeo.

Baltimore’s psychedelic bliss rock band Fractal Cat just released their debut album The Eye in the Dawn last month, self-produced and oozing with trippy elements plucked straight from Woodstock. It got our attention, and many others, who voted them Band of the Month to kick off November in psych style. So we wanted to find out more about the groovy people, who are Miles Gannett (guitar/vocals/other,) Jason Armstrong Baker (drums/percussion,) Keith Jones (guitar/vocals/dishes,) Meghan Gwyer (harp/keyboards/vocals,) Andy Myatt (bass,) and Joe Clark (samples/synths.) Here they talk about the Dalai Lama, feral cats in New Orleans, and MC Hammer. Now onto the interview…

Catch Fractal Cat at Joe Squared in Baltimore on Nov. 29.

With the weather causing chaos across the coast and the continuous onslaught of headache inducing fucking political ads, stress needs relief ASAP, and I got it in one listen to DC’s the Sea Life‘s latest In Basements. These indie-poppers produced 10 tracks worthy of pausing your hectic life to relax in the warmth of layers of dreampop shoegaze and fuzz.

The track "The Collector" is a total standout, with chill guitar pluckage and a chorus of oohs & aahs in the background while lyrics say "Well I cant find another way out, I change my mind, I lost my patience…"

"Sex Appeal Pt. 1" is a gorgeous instrumental piece that inevitably had me succombed to a reclined state of mind before bleeding into "Body Language Pt. 2" a nod to 90’s college radio nostalgia. Most excellent.

And "Magic Weapon" is one of those classic dreampop tracks that leads into an epic build-up of splendor and super clean feedback. –Dawn

Baltimore’s Arbouretum have announced that their 5th full length album Coming Out of the Fog will be coming out January 22, 2013. This follows their latest release, a split LP with psych rock band Hush Arbors, and their 2011 release The Gathering. Check out the video for "World Split Open" below, filmed live at Thrill Jockey’s 20th Anniversary. Arbouretum start their UK tour this month.

Arbouretum – World Split Open (Live at Thrill Jockey 20th Anniversary) from Thrill Jockey Records on Vimeo.

DC’s post-punk Dot Dash debuted a new music video this week for the track "The Past is Another Country" off their second album Winter Garden Light, released September 2012. All the tracks are super catchy and have that classic DC post-punk sound that could easily dominate college radio waves on any given night. Just check it out and you’ll know…(Photo by Roy Anderson)

Baltimore’s perveyor of indie pop noise Heart of Hearts (Greg Hatem’s solo project) create soundscapes of ethereal tinged notes and lush air in his debut September release My Society (also available on glorious vinyl.) It’s a great soundtrack for this new gloomy sky we have above us. So turn on the heat, open a natty bo, and hit play for a relaxing ride into the impending winter.

One of my favorite tracks is definitely "Owls Grow Up," which full on showcases Hatem’s flair for layered keys in a futuristic shoegaze atmosphere.

"You’re My Sister" takes a psychedelic journey into more experimental territory, with warbly sci-fi synths and cleverly placed background tones that sound like a chorus of extra terrestrials chiming in.

"Grass Mask" gets uber dark, with Suicide-ish keys booming throughout, and paired with lyrics "I can’t mask how I feel. Don’t ask how I feel." But before you get caught up in the horror score of it, Hatem ends on a ‘happier’ note with the title track "My Society" pumping a steady oompa bass beat that harkens on 80’s electro and shoegazey electro vocals. –Dawn

DC based music advocate Listen Local First is celebrating its first birthday/anniversary on Friday Oct. 19 by featuring 9 local singer-songwriters (The 9 Songwriter Series) on the Black Cat stage. The bill includes Christylez Bacon, Sam McCormally of Ugly Purple Sweater, Gordon Daniels of Luck Dub, Margot MacDonald, Justin Trawick, Ryan McLaughlin of Typefighter, Victoria Vox, Wytold, and Taylor Carson. The 9 was founded by Justin Trawick to bring together local artists to tour and play in larger venues, rotating between songs as well as sharing the stage together to bring a variety of entertainment for audiences.

It all goes down at the Black on Friday 10/19, 8 PM, $10.

 Singer-songerwriter Luke Mitchem from Virginia by way of Missouri has just released the second single from his forthcoming 4th album Winter Kissing on the Spring due out Oct. 23. The track "Driving Through Illinois with Josh Ritter" showcases Mitchem’s indie folk soundscape paired with a lyrical tale inspired by a motivating conversation he once had with Ritter.

Check it out below, and catch him live Thursday 10/18 @ the Camel in Richmond, VA.

DC based indie pop duo PLOY (Gil Wojcik & Justin Victoria) had been in other bands togther over the past few years, but decided to manoeuvre their sound into the electronic atmosphere back in March. The result was truly eclectic and can be heard in their self-titled EP, and has undoubtedly garnered the attention of fans who voted them band of the month. We wanted to find out more about these guys, so got a hold of Gil who tells us here about the Starbucks think-tank, the upcoming SxSW fest, and planning a DC gig this month! Now onto the interview…

Check out their latest single "Fool" below!

DC/NY’s Deleted Scenes summer tour is over, and they are headed back into the studio this winter to start recording their third album that’ll be out next year. In the meantime, check out this sweet/eerie video (directed by Ben Usie) for "A Bunch of People Who Love You Like Crazy" off of their second album Young People’s Church of the Air.