"Topshelf Records will release the new record from Baltimore, MD rock band Pianos Become The Teeth on November 1st. Titled The Lack Long After, the album was recorded by Kevin Bernsten at Developing Nations Studio, where the band’s previous effort Old Pride was recorded.
Pianos Become The Teeth has a melodic yet uncompromising sound that brings to mind such diverse and influential bands as Thursday, Envy and City of Caterpillar. Brimming with sincerity and brandishing an experimental ambiance, the band is pushing beyond the boundaries of a stale genre. Mixing elements of screamo, hardcore as well as post rock, The Lack Long After breathes new life into a once decaying scene." –Courtesy Top Shelf Records
Catch them in the midst of their US tour on Dec. 4 at the Red Palace in DC.
When one thinks of the typical sound of DC, chamber pop probably isn’t amongst the first genres to come to mind, but with the talent exuding from DC’s own Star FK Radium, perhaps that may change. And considering they rose to the top of our recent band of the month poll, they clearly have a fanbase that may just put chamber pop up there with go-go and straightedge someday…who knows! So we got a hold of Bill (guitar), Matt (drums), and Alissa (violin) to delve more into the world of classical punk. Here, they talk about cool dads, their European audience, and gracing the pages of several metal magazines. Now onto the interview…
Check out the beautiful video below for "Josie’s Porch Swing" filmed on location in Iceland! The song is available on their album Blue Siberia, now available. And catch them live next at Ebeneezer’s in DC on Oct. 27.
Craig Wedren is a man that wears many hats. Along with fronting the massively influential DC band Shudder To Think, composing for shows like MTV’s much loved 90s show The State, Reno 911!, Stella, The Whitest Kids You Know, and Wet Hot American Summer, the musician also currently scores the TV show Hung on HBO. Who would think he would even have time to eat or sleep?
But apparently he does… and then some. Wedren has just released his newest solo album, Wand, out now. He has also accompanied the album with his second 360 degree interactive video, available for your viewing pleasure on his website.
Wand is currently streaming on his Facebook as well as on Itunes. –Amanda D.
Annapolis, MD based hard-rock band the Cheaters unleashed a new single this week called "Hey Hey Rock’n’Roll" which you can check out below. This is their first single since 2009, and plans to produce a full LP have been announced and should be out by Spring 2012.
From Montauk Music: "’Hey Hey Rock N’ Roll’ really depicts who we are,” states Jason Morton (vox/guitar). “We all pay our dues and this song is about what we live for; it’s a statement that we’re committed to the rock n’ roll lifestyle. There is no alternative for us, and it’s not about fame or attention. There’s many twists, turns and trials in this life – if you really want all of it, rock n’ roll is what you have to love. ‘Hey Hey Rock N’ Roll’ is real to our lives”
Catch the Cheaters next at Nabb’s Creek in Glen Burnie, MD on Nov. 5.
DC based alt punk band the Technicians were recently tied front runners on our Band of the Month poll, with tons of fans showing up for support. So we got a hold of Navid Marvi (vocals/guitar), Nick Glover (guitar/vocals), Ryan Hobbs (bass/vocals) and Steve Smith (drums) to find out more about the awesomeness that got them to the top of our poll. Here they fill us in on their biggest influences, what their band’s name almost was, and the return of post-punk dominance in DC. On to the interview...
Check out some tracks from their S/T EP below, and catch them live at Jaxx Nightclub in VA on November 5.
A delayed farewell to Baltimore’s Ponytail. ***"We regret to inform you that the wonder group known as Ponytail have officially called it a day. After releasing their amazing album "Do Whatever You Want All the Time" they were unable to make the touring portion come to life as the members have dispersed across the country in search of other life experiences. It’s a bummer the world will never see Ponytail live again because it was truly honest music that filled you with extreme joy. An experience like that is rare these days and if you did see Ponytail live consider yourself lucky. Hopefully more bands will come along like Ponytail and shed light on the fakers. Much love to the future." Xoxo. Sir james winnie***
Baltimore genre breakers Double Dagger have made the decision to split up, but are sweeping the east coast with a mini tour before they say goodbye. The three piece band has been a DIY punk staple in the Baltimore scene for 9 years, and are well known for their political approach to punk music that’s still catchy and inventive.
The three members of the band are already working on new projects: lead singer Nolen Strales and bassist Bruce Willen are working on their graphic design company, Post Typography, and drummer Denny Bowen is working on new music under the name Room Runner. To get your last fill of Double Dagger, the band’s also put out an EP called Masks, full of their sarcastic and explosive genre bending music, out now on Thrill Jockey.
The band’s final tour dates will be kicking off on October 12 in Baltimore at Charm City Art Space. Check out more info on their website. –Amanda D.
DC based rock band Black Dog Prowl have a bevy of local gigs coming up in the DMV, and are in the works of a followup EP to their May 2010 debut Half Truths & Lies. And most recently, they rocked the polls and were top winners of DC Deli’s Band of the Month for October. So we got in touch with Josh Finver (guitar.vox), Robert Peters (guitar), Sky Allen (bass), and Enzo Ferrogiaro (drums) to find out what’s up with them. Here they tell us about Tower Records memories, their new single "Vapor", and Diamond Phantoms. On to the interview…
Check out the live video of BDP performing "Bailout" below, and catch them at Austin Grill in Rockville, MD this Friday 10/14 @ 10PM.
After three years of silence, Arlington’s own Rachael Yamagata is returning with fresh new record, Chesapeake. The album was officially released October 11 on her own Frankenfish Records.
This album is a slight departure from stormy wooziness and generally sad overtones of her previous records. Instead, the lyrics on this album lean toward the optimistic side of love. In fact, Rachael says so herself in "The Way it Seems to Go" – "I’ll be the voice of hope in your darkest hour…I’m an expert in the silver lining." But, don’t let the brighter moments of this record fool you, there are certainly deeper emotional layers present. You get the feeling as the album progresses that the optimism is tinted with frustration, like her words are reaching out to grab and shake a hesitant lover that just refuses to come around and join her in the version of true love that she believes from skin to bone, down in her heart and in her gut. With that in mind, the album feels familiar and very real. It is a little bit sexy and pouty and it wants you to get close and feel it. (This album review was not supposed to be dirty, I swear.)
The songs embrace a rauchier version of jazz and the blues than much of Rachael’s previous recordings. In fact, when taken together with the sprinklings of subtle tribal beats and southern folk instruments, Chesapeake takes on a much more distinctively "American" sound, in a very classic sense. This fresh in spite of itself sound is a wonderful pair with her signature, breathy voice that so easily pushes listeners to brink of infatuation. There are also some very unexpected and impactful sonic moments remniscent of 90’s alternative and pop-rock, especially on the debut single, "Starlight."
My final thought is that Chesapeake feels like a natural progression from the heavy hearted, Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart. But, it’s certainly less sad, and if sad is what you’re really into, then the shift in emotion on this album may leave you feeling a bit…well…sad. But for the rest of you, this album is a highlight worth checking out in an October that is absolutely full of great new releases.-Jarrett
This Friday, Bethesda’s own post-rockers Trans Am will be playing Futureworld in it’s entirety at the 9:30 Club, and oh yeah, sharing the stage with Les Savy Fav and The Psychic Paramount! You know you want in on this! So we’ve got passes to give away courtesy of the 9:30 Club! All you have to do is email us (please include first/last name), and let us know what your favorite Trans Am song is and why, by 5 PM on Thursday October 6. The winner will be chosen at random, emailed back, and announced on this blog.
Check out this video for Trans Am’s song "Futureworld."
A couple of members of the late Baltimore band, You, Me, and Everyone We Know, have apparently remembered that rock and roll is awesome and started a new indie-pop project, The Little Indians. You’ll hear the echoes of YMAEWK in this band, but the sound is definitely different.
I actually don’t like the label "indie-pop" for The Little Indians. I mean, it’s completely, irrevocably appropriate, but they seem to err on the side of rock and roll more than the electronic dance hall side of indie-pop. It’s maybe more indie/pop than indie-pop. Does that even make sense? I highly doubt it, so allow me to provide a brief illustration. Imagine that Her Space Holiday and Matt and Kim and Chairlift all got together and gang banged your favorite pop-punk bands from when you were 14, producing a child whose cries all resound as catchy, melodic hooks. And further imagine that child grew up appreciating the classic American sounds of the 50’s and 60’s, incorporating those soulful melodies with optimistic, feel good lyrics. (This metaphor has gone on far too long already. I’ll stop now before it gets really bad.)
At least, that’s what their first single, "What Makes You Grin" seems to sound like. It also sounds like there are plenty more releases coming soon, so keep your ears to the ground! In the meantime, check out "What Makes You Grin" and judge the band for yourself. Like what you hear? Leave some love in the comments.
DC based rock band Fear of Virginia grew from a cover band formed in 2010 to a fanbase that got them to the top of our recent poll, making them our September Band of the Month. So we wanted to find out more about the band that is scared of the Commonwealth, and collectively Mike Sciortino (vocals and acoustic guitar), Sam Kussin-Shoptow (drums and backing vocals), Matt McCauley (electric guitar), David Turner (bass and screams), Tess Scharlemann (violin), and Benjamin Kussin-Shoptaw (keys, music theory consultant) let us in on what’s up. Here they tell us about their plans to record, the energy of the DC scene, and the story behind the name. Onto the interview...
Catch Fear of Virginia live at the Rock & Roll Hotel on Oct. 8.
