Just a couple weeks ago, DC based rock quartet Megaphone Barons released their debut EP Menagerie, no doubt sending a plethora of new fans to their aid as they were voted our Band of the Month. So we conversed via the interwebs with Christopher Lewis (guitar, vocals), Tim Preston (Drums), Dan Davydoff (violin) and Adam Marlowe (bass) to find out more about the Sonic Youth inspired bunch that include cool instruments like the accordian and violin in the mix. Here they dish out their thoughts on the DC music scene, the underrated, and international inspiration. On to the interview…

And check this out-> Megaphone Barons are giving away downloads of their EP Menagerie for a limited time here! Have a listen below…

DC’s Deleted Scenes have unleashed their sophomore LP Young People’s Church of the Air this month and it’s probably the coolest album to come out in years that equally balances spacing out with head bobbing. Oh yes, Daniel Scheuerman (guitar, vocals), Matt Dowling (bass, keyboard), Dominic Campanaro (guitar, keyboards, samples), and Brian Hospital (drums) are on to something, and each track on this showcases it’s own concoction of genre morphing and a blend of home vs studio recording.

Some fav’s include the first single "Bedbedbedbedbed." It’s insanely infectious with a dreamy soundscape, wrapping your eardrums in a comforter of warm noise while Scheuerman pleads on for that immaculate girl to crawl into his bed bed bed… hot! Keys warble, drums are dope tight, guitars lush out, and gorgeousness ensues.

"Baltika 9" is a super fun surfer romp tinged with some Brian Wilson inspiration that’ll get you "drunk enough for second base." A falsetto chorus soars above a rambunctious beat making it feel like summer isn’t going away anytime soon.

And "English as a Second Language" gets goofy-fun and hits all levels of the music spectrum, drawing you in with it’s happy pop friendly bass lines, electro beat, and fuzzy vocals, before busting into a punk outburst and melting into 80’s new wave territory. Totally awesome!

Young People’s Church of the Air is now available on iTunes, featuring the single "Bedbedbedbedbed" heard in the music video below. They are currently on tour throughout the US and Canada, and will be at DC9 on Oct.9! –Dawn

Deleted Scenes "Bedbedbedbedbed" from Stephanie Wuertz on Vimeo.

On top of being voted DC Deli’s August Band of the Month, the alternative trio Atlas recently released a dope music video for the track “Shotgun” from their recently recorded demo currently making circulation. So we wanted to know more about what they are all about. EJ Morgan (Guitar/Vocals), Andrew Vilar (Bass/Vocals), and John Schaffer (Drums) have collectively come together to spill it on alternative inspiration, a chaotic high school performance, and the ‘tons’ to come in the future. Full interview here…

Catch Atlas live at the Velvet Lounge on Wednesday Sept. 7, and check out the video for "Shotgun" below!

"Baltimore’s synth-pop romantics Future Islands are pleased to announce, "Balance," the second single off their upcoming full-length On The Water, available October 11th, 2011 on Thrill Jockey. This time they indulge in the soft sounds of ocean swells quietly rushing the beach followed by driving basslines and glittery keys as they anticipate the tide crashing against the shore." -Courtesy of Thrill Jockey. Check out the track below, it’s gorgeous!!! (Photo by Elena Johnston.)

DC’s indie rock trio Megaphone Barons have just released their debut EP Menagerie, with 6 tracks showing their range from garage to worldly elements. Chris, Tim, and Daniil originally performed together with 4 other guys in Perfect Substitutes, a grad school cover band, back in 2009 before taking their new formation on the road around the globe- no doubt having some impact on what they sound like now.

The release party is this Wednesday 8/24 at Club Heaven and Hell, and if you purchase the EP by the 23rd, via their bandcamp site, then you get on the guest list! More details here…

The Baltimore/DC/Italy hybrid band that is Bravenoise have been voted your Band of the Month for August, and we were wondering what made these guys bring their rock to a "make it funky!" level! So we riled together the dudes behind the noise, Andrew Bell, Andrea Spadafora, and Garron Marsh, to find out. Here they spill it on the awesomeness of girlfriends, Craigslist, and good Italian espresso. On to the interview…

Bravenoise’s debut Everything Was and Everything Will Be is available now on iTunes. Check out the songs live at several upcoming shows, including Stan & Joe’s Saloon on 8/20, and The Whiskey (Annapolis) on 8/27. More dates…  ((Photog: Meredith D. Lee)

DC’s lords of electronic music Thievery Corporation released Culture Of Fear in June and are currently touring the US in support of it. The duo of Rob Garza & Eric Hilton came to be in 1996 and have always kept that DIY Dischord inspiration flowing through their vast discography. And of course they are making a stop by home at Kastles Stadium at the Wharf on Saturday 8/20, and they want to make sure you are there! So we’ve got passes to give away to one lucky reader. All you have to do is email us (please include first/last name), and let us know what your favorite song by Thievery Corporation is and why, by 5 PM on Thursday August 18. The winner will be chosen at random, emailed back, and announced on this blog.

Check out their video for "Take My Soul" off of Culture of Fear, featuring vocalist Lou Lou.

Death By Sexy. It’s a powerful name for a rockin trio that came together in DC back in 2005. When Dex Fontaine (drums/vocals) and Jason Griffenhagen (guitar/vocals) had a chance encounter with Eagles of Death Metal’s Jesse Hughes at a Black Cat pinball machine, their name was spawned. After Christian Baldo (bass/vocals) joined, the rock sensation was in full force, bringing with them an edge of humor so desperately needed in this town. Here they get down and tell us about the wonderful world of Spotify, performing at Gallaudet, Uncle Jesse, and the importance of Dex’s family. On to the interview…

DxS takes to the mainstage at the Black Cat this Friday, August 19 with The Danvilles and Musicband. Doors @9/$10.

Photo by Brad Johnson.

DC based folk rock Junior League Band is bringing their old-timey inspired tunes to the 9:30 Club stage this Saturday, fronted by banjo extrodanaire Lissy Rosemont (above) who’s lent her plucking skills to tracks for Missy Elliot and the Pussycat Dolls. They’ll be joined by another indie folk local Typefighter, and Kingsley Flood (New England.) And they all want to make sure that you are there, so 9:30 club has hooked us up with some passes to give to you! All you have to do is email us (please include first/last name), and let us know what your favorite JLB song is and why, by 5 PM on Thursday August 11. The winner will be chosen at random, emailed back, and announced on this blog. Check out JLB performing "Jelly Roll" below.

At last, one of the most anticipated releases that we’ve been waiting for is finally here!!! And holy hell was it worth the wait. DC’s dark rockers, The Chance, are releasing their 6 track EP New York City Girls on Aug 24th, and we’ve got an advance copy and are very very stoked to share our thoughts on this album we’ve been hearing about since late 2010. As a duo, guitarist/singer Joshua Padgett (bass on album as well) and drummer Viraj DeSilva worked in NYC with famed producer Chuck Brody (Phantogram, Yoko Ono) and mastered by Sarah Register (Sonic Youth, David Bowie) to create what is one of the best indie rock EPs of the year.

Kicking off the record is the dance anthem and first single "The Abyss of Love" recently heard at a 9:30 Club DJ session (word!) that easily gets your ass off the bar stool. (You can hear it below.) The first jolt of drums has an 80’s "kick your feet now!" flair before a tinge of high guitar notes float in causing an instant bob of the head. Before you know it, your eyes are closed and your doing the ‘Molly Ringwald ala Breakfast Club’ while Padgett chants "Can our souls blend for all time? I need you, to save me from myself. Hold me close." A new movement of dark dance rock is sure to emerge based on this track alone. And it sets the pace for the rest of the stellar EP.

Next is the title track "New York City Girls" which is about chicks living the dream in said city. It’s their poppiest track to date that seems ready for airplay on the soundtrack to Gossip Girl, or something equally awesome. Padgett reaches new heights of falsetto impressively before delving into that clean Ian Curtis roar he has been compared to in the past. The guitars swirl in layered loops of lush while DeSilva brings you back to reality with bursts of cymbals.

Every track has its own edge that induce the need to listen over and over again. "Forever" gets intense with layered guitars, "Into the Night" features a chorus in Spanish, and the ballad "Lapdance in Heaven" has a creepy edge of Suicide-like percussion echoes. Padgett sings a depressing tale about a lonely man in pergatory with the faint memory of obsessive love for a stripper before bursting into the guitar solo of the century that is up there with C.C. DeVille baby! And closing out the record is another smash of dark dance rock with a fast paced/steady beat and impressive guitar licks in "You Are My Dream" which ultimately makes us want more, dammit! LP LP LP!!!

The recording duo will be in full band mode including Christian Baldo on bass and Steve Scarlata on guitar for the official CD release party. Be sure to get your ass to the Black Cat on Wednesday August 24th where they will be joined by the spectacular Janel and Anthony. $10 8 PM. And now, … the abyss of love!!! -Dawn The Abyss of Love by The Chance (DC)