Baltimore’s Small Sur released their new LP Tones this week, currently streaming in full on AOL Spinner, and are currently on tour in support of it around the Northeast.

"Small Sur is the primary musical alias of South Dakota-born, now-Baltimore-based songwriter Bob Keal and current collaborators Austin Stahl and Andy Abelow. The project was born during the spring of 2005 in a friend’s Southern California bedroom, where Keal recorded the self-titled Small Sur EP shortly before relocating to Baltimore. 2008 marked the release of the band’s full-length debut, We Live in Houses Made of Wood, which garnered critical praise from the likes of Tiny Mix Tapes and NPR. With the addition of 2010’s Bare Black EP and 2011’s Tones, Small Sur’s gracefully growing discography emerges as the next great discovery to spring forth from the lauded and active Baltimore scene—refining the band’s singular, understated ability to capture and extend life’s fleeting moments of breathtaking beauty." – Team Clermont

Pick the album up at the official Album Release Show at the Metro Gallery in Baltimore on July 7.

Small Sur – Prettyboy by 1146miles

D.C.’s Beauty Pill (multi-instrumentalists Basla Andolsun, Jean Cook, Drew Doucette, Devin Ocampo and founding member Abram Goodrich) return with their work cut out for themselves. Not content simply putting out a record, they will be embarking on the Immersive Ideal project. Inspired in part by the famous Abbey Road Studio Two window, the group will be creating its new album in full view of the public eye at the Artisphere. Curated by Artisphere’s New Media Curator Ryan Holladay, one half of longtime Beauty Pill pal Bluebrain, the residency runs July 16 to August 2 , with the installation slated for December/January of this year.

"Artisphere is excited to be partnering with Beauty Pill on this groundbreaking project. As far as I know, there really hasnt been a band to do something like this nor can I think of a place better suited for this kind of artistic experiment," says Holladay. "This is exactly the sort of thing we want to be doing. We’re not sure what will happen but we’re glad it’s going to be happening at Artisphere."

Beauty Pill’s Chad Clark says this about the Immersive Ideal project, "The way that we make music involves a lot of stumbling in the dark." Clark adds, "Making that process accessible and visible to the outside world will, if nothing else, be an exercise in vulnerability.” – Courtesy of Terrorbird

Beauty Pill "Anacostia Blue Heron" (detail) by beautypill

DC clearly knows what’s up when it comes to thrash… Warchild! Voted to the top of our recent band of the month poll, these dudes- Rory Sheridan, Allan Chappelear, Devin Cassidy, and Jason Dangle, are planning on releasing their debut later this summer, and just shot a video which is currently in post. Both will be awesome of course. We caught up with the man behind the mic, Rory, to learn more about what exactly makes Warchild so awesome. Check out the interview here...

Listen to their track "Back to the Mines" in the skate promo below, and be sure to check out their CD release show at the Rock & Roll Hotel, August 26!

Month’s ago, Flo Anito graced the headline banner of DC Deli’s site as Artist of the Month. She had just debuted a music video off her latest album "No Dust Bunnies", and as of June 1, that video has recieved the grand prize in Ourstage’s Video Finals. Our intern Jessie caught up with her to find out her musical origins, performing at DC memorials, and how she found Rod Stewart. Full interview here…

Catch Flo Anito this Sunday 6/5 at the Sweet Tea Fest at Almaz, 8 pm, and 6/11 at Celebrate Fairfax.

This Friday marks the series finale of the nationally broadcasted music video TV show Strictly Global, based out of northern Virginia. It has been in syndication for 9 seasons, and hosted by Dawn Reed over the past 3 years, reeling in DC based indie bands as often as possible amongst its playlist of international bands. Tune in at 10 PM on 6-3-2011 to catch an interview with DC rock guitarist/singer Joshua Padgett of The Chance who will talk about their upcoming summer release New York City Girls, their new live line-up, and throughout the hour several of their new songs will be previewed including "You", "Forever", and the title track "New York City Girls."

Catch them live the same night at Rock & Roll Hotel along with The Honeyguns and the Electric 11s.

Arlington based urban folk rock’s the Justin Trawick Group are heavily gigging all over the DMV, and hitting the 9:30 Club stage this Saturday May 28. And 9:30 wants to make sure you get in on it, so we’ve got some passes to this show! All you have to do is email us here, and let us know what your favorite Justin Trawick song is and why, by 3 PM on Friday May 27. The winner will be chosen at random, emailed back, and announced on this blog.

For more info on the JTG, check out the interview below where Trawick talks about getting the crowd to waltz, their Iota Club residency, and their plethora of ex-girlfriend songs.