5 Acts: November 2007

Friday, November 30, 2007

Belaire

Austin, TX

To go on and on about Belaire would just be silly. All I need to tell you is that they use bells and I find the music irresistible.

"Waiting Patiently"

Belaire on MySpace

Belaire on The Hype Machine

Jukebox The Ghost

Washington, DC

I must apologize to all the District people for not mentioning this spiffy trio before now. They're hot and they're in your own backyard. Even better, you can see Jukebox The Ghost (and These United States) tonight opening up for Ra Ra Riot at Rock & Roll Hotel. Doors open at 8:30 and the show is at 9:30.

"Hold It In"

Jukebox The Ghost on MySpace

Jukebox The Ghost on The Hype Machine

Martina Topley-Bird

Bristol, England

Martina Topley-Bird has collaborated with other talented artists in the past like Tricky and Carmen Rizzo. Her latest solo disc, The Blue God, isn't out until early next year, but I've been loving this song from a few months now. Make sure to check out the rest of it too.

"Carnies"

Martina Topley-Bird on MySpace

Martina Topley-Bird on The Hype Machine

Aloha

Cleveland, OH / Brooklyn, NY / Rochester, NY / Washington, DC

This super smooth group took the prize for my favorite song of 2006 ("Brace Your Face"). They're back to close out 2007 with a nice laidback EP called Light Works. It's out on Tuesday from Polyvinyl and this track will definitely appear as one of my year-end favorites.

"Body Buzz"

Aloha on MySpace

Aloha on The Hype Machine

Sigur Ros

Reykjavik, Iceland

Not truly new material on the latest offering from Sigur Ros, but with a chorus of "ýu ræ son mæ fon" this song in particular is so damn nice.

"Hljómalind"

Sigur Ros on MySpace

Sigur Ros on The Hype Machine

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Seabear - I Sing I Swim

Cut Off Your Hands - Expectations

Moonbabies - Take Me To The Ballroom

I Was A Cub Scout - Our Smallest Adventures

A Place To Bury Strangers - I Know I'll See You

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Sarah Blasko

The Triangles

The Silver Seas

Thailand

Saturday Looks Good To Me

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Low Low Low La La La Love Love Love

Kate Tucker & The Sons Of Sweden

Hot Springs

Zookeeper

SNMNMNM

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Maritime at Rock & Roll Hotel

If you're in DC this weekend, please try to check out a great line-up at Rock & Roll Hotel tonight. Maritime is headlining with openers Tereu Tereu, Paul Michel, and The One AM Radio.

friends and family

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Little Dragon - Twice

Georgie James - Need Your Needs

Vampire Weekend - Mansard Roof

Jens Lekman - Sipping On The Sweet Nectar

Band Of Horses - Is There A Ghost

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Fenech-Soler

White Williams

Yea Big + Kid Static

Burial

Boy In Static

Monday, November 19, 2007

Cars & Trains

Portland, OR

I really loved the 2 AM EP from Cars & Trains last year. Now Tom Fileep is back with a full-length entitled Rusty String and it completely satisfies all my expectations.

"The Wires From My Broken Record Player"

Cars & Trains on MySpace

Cars & Trains on The Hype Machine

Monsters Build Mean Robots

Soft Tigers

Sydney, Australia

Sometimes reminiscent of some other Aussie mates, Architecture In Helsinki.

"Makin Love"

Soft Tigers on MySpace

Soft Tigers on The Hype Machine


Single Frame

Eat Sugar

Cincinnati, OH

Sweet treats from Cincinnati.

"I'm A Carrier"

Eat Sugar on MySpace

Eat Sugar on The Hype Machine

Saturday, November 17, 2007

sleeping

Since we're heading in to the season where we all feel like hibernating, I've decided to post some songs focused on sleeping.

Sebastian Schuller - Sleeping Song

Ms. John Soda - Unsleeping

The Radio Dept. - Sleeping In

Sara Culler - Are You Sleeping

The Perishers - Trouble Sleeping

Friday, November 16, 2007

tonight: The Bird And The Bee

Wahoo! The Bird And The Bee is headlining a show at Rock & Roll Hotel this evening, and I can't think of a better way to kick off the weekend. The duo's new EP Please Clap Your Hands doesen't disappoint in the least, picking up right where their debut full-length left off. I've never had an opportunity to see them play live, so I'm really looking forward it. Opening act is Charlie Wadhams. Doors open at 8:30 and the music starts around 9:30.

The Bird And The Bee on MySpace

The Bird And The Bee on The Hype Machine

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Mobius Band - Friends Like These

Foals - Balloons

Frightened Rabbit - The Greys

Roisin Murphy - Let Me Know

The Most Serene Republic - The Men Who Live Upstairs

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Cut Off Your Hands

Auckland, New Zealand

They're not British at all, but I highly recommend these guys if you like bands like The Futureheads.

"Expectations"

Cut Off Your Hands on MySpace

Cut Off Your Hands on The Hype Machine

Tim WIlliams

New York, NY

This guy is truly a breath of fresh air for me. I'd like to see him live, but for some reason he's not playing anywhere near me. With so many dates, why is that, Tim?

"Stop Your Kidding"

Tim Williams on MySpace

Tim Williams on The Hype Machine

Ingrid Michaelson

Staten Island, NY

Ingrid Michaelson gained a lot of attention after whoring her music out to the fine people at Grey's Anatomy. Nicely done! She's doing some live sets these days, with the closest show to DC being in Vienna, VA - November 17 at Jammin' Java.

"Breakable"

Ingrid Michaelson on MySpace

Ingrid Michaelson on The Hype Machine

Japancakes

Athens, GA

Not only have these talented instrumentalists put out two new albums, but one of them is an exquisite interpretation of My Bloody Valentine's Loveless. Here's the first track.

"Only Shallow"

Japancakes on MySpace

Japancakes on The Hype Machine

Robbers On High Street

New York, NY

Robbers On High Street have a few live dates right now with Great Northern.

11/15 - Denver CO - Larimer Lounge
11/16 - Lawrence KS - The Jackpot Saloon
11/17 - Minneapolis MN - 7th Street Entry
11/18 - Chicago IL - Schubas

"The Fatalist"

Robbers On High Street on MySpace

Robbers On High Street on The Hype Machine

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

hiLARious!

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Hang The DJ - 11/10/07

01. Junior Boys - Birthday (Manitoba Mix)
02. Matthew Dear - Deserter (Four Tet Remix)
03. Datarock - The Most Beautiful Girl
04. Mark Ronson - Oh My God
05. M.I.A. - Paper Planes
06. The Seedy Seeds - The Little Patton
07. Kate Nash - Foundations
08. Spoon - Stay Don't Go
09. Pavement - Cut Your Hair
10. Ra Ra Riot - A Manner To Act
11. Bloc Party - Banquet
12. The Sounds - Hurt You
13. You Say Party! We Say Die! - Monster (RAC Mix)
14. The Bird And The Bee - So You Say
15. The Blow - Parentheses (Rory Phillips Remix)
16. Calvin Harris - Acceptable In The 80's
17. Chromeo - 100%
18. Feist - My Moon My Man (Boys Noize Remix)
19. Snowden - Dreams (Stutter Remix)
20. Justice - DVNO
21. Fenech-Soler - Open Eyes
22. Muscles - Marshmallow
23. Ladytron - Destroy Everything You Touch
24. The Rosebuds - My Punishment For Fighting
25. Tokyo Police Club - Be Good (RAC Remix)
26. Psapp - Hi
27. Radiohead - 15 Steps
28. Martina Topley Bird - Carnies
29. Beck - Pressure Zone
30. Sean Wilde - Still Hear The Train
31. Soft Complex - Barcelona
32. The Lodger - Getting Special
33. Los Campesinos! - We Throw Parties You Throw Knives
34. Rilo Kiley - Breakin' Up
35. Rilo Kiley - Love And War
36. Letters To Cleo - Here And Now
37. Tom Vek - I Aint Saying My Goodbyes
38. VHS Or Beta - Can't Believe A Single Word
39. The National - Mistaken For Strangers
40. Manic Street Preachers - Your Love Alone Is Not Enough
41. The Eames Era - Fake Do-Gooders
42. The Cure - Lullaby
43. Patrick Wolf - Bluebells
44. Depeche Mode - Policy Of Truth
45. Siouxsie & The Banshees - Cities In Dust
46. Arcade Fire - No Cars Go
47. Editors - Bones
48. New Order - Age Of Consent
49. Divinyls - I Touch Myself
50. Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart
51. Dirty On Purpose - Send Me An Angel
52. The Rapture - Out Of The Races And Onto The Tracks
53. The Go! Team - The Wrath Of Marcie
54. Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You
55. Cut Off Your Hands - Expectations
56. Small Sins - Airport
57. Headlights - Hi-Ya!
58. Ghostland Observatory - Sad Sad City
59. Talking Heads - This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
60. Petra Haden - Don't Stop Believin'

Friday, November 09, 2007

Mark Ronson - Oh My God

tonight: White Rabbits

DC folk - You should definitely should be at Rock & Roll Hotel this evening for a most sexy lineup. Via Audio, local lovers Bellman Barker, and Tally Hall are opening the show for main act White Rabbits. It's almost unreal how good this'll be. Doors are 8pm and the music starts around 8:30.

White Rabbits on MySpace

White Rabbits on The Hype Machine

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Chromatics

Club 8

Sambassadeur

The Octopus Project

Supermayer

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

ticket giveaway: VHS Or Beta

Three bands - Soft Complex, Moving Units, VHS Or Beta - are playing Black Cat on Monday, November 12. If you wanna catch this great show for free, e-mail me the title of your favorite VHS Or Beta song. I'll pick a winner at random by noon this Friday.

Here's the video for "Can't Believe A Single Word."

Black Moth Super Rainbow - Sun Lips

show reminder: múm

Don't forget - múm tonight at the 6th & I Historic Synagogue at 8pm!

múm on MySpace

múm on The Hype Machine

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Sally Shapiro - Jackie Jackie

The Teenagers - Starlett Johansson

Michael Showalter - Sandwiches & Cats

Throughout the past 15 years, Michael Showalter has made a name for himself as one of the premier names in comedy with cult hits like MTV’s The State and Comedy Central's Stella. Now he's putting out one of the most anticipated records of the year. Sandwiches & Cats is out November 13 and is a a mix of live stand up and in-studio sketches and songs recorded this summer in Brooklyn and Chicago. To help promote the new album, Showalter is touring with his longtime pal Michael Ian Black. Dates are below.

11/14 The Grog Shop, Cleveland OH
11/15 The Barrymore, Madison WI
11/16 Pantages Theatre, Minneapolis MN
11/29 Somerville Theatre, Somerville MA
11/30 The Fillmore at Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia PA
12/01 The Fillmore @ Irving Plaza, New York NY

Monday, November 05, 2007

Tigercity

The Tough Alliance

The Black Ghosts

Underworld

Meshell Ndegeocello

Sunday, November 04, 2007

sunday shuffle: ABCDE

Friday, November 02, 2007

tonight: The Drones

Australian band The Drones will be opening up for Band of Horses tonight at 9:30. It's a late show (doors, 11:30), so maybe consider taking a nap after work/school/happy hour. :-)

In celebration of their US tour with Band of Horses, The Drones will be the first band to kick off ATP Recordings' new series of double 7" vinyl called Custom Made. Custom Made invites artists to submit 4 songs which will be released on limited edition 7" and also made available as a digital download. This release from The Drones will be available November 5.

More dates with Band of Horses:

11/03 – Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel – Providence, RI
11/04 – Terminal 5 – New York, NY
11/06 – Toad’s Place – New Haven, CT
11/07 – Pearl Street – Northampton, CT
11/08 – Cabaret La Tulipe – Montreal, QUE
11/09 – The Phoenix – Toronto, ONT
11/10 – Crofoot Ball – Pontiac, MI
11/11 – Metro – Chicago, IL
11/12 – Metro – Chicago, IL
11/14 – First Avenue – Minnesota, MN
11/15 – Aquarium – Fargo, ND
11/17 – Filling Station – Bozeman, MT
11/18 – Neurolux – Boise, ID
11/19 – Showbox – Seattle, WA
11/20 – Showbox – Seattle, WA
11/21 – Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR
11/23 – Mezzanine – San Francisco, CA
11/24 – Avalon – Los Angeles, CA
11/25 – Avalon – Los Angeles, CA
11/26 – The Glass House – Pomona, CA

The Drones on MySpace

The Drones on The Hype Machine

Thursday, November 01, 2007

tonight: All Smiles

This evening All Smiles (the moniker of Jim Fairchild, ex-Grandaddy) shares the stage at Black Cat with Lavender Diamond and David Bazan. It all gets under way after 8pm and tickets are only $12. More dates for All Smiles below.

11-03 Duke Coffeehouse Duke University, Durham NC

11-04 Grey Eagle, Asheville NC
11-05 New Brookland Tavern, West Columbia SC
11-06 Cafe Eleven, St. Augustine FL
11-07 The Social, Orlando FL
11-08 Club Downunder, Tallahassee FL
11-09 Bottletree Cafe, Birmingham AL
11-10 The Earl, Atlanta GA
11-12 Exit/In Nashville TN
11-13 Southgate House, Newport KY
11-14 Martyr’s, Chicago IL

All Smiles on MySpace

All Smiles on The Hype Machine