5 Acts: July 2008

The Chap - Fun And Interesting

Microfilm - Teenage Symphonies

Tricky - Council Estate

She & Him - Why Do You Let Me Stay Here

Davendra Banhart - Carmensita

ticket giveaway: Tilly And The Wall

This week has been hot with good shows and the weekend is no different! Saturday night Tilly And The Wall is the main act at Black Cat with openers Exit Clov and The Ruby Suns. Most likely this one will sell out, so if you haven't gotten your tickets yet and wanna go for free, email me at 5actsblog at gmail dot com. I'll pick a winner tomorrow by noon. Good luck!

Tilly And The Wall on MySpace
Tilly And The Wall on The Hype Machine

DIG!

tonight at DC9:
Kitty Hawk / Fever /
Hot Lava / Sweet Teeth

Doors - 8:30pm, Show - 9pm, Tickets $8

ticket giveaway: Bound Stems

In 2006 Bound Stems stole my harmonious heart and secured the #1 spot on my favorite albums list. Now they're back with a second full-length, out from Flameshovel on September 9, and touring in support of it. If you'd like to see them at Velvet Lounge here in DC tomorrow night for free, email me and use the new album title for the subject line. I hear some of their shows have gotten pretty rowdy lately - in Chicago, some drunkard jumped up on the stage and poured beer on the crowd. Fun!

Dates:
07/24 - Mercury Lounge - New York, NY
07/25 - The Velvet Lounge - Washintton, DC
07/26 - Howler’s Coyote Lounge - Pittsburgh, PA
08/08 - The Frequency - Madison, WI
08/09 - Triple Rock - Minneapolis, MN
08/10 - WestFest - Chicago, IL
08/11 - The Bluebird - St. Louis, MO
08/12 - Recordbar - Kansas City, MO
08/14 - WOXY.com Lounge Act
08/15 - The Earl - Atlanta, GA
08/16 - Northside Tavern - Cincinnati, OH
08/17 - Raven Festival - Chicago, IL

Bound Stems on MySpace

Bound Stems on The Hype Machine

Princeton

Eagle Rock, CA
Simply pleasant. Princeton's Bloomsbury EP is available now from Striking Peasant.

"Ms. Bentwich"
Princeton on MySpace
Princeton on The Hype Machine

The War On Drugs

Philadelphia, PA
Billy thinks Wagonwheel Blues is astoundingly good. Andrew loves it too. What do you think?

"A Needle In Your Eye #16"
The War On Drugs on MySpace
The War On Drugs on The Hype Machine

Port O'Brien

Oakland, CA
Another self-released band proves that it can be excellent without signing to a record label.

Tour:
08/06 - Cafe Montmartre - Madison, WI
08/07 - Schubas - Chicago, IL
08/09 - El Mocambo - Toronto, ON
08/10 - Le Divan Orange - Montreal, QC
08/12 - The Middle East - Cambridge, MA
08/13 - Mercury Lounge - New York, NY
08/15 - Union Hall - Brooklyn, NY
08/16 - Johnny Brenda’s - Philadelphia, PA
08/17 - Black Cat - Washington, DC
08/18 - Cafe Bourbon St Annex - Columbus, OH
08/19 - Locals Only - Indianapolis, IN

"Close The Lid"
Port O'Brien on MySpace
Port O'Brien on The Hype Machine

Dr. Dog

Philadelphia, PA
Tour:
07/26 - Boulder Annual Music Festival - Rochester, NY
07/27 - Forcastle Festival - Louisville, KY
07/29 - Mojo's - Columbia, MO
07/30 - Bluebird - St. Louis, MO
07/31 - Radio Radio - Indianapolis, IN
08/01 - Lollapalooza (at Grant Park) - Chicago, IL
08/04 - Beachland Ballroom - Cleveland, OH
08/05 - The Basement - Columbus, OH
08/08 - The El Rey - Los Angeles, CA
08/13 - Rittenhouse Square - Philadelphia, PA
08/26 - Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY
08/27 - Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY
09/05 - IOTA - Arlington, VA
09/06 - The Earl - Atlanta, GA
09/07 - 3rd and Lindsley - Nashville, TN
09/08 - Bottletree - Birmingham, AL
09/09 - Thirsty Hippo - Hattiesburg, MS
09/11 - Walter's On Washington - Houston, TX
09/12 - Lola's Saloon - Ft. Worth, TX
09/13 - The Parish - Austin, TX
09/16 - Club Congress - Tucson, AZ
09/17 - The Casbah - San Diego, CA
09/19 - The Detroit Bar - Costa Mesa, CA
09/20 - Cellar Door - Visalia, CA
09/23 - Doug Fir's Lounge - Portland, OR
09/24 - Tractor Tavern - Seattle, WA
09/26 - Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT
09/27 - Hi-Dive - Denver, CO
09/29 - The Waiting Room - Omaha, NB
09/30 - The Record Bar - Kansas City, MO
10/01 - High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI
10/02 - Blind Pig - Ann Arbor, MI
10/10 - Middle East (downstairs) - Cambridge, MA
10/30 - Night & Day – Manchester
10/31 - King Tuts – Glasgow
11/01 - Spring & Airbrake – Belfast
11/02 - Whelans – Dublin
11/03 - Glee Club – Birmingham
11/04 - Borderline – London
11/05 - Fleche D’or – Paris
11/07 - Apolo 2 – Barcelona
11/09 - El Lokal – Zurich
11/10 - 59 to 1 – Munich
11/11 - La Casa – Milan
11/12 - Luxor – Cologne
11/14 - Voxhall – Aarhus
11/15 - Debaser – Stockholm
11/16 - KB – Malmo
11/17 - Sticky Fingers – Gothenburg
11/19 - Lido – Berlin
11/20 - Knust – Hamburg
11/21 - Merleyn – Nijmegen
11/22 - Ekko – Utrecht
11/23 - Paradiso - Amsterdam

"The Old Days"
Dr. Dog on MySpace
Dr. Dog on The Hype Machine

Buffalo Killers

Cincinnati, OH
Tour:
07/24 - The Aquarium - Fargo, ND
07/26 - Big Railroad Blues Festival - Livingston, MT
07/28 - Sunset Tavern - Seattle, WA
07/29 - Slabtown - Portland, OR
07/30 - Big Pete’s - Arcata, CA
07/31 - Hemlock Tavern - San Francisco, CA
08/02 - Safari Sam’s - Los Angeles, CA
08/05 - The B-Side Lounge - Boulder, CO
08/06 - Lincoln State Theatre - Lincoln, NE
08/15 - Indie Summer on Fountain Square - Cincinnati, OH
08/16 - Peach’s - Yellow Springs, OH
10/27 - Hammerstein Ballroom - New York, NY
11/08 - Lincoln Theatre Street Stage - Raleigh, NC
11/10 - Ruth Eckerd Hall - Clearwater, FL
11/11 - House of Blues - Lake Buena Vista, FL
11/16 - Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN
11/18 - House of Blues - New Orleans, LA

"Get Together Now Today"
Buffalo Killers on MySpace
Buffalo Killers on The Hype Machine

ticket giveaway: Tereu Tereu

If you'd like to check out Tereu Tereu with ¡Carlos, I'm Pregnant! and Pomegranates tomorrow night at Black Cat, email me at 5actsblog at gmail dot com. The doors for this backstage show open at 9:00 and tickets are just $8 (if you're not lucky enough to win them from me).

Tereu Tereu on MySpace
Tereu Tereu on The Hype Machine

tonight at DC9: Sunfold

Sunfold, the sister band of Annuals, is in town tonight playing at DC9 and then a few other shows in support of Toy Tugboats, which just came out today.

07/23 - The M Room- Philadelphia PA
07/25 - Union Hall- Brooklyn NY
07/26 - Mercury Lounge- NY
07/27 - The Middle East Upstairs- Boston MA
07/29 - Local 506 - Chapel Hill NC

Sunfold on MySpace
Sunfold on The Hype Machine

tonight at 9:30 Club:
Will Eastman / The Ting Tings

Doors open at 7:00. Will Eastman 8:15. The Ting Tings 9:30.

The Ting Tings on MySpace

The Ting Tings on The Hype Machine

Calico Horse

San Diego, CA
Formerly known as The Clock Work Army.

"Happy Placebo Syringe Day"
Calico Horse on MySpace
Calico Horse on The Hype Machine

Women

Calgary, AB
Noisy and majestic. Recorded by Chad VanGaalen in his basement.

"Black Rice"
Women on MySpace
Women on The Hype Machine

Air France

Gothenburg, Sweden
Recommended if you're a fan of other Swedes like The Tough Alliance.

"No Excuses"
Air France on MySpace
Air France on The Hype Machine

Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip

Stanford-le-Hope, England
A lovely marriage of music between Dan Stephens and David Meads.

"Look For The Woman"
Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip on MySpace
Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip on The Hype Machine

CSS

Sao Paulo, Brazil
CSS release their sophomore disc, Donkey, tomorrow and play quite a few festivals coming up.

07/27 - Fuji Rock Festival - Niigata, Japan
07/30 - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN
07/31 - Turner Hall - Milwaukee, WI
08/01 - Lollapalooza - Chicago, IL
08/04 - Osheaga Festival - Montreal, QC
08/05 - Kool Haus - Toronto, ON
08/07 - Trocadero Theater - Philadelphia, PA
08/08 - All Points West Festival - Jersey City, NJ
08/09 - Roxy - Boston, MA
08/10 - House of Blues - Atlantic City, NJ
08/16 - Flow Festival - Helsinki, Finland
08/22 - Leeds Festival - Leeds, England
08/24 - Reading Festival - Reading, England
08/31 - Electric Picnic - Laois, Ireland
09/05 - Bestival - Isle of Wight, UK
09/11 - Uma Bar - Monterey, CA
09/14 - Monolith Festival @ Red Rocks Amphitheater - Denver, CO

"Rat Is Dead (Rage)"
CSS on MySpace
CSS on The Hype Machine

sunday shuffle: dark

Electronic - Dark Angel

His Name Is Alive - How Dark Is Your Dark Side

Sea Wolf - The Cold, The Dark, And The Silence

Idlewild - Actually It's Darkness

The Spectacular Fantastic - Darkest Hour

Forward Russia! - Breaking Standing

Sam Sparro - 21st Century Life

CSS - Left Behind

Ghislain Poirier - Hit & Red

Clinic - Tomorrow

Panda & Angel

Seattle, WA
I was lucky enough to score some new demos from Panda & Angel a while back. If these are only rough versions, I can't wait to hear a new proper album from this Seattle quintet!

"The End Is Not So"
Panda & Angel on MySpace
Panda & Angel on The Hype Machine

Bellafea

Chapel Hill, NC
Love love love this band. Highly recommended for anyone who likes girl-fronted intense rock like Forget Cassettes. If you're in DC, make sure to check out Bellafea live on August 28 at Black Cat. The track I'm featuring is a lighter one from Cavalcade, out now from Southern Records.

"Thronbird II"
Bellafea on MySpace
Bellafea on The Hype Machine

Anthem In

Brooklyn, NY
They've been compared to DCFC a lot, but Anthem In makes me happier than Ben Gibbard any day.

"Moving On"
Anthem In on MySpace
Anthem In on The Hype Machine

Forward Russia!

Leeds, England
I really enjoyed Forward Russia! before, but Life Processes is way more friendlier than I was expecting. It's out on Tuesday via Mute.

"Spring Is A Condition"
Forward Russia! on MySpace
Forward Russia! on The Hype Machine

Blackstrap

Stockholm, Sweden

I was completely scandalized when I saw Pitchfuck's less than mediocre review of Blackstrap last week.

"Lay Down Low"
Blackstrap on MySpace
Blackstrap on The Hype Machine

ticket giveaway: SSLYBY at Black Cat

Saturday night at Black Cat - Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin with openers Bellmar Barker and Ha Ha Tonka. Doors open at 9pm and tickets are $12. Wanna go for free? Email me and use the name of SSLYBY's latest album as the subject. I'll pick a winner by noon on Friday.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin on MySpace
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin on The Hype Machine

The Spinto Band Signs to Park The Van!

...and finally we'll have a new album from them! Moonwink is out October 7, and The Spinto Band has a residency at Union Hall in Brooklyn starting tomorrow, July 17. You can check out new tracks from the band right now at their MySpace page - www.myspace.com/thespintoband.

Live Dates:
07/17 - Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall
07/19 - Arden, DE - Arden Music Festival
07/24 - Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall
07/31 - Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall
08/07 - Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall

adorable: Feist on Sesame Street

Marching Band

Linköping, Sweden
I love these guys! Spark Large from Marching Band has been on continuous repeat since I got it, and it'll be available to everyone on August 5 via U & L Records. I'm trying to figure out how I can seduce these two over to the States. Ideas anyone?

"For Your Love"
Marching Band on MySpace
Marching Band on The Hype Machine

Sam Sparro

Los Angeles, CA
After showing the photo above, I shouldn't have to do anything else to convince you Sam Sparro's a fun listen.

"Black And Gold"
Sam Sparro on MySpace
Sam Sparro on The Hype Machine

Doleful Lions

Oswego, IL
Highly recommended if you like the new M83 album.

"Magic Without Tears"
Doleful Lions on MySpace
Doleful Lions on The Hype Machine

Mono In VCF

Tacoma, WA
Psycha-hippie-trippie-electro-bliss.

"There's No Blood In Bone"
Mono In VCF on MySpace
Mono In VCF on The Hype Machine

Plagiarists

Minneapolis, MN

Some live dates for Plagiarists...

07/16 -The Summit Room - Bend, OR
07/17 - Towne Lounge - Portland, OR
07/18 - The Ground Zero - Bellevue, WA
07/19 - El Rio - San Francisco, CA
07/23 - Quixote’s True Blue - Denver, CO
08/22 - Turf Club - Minneapolis, MN

"Full Grown"
Plagiarists on MySpace
Plagiarists on The Hype Machine

vinyl giveaway: Thrushes

Sun Come Undone was my #14 favorite album for 2007 and now it's getting a vinyl release from Sleepy Records on Tuesday. This edition is limited to only 500 super special copies, each of which include a signed and numbered print by screen printing legend, Miss Amy Jo.

For a chance to win yourself the vinyl version of this fine album from Thrushes, email me at 5actsblog at gmail dot com and use the band's home city as the subject line. Good luck!

Thrushes on MySpace

Thrushes on The Hype Machine

shuffle: sluts, buts, & nuts

Howlin' Maggie - I'm A Slut

Smoosh - But Now I Know

American Football - But The Regrets Are Killing Me

The Sea And Cake - Coconut

Grand National - Peanut Dreams

The Verve - Love Is Noise

Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal

The Bloodsugars - Purpose Was Again

Brendan Canning - Hit The Wall

Band Of Horses - No One's Gonna Love You

Tonight at Rock & Roll Hotel:
Abe Vigoda / High Places / No Age

Abe Vigoda is opening up a great show at Rock & Roll Hotel this evening, and they're followed by High Places and headliners No Age. Doors open at 8:00 and the music starts at 8:30.

Abe Vigoda on MySpace
Abe Vigoda on The Hype Machine

WOXY.com Lounge Act: The Bloodsugars

WOXY.com Lounge Act - The Bloodsugars - Today at 2:00 pm ET
The Bloodsugars on MySpace
The Bloodsugars on The Hype Machine

Hearts Of Palm UK Signs to Hypnote

I first posted these lovely ladies after they sent me some demos last summer. Now they've landed a record deal with Hypnote! For Life is the name of their debut disc from Hearts Of Palm UK and it was mastered by in Sweden by Henrik Jonsson, who's also dipped his musical toes in albums from artist like Peter Bjorn And John, Robyn, The Concretes, Camera Obscura, The Knife, and Lykke Li. The band's first headlining show will be tomorrow night at The Echo is Los Angeles, and For Life will be available October 15.

Tracklisting:
People & Logistics
I Flow
Portugal One
So Long
Trust
Kavorka
Jonathan FMF
Goodbye
Open Letter
Forever
More Than This

Hearts Of Palm UK on MySpace
Hearts Of Palm UK on The Hype Machine

Tonight at Black Cat:
The Dutchess And The Duke

The Dutchess And The Duke is opening up for Fleet Foxes tonight at Black Cat. Doors open at 9pm and it's SOLD OUT! Hope you got your tickets in advance because I recently heard this about the show... "I just saw Fleet Foxes live and I feel like i just gave birth, found Jesus, and won the lottery at the same time. It's like finding a rich, goopy placenta-covered Jesus in your cereal. Don't sleep on it; go see them if they're in your town."

Wow!

The Dutchess And The Duke on MySpace
The Dutchess And The Duke on The Hype Machine

sunday shuffle

The Kooks - One Last Time

My Morning Jacket - Bermuda Highway

Beck - Cold Brains

The Verve - Sonnet

Mogwai - Take Me Somewhere Nice

Florence & The Machine - Kiss With A Fist

CSS - Rat Is Dead (Rage)

The Do - On My Shoulders

No Age - Eraser

David Ford - I'm Alright Now

Kleerup

Stockholm, Sweden

Sure, Andreas Kleerup may look a little bit like a pedophile, but he's an outstanding musician and producer. My Swedish girlfriend Lykke Li lends her voice for "Until We Bleed" from Kleerup's self-titled debut.

"Until We Bleed"
Kleerup on MySpace
Kleerup on The Hype Machine

Head Like A Kite

Seattle, WA
There Is A Loud Laughter Everywhere is the sophomore effort from the multi-talented Dave Einmo and just like the first disc, it features an array of guest musicians. Asya from Smoosh (only 16 years old!) contributes vocals for "Daydream Vacation," and this is exactly the kind of music teenagers should be making - not this.

"Daydream Vacation"
Head Like A Kite on MySpace
Head Like A Kite on The Hype Machine

The Do

Paris, France / Helsinki, Finland
"And you should know that in my heart you fill every corner."

"On My Shoulders"
The Do on MySpace
The Do on The Hype Machine

Walter Meego

Chicago, IL
Walter Meego playing shows with Ra Ra Riot and The Morning Benders in the fall!!! Dates below.

09/03 – TBA (Montreal, QC)
09/04 – Horseshoe Tavern (Toronto, ON)
09/05 – Mojo's (Jamestown, NY)
09/06 – Bug Jar (Rochester, NY)
09/09 – The Basement (Columbus, OH)
09/11 – Subterranean (Chicago, IL)
09/12 – 7th Street Entry (Minneapolis, MN)
09/14 – Jackpot Saloon (Lawrence, KS)
09/16 – Hi Dive (Denver, CO)
09/17 – Kilby Court (Salt Lake City, UT)
09/18 – Neurolux (Boise, ID)
09/20 – King Cobra (Seattle, WA)
09/21 – TBA (Vancouver, BC)
09/22 – Doug Fir Lounge (Portland, OR)
09/24 – Rickshaw Stop (San Francisco, CA)
09/25 – The Echo (Los Angeles, CA)
09/28 – The Casbah (San Diego, CA)*
09/29 – Modified (Phoenix, AZ)*
09/30 – Plush (Tucson, AZ)*
10/02 – TBA (Dallas, TX)*
10/03 – Stubb's (Austin, TX)*
10/04 - Rudyards (Houston, TX)*
10/07 – The Social (Orlando, FL)*
10/08 – Club Downunder (Tallahassee, FL)*
10/10 – Drunken Unicorn (Atlanta, GA)*
10/11 – Local 506 (Chapel Hill, NC)*
10/12 – Black Cat Backstage (Washington, DC)*
10/14 – Ottobar (Baltimore, MD)*
10/15 – Johnny Brenda's (Philadelphia, PA)*
10/18 - Middle East Downstairs (Cambridge, MA)*
* with The Morning Benders

"Keyhole"
Walter Meego on MySpace
Walter Meego on The Hype Machine

Woodhands

Toronto, ON
Dance to it, sweat to it, then take a bubble bath with it.

"Dancer"
Woodhands on MySpace
Woodhands on The Hype Machine

Mass Solo Revolt

Athens, GA
I've been listening to Easy Mark from Mass Solo Revolt now for a few weeks and I'm still not tired of it. Highly recommended for fans of coarse rockers like Built To Spill.

"Bed Maker"
Mass Solo Revolt on MySpace
Mass Solo Revolt on The Hype Machine

The Dutchess And The Duke

Seattle, WA
The Dutchess And The Duke have an excellent new disc out now from Hardly Art and they'll be performing songs from it for us next Monday at Black Cat when they open up for Fleet Foxes.

"Reservoir Park"
The Dutchess And The Duke on MySpace
The Dutchess And The Duke on The Hype Machine

5 Acts

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Maths Class

Post War Years

Electric President

Albert Hammond, Jr.

Tricky

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Butterfly Assassins

2 Hot 2 Sweat

PAS/CAL

Vivian Girls

Plajia

Saturday, July 26, 2008