A Case of the Fridays

Well, there’s another month of 2007 to check off of your calendars. Bye-bye, May, and hello, June. But the music just keeps on coming. This week we’re starting off with Private Eleanor’s “A Better Way To Run.” This shimmering indie-pop confection gets its sweet goodness from the ethereal male/female harmonies of Austin Stahl and Marian Glebes, along with those glistening keyboard lines. If you like what you hear, you can catch them at the Black Cat on Wednesday, June 6th.

MP3: A Better Way To Run – Private Eleanor

And we close out this week, as well as the month of May, with “The Devil In Me,” by Kate Voegele. It’s some well-constructed catchy pop-rock with a bit a punch that gives her a chance to flex some vocal muscle. Though for some reason at some points I seem to be hearing some vibrato and tone in her voice during the verses that’s strangely reminiscent of Shakira. Anyway, if you’re liking what you’re hearing, she’ll be at Jammin Java this Saturday, June 2nd.

MP3: The Devil In Me – Kate Voegele

Damien's Hall of Horrors

Last Friday night was a musical endurance marathon, featuring an early Damien Rice show at DAR Constitution Hall followed by a late night Jeter gig at Bistro Europa. I don't lay claim to being a huge Rice fan, but I really enjoyed his album "O". Accompanied by the lovely Michelle, I was unpleasantly shocked to discover that Damien was either sick or suffering from a case of strained vocal chords. He struggled mightily to hit those delicate high notes that are a hallmark of several of his songs, notably "Amie" and "Cannonball". When he didn't try to muscle through or dance around the high notes, he sounded fine. The lower range of his husky tenor was largely unaffected by whatever was wrong with him, as was evidenced by the couple of songs that he sang in a lower key to compensate. And maybe I'm just getting old, but I could swear his sound engineer was trying to emulate a Spinal Tap gig. I was just behind the mid-point of the orchestra section, and I was thankful I wasn't closer.

Fort Reno Summer Concert Series

The schedule for the 2007 Summer Fort Reno Concert Series is up here. Go plan out your next three months worth of free shows.

The Damnwells @ The Birchmere

The Damnwells are going to be at The Brichmere w/ Ari Hest this Wednesday. The Damnwells' Air Stereo was one of my top albums of the past year, and I'm pretty psyched to see the band live for the first time.

MP3: The Sound - The Damnwells
MP3: I Am A Leaver (acoustic) - The Damnwells

The John Butler Trio - XM Studio Session

I was lucky enough to be invited to The John Butler Trio’s live XM studio session Tuesday afternoon. Since I won't be able to catch these guys at the 9:30 Club tonight, I was pretty pleased to get a chance see them in such an intimate setting.

They went with an acoustic line-up, with Butler on 12-string (and a little banjo), Shannon Birchall on acoustic bass, and Michael Barker on drums and percussion. Barker was sealed off in the drum chamber, but his percussive exploits were still visible through the windows. Both Birchall and Barker sang harmony and backup vocals, which definitely was a plus.

Most of their songs were funky, groove-oriented numbers that were often punctuated by searing slide guitar fills and solos. Even though the band was “just” a trio, there was plenty of instrumental action, with the rhythm section expertly holding down the low end during guitar workouts. Butler worked his 12-string like a champ, picking up a storm at times, and electrifying the sound of his acoustic when it was time to play leads or fills with his slide.

Lead vocals came from Butler, via a quick, yet still laid back, vocal delivery, at times almost rapping words over top of the music. The band ran through a 7-song set, ranging from the lumbering groove of “Daniella” (an ode to Butler’s wife), to the reggae-tinged “Good Excuse” (about folks complaining when there are others with things much more serious to complain about), to my personal favorite, the foot-stomper of a closer, “Funky Tonight.”

I also got to speak to John Butler briefly after the show, and based on what I already knew about his socially-conscious nature, I wasn’t surprised to learn that he’s spreading his recent success around. He’s set up a very cool program called The JB Seed. It’s an arts grant fund designed to help developing artists in his native Australia (he moved there from the US at age 11) become self-sufficient.

So needless to say, it was a good afternoon.

A Taste of Arlington

The 20th Annual Taste of Arlington will be going on this Sunday afternoon, May 20th, in the Ballston area of Arlington. There will be food from all sorts of restaurants, family activities & entertainment, and bands, including Taylor Carson, Brother Shamus, and Radio Mosaic. For more details about Taste of Arlington, visit their website here.

A Case of the Fridays

Warm weather is here, and it’s time to feel the heat, so we start things off with The John Butler Trio’s aptly-titled “Funky Tonight.” If you like Robert Randolph, you’ll most likely dig this track, with its burning slide guitar work over some hepped-up acoustic funkiness. It definitely moves. These guys will be at the 9:30 Club Wednesday, May 23rd, and I’m betting they can rock it.

MP3: Funky Tonight – The John Butler Trio

And we close things out this week with “When I Don’t See It Coming,” by DC’s The City Veins. I really like the building sense of urgency that’s created throughout the verses with the rhythm guitar and understated, almost fragile, vocals – and then how they eventually erupt into the choruses. And the keys provide a nice touch, adding an extra layer of sound to the layered, reverberating guitars. If you like what you hear, The City Veins will be at The Red & The Black Thursday, May 24th. And don’t worry, The Office will already be in reruns by then.

MP3: When I Don’t See It Coming – The City Veins

Georgie James Sign Deal

Another week, another DC signing. Congratulations to Georgie James for signing a deal with Saddle Creek. Their debut record, Places, will drop in the Fall and they'll support it with an extensive tour.

Congressional Blues Festival

The fourth annual Congressional Blues Festival will be going on tomorrow, Wednesday, May 16th, at the Mellon Auditorium. The Derek Trucks Band will be headlining a lineup that includes acts such as Sweet Betty, Mudcat, and Adolphus Bell. This festival is dedicated to raise money and awareness for the Music Maker Relief Foundation which was created to insure that the Blues tradition would survive by supporting not only artists' music, but the artists themselves.

Wilco Album Release Party

Excited about the release of Wilco’s new album, Sky Blue Sky? Then head on over to The Big Hunt in DC Monday night from 8-12 for the Wilco album release party. There will be free beer and pizza, and Melody Records will be on hand to sell the CD. The first 30 people purchasing a copy will receive a free Wilco T-shirt, and there will be various Wilco DVD, CD, and other prize giveaways throughout the night. Check it out.

Le Loup Ink Deal

The rumors have been flying around for weeks and now it is official. DC's Le Loup have signed to Hardly Art, which is a new offshoot of Sub Pop. Their debut album The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium General Assembly will be released this fall. You will be hearing a lot more about this group in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you can catch them at Rock and Roll Hotel on May 22. Congrats!

Free Cedars

Might you dig Cedars? Might you desire a chance to win a free copy of their EP, Another Season, or perhaps 2 tickets their show tonight at the Rock and Roll Hotel? You might? Then head on over to DCist here right away to enter the contest they’re having!

Busking At The Metro

Don’t forget – if you want to get your busk on at local DC Metro stations, make sure you attend the MetroPerforms! auditions (and get picked!) on May 10 and May 12. Get the specifics here.

A Case of the Fridays

The forecast for this weekend is looking quite sunny and promising, so let’s start things off with some shimmering poppy goodness from Melee. “Built to Last” builds off of its initial piano hook into a really lush pop song. The lead singer’s voice soars throughout, and is lifted even further with wise use of backing “oohs” and “aaahs” in the choruses. If you like what you hear, Melee will be at the Rock N Roll Hotel this Friday, May 4th.

MP3: Built To Last - Melee

And then we close out the week with “Let It Roll,” by Pawnshop Roses. It’s swaggering southern boogie rock that’s a dead ringer for vintage Black Crowes. And I mean the Shake Your Money Maker/Southern Harmony-era Black Crowes that rocked. Give ‘em a listen.

MP3: Let It Roll – Pawnshop Roses