Nothing Romantic About UK’s Savages

“The world used to be silent / Now it has too many voices.” – Savages (Silence Yourself Manifesto) As I prepare to see Savages at the Fonda Theatre in L.A. tonight, I look back at my first experience seeing this band earlier this year. Jerking her head back-and-forth, with sudden and purposeful movements, Jehnny Beth’s dark, piercing… Continue reading Nothing Romantic About UK’s Savages

MNDR @ 9:30 Club

Ever since I read about – and got hooked on – electropop-IDM sensation MNDR (Amanda Warner) on Sheena Beaston’s blog,  it seemed that well-earned hype has grown exponentially. MNDR is everywhere: magazines, radio, blogs, Facebook advertisements, Mark Ronson’s infectious “Bang Bang Bang,” and now on tour with Chromeo. Maybe it was all the hype or… Continue reading MNDR @ 9:30 Club

Kate Miller-Heidke @ 9:30 Club

I really didn’t want to enjoy Kate Miller-Heidke‘s 45-minute set last night in Washington, D.C. My other concert reviews on this site have been full of praise and I wanted to write a scathing review; certainly the Australian’s quirky pop, which I had only limited exposure to prior to the show, couldn’t win me over. I… Continue reading Kate Miller-Heidke @ 9:30 Club

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan @ Rock and Roll Hotel

“What is she? Some kind of magician?” my wife inquired as Isobel Campbell shaked, rattled, and pounded several unique percussion tools during “Back Burner.” Indeed, she is. As the songwriter in her unlikely indie-folk collaboration with enigmatic Mark Lanegan, Campbell has masterfully orchestrated the musical backdrop to highlight perfect vocal constrasts. Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan… Continue reading Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan @ Rock and Roll Hotel

Wild Nothing impresses in DC

I first heard Jack Tatum (aka. Wild Nothing) while listening to FM4 radio in Germany a few months back. “Summer Holiday” rang out through the car speakers and ended without the DJ identifying the band before starting another song by another artist. I assumed it HAD to be some obscure, Sarah Records band from back… Continue reading Wild Nothing impresses in DC

[Contest] Ticket giveaway for Jesca Hoop and Eels @ Terminal 5

Jesca Hoop is supporting Eels at Terminal 5 in NYC on September 25 (this Saturday!) and we have TWO free tickets to give away to a lucky winner — drop us a comment on this post with anything at all (hopefully something interesting…) and we’ll pick a winner at random by Friday. Make sure you fill out the… Continue reading [Contest] Ticket giveaway for Jesca Hoop and Eels @ Terminal 5

Interpol @ The NorVa

After a nearly two year hiatus from touring and a lineup change, the atmospheric and always fashionable Interpol demonstrated Friday night at The NorVa in Norfolk, VA, that it’s back in full stride. In support of its upcoming self-titled fourth record, the NYC-based post-punk kings immediately showed off the new (not the song): the absence of lanky… Continue reading Interpol @ The NorVa

[MP3] No Second Troy: “This is the End of Me”

D.C. ghosts (nice ones!) of a long (but not forgotten!) past, No Second Troy, have finally returned with a new single, “This is the End of Me” off their new album, Colors due out April 27. They’re releasing it in conjunction with their upcoming show at the 9:30 Club next Friday, February 18, so I… Continue reading [MP3] No Second Troy: “This is the End of Me”

[Video] Sufjan plays awesome new song live

The artist: The incomparable Sufjan Stevens. The song: “Too Much Love” (according to the title of the video). It’s a 7-minute epic played by Sufjan at a show in Ithaca Wednesday that features brass, synth, guitar, piano and a whole lot of talent. The quality of the video is pretty outstanding for YouTube. And the… Continue reading [Video] Sufjan plays awesome new song live