soundproof

Our first outpost post - Angel Olsen @ Tea Bazaar!

noreply@blogger.com (parttimepunk) — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 14:37:00 +0000

Last night, I had the total random pleasure of seeing Angel Olsen perform at the Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar in Charlottesville, VA. To be honest, I'm not sure I knew what I was getting myself into prior to the show.

I decided to attend for two simple reasons: I had not yet been to a show at the Tea Bazaar, and I like female singer songwriters. Angel Olsen had been written up favorably by Pitchfork, so it seemed like a good fit. Sure, the magazine mentioned that her music might cause some to "worry for Olsen's emotional health," but the author mentioned warmth somewhere in there too. Who doesn't like warmth?

Given Pitchfork's description of her music, I sort of assumed I'd being seeing an artist who's a little dark and a little weird. When the openers cleared, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself as a girl sitting on the amp for the start of the evening - looking both very hipster and very much my style - took the stage as the headliner.

Musically, her songwriting conjured up thoughts of Rufus Wainwright, while her style made me think: this is a guitar-playing, hipster Billie Holiday up on stage. Her performance of 'Some things Cosmic' was a highlight. There's a haunting fairy tale quality to the song; the kind of thing you might imagine playing at the end of a Sleeping Beauty flick where the poor girl never wakes up. 'Miranda' and 'Lonely Universe' were also fantastic; the latter being a tune about family, with songwriting qualities that have stuck with me for days.

Is it possible for a musician to be both hurting and happy; captivating, yet sending a clear message to the world to back off? Her performance and persona seem to fall in the middle, in a way that only a handful of artists successfully manage. Maybe this is the real appeal of Angel Olsen, at the end of the day: life brings pain and smiles in the same second, and we all find a way to survive in the space between. She has not only survived, but found a way to tell a damn good version of her story on stage.

In short, keep your eyes open for Angel Olsen coming to town. If she does and you miss it, you might regret it later.

**keep your eyes open for more posts from our outpost in Charlottesville!**

Magnetic Fields Ticket Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (onehandclapping) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 01:22:00 +0000

After a hectic summer, we here at Soundproof are slowly getting back into the groove. 'How are we going to do that?' you might ask. We're going to offer up tickets to one of our favorite bands of all time: The Magnetic Fields. I know right? And all you have to do is comment, like, or tweet for a chance to win them. Comment on this post (sorry, no anonymous comments please - we need some way to reach you if you win!) and tell us your favorite MF song; like us on facebook (www.facebook.com/soundproofblog) and post your favorite MF song on our wall; mention us on twitter (@soundproofblog) with the hashtag #winmagfields and drop your favorite song in the tweet. That's three ways to enter. But wait, there's more! We'll be tweeting our love of the Fields all week; retweet three of our tweets and get a fourth chance to win. We are super excited to offer this opportunity and we hope you all are super excited to participate for you chance to win! If the winner is a budding music blogger, we'd also love to have a guest post.

Details:

Prize: Two GA tickets for The Magnetic Fields at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, 11/17-18/2012
How to Enter: Comment here with your google account; like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/soundproofblog); mention us in a tweet about your favorite MF song (#winmagfields); or retweet three of our Fields-related tweets.
Contest End Date: November 9, 2012
Winner Contacted: November 10, 2012
Method of Ticket Pickup: Will Call

Close a Hot August w/ a Cool Festival

noreply@blogger.com (parttimepunk) — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 11:41:00 +0000

The best and busiest summer of the decade--at least for us here at Soundproofblog--is quickly coming to a close. And we're thrilled we'll have one last chance to celebrate it, at Hot August Blues Festival next Saturday, August 18. This will be our second Hot August Blues, and the festival's 20th iteration. The line-up is killer, featuring two of our favorites: Trombone Shorty & Justin Townes Earle. The latter's the crooning, sensational son of Steve Earle, and Trombone Shorty... well, he really needs no introduction, as the very visible and talented musical ambassador of New Orleans.

But even before you get to the line-up, the venue itself stands out as superb. Oregon Ridge is a beautiful park in Cockeysville, MD, a former ski resort with a stage instead of a chalet. Not only does the hill make for amazing sightlines, but a spectacular view as well.

Even if jam bands like Gov't Mule, the festival's top billing, aren't your thing, surely sunsets are! HAB offers an awesome opportunity to see legendary musicians play against a beautiful backdrop in our own backyard (did you know Gov't Mule is an Allman Bros side project? I didn't).

HAB's got a mom & pop, local flavor to it, too; think tie dye tees, fest food and beer trucks run by civic groups. A far cry from Firefly, which we unfortunately missed.

With a ticket price that supports a Baltimore-area arts organization, what's not to love? Check out our preview playlist, and hope to see you there!

DC Area Summer Festival Preview

noreply@blogger.com (parttimepunk) — Tue, 29 May 2012 01:49:00 +0000

In DC, we don't get April showers, but May ones, accompanied by enough humidity to drench those with even the best umbrellas. But they're a signal that it's almost summer, which makes us wistful for long evenings in outdoor venues.

Last summer, we had a lot to look forward to. This summer, bands are touring on the same albums that they have all fall. Which makes our selections for shows of the summer small, and that much more stand-out.

Wilco, Wolftrap, July 17 & 18. Sure, it's not Solid Sound. But it's the next best thing: a favorite band in a favorite space. I'll head you off at the pass--it's beyond worth the trip.

Hot August Blues 2011

Hot August Blues Festival, Oregon Ridge Park, August 18. This is a favorite from last summer that stepped things up three-fold. Justin Townes Earle, Trombone Shorty, Gov't Mule, all in a gorgeous state park with a slope that provides panoramic views of a hilly Maryland countryside. A VIP ticket gets you wine, beer, and food included - get the DD a ticket and make a weekend out of it.

Floydfest, July 26 - 29. Hip bluegrass in a Virginia venue? If only we weren't double booked. But with a line-up featuring Alison Kraus & Union Station, Bruce Hornsby, Ha Ha Tonka, Dawes, Sara Watkins, and a badass sounding marching band, it sounds like a nice reprieve from the hot city asphalt.

Silopanna, Anne Arundel Fairgrounds, August 11. The line-up last year looked killer, but a hurricane put a stop to the show. Area music fans are looking forward to a second try.

Firefly Festival, Woodlands at Dover Speedway, July 20 - 22. This is arguably the best in the area--featuring at least more than one band with a new album--though it is questionably "in the area". In case you haven't seen the Black Keys in the past six months, this is your chance! Also take the opportunity to catch those bands you've heard of but never listened to: Head and the Heart, Heartless Bastards, and a sample of those in lines 6-13 on this page.

Legends of Hip Hop, Celebrate Fairfax, June 8. After seeing the return of SWV on the Wendy Williams show (which in and of itself is an admission), I'm nostalgic for some music from my childhood growing up in a hip-hop household. With Digital Underground, Young MC, and others.

Fort Reno...

National Parks Service Summer in the City...

Anything we missed, or that you're looking forward to?

Magnetic Fields - 9:30 Club - April 9, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (parttimepunk) — Mon, 07 May 2012 01:24:00 +0000

In full disclosure, the Magnetic Fields are one of my favorite bands of all time. Stephin Merritt and gang make fun of melancholy, pairing upbeat music with ho-hum, witty lyrics that stand alone as literature. It was clear on the evening of April 9 that the crowd at 9:30 thought so too, the new fans in particular laughing at every unexpected turn of phrase. I'd been looking forward to the show for months, a club version replacing the band's usual DC tour stop at Lisner auditorium.

Opener Devotchka's "acoustic" set was a perfect warm-up, although hardly acoustic (accordion, electric bass). But the sparser arrangement made their music seem different. It was less whirligig sans sousaphone.

Then headliner took the stage (and in the interim, I'd convinced a Devotchka die-hard to stay, to relish the Magnetic Fields presence in such a small space).

There were a few noticable downsides to the venue almost immediately. With music and lyrics that stand alone as performance, the band plays seated, a bad companion to the 9:30 Club's built-for-standing stage (think low to zero visibility). At times, Stephin seemed almost annoyed with the audience (who, in Lisner, knows better to be on its best behavior). And with the inherent club cacophony, band banter was minimal.

And yet, the Magnetic Fields still managed to dazzle. Where Stephin stepped back, Shirley shone through, tackling the vocal lead on much of the setlist, and the ukelele. Claudia still managed to play her stage role as band mom, and the two silent partners (Sam and John) filled out the rich sound, per usual [on a side note, I encourage you to rent the documentary Strange Powers if you really want to "get" the band dynamic].

It's hard to pick set highlights, but the new album held its own against old standbys. Quick!, with My Husband's Pied-A-Terre, Your Girlfriend's Face, and Andrew in Drag, took place next to 69 Love Song favorites Book of Love, Come Back from San Francisco, and Chicken w/ It's Head Cut Off, as sterling examples of the band's signature sound.

I always get my money's worth going to see this band. This time was no exception.

Plants and Animals - Red Palace - April 6, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (onehandclapping) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:35:00 +0000

That's Not the End of That

Canadian rockers Plants and Animals rolled through town on Friday, bringing their easy-on-the-ears indie pop to the Red Palace. The band has been together for over 10 years, which is apparant from their cohesive live performance. Leaning largely on their new record, 'The End of That', the band moved effortless through the setlist. Standouts from the new record included the acoustic, finger-picker 'Before', 'Song for Love', and the driving 'Lightshow'. Fans of their 2010 break-out record, 'La La Land' were not disappointed, especially with 'Game Shows' and 'Mama Papa'. Frontman Warren Spicer was reasonably energetic, but the real treat was the pose and presence of guitarist Nic Basque whose on-stage spirit was infectious.

Opening band This is the Kit was a good pairing, with pleasant melodies hovering over guitar, bass or banjo. The only real complaint from the night was the crowd. Now I'm all for making new friends, but perhaps a rock concert in a small club is not the best venue for that (I'm looking in your direction Meetup DC). The floor was full of concert newbs more concerned with filling their friend lists than appreciating the musical offering, but that's par for the course around here.

In general, these guys made the most out of that tiny stage. If you are unfamiliar with the band, do yourself a favor and head to their website, itunes, mog, etc, and pick up their two latest offerings. We'll be sure to let you know when they come back around.

First Aid Kit - Black Cat - 3/30/2012

noreply@blogger.com (parttimepunk) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:14:00 +0000

Swedish sisters Klara and Johanna Soderberg--better known as First Aid Kit--filled the Black Cat Friday for a super sold out show. They opened for Bright Eyes at 9:30 recently, and brought their similar brand of sound to the smaller stage for their first headlining show in our city.

The girls' shtick (pretty singing sisters!) might've been a huge draw for the thick-rimmed, but it played a close second to their beautiful voices, a kind of chemistry akin to other folk vocalists, and at the same time special to the two as siblings. Like the songbirds they sing about in Emmylou, the Soderberg sisters are endearing in harmony and fun to watch. Blue showcased a slightly more uptempo sound, while Emmylou, In the Hearts of Men, and an acoustic [insert song] stood out as breathtakingly signature.

A single complaint (minus the audience talking, to be expected at Black Cat)--they got an incredibly rich sound musically with just three people on stage, leaving us looking for a bassist. Johanna's keyboard took the place of several additional musicians, which perhaps in a larger venue, they might be able to flush out a bit.

This band is clearly on the way up, and if they can keep their songwriting teeth sharp, we'll all be saying, "remember when..."

Black Keys - March 12, 2012 - Verizon Center

noreply@blogger.com (parttimepunk) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 02:02:00 +0000

Okay, I did my share of bellyaching about the Black Keys concert in DC in advance. After all, tickets to an enormous venue - Verizon Center - sold out quickly, then immediately reappeared on secondary outlets. The group also had quite the spotlight to fill, taking a stage that will see both Foo and Radiohead in a 12 month period; I wondered, will losing my Black Keys virginity at the Verizon Center really be everything I dreamed of? Ultimately, Patrick and Dan satisfied, lighting up the arena with a true rock show.

That night, I came to the realization that one of my new favorite places to see a show is from the floor of an arena, general admission style. The "seating" capacity is so much smaller than the space itself, which allows for dancing, and helps one avoid the gross sweaty crush of clubs (yes, I'm getting older). And the Black Keys provided a perfect soundtrack, showcasing their signature brand of sound against a giant backdrop of retro video - think polka dots and industrial and farm montages towering from forty to fifty feet above the stage.

It's hard to even select standouts, the songs bleeding from one hit to the next, but Gold on the Ceiling, I'll Be Your Man, and an encore of I Got Mine drove the crowd crazy. Particularly marvelous was the giant disco ball lowered during an encore performance of Everlasting Light, which when paired with a smaller one at the soundboard, turned the arena into a ballroom on prom night.

My only complaint is that the Black Keys are beginning to feel more like a money making enterprise, and less like a music making one, with virtually no between-song banter. For some reason, that makes this concertgoer feel unappreciated. What if I went to a show and didn't clap? After all, I only paid the price to watch and listen...

It really bugged me too that they withheld the announcement of their Merriweather show until after the Verizon Center one. The show sold out so far in advance, that all withholding that information accomplished was lining the pockets of scalpers with extra bills.

On musical performance alone, it was fantastic. But it's a bad economy. We've all earned the right to gripe. Right...?

Be Mine - Hipster Love Songs 2012

noreply@blogger.com (parttimepunk) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:51:00 +0000

Since our hipster love song post is the number one post on this blog of all time (thanks Google!), we thought it best to have a second annual edition. Sure, some of the songs that make it to our list are old, some are popular, but we think it evokes the general mood of most hipsters--confusion. Is it happy? Is it sad? It's both!

There are some artists who make creating this playlist easier than others. The Magnetic Fields, for one, are quintessential, a true hipster love song band (I Don't Wanna Get Over You? Dire). On the other end of the spectrum is Belle and Sebastian, a more plucky, upbeat version of the same. Both are represented on our Hipster Love Songs Playlist in the sidebar (see way below for a track list).

But if we could write a love letter to any band this year, it'd be Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jr., whose covers of countless timeless love song covers, performed live, have made us dance like fools on more than one occasion. Unfortunately we couldn't get the best of their sets on the playlist, so enjoy a little YouTube action--and have a happy Valentine's Day.

Playlist Track Listing

I Can't Make You Love Me/Nick of Time - Bon Iver
Andrew in Drag - Magnetic Fields
Love is All I Am - Dawes
La Mer - Julio Iglesias
Emmylou - First Aid Kit
Falling For You - Weezer
When You Love Somebody - Fruit Bats
Piece of My Heart - Erma Franklin
Dress Up in You - Belle & Sebastian
Lonely Fortunes - Ha Ha Tonka
Alike - Efterklang
Save Me - Aimee Mann
Valerie - Amy Winehouse
Heart it Races - Dr. Dog
Come Pick Me Up - Ryan Adams
You're My Best Friend - Queen
All You Ever Wanted - Black Keys
Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
Nothing But Our Love - Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jr.

Ryan Adams - Strathmore - January 24, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (parttimepunk) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:49:00 +0000

Ryan Adams is a guy everyone hates to love, his attitude problems so well publicized (mere mentions of Summer of '69 cause his spit to gather) and his image so opposite of Southern it even hurts to call him alt-country (although he was born and bred in NC). His incessant self-loathing and slightly belabored banter made it even more difficult to love him Tuesday night at the hipster-packed solo Strathmore show.

I'm not sure if it's good or bad, then, that he's talented as hell, the strength of his voice surfacing in the first note of the setlist opener, Oh My Sweet Carolina. And the loveliness of his voice shone through standouts like Firecracker and Everybody Knows, through the beloved Come Pick Me Up, even through a bare piano-backed rendition of New York, New York.

And yet, perhaps the show was a little too bare; it's nothing like seeing Adams with the Cardinals, for example. As he hopped from piano, to guitar--seated, then standing--it became clear that this was a true singer-songwriter showcase, which meant it was a little slow, and a little long at almost 2.5 hours. The appearance of opener Jason Isbell was welcome during the encore. It added a dimension that had been lacking.

But damn, Adams' voice sounds better than before--did he quit smoking? And after hearing an opener like Isbell followed-up by Adams, it's clear why one singer-songwriter is selling out venues, and one isn't. While it takes guts for anyone to put their work out there, it takes true talent to be an economist with words, selecting the right ones and allowing for the music to speak for itself on occasion. Isbell makes the mistake of choking his songs with lyrics, which Adams doesn't do.

One downside to what was primarily a good show: the girl next to us sang along the whole time, and was generally annoying (we get it, you are SO into this show--but if you know all the words, it's a little scary given the volume of albums Adams releases). And Adams insisted on commenting on how the show featured slow, depressing songs, which only made a long show feel longer. Done

A Year in Review

noreply@blogger.com (parttimepunk) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:09:00 +0000

It's a fraction of the whole, but it's so hard to control... Best-Of Live, 2011

Despite the fact that our posts slowed towards the end of 2011, the year went out with a big bang. We saw more shows than we could review, and heard more music than we could comment on. Here are our top five shows of 2011.

1. Foo Fighters, Verizon Center, November 11
Dave Grohl and the Foo crew (including original Pat!) plowed through an unforgettable 2 hour-plus set of the classics, and standouts from Wasting Light, including an encore of Dear Rosemary featuring Bob Mould. Grohl is a frontman to envy, commanding a stage with a catwalk clear to the other side of the arena with ease and energy. Words can't describe this show.

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr, Red Palace, September 22
DEJJ is hardly just another hipster band. Think more party and way less pretentious. Their set at Red Palace on 9/22 was well worth the $12 ticket price. We've spotlighted DEJJ before, their somewhat retro remix of R&B and rock becoming a fast favorite for 2011.

3. Bon Iver, 930 Club, August 1
Bon Iver and crew crooned their way through an epic setlist including selections from the new album and the best of the rest (Skinny Love, Re: Stacks). It was a memorable show, one that couldn't have happened anywhere but 9:30.

4. Avett Brothers, DAR, February 19
To be in the presence of such awesome songwriters who hide hubris in the face of real talent, who recognize the importance of maintaining an audience, who give one hundred and twenty percent in performance (see broken bow strings of the cellist, singers running and jumping on the speakers, innumerous wails and shouts)... it's an experience worth reliving every time they come to town.

5. Paul Simon, 9:30 Club, May 27

Paul Simon at the 9:30 Club - enough said, right? He played for just over two hours, which was longer than the older crowd could patiently listen... Everything about this show was fantastic with the exception of said crowd.

You Can, Can Count on a Second Chance... Best Albums, Etc.

We all have regrets when it comes to music: guilty pleasures, concert faux pas, you name it. Our regrets are that we didn't give some of our all-time favorite artists a second chance when it came to their new releases this year, and that we missed a few standouts from the best-of lists. Here are a few things we missed, and a playlist of what was on repeat this year.

1. Radiohead's King of Limbs. This album was an initial letdown, a lame climax following years of waiting for a follow-up, taking esoteric to the extreme. But come on, it's Radiohead.
2. Wilco's The Whole Love. A second, then third listen, made us realize that this sounds more like the old Wilco we wholly love, than we originally thought.
3. Feist's Metals. As a pretty avid fan of Feist, a cursory listen didn't really grab me. Then again, I actually enjoy Mushaboom...
4. Kurt Vile, in general. Our first listen left a bad taste in our mouths. But critics are obsessed, and he's playing Black Cat with Thurston Moore in Feburary.
5. Metacritic's Music Critic's Top Albums of 2011 [esp. PJ Harvey & Adele]. We're data nerds. And the fact that the top two albums of the year--according Metacritic's unique data--slipped our radar means we need to recalibrate.
6. Paul Simon, So Beautiful or So What. Didn't anyone else think it was... hokey?

Best of 2011 by Jackson Takach on Grooveshark

Hipster Christmas Playlist

noreply@blogger.com (parttimepunk) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:57:00 +0000

The name says it all, an eclectic mix of holiday-related songs I'm enjoying, in an embedded playlist for you to enjoy as well. What are you listening to this holiday season?

St Lucia - Gibson Showroom - December 1, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (onehandclapping) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 16:11:00 +0000

Caribbean Island or Indie-Pop Quintet?

Try both. The New York-based group came in support of All Things Go's concert series New Noise at the Gibson showroom. The band has popped up in a few emails and blogs, so I decided to check out the show. It was an interesting vibe, equal parts hipster, young professional, and cool. The band was fantastic - think a more accessible xx. The venue was pretty cool, although it felt a bit like Ashton Kutcher's loft or something. There were several Gibson's hung along the main space, but it didn't feel at all like a guitar showroom. And the crowd was pretty reasonable; they were clearly interested in the music and not just the open Tito-and-Flying Dog-bar. Check out the photos below as well as a sample of what St Lucia is kicking out. I would highly recommend seeing this group sooner rather than later - you too might just be able to catch them up close and personal before they start playing larger venues.

Ha Ha Tonka - Rock and Roll Hotel - October 7, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (parttimepunk) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:12:00 +0000

Last Friday night, Rock N Roll Hotel was the place to be, on paper--with a line-up like Hoots & Hellmouth and Ha Ha Tonka, it was not to be missed! But in typical DC style, what once was cool has become popular, with giggling twenty-something women replacing hipsters at the once divey music venue. And don't get me wrong, as a twenty-something woman, I love a good girls night out. But singing Michael Jackson at the top of your lungs, and taking flash-filled self-shots, should not take place at a show where people paid money to get in... there's a time and a place for that.

In fact, it was just upstairs, where a nineties party was happening for free with a near empty dance floor. Did you hear me, ladies? EMPTY DANCE FLOOR. And here I thought the evening would go perfectly. The friendliest bouncer ever greeted us upon entry, as did the nicest bartender!

But one speed bump followed another that Friday evening; after the gaggle of giggles came an excessively long soundcheck from Hoots & Hellmouth, a band I had previously seen at a BBQ restaurant. Not sure if that was the venue's fault, or the band's, but you would forget they were an opener with such an in-depth check. That being said, H&H once again put on a hell of a show, albeit over the chatter of dozens of the disinterested. I'm chalking this talking up to Friday night crowd on H Street.

Then the venue randomly emptied, and Missouri-based band Ha Ha Tonka came on, bringing their brand of Ozark folk rock to a somewhat more attentive audience, although a highlight of the set--an acoustic version of Hangman--was drowned out by familiar chatter. Ha Ha Tonka fits the niche of what my ear's been tuned to lately: Americana with a rock edge in some parts, soul in the others, and a mandolin. And the standouts from the album also stood out live: The Humorist, Usual Suspects and Death of A Decade... if I have to pick a few.

Really, I woke up humming their songs the next morning, which for me is a mark of an all around good time. See the scorecard, and a fun youtube video, for more on the show and the band.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Red Palace - September 22, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (parttimepunk) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 16:05:00 +0000

Detroit duo Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. has annoyed plenty of people with their weird band name; the Hollywood Reporter called it sheer "stupidity." It's bothered me too, seemingly the mark of yet another hipster band trying to set themselves apart from being obscure, through total obscurity.

DEJJ, however, is hardly just another hipster band. Think more party and way less pretentious. Their set at Red Palace on 9/22 was well worth the $12 ticket price. We've spotlighted DEJJ before, their somewhat retro remix of R&B and rock becoming a fast favorite for 2011.

Their live show scored similarly well in our books. For their set at the Red Palace they rocked matching Detroit Tigers ensembles, their own band's tees, and for the encore, matching dayglow patchwork blazers emblazoned with "Jr, Jr" on the back.

But outfits aren't all that they rocked. Bubbles and brightly-lit Jr, Jr signs set the stage for a full on dance party, electrifying the audience from one end of the setlist to the other. Highlights included We Almost Lost Detroit, and an encore with two of the finest performances of the evening: Simple Girl, and a cover of Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance With Somebody (I kid you not).

It took me entirely too long to post this review, but I'm glad I waited; after seeing a few shows from more seasoned artists the following week, I realized just how much I enjoy ones from bands on the way up. They don't wait until the sixth song to address the audience, or play songs just as they are on the album, or seem ungrateful in the slightest. They do so much more with so little (rich sound, awesome visuals, full-on energy, little name recognition) that nowadays it is incredibly difficult to justify paying a $40+ per ticket pricetag.

All that is to say, next time DEJJ rolls into town, you should be there.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Red Palace - 9.22.2011

Wilco - Merriweather Post Pavilion - September 25, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (onehandclapping) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:35:00 +0000

The Semi-Whole Love

Photo from Washington City Paper

Touring on their new record The Whole Love (out today on their recently formed label, dBpm Records), soundproof favorite Wilco came into "town" on a breezeless, September Sunday night. Merriweather was abuzz with thirty-somethings and in many cases their recently sired offspring for a night of rock, roll and a little bit of sheer musical magic. NPR opened up their airwaves, Maryland opened up her highways, and IMP opened up their beer taps for my most anticipated show of the year.

Unfortunately the boys, who know how to deliver a near perfect show, seemed a little off. Opening with lead track Art of Almost, the band got off to a promising start, winding through the digitally-infused space jam with aplomb, Tweedy looking dapper as always. They followed that up with I Might, the rocking single from the new record. Sounds pretty good, they know this new record already. The crowd, however, did not. The pit was absolutely stagnant, the pavilion nearly completely seated after the third new track, Black Moon. Jeff, who normally begins his crowd interactions after the fourth or fifth song, was distant, disengaged, uncharacteristically reserved. And his energy is what drives the live show without a doubt. I'm not sure if it was illness, fatigue, nerves, or just generally unhappiness with the crowd, but without that Tweedy pixie dust, the band became a jukebox playing well-rehearsed songs sans intensity.

And It wasn't just the lack of energy that showed the band wasn't clicking. Nels had a couple of out-of-tune solos; the mix was all Tweedy rhythm guitar and drums; the keys of Jorgensen were obviously absent; Nels' brilliance was understated on every song save Impossible Germany. And the venue was terrible - $9 beers; food stands that over-charge and then close early while the employees eat the very food they are out of in front of you; recycling bins removed prior to the encore; bathrooms that haven't been cleaned since April. It's clear to me more and more that customer satisfaction at IMP venues is at or near the bottom of any priority list that may exist. At least with Live Nation I expect to be treated poorly. Finally, the audience alternated between cool person, asshole smoking some sort of unidentified herb that smelled like a burning couch cushion and thirty-something with his two-year-old daughter on his shoulders (with no ear coverage for the little ones of course). I suppose one in three ain't bad.

But, per usual, I had a great time. Opener Nick Lowe was charming, jangling through hits penned for musicians more famous than himself then later rocking out just a little with Wilco. Setlist highlights were new songs I Might, One Sunday Morning, Whole Love and Standing O combined with classics like Nova, Letters, War on War, Shot in the Arm, HMD and I'm the Man. And clocking in at just under two hours, even when things don't seem to click the boys know how to put on a show worth the price of admission.

See scorecard below; in order to show you just how much we love Tweedy et al, I included the average of all other Wilco-related shows we've scored in the past (five in total) as well as the average concert we've score in our history. Think I'm crazy? Making this all up? Too lofty expectations? Tale of the tape time - listen for yourself and tell me I'm wrong: Merriweather Show vs. Sasquatch! Show. Is this the signal that Wilco is no longer a must see, a permanent buy order here at soundproofblog? Hardly. In my opinion this was a blip, a speedbump, a hiccup in an otherwise healthy band's tour. So friends in Nashville, don't go selling those Ryman tickets unless its to me.

Avett Brothers - Merriweather Post Pavilion - September 17, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (parttimepunk) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:09:00 +0000

A single group tailgating with a beer bong and winnebago, a plaid clad audience dotted with jet black dyed hair and tattoos, the aging former lovers of late nineties alternative--all ghosts of HFStivals past that haunted a mainly empty Merriweather this past Saturday for the 2011 edition of annual music festival.

The HFStival of today is a far cry from the festival's decade-old counterparts--only 3,000 people had shown up prior to 6:30 on Saturday, paltry for an all day festival that used to host bone crushing volumes of patrons (90,000 people at its peak).

But by the time 9:45 rolled around, the tide came in for the Avett Brothers.

If you've ever read our blog, chances are you know our feelings on the Avetts. For me, it was love at first listen. Brothers Scott and Seth (joined by cellist Joe Kwon) jump 'til they're sweaty and sing 'til they're hoarse. They break strings and shred bows. They thank the audience incessantly, and have perfected the response to the audience awkwardly shouting "we love you" (answer: "we love you too"). They pump a palpable energy into their shows that gets the crowd moving every single time. Saturday's show was no different.

It's hard to select stand-outs from the set. My personal favorite was a sparse, Avett-only rendition of Murder in the City; while I've seen them do it that way numerous times, the last line always rings sweeter in my ears in that particular arrangement ("Always remember, there is nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name").

A hallmark of a good show is having no complaints. A hallmark of a great show is overlooking them. I hardly noticed anything but the awesome time I was having.

Bright Eyes - Wolf Trap/930 Club - 2011

noreply@blogger.com (onehandclapping) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:58:00 +0000

Bright Eyes Seeing Double

It's pretty rare that a band comes to town in June and then returns in September (that is unless they are a local mainstay). Lucky for the DC region, Bright Eyes did just that this year, playing a perfect summer night at Wolf Trap in June and a sold out, jam-packed 930 club last weekend. And because I have a standing buy order for Bright Eyes whenever they're in the neighborhood, soundproof got to attend both shows.

The stars certainly aligned for the June BE show - it was a Saturday, the temperature barely deviated from 70 degrees, no humidity to speak of and an opening band the we simply love (see words of adoration here). And let's face it, the crowd at a Wolf Trap show is just better. Maybe it's the fresh air; maybe it's the family-friendly vibe; maybe it's the fact that concert-goers have to drive and don't get absolutely hammered before the show even starts. I won't speculate but I will say that the confluence of all these elements made it feel like a magical night right off the bat. Dawes didn't disappoint one bit, with leader Taylor Goldsmith in good form, per usual. The DC lover affair with M. Ward baffles me a bit, but his musical stylings on this night in particular weren't unpleasing to the ears, just not the highlight. And Bright Eyes. I saw them five years ago right before band engineer Conor Oberst took a leave to Mexico to form his Mystic Valley Band. Back then Conor wasn't much more than a shadow on stage, hiding behind his guitar and solo cup full of whiskey, making the occasion quip about corrupted politics. Today, he's a full-on band leader, engaging the crowd, twirling on-stage without a care in the world. It was almost like he was enjoying himself up there - you know, unironically even. Their stage setup was very elaborate, with a giant light board and light-sabered mic stands, all making the band look like a festival headlining act. The setlist was solid too, but the gem was hearing Lua with Conor solo on stage, save the spotlit trumpeteer bellowing out the solo. Altogether, this show was one of the best of the year to date.

Fast-forward to September - same story different channel. The 930 Club is by far a more intimate venue to see a band if only for the fact you're going to be stood on top of by late comers trying to push their way in. The openers were again fantastic, First Aid Kit from Sweden. Those two young women can sing, period. And Conor was again in very agreeable mood, high-fiving the crowd, again twirling around the stage care-free. The experience would've been a nice complement to the wolf trap show if not for the irresponsible parents who during First Day of My Life (at probably 1030 PM) nudged their way in front of us and sat their small CHILDREN on ledge at the bar, obstructing our view. Really?

All-tolled, a great set of shows. See the side-by-side scorecard and setlist below.

Setlists Side-by-Side

930 Club	Wolf Trap
Another Travelin' Song	Firewall
Old Soul Song (For The New World Order)	Haile Selassie
Four Winds	Take It Easy (Love Nothing)
Bowl of Oranges	Jejune Stars
Hot Knives	Four Winds
Take It Easy (Love Nothing)	Bowl of Oranges
Jejune Stars	Trees Get Wheeled Away
Landlocked Blues	Approximate Sunlight
Lover I Don't Have to Love	Lua
Shell Games	Shell Games
Arc of Time (Time Code)	Falling Out of Love at This Volume
Cartoon Blues	Arc of Time (Time Code)
No One Would Riot For Less	Cartoon Blues
First Day of My Life	Smoke Without Fire
Wrecking Ball	Hot Knives
I Believe In Symmetry	Poison Oak
The Calendar Hung Itself	The Calendar Hung Itself
Ladder Song	Ladder Song
Let's Not Shit Ourselves (To Love and to Be Loved)	Lover I Don't Have to Love
Road to Joy	Road to Joy
One For You, One For Me	One For You, One For Me

Hot August Blues Festival - August 20, 2011 - Part One

noreply@blogger.com (parttimepunk) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:03:00 +0000

Last Saturday we had the pleasure of attending Hot August Blues Festival at Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville, MD. A write-up is soon to follow, but for now, check out our photo slideshow for a taste of the fun we had that day.

TicketsNow & Ticketmaster: Conspiracy or Crap?

noreply@blogger.com (parttimepunk) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 19:12:00 +0000

Pollstar posted an article this week that Ticketmaster is going to once again direct people, in the event of a sold-out show, to its resale subsidiary TicketsNow.com, testing waters that were once unsafe in 2008 post-Bruce Springsteen debacle.

After experiencing our own trials for Foo Fighters at Verizon Center tickets (which we had to purchase via EBay), to go on TicketsNow.com and see >400 tickets available for the show, all awesome (hello club level?), all above face value, is kind of unnerving.

Does anyone else think this is a scam? I'm still not convinced that Ticketmaster.com does not funnel tickets directly to the reseller for immediate mark-up.

A TM "rep" responded with this in the comments section of the Pollstar article.

"Just want to let you know that Ticketmaster doesn’t control the tickets and we do not move inventory designated for Ticketmaster to TicketsNow. We wouldn’t want to do this, not to mention our clients would fire us if that happened."

What do you think? Convince me otherwise...

Gillian Welch - Strathmore - August 2, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (parttimepunk) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:23:00 +0000

Strathmore Top Tier, pre-show

Gillian Welch is a banjo wielding Aimee Mann, a California girl who sings sparse, slow songs like she was raised along the Blue Ridge Parkway and not a Pacific Coast one. Her show on Tuesday at Strathmore was full of the same, a 90+ minute blur of that heavy deep voice fading in and out of songs from Harrow and the Harvest and some older, more beloved tunes. It was a perfect venue for her and "musical partner" Dave Rawlings, their near-perfect harmonies and minimal arrangements filling the cavernous space; she likened it to performing inside a slice of birthday cake.

[sidenote: for more info on the couple, here's a recent WSJ article]

We only made it through the first half (two shows in a row will do that to a blogger), but standouts from the set included Hard Times (on repeat now) and Baby Clothes, both off the new album, and of particular note was the simple, quiet chemistry between Rawlings and Welch. Even though the duo's billed "Gillian Welch," Rawlings is as big of a draw as its namesake.

The venue got just a few knocks for being pretty damn stuffy in the top tier, and a little harrowing to navigate to seats. But from what might be the best top-and-center seats in the city, Tuesday's show was something to see.

1,2,3 & Viva Brother - Black Cat - July 26, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (parttimepunk) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 15:47:00 +0000

During the dog days of summer, the small show reigns king. Take Tuesday's show at Black Cat with 1,2,3 and Viva Brother, a prime illustration (along with last Saturday's Hoots & Hellmouth show) of bands pulling into town and blowing the roofs off these smaller spaces.

1,2,3 and Viva Brother have huge sounds that could've easily filled the mainstage at Black Cat. In 1,2,3, we find living proof that sometimes the sun does shine in Pittsburgh, at least via the PGH natives' soothing indie synth pop led by frontman Nic Snyder's Ezra Koenig-like falsetto. In fact, the whole shebang has a very Vampire Weekend/Morning Benders feel to it, in a great way.

Shows in the Black Cat's back room have this raw, living room feel to them, and it was clear from the beginning that the 1,2,3 was facing some set-up snafus. Then the bass went out almost immediately after the set began. Yet the band perservered through songs from their new album "New Heaven," one second belting out a bouncing beach tune, the next, crooning in a slower melancholy style.

It's kind of interesting that they're billed a duo, when the two non-billed "bandmates" are so critical to the sound. Regardless, 1,2,3 held it together through a lovely introductory set.

And then Viva Brother took the stage, a hodge podge mix of Brits with a tacked on fashion-forward female back-up singer. The comparisons to Oasis are apt, with lead singer Lee Nowell sounding like Liam immediately upon listen. And I didn't hate it, despite the misuse of"gritpop" to describe their sound; the only gritty thing about Viva Brother is the unfortunate buzz about them (legally forced name change, status as a big label band, attitude problems). Dragged through the mud so early...

All in all, a great way to spend a Tuesday. Keep both of these bands on your radars, and check out their albums which dropped within a month of each other.

Hoots & Hellmouth - Hill Country BBQ - July 23, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (onehandclapping) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 23:20:00 +0000

Want On Nothing At All
Do you like foot-stomping country? Do you dig on thigh-thumping folk? Can you deal with some right-on roots? Well I think you'll enjoy the rich sounds of Philadelphia-based rockers Hoots & Hellmouth. At times rowdy and at others contemplative, they are a great mix of roots and Americana. And lucky for us, they played a free show last Saturday at the newest DC music venue, Hill Country BBQ in Penn Quarter.

Hill Country is fairly small as venue space - only the basement is setup for shows and half of it's filled with long, family-style dining tables. The bar is fairly accommodating though, and service was great, only slowing when the venue swelled with bachelorettes and bros (apparently, a free show attracts a strange and diverse group of spectators). And it would be shameful not hype the food available in the main hall - some of the best and most authentic Texas BBQ you can find in greater DC.

Solid sound too for such a tight space; while the band had a hard time getting the mix right in their monitors, it sounded whole to us in the audience, with crisp upright bass, sharp trap set work, perfectly matched harmonies and just plain awesome mandolin and banjo. The band did two sets filled with most of their work to-date, however show highlights were our two personal favorites Roll Brandywine and Home for Supper, played back-to-back in the first set.

Per usual, the low score on the totem pole was for crowd misbehavior. Why you would want to come to a music performance just to have to yell to talk to your equally obnoxious friends is beyond me, but that's kind of DC's thing right now. All I can say is sorry band. But ultimately it was a great show and I for one am eagerly awaiting a return trip. See scorecard and sampler below.

Washington DC September 2011 Live Music Melee

noreply@blogger.com (onehandclapping) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:40:00 +0000

DC's Abundance of Riches

Has anyone but us noticed the dearth of quality live music in the greater DC area this July? I'm sure there's a ton of good music out there that's off our radar, but in the indie/americana sphere, it has been bone dry. In fact, if it weren't for the heel-stomping Hoots and Hellmouth this Saturday at Hill Country BBQ, the blog would have seen an entire month with no action. What is this, January?

Fast forward to September - has someone figured out how to be in two places at once yet? The cup runneth over and drowned our city in an amazing live music tsunami. Here's what we here at SPB have on our schedules already:

1 - Hold Steady - 930 Club
4 - Bright Eyes - 930 Club
8 - Pepper Rabbit - DC9
17 - HFStival (Avetts, Dr. Dog, etc.) - Merriweather
22 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Red Palace
23 - Fleet Foxes - Merriweather
25 - Wilco - Merriweather
26 - Foster the People, Cults - 930 Club
27 - Jeff Mangum - 2640 Space (Baltimore)

Oh and here are some additional shows that if we could we'd make:

9 - Peter, Bjorn and John - 930 Club

10 - Virgin Freefest (Black Keys, Okkervil, etc) - Merriweather

15 - The Low Anthem - 930 Club

17 - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - 930 Club

23 - Megafaun - Red Palace

23 - The Head and the Heart - 930 Club

Yep, that's crazy. Add in ACL Festival coverage and a trip to the 40th annual Frog Farm Hoe Down and we are downright spread thin come October - but in a good way. Most of these shows still have tickets available (at posting the only sell outs are Foster the People, Jeff Mangum and freefest) so come join us for a September to remember, or at the very least, help us cover the shows we just can't make.

Hot August Blues & Roots Festival Preview

noreply@blogger.com (parttimepunk) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:03:00 +0000

Imagine sitting on a blanket in a gorgeous national park, a Flying Dog draft in one hand, festival food in the other, listening to smooth sounds of some of the best live musicians around.

You don't have to go to the Gorge to get there. Months ago we featured the Hot August Blues & Roots Festival in our preview of summer music. As we hit the halfway mark, it's time to do a feature on what could be the sleeper hit of the summer.

What: Hot August Blues & Roots Festival

When: Saturday, August 20, 2011 (~noon - 10PM)

Where: Oregon Ridge Park (1,000 acre park in Cockeysville, MD, just over an hour from DC and home to one of the best beaches in Baltimore, apparently).

What: Started in 1993, Hot August Blues Festival is a one-day roots/rock extravaganza that raises money for Common Ground on the Hill, a multicultural music and arts/arts education organization. Since its inception, the festival has played host to a slew of fantastic musicians, including some of the best live acts around: Dirty Dozen Brass Band, North Mississippi Allstars, John Hiatt, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, Lyle Lovett, Bonerama, and dozens more.

Why: This year is similarly eclectic, and not to be missed, featuring Soundproofblog favorites Kings Go Forth, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Baltimore locals J. Roddy Walston & the Business, and more.

What's fascinating about this festival is how Brad Selko, festival founder, has his fingers aptly put on the pulse of an American sound revival, selecting artists that not only put on a stellar live show, but have also mastered musical traditions that define the more classic genres they strive occupy (see Robert Randolph's soulful pedal steel, Kings Go Forth rocking Milwaukee motown, Derek Truck's definitive electric slide guitar playing).

How: Get online and buy a ticket. $53 will get you a ticket and parking pass. $150 gets you a VIP pass that includes all you can drink soda, wine, beer, and special access to viewing areas and preferred parking.

Consider it a pre-fest to Freefest (which has been all the buzz this week!)--one that's significantly more chill, and an awesome deal to boot.