Monthly Archives: June 2010

Review: Pearly Gate Music, Pearly Gate Music

Posted by on June 10th 2010 0

by Fiona Hanly

Rating: B-

Zach Tillman’s self-titled debut into the folk scene did not strike a chord with me—but the name, the name did. Zach Tillman is Joshua Tillman’s brother. Most recognizably a member of the folk darlings Fleet Foxes, Joshua has also been a member of several other groups and has released prolifically as a solo artist. Big brother Joshua, little brother Zach, meet WGTB. To be completely honest, it is unclear which brother is the older and which is the younger—however, several clues, including each brother’s respective time spent being a presence in the indie folk scene, and especially the raw, even unpolished sound of this album itself, indicate Pearly Gate Music is very much Zach’s little-brother-debut. Read More »

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Concert Review: Kings of Convenience at 9:30 Club

Posted by on June 10th 2010 0

by Gerard McCarthy

After postponing their February performance due to illness, the folk-pop duo Kings of Convenience fronted an expectant crowd at the 9:30 Club on Sunday night. Few left disappointed. The Norwegian duo Eirik Glambek Bøe and Erlend Øye (also of The Whitest Boy Alive) delighted with a variously moody and energetic set interspersed with the bands witty repartee. It’s rare to see such a well-heeled performance from two musicians that are, on-stage at-least, so relaxed about their public persona. At times it bordered on the overly staged- the interlude stories that reference local geography worked too well; and the sense of musical theatre was amplified by the clown-like Øye who happily took the center of attention, grooving, crowd-surfing and conducting the audience along with Bøe. Read More »

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The District Dialect: Meridian Hill Park Drum Circle

Posted by on June 9th 2010 1

Photo by Elvert Barnes, used under the Creative Commons License

Mike Shanahan goes into Meridian Hill Park to capture the sounds of the drum circle and the community that forms around it for the second edition of The District Dialect.

The District Dialect: Meridian Hill Park Drum Circle by igorgerman

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Take Cover: Can’t Get You Out of My Head

Posted by on June 8th 2010 0

by Caroline Klibanoff
The Flaming Lips: “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” (Kylie Minogue)

Oh, inverted world. Remember that one time when we accidentally entered an alternate reality? Well, we somehow stumbled back, collectively as a culture, into the metaphorical Narniaic Wardrobe– which I’m pretty sure is where Wayne Coyne lives, anyway– where people playing instruments of all kinds (but mostly cymbals) were dressed in giant bunny costumes and also bear costumes and the music they were playing was in fact a Kylie Minogue Aussie-pop 2001 classic hit and oh yeah it was filmed by AOL of all things. Read More »

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Review: Igor Butman Big Band, Moscow at 3 A.M.

Posted by on June 8th 2010 1

by John Kenchelian

Rating: B

The new album, featuring music by Nick Levinovsky(who also conducts the band) from Russian saxophonist Igor Butman’s Big Band is interestingly titled: Moscow @ 3 AM. It starts out with a dark vamp on the first song, “Russian Passion,” which makes one think of a late night in Moscow. However, once it gets going this song really grooves, featuring at different times, the trombone, trumpet, and sax sections. Maybe this was just the fact that I was playing it on iTunes, but one can barely hear the piano when the entire band is playing, and as a piano player, that disturbs me. Butman doesn’t wait to bring out the biggest star on this album, Wynton Marsalis, featuring him with a solo on the very first tune. Read More »

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Review: Deer Tick, The Black Dirt Sessions

Posted by on June 8th 2010 0

by Britt Shaw


Rating: A-
As Deer Tick’s frontman, John McCauley, says on the band’s no-frills website “We like to put on memorable shows, the kind of shows that you don’t see very often. If you don’t want to get covered in beer or confetti at one of our shows, I’d suggest not standing up in the front.”

Rhode Island’s contribution to the budding alt-country genre, Deer Tick, came to my attention a year ago when I heard “Easy” on Seattle’s KEXP radio, and from that point on I had to have more. More raucous southern rock-inspired guitar riffs. More gritty vocals and Let-me-tell-you-about-having-the-Blues lyrics. More music that didn’t sound like it was made for listeners aged 15-22 but instead by a young band that appreciates older, great musicians like John Prine, Hank Williams, and Chuck Berry. Read More »

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Review: The Black Keys, Brother

Posted by on June 7th 2010 0

by Tiare Dunlap
Rating: C
Even if you’re not a fan of The Black Keys, it’s likely their sound is a lot more familiar than you would think. Their music is prevalent in soundtracks for film, television, and even video games. It is in this area where their music really shines, their distinctive brand of lo-fi and affected blued rock lends a certain cool-factor to almost anything, even the paramount importance of american express to a certain ketchupy olympian. Read More »

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Concert Pick of the Week: Pearl and Beard at Red and Black

Posted by on June 3rd 2010 0

Pearl and Beard
Friday, June 11th, 9pm
The Red and the Black, $8

Finally, an indie-folk band that is just accepting that half of their image comes from the beard and nothing else. Pearl and Beard, the Brooklyn based trio, aren’t quite as soft as their pidgeon-holed genre might suggest, though. Their sound is uncharacteristically soulful and powerful; they don’t shy away from a shout here and there (see: picture). Head down to H street Friday night and maybe he’ll let you rub his beard for good luck! Check them out in this subway!

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